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I first heard of Guy Spier at Charlie Munger's Daily Journal meeting. I was sitting in the audience when a friend pointed to the silhouette of a man walking away from us and whispered, "That's Guy Spier." I had no idea who Guy was, but what struck me was the respect and deference in my friend's tone when he said Guy's name. I made a mental note to meet Guy when I got a chance. The post Guy and I – Ep 294 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
I have been feeling very uneasy about the market and the economy. Over the last two decades our economy has been acclimated to insanely low interest rates, and reacclimation to higher and rising rates is going to be difficult. The post This Is Your Captain Speaking – Buckle Up – Ep 293 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
My subconscious melded Fiddler on the Roof with the lecture from a few days earlier, and I ended up writing a chapter about the Jewish farmer Tevye buying a cow, Golde (which he named after his first wife). The post Fiddler on the Roof and Value Investing – Ep 292 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Stock XYZ has declined 25%. What do you think? Is your thesis broken? What you observe in stock price volatility is mostly noise. A good chunk of buyers and sellers don't know much about what they are trading other than the ticker. The post What to Do When a Stock Drops 25% – Ep 291 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Last year I came out of the BRK annual meeting thinking that Greg Abel was not the right person to run Berkshire Hathaway. Abel lacked Buffett's charisma, warmth, and humor. Greg Abel was not Buffett, and he definitely was not Munger. I was wrong. The post Greg Abel Takes Over Berkshire Hathaway: My Thoughts After Omaha 2026 – Ep 290 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
The Iran war exposes a quiet rewriting of the rules that made the US exceptional. Why we own oil, why we hate owning gold, and why crypto still isn't for client accounts. The post What the Iran War Reveals About the Dollar, Gold, and the End of US Exceptionalism – Ep 289 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
At IMA, we deal with prospective clients who have a short-term time horizon very differently. We do what I call "reverse marketing." I write articles, people read them, and when they get interested in our services, they download our brochure and reach out to us. The post Q&A Series: On Firing Clients, Sizing Positions, and Ignoring Book Value – Ep 288 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
There is an unspoken conflict between Americans and Europeans. Europeans accuse Americans of being stuck in the rat race. Americans look at Europeans, see them sipping their espressos for two hours a day and reading newspapers, and call them lazy. The post Q&A: The Antifragile Investor: Balancing Geopolitics, Identity, and the Cost of Growth – Episode 287 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3523: Vitaliy Katsenelson challenges the idea that value investing is obsolete, explaining how low interest rates and inflated expectations have skewed performance in favor of growth stocks. Drawing on timeless principles from Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, he presents value investing as a disciplined, long-term philosophy that prioritizes price and realism over market hype. Quotes to ponder: "Value investing to me is a philosophy that is governed by what I call the six Commandments of value investing" "Something is overvalued doesn't mean it can't get more overvalued" "You can turn any investment into a bad deal by paying too much" Episode references: The Intelligent Investor: https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Value-Investing/dp/0060555661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3523: Vitaliy Katsenelson challenges the idea that value investing is obsolete, explaining how low interest rates and inflated expectations have skewed performance in favor of growth stocks. Drawing on timeless principles from Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, he presents value investing as a disciplined, long-term philosophy that prioritizes price and realism over market hype. Quotes to ponder: "Value investing to me is a philosophy that is governed by what I call the six Commandments of value investing" "Something is overvalued doesn't mean it can't get more overvalued" "You can turn any investment into a bad deal by paying too much" Episode references: The Intelligent Investor: https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Value-Investing/dp/0060555661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3523: Vitaliy Katsenelson challenges the idea that value investing is obsolete, explaining how low interest rates and inflated expectations have skewed performance in favor of growth stocks. Drawing on timeless principles from Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, he presents value investing as a disciplined, long-term philosophy that prioritizes price and realism over market hype. Quotes to ponder: "Value investing to me is a philosophy that is governed by what I call the six Commandments of value investing" "Something is overvalued doesn't mean it can't get more overvalued" "You can turn any investment into a bad deal by paying too much" Episode references: The Intelligent Investor: https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Value-Investing/dp/0060555661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I took a Waymo with my colleague Cyrus. We were genuinely impressed. It was a seamless experience. Uber is dead, long live Waymo? Not So Fast. The post Uber and Self-Driving Cars: The Utilization Problem Nobody Talks About – Ep 286 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
The future feels less predictable because the range of possible outcomes has expanded. Here is my best attempt to think through that reality with humility, and why you should let me do the worrying for both of us. The post What AI, Tariffs, and Global Uncertainty Mean for Your Portfolio – Ep 285 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Investing is a lot more art than science. I bring a scientist's mindset – I approach problems with an open mind and I am willing to change my mind when data proves me wrong. The post When to sell a stock: The Art and Psychology of Selling – Ep 284 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Follow Two Quants and a Financial Planner on SpotifyFollow Two Quants and a Financial Planner on AppleIn this episode, we break down the most important insights from the week on Excess Returns,, with insights from Vitaliy Katsenelson, Jim Paulsen, and Joseph Shaposhnik. Markets today are being shaped by powerful crosscurrents including AI disruption, defense spending, macro policy shifts, and historically high valuations. In this episode, we highlight the biggest ideas from our conversations and explore what they mean for investors trying to navigate an uncertain world. Topics include the importance of humility in investing, the potential disruption of software by AI, the growing divergence within the economy, and why long-term structural trends like defense spending may create new opportunities.Topics Covered• Why humility may be the most important trait for investors in a rapidly changing world• How uncertainty around AI, geopolitics, and macro policy is widening the range of possible market outcomes• Why some investors are reducing exposure to software businesses amid AI disruption• The importance of management teams that can adapt and evolve in periods of technological change• Jim Paulsen's framework for understanding the “new era” economy versus the rest of the economy• Why a small portion of the economy may now be driving overall GDP growth• The idea that successful investing may be about being “least wrong” rather than perfectly right• How long-term structural trends like defense spending could create a multi-year investment tailwind• Why experienced investors focus on analyzing businesses rather than reacting to headlines• The potential deflationary impact of AI and how lower prices could shift spending across the economy• Why high market valuations may act as a headwind for future returns• The importance of deep research and preparation when unexpected events hit markets• Jim Paulsen's concept of “policy juice” and how fiscal and monetary policy drive bull markets• Whether a new wave of policy support could broaden the current market rally beyond mega-cap techTimestamps00:00 Introduction02:00 Why humility matters more than ever in investing08:50 AI disruption and the future of software businesses18:07 The growing gap between the “new era” economy and the rest of the economy25:00 Surviving first and being the least wrong as an investor31:43 The potential defense spending supercycle37:44 AI's deflationary impact and how innovation reshapes economies44:42 Why valuations act as a long-term headwind for stocks50:56 How investors should respond to geopolitical events56:49 Jim Paulsen on policy juice and the future of the bull market
Two Quants and a Financial Planner | Bridging the Worlds of Investing and Financial Planning
In this episode, we break down the most important insights from the week on Excess Returns,, with insights from Vitaliy Katsenelson, Jim Paulsen, and Joseph Shaposhnik. Markets today are being shaped by powerful crosscurrents including AI disruption, defense spending, macro policy shifts, and historically high valuations. In this episode, we highlight the biggest ideas from our conversations and explore what they mean for investors trying to navigate an uncertain world. Topics include the importance of humility in investing, the potential disruption of software by AI, the growing divergence within the economy, and why long-term structural trends like defense spending may create new opportunities.Topics Covered• Why humility may be the most important trait for investors in a rapidly changing world• How uncertainty around AI, geopolitics, and macro policy is widening the range of possible market outcomes• Why some investors are reducing exposure to software businesses amid AI disruption• The importance of management teams that can adapt and evolve in periods of technological change• Jim Paulsen's framework for understanding the “new era” economy versus the rest of the economy• Why a small portion of the economy may now be driving overall GDP growth• The idea that successful investing may be about being “least wrong” rather than perfectly right• How long-term structural trends like defense spending could create a multi-year investment tailwind• Why experienced investors focus on analyzing businesses rather than reacting to headlines• The potential deflationary impact of AI and how lower prices could shift spending across the economy• Why high market valuations may act as a headwind for future returns• The importance of deep research and preparation when unexpected events hit markets• Jim Paulsen's concept of “policy juice” and how fiscal and monetary policy drive bull markets• Whether a new wave of policy support could broaden the current market rally beyond mega-cap techTimestamps00:00 Introduction02:00 Why humility matters more than ever in investing08:50 AI disruption and the future of software businesses18:07 The growing gap between the “new era” economy and the rest of the economy25:00 Surviving first and being the least wrong as an investor31:43 The potential defense spending supercycle37:44 AI's deflationary impact and how innovation reshapes economies44:42 Why valuations act as a long-term headwind for stocks50:56 How investors should respond to geopolitical events56:49 Jim Paulsen on policy juice and the future of the bull market
I join Matt Zeigler for one more special episode of Excess Returns. Available now on Excess Returns Podcast and Talking Billions.
In this episode of Excess Returns, Matt Zeigler and Bogumil Baranowski speak with Vitaliy Katsenelson, CEO of Investment Management Associates and author of Soul in the Game. The conversation explores how value investing is evolving in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, rapidly changing economic dynamics, and historically high market valuations. Vitaliy discusses why humility and diversification are increasingly important for investors today, how to balance quality and valuation when selecting stocks, and what he has learned about selling decisions, portfolio construction, and long-term investing discipline. The discussion also moves beyond markets into deeper ideas about passion, creativity, and why investing, like art, is ultimately a creative pursuit driven by curiosity and lifelong learning.Topics covered in this episodeWhy high stock market valuations may create a headwind for future returnsThe math behind long-term stock market returns and the role of earnings growth versus valuation changesWhether the dominance of mega-cap technology companies represents a structural shift in marketsWhy AI investment could lead to both massive innovation and large amounts of wasted capitalThe importance of humility in investing during periods of rapid technological and economic changeWhy Vitaliy increased the number of stocks in his portfolio due to greater uncertaintyHow investors can think about what will not change in a rapidly evolving worldThe evolution from statistical value investing to focusing on business quality and managementWhy cheap stocks are often expensive and how narrative bias can trap value investorsThe importance of evaluating management integrity and avoiding companies with questionable leadershipHow Vitaliy thinks about selling decisions and recognizing when an investment thesis is brokenWhy many investors make their biggest mistakes by selling winners too earlyThe concept of being a value buyer but a growth holder when fundamentals improveWhy updating valuation models as businesses improve is critical to capturing long-term upsideLessons learned from great investors and the importance of surrounding yourself with thoughtful peersThe idea of building a personal operating system for investing and lifePassion, patience, and process as the three pillars of long-term investment successWhy investing is fundamentally a creative pursuit similar to art and musicThe deeper motivations behind investing and why for many great investors it is not ultimately about moneyTimestamps0:00 Vitaliy on humility and why the range of outcomes in investing is expanding2:00 The math behind long-term stock market returns4:00 Why high valuations can become a headwind for future returns6:00 Big tech growth and whether large companies now have structural advantages8:00 AI investment and the risk of massive capital misallocation10:30 Learning AI and why investors must adapt to rapid technological change14:00 Why humility leads to diversification and larger portfolios20:00 The evolution from cheap stocks to quality investing25:30 Selling discipline and recognizing when a thesis is broken34:30 Letting winners run and avoiding the mistake of selling too early42:00 Learning from other great investors and building your own framework44:30 Passion, patience, and process in investing52:00 Why great investors are motivated by more than money1:01:40 The connection between investing, creativity, and classical music
Instead of joining the chorus of false certainty, let me offer you a crayon-level framework for thinking about it. I am going for vaguely right, not precisely wrong. The post On AI Eating The World – Ep 283 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
On January 11, 2026, my younger daughter, Mia Sarah, celebrated becoming an adult, at least according to Jewish tradition (she turned 12). This is what I told her The post 10 Life Lessons I Passed On to My Daughter on Her Bat Mitzvah – Ep 282 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
I let myself be me when I write. I just made it sound easy. It is not. It comes down to confidence. It took me a long time – years, to get comfortable with being me on paper. The post Q&A: From Imposter Syndrome to Authenticity – Ep 281 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
When policies are judged by intentions rather than outcomes, you get Germany closing nuclear plants only to burn more coal. The post The Church of Climate and the Law of Unintended Consequences – Ep 280 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Warren Buffett calls Berkshire Hathaway his Sistine Chapel. This analogy haunted me for years until I realized we are building the exact same thing at IMA. It took me a decade to put into words, but I finally narrowed our firm's entire reason for existence down to just two words. They sound simple, but living up to them is the hardest thing we've ever done. The post Our Sistine Chapel: Long-Term Investing in Quality and Kindness – Ep 278 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Today, we're diving into two questions from readers that are close to my heart, which of my books is my personal favorite and why, and is there a similarity between classical music and investing for me? The post On Books, Music, and Investing – Ep 277 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
As an investor, being intentional about identifying assumptions is extremely important. When you're mindless, you accept things as they are without realizing you're walking on thin ice while everyone else thinks it's solid ground. The post Living and Investing with Intention – Ep 276 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
I held a Q&A session with readers a while back. In this episode, we'll discuss how to handle market pressures and our view on serial acquirers. The post Q&A Series: Managing Market Pressures and Evaluating Serial Acquirers – Ep 275 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Looking back, I recognize that my parents gave my family an amazing gift: the ability to see. They never forced us to go to museums; they just took us with them. The post Learning to See – Ep 274 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
My biggest problem was that my family, including yours truly, was not good at lying. Okay, I am getting ahead of myself. The post Operation Molly – Ep 273 appeared first on The Intellectual Investor - Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson.
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3240: Vitaliy Katsenelson explores the frustrating disconnect between stock fundamentals and short-term market behavior, offering reassurance to investors whose portfolios lag despite owning high-quality businesses. Through historical perspective and grounded investment wisdom, he reminds readers why discipline and patience often matter more than immediate performance. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://contrarianedge.com/the-market-right-now-doesnt-care-how-fantastic-your-stocks-are/ Quotes to ponder: "The market doesn't care about your carefully constructed portfolio or how fantastic your stocks are." "The true test of an investor is not how they behave when everything is going up, but how they behave when nothing is working." "Markets are not always rational in the short run, but they are a weighing machine in the long run." Episode references: Benjamin Graham - "The Intelligent Investor": https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Value-Investing/dp/0060555661 Howard Marks Memo - "You Can't Predict. You Can Prepare.": https://www.oaktreecapital.com/insights/memo/you-cant-predict-you-can-prepare Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3200: Vitaliy Katsenelson challenges the simplistic notion that value investing is about buying only the cheapest stocks. Drawing on insights from Ben Graham, Charlie Munger, and Warren Buffett, he reveals that true value lies not just in low prices but in the blend of quality, growth, and sound judgment proving that a Motel 6 mindset won't build a Berkshire Hathaway-sized portfolio. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://contrarianedge.com/values-value-investing/ Quotes to ponder: "I thought value investors were supposed to like cheap stuff." "A $36-a-night room at Motel 6 by the airport, overrun by cockroaches and bedbugs and with questionable plumbing, may be statistically cheap, but it's not a bargain." "Charlie is not a ‘sidekick'! Charlie changed Buffett's investment philosophy. Sidekicks don't do that." Episode references: The Intelligent Investor: https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Value-Investing/dp/0060555661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3168: Vitaliy Katsenelson uses a personal skiing mishap to illustrate how bull markets, much like groomed ski slopes, can hide underlying weaknesses in investment strategies. He urges investors to reexamine their portfolios, focus on fundamentals like earnings growth and valuations, and prepare for inevitable market downturns by adopting a disciplined, skill-based approach to investing. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://contrarianedge.com/downhill-racing-meets-value-investing/ Quotes to ponder: "Speed covers up a lot of mistakes and lack of skill." "Bull markets don't last forever, and this one is not an exception." "We must all reexamine and future-proof our investment process." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3139: Vitaliy Katsenelson argues that obsessively monitoring your portfolio can lead to emotional decision-making and worse investment outcomes. Instead, he urges investors to zoom out, think long term, and treat investing more like watching paint dry, boring, but ultimately rewarding. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://contrarianedge.com/want-to-be-a-better-investor-stop-staring-at-your-portfolio/ Quotes to ponder: "Most of the mistakes I've made as an investor happened when I got too close to the action." "Stocks are not pieces of paper that wiggle up and down on a computer screen. They are partial ownerships of businesses." "Watching your portfolio too closely is like watching paint dry, it makes time slow down and tempts you to act when you shouldn't." Episode references: Fooled by Randomness: https://www.amazon.com/Fooled-Randomness-Hidden-Chance-Markets/dp/0812975219 Meditations: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255 The Intelligent Investor: https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Value-Investing/dp/0060555661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices