ETFatlas: Mastering the Craft of Investing

In this in‑depth conversation, Irish financial educator Dan shares his journey from auditing global funds at PwC to building Honest.ie, a platform devoted to independent personal‑finance education. Drawing on his background as a chartered accountant and tax adviser, Dan explains how he translates complex financial ideas into simple, actionable advice for ordinary people. The discussion covers ever...

This in‑depth conversation with JL Collins traces his journey from early lessons watching his self‑employed father struggle, through his own decision in his twenties to live on half his income and relentlessly invest the rest. Jack and JL unpack the core ideas behind The Simple Path to Wealth: F‑You Money as the foundation of freedom, the power of very high savings rates, and why a single broad US...

This comprehensive presentation challenges the common assumption that investing exclusively in U.S. equities through the S&P 500 is the optimal choice, instead advocating for a globally diversified approach using ETFs like MSCI ACWI. While acknowledging that U.S. stocks have delivered superior returns (10.48% CAGR vs. 8.95% for developed markets) over the past 100 years and currently represent...

The episode explains why traditional schooling teaches many abstract subjects but almost no practical money skills, even though everyone must manage money for decades. It shows how even “small” inflation, like 3% per year, slowly destroys the value of cash, so doing nothing is actually losing money. Because of this, we are all forced to invest and choose between different assets like stocks, bonds...

In this second round with Larry Swedroe , we explore what evidence‑based investing really means in today’s late‑2025, AI‑driven markets. Larry explains why rising skill and technology shrink alpha, turning most active management into a loser’s game and pushing investors toward low‑cost factor strategies rather than stock‑picking “genius”. He discusses value, momentum, private credit and goodwill t...

In this episode, we sit down with William Bengen, the legendary creator of the “4% Rule” that revolutionized retirement planning worldwide. Bill shares his unique journey from an MIT aerospace engineer to a financial planner, explaining how he used historical data to solve the “how much can I spend” dilemma. He dives deep into the critical concepts of “Sequence of Returns Risk” and explains why in...

This episode explains why consistently beating the stock market is extremely difficult, especially for active managers competing in today’s highly efficient markets. It shows how much of what looks like “alpha” can often be explained by exposure to well-documented risk factors such as value, quality, and low risk.  Agenda Why beating the market is so hard today What academic research really says a...

In this compelling episode we welcome Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence and author of the bestselling book "The Bogle Effect: How John Bogle and Vanguard Turned Wall Street Inside Out and Saved Investors Trillions". Eric is one of the most recognized voices in the world of exchange-traded funds, combining deep financial expertise with an exceptional ability to communicat...

In this compelling episode of the ETFatlas podcast, host Jack Lempart sits down with Larry Swedroe, one of the most influential voices in evidence-based investing and author of 18 groundbreaking books on finance. Larry shares his remarkable journey from aspiring security analyst during the 1973-74 market crash to principal and director of research at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, where he spent nea...

In this practical and inspiring ETFatlas podcast episode, host Jack Lempart welcomes Paul Merriman for a return conversation focused on the biggest mistakes beginner investors make—and how to avoid them. The discussion reveals why most investing errors are emotional, not technical. Paul emphasizes that successful investing is usually simple, though almost never easy. Paul Merriman draws on decades...

In this enlightening conversation, Jack Lempart welcomes Robert Carver —a former portfolio manager at AHL, one of the world's largest systematic hedge funds. Rob managed multi-billiondollar portfolios before transitioning to independent trading and authorship, bringing deep industry insights to individual investors. The interview tackles one of the biggest questions facing everyday investors: Shou...

Episode Agenda Guest Introduction: Ramin, founder of PensionCraft Overview of current investment environment Key market trends and sources of uncertainty Analysis of global diversification—benefits and pitfalls ETF selection: criteria and practical tips Risks associated with concentration in thematic or sector ETFs Perspectives on long-term investing mindset Asset allocation strategies in periods...

Episode Agenda Introduction to Jerry Parker: Journey from accounting to Turtle Trader and trend following pioneer Key principles and psychological challenges of trend following taught by Richard Dennis and Bill Eckhardt Evolution of market selection and diversification in modern systematic trading Role of ETFs in democratizing access to managed futures and trend following strategies for retail inv...

Agenda : Karsten Jeske’s road to FIRE – professional background (economist, Fed, BNY Mellon), move from Germany to the U.S., and motivations for early retirement. FIRE pillars and planning – first steps, debunking myths, the 4% rule and its adjustments, sequence-of-returns risk, and the impact of market valuations (CAPE). Investment strategy – stock/bond allocation, views on gold, alternative asse...

Agenda ✅ Gary Antonacci’s investment journey and the origins of momentum investing ✅ Understanding absolute vs. relative momentum and why they matter ✅ The dual momentum strategy: mechanics, benefits, and real-world results ✅ Common pitfalls and behavioral challenges in rule-based investing ✅ Practical advice for investors looking to implement momentum strategies In today’s episode, we’re thr...

Agenda ✅  Introduction to Managed Futures and Trend Following ✅  The Creation and Philosophy Behind Managed Futures ETF ✅  Replication Strategy and Its Advantages ✅  Managed Futures in Portfolio Construction ✅  Future Outlook: Geopolitical Uncertainty and Market Volatility In this enlightening episode of the ETFAtlas.com podcast, host Jack Lempart sits down with Andrew Beer to explore the wor...

Wes Gray discusses how military discipline shaped his systematic investing approach, emphasizing process-driven strategies to combat emotional decision-making. Alpha Architect prioritizes investor education and transparent, evergreen factor-based ETFs like QVAL  (value) and QMOM (momentum), which target well-researched market anomalies. The firm’s niche ETFs, such as CAOS (tail risk hedging) and H...

In this insightful interview with ETFatlas.com, Rick Ferri, a renowned figure in the investment world, shares his wisdom on index investing and financial advice. Drawing from his extensive experience, Ferri discusses the principles of successful investing, the importance of simplicity in portfolio management, and his critique of traditional fee structures in the financial industry. He also reflect...

In this insightful conversation, renowned financial expert Paul Merriman shares his wealth of knowledge and experience in investing. He discusses his journey from stockbroker to founding his own investment advisory firm, and eventually establishing the Merriman Financial Education Foundation. Paul delves into various topics, including: ✅ The importance of data-driven investing and understanding t...