Invested Poorly: Sad Tales of FInancial Fails

By listener request! In this bonus segment, host Jeff Harrell reveals his personal investment portfolio and shares insights on how he arrived at his current financial position. The table supplement he references throughout this bonus segment lists his asset allocation of stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents, as well as the percentages he is targeting by asset class . He also gives detailed explanat...

S3 E11: Season 3 is a wrap! Host Jeff Harrell recaps the third season, summarizing all the investing and financial topics covered over the previous 10 episodes. These included discussions on stocks and bonds (individual and funds), legacy planning, financial advice, managing investor fears, and much more. Reminder: As you progress down the road to financial independence (FI) , when it comes to you...

S3 E10: One trait that’s nearly universal among investors is fear. Given the inherent uncertainties in investment outcomes, investors frequently seek strategies that promise a higher degree of control over their portfolios. These strategies range from simple to complex trading methodologies , as well as various insurance-based investment products . Buyer beware! Jeff Harrell has observed numerous...

S3 E9: The financial services industry is highly predatory , with some advisors prioritizing their own biases or financial interests over those of their clients. This poses a challenge for you when looking for trustworthy advisors and expecting them to act in your best interest. Given that most people require some level of guidance to manage their finances and investments effectively, it is import...

S3 E8: How can you know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you’re at? This principle is crucial for achieving FI, particularly when it comes to your spending . If you’re on the path to financial independence, having a comprehensive understanding of your living expenses can reward you with a sense of comfort. This reassuring information is not only empowering but can also allow you to envi...

S3 E7: Scamming people out of their money is a billion-dollar global industry . Ignoring this fact in hopes it will never impact you is not only naïve, but in many ways irresponsible. Putting basic safeguards in place before you are the target of a financial scam is not very difficult, but does require a time commitment. Host Jeff Harrell is stepping a little outside his comfort zone to address a...

S3 E6: Everyone eventually faces their ultimate demise, and when this occurs, it triggers a distressing chain of events that families dread. Not only are family members in mourning after a death, but they must address financial and estate plan matters as well. This exacerbates an already stressful time, and occasionally causes familial discord. If maintaining a positive family legacy is important...

S3 E5: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” aptly describes high-yield, or “junk,” bonds . Host Jeff Harrell offers insight into their characteristics and how they may be the most misunderstood asset class in the financial markets. You’ll get recommendations on how to incorporate these securities into a diversified portfolio , with strategies that differ from typical advisor and investor approac...

S3 E4: The debate around buying individual bonds versus bond mutual funds and ETFs is a polarizing one in the investment world. Proponents of individual bonds tout the benefit of a maturity date , which the other securities generally don’t offer. Jeff Harrell will give you all the information you need to decide for yourself if this benefit is worth the tradeoff. Most investors are completely unawa...

S3 E3: Index funds are perhaps the greatest invention in the history of financial markets, but there may be circumstances where an alternative strategy could be superior. If you’re interested in learning a little more about building a portfolio of individual stocks , this episode is a must-listen. Host Jeff Harrell acknowledges there is nothing an investor can do to change the overwhelming odds ag...

S3 E2: Discovering FI (financial independence) can be thrilling and it’s tempting to quickly make changes to your finances and investments. This episode cautions you to proceed slowly to ensure you fully understand the financial ramifications of your actions. Because you don’t want to win the battle, but lose the war. “Small things” like transaction fees , taxes , and placing trades are easily mis...

S3 E1: The three investment phases we all go through are accumulation, transition, and drawdown. This episode explains how to invest during each phase and what changes you should make as you shift from one phase to the next.  Host Jeff Harrell shares his unique strategy to navigate all three phases. Using his personal FI journey as a guide, you will be able to steer your own path to FI success bas...

In the third season of Invested Poorly: Sad Tales of FI nancial Fails , host Jeff Harrell adds a twist with more personal stories, including how he’s managing his own investments .  Season 3 highlights how Jeff’s perspective differs from mainstream financial advice with respect to investing throughout your various phases of life . He will give you some food for thought on popular investment themes...

S2 E11 : Season 2 is now in the books! Host Jeff Harrell summarizes the investing lessons learned in the second season, highlighting the theme of each of the 10 episodes—ultimately to help you sidestep those common investing pitfalls that have trapped other investors. Jeff also shares about the ways you can stay connected to the show and reminds listeners that the path to financial independence (F...

S2 E10 : Speaking especially to people who are sensible with their finances and live within their means, Jeff Harrell discusses one of the greatest fears all investors face, longevity . While this fear is real for many, experience suggests these fears are likely irrational for those who act in fiscally responsible ways throughout their lifetime. You’ll hear stories of encouragement to spend more a...

S2 E9 : This episode highlights the shortcomings of one of the most popular benefits touted by the financial services industry: financial planning software . Jeff Harrell shares his experience with how advisors use this tool in practice, as well as how DIY investors can gain access to similar features at a fraction of the cost. Jeff will arm you with the knowledge of just how useful—or not—these a...

S2 E8 : Maintaining total control of your finances starts with something that seems simple and yet tends to be a major hurdle for many of us to overcome. Discover the importance of organizing your investment accounts and how merely knowing where all your money is located can lead to better investment results in the long term. Jeff Harrell shares more stories from the trenches of financial planning...

S2 E7 : This episode will blow your mind when you find out how neglecting something that seems so small and insignificant can have a catastrophic impact on your timeline to reach FI. Jeff Harrell discusses how investors who make sure they pick up every “nickel, dime, and quarter” possible in their investment portfolio will reap the benefits many years down the road. Listeners will be provided with...

S2 E6 : This episode might be one of the most controversial because it will challenge the view that dividends and income are meaningful when it comes to investing. Many investors find these to be a vital component of their investment strategy, but Jeff Harrell provides his take on why the yield of an investment is completely irrelevant to him. Jeff provides examples of investors who swear by divid...

S2 E5 : Investing in the stock market is one of the best tools available to help you reach financial independence. However, there is one variable you must factor in that, if neglected, could result in a longer path to get there: taxes . Jeff Harrell shares his experience which suggests that even the professionals often neglect this key component of financial planning , and there’s a rather disturb...

S2 E4 : Having a basic understanding of your finances and your overall investment strategy is the first step on the path to FI. The problem is, as time goes on, many investors feel obligated to make adjustments to, or “ tinker ” with, their plan—often unnecessarily. The stories Jeff Harrell recounts in this episode may be some of the most relatable because it’s human nature to want to “scratch tha...

S2 E3 : Quarterly earnings reports announcements are one of the most highly anticipated events in the investing world, so much so that financial news channels even coined the term “ earnings season ” for when the bulk of companies release their reports. Although it would seem consequential for investors to follow “earnings season” closely for making well-informed investment decisions, evidence sug...

S2 E2 : Having a well-diversified portfolio is one of the main goals of most investment strategies. Although few would argue with this, the reality is that many investors eventually lose sight of why diversification was implemented in the first place. This episode illustrates, with vivid examples, how investors might say they want something, but what they actually do completely contradicts their s...

S2 E1 : Obviously, more experienced investors who know a lot about investing and the financial markets must do better than those with limited investing knowledge; right? The empirical evidence is very compelling when it comes to answering this question with a loud and resounding, NO. Jeff Harell provides research to support why simpler is often better than sophisticated when it comes to investment...

Host Jeff Harrell announces the return of Invested Poorly: Sad Tales of FI nancial Fails for a second season . New, real-life stories of greed, fear, hubris, and negligence that ensnared other investors will help you learn how to avoid the same investing mistakes. Season 2 introduces lessons on security selection and investment execution , as well as touches on the key topics from Season 1 of beha...