Money For the Rest of Us

#221 How the Great Financial Crisis changed how individuals and institutions invest, and why we shouldn't invest solely focused on the next crisis. Thanks to CNote for sponsoring today's episode. For show notes and more information on this episode click here . [0:40] Overview of how the 2008 financial crisis continues to impact investing today [6:48] Data on current investments and the stock marke...

#220 How to evaluate cash savings options at banks, credit unions and brokerage firms. Why are yields on cash savings so much higher than a few years ago. How to tell if your bank or credit union is in experiencing financial difficulties. Thank you to Blinkist for sponsoring this week's episode. For show notes and more information on this episode click here . [0:10] All about banks, credit un...

#219 How fewer publicly traded companies, less stock shares outstanding and more intangible assets have led to higher earnings growth for U.S. listed companies and ultimately stronger stock market performance. Thanks to Circle Invest for sponsoring today's episode. For show notes and more information on this episode click here . [0:08] Observations on the current state of the US stock market [4:01...

#218 What are the headwinds facing China that could slow economic growth, but still could lead to China growing faster than the U.S. Also, what is going on with Turkey and are other emerging market countries vulnerable to the same plight? Thanks to Circle Invest for sponsoring today's episode. For show notes and more information on this episode click here . [1:07] Is China or the US more vulnerabl...

#217 Which rebalancing strategy is best or should we even bother rebalancing? Should we just exit stocks completely, especially given how overvalued the U.S. stock market it is? And why do companies split their stocks? In this episode, we answer these and other listener questions.  For show notes and more information on this episode click here . [0:30] Why this episode of Money For the Rest o...

#216 Why peer-to-peer lending on platforms like Lending Club and Upstart is no place for individuals to invest given higher defaults, lower returns and competition from institutional investors.  Thanks to Circle Invest for sponsoring today's episode. For show notes and more information on this episode click here . Episode Chronology [1:04] There are a lot of issues going on with the global P2...

#215 Will stagflation cause the dollar to crash and be a bottomless pit when the next recession hits? That is what Peter Schiff is predicting. We look at where he is right and where he seems to be off the mark when it comes to the U.S. economy and a dollar collapse. Thanks to Haven Life and Wunder Capital for sponsoring today's episode. For show notes and more information on this episode click her...

#214 How the foreign exchange market works and how George Soros made more than a $1 billion shorting the British pound in 1992. Why currency trading today is more like gambling than when Soros made his billions. Why trading closed end funds can be more profitable than currency trading. Thanks to Wunder Capital and Blooom for sponsoring todays' episode. Use code DAVID on Blooom for your first month...

#213 How health insurance isn't really protection against a catastrophic illness but prepayment of routine healthcare consumption, leading to overconsumption of healthcare and over treatment by medical professionals that drive up costs. What would it take to reform the health insurance marketplace so it is more fair and functions more like life insurance or homeowners insurance. Show notes and lin...

#212 How a complex global trade system has reduced poverty, raised incomes, increased productivity, and lowered prices while a trade war will reverse those trends. You can find show notes and links here. Thanks to Blooom and Wunder Capital for sponsoring this episode. Episode Summary President Trump recently unveiled new tariffs on trade with China, and many fear this decision could lead to a trad...

#211 Why housing bubbles can last such a long time and what to do if you really want or need to buy a house in a frothy market. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Navigating a housing bubble is often on everyone’s minds. With changing family needs, balancing multiple incomes, and varying environmental factors, finding a great house is a struggle most familie...

#210 Why fair markets require uncertainty for both the buyer and the seller, and why sellers don't need to disclose everything they know to the buyer. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Thanks to Wunder Capital for sponsoring this week's episode. Episode Summary A recent listener of the Money For the Rest of Us podcast posed the question, “Are there always winners and loser...

#209 Is it worth investing outside your home country given the risk? Should you hedge currency risk? What is the impact of Chinese "A" share listed companies being added to emerging market indices. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Should you be investing internationally? What are the benefits to having foreign stocks in your portfolio? Do the currency risk...

#208 How a Chinese ban and careless recycling habits by households and businesses led to a market collapse in recyclables. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary The biggest market crash facing the United States today isn’t entirely economic in nature. It’s actually surrounding the idea of recycling and recyclable goods. Recycling is a service that most communit...

#207 Why the mega rich don't have magical investing powers, but there are some investing attributes they possess that we can emulate. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary A new listener of Money For the Rest of Us inspired the question for this episode: how do the mega rich invest? Forbes reports that there are 585 billionaires in the US and most of them utili...

#206 Why the leveraged loan market (i.e. bank loans) is becoming more risky. What are collateralized loan obligations and how do they influence bank loans. Why I will sell my bank loans fund when the economy turns.  More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Just as you need to be “bear aware” when traveling in the backcountry, you also need to be aware of the...

#205 If the Federal Reserve has printed over $2 trillion dollar and given it to banks to lend, why is U.S. inflation still low? More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Many people wonder if the Federal Reserve is really printing money. Varied schools of thought exist behind the value of money, how it gets injected into a country’s economy, and how it impacts the...

#204 How low real interest rates contribute to low returns for stocks and other risk assets. How real interest rates are determined. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Low investment returns are never the best news for financial investors. On this episode of Money For the Rest of Us, David examines the relationships between real interest rates and investment...

#203 How to make better investing and life decisions. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary David asks the question, “Is investing more like poker or chess?” on this episode of Money For the Rest of Us in order to help you better understand why investing is inherently unpredictable. The book, “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All t...

#202 What are the impediments to the mass adoption of electric vehicles. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Over the past few months David has been traveling across the country and throughout the trip, he’s covered thousands of highway miles and seen countless vehicles. This inspired him to ask the question, “Will my next car be electric?” On this episode of...

#201 Why most conventional portfolios make huge and often unintended bets on the stock market. How role based investing can lead to a more balanced portfolio. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Having a balanced portfolio is a key to financial success. It offers a secure future and provides a level of security to your day-to-day lifestyle. On this episo...

#200 Joshua Sheats from the Radical Personal Finance podcast and I discuss our different views regarding the national debt and the severity of the U.S. government fiscal situation. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Navigating a housing bubble is often on everyone’s minds. With changing family needs, balancing multiple incomes, and varying environmental fact...

#199 How a bank panic led to the creation of the Federal Reserve, and why having diversified sources of money can protect us in case we have a bank panic today and can't get access to our bank deposits. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Asking the question “What kind of money is it?” may seem a bit unnecessary. Everyone knows what money is, what it does, an...

#198 Why save for retirement if capitalism is going to collapse and/or universal basic income will be available. How millennials can lead the next work transition.  More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary Capitalism, universal basic income, socialism, and artificial intelligence are all tied together in America’s current economy. Today’s millennials are aski...

#197 Why having less things and activities gives us more freedom and happiness. Why low probability risks are unacceptable if the consequences affect all of us. More information, including show notes, can be found here. Episode Summary The inspiration behind this episode came from the idea of the power of local and less, from Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s book Skin in the Game. David discusses the power...