The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom

High interest rates get painted as “bad news” almost by default—but for everyday people, that’s only half the story. In this episode, Evan and Andrew break down why higher rates can actually help you build a stronger financial foundation, especially if you’re a saver. You’ll learn how higher rates can boost what you earn on idle cash (like emergency funds), make fixed-income options like CDs, T-bi...

Finding a great stock idea is hard—especially when you’re new and it feels like everyone has “the best” method. In this Back to the Basics episode, Stephen and Andrew compare how they personally generate investing ideas: Stephen’s rabbit hole method (starting with a company you already understand and branching out through suppliers, competitors, and beneficiaries) versus Andrew’s more numbers-firs...

Circle of competence” sounds fancy, but it’s really just this: know what you know, and know what you don’t. In this episode, Stephen and Andrew break down how most investing mistakes happen when you get confident in a business you don’t truly understand—even if the company feels familiar on the surface. You’ll learn how to define your circle of competence, how to expand it safely over time, and ho...

Thinking about buying an EV? In this episode, Evan breaks down the actual financial impact of owning an electric vehicle—using his real numbers from owning a Tesla Model 3 since December 2023. Instead of debating whether EVs are “cool” or “annoying,” this episode stays focused on the money: upfront price differences, tax credits, charging costs, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and the big un...

Compound interest is one of the most powerful (and most misunderstood) forces in investing. In this Back to the Basics episode, we break down what compound interest actually is, why time matters more than most people think, and how even small contributions can snowball into life-changing money. We also talk through the Rule of 72, why dividends can supercharge compounding, and the mindset shift th...

Share dilution sounds scary — and a lot of the time, it is. In this episode, we break down what dilution actually means, why companies do it, and how it can either help you or quietly hurt you. We also dig into the flip side: buybacks. Buybacks can boost your slice of the “pizza,” but they can also be a trap if a company is borrowing money to fund them, skipping real growth investments, or buying...

Job-hopping for higher pay is common advice—but does “more money” actually improve your life? Evan is joined by Andrew Sather to challenge the reflex to chase bigger numbers and to zoom out to the stuff the salary statistic never captures: stress, hours, commute, PTO, culture, and whether the work aligns with what you care about. They walk through a practical decision framework: define your financ...

In this episode, we go back to the basics: why companies go public in the first place, what an IPO actually is, and why the hype around “getting in early” often works against everyday investors. We talk through the real incentives—raising capital, letting founders and early employees cash out, and funding aggressive growth—especially in winner-take-all industries like tech. We also cover the trade...

In today’s episode, we kick things off with Amazon’s new 3.5% fee for third-party sellers and why the internet outrage might be missing the bigger point: shipping, logistics, and supply chain costs are real—and they don’t magically disappear just because Prime feels “free.” Then we dig into peak market mania: a shoe company (Allbirds) announces a pivot to AI and the stock rips higher in a single d...

In this episode, Evan dives deep into the realities of debt, including the emotional and financial impact of paying off a mortgage early. We challenge the age-old myth that "renting is throwing away money" and explore how to properly view your primary residence as a lifestyle choice rather than a pure investment. Whether you are looking to buy, rent, or manage existing debt, this episode breaks do...

In this episode, Andrew and Stephen step away from in-depth stock market analysis to tackle a more personal topic: how to talk to the people you love about investing. Stephen shares a personal story about his dad's journey from skepticism to believing in the power of compounding, and the guys discuss common misconceptions that keep people from starting their wealth-building journey. They break dow...

In this episode, Andrew tackles a listener's question about the recent brutal sell-off in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) sector and whether AI is coming to eat Adobe’s lunch. He dives into the real threats facing software companies, unpacks some alarming studies on the psychological impacts of AI, and explains why comparing the current AI boom to the early days of the internet might be a dangero...

In today’s episode, Evan (aka Aaron) Raidt and Andrew Sather tackle one of the most debated questions in the investing world: Should you drip your money into the market slowly or dump it all in at once? We break down the psychological hurdles of "waiting for the dip," the math behind historical market performance, and why your emotional temperament might be the most important factor in your strate...

In Part 2 of our deep dive into earnings calls, Stephen and Andrew translate the weird metaphors Wall Street loves to use. From "headwinds" to the confusing "puts and takes," they decode exactly what CEOs mean. Andrew explains why most Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) destroy shareholder value, while Stephen shares a snowboarding story to illustrate what happens when a company gets "ahead of its skis....

In this back-to-basics episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew tackle one of the most intimidating hurdles for new stock pickers: Earnings Calls. Wall Street loves to use complex acronyms to make simple concepts sound sophisticated, but the guys are here to translate. They break down the core structure of an earnings call and equip you with the BS-detector you need to cu...

In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan and Andrew break down the hidden tax traps that can catch even the most responsible investors off guard. From the brutal reality of self-employment taxes on your side hustle to the surprise tax bill hiding in your High-Yield Savings Account, they discuss the rules you need to know to protect your wealth. They also cover the "wash-sale rule," how 401K withdrawal...

In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew break down the ultimate capital allocation debate: Dividends versus Stock Buybacks. They discuss the mechanics of how retiring shares increases your slice of the pie, why Wall Street treats dividend-paying companies like "boomers," and the hidden dangers of buybacks used to mask executive compensation. Andrew defends the ps...

In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew take aim at "common sense" stock market advice that might actually be hurting your portfolio. The guys expose 10 sophisticated-sounding traps that even experienced investors fall into. From the "Pokémon Fallacy" of over-diversification to the dangers of blindly buying the dip, they break down why Wall Street jargon often le...

In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan and Andrew tackle the sacred cow of personal finance: the 401K. While everyone knows about the amazing tax benefits and the undeniable power of an employer match , the duo discusses how maxing out your 401K could actually be holding you back financially. From the painful reality of having your money locked up until age 59½ , to the restrictive investment option...

In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew look beyond the income statement to uncover how healthy a company truly is by diving into the cash flow statement. Along with addressing some hilarious rumors about Andrew's perfectly styled hair, the duo breaks down the nuts and bolts of working capital—including accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable. They d...

In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew dive into the fascinating business model of Ferrari, arguing that it operates more like a luxury lifestyle conglomerate than a traditional automaker. They contrast Ferrari's strategy of prioritizing value over volume against the traditional auto industry's "race to the bottom". By digging into Ferrari's 20-F, they unpack th...

In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan Raidt and Andrew Sather dive into college financial aid. They cover the crucial differences between scholarships, grants, and fellowships—highlighting that they offer tax-advantaged money you don't need to pay back. Evan shares how he graduated debt-free by leveraging the UCF Provost and Florida Bright Futures scholarships, while Andrew reflects on his own high...

In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Andrew and Stephen tackle the massive macroeconomic shifts happening right now due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, the global flow of oil and liquid natural gas has been severely choked, causing energy prices to skyrocket—not just at the pump here in the US, but even more drastically across Europe and Asia....

What separates the world’s greatest investors from the rest? In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Andrew sits down with Lee Freeman-Shor, former fund manager and author of The Art of Execution and the hotly anticipated follow-up, Stock Market Maestros. Lee shares his fascinating experience managing over 100 top fund managers and reveals a shocking truth: even the best investors...

In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan Raidt and Andrew Sather dive into a fantastic listener question from Joey. Joey asks a common but critical question: if a standard market ETF averages 10% a year, but a wealth manager can get you 16% for a 1% fee, shouldn't you just hire the professional? Topics Covered: The Reality of 16% Returns: Andrew explains why finding a manager who can consistently beat...