The Investor Coaching Show with Paul Winkler

Paul chatted with a curious young investor this week who was eager to share what he was investing in and ask for some constructive feedback. Listen along as Paul and Evan talk about showing investors the funds that have overlapping stocks and don’t offer more diversification. Paul and Evan share how this young investor was trying to follow the fundamentals of investing, but some of the most popula...

Many fund companies love to tout the strength of their technical analysis. They claim to have market experts poring over company books to see what should be in your portfolio and what should be out. Today, Paul shares a clip of a technical analyst really showing their lack of basic investment knowledge. Paul encourages you not to tie up your retirement with people who claim to be experts at market...

Imagine your house falling apart before your mortgage is even up. Unfortunately, this could become a reality for many homeowners. Homes are being built faster, bigger, and with lower-quality materials than they were 50 years ago. Today, Paul shares the devastating consequences when builders cut corners using materials and methods that aren’t built to last and homeowners don’t do their due diligenc...

This week, we’re walking through some investing myths. It's super easy for people to get pulled into these myths because they appeal to our instincts and our emotions. Our instincts tell us to go toward pleasure and away from pain. Listen along as Paul walks you through some of the stickiest traps in the industry and shares guiding principles that should inform your investment decisions.   Want to...

This week, we’re walking through some investing myths. It's super easy for people to get pulled into these myths because they appeal to our instincts and our emotions. Our instincts tell us to go toward pleasure and go away from pain. Listen along as Paul walks you through some of the stickiest traps in the industry and shares guiding principles that should inform your investment decisions.   Want...

Today, Evan shares research about what keeps people from saving for retirement. The list was long and included daily expenses, paying off debt, and caring for aging parents or children. The same research also concluded that people were starting major milestones later, but still felt confident about their retirement income. Listen along as Paul and Evan talk about how to know if you’re on track and...

Today, Paul shares an interview with the Edward Jones head of investment strategy, where she’s pressed about the lackluster performance of the area of the market most of their investors are in: large U.S. companies. She finally admits that they are still “feeling good” about the U.S. economy, but now might be a good time to consider diversifying in smaller companies and international companies. Pa...

Today, Paul and Evan answer a listener's questions about Trump Accounts and how the investments get managed. Listen along as the two advisors cover the restrictions on investments, the low contribution limits, and the tax implications of using one of these accounts to invest for minors. Then they pivot to a question about a possible rule change to the order in which you can make retirement and cat...

Today, Paul and Evan talk about the catastrophic drop in Bitcoin’s value and why Bitcoin traders keep digging their heels in, hoping for a brighter future. Listen along as these two advisors share how personal bias and financial news spin keep this risky digital commodity that few people understand alive through hectic bouts of demands and sell-offs. Later in the episode, Paul discusses a refinanc...

This week, Paul has been methodically taking you through the basic principles of building a portfolio that will help you reach your goals. We’ve looked at how cash, bonds, and stocks work together to minimize risk and talked about why picking high-yield bonds and individual stocks opens you up to non-systematic risk (aka risk you wouldn’t get compensated for). Today, Paul discusses the final step...

When we discuss investing in the stock market, most people think of investing in individual stocks. Paul shares that the returns with this approach are problematic. Listen along as Paul and Arlene talk about a different approach called asset class investing and explain the difference between picking individual stocks and investing in commingled investment vehicles.    Want to cut through the myths...

A diversified portfolio contains a mixture of cash, bonds, and stock investments. Not knowing how these assets work together leads to some of the most common and harmful investing traps. Today, Paul invites Arlene Brown onto the show to explain how cash holdings, bonds, and stocks can work together to limit your risk of short-term market fluctuations and long-term inflation. Listen along as these...

A diversified portfolio contains a mixture of cash, bonds, and stock investments. Not knowing how these assets work together leads to some of the most common and harmful investing traps. Today, Paul invites Arlene Brown onto the show to explain how cash holdings, bonds, and stocks can work together to limit your risk of short-term market fluctuations and long-term inflation. Listen along as these...

Paul shares a clip this morning that shows just how low the standard is for what financial media views as “credible” investing information. Listen along to hear an interview with Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, where she discusses the mistakes she learned from in 2025, which cost investors millions, and tries to get airtime to spin the 35% drop in Bitcoin as a victory in this market. Then, Paul ad...

When most people buy a car, they take on a substantial car payment. But how long does the high of having a nice new ride really last? Today, Paul discusses why government intervention in making cars easier to buy has historically led to chaotic markets and other economic issues. Listen along as Paul explains why it’s difficult to really meaningfully change your level of happiness through things li...

Today, Paul brings in a WSJ article that provides a list of potential events this year that could weaken the dollar against other world currencies. Paul wants confident investors to remember that you shouldn’t change your plan based on what may or may not happen in the future. Then, Paul explains why a weaker dollar isn’t always a bad thing for the U.S. economy, and why investors who follow the in...

When Paul first started this show, indexing and target-date funds were not very popular at all, as the world experienced a decade where large U.S. companies struggled to generate any returns for investors. Fast forward another decade, and indexing and target date funds are now all the rage as investors believe that “indexing” is synonymous with great returns, low fees, and wealth in retirement. In...

Paul runs into an annuity salesperson on Facebook who reveals that he made $300,000 in income in his first month and wasn’t remotely interested in helping people, but in showing off his skills to his peers. So, where does caring for clients fit into most of these sales? Paul shares the four steps people use to sell these products that you can look out for, and why it’s just not possible to trust h...

Evan talks about a celebration of life service he attended earlier in the day and reflects on how you never know how long life will be and how having a strong sense of purpose changes your perspective about money. Listen along as these two advisors describe why investing just to be good at investing and have a lot of wealth is what sucks you into get-rich-quick schemes and marketing trends.    Wan...

Paul and Evan get into a conversation about a common question for homeowners: Is it a better investment to put extra money in my house or in my portfolio? Paul talks about why you shouldn’t view your home as an investment unless you plan on selling it and moving into a tent. Listen along as these two advisors explain the importance of paying off or improving your home without viewing it as an inve...

We often discuss being a confident investor on the show, but confidence is only helpful if it’s combined with a disciplined, evidence-based approach rather than behaviors such as market timing or individual stock selection. Today, Paul shares an ad for Jim Cramer’s investing club that he saw on CNBC, where a client claims she is confident and finally “in control” of her investments. The ad reveals...

Paul and Jim talk about a pundit who told investors which funds to own in 2025, and those funds had a return of over 14%. Paul admits that most investors who saw this increase in their portfolio would probably think they did pretty well last year. The problem is that without benchmarking, they wouldn’t realize that the funds did worse than the S&P 500 and underperformed the market's leading se...

Every investment company is working to sell you on the idea that they can help you build wealth through cutting-edge technology and financial expertise, but the reality is that many of these companies, like Robinhood, are making money off you through activating your emotions and trying to cultivate a dopamine addiction around the gamification of gambling. Listen along as Paul and Jim talk about so...

No one likes to think about the day when they will no longer be here and their spouse or children will have to take on more responsibility in managing the family's finances. Today, Paul brings an article about the different approaches people take to preparing important information — such as your primary doctor, accountant, or attorney, as well as passwords and automated payments — as well as retir...

Paul talks about the news of America's capture of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and how this will lead to uneducated investors making one of the most painful money mistakes. Listen along as Paul talks about why responding to the news with either fear or greed comes from the basic misconception that investing is really just gambling or that knowing what will happen in the future gives y...