Money For The Rest Of Us

A new executive order could radically reshape retirement investing by allowing private equity, crypto, and gold in 401(k) plans. This episode examines the factors driving the demand for alternative assets in defined-contribution plans, the potential risks to everyday investors, and why fiduciary rules and financial literacy gaps still matter.Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesTrump Executive Order to Help Open Up 401(k)s to Private Markets by Miriam Gottfried, Dylan Tokar, and Matt Wirz—The Wall Street JournalDonald Trump set to open US retirement market to crypto investments by Antoine Gara, Jamie John, and Stephanie Stacey—The Financial TimesU.S. Labor Department Allows Private Equity in 401(k) Plans by Chris Cumming—The Wall Street JournalU.S. Department of Labor Supplement Statement on Private Equity in Defined Contrib

We explore the compelling questions surrounding artificial intelligence. Will AI create more new jobs than it destroys? Is AI already destroying jobs? Are we seeing overinvestment in companies and infrastructure in the AI space? Is there evidence that AI has increased productivity?SponsorsMoney for the Rest of Us PlusAsset CampShow NotesBehind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath by Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen—AxiosYuval Noah Harari Statement - Post by Nunki08—RedditChallenger Report June 2025—Challenger, Gray & ChristmasEntry level jobs fall by nearly a third since ChatGPT launch by Karl Matchett—The IndependentStrategic Insights for M&A in the Evolving AI Market—S&P GlobalNvidia Becomes First Public Company Worth $4 Trillion by Tripp Mickle—The New York TimesSilicon Valley is racing to build the first $1trn unicorn—The EconomistHow to use generative AI to augment your workforce by Betsy Vereckey—MIT ManagementHumans must remain at the heart of the AI story by Marc Benioff—The Financial TimesThe

How the investing landscape is being reshaped by the global race for critical minerals.Topics covered in this conversation between FEG's Greg Dowling and private equity firm Kinterra Capital's co-founders, Cheryl Brandon and Kamal Toor include:How mining and mineral processing workWhat are critical minerals, what is driving the demand for them, and will it continueHow the rise of passive management has led to underinvestment in miningHow to reconcile care for the environment and the need to mine critical mineralsWhat are the attributes that contribute to successful private capital investmentsWhy querying ChatGPT is insufficient to get up to speed on an investing topic, and what to do instead.Episode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesFEG Insight Bridge episode page with transcriptKinterr

We examine how robo-advisors have evolved over the past decade to determine if their services justify the fees they charge.Topics covered include:How large are the top 5 robo-advisorsRobo-advisor feesRobo-advisor holdingsWhy robo-advisors are turning toward direct indexing for tax loss harvestingHow much excess return does tax loss harvesting generateWho can benefit from using robo-advisorsSponsorsAsset CampLinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesThe Tax Benefits of Direct Indexing, and How They Are Affected by the Biden Tax Plan by Nathan Sosner et al.—SSRNAn Empirical Evaluation of Tax-Loss Harvesting Alpha by Shomesh Chaudhuri et al.—SSRNRelated Episodes398: When Should You Hire An Investment Advisor? Two Case Studies92: What Robo-Advisors RecommendSee Privacy Pol

How our spending, investing, and life strategy change as our net worth grows. We consider how skill, luck, discipline, relationships, and AI can allow us to ascend and, in some cases, descend the wealth ladder.SponsorsNetSuite LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesOf Dollars and Data - Nick MaggiulliThe Wealth Ladder by Nick MaggiulliRitzholz Wealth ManagementRelated Episodes461: How Much Should Your Net Worth Grow Each Year?252: How to Become Wealthy119: Investing Won't Make You RichSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Circle Invest, one of the leading stablecoin providers, just went public, and its stock price has tripled. We delve into the growth of stablecoins, their applications, and the associated risks. We also discuss the surprising political pushback against central bank digital currencies.Episode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offNetSuite Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesTop Stablecoin Tokens by Market Capitalization—CoinMarketCapRuns and Flights to Safety: Are Stablecoins the New Money Market Funds? by Kenechukwu Anadu et al—New York FedAmendment No. 3 to FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933—SECWhy Crypto Stablecoins Still Worry the Fed by Olga Kharif and Yueqi Yang—BloombergCentral Bank Digital Currency Tracker—Atlantic CouncilSTRENGTHENING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN DIGITAL FINANCIAL

From wildfires to AI-driven demand surges, the power grid is under pressure—and so is the investment landscape around it. Scott Harland of Rockland Capital visits with Greg Dowling of FEG to explore the risks, opportunities, and critical shifts shaping the future of energy.Topics covered include:The necessity of a balanced energy mix, including traditional and renewable energy sourcesHow the private sector is playing a larger role in building out energy infrastructureRising energy demand from data centers and AI, and how that demand can be metInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesHungry, Hungry, Hyperscalers with Scott Harlan - FEG Insight BridgeRelated Episodes502: Should You Invest in Nuclear Energy?469: Which Will Perform Better: Berkshire Hathaway or Utility Stocks?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N

With longer-term U.S. interest rates rising and no plan to reduce the budget deficit, is a U.S. national debt crisis imminent?Topics covered include:Why S&P, Fitch, and now Moody's stripped the U.S. of its pristine AAA debt ratingHow the U.S. national debt dynamics compare to Greece, Italy, and JapanWhat are four things investors should monitor for signs that the national debt crisis is worsening or spiraling out of controlInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesMoody's Ratings downgrades United States ratings to Aa1 from Aaa; changes outlook to stable—Moody's RatingsResearch Update: United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To 'AA+' On Political Risks And Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative—S&P GlobalInterest Expense and Average Interest Rates on the National Debt FY 2010 – FYTD 2025—FiscalData.Treasury.govThe Stark Math on

How can we apply the same emergency measures that Harvard and other universities are using to navigate a financial crisis? Also, how universities invest their endowments and what their performance has been.Topics covered include:What has led to the financial crisis at HarvardWhat actions has the university takenHow do endowments invest and spend their fundsHow endowments maintain intergenerational equityHow we can apply the principles universities use in our own investingSponsorsNetSuite LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesLetter Sent to Harvard 2025-04-11—HarvardHarvard Response 2025-04-14—HarvardTrump Administration Will Freeze $2 Billion After Harvard Refuses Demands by Vimal Patel—The New York TimesShould Harvard Be Tax Exempt? by The Editorial Board—The

Discover how bond market ETFs have transformed investing — making bonds easier, cheaper, and more accessible than ever. We also explore how the bond market’s very composition has evolved.Episode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesThe total return strategy in bonds is far from dead by James Bianco—The Financial TimesWhat I Learned in My First Year Managing Fixed-Income by Jim Bianco—Bianco Research AdvisorsETFs are eating the bond market by Robin Wigglesworth and Will Schmitt—The Financial TimesRelated Episodes463: How to Lock in Higher Yields in Case Interest Rates Fall455: Easier Investing, Richer Life: TIPS Ladders to Annuities418: Bond Investing MasterclassSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-m

Ali Akay, CIO of Carrhae Capital, answers why invest in emerging markets. He also shares with Greg Dowling of FEG insights on China, Mexico, South Korea, Argentina, Greece, Turkey, South Korea, and South Africa.Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesEmerging Unscathed: Featuring Ali Akay—FEG Insight BridgeRelated Episodes474: Are Emerging Markets Bonds a Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity?411: Is Emerging and Frontier Markets Investing Still Worth It? – With Asha MehtaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S has traditionally been a safe haven for investing, but that hasn't been the case in 2025. We explore three economic and narrative regimes and consider why we may be witnessing a shift after 12 years of U.S. outperformance.Topics covered include:What was the narrative and economic and financial performance from 1995-2001, 2002-2012, and 2012 -2024.How the performance of the U.S. dollar impacted returnsWhy did economic forecasters predict the U.S. national debt would be paid off in 2011, and why were they wrong?Signs that the current economic and financial narrative is shifting.Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesTestimony of Chairman Alan Greenspan Outlook for the federal budget and implications for fiscal policy Before the Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate January 25, 2001—The Federal Reserve BoardFederal Surplus or Deficit [-]

In this episode, we explore what it means to invest in a non-ergodic world—where time, not averages, determines outcomes. We unpack concepts like volatility drag, ensemble vs. time averages, and the implications for portfolio strategy, while also reflecting on how AI and zero-click search are reshaping business and investor behavior.Topics covered include:What is ergodicity and why it mattersHow path dependency and emerging phenomena disrupt the long-termHow podcasting and blogging has changedWhat is the future of Money for the Rest of UsEpisode SponsorsNetSuite LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesWayback Machine: jdstein.comProbabilities and Payoffs: The Practicalities and Psychology of Expected Value by Michael J. Mauboussin and Dan Callahan, CFA—Morgan St

What will the impact be now that the U.S. has one of the highest tariff rates in the world?Topics covered include:Why the Trump administration raised tariffsHow the last round of U.S. tariffs led to higher prices and lower economic growthFour ways the world remains close to record connectivityWho have been the winners and losers from global tradeWhat will be the impact of this trade warEpisode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesThe economic consequences of Mr Trump – looking for clarity in the tariffs chaos by Neil Shearing—Capital EconomicsTariff rate, most favored nation, simple mean, all products (%)—World Bank GroupDonald Trump’s tariffs will fix a broken system by Peter Navarro—The Financial TimesDHL Global Connectedness Tracker—DHLObjective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach by Ka

Greg Dowling of FEG interviews Max Belmont, a gold specialist and portfolio manager at First Eagle Investments. Greg and Max discuss the historical, philosophical, and practical reasons for owning gold.Topics covered include:Where does gold’s reputation as a safe haven come from, and why it trades differently than other commodities.How gold differs from other asset classes including Bitcoin, which is sometimes referred to as digital gold.How we should think about gold when including it in our investment portfolios.Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesThe Golden Age with Max Belmont - FEG Insight Bridge episode pageRelated Episodes431: The Long-term Bullish Case for Gold316: Paper, Rocks, or Digits—What Makes the Best Money263: Should You Invest In Gold?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:/

We compare three approaches to closed-end fund investing: Opportunistic trading, the buy and hold income factory, and a systematic approach of selling closed-end funds after 5% gains.We also explore the pros and cons of closed-end funds relative to open-end mutual funds and ETFs.Episode SponsorsStawberry.meNetSuite Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesThe Closed-End Fund Market, 2023—Investment Company InstituteThe Income Factory: An Investor’s Guide to Consistent Lifetime Returns by Steven Bavaria—McGraw-Hill CompaniesRetirement Money Secrets: A Financial Insider's Guide to Income Independence by Steve Selengut—RIC LLCHow to Invest in Closed-End Funds—Money for the Rest of UsInvesting in Closed-End Funds Course—Money for the Rest of UsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p

How trade deficits are making the U.S. poorer, while in the past they have made the U.S. wealthier.Topics covered include:Two ways countries can increase their competitivenessHow savings always equals investmentWhy excess savings flows to the U.S. leading to a drop in U.S. domestic savingsWhy the U.S. current trade situation could lead to a debt crisisEpisode SponsorsNetSuite LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesWhy U.S. Debt Must Continue to Rise by Michael Pettis—Carnegie EndowmentCould Trump devalue the dollar with a "Mar-a-Lago Accord"? by Paul Diggle and Luke Bartholomew—Aberdeen InvestmentsA User’s Guide to Restructuring the Global Trading System by Stephen Miran—Hudson Bay CapitalIs Peter Navarro Wrong on Trade? by Michael Pettis—Carnegie EndowmentRela

How the Trump administration is using tariffs as a negotiating tool to weaken the U.S. dollar and increase the global competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.Topics covered include:Why U.S. stocks are falling, and recession risk is increasingHow the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency is becoming a burden on the U.S.How the Trump administration aims to reduce its trade deficit and make it less attractive for foreign governments to own U.S. assetsWhat are the risks of trying to weaken the U.S. dollarEpisode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offStawberry.meInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesStock Market News, March 10, 2025: Nasdaq Falls 4% After Trump Doesn't Rule Out Recession by Caitlin McCabe and Krystal Hur—The Wall Street JournalTrump Says US Economy Faces ‘Transition,’ Avoids Recession Call by María Paula Mijares Torres—

This week on episode 514, we share a conversation between Howard Smith of Indus Capital and Greg Dowling of FEG Investment Advisors on why Japan could surprise investors over the next decade with strong investment returns. David introduces the episode by sharing his key takeaways from the discussion.FEG Investment Advisor is David's former institutional advisory firm, where he worked for 17 years, before founding Money for the Rest of Us. Greg Dowling is Chief Investment Officer of FEG, and David's former business partner and colleague.Topics covered in the episode include:The false narrative that Japan is a difficult place to invest with subpar returnsWhy Japan's national debt problem is not as worrisome as the U.S. national debtWhy the Japanese yen is tremendously undervaluedHow Japan's corporate governance has improvedOpportunities in Japanese technology industriesInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur

We consider the incongruency of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the latest crypto exchange hack, and how most participants lost money on the Trump meme coin. Given all that, we review some areas where cryptocurrency is helping individuals and businesses.Topics CoveredWhat is the U.S. Strategic Petroleum ReserveWhy it makes little sense for the U.S. and individual states to create and participate in a Strategic Bitcoin ReserveWhat led to the latest and largest cryptocurrency exchange hack in historyHow financial and other data breaches impacted over 1 billion people last year, costing over $15 billionHow quantum computers could disrupt the security of cryptocurrency and traditional financial systemsWhy most speculators lose money on meme coinsWhat are some current ways cryptocurrency is helping individuals and businesses achieve greater financial stability and lower costsEpisode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offStawberry.meInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklis