Money For The Rest Of Us

What are the forces that lead to the rise and fall of nations. Why does the U.S. appear to be in decline and what investors can do to prepare.Topics covered include:An overview of Ray Dalio and Bridgewater Associates' investment processWhy human productivity is the most powerful force for creating wealth.Additional forces that contribute to nations increasing in power and wealth.Why being the reserve currency is an exorbitant privilege.What are factors that indicate a nation's influence and power is in decline.What are 5 important monetary principles all investors should understand.What are the questions you should ask to gauge your economic well-being.What investments should you own to prepare for a changing world order.Thanks to LinkedIn Learning for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

A look at growing patterns consumers and businesses are adopting as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.Topics covered include:Two constants in a radically unpredictable worldHow removing things is more powerful than adding thingsHow airline travel will change, leading to more local travelWhy bicycle sales are soaringHow our social interactions are changingWhat is local maximaHow the forces of money, trust, technology, and climate change have played out in the aftermath of the pandemic.Thanks to The Great Courses Plus for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How the stock market differs from and can perform differently than the economy while remaining highly dependent on the economy for its success.Topics covered include:Why the stock markets in countries with lower economic growth performed better than the stock markets in countries with higher economic growth.How the top 5 stocks in the S&P 500 Index have the largest weighting in 30 years and what will it takes for these stocks to outperform the market.What are the largest contributors to U.S economic growth, most of which are not publicly traded.How the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve saved the stock market.How have stocks performed during economic recessions.Why it is risky for investors to be dependent on the financial prospects of the largest technology stocks.Thanks to Grammarly and Policygenius for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How to protect your savings from monetary threats like devaluation. Why high yield savings accounts exist, and are they worth it.Topics covered include:Why Lebanon defaulted on its national debt and announced it will devalue its currency by 57%.Why some depositors in Lebanon will probably lose some of their bank savings.What investors can do to protect themselves from currency devaluations.What are stablecoins and why are they useful.Why some online banks pay above-average interest rates on savings accounts.Why banks need to attract new deposits even though they create deposits when they make a loan.Thanks to Mint Mobile and Policygenius for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

Why the oil price fell below zero and what are other examples of negative prices. What lessons can we learn from negative prices.Topics covered include:How oil futures work and why the oil future prices fell below zero for the first time ever.Why has the United States Oil ETF (USO) lost so much money.How ETF authorized participants create new shares only so they can be shorted.How storage problems for oil and electricity can lead to negative prices.How negative interest rates are another form of negative prices.Why sellers will pay buyers to deliver a service to them.What financial lessons can we learn from negative prices.Thanks to LinkedIn Learning and The Investor's Podcast for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How central banks can become insolvent and why it can lead to hyperinflation. What are four ways the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury could monetize the national debt.Topics covered include:What are the major asset and liabilities of the Federal ReserveHow does the Federal Reserve make a profit and what happens if it suffers a loss.How has the Federal Reserve has significantly expanded the types of assets it will hold and what are the risks.What could cause the Federal Reserve and other central banks to become insolvent.What are the constraints central banks face.What are four ways the U.S. national debt could be monetized.How investors can protect themselves against central bank insolvency.Thanks to The Great Courses Plus and Policygenius for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How the stories we tell ourselves lead to economic change. What are current pandemic related narratives that are impacting financial markets and the economy.Topics covered include:Examples of mathematical models for epidemics.What are the risks when the global economy is opened again.Under what circumstances do individuals rely on anecdotal evidence rather than statistics.What are some propositions that underly how economic narratives spread.What are some examples of major narratives that impact the economy.How humans have a bias toward action and how to deal with that when the best course is to stay in place.Should investors be increasing their stock exposure now that the markets are rallying and central banks are taking aggressive action.Thanks to Policygenius and LinkedIn for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

What is the difference between risk and uncertainty and how our decision making approach should differ under each scenario. Why pandemics are highly uncertain and should be treated as such.Topics covered include:How the coronavirus pandemic is far worse than other pandemics this century.How humans have a difficult time accepting that things won't return to normal.What is the difference between risk and uncertainty.How we make decisions should differ if something is uncertain versus risky.What is the minimax regret approach to making decisions under uncertainty.How stories help us deal with uncertainty.How the story driving financial markets has changed.What is the duration and severity of bear markets during a recession and how large have bear market stock rallies been.What will it take for the pandemic to end and to be more confident about the future.Thanks to Mint Mobile and Grammarly for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

What central banks such as the Federal Reserve and federal governments are doing to counteract the negative impact of the pandemic related economic shutdown. What are the risks of this massive monetary and fiscal stimulus and how to mitigate those risks.Topics covered include:How central banks have the capacity to create an infinite amount of money.How the Federal Reserve is using its money-printing ability to stabilize the financial system and reduce the negative impact of the pandemic related economic shutdown.What are the mechanics of quantitative easing.What are examples of stimulus programs during the Great Depression that didn't work because they were too focused on social engineering. How massive central bank and government stimulus could lead to inflation or deflation.How inflation-indexed bonds such as Treasury Inflation Protection Securities can help reduce inflation risk, and why owning individual TIPs is particularly attractive right now.Why it's okay for investors with a long time horizon to

How to avoid ruin and help others avoid ruin as the economy shuts down to slow the spread of the coronavirus.Topics covered include:What is the precautionary principle and how can it help us make important decisions with regards to the coronavirus pandemic.How many people could be infected with Covid-19 in the next 30 to 60 days at the current daily growth rate.Why investment managers are selling assets to reduce their market exposure.Should individual investors be increasing or reducing their exposure to the stock market in the current market environment.How recent actions by the Federal Reserve suggest they think a U.S. recession is imminent.What can individuals locked down at home do to survive mentally and emotionally.What we can do to help businesses avoid ruin during the pandemic crisis. Thanks to Netsuite and Rad Power Bikes for sponsoring the episode. Text the word RAD to the number 64-000 to get a free accessory with the purchase of a bike.For show notes and more information on this episode clic

Why closed-end funds are David's favorite investment vehicle, particularly during market panics. What are the unique characteristics of these funds and what are successful strategies for investing them.Topics covered include:How closed-end funds differ from open-end mutual funds and ETFs.Why most closed-end funds are bond funds and use leverage.Why closed-end funds can sell at large discounts and premiums.What are managed distribution programs.How to evaluate and select closed-end funds.What is the Income Factory approach to closed-end fund investing.Thanks to LinkedIn and The HPScast for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

Why most investors practice both market timing and time in the market. Why it is okay to reduce stock exposure given the coronavirus pandemic threat.What would a stock portfolio return that misses the best or worst days and how likely is that.How do rolling 30-year stock returns differ depending on the starting point.Why are stocks likely to outperform bonds over the next 30 years.What is sequence of return risk. What is market timing.Why long-term investors should never move completely out of the stock market, but it is still okay to adjust stock exposure based on market conditions.What are some additional rules of thumb for market timing.How the coronavirus pandemic has increased financial and economic risks and what to do about it.Thanks to Policygenius and Mint Mobile for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

Almost half of Millennials want to retire early. Will that hurt economic growth? There were similar concerns in the 1920s that early retirement would wreck the economy. In fact, there was significant pushback against retiring at all due to fears retirements would destroy the economy. Yet, the Great Depression still came. In this episode, we consider what ended the Roaring Twenties, caused the Great Depression, and how early retirements impact the economy. Topics covered include:What is the paradox of thrift and how does it apply to early retirement.Why the 1920s were called the Roaring Twenties.Why the work culture in the 1920s was for workers to not retire, but "die in the harness."What caused the Great Depression.How economies and job markets adapt over time.How waves of early retirements could change the economy.Thanks to LinkedIn Learning and Vistaprint for sponsoring the episode. Use promo code David to get free shipping from Vistaprint.For show notes and more information on this episode click 

What factors lead to hyperinflation, why it is so devastating, how hyperinflation can be overcome and what can individuals do to be prepared for hyperinflation.Topics covered include:What causes inflation and how do central banks manage it.How the causes of hyperinflation differ from more normal levels of inflation.What is the biggest challenge of living in a country with hyperinflation.How Zimbabwe and other countries were able to overcome hyperinflation and how Venezuela is slowly taking steps to combat hyperinflation.Why Zimbabwe is again experiencing high inflation.How individuals can protect against inflation.What individuals can do to prepare for hyperinflation in case it comes.Thanks to Netsuite and Policygenius for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How pandemics have impacted the economy and financial markets. Where does the coronavirus rank in severity compared to other pandemics. What portfolio changes, if any, should investors make in response to the coronavirus pandemic.Topics covered include:Definition of a pandemicThe worst pandemics in the 20th and 21st centuriesWhat are the factors in determining the severity of the coronavirus' impactWhat are the economic ramifications of the coronavirus.How did financial markets perform during previous pandemic episodes.Are there portfolio changes investors should make in response to the coronavirusThanks to Policygenius and LinkedIn Jobs for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How most money, such as currency, bank deposits, money market mutual funds, and repurchase agreements, is really short-term debt, often backed by other debt. As a result, money is subject to runs when investors lose confidence and don't want to own it. That can lead to financial crises.Topics covered in this episode include:How counterfeiting currency works.Why most money is debt backed by debt.How a loss of confidence in money leads to bank runs and other financial crises.How demand for U.S. Treasuries as collateral is keeping interest rates low even though the U.S. federal budget deficit is growing.Why the Federal Reserve is considering capping interest rate yields on U.S. Treasuries and what are the risks of doing so.What can individuals do to protect themselves against financial crisis caused by runs on banks and financial securities.Thanks to Vistaprint for sponsoring the episode. Use promo code: "david" to get free shipping. Also thank you to The Bouqs Company for sponsoring the show. Use promo code: "d

How to protect against financial hardship and assist others who are struggling financially.Topics covered include:Why are so many families leaving Central America and seeking to enter the United States.How have U.S. immigration patterns changed.Why immigration leads to higher economic growth.Why unsheltered homelessness is increasing around the world and what strategies have been effective in reducing homelessness.What can individuals do to assist the homeless and others who are in financial distress.Note: The original audio file stated that "oftentimes they [the ayslum seekers] wouldn't ever show up for their court case." That is an inaccurate statement. Most asylum seekers attend their court hearing. The audio has been modified to remove the inaccuracy.Thanks to The Bouqs Co. for sponsoring the episode. Use code: david. Also thanks to Policygenius for being a long-time sponsor of the show.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How investors make money with carry trades, how central banks encourage such trades, and what are the dangers to financial markets and the economy when carry trades get too big.Topics covered include:What are the attributes and examples of carry trades.Why do carry trades exist even though investors can suffer massive losses.What was Volmageddeon and Francogeddan.How central banks are the largest carry traders and their actions encourage even more carry trades.Why carry trades are deflationary and lead to systemic risk.What should individual investors do about carry trades and how to take advantage of carry crashes.Thanks to Robinhood and NetSuite for sponsoring the episodeFor show notes and more information on this episode click here.

What factors determine the well-being of an individual or nation and why gross domestic product is an inadequate measure of prosperity.Topics covered include:Evidence many Americans are poorer than before the Great Recession.Why life expectancy in the U.S. is falling.How satisifiedare U.S. citizens.What is GDP and why is the U.S. Bureau of Economics developing a new methodologyWhat are the flaws with GDP and why does it fall short in measuring well-being.Which countries around the world are the most and least happy and what are the factors that contribute to that happiness.Why were U.S. founding fathers worried about too many luxuries.How the U.S. in the 19th century followed the same manufacturing model that China does today.Thanks to Policygenius and LinkedIn for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.

How climate change, money, trust and technology will interact to impact financial markets and the economy in the coming decade.Topics covered include:Why we change much more over a decade's time than we predict.What is the best approach for transitioning to a new career.What have stocks and bonds returned over the past decade and what are reasonable return expectations for the decade ahead.Examples of how the impact of climate change is being priced into financial transactions.Why Ray Dalio thinks the world has gone mad and the system is broken.Why uncertainties regarding the creation, use and borrowing of money will be reflected in interest rates.How trust and technology will impact global trade and productivity growth.Thanks to Cove and Sleep Number for sponsoring the episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.