Money For The Rest Of Us

#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 unions, and the pros and cons of cash savings[4:47] How can banks and credit unions become financially unstable?[14:25] The Federal Reserve is setting a new short term interest rate target[15:55] What tools does the Federal Reserve have to keep short-term interest rates in line with its target?[19:20] There are other options for investing your cash savings[25:49] Is it really worth pursuing multiple investing options for your cash savings?

#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] What if there’s something going on within the US market that suggests continued outperformance is coming?[7:23] Why the number of publicly listed companies, particularly small companies, is shrinking[14:52] The impact of intangible assets within small companies[18:21] Increased amounts of buybacks are leading to a shrinking stock market[20:38] Multiple factors are contributing to higher shareholder profits, yet lower wages for employees[26:05] What are the investment implications of low wages due to monsopony?

#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 vulnerable to economic downturn?[4:55] Why have emerging markets done so poorly recently?[8:51] The concept of balance of payment is reviewed and examined in a case study of Turkey[16:20] Emerging markets are doing better than in previous years[20:35] The 3 reasons why China is more vulnerable than the US[22:25] What China has to do in order for their economy to continue growing quickly

#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 of Us is a bit different than previous ones[2:15] Is rebalancing your portfolio really necessary?[12:43] Can you use valuations for timing the market?[23:17] Is it possible to use exiting stocks as a way to increase revenue?[33:39] The idea behind doing investing on a sector neutral basis rather than a capitalization weighted basis.[36:20] What factors do companies consider when doing stock splits?

#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 P2P lending market[5:34] How the P2P lending environment has changed over the past few years[11:24] Why advertised returns are higher than actual returns[15:35] How are these P2P lending platforms surviving?[21:26] How these 3 credit enhancements impact the P2P lending market[25:51] Individual investors don’t do as well in P2P lending environments - here’s why[30:00] Here’s the bottom line on why you should avoid P2P lending investments

#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 here.Episode Chronology[0:33] Is a dollar collapse imminent? [3:07] Economic expansions don’t die of old age[5:22] How tariffs and imports impact the US economy[10:44] If the dollar has to crash, it does so relative to other currencies[14:01] The relationship between the Federal Reserve and interest rates[19:11] Bank deposits, savings, loans, and interest rates all contribute to the US economy today[24:29] The relationship between money supply and inflation is essential to understand[33:08] Why David doesn’t believe a dollar crash and economic ruin are on the horizon

#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 free.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.[0:35] David introduces the listener question for this episode, “Should You Trade Foreign Currencies?”[2:24] Why David would never invest in Forex strategies [6:56] How trading works on platforms such as Darwinex[8:43] Investing through trading currencies is like gambling[11:40] The George Soros story and how governments can balance the economy through interest rate control[24:20] Betting against the exchange rate of foreign currencies isn’t reliable[27:50] The benefits of investing in closed-end fund markets

#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 links can be found here. Thanks to Circle Invest for sponsoring today's episode.For show notes and more information on this episode click here.[0:57] Why pay $20 for a doctor’s visit, when health insurance is $36,000 a year?[4:03] Digging into the fundamental flaw in health insurance[9:10] Why does health insurance pay for “routine maintenance” on our health?[13:20] The pros and cons of employer-based health insurance policies[19:35] Health insurance is a mess because it doesn’t primarily insure against a catastrophic health event[21:42] The current setup for health insurance limits healthcare choices and encourages ove

#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 SummaryPresident Trump recently unveiled new tariffs on trade with China, and many fear this decision could lead to a trade war. This 25% tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports into the U.S. and an additional $216 billion of announced tariffs will change the trade landscape in the coming months. On this episode of Money For the Rest of Us, David explains why trade wars tend to increase the prices of goods and the poverty rate. He discusses the consequences attached to global trade tariff decisions and outlines why healthy global trade is successful in reducing poverty. To hear informed information about the complexities of tariffs and global trade, be sure to give this episode your full attention.Why does the US run such a large t

#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 SummaryNavigating 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 families face. On this episode of Money For the Rest of Us, David responds to a listener’s question of how to navigate a housing bubble. He explains the idea of “economic gravity,” outlines factors that are influencing the global housing market, and offers solutions to the housing bubble crisis.A housing bubble cannot break free from economic gravityDavid discusses the idea of “economic gravity” on this episode. Simply, over the long-term housing prices can't be disconnected from the ability of households to service a level of mortgage debt - to successfully make those payments every month. Nobel prize-winning economist Milto

#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 SummaryA recent listener of the Money For the Rest of Us podcast posed the question, “Are there always winners and losers when trading?” This question is the focus of this episode of the podcast. David explains an age-old thought experiment created by Cicero and how it relates to modern financial decision making. The key differences between concealing and simply not revealing information are discussed and how trading decisions can be ethical for all involved. David also explains how high-frequency trading bots exist outside the parameters of conscious decision making and how they can impact market volatility. It’s an episode full of great insights and should not be missed, so be sure to listen.There’s a key difference between concealing

#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 SummaryShould you be investing internationally? What are the benefits to having foreign stocks in your portfolio? Do the currency risks outweigh potential returns? On this episode of Money For the Rest of Us David considers these questions and more. Comparing different markets, understanding expected stock return projections, the benefits of hedging international stocks, and more are covered on this insightful episode – be sure to listen!Why would anyone WANT to pursue investing internationally?Many investors focus solely on domestic markets. Why? Because it’s familiar! They know historical market patterns and there’s no currency risk. Why then should you consider investing internationally? There’s one main reason – because your returns could be high

#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 SummaryThe 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 communities require and demand. But is it economical? Why has the market crashed in recent months? What are the solutions? This episode of Money For the Rest of Us will answer all that and more, so be sure to listen.What are the current values of recyclables, given the market crash?Most types of recyclable products have fallen steeply in price. Mixed paper prices have fallen 98% in the past year. Corrugated cardboard has fallen 48% and plastics ranked 1 to 7 have fallen 78%. Co-mingled plastics, aluminum, and steel have been holding steady or even increasing, however, the vast majority of recyclables aren’t bringing in the hig

#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 SummaryA 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 utilize a family office/professional management structure. But do they have some magical, secret way of making more money than the general population? Do they become exponentially richer by allocating their money in certain ways? These questions and more are explored on this episode, and it’s one not to be missed.What are the major differences in how the mega-rich invest?While the mega-rich, also known as ultra-high net worth individuals, don’t have any secret ways of making exponentially more money than the rest of us, they do invest in different ways. The biggest difference in investment strategies falls within the area o

#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 SummaryJust as you need to be “bear aware” when traveling in the backcountry, you also need to be aware of the risks and benefits when investing in asset classes such as bank loans. What may seem harmless on the surface could backfire within your portfolios if not treated with the appropriate level of caution and knowledge. On this episode of Money For the Rest of Us, David examines bank loans, also known as floating rate or leverage loans, and the various risks associated with this type of asset class.What are bank loans and why don’t they have interest rate risk?Bank loans or leveraged loans represent loans made by banks to non-investment grade companies. They have variable interest rates because the interest paid by the borro

#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 SummaryMany 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 private sector. On this episode of Money For the Rest of Us David offers insights into this complex subject, all while giving you the best information regarding the Federal Reserve, its open market operations, bank reserves, and why we aren’t experiencing hyperinflation. It’s sure to be an educational episode that you don’t want to miss.Can the Federal Reserve create money without printing it?The US Federal Reserve is not able to produce physical money in the form of coins or bills. That’s the responsibility of the US Treasury, their Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the US Mint. The Federal Reserve, however, can “

#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 SummaryLow 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 return, who or what is driving real rates, and offers historical information on previous periods of low rates. His insights will shed light on this concerning issue, so be sure to give this episode your full attention.The US and the world are in a period of low real interest rates and real returnsUniversity endowments, retirement funds, and individual portfolios are currently affected by low-interest rates and low investment rates. If this continues, overall portfolio values could decrease after adjusting for inflation and spending. In the United States, we have seen an average 6.5% real return on stocks since 1900. T

#203 How to make better investing and life decisions. More information, including show notes, can be found here.Episode SummaryDavid 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 the Facts” by Annie Duke inspired this episode. David ponders big ideas such a reflexive vs. deliberative thinking and why the differences between causation and correlation must be considered. If you’ve ever wondered about how to improve your investing decisions while combining analytical research with skilled intuition, this episode will answer many of your questions.Investing and life are like poker – not chess!Many investors approach financial decisions like a game of chess, where there are correct and incorrect moves. However investing, and real life, are more closely related to poker, a game of uncertainties. Duke

#202 What are the impediments to the mass adoption of electric vehicles. More information, including show notes, can be found here.Episode SummaryOver 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 Money For the Rest of Us he outlines how the vehicle market is changing, the benefits of electric vehicles over gasoline-powered vehicles, main factors prohibiting widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and the impact governments can have on consumer buying decisions. Conversations behind renewable energy and reliable transportation abound, and you’ll want to listen to this episode for the latest information on this heated debate.Cars are changing: they’re safer, but we’re purchasing less of themIn 2017 there were 40,109 reported motor vehicle deaths, down 1% from 2016 figures. The number of deaths per 100 million

#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 SummaryHaving 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 episode of Money For the Rest of Us, David considers the question, “Is your portfolio unbalanced?” A new member of Money For the Rest of Us Plus introduced him to the book “Balanced Asset Allocation” by Alex Shahidi and it was the inspiration behind this podcast episode.4 main reasons behind market volatilityShahidi writes, “The ultimate goal is to capture excess returns over time, with as little risk as possible. The more volatile the return, the greater the risk of capital loss.” David explains that there are often unintended consequences of single-track investment strategies and that having too much of your portfolio inv