E266: J.P. Morgan CIO: Mistakes Top Investors Make

Dec 19, 2025

Hamilton Reiner, CIO of J.P. Morgan's U.S. Core Equity Team, shares his insights from over 30 years in finance. He explains how using options can instill discipline and manage risks rather than being mere speculation. Hamilton highlights the behavioral mistakes investors make, the importance of staying invested, and how rebalancing can significantly enhance long-term results. He emphasizes that understanding volatility and having a risk-based approach is key to navigating market cycles effectively, offering wisdom on compounding and patience in investing.

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INSIGHT

Options Are About Precision

Options let investors express precise views on a stock without simple linear up/down exposure.
Hamilton Reiner says options are about precision, not leverage, and create intended optionality.

ADVICE

Use Options To Stay Invested

Use options to create downside buffers so you can stay invested during volatility.
Consider selling upside for income if you prefer current yield over some future appreciation.

ADVICE

Predefine Protection And Profit Targets

Lock gains by buying puts at a chosen protection level or sell calls at a target sell price.
Predefining these actions creates discipline and avoids emotional mistakes in extreme moves.

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Why do most investors fail at the exact moments when staying invested matters most—and how can options help fix that? In this episode, I talk with Hamilton Reiner, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management and CIO of the U.S. Core Equity Team, about how options can be used not for speculation, but to create discipline, manage risk, and help investors stay invested through market volatility. Hamilton shares lessons from more than three decades managing equities and derivatives, explains why volatility is misunderstood, and breaks down how hedged strategies, rebalancing, and risk-based portfolio construction can dramatically improve long-term outcomes—without requiring heroic market timing.

Highlights:

Why options are about precision, not leverage
Hedging vs. income: the two primary institutional use cases for options
How downside buffers help investors stay invested during drawdowns
Why volatility is a feature of equities, not a flaw
The biggest behavioral mistakes investors make in up and down markets
Why missing the best days destroys long-term returns
How rebalancing quietly outperforms market timing
The role of options inside a modern 60/40 portfolio
Why risk tolerance—not asset allocation—should come first
Lessons from 2008, 2020, and decades of market cycles
The underrated power of compounding and staying in the game

Guest Bio:

Hamilton Reiner, managing director, is CIO of the U.S. Core Equity Team, Head of U.S. Equity Derivatives for J.P. Morgan Equity Asset Management, and a portfolio manager. He has been managing U.S. equities and U.S. equity derivatives for over 30 years, at firms such as Barclays Capital, Lehman Brothers, and Deutsche Bank. He started his career at the options investing firm O’Connor and Associates, where he developed his passion for derivatives investing. Hamilton obtained a B.S.E. in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.

(0:00) Introduction (0:32) Understanding Options: Strategies and Historical Use (4:20) Managing Stock Gains and Behavioral Biases in Investing (8:16) The Importance of Risk Tolerance and Market Timing (18:27) Decision-Making Challenges in Institutional Investment (22:17) Market Uncertainty and the Role of the VIX (24:14) Volatility, Investment Sizing, and Portfolio Integration (30:18) Market Cycles, Behavioral Biases, and Career Advice (38:23) Key Investment Lessons and the Power of Compounding (43:09) Closing remarks