Ep. 1286: Mike Dever Interview with Michael Covel on Trend Following Radio
May 20, 2024
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Mike Dever, founder and CEO of Brandywine Asset Management, dives into the world of trend following and investment innovation. He discusses the psychological nuances behind speculative markets, particularly with tech stocks and cryptocurrencies. The conversation covers risk assessment strategies and the evolution of trading practices over time. Dever also emphasizes the importance of capital preservation and challenges the conventional skepticism surrounding trend-following methods. His insights provide a fresh perspective on navigating market uncertainty.
Investor psychology heavily influences market behavior, leading to cycles of irrational exuberance and speculative trends, particularly in tech stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Implementing a systematic strategy for risk management, such as using put options and diversification, is essential for navigating the emotional challenges of investing.
Deep dives
Market Speculation Dynamics
The conversation emphasizes the continuing presence of speculative markets, as seen in the recent surge of tech stocks and cryptocurrencies. Historical trends illustrate that every market correction often leads to an even more exuberant recovery, reinforcing the belief among investors that holding during downturns is beneficial. Notably, assets like cocoa have experienced significant increases, amplifying the speculative nature of current market behavior. This trend suggests that investor psychology, rather than fundamentals, drives market prices, highlighting a cycle of irrational exuberance that recurs over decades.
The Nature of Speculative Markets
The discussion dives into understanding Bitcoin as a purely speculative asset, devoid of traditional fundamental backing. It challenges the effectiveness of fundamental analysis in explaining Bitcoin's volatile price movements, instead attributing its value to psychological factors and market dynamics. The finite supply of Bitcoin, along with the increasing demand among a growing investor base, creates an environment ripe for speculative behavior. This resemblance to past market bubbles underscores that speculative markets often thrive irrespective of underlying economic conditions.
Risk Management and Investor Behavior
The conversation identifies a concerning trend among investors, particularly baby boomers, who have become emotionally attached to their stock holdings despite the absence of effective risk management strategies. Many investors are ensnared by Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and attachment to their investments, which leads them to overlook significant risks associated with concentrated portfolios. The idea that individuals should assess their risk not just in relation to potential gains, but also in the context of losses is crucial for their long-term financial health. Simple heuristics, such as questioning the repercussions of potential losses, are necessary for fostering better investment decisions.
Implementing a Systematic Approach
A systematic strategy is outlined to manage risk while still achieving market exposure, primarily through the use of put options to protect against market downturns. This method emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high correlation to popular indices while incorporating put protection to mitigate downside losses. By diversifying investments across a broader portfolio, investors can limit their risks effectively without sacrificing potential returns. The approach articulates that a disciplined systematic process is vital for enduring the psychological challenges of investing.
My guest today is Mike Dever, the founder and CEO of Brandywine Asset Management, a featured subject of three books and the author of a best-selling investment book. Mike has also been a great early identifier of investment talent, allocating capital to other investment managers that went on to great success. For over many decades, he has managed money for global banks, major corporations, and high-net-worth individuals, who have been attracted to his innovative investment philosophy.
The topic is Trend Following.
In this episode of Trend Following Radio we discuss:
Speculative markets
Market cycles
Crypto and tech stock trends
Investment psychology
Risk assessment
Quantitative approach
Evolution of trading practices
Psychological factors
Diversification and portfolio protection
Jump in!
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I’m MICHAEL COVEL, the host of TREND FOLLOWING RADIO, and I’m proud to have delivered 10+ million podcast listens since 2012. Investments, economics, psychology, politics, decision-making, human behavior, entrepreneurship and trend following are all passionately explored and debated on my show.
To start? I’d like to give you a great piece of advice you can use in your life and trading journey… cut your losses! You will find much more about that philosophy here: https://www.trendfollowing.com/trend/