Marlena Lee: What a Nobel Prize Winner Taught Me About Beating the Market

In this episode of The Blunt Dollar, Ignacio sits down with Marlena Lee, Global Head of Investment Solutions at Dimensional Fund Advisors. 

Marlena leads a 70-person team that bridges deep academic research with practical client education, helping investors navigate the complexities of markets, factor investing, and long-term portfolio construction.

With a PhD from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and experience working alongside Nobel laureate Eugene Fama, Marlena shares her unique insights into translating rigorous research into real-world investment strategies. 

We dive into her career journey, her biggest lessons from Fama, and how she’s helping advisors and investors make smarter decisions today.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔹 Lessons from working with Eugene Fama and simplifying complex ideas
🔹 How Dimensional turns academic research into real-world investing strategies
🔹 The critical role of storytelling and empathy in finance communication
🔹 Redefining risk and the true meaning of diversification
🔹 Why preparation beats prediction when dealing with market uncertainty

If you're interested in market behavior, smart investing, or the art of financial storytelling, this episode is for you.

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Enjoy the episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Listeners should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.