How did Paul Merriman make 30% a year for 30 years? and 10 more Q&A's

Jan 30, 2020

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Can an employee convince his company’s 401k trustees to make changes? It took 4 years for this one dedicated investor to do so and he won big. Hopefully, this story will inspire others to work this hard to change the financial futures for all 401k investors. 2:00
What is the lifetime cost of an expense ratio of .15% a year? The answer is surprising. 6:50
In what kind of investment did you earn 30% a year over 30 years? Paul has mentioned the good fortune of this investment but never before given details. 10:00
Is it true your portfolio fell from $16 million to about $12.8 million during the 10 years ending 2009? Paul refers to Table 1 and Table 2 of the fixed distribution page. 30:45
How do you build an Ultimate Buy & Hold Portfolio if you want to eliminate international equity funds? 35:18
What do you recommend when a company’s 401k retirement plans do not offer target-date funds? Can you still use a 2 Funds for Life approach? 37:30
Should we use a short-term bond fund for money we need for a downpayment on a house in 2-to-3 years? This couple is considering Fidelity’s Short Term Treasury Bond Index Fund (FUMBX). 40:05
Why Japan Is So Successful at Returning Lost Property? This is from one of Paul’s favorite weekly lists, "The Essential List" of BBC’s best articles from the week. CLICK HERE to read the article. 42:25
What market impact will It have if the U.S. produces at least a 3% growth in GDP? This will break a 13-year run of under 3% growth. The longest previous streak was 4 years, 1930-1933. 46:10
How are young workers facing the need to adjust their future income expectations as under-funded pensions are forced to reduce the pension commitments? Paul comments on the documentary “American Factory,” where workers are coping with the reality they are going to have to accept half the income for the same job. 47:55
What are the benchmarks and realities of returns we think we make? (Paul ends this podcast on a lighter note, discussing the recent sale of the 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt GT driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 movie “Bullitt.” The car was originally purchased for $3,500 in 1974 and just sold for $3.4 million.) 52:20