#17 — Jim Chuong (The Lazy Canadian Investor): Real Estate and ETF Investing

May 20, 2025

Jim Chuong, known as "The Lazy Canadian Investor," shares his journey to investing stardom with over a million followers online. He dives into real estate and why leveraging can be effective, while discussing the pros and cons of U.S.-only investing versus global diversification. Jim presents a critique of cryptocurrency as speculative and emphasizes a simple, low-stress approach to finance. He also reflects on his motivation for creating content, aiming to educate and simplify investing for everyday Canadians.

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ANECDOTE

Jim's Discovery of Investing

Jim Chuong struggled to understand personal finance growing up with no accessible resources.
He discovered investing concepts through books by Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett, sparking his journey.

ADVICE

Start Work to Fund Investing

Start investing by working a job or selling a product to generate income.
Then funnel some of that income into investments like broad market ETFs to build wealth.

ANECDOTE

Buying US Real Estate at Low Prices

During the 2009 US real estate crash, Jim found deeply discounted homes in good areas at $20,000-$60,000.
He carefully filtered locations by crime and value, leading to successful investments in Sunbelt desert markets.

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Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits

Philip A. Fisher

In 'Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits', Philip A. Fisher outlines his investment philosophy, which focuses on identifying and investing in high-quality growth companies. The book is renowned for Fisher's '15 points to look for in a common stock', which include evaluating a company's products, management, sales organization, research capabilities, and long-term growth prospects. Fisher advocates for a qualitative approach to investing, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business and its management rather than relying solely on quantitative metrics. The book also discusses when to buy and sell stocks, the role of dividends, and the pitfalls of short-term thinking in investing.

The intelligent investor

Jason Zweig

Benjamin Graham

Written by Benjamin Graham, 'The Intelligent Investor' is a seminal work on value investing that has inspired millions since its original publication in 1949. The book emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between investing and speculation, calculating the intrinsic value of companies, and maintaining a margin of safety. The revised edition includes updated commentary by Jason Zweig, who provides modern examples and insights to help readers apply Graham's principles in today's market. Warren Buffett, a disciple of Graham, has praised the book as 'the best book about investing ever written'.

Beating the Street

Peter Lynch

In 'Beating the Street', Peter Lynch explains his strategies for investing, emphasizing the importance of understanding the companies behind the stocks. He advises investors to focus on what they know, avoid macroeconomic predictions, and maintain a concentrated portfolio of well-researched stocks. Lynch provides practical advice on finding undervalued companies, doing thorough research, and making disciplined investment decisions. The book is a follow-up to his earlier work, 'One Up On Wall Street', and offers insights into his successful investment approach[1][3][4].

One Up On Wall Street

Peter Lynch

In 'One Up On Wall Street,' Peter Lynch explains how average investors can outperform professionals by leveraging their everyday experiences and knowledge. Lynch advocates for investing in companies and products that are familiar and understandable, rather than following trendy or complex investments. He provides easy-to-follow advice on analyzing financial statements, identifying different types of companies (such as cyclical, turnaround, and fast-growing companies), and maintaining a long-term investment strategy. The book emphasizes the importance of simplicity, patience, and fundamental analysis in achieving successful investments.