Talking Billions with Bogumil Baranowski

Chris Mayer and Robert Hagstrom on the Dangers of Abstraction | 100 Year Thinkers on Excess Returns

Dec 19, 2025
Join Robert Hagstrom, an investment author and CIO known for his multidisciplinary approach, and Chris Mayer, an investor and author emphasizing clarity in language. They dive into the complex world of investing that transcends mere formulas. Discover how Wall Street's abstractions can mislead, and why philosophical thinking is crucial for long-term success. They dissect the misleading labels of 'value' and 'growth' while advocating for a broader understanding of markets. Learn about the importance of a long-term horizon and the art of navigating unpredictability in investments.
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INSIGHT

Value Is Price Versus Worth

  • Value investing means buying something for less than it's worth, not relying on PE or PB labels.
  • Growth is a component of value, so labels like "value" and "growth" mislead investors.
INSIGHT

Abstractions Distort Investing

  • Wall Street language is full of abstractions that hide real meaning and breed error.
  • General semantics helps ground terms and forces you to clarify what words actually refer to.
ADVICE

Question Labels, Underwrite Reality

  • Penetrate labels and ask "what do you mean" whenever someone uses a shorthand like AAA or "value."
  • Avoid accepting rating or category stamps as a substitute for doing the underlying underwriting work.
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