Cody Shirk: Taking Global Investing To Another Level
Sep 13, 2024
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Cody Shirk, a surfer and founder of the Explorer Report, shares his exhilarating journey through global investing. He recounts thrilling adventures in Latin America and a haunting trek to Chernobyl for uranium research. Cody dives into the complexities of investing in precious metals and the influence of geopolitical issues on markets. He discusses the allure and risks of navigating global business, alongside the importance of enjoying life beyond finance. Get inspired by his adventures and insights into sustainable investments!
Cody Shirk's unconventional path to investing included risky international travel, highlighting the need for learning from failures and experiences.
He emphasizes recognizing early investment trends, particularly in emerging sectors like uranium and psychedelics, while maintaining contrarian strategies.
Cody discusses the impact of geopolitical factors on resource investments, particularly natural gas and platinum, urging investors to stay informed.
Deep dives
MacroOps Collective and Community Building
The MacroOps Collective aims to provide high risk-adjusted returns while fostering a strong community for investors. The organizational success is evident through remarkably high retention rates, with members appreciating the unique research, educational resources, and a dynamic Slack community filled with knowledgeable operators. This environment supports both professionals and motivated retail investors, allowing them to enhance their investing skills and share a common passion for finance. The emphasis on continuous learning and enjoyment in the investing journey creates a distinctive appeal that sets the organization apart from competitors.
Cody: From Firefighter to Investor
Cody's journey to becoming a full-time investor began as a firefighter in Southern California, where he cultivated a hunger for knowledge and success in investing. Rather than following a traditional path, Cody took risks by traveling internationally during his days off to find investment opportunities. He acknowledges the many mistakes he made along the way, yet each experience served as a valuable lesson. Today, he focuses on global trends and seeks early-stage opportunities before they become widely recognized.
Investment Strategies: Learning from Mistakes
Cody emphasizes the importance of learning from failures in the investing world, illustrating this with examples from his own experiences. He shared his strategies for early investments in various markets, including land in Central America, uranium, and psychedelic medicine, highlighting both successes and challenges. By entering markets before they gained popularity, Cody achieved significant returns, but he acknowledges that recognizing the right exit points is equally essential. This balance of risk and timing underscores the dynamic nature of investing.
The Importance of Early Recognition in Investing
The conversation touches on the significance of recognizing early trends in investment opportunities like uranium and psychedelics when few are paying attention. Cody recalls navigating skepticism when investing in industries perceived as risky, reinforcing the idea that contrarian approaches often lead to significant gains. With a unique perspective, he suggests that successful investing requires not only identifying opportunities but also having the conviction to act upon them during the initial stages of growth. This willingness to embrace uncertainty is vital for achieving substantial returns.
Geopolitical Factors in Resource Investing
Cody discusses the intricate relationship between geopolitical dynamics and resource investment strategies, especially concerning natural gas and platinum. He emphasizes the emerging importance of the U.S. as a supplier of gas, supporting global partnerships to reduce dependency on traditional supply chains. The potential for disruptions in commodity prices due to political tensions highlights the need for investors to remain aware of international developments. Cody believes that understanding these connections provides a competitive edge while navigating resource investments.
Long-term Opportunities in Trading Metals
Cody advocates for a long-term perspective when investing in metals like lithium and platinum, given their potential to rebound despite current volatility. By emphasizing the importance of patience and strategic timing, he highlights the potential gains that await investors who can withstand short-term fluctuations. Cody suggests that identifying historical trends—like the previous substantial price movements in metals—can guide investment decisions moving forward. Such insights reinforce the value of a well-rounded investment approach that accommodates both immediate risks and future opportunities.
Cody Shirk is a surfer, investor, and writer/founder of the Explorer Report.
Basically, I want to be like Cody when I grow up.
We spend 90 minutes discussing Cody's wild adventures traveling and investing in Latin America, his trip to Chernobyl to research uranium stocks, and how he thinks about gold, the US dollar, and other commodities.
This was, by far, one of the most fun conversations I've had this year on the podcast.
You're going to love it.
Make sure to check Cody's writing out at codyshirk.com.
Finally, a big thanks to our sponsors for making this episode happen.
Mitimco
This episode is brought to you by MIT Investment Management Company, also known as MITIMCo, the investment office of MIT. Each year, MITIMCo invests in a handful of new emerging managers who it believes can earn exceptional long-term returns in support of MIT's mission. To help the emerging manager community more broadly, they created emergingmanagers.org, a website for emerging manager stockpickers.
I highly recommend the site for those looking to start a stock-picking fund or just learning about how others have done it. You'll find essays and interviews by successful emerging managers, service providers used by MIT's own managers, essays MITIMCo has written for emerging managers, and more!
TIKR
TIKR is THE BEST resource for all stock market data, I use TIKR every day in my process, and I know you will too. Make sure to check them out at TIKR.com/hive.
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