In this book, Burton G. Malkiel argues that stock market prices are essentially random and unpredictable, aligning with the efficient market hypothesis. He discusses historical financial bubbles, the futility of trying to beat the market through technical or fundamental analysis, and the importance of a diversified portfolio. The book also covers various investing techniques and theories, including modern portfolio theory, and advises investors to adopt a long-term, disciplined approach to investing.
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'.
This book introduces the Design Sprint, a five-day process developed by Jake Knapp at Google and refined with John Zeratsky and Braden Kowitz at Google Ventures. The method helps teams answer critical business questions by moving from idea to prototype to decision within a short period. It is applicable to teams of any size, from small startups to Fortune 100 companies, and covers various sectors such as healthcare, finance, and e-commerce. The book provides a step-by-step framework for rapid innovation, including team structuring, customer-centric mapping, and rapid prototyping and testing[1][2][3].
In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Melissa Perri sits down with David Myszewski, VP of Product at Wealthfront. David shares his transition from working on the groundbreaking iPhone at Apple to leading product innovation in the fintech space. He dives into how Wealthfront's approach to fintech has been shaped by lessons learned at Apple, particularly the power of small, talented teams and high standards.
David discusses Wealthfront’s strategy of integrating consumer research and customer support into product development, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs through both qualitative and quantitative data. He also highlights the significance of building a technology infrastructure that supports innovative financial products and services tailored to evolving market needs.
Tune in to explore how Wealthfront is redefining fintech with a focus on reducing client costs, enhancing tax efficiency, and fostering better financial behaviors through technology-driven solutions. Want to learn how to leverage tech for financial innovation? Listen to the full conversation with David Myszewski.
You'll hear us talk about:
- 10:33 - The Role of Consumer Technology Experience in Fintech
David explains why consumer technology skills are more valuable than financial knowledge in fintech. He shares how Wealthfront prioritizes creating excellent user experiences over specific domain expertise.
- 19:28 - Introducing New Financial Products
David outlines Wealthfront’s strategy for evolving and introducing new products over time, focusing on reducing costs, saving taxes, and fostering behavioral change. He discusses the automation of processes to enhance client outcomes.
- 29:06 - Prioritizing Innovation and Roadmap Planning
Melissa and David discuss the balance between strategic top-down priorities and bottom-up decision-making in setting the product roadmap. David describes how they align business and client needs to drive product innovation.
Episode Resources:
Timestamps:
00:00 Coming Up
00:56 Introduction
02:48 Dear Melissa
05:28 Career Journey from Apple to Wealthfront
14:09 The Evolution of Wealthfront’s Mission
19:28 Introducing New Financial Products
29:06 Prioritizing Innovation and Roadmap Planning
35:54 Finding Product-Market Fit at Wealthfront
43:08 FinTech’s Future & Advice for Product Leaders
Product Thinking 
