The Rational Reminder Podcast

Discover the hidden risks of holding concentrated stock portfolios. The conversation dives into why diversification is crucial, revealing that individual stock returns are often disappointing. The hosts address psychological biases that lead investors to make risky choices and highlight the strong case for indexing in the current market. Plus, hear about the growing trend in advisor adoption of index investing and the playful debates sparked in their community. It's an insightful reflection on the reality of stock picking versus safer, systematic investment strategies.

In this engaging session, the hosts tackle the tough realities of sticking to investment portfolios. They critically analyze the 4% rule alongside the implications of fixed versus variable retirement withdrawals. Behavioral challenges during market downturns are discussed, highlighting the need for discipline. Listeners learn about the pitfalls of bank-sold structured products and the skepticism surrounding trend-following strategies. The conversation beautifully intertwines financial planning with life fulfillment, making for a thoughtful exploration of investing.

In this engaging discussion, Alex Edmans, a Professor of Finance at London Business School and author of 'May Contain Lies', delves into the world of misinformation and confirmation bias. He shares insights on how biased interpretation affects governance and decision-making, particularly in shaping laws. The conversation explores the pitfalls of black-and-white thinking and critically evaluates popular claims like the 10,000-hour rule. Edmans emphasizes the importance of rigorous data analysis and diverse perspectives for discerning truth in economics and beyond.

Gerard O'Reilly, Co-CEO and Co-CIO of Dimensional Fund Advisors, shares his journey from rocket scientist to investment leader. He discusses how hidden costs in index investing can significantly impact net returns. Gerard highlights the differences between Dimensional’s strategies and traditional indexing, focusing on flexibility in trading and optimized tax efficiency. He explains the importance of strategic exclusions, like IPOs, for better outcomes, and emphasizes that thoughtful execution can lead to substantial benefits, reshaping how investors should view costs.

Dive into the intriguing world of personal finance as the hosts tackle controversial topics. Discover how identity shapes decision-making in financial matters. Explore the age-old debate of renting versus buying a home and why it sparks such passion. Learn about the fervor behind dividend investing and income strategies. Unpack the FIRE movement and its influence on happiness, while considering how personality affects approaches to financial independence. Finally, get insights on the 4% rule and its implications for a secure retirement.

Dr. Eli Beracha, a leading real estate finance professor, dives into the age-old debate of renting versus buying. He explains how emotional biases shape perceptions of homeownership, rooted in the American dream. Interestingly, Dr. Beracha reveals that renting often performs better financially, outpacing buying in nine out of ten scenarios. He discusses the risks of real estate investment compared to diversified portfolios, the impact of psychological factors on decisions, and the concept of 'forced savings' that homeownership entails. A must-listen for anyone navigating the housing market!

Ben and Cameron tackle listener questions about investment strategies and personal finance. They discuss the advantages of a multi-host format and introduce a new retirement planning tool. Insights on transitioning to OneDigital highlight collaboration in the financial sector. Key investing lessons cover market conditions and common financial pitfalls to avoid. They also touch on the emotional complexities of investing and end with a meaningful conversation about testicular cancer, underlining the importance of health awareness.

Join Abby Davisson, co-author of Money and Love and founder of the Money and Love Institute, as she shares her insights on intentional decision-making in relationships. Discover her unique "5Cs Framework" for making wise choices about finances, household responsibilities, and life transitions. Abby emphasizes open communication between partners and explores crucial topics like equitable division of labor and proactive financial planning. Her practical tips and personal experiences offer a refreshing perspective on navigating life's important decisions.

Marco Sammon joins Ben and Dan to unpack his latest paper, ‘Index Rebalancing and Stock Market Composition’, beginning with how Marco’s work (co-written by John Shim) compares to the Nobel Prize-winner Bill Sharpe’s paper, ‘Arithmetic of Active Management.’ We investigate the missing links in Sharpe’s logic before defining “the market” and ascertaining the main objectives of index funds. Then, we dive deeper into the mechanics of Marco’s paper, index and market tracking errors, why delayed rebalancing is more beneficial than instant rebalancing, and the role of technology in the modern tracking error obsession. We also assess the passive-active spectrum of index funds in portfolio management and learn how investors should choose their optimal excess return. To end, Marco shares practical applications for improving performance benchmarked against traditional indexes, and The Aftershow is all about bridging the gap between PWL Capital and you, our listeners. Key Points From This Episode:   (0:00:00) Key takeaways from Marco Sammon’s latest paper and how it compares to Bill Sharpe’s ‘Arithmetic of Active Management.’ (0:08:10) Marco describes what’s missing from the ‘Arithmetic of Active Management’ logic. (0:09:11) Defining ‘the market’, the main objective of an index fund, and how index funds track the market. (0:15:57) The mechanics of Marco’s paper, ‘Index Rebalancing and Stock Market Composition.’ (0:18:38) Factor exposure, index and market tracking errors, and how often index funds trade. (0:26:28) Rebalancing less frequently; why delayed does better than instant rebalancing. (0:31:59) The tech run-up and lazy rebalancing, and the modern tracking error obsession.  (0:36:51) Assessing the passive-active spectrum of index funds in portfolio management. (0:41:02) Exploring how investors should decide on their optimal excess return.  (0:45:14) How the rising index fund ownership of stocks impacts the implicit cost of indexing (0:46:58) Practical ways to improve performance benchmarked against traditional indexes. (0:52:30) The Aftershow: Canadian finances, more airtime for Cameron, and PWL – OneDigital.    Links From Today’s Episode: Meet with PWL Capital — https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/  Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on X — https://x.com/RationalRemindRational Reminder on TikTok — www.tiktok.com/@rationalreminder Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — info@rationalreminder.caBenjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Dan Bortolotti on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-bortolotti-8a482310/ Episode 322: Prof. Marco Sammon: How are Passive Investors Affecting the Stock Market? — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/322 Episode 200: Prof. Eugene Fama — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/200  Episode 268: Itzhak Ben-David: ETFs, Investor Behavior, and Hedge Fund Fees — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/268  Episode 112: Michael Kitces: Retirement Research and the Business of Financial Advice — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/112  Marco Sammon — https://marcosammon.com/  Marco Sammon on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-sammon-b3b81456/  Marco Sammon on X — https://x.com/mcsammon19  Marco Sammon | Harvard Business School — https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=1326895  Marco Sammon Email — mcsammon@gmail.com  John Shim on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-shim-2931271b/  Vanguard — https://global.vanguard.com/  Sheridan Titman on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheridan-titman-226b0811/  Alex Chinko — https://alexchinco.com/  Erik Stafford | Harvard Business School — https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=6625  Itzhak (Zahi) Ben-David on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibendavi/  Bill Ackman on X — https://x.com/billackman   ‘Millennium Loses $900 Million on Strategy Roiled by Market Chaos’ — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-08/millennium-loses-900-million-on-strategy-roiled-by-market-chaos   Bogleheads — https://www.bogleheads.org/   The Money Scope Podcast Episode 8: Canadian Investment Accounts — https://moneyscope.ca/2024/03/01/episode-8-canadian-investment-accounts/  The Wealthy Barber Podcast — https://thewealthybarber.com/podcast/   Financial Advisor Success Podcast — https://www.kitces.com/blog/category/21-financial-advisor-success-podcast/  Financial Advisor Success Podcast Episode 433: When You 10X Your Advisory Firm To Over $20M Of Revenue…And Want To 10X Again, With Cameron Passmore — https://www.kitces.com/blog/cameron-passmore-pwl-capital-10x-revenue-growth-advisory-firm/   OneDigital — https://www.onedigital.com/  The Longview Podcast: Ben Felix   Papers From Today’s Episode:    ‘The Arithmetic of Active Management’ — https://www.jstor.org/stable/4479386    ‘Index Rebalancing and Stock Market Composition: Do Index Funds Incur Adverse Selection Costs?’ — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5080459     ‘Luck versus Skill in the Cross-Section of Mutual Fund Returns’ — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1356021    ‘The Passive-Ownership Share Is Double What You Think It Is’ — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4188052    ‘Long-Term Returns on the Original S&P 500 Companies’ — https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247884354_Long-Term_Returns_on_the_Original_SP_500_Companies     ‘The Price of Immediacy’ — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1001762   ‘Competition for Attention in the ETF Space’ — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3765063    ‘Passive in Name Only: Delegated Management and “Index” Investing’ — https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3244991      Jeremy Stein — “Unanchored” Strategy

In this insightful discussion, Jason Pereira, a seasoned Canadian financial planner with over 20 years of experience, dives deep into what it means to be a financial planner. He shares his client-centered investment philosophy and the importance of fiduciary duty. Jason unpacks why Canada lags behind the US in index fund adoption and challenges common myths in financial planning. He explores ethical considerations with ESG, the role of technology in the industry, and why a transformation in advisory practices is desperately needed.