The Rational Reminder Podcast

Explore the transformative power of mindfulness meditation with Dan Harris as he shares his journey from high-stress news to inner peace. Learn about the 10% Happier philosophy, applying mindfulness to financial decisions, and tips for starting a meditation practice. Discover how skeptics can embrace Buddhism, the intersection of mindfulness and happiness, and the importance of empathy for financial advisors.

Exploring the implications of SEC-approved spot Bitcoin ETFs, with insights on Bitcoin's mainstream journey, cash creation limitations, and anti-money laundering challenges. Discussions include leveraging ETFs for diversification, Bitwise's transparency efforts, and the impact of traditional finance colliding with decentralized finance. Discover Vanguard's conservative stance, client portfolio strategies, and the potential benefits of Bitcoin ETFs for investors.

Author Rob Copeland discusses the rise and unraveling of Ray Dalio and Bridgewater Associates. Topics include the company's investment portfolio, Dalio's model of economic cycles, criticism of his model, predicting market crashes, Bridgewater's investment success track record, employee experiences, and undisclosed aspects of Dalio's success story.

Author Robin Wigglesworth joins the podcast to discuss quantitative investing, the private credit trend, and the Canada Pension Plan. They explore the quant winter, value stocks, factor investing, and the history of the bond market. They also provide insights into the benefits and criticisms of the Canada Pension Plan and discuss annuities. The hosts share their upcoming paper, talk about podcast success, financial literacy, and recommend movies and books. They conclude with positive reviews and a discussion on dividend investing.

Renowned author and commentator Morgan Housel discusses his latest book 'Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes' on the podcast. They explore timeless principles, the importance of holding cash, challenging traditional approaches, and the value of storytelling. They also discuss the recurrent nature of once-in-a-lifetime events, the pitfalls of seeking certainty, and the complex interplay between incentives and expectations. Gain insights into forecasting behaviors, the allure of pessimism, and embracing slight inefficiencies on the path to success.

Retirement income myths are debunked and the flaws in the 4% rule are exposed in this episode. Experts discuss sequence of return risk, investing in bonds for retirees, and the evolving risk profiles of stocks. The significance of variable spending rates and the fallacies behind aggressive withdrawal suggestions are uncovered. A safety-first approach in retirement finance is advocated, along with the importance of seeking second opinions and having a trustworthy advisor.

Marketing Professor and Author, Scott Rick, discusses the psychology of tightwad and spendthrift behaviors, the impact on relationships, financial infidelity, joint and individual accounts, gift-giving, marrying for love or money, giving kids a good financial education, and more in his book Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships.

Steve Balaban, a private equity insider, discusses investing in private equity, benefits and drawbacks, due diligence, and how private equity interacts with investor psychology. The podcast also covers the science of motivation and goal setting, the power of networking, and key lessons from Justin Breen's book 'Epic Life'.

Errol Morris, Academy Award-winning film director and author, discusses the significance of storytelling, the evolution of finance, and the enigmatic nature of truth in his recently released documentary. He explores the triumph of science over human nature in financial markets, the role of data in shaping our perception of the world, and the complexities of argumentation and irrationality. The conversation also highlights the fascination with efficient markets and the pursuit of truth through collaboration and serendipity.

In this podcast, they reflect on their favorite guests and topics from the past year, emphasizing the power of purposeful decision-making. They discuss the evolving role of financial advisors, the importance of trust, and preparing children for wealth. Other fascinating topics include understanding regret aversion in decision-making, the limitations of economic theory, and exploring our future selves. They also delve into the challenge of providing high-quality personal finance information on YouTube and the puzzle of missing billionaires.