Money For the Rest of Us

J. David Stein
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Mar 22, 2023 • 28min

How Profits Motivate Change

"If something is profitable, it will be done," says Martin Wolf of the Financial Times. We explore how profits will drive the energy transition and how and where water from the Colorado River is used.Topics covered include:How profits have led to higher energy market share for natural gas and renewal energyWhat is hindering a faster transition to renewablesWhat is contributing to a water shortage in the southwestern U.S,. and how will it be resolvedWhy big infrastructure projects often aren't the best solution to solve a problemWhy some regulation is helpfulFor more information on this episode click here.Show NotesThe market can deliver the green transition by Martin Wolf—The Financial TimesWhere the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen—Penguin Random HouseEconomics may take us to net zero all on its own by John Burn-Murdoch—The Financial TimesThe Gregor Letter by Gregor Macdonald—SubstackThe Inflation Reduction Act: Here's what's in it—McKinsey & CompanyManagement of the Colorado River: Water Allocations, Drought, and the Federal Role by Charles V. Stern and Pervaze A. Sheikh—Congressional Research ServiceThe Supreme Court wrestles with questions over the Navajo Nation's water rights by Becky Sullivan—NPRAs the Colorado River Shrinks, Washington Prepares to Spread the Pain by Christopher Flavelle—The New York TimesCan Western States Agree on the Future of the Colorado River? by Matt Vasilogambros—PewA matter of priorities by DeEtte Person—Know Your Water NewsAverage monthly water prices in the United States as of July 2022, by selected state—StatistaElection to Designate AMA for the Douglas Basin—Arizona Department of Water ResourcesArizona Is in a Race to the Bottom of Its Water Wells, With Saudi Arabia’s Help by Natalie Koch—The New York TimesArizona gets serious about piping water from Mexico in nonbinding desalination resolution by Brandon Loomis—AZ CentralEpisode SponsorMoney Pickle – Schedule a free 45-minute video chat with a vetted financial advisor and ask them anything about your financial situation. Go here to schedule your free session.Related Episodes399: Unintended Consequences Impact Everything345: Investing in WaterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Mar 15, 2023 • 29min

Are More Bank Runs Coming? The Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank

What caused Silicon Valley Bank to collapse in only 44 hours, and how likely will the contagion spread, leading to other bank failures?Topics covered include:How losses on bonds blew up SVB's balance sheetHow is Silicon Valley Bank similar and different than other regional banksWhat the FDIC and Federal Reserve are trying do to restore confidence and stop bank runsHow a weakening of the Frank-Dodd bank regulation act set the stage for SVB's failureWhy bailing out uninsured depositors is controversialThree scenarios of what might happen nextActions we can take to protect ourselves when private money failsFor more information on this episode click here.SponsorsMasterworks – invest in contemporary artMoney for the Rest of Us Plus membershipShow NotesSilicon Valley Bank launches $2.25bn share sale to shore up capital base by Joshua Franklin and Antoine Gara—The Financial TimesUS Bank Capital Regulation: History and Changes Since the Financial Crisis by John Walter—Economic QuarterlySVB's 44-Hour Collapse Was Rooted in Treasury Bets During the Pandemic by Brian Chappatta—BloombergRemarks by FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg at the Institute of International Bankers—FDICHow Silicon Valley Turned on Silicon Valley Bank by Ben Foldy, Rachel Louise Ensign, and Justin Baer—The Wall Street JournalSEC Filings Details—Silicon Valley BankFDIC Creates a Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara to Protect Insured Depositors of Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California—FDICUninsured Silicon Valley Bank depositors seek fire sale of assets by Joshua Franklin, Sujeet Indap, Colby Smith, and George Hammond—The Financial TimesJoin Statement by Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC—Federal ReserveFDIC Acts to Protect All Depositors of the former Silicon Bank, Santa Clara, California—FDICUS regulators are setting a dangerous precedent on SVB by Sheila Bair—The Financial TimesBack-to-Back Bank Collapses Came After Deregulatory Push by David Enrich—The New York TimesWill another bank fall? by Robert Armstrong—The Financial TimesShares in US regional banks close sharply lower over fears of deposit flight by Jennifer Hughes, James Fontanella-Khan, Ortenca Aliaj, and Brooke Masters—The Financial TimesCharles Schwab shares drop 12% even as the firm defends financial position by Yun Li—CNBCRelated Episodes405: When Volatility Spikes, Financial Things Break392: What Is Money and How to Use It305: Are Banks Safe?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Mar 8, 2023 • 33min

A "Safe" 6% Yield: The Case for Investment Grade CLOs

How leveraged loans and CLOs work and how to invest in them. What are the risks and opportunities with the new CLO ETFs.Topics covered include:What are the characteristics of leveraged loans and how David has invested in them in the past, both professionally and personally.Why LIBOR reference rate for leveraged loans is being phased outWhat is the current investing climate for leveraged loansHow collateralized loan obligation workWhy insurance companies are fighting over CLOsWhat are the different ways to invest in CLOsFor more information on this episode click here.Show NotesCompanies, Lenders Clash Over Loan Spreads in Switch from Libor by Mark Maurer—The Wall Street JournalLibor: The Spider Network—The Wall Street JournalCollateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs) Primer by Jennifer Johnson—NAIC and The Center for Insurance Policy ResearchInvesting In The Middle: Tapping Into Opportunities in Middle Market Lending—AllianceBernsteinTop 10 US CLO Managers: CLO AUM (30 Nov 2022)—CLO ResearchDefault, Transition, and Recovery: 2021 Annual Global Leveraged Loan CLO Default And Rating Transition Study—S&P Global RatingsU.S. BSL CLO And Leveraged Finance Quarterly: Is Winter Coming? by Stephen Anderberg, Daniel Hu, Et al.—S&P Global RatingsRisk Assessment of Structured Securities - CLOs by Eric Kolchinsky, Charles A. Therriault, Marc Perlman—National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)Monthly US CLO Index - December 2022—Fitch RatingsPrivate equity-backed insurers under US scrutiny over risky loans by Antoine Gara and Sujeet Indap—The Financial TimesPrivate Equity Taps Insurers' Cash to Speed Up Growth by Matt Wirz and Leslie Scism—The Wall Street JournalInvestments Mentioned​Virtus Seix Floating Rate Income Fund (SAMBX)Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF (SEIX)​Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN)​DoubleLine Flexible Income Fund (DFLEX)​BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund (DSU)BlackRock AAA CLO ETF (CLOA)iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO)​​Janus AAA CLO ETF (JAAA)Janus B-BBB CLO ETF (JBB)​VanEck CLO ETF (CLOI)Eaglepoint Credit Company (ECC)Oxford Lane Capital Corp (OXLC)Related Episodes305: Are Banks Safe?206: Be Bear Aware of Bank LoansSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Feb 22, 2023 • 20min

This Stock Has a 15% Dividend Yield and Has Outperformed Warren Buffett. Should You Invest?

Do activist hedge funds including Carl Icahn's add value? Should you invest in Icahn Enterprises L.P., a conglomerate with a 15% dividend yield and a stake in Carl Icahn's hedge fund?Topics covered include:How Icahn Enterprises' (IEP) investment performance compares to Berkshire HathawayHow to analyze individual stocks and why it is challengingWhat are activist hedge funds and do they make a positive performance differenceWhat are the risks and opportunities of investing in IEPFor more information on this episode click here.SponsorsMoney Pickle – Schedule a free 45-minute video chat with a vetted financial advisor and ask them anything about your financial situation. Go here to schedule your free session.NetSuite – the leading integrated cloud business software suiteShow NotesIcahn Enterprises L.P.The Activism of Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman by Jason D. Schloetzer and Richard Lee—SSRNThe Long-Term Effects of Hedge Fund Activism by Lucian A. Bebchuk, Alon Brav, Wei Jiang—SSRNDid They Live Happily Ever After? The Fate of Restructured Firms After Hedge Fund Activism by Jongha Lim and Wonik Choi—SSRNRelated Episodes242: Should You Let Warren Buffett Manage Your Money?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Feb 15, 2023 • 23min

Beware of Survivorship Bias When Investing

Why long-term U.S. stock market outperformance could be because it has avoided major catastrophes. Does an over-reliance on historical U.S. stock returns when modeling retirement outcomes lead to spending rates that are too high?Topics covered include:Why you might consider earthquake insuranceWhat is survivorship bias and what are some examplesWhy the U.S. is an outlier when it comes to stock market performanceWhy the 4% retirement spending rule might be too highIf the 4% spending rule is too high, what can retirees do instead to have enough for retirementWhy the size and scale of the U.S. economy provide some resistance to catastrophesFor more information on this episode click here.Thanks to our SponsorsShopifyMasterworks – invest in contemporary artShow NotesHomefactsSurvivorship Bias—Matt RickardIs The United States A Lucky Survivor: A Hierarchical Bayesian Approach by Jules H. van Binsbergen, Et al.—SSRNThe Financial History of Emerging Markets: New Indices by Bryan Taylor—SSRNThe (Time-Varying) Importance of Disaster Risk by Ivo Welch—Financial Analyst JournalThe Safe Withdrawal Rate: Evidence from a Broad Sample of Developed Markets by Aizhan Anarkulova, Et al.—SSRNThe 2.7% Rule for Retirement Spending by Ben Felix—YouTubeTrends in Retirement and Retirement Income Choices by Tiaa Participants: 2000–2018 by Jeffrey R. Brown, Et al.—SSRNRelated Episodes250: Investing Rule One: Avoid Ruin326: The New Math of Retirement Spending and InvestingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Feb 8, 2023 • 28min

Does a 60/40 Balanced Portfolio Still Work? Time to Jettison Non-U.S. Stocks?

What are the pros and cons of a simple stock and bond portfolio consisting of two funds or ETFs? Given U.S. stocks have significantly outperformed the rest of the world over the past decade, is there even a role for non-U.S. stocks in your investment portfolio?Topics covered include:How have 60/40 and similar portfolios performed over the long-termWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of a 60/40 portfolioWhat is the expected return of a 60/40 portfolio and what should be included?What has contributed to U.S. stocks outperforming non-U.S. stocks over the past decadeWhy have emerging markets stocks done so poorlyWhat has to happen for U.S. stocks to continue to outperform non-U.S. stocksFor more information on this episode click here.SponsorsUse this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn Jobs.Go here to sign up for the free weekly Money For the Rest of Us Insiders Guide email newsletterShow NotesBlackRock vs. Goldman in the Fight Over 60/40 by James Mackintosh—The Wall Street JournalBattered 60-40 portfolios face another challenging year by Adrienne Klasa—Financial TimesThe case for the 60/40 portfolio in equities and bonds by Erin Browne—Financial TimesInvestors wonder if the 60/40 portfolio has a future by Michael Mackenzie—Financial TimesHas the tried and tested 60/40 strategy soured? by Maya Bhandari—Financial TimesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Feb 1, 2023 • 31min

How to Make Portfolio and Asset Allocation Changes

We consider four case studies in which individuals struggle to decide what to do with their investment portfolios.Topics include:Why it's so difficult to reenter the stock market after sitting on the sidelines and what to do insteadWhat are the risks of having a too aggressive portfolio allocation in retirement and what to do insteadWhat to do when an investment strategy has worked really well but you feel it is time to make a changeHow to decide on an appropriate portfolio mix after a significant financial changeYou can learn more about Money for the Rest of Us Plus here.For more information on this episode click here.Related Episodes306: Three Approaches to Asset Allocation401: Why Diversifying Your Portfolio Feels AwfulShow NotesCase studies were pulled from the following Plus episodes:287 Plus: Coronavirus Update, Mid Month Investment Conditions and Overcoming the Fear of Investing306 Plus: Member Profile, Bond Investing, and Emerging Technology310 Plus: Mid Month Update and a Member Wants to Reallocate from Growth Stocks331 Plus: Member Profile, Tail Risk Protection, Rental Real Estate as Bond Substitute, and YYY ETFSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jan 25, 2023 • 37min

Bond Investing Master Class - How to Invest in Fixed Income

What you need to know to confidently invest in bonds.Topics covered include:Key components of bond investing include face value, coupon rates, yield-to-maturity, duration, and convexityHow to decide between owning longer-term or short-term bondsHow to decide whether to own individual bonds or bond funds and ETFsWhen to use active bond management versus bond indexingHow bullet bond ETFs work and when to use themHow to know when to invest in municipal bonds and corporate bondsWhen should you own foreign bondsShould you own bonds in taxable or tax-deferred accountsA bond case study based on current interest ratesFor more information on this episode click here.SponsorsMoney Pickle - Schedule a free 45-minute video chat with a vetted financial advisor and ask them anything about your financial situation. Go here to schedule your free session.Fundrise - The largest direct-to-investor alternative investment platform in the U.S.Show NotesA Complete Guide to Investing in I Bonds and TIPS—Money for the Rest of UsInvestments MentionediShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH)iShares® iBonds® Dec 2025 Term Treasury ETF (IBTF)iShares® iBonds® Dec 2025 Term Corporate ETF (IBDQ)Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF (BND)Doubleline Total Return Bond Fund (DBLTX)Related Episodes337: Why in the World Would You Own Bonds?378 Plus: A Frustrating Time To Invest and Did Bulletshares Underperform?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jan 18, 2023 • 26min

Will Generative AI Like ChatGPT Replace Your Job?

How sophisticated AI apps from OpenAI and other companies create articles, art, and other works that have never existed. How generative AI will impact business owners, employees, students, and financial markets.Topics include:How AI is creating personal finance articles and other creative worksChatGPT's attempt at writing a script for the Money For the Rest of Us podcastHow ChatGPT and other large language models workWhat are the risks and flaws of generative AIHow can we adapt and take advantage of generative AIFor more information on this episode click here.SponsorsMasterworks – invest in contemporary artNetSuite - the leading integrated cloud business software suiteShow NotesWe Are Here To Create: A Conversation with Kai-Fu Lee—EdgeCNET Is Quietly Publishing Entire Articles Generated by AI by Frank Landymore—FuturismCNET Money—CNETShould You Break a CD Early for a Better Rate by AI engine and edited by Jaclyn DeJohn—CNETNerdWallet, Inc. Q3 2022 Earnings Call—NerdWalletOpenAIThe Backstory of ChatGPT Creator OpenAI by Berber Jin and Miles Kruppa—The Wall Street JournalGPT-3.5 + ChatGPT: An illustrated overview by Alan D. Thompson—Life ArchitectAI-generate answers temporarily banned on coding Q&A site Stack Overflow by James Vincent—The VergeAlarmed by A.I. Chatbots, Universities Start Revamping How They Teach by Kalley Huang—The New York TimesA Coming-Out Part for Generative A.I., Silicon Valley's New Craze by Kevin Roose—The New York TimesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Jan 11, 2023 • 29min

Your Nation's National Debt: 5 Things You Need to Know

We analyze the worrisome national debt situation in the U.S., UK, and Japan and consider what will determine the likelihood of defaultTopics covered include:How big is the national debt in the U.S., UK, and JapanWhy Japan and UK interest rates have increasedWhen do federal government debts jump the mostWhat two numbers are key to whether a level of national debt is sustainableWhat are five ways indebted countries have reduced the relative size of their debtWhy quantitative easing is not a solution to a national debt crisisFor more information on this episode click here.SponsorsShopify FundriseShow NotesDebt to the Penny—U.S. Treasury Fiscal DataFederal Debt and the Debt Limit in 2022—Congressional Research ServiceCan the Central Bank Alleviate Fiscal Burdens? by Ricardo Reis—London School of Economics and Political ScienceUK government debt and deficit: June 2022—Office for National StatisticsJapan's Experience with Yield Curve Control by Matthew Higgins and Thomas Klitgaard—Liberty Street EconomicsWhat is the national debt?—U.S. Treasury Fiscal DataMajor Foreign Holder of Treasury Securities—Treasury International Capital System, U.S. TreasuryThe Liquidation of Government Debt by Carmen M. Reinhart and M. Belen Sbrancia—International Monetary FundRelated Episodes295: Federal Reserve Insolvency and Monetizing the National Debt338: The National Debt, Inflation, and the U.S. Dollar—What Could Go Wrong?360: Will the U.S. Default? Debt Ceilings, Government Shutdowns, and the National DebtSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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