Investing Unscripted

In episode 45, Running Towards Fires, Jason and Jeff talked about finding opportunities to buy when the consensus was to sell. In this week's show, they discuss how so many investors are running the other way, paying a hefty premium for low-growth, "blue-chip" stocks that are likely to deliver underperforming returns going forward, looking for dividend stocks, and otherwise searching for safety in what Jason says is "the wrong way." Should you be buying growth stocks again? Holding cash and being patient? Jeff and Jason share their thoughts on this complicated topic.  After the break, we answer three listener-submitted questions about foreign taxes, selling stocks at nosebleed valuations only to buy back when they're cheaper, and evaluating different companies based on valuation.  Companies mentioned: AMZN, COST, CRWD, DDOG, HD, LOW, PG, WMTWe would love feedback on the show. Share with us at:  Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow  Check out our YouTube channel for more content:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here:  https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

When it comes to understanding human behavior, Jason has learned the value of understanding incentives. Employees and managers almost always act based on how they're compensated, even if it's not aligned perfectly with the best interests of a company or its owners. Yet, we as investors seem to make the mistake of not having our personal incentives aligned with our long-term financial goals. In this episode, Jason and Jeff discuss this complex topic and offer some examples of incentives versus goals to help you strengthen your own investing toolbox.  Companies mentioned: TSLA We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at:  Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow  Check out our YouTube channel for more content:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here:  https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

After almost three decades working in and around the financial services industry, Lou Whiteman has learned to become skeptical of many investment ideas and trends. Jeff and Jason spoke with Lou recently, discussing his experiences in finance and as an individual investor, and how he's developed the investing superpower of being a skeptical optimist.  As Lou puts it, "skeptical in the short term, but optimistic in the long term."  Lou is a regular contributor to The Motley Fool, and recently launched Fits and Starts, where he shares his personal observations on investing, finance, Bono, and life. Companies mentioned: BA, GD, HII, LDOS, LMT, LHX, NOC, RTX, TDG We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at:  Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow  Check out our YouTube channel for more content:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here:  https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

(If you're not familiar with The Smattering 2023 Portfolio Contest, check out episode 32) Three months into 2023, and it's clear that you, our listeners, are the best stock pickers. Or that's what the early results of The Smattering 2023 Portfolio Contest show! In this Episode, Jeff and Jason discuss their early takes on the stocks they picked, lessons learned so far this year, and where their convictions lie going forward.  In the second part of the show, Jeff asks the question, Did Jason Just Buy a Penny Stock? Maybe. Sorta.  Companies mentioned: AMC, AMZN, ATY, BIP, BOC, BLNK, CRWD, DDOG, LMND, MELI, META, OM, TREX, TSLA, SPG, TSM, TTD We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at:  Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow  Check out our YouTube channel for more content:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here:  https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

If you're looking for a podcast with deep individual stock research, Chit Chat Money is one of the best. Brett Schafer and Ryan Henderson recently joined us on The Smattering to talk about their journey from co-kickers on their college football team, to co-hosts of a popular podcast, their investments, and how Chit Chat Money and their investing styles have evolved. Most importantly, we get some of their favorite stock ideas, and learn who was the better college football kicker.  Chit Chat Money on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SBtOWGEOmD9pmltgIXO8r Substack: https://chitchatmoney.substack.com/ Ryan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCM_Ryan Brett on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCM_Brett Companies mentioned: AAPL, ABNB, AMZN, ATVI, BKNG, BMBL, COST, CPNG, GRND, HD, HSY, LOV, META, MTCH, NNI, PM, SFM, SHOP, SPOT, SQ We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at:  Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow  Check out our YouTube channel for more content:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here:  https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

The U.S. is going through its first banking crisis – or potential crisis – in almost 15 years. And like prior panics, crises, and downturns, it seemingly came out of nowhere, with Silicon Valley Bank erupting in fire overnight, and the fire spreading to Signature Bank and threatening to send the whole neighborhood (or at least a notable cul-de-sac – of regional banks up in flames. We've seen this play out before. A crisis happens. Stocks crash. Investors either make or lose money, depending on whether they run toward the fire, or run away.  In this episode, Jeff and Jason describe their experiences during prior times of market panic, and how these can be both opportunities to profit, and potential threats to your wealth. It all depends on a few key factors.  In the second part of the show, Jason and Jeff introduce a new segment: I Did a Thing! This week, Jason drops a surprise stock sale he made on Jeff, and they talk about what changed.  Companies mentioned: SIVB, SBNY, LOB, SCHW, SOFI, NTB, CPF, AX, FRC, COIN We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at:  Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow  Check out our YouTube channel for more content:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here:  https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

Jacob Goldstein knows a lot about money. He wrote Jason's favorite book (apologies to Morgan Housel) about it, called "Money, the True Story of a Made-Up Thing". Jacob also hosts "What's Your Problem," the podcast where he talks to really smart people about problems they're trying to solve.  This week, Jeff and Jason sat down with Jacob to talk about the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, and how they compare with past bank crises. They also discuss Jacob's podcast, the problems he's solved and is trying to solve, and what it's like making such a big career change after more than a decade co-hosting NPR's Planet Money podcast.  Companies discussed: SIVB, SBNY Find Jacob on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobgoldstein   Jacob's podcast: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/whats-your-problem   Jacob's book on money: https://www.amazon.com/Money-True-Story-Made-Up-Thing/dp/1549107089   We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at: Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow  Check out our YouTube channel for more content:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here:  https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

Time for another mailbag! We answer a handful of great questions from listeners, including concerns about a dividend trap, set-it-and-forget-it investments in renewable energy, our favorite boring stocks, selling stocks on fundamentals, and more. Have questions you want us to answer on a future mailbag? Contact us via the ways below. In the second part of the show, Jeff and Jason also share the results of The Smattering Portfolio contest, two months into the year (link below for more info on this). Have a charity you'd like us to consider for the contest? Email or DM your pitch to us! Companies discussed: AY, BEP, CWEN/CWEN.A, EVA, HASI,NEE, NEP, ODFL, WSO We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at: Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow Check out our YouTube channel for more content: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here: https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

What does our own Jeff Santoro have in common with comedian Mitch Fatel? Despite Jeff's insistence, it's not being funny. Like Jeff (and many of you), Mitch began his investing journey during the Coronavirus pandemic, and now counts picking stocks and learning about the companies he owns as one of his favorite pursuits. Jason and Jeff recently had a wide-ranging conversation with Mitch about his investing story, his many decades in comedy, and how the two overlap with one another. Companies discussed: AAPL, AIG, BNGO, DDOG, DMTK, GOOG, NVDA, PGNY, PYPL, SHOP, TMDX, ZM Connect with Mitch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mitchfatel Check out Mitch’s Website: https://www.mitchfatel.com/ We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at: Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow Check out our YouTube channel for more content: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here: https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio

Semiconductors are an interesting part of the investing universe so we dedicated an entire episode to them. Listen to an interview Jason did with Nick Rossolillo, one of our favorite investors who knows a lot about the semi space. Then, Jason explains the semiconductor industry to Jeff like he’s 5 years old. Companies discussed: AAPL, AMD, ASML, INTC, NVDA, SSNLF, TSM, TXN Connect with Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nrossolillo Check out Nick’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@chipstockinvestor We would love feedback on the show. Share with us at: Email: thesmatteringshow@gmail.com Twitter: @smatteringshow Check out our YouTube channel for more content: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmatteringShow Find the 2023 Smattering Portfolio here: https://tinyurl.com/Smatterfolio