Dr. William (Bill) Bernstein is a medical doctor, author, investment adviser, and financial historian. His research is in the field of modern portfolio theory and economic history. Bill has published extensively on investing and finance. His first book, The Intelligent Asset Allocator, makes the case for broad diversification in a passive portfolio, as does his second book, The Four Pillars of Investing. Bill's economic history books include The Birth of Plenty, is a history of the world's standard of living, and A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World, a history of world trade.

Dr. Bernstein holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and an M.D.; he practiced neurology until retiring from the field in the 1990s and became a full-time researcher, investment adviser, and author.

This podcast is hosted by Rick Ferri, CFA, a long-time Boglehead and investment adviser. The Bogleheads are a group of like-minded individual investors who follow the general investment and business beliefs of John C. Bogle, founder and former CEO of the Vanguard Group. It is a conflict-free community where individual investors reach out and provide education, assistance and relevant information to other investors of all experience levels at no cost.

The organization's free website is Bogleheads.org, and the wiki site is Bogleheads® wiki. Bogleheads sites are operated by volunteers who contribute time and talent. Donations help defray operating costs.

Since 2000, the Bogleheads' have held national conferences in major cities around the country and currently meet in Philadelphia in the autumn of each year. There are dozens of Local Chapters in the US and several Foreign Chapters that also meet regularly.

This podcast is supported by the John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy, a non-profit organization approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity on February 6, 2012.