Enterprising Investor

Episode #408. We use the word "trust" a lot, but what does it mean, and why is it important in the investment industry and beyond? How can financial firms and professionals build trust? Can innovation and technology enhance trust? In this episode, Rebecca Fender, CFA, and Bob Stammers, CFA, discuss these questions and more and share some of the findings from the recent Investor Trust Study 2020 published by CFA Institute.

Episode #407. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is causing widespread concern, fear, and stress. In this episode, Jason Voss, CFA, a lifelong meditator who has spent the last 20 years researching meditation and its benefits, explains how meditation can help reduce stress, especially during times of crisis, and provides listeners with some tips on how to get started.

Episode #406. Pandemic panic has engulfed financial markets. In this timely and wide-ranging episode, financial economist Robert F. Bruner, co-author of The Panic of 1907: Lessons Learned from the Market's Perfect Storm, discusses the 1907 panic, what the Spanish Flu can teach us about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, facts versus fiction when it comes to financial crises, how investors can identify signs of recovery, and leadership lessons in times of crisis.

Episode #405. Yanis Varoufakis discusses the lessons he learned during his tenure as Minister of Finance of Greece and how they led to his co-founding DiEM 25, the pan-European movement for the democratization of Europe. In this short interview, he shares his views on the relationship between politics and the investment industry and the role of capital markets within society.

Episode #404. Olof Granstrom discusses the concept of factfulness and his work on helping people understand the world through data. In this short interview, Granstrom talks about dealing with conflicting facts and incorporating them into decision making.

In episode #403, human rights activist Bill Browder discusses the role personal history and timing played in his career trajectory. From the founding of Hermitage Capital Management just after the fall of the Soviet Union, to his current role fighting state-sponsored corruption and human rights abuses through the Magnitsky Act, Browder shares his evolution from rebel capitalist, to activist investor, to full-time human rights activist, detailed in his book, Red Notice.

Episode #402. Stephanie Kelton explains modern monetary theory, a new approach to economics. She explains how to break free of the myths and misunderstandings about money and the role of taxes, debt, and deficits that have hamstrung policymakers around the world.

In episode #401, Kathleen M. Bochman, CFA, discusses the state of the art of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) integration in fixed-income management.

In this 400th episode of the Take 15 Podcast, Mebane Faber, a cofounder and chief investment officer of Cambria Investment Management, and our guest host, Rodney Sullivan, CFA, discuss industry trends and global asset allocation strategy as we head into a new decade of the 2020s. Mr. Faber cautions investors about "home country bias" and recommends allocating investments toward the world market portfolio, particularly with lofty valuation levels in the United States from an historical perspective. Mr. Faber discusses changes to the industry that will affect financial advisers, including the impact of zero commissions and the rise of systematic or quantitative investing. He also shares why he believes financial advisers need to reassess their business risks as we enter the later stages of the economic cycle.

Episode #399. Overconfidence is a behavioral bias that plagues many investors. What does overconfidence mean, and where does one draw the line between confidence and overly optimistic behavior? What are the most common forms of overconfidence? In this episode, Ryan O. Murphy, head of decision sciences at Morningstar Investment Management, provides the answers and offers practical tips on restraining this common bias.