AI headlines, meme stocks, crypto and mega-cap tech have all been front and center this year. For long-term investors, the harder question is what actually deserves a place in a disciplined portfolio.

In a new episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce sit down with Wes Crill, Senior Client Solutions Director and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, to sort through the noise and return to core principles.

Wes shares how he's thinking about the themes investors are asking about most right now, including AI-driven market concentration, the role of traditional investment premiums and the questions surrounding small caps. He also discusses how research helps separate signal from noise in a year filled with new products, rapid narratives and shifting expectations.

The conversation touches on:

• AI's influence on market behavior and investor expectations
• How concentrated performance shapes the broader discussion
• What research shows about premiums across different markets
• Where speculation shows up in headlines and portfolios
• How investors can stay grounded when new products or trends emerge

Wes closes with a simple message for investors in an anxious, headline-heavy year: broad diversification, clear goals and steady implementation tend to matter more than the latest market story.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.