How global is your portfolio, really? This week in the basement, Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and the gang zoom out from the U.S. markets and take us on a whirlwind trip around the investing world. Spoiler alert: the case for international investing is stronger than you think—and it’s not just about chasing higher returns. It’s about risk reduction, smart diversification, and maybe even admitting that the U.S. isn’t always the world’s MVP.

You'll hear how developed and emerging markets fit into a well-balanced portfolio, how correlation works in your favor (yes, this time that’s a good thing), and what history tells us about going global. Joe and OG share practical advice for how to get started, when to rebalance, and how much international exposure might make sense for the average Stacker.

Then in the second half, we pivot from markets to money buffers: listener Jeff from Cleveland wonders how to set insurance deductibles based on the state of his emergency fund. We break down how to think about the real return on your rainy-day stash—because spoiler: it’s not about the interest rate, it's about your resilience.

To wrap things up, we share timeless wisdom from Stackers across the country on what they’d tell new graduates about money, life, and how not to blow that first paycheck on a jet ski.

Why international investing may improve both your returns and your risk profile

How much of your portfolio to allocate internationally—and what history suggests

What "correlation" really means and why it’s your friend (at least in investing)

Risks and common misconceptions of investing overseas

How to choose between developed vs. emerging markets

Portfolio tools to visualize your asset mix and expected outcomes

Why your emergency fund’s best ROI might be peace of mind

How to align insurance deductibles with your liquidity cushion

What our community of Stackers wishes they had known after graduation

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/making-the-case-for-international-investing-1690

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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