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The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom episodes
- Personal Finance First: The Step-by-Step Plan Before You Start Investing
Most people advise to jump straight into investing—but that’s backwards. In this episode, Stephen is joined by Evan Raidt (host of At Any Rate) to lay out a simple, phase-based roadmap for building a stable financial foundation before you start making investing moves. Think of it like building a house: if the foundation isn’t solid, everything you build on top of it is at risk.
They walk through the basics—budgeting, emergency funds, debt management, and avoiding lifestyle creep—then outline clear phases for both younger listeners (new grads) and “late starters” who are trying to catch up in middle age. The big takeaway: you don’t need perfection, you need consistency—and you need to be willing to actually look at your finances without fear.
What You Will Learn
The “foundation first” order of operations: budget → emergency fund → debt → investing
Why investing won’t make you stable—and why stability is what makes investing work
How to avoid lifestyle creep when your income jumps after graduation
What “messy but trending up” looks like in real-life finances
How to catch up if you’re starting later: stop the bleeding, pay off debt, invest boring
Timestamps
00:00 — Building a stable financial “foundation”
02:36 — What “basic personal finance” actually means
06:56 — Lifestyle creep: why the first real paycheck can quietly wreck you
08:27 — Key rule: you don’t invest to get stable—you get stable so you can invest
10:06 — Phase 0: know your “must-pay” monthly expenses, set up accounts, automate smartly
18:28 — Phase 1: $1,000 emergency fund, get the 401(k) match, and remove financial roadblocks
25:05 — Phase 2: kill high-interest debt + build emergency fund to 3 months + learn investment account basics
28:03 — Phase 3 & 4: start automatic investing (10–15%) + increase contributions as income rises (fight lifestyle creep)
42:47 — “Enjoy my 20s” debate: the real cost of delaying investing & building a solid life isn’t “boring”
48:17 — Late starters: stop the bleeding, get intentional, pay down debt, invest boring, and optimize protection
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/0th4z72y #CashAppPod As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures.
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
The Perfect Jean makes insanely comfortable, great-fitting jeans you can wear all day—check them out at theperfectjean.nyc.
Function Health helps you get ahead of your health with comprehensive lab testing and clear, actionable insights—learn more at functionhealth.com.
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Tunein
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 8 min - AAR54 - AI and Your Finances: Tool or Risk
AI is everywhere—and now it’s creeping into personal finance in a big way. In this episode, Evan is joined by Stephen Morris to talk about what AI could mean for your money, especially as tools like ChatGPT move toward linking directly to financial accounts through services like Plaid.
They break down the real risks: privacy and security, “black box” decision-making, hallucinations that sound confident, and the bigger issue—most people don’t know how to prompt AI, so it ends up telling them what they want to hear. The takeaway isn’t “fear AI,” it’s “use it like a tool”: get ideas, double-check math, explore options, but don’t outsource your financial decisions to a chatbot.
What You Will Learn
Why linking AI to your bank/brokerage could be a bigger risk than people realize
How AI “people-pleasing” can lead to bad money decisions
The difference between using AI as a tool vs. letting it make decisions
Practical safety rules: avoid sensitive docs, use MFA, don’t blindly trust outputs
Smart ways to use AI for finance
Timestamps
00:00 – Why this matters: AI’s financial impact is coming either way
03:20 – ChatGPT linking to accounts via Plaid & “black box” concern
05:30 – Types of AI (ANI/AGI/ASI) & what current models can/can’t do
06:40 – Biggest risk: AI replaces the skill (budgeting, thinking, learning)
08:35 – People don’t know how to use AI → it tells you what you want to hear
13:18 – Conflict of interest: chatbots want you to stay and feel good
14:30 – Real risks: data leakage, lack of regulation, hallucinations
17:10 – Use AI daily, but don’t let it decide
24:35 – Safe uses
33:05 – Safety guidelines
36:56 – “Your info is already out there”
41:45 – Using AI for investing research
45:00 – AI as an intern, not a decision-maker
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Free monthly budgeting spreadsheet: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/
Email Evan: [email protected]
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate, we’ll see you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/0th4z72y #CashAppPod As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures.
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Tunein
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
49 min - Present Value vs. Terminal Value: The Real Difference Between “Value” and “Growth”
“Value vs. growth” gets treated like two different religions—but the math doesn’t agree. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Daniel Mahncke and Sean O’Malley to break down intrinsic value into two core components: present value (cash flows you can reasonably forecast) and terminal value (everything beyond your explicit forecast period).
They make it tangible with two case studies: Universal Music Group as a “bond-like” business with predictable cash flows, and MercadoLibre as a long-runway compounder where more of the outcome depends on assumptions, competition, and execution. You’ll also hear how they think about earnings yield, margin of safety, and position sizing when the downside risk isn’t the same across businesses.
What You Will Learn
The difference between present value and terminal value in intrinsic value
Why Buffett says growth and value are “joined at the hip”
How to use earnings yield (inverse of P/E) to think more clearly about “expensive” stocks
Why predictable businesses can trade cheaper than they “should”
How uncertainty changes position sizing and downside risk management
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro to Daniel Mahncke & Sean O’Malley
01:26 – Starting with Security Analysis
04:39 – Valuing stocks via present value vs. terminal value
05:14 – What a stock is worth: future cash flows + discounting (time value of money)
06:02 – Why “value vs. growth” is mostly identity, not math
09:23 – Multiples made tangible: earnings yield and margin of safety logic
11:11 – Case study #1: Universal Music Group
19:38 – Why UMG may lack “optionality”
24:15 – Case study #2: MercadoLibre runway, margin expansion, and why it’s riskier
46:11 – Portfolio management: conviction, co-managing decisions, and the “too-hard pile”
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/0th4z72y #CashAppPod As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures.
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
The Perfect Jean makes insanely comfortable, great-fitting jeans you can wear all day—check them out at theperfectjean.nyc.
Function Health helps you get ahead of your health with comprehensive lab testing and clear, actionable insights—learn more at functionhealth.com.
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Tunein
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 11 min - Not All Dividends Are Equal: Dividend Kings, Aristocrats, and Red Flags
Not all dividends are created equal. In this episode, Andrew and Stephen break down two popular “quality filters” dividend investors use—Dividend Aristocrats and Dividend Kings —and why a long streak can be a useful starting point for stock ideas, not a guarantee of safety.
They also dig into what a dividend streak can signal about a business, plus the red flags that can turn a “safe yield” into a trap—like unsustainable payout ratios, too much debt, and REIT-style dilution that gives you “your own pie back.” Finally, Andrew walks through a practical dividend checklist using Sherwin-Williams as a live example.
What You Will Learn
The difference between Dividend Aristocrats and Dividend Kings
Why a high dividend yield can be a warning sign, not a gift
The key metrics to sanity-check dividend safety
How dilution can “fake” dividend returns
A simple way to think about expected returns using dividend + buybacks + growth
Timestamps
00:00 – Dividend Aristocrats vs. Dividend Kings
01:18 – The “corny” names that are actually useful filters
02:53 – “You don’t accidentally pay a dividend 25 years in a row”
04:56 – What a long dividend streak can signal
07:06 – Why capital efficiency (ROIC/ROE) matters for long-term dividends
11:39 – The big risk: kings/aristocrats can be in a business’s late innings
13:29 – Dividend safety checks: growth, debt, ROIC vs competitors, payout ratio
14:18 – REIT red flag: issuing shares to fund dividends (“robbing Peter to pay Paul”)
16:10 – Why high yield can be a giant red flag (stock price tied to yield)
18:16 – Andrew’s quick dividend checklist on Sherwin-Williams + hurdle rate framing
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/0th4z72y
#CashAppPod As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures.
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
The Perfect Jean makes insanely comfortable, great-fitting jeans you can wear all day—check them out at theperfectjean.nyc.
Function Health helps you get ahead of your health with comprehensive lab testing and clear, actionable insights—learn more at functionhealth.com.
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | TuneinLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
38 min - AAR53-Stop Ballparking It: A Real Plan for Saving Toward a Goal
In this episode, Evan walks through a real-time example of saving toward a short-to-medium term goal: buying a motorcycle (plus safety gear) ahead of a future motorcycle trip with his best friend. Instead of vague “just save more” advice, he breaks down the exact mindset and planning process he’s using—built for goals under ~2 years where you need clarity, not hype. You’ll hear what to avoid , then a step-by-step framework so you can actually hit the target.
What You Will Learn
The biggest mistakes people make saving for a medium-term purchase
How to set a goal amount with padding
Where to pull money from without touching your “most powerful” savings
Why a high-yield savings account is usually the best home for 1–2 year goals
How to calculate your timeline
Timestamps
00:00 – What this goal is
02:35 – Why this framework is for goals under ~2 years
07:00 – What to avoid
09:20 – Why “slush funds” can sabotage big purchases
10:50 – Don’t just save cash / don’t rely on credit cards
12:40 – Step 1: set the goal amount
15:55 – Step 2: use your budget (AAR03) & automate it
18:00 – Step 3: where to pull from
26:55 – Step 4: where to keep it
31:05 – Step 5: timeline math + compound interest calculator
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Free monthly budgeting spreadsheet: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/
Email Evan: [email protected]
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate, we’ll see you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | TuneinLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
36 min - The Truth About Market Timing, Crashes, and Long-Term Investing with Ben Carlson
What’s the secret to investing? According to Ben Carlson (CFA, Ritholtz Wealth Management), the “secret” is that there isn’t one—building wealth is mostly about time, consistency, and letting compounding do the heavy lifting. In this conversation, Ben breaks down why the lottery-ticket approach and constant market timing are usually a losing game, even for smart people.
We also dig into how the stock market and the economy don’t always move together, why macro data is hard to use in real time, and what history can teach us about surviving the worst-case scenarios (like the Great Depression). Ben shares a practical way to think about diversification, how to avoid extremes (including the Japan bubble example), and why having rules—an investing “policy statement”—can keep your emotions from wrecking your results.
What You Will Learn
Why the “secret to investing” is there is no secret—and why that’s good news
The hidden trap of market timing: you have to be right twice
Why the stock market and the economy can diverge
What the Great Depression and Japan’s bubble teach about time horizon & diversification
How rules and automation can protect you from emotional decisions
Timestamps
00:14 — Ben Carlson, Ritholtz Wealth Management & his book Risk and Reward
00:57 — “What’s the secret to investing?”
02:26 — Market timing temptation
04:01 — “Worst market timer” story: investing at peaks and still compounding over time
05:03 — Cash as a “gateway drug” & the psychological toll of timing
07:15 — The Great Depression: the worst crash and what long-term returns still show
10:10 — Why studying market history matters
14:36 — Stock market vs economy
23:16 — Japan’s bubble & what it teaches about extremes and global diversification
38:15 — Rules, automation, and an “investment policy statement” to manage emotions
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/plynkifb2026
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
The Perfect Jean makes insanely comfortable, great-fitting jeans you can wear all day—check them out at theperfectjean.nyc.
Function Health helps you get ahead of your health with comprehensive lab testing and clear, actionable insights—learn more at functionhealth.com.
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | TuneinLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
50 min - What “Invest With a Margin of Safety” Really Means
You hear us say it every week: invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. In this episode, we finally slow down and explain what that phrase actually means, where it comes from (Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor), and why it’s one of the most practical “anti-stupid” guardrails you can use as an everyday investor.
We break margin of safety down into plain English: it’s not about being pessimistic—it’s about being realistic, doing the work, and leaving room for error. We also connect it to circle of competence, diversification as “training wheels,” and the difference between volatility (the roller coaster) and real risk (a business losing its edge). If you want a framework that keeps you from getting sucked into hype and overconfidence, this one’s for you.
What You Will Learn
What margin of safety actually means (and why it’s the foundation of value investing)
The bridge/engineering analogy: why “barely safe” isn’t safe enough
How to separate volatility (price swings) from risk (business deterioration)
A simple thesis test: name 3 ways the company fails—or you’re guessing
Why business quality + evidence + track record matter more than hot trends
Timestamps
00:00 — What “margin of safety” means and where it comes from
02:25 — Who Benjamin Graham was & the “Super Investors of Graham & Dodd” idea
05:45 — Why you don’t have to copy anyone’s portfolio (ignore the “X machine”)
08:25 — When Andrew first read The Intelligent Investor & why it “clicks” for some people
12:35 — Margin of safety in simple English
13:20 — Build in room for error (buy at a discount to value)
15:55 — Diversification as training wheels
19:55 — How Andrew applies it
22:05 — Volatility vs risk: the roller coaster vs permanent business impairment
35:10 — The “home inspector” mindset & 3 failure modes
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
The Perfect Jean makes insanely comfortable, great-fitting jeans you can wear all day—check them out at theperfectjean.nyc.
Function Health helps you get ahead of your health with comprehensive lab testing and clear, actionable insights—learn more at functionhealth.com.
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | TuneinLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
49 min - AAR52 - Financial Realities of Home Improvement
Homeownership comes with a surprise a lot of first-time buyers don’t fully feel until it’s too late: everything costs more—and “small” projects can still run into the thousands. Evan and Andrew break down how home improvements differ from emergencies (like a roof or AC) and why renovations are so easy to underestimate when you’re used to apartment life.
Then they get practical with a planning framework that reduces stress and prevents dumb money moves. You’ll learn how to build renovation costs into the home-buying process, why margin matters, how to avoid “assuming cash flow will cover it,” and how to set up ongoing home savings (including automation) so upgrades don’t wreck your budget.
What You Will Learn
Why financial stress becomes a self-reinforcing feedback loop
Why home upgrades create upfront “sticker shock” compared to apartment upgrades
A realistic way to plan for renovations before you buy (and why margin matters)
When it might make sense to roll costs into the mortgage vs. taking on new debt
The biggest mistakes to avoid: debt, cash-flow assumptions, and going crazy at once
A simple system for ongoing home savings: separate buckets + automation + budgeting
Timestamps
00:00 – Why this episode is about improvements and not emergencies
01:30 – New homeowner reality
07:00 – Apartment vs home upgrades
09:00 – Typical “minor” projects can still cost
10:00 – Costs are wild now
12:15 – Plan ahead before buying
15:40 – The 3% / 1% framework
20:50 – Mistakes to avoid:
29:45 – Separate home savings, vaults, automation, HYSA, budget
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Free monthly budgeting spreadsheet: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/
Email Evan: [email protected]
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate, we’ll see you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | TuneinLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
40 min - Financial Modeling: FMVA, DCFs, and AI in Excel with Tim Vipond
Andrew sits down with Tim Vipond, co-founder and CEO of Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), to talk about what it really takes to learn financial modeling and valuation—without getting lost in the weeds. Tim shares how he went from teaching a live modeling course at a university to building CFI into a major online education platform, and why strong accounting fundamentals matter more than most people expect.
They also get practical about how beginners can stop feeling overwhelmed by financial statements, how to think about DCFs and valuation frameworks, and what separates people who “kind of know finance” from people who can actually build models. Finally, Tim breaks down how AI is changing the workflow—especially using tools like Claude inside Excel to build models faster and even audit spreadsheets for errors.
What You Will Learn
What the FMVA certification is and what skills it teaches
Why financial modeling often requires more accounting than people expect
A beginner-friendly way to start learning financial statements
How CFI used SEO & content repurposing to grow
How AI can help analysts build and audit Excel models faster
Timestamps
00:00 — Tim Vipond joins & why Andrew’s used CFI to learn finance topics
01:12 — How CFI started: teaching modeling live, then launching online in 2016
03:45 — Valuing a mining company
06:55 — FMVA explained: what’s inside the certification
09:26 — Why accounting feels hard
12:11 — Advice for beginners overwhelmed by numbers
14:28 — Operator mindset: value drivers, staying profitable, and discipline vs “raise forever” businesses
19:12 — SEO growth playbook: how CFI outranked competitors by making better content
21:11 — Breaking into investment banking
25:21 — AI for finance pros: using Claude in Excel to build models and catch errors
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/plynkifb2026
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | TuneinLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
44 min - Live Research: On Holding (ONON) — Great Growth, Big Questions
In today’s episode, Andrew and Stephen try something new: researching a company live, on-air, in real time. The company is On Holding (ONON)—a premium Swiss running and lifestyle shoe brand both hosts personally like, but don’t fully understand from an investor’s perspective. They walk through how they’d approach a high-growth stock when they’re still building conviction, using On as the case study.
Along the way, they dig into On’s rapid revenue growth, valuation, and the big questions that matter most: pricing power, competitive advantage, and whether the brand’s “premium/bougie” positioning is durable. They also explore On’s “LightSpray” manufacturing tech, its shift toward direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, retail expansion (especially in China), and the risks that come with concentration in footwear and a complex global supply chain.
What You Will Learn
How to research a company when you’re outside your circle of competence
Why fast growth doesn’t automatically mean a great investment\
What to look for when evaluating pricing power and a real moat in a competitive category
The upside and risk of shifting from wholesale to DTC, especially with customer concentration
Why “cool story” innovations still need numbers & proof to build conviction
Timestamps
00:00 — Researching a company live (On Holding)
00:31 — On is Swiss: 20-F vs 10-K
01:22 — Product experience: comfort, durability, “dad shoe” energy
05:46 — The bull case: insane revenue growth vs flat stock + valuation tension (PE vs forward PE)
08:55 — The big question: how big can On really get vs saturation & TAM thinking
10:43 — Competition & pricing power: premium positioning doesn’t automatically equal moat
11:18 — “LightSpray” tech: robotic spray manufacturing
21:22 — Ownership/voting control + dilution & why capital returns may never happen
25:38 — DTC shift + Dick’s concentration risk + retail expansion
55:22 — Too risky for now, what would change their mind
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at [email protected] or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/plynkifb2026
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at [email protected]
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56 min
About The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom
From the publisher's feed
The Investing for Beginners Podcast teaches you how to buy your first stocks and build long-term wealth in the stock market— without the hype or confusing jargon.
Hosts Andrew Sather and Stephen Morris break down value investing fundamentals into plain English: how to read financial statements, value a company, avoid common beginner mistakes, and build a long-term portfolio you can actually stick with.
Plus, in our At Any Rate episodes with host Evan Raidt, we tackle the personal finance side of wealth building— paying off debt, budgeting, saving, and the money debates every household faces before (and while) investing.
Stop chasing "get-rich-quick" schemes and start building your path to financial freedom, one episode at a time. Follow for more.
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