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What’s the difference between conviction and certainty?

In this episode, Arie van Gemeren — fund manager, real estate investor, and author of Timeless Wealth — unpacks one of the most overlooked distinctions in investing and decision-making.

Certainty can blind you. It locks you into narratives, filters out risk, and creates fragility.

But conviction? Conviction is different. It’s not about being right — it’s about building a process you trust, having the courage to act, and the humility to adapt when the facts change.

Drawing on insights from Daniel Kahneman, Nassim Taleb, and Philip Tetlock — plus real-world investing stories from the 2020–2023 real estate cycle — Arie explores why the most successful investors aren’t the ones who are sure, but the ones who are prepared.

If you’re an operator, LP, capital allocator, or just someone trying to make smarter decisions under uncertainty — this is the episode for you.

Articles referenced in this podcast:

The Overconfidence Bias 

Alpha & Beta In Real Estate Investing

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If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here.

Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

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What do Rome, Spain, and Britain have in common?

They each ruled the world — and then quietly collapsed from within.

In this episode of The Timeless Investor Show, we explore how three of history’s greatest empires fell — not from outside invasion, but from internal decay. From currency debasement and over-financialization to the erosion of civic discipline, the warning signs were always there.

More importantly, we connect these patterns to the modern world — and what today’s investors can learn about resilience, scarcity, and how to protect wealth when the system itself starts to rot.

If you’re an investor, a builder, or just someone trying to understand where this all leads… this one’s for you.

Articles referenced in the show:

How British Empire Financialized the World 

The Golden Era of Money 

The Empire that Lasted 1000 Years

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What if the most decisive moment of the Napoleonic Wars didn’t happen on the battlefield — but on the bond desk?

In this episode of The Timeless Investor Show, Arie van Gemeren unpacks one of the most legendary (and controversial) financial trades in history: Nathan Rothschild’s alleged bond market coup during the Battle of Waterloo.

We explore:

• How the Rothschild network outpaced governments with faster intelligence

• Why market psychology is the ultimate weapon in financial warfare

• How this moment marked the shift from military to monetary dominance

• And what this all reveals about the financialization of empires — from the 1800s to today

This is more than a story about the past. It’s a blueprint for how modern power works.

This story is often repeated in financial lore — sometimes exaggerated or apocryphal — and should be understood in the context of broader shifts in capital, not ethnicity or identity.

📰 Read the companion essay and subscribe to The Timeless Investor Substack:

👉 https://lombardequities.substack.com

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode sharpened your lens.

Act well. Think wisely. Build something Timeless.

Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content.

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If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here.

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In a world obsessed with charisma and speed, Basil II built something different.

Today, we explore the life and lessons of one of the most overlooked yet ruthless emperors in history — Basil the Bulgar-Slayer.

Through 40 years of relentless discipline, strategic patience, and brutal clarity of mission, Basil crushed his empire’s greatest enemy and left Byzantium stronger than it had been in 400 years.

What does his story teach us about investing, leadership, and building real wealth today?

Join me as we dig into the timeless principles of discipline, patience, and execution that still separate those who build fleeting empires... from those who build ones that endure.

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Subscribe to The Timeless Investor Newsletter for more, and the free PDF "Build like Basil II": https://lombardequities.substack.com/

Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content.

Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content.

If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here.

Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

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Charlie Munger wasn’t just Warren Buffett’s right-hand man — he was a builder of mental systems, a student of history, and a principled real estate investor.

In this episode of The Timeless Investor Show, we explore the timeless lessons Munger left behind:

• The power of multidisciplinary thinking
• The “mental models” Munger used to filter reality
• The principle of inversion — and why solving for failure matters
• How the Lollapalooza Effect explains bubbles, pandemics, and real estate mania
• Why Munger loved real estate — and how he approached investing in it

We also talk about how modern tools like AI (when used wisely) can help investors today think more clearly — and how timeless principles still matter more than ever.

If you're trying to become a better investor, thinker, or leader — this one’s for you.

📚 Book referenced: Poor Charlie’s Almanack
🔗 Newsletter: The Timeless Investor Newsletter

Get Timeless Wealth Here

Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content.

Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content.

If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here.

Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

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In this episode of The Timeless Investor Show, we explore the life and writings of Marcus Aurelius — Roman emperor, philosopher, and author of Meditations.

What does a 2,000-year-old Stoic emperor have to do with modern investing, entrepreneurship, or leadership? A lot.

We talk about:

• Why emotional discipline matters more than intelligence
• The difference between control and acceptance in business
• How Stoic thought prepares you for market cycles, setbacks, and success
• And why some of the greatest investors in history turn to Meditations as a mental anchor

This episode is for anyone building something big — and trying to stay centered while doing it.

Listen in and think like an emperor.

Act well. Think wisely. Build something timeless.

🔗 Stay Connected

For more timeless lessons on investing, real estate, and building serious wealth, subscribe to The Timeless Investor newsletter:

👉 https://timelessinvestor.substack.com

Get Timeless Wealth Here

Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content.

Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content.

If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here.

Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

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In the opening episode of The Timeless Investor Show, we explore the life and leadership of Cyrus the Great — a man whose influence echoes across centuries.

Cyrus wasn’t remembered just for what he conquered. He was remembered for how he ruled — with trust, strategic systems, and a long-term vision that built the foundations of an empire that outlived him.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Cyrus built trust instead of ruling by fear
• How he created enduring systems rather than personal empires
• What modern real estate investors, builders, and entrepreneurs can learn from his leadership

I’ll also share personal stories from my investing journey — including lessons about thinking strategically, understanding local cultures, and avoiding short-termism.

If you're serious about building real wealth, real businesses, and real legacies — this episode is for you.

Subscribe for more timeless lessons on real estate investing, capital stewardship, and wealth building across generations.

Act well. Think wisely. Build something timeless.

🔗 Stay Connected:

For more timeless lessons on investing, real estate, and building serious wealth, subscribe to The Timeless Investor newsletter:

https://lombardequities.substack.com/

Get Timeless Wealth Here

Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content.

Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content.

If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here.

Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.