In this episode of the Wade Borth Podcast, he dives deep into the concept of Economic Value Added (EVA), a topic that Nelson Nash highlighted in his book Becoming Your Own Banker. EVA is often misunderstood, but it's crucial for anyone looking to maximize the value of their capital. Wade explores a key 1993 Fortune magazine article that discusses how major companies like Coca-Cola and Quaker Oats utilized EVA to drive profitability. Join Wade as he breaks down the principles of EVA, its relevance to personal finance, and how understanding the true cost of your capital can lead to better financial decisions.

Episode Highlights 00:24 - Nelson Nash mention - Introduction to Economic Value Added (EVA). 01:02 - Fortune Magazine article - Highlighting the 1993 article by Shawn Tully. 02:02 - Key quote from Nelson - “EVA’s basic premise is, if you understand what’s really happening, you’ll know what to do.” 04:58 - Use of capital - Different interpretations of capital’s value and return. 07:41 - EVA in practice - Managers acting like shareholders. 12:10 - Real profitability - Importance of measuring real profitability of operations. 12:51 - Cost of capital overlooked - Emphasis on recognizing the full cost of capital. 13:59 - Example from CSX - Success through understanding and utilizing EVA. 18:17 - Banks and capital returns - Comparison of banks understanding and getting returns on their capital. 20:22 - Financial statement gap - Missing equity cost in financial statements. 22:59 - Real estate example - Miscalculating profitability by excluding capital costs. 27:03 - Efficiency in assets - Illustration through CSX’s unutilized resources. 32:56 - Importance to individuals - Treating personal capital with the same seriousness as businesses do. 35:48 - Practical approach - How to apply EVA principles in personal finance. 39:46 - Quaker case study - Realizing the non-free nature of inventories/capital. 43:34 - Main takeaway - Understanding what is really happening to make informed financial decisions. 44:05 - Nelson Nash’s legacy - Emphasis on controlling the banking function at an individual level.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Wade Borth
• https://www.sagewealthstrategy.com/
• [email protected]