A personal finance and investing podcast on money, how it works, how to invest it and how to live without worrying about it. J. David Stein is a former Chief Investment Strategist and money manager. For close to two decades, he has been teaching individuals and institutions how to invest and handle their finances in ways that are simple to understand. More info at moneyfortherestofus.com
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SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI are all going public. Why now? And what will their weight be in index funds? What other U.S. ETF options are there if you don't want to have such a high concentration in stocks tied to AI. And finally, if you do buy SpaceX, what would need to happen to earn a reasonable return on your investment? Show Notes Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Form S-1 Registration Statment Under the Securities Act of 1933—SEC Elon Musk Is Dropping a Boulder in a Kiddie Pool by Matt...
We explore the free dividend fallacy and how it applies to option income strategies. We break down the return drivers of covered call ETFs and examine the long-term performance record and volatility. Finally, we explain why it's better to own a single stock than a single-stock covered call ETF, such as MSTY, NVDY, or TSLY, offered by YieldMax. Show Notes The Dividend Disconnect - Samuel M. Hartzmark and David H. Solomon Sam Hartzmark on Dividends - Meb Faber Research The New American Hustle: Div...
Why we have to navigate investing, business, and life with a compass rather than a GPS. David also provides an update on what he has learned from hosting live portfolio cohorts and letting AI analyze his portfolio trades over the past 12 years. Sponsors Square - Get up to $200 in hardware Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asset C...
I share five business practices that have carried me through asset bubbles, financial crises, business pivots, and now the rise of AI. Topics covered include: Recommended note-taking app and practices Recommended periodicals How to get better ideas Why we need to understand the probabilities when pursuing a new course The latest insights on AI, prediction markets, and other topics Sponsors Square - Get up to $200 in hardware Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Live Portfolio Cohort - May...
Please attend our live webinar on portfolio construction and rebalancing scheduled for Thursday, April 30th, at 12PM Eastern, 9AM Pacific time. I will cover the five steps to constructing and rebalancing a portfolio. I will also answer your questions. You can sign up for this special webinar at https://moneyfortherestofus.com/webinar/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Why portfolio construction is messy, personal, and never perfect. We compare the pros and cons of several portfolio strategies, including target-date funds, risk parity, and role-based portfolios. We conclude with three AI-related fallacies that will help us better navigate the current moment. Sponsors Square - Get up to $200 in hardware Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Live Portfolio Cohort - May 2026 Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up ...
In this mini episode, I share some examples of how I am using Claude Cowork and other tools to boost my productivity and build investment portfolio analysis tools. I also share more details on the live portfolio cohorts we will be holding next month. You can learn more about our live portfolio cohorts here. Show Notes I Saw Something New in San Francisco - Ezra Klein - New York Times See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not...
How the Iran conflict and other developments could lead to another major financial crisis. What is different today from 2008? Why trying to seed a revolution is so risky. And finally, what can we do to prepare ourselves for the next financial crisis? Sponsors Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Live Portfolio Cohort - May 2026 Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asse...
David shares personal positive and negative experiences with AI, from a frustrating M1 bot interaction to leveraging AI for learning. The episode delves into the evolving nature of AI, including philosophical questions about its consciousness, and discusses how technology impacts community and business. It also addresses a listener's investment query, comparing a complex diversified portfolio's performance against a simple Vanguard fund, advocating for a "good enough" approach over relentless optimization in finance and life.
How historical and expected returns for university endowments can guide us in setting reasonable return expectations. We also analyze managed futures strategies to see how they work, how they have performed, and how to use them in your investment portfolio. Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asset Camp Money for the Rest of Us Plus Show Notes 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of...
In this episode, we look at asset location, how to decide which investments belong in taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts, how where we live shapes the opportunities available to us, and how capital ultimately expands our choices. Sponsors Gelt - Taxes Done Right Masterworks - Invest in multimillion-dollar artwork offerings Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us ...
A new ETF allows individuals to earn income by insuring against natural disasters through investing in catastrophe bonds. We break down the historical returns, risk, fees, and structure of this intriguing investment opportunity. Topics covered include: What types of natural disasters are increasing How insurance companies use reinsurance and cat bonds to protect against extreme losses Why home insurance premium increases should be lower in 2026 How cat bonds are structured and what makes them a ...
We explore the forces likely to shape financial markets in 2026 and how to make better decisions as you pursue your goals this year. Topics covered include: The difference between intentions and resolutions Key behavioral biases and how to overcome them The cautionary tale of a private real estate fund that went public Is the affordability crisis real? The big test for AI in 2026 The financial and economic outlook for the year Sponsors Gelt - Taxes Done Right Masterworks - Invest in multimillion...
Should you borrow money to magnify returns in your 401 (k), IRA, or other tax-deferred retirement account? We examine Basic Capital, which allows investors to leverage their retirement account investments. We also explore how the wealthy don't use debt to generate wealth but to manage it. Sponsors Gelt - Taxes Done Right Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asset Camp Money f...
As Baby Boomers continue to retire, some analysts expect financial markets to feel the strain. We examine whether demographic shifts truly shape stock and bond returns, or what other factors matter more. Topics covered include: Will retiring baby boomers lead to lower stock prices or higher interest rates Some earlier demographic predictions and how they worked out How do natural interest rates reflect the demand and supply of capital Why demographics are only one factor that determines economic...
David converses with best-selling author David Bach about preventing burnout through sabbaticals, moving to another country, why retirees should take Social Security as early as possible, and Bach's idea of a flat tax on IRA distributions. Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asset Camp Money for the Rest of Us Plus Show Notes David Bach's IRA Flat Tax Idea Related Episode 50...
Can you really make money sports betting on low-risk, high-probability events? Topics covered include: The growing size and influence of the U.S. sports betting market Recent sports betting scandals How sports betting odds work An intriguing low-risk approach to sports betting Why the low-risk sports betting approach is still gambling with a negative expected return Behavioral biases that encourage sports betting Revisiting the difference between investing, speculating, and gambling Episode Spon...
What’s the difference between hoarding and investing? There’s a reason markets built on productive assets—like stocks and bonds—are far larger than hoarding markets such as gold and cryptocurrency. In this episode, David explores why that is, and shares why he recently bought Zcash, and how it’s both similar to and different from Bitcoin. Email Newsletters Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Money for the Rest of Us Substack O...
How AI gets simple finance wrong, and how to make it work for you, not mislead you Topics covered include: How AI ignores the time value of money A detailed example of ChatGPT misleading by making a simple math mistake Some examples of opportunity costs and sunk costs when making financial decisions Understanding how AI works can help us use it more effectively Sponsors Claude.ai - Sign up for Claude today and get 50% off Claude Pro Money for the Rest of Us Plus Insiders Guide Email Newsletter G...
Are gold and silver up more than 50% in 2025 because investors fear currency debasement, or is this rally just the latest meme trade? In this episode, we explore the supply and demand forces behind gold and silver, discuss investing strategies, and outline what to watch to see if investors truly are worried about debasement. Sponsors Money for the Rest of Us Plus Claude.ai - Sign up for Claude today and get 50% off Claude Pro Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when...
How to decide when to invest in municipal bonds versus new tax-efficient bond ETFs that don't invest in munis. We analyze several newer ETFs that earn bond-like returns while avoiding paying taxable income distributions. Sponsors Claude.ai - Sign up for Claude today and get 50% off Claude Pro Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Investments Mentioned Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal Income ETF (JMST) Alpha Archite...
This week there isn’t a regular Money for the Rest of Us episode, but David shares an update on what’s happening behind the scenes. He previews an exclusive Plus member livestream on the forces shaping the next decade, explains why there won’t be a new episode next week, and highlights fresh content available on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Substack. David also reflects on consistency, community, and the process of writing his second book. Regular episodes return in October. See Privacy Pol...
What happens when the money supply grows too slowly or too quickly? From gold-standard deflation to QE-driven inflation and inequality, we trace the lessons of monetary history, and what we can do today to protect ourselves in an age of infinite money. Topics covered include: How is the money supply measured, and why is it a subjective exercise What is an example of a negative money shock Why an optimal monetary policy would lead to deflation, and why that is a good thing What causes inflation H...
From salmon leaping along the Vancouver Island coast to fake bands on Spotify, this episode explores the divide between the physical and digital economy, and what lumber markets, managed forests, and everyday life teach us about staying connected to the real. Topics covered include: How timber investing works and why it is reflective of how industries evolve What percent of economic output is physical versus digital, and how has that changed over the past fifty years How households spend their l...
Central bankers set policy with incomplete information, unobservable targets, and constant trade-offs between growth, inflation, and employment. In this episode, we delve into how the fight for Federal Reserve independence could impact markets, interest rates, and your financial future. Topics covered include: What Federal Reserve Chair Powell said at the Fed's annual Jackson Hole Symposium What is the Federal Reserve's mission statement Why is it normal for U.S. presidents to disagree with the ...
From the dot-com boom to today’s AI frenzy, bubbles follow a familiar script. This episode explores how to recognize them, what sustains them, and how to position your portfolio without getting swept up in the hype. Topics covered: How U.S. stock markets are the most concentrated and most expensive of all time What constitutes a bubble and what sustains it How to invest during a bubble Changes David recently made in his portfolio in response to the AI bubble Sponsor LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link...
A practical framework for making better decisions, managing risk, and finding opportunity in unpredictable environments. We contrast these principles with the massive $2.9 trillion AI data center build-out by Big Tech, which is betting big on a single superintelligence future. Episode Sponsors LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn Jobs Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for t...
Dave Thomas, CIO and Founder of long/short hedge fund, Atalan Capital Partners, shares why most hedge funds fail and the keys to being a long-term successful investor. Episode Sponsor Delete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% off Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asset Camp Money for the Rest of Us Plus Show Notes FEG Insight Bridge episode page See Privacy Policy at https:/...
David converses with renowned illustrator and financial philosopher Carl Richards on the abstraction of money, attention capital, distinguishing risk from uncertainty, and the importance of taking microactions. Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Products Asset Camp Money for the Rest of Us Plus Show Notes Carl Richard's website, Behavior Gap Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 97 Simp...
A new executive order could radically reshape retirement investing by allowing private equity, crypto, and gold in 401(k) plans. This episode examines the factors driving the demand for alternative assets in defined-contribution plans, the potential risks to everyday investors, and why fiduciary rules and financial literacy gaps still matter. Insiders Guide Email Newsletter Get our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletter Our Premium Produ...
