Talking Billions with Bogumil Baranowski

Before I tell you about this week’s bonus episode, here is a quick announcement: this episode will air on Wednesday, May 1, a day before my arrival in Omaha for Buffett’s Berkshire Meeting. If you are in Omaha and see me, please say hello; I’d love to meet you and hear more about you. Even if you aren’t coming to Omaha but feel inspired to share something with me, head to my website, bogumilbaranowski.com, and send me a message. This is the second Fireside Chat, during which my guest host asks me questions, and you, my audience, get to know me, your host, better. Matthew Stafford is a good friend and a former Talking Billions guest; I highly recommend his episode. He is the co-author of Find Your 9others: The Questions to Ask Yourself as You Start up and Scale Up, which was co-authored by Katie Lewis**. 9others has been a huge success and hosted over 5,000 entrepreneurs at 500 events in 45 countries.** Matthew Stafford works with startups, venture capital, and angel investors, governments, NGOs, and large corporations to create and capture value. He is a fellow VALUEx’er, a brilliant mind, and a thoughtful person, and I had to say yes when the idea for this fireside chat came up. We touch on so many topics, from my journey from Cold War Poland to getting educated around Europe and being professionally shaped by New York. I explain the kind of investing I practice and the type of clients I work with. We discuss the deeper, more nuanced philosophy behind what I do. Stay tuned until the end, when I share my experience of recently launching my new investment firm, Blue Infinitas Capital. We had a fun hour together; I trust you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Chapters: 05:00 Introduction and Value X Conference 13:09 Life During the Last Decade of Communism 18:07 Discovering a Changing World 30:00 The Importance of Purpose and Passion 33:37 The Power of Patience and Long-Term Thinking 42:21 The Value of Owning Businesses Over the Long Term 53:45 The Game of Investing: Competing Against Yourself 01:01:02 Blue Infinitas Capital: Embracing the Open-Ended Opportunity Disclosure: Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

What if you could learn from the richest people that ever lived -- both how to make money, and how to keep it once you make it. My guest has a lot to share about both pursuits. Guido Alfani is a Professor of Economic History at Bocconi University, Milan (Italy). He is also an Affiliated Scholar at the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality (New York) and a Research Fellow of the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR, London). In the last fifteen years, Guido has focused his research on economic inequality in the long run of history and on the history of major pandemics (often combining the two topics). His most recent book, published by Princeton University Press, is dedicated to the rich, the very rich, and the super-rich, and it is entitled As Gods among Men. A History of the Rich in the West. Today — my guest takes us on a trip back in time. I love history. I strongly believe that it rhymes, and there are many patterns worth recognizing as they can help us understand the present and maybe even look into the future. Professor Alfani tells us how wealth has evolved, with different societies defining it in various ways. He introduces us to the three main paths to riches; you’ll have to listen to find out what they are. He also discusses a topic close to my heart and professional pursuits — inherited wealth throughout the ages. Guido explains how maintaining wealth over multiple generations proved to be a challenge throughout history. We take on a revolutionary role of finance, and specifically the stock market, in keeping and growing wealth among more people, including women. Speaking of women, Guido’s book offers a greater understanding of the role they played in their families, preserving fortunes, especially in times of turmoil and change. Stay tuned until the end, when my guest reveals the most consistent strategy for wealth accumulation through the centuries and leaves us with some advice on how to avoid losing wealth once we have it. It’s all music to my ears, a very special guest with a unique book that ties together many of the topics and questions that I’ve studied, observed, and experienced over the last twenty years of my career as an investment advisor to affluent families and individuals. Please help me welcome Professor Guido Alfani.https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691215730/as-gods-among-men Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

80th Episode!! My guest today is Ken Honda, the best-selling author of a beautiful book — Happy Money. Another way of looking at money: a money conversation that will make you smile if not laugh! At just 29 years old, Ken made an unexpected decision: he stepped away from a successful career in consulting and accounting to fully immerse himself in the joys of fatherhood. But it wasn't long before a chance encounter in the park ignited a spark within him. Watching a mother struggle to balance work and playtime for her child struck a chord with Ken. Determined to ease the financial burdens faced by families, he drew upon his own childhood experiences and penned an essay that eventually evolved into the bestselling book, "Happy Money." With over 8 million copies sold worldwide, Ken's message of financial freedom and joy has resonated deeply with readers. Through his work, he encourages others to recognize the distinction between happy and unhappy money, inspiring countless individuals to embrace a life of abundance and contentment. https://kenhonda.com/ Key Takeaways: Find happiness and contentment regardless of the amount of money you have. Money can have either happy or unhappy energy depending on how it is used. Approach money as a game and focus on enjoying the process rather than winning or having the most. Shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset and say 'I'm next' instead of feeling envy towards others. Wealth is not just about money, but also about having more than enough and being able to focus on giving rather than getting. Knowing how much money you need for the rest of your life is important in order to focus on what truly matters. Appreciating money and having a positive relationship with it can lead to more abundance in your life. Long-term success and building a strong financial foundation are key to financial independence. Leaving a legacy goes beyond just money and can have a lasting impact on future generations. Chapters: 06:00 Childhood Memories and Early Money Lessons 09:09 The Energy Wrapped Up in Money 12:03 The Money Game: Enjoying the Process 14:52 Shifting from Scarcity to Abundance 18:02 Saying 'I'm Next' Instead of Feeling Envy 38:22 Appreciating Money and the Power of Giving 45:05 Knowing Your Financial Needs and Focusing on What Matters 49:48 Building a Strong Financial Foundation for Long-Term Success 56:32 Leaving a Legacy Beyond Money Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

My guest today is the author of “Hidden Genius,” The Secret Ways of Thinking that Power the World’s Most Successful People, Polina Marinova Pompliano. She is the founder of The Profile, a media organization that studies successful people and companies. Previously, she spent five years at FORTUNE where she covered technology and venture capital. As the author and editor of Term Sheet, FORTUNE’s industry-leading dealmaking newsletter, Polina interviewed the industry’s most influential dealmakers, including Melinda Gates, Steve Schwarzman, Richard Branson, and more. hiddengeniusbook.com readtheprofile.com In today's episode, we embark on a captivating journey through the bustling corridors of New York City's subway, where inspiration often strikes unexpectedly. From these underground musings, we delve into the transformative power of personal narratives, discovering profound insights and relatable wisdom from the experiences of others. My guest, Polina, shares invaluable lessons gleaned from the paths of the most successful individuals. Amidst tales of triumph, we explore the notion that success is not always a linear journey; rather, it often manifests in the midst of messiness and imperfection. Embracing the inevitability of hardship, we learn to navigate the twists and turns of our own narratives with resilience and grace. Polina offers sage advice, drawing from the wisdom of those who have navigated similar challenges. Among the gems she shares is the concept of cultivating an aspirational alter ego—an empowering tool for personal growth and achievement. As our conversation unfolds, we delve deeper into the mechanics of success, exploring the role of systems and the indispensable nature of trust in our pursuits. And as we reach the culmination of our discussion, we leave you with a stirring reflection on the essence of success—a reminder that its true measure lies not solely in achievement but in the journey itself. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of storytelling, resilience, and trust, and embark on a journey toward realizing our fullest potential. Before we dive into the conversation, I'd like to extend my gratitude to my dear friend Jordan Olmscheid for introducing me to Polina. Jordan is the brilliant mind behind "The Wealth Letters," a compilation of letters from accomplished individuals imparting their most profound life and business insights. If you haven't already, I highly encourage you to check out his previous episode on the show—it's a treasure trove of wisdom. Additionally, Jordan is currently immersed in an exciting new book project; be sure to follow him on Substack for updates and exclusive content. Alright, let’s get started, please help me welcome, Polina Pompliano. The New York subway can be a source of inspiration for many people. Feeling like an outsider can provide a different perspective and advantage. Learning history through personal stories and experiences can make it more relatable and engaging. Learning from others' experiences and stories can help in making better decisions and understanding different perspectives. Success is often messy and non-linear, requiring a willingness to fail and learn from mistakes. Embracing imperfection can lead to innovative and successful outcomes. Hardship and suffering can be catalysts for personal growth and progress. Developing an alter ego can help individuals overcome self-limiting beliefs and tap into their full potential. Understanding different perspectives is crucial for empathy and avoiding judgment. Translating a book can have a profound impact, allowing people who don't speak the original language to access and understand the author's work. Trust is the foundation of personal and professional relationships, and it is earned through consistency and reliability. Focusing on systems rather than outcomes can lead to more sustainable and fulfilling success. Defining success. NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message:...

Devin Martin is the founder of the executive life coaching company LifeStyle Integrity. His purpose is to bring wisdom to power, and his passion is helping leaders make life-altering decisions. Because of his core belief that the fate of both humanity and the planet hinges on the decisions that our leaders make, he has since dedicated his career to raising the consciousness of those whose decisions have the biggest impact. His work is rooted in the belief that capitalism, done well, can be a force for good in the world. As an executive life coach, he is able to support leaders through both personal and professional development. His approach integrates expertise in physical and mental health, relationships, and spirituality as well as business. His work is focused on helping individuals and corporations align their efforts with both cutting edge science and their hearts. Today, Devin shares with me how he used to live a double life before discovering lifestyle integrity. He takes me back in time to his months spent in a log cabin after leaving New York City's busy life behind. We talk about everything from chasing external markers of success to fear, insecurity, and the lack of fulfillment. My guest tells me how we can rewrite our internal narrative. Stay tuned until the end when Devin reveals how we can escape the wealth trap and develop a dream life and career. Before he shares his definition of success, he generously introduces me and you, the audience, to a bedtime mental exercise that can prove to be life-changing. I’m very grateful for this special hour we had together. www.LifeStyleIntegrity.com https://twitter.com/Flow_Coach https://www.instagram.com/lifestyle_integrity/ Takeaways Different modes of communication offer unique benefits and challenges in terms of depth of connection and vulnerability. Chasing external markers of success often leads to a never-ending pursuit and a lack of fulfillment. Fear and insecurity can drive decision-making and prevent individuals from feeling secure and content. The desire to get rid of wealth can stem from deep-rooted insecurities and a lack of self-worth. Seeing oneself from another perspective and rewriting the internal narrative can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth. Gaining perspective and taking multiple perspectives can help dissolve problems and provide a broader understanding of situations. Having faith in the unknown and taking leaps of faith can lead to personal growth and new opportunities. Balancing chaos and order is important for personal development and avoiding anxiety or depression. Wealth should be defined on personal terms and should provide freedom and simplicity. Success is not just external circumstances but also internal fulfillment and growth. NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Best-Selling Author | 2nd Time on TB | Top Ten TB Episode for 12 months | 50,000 Download Milestone Gautam Baid, CFA is the Managing Partner of Stellar Wealth Partners India Fund. He invests in listed Indian equities with a long-term, fundamental, and value-oriented approach. Gautam is the author of the international best-seller on value investing, The Joys of Compounding. In 2018 and 2019, he was profiled in Morningstar’s Learn from the Masters series. This is Gautam’s second appearance on Talking Billions. I have to congratulate him on the new book — The Making of a Value Investor, that we are discussing today, but also on having held the top ten position among the most downloaded Talking Billions episodes in the last 12 months, a remarkable feat. Talking Billions is a hundred downloads away from a major milestone - 50,000 downloads, if you are listening this week, you are among the loyal listeners that help us get there. Thank you all for listening to all 77 episodes. I really appreciate it. Today, we talk about authenticity and vulnerability and how they can help us grow as investors. Gautam reminds me how it’s important to focus on processes and principles rather than outcomes, as the market is probabilistic and unpredictable. My guest discusses the mental and emotional resilience needed when investing through the market’s ups and downs. We take on the definition of a quality business. Stay tuned until the end, when Gautam shares how being wrong is a natural part of investing, and offers some advice on embracing uncertainty. Takeaways: Authenticity and vulnerability Focus on process and principles. Mental and emotional resilience. Understanding the characteristics of quality businesses, such as high return on capital and competitive advantage, is essential for long-term success. A 2-3 year investment view is more feasible in today's fast-changing environment, allowing for a focus on businesses with good growth visibility. Active patience is key in investing, with a focus on verifying investment theses and making adjustments as needed. The bond between customers and brands, as well as factors like switching costs, network effects, and company culture, can contribute to a business's competitive advantage. Choosing the best clients, rather than the biggest ones, is important for investment firms, as it ensures alignment with long-term goals and reduces potential headaches. Avoiding distractions and staying true to one's personal approach is crucial in navigating the investment landscape. Being wrong is a natural part of investing, and embracing uncertainty is necessary for long-term success. https://stellarwealthindia.com/ Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Today’s guests — Eddie Palmgren and Niklas Sävås are passionate about learning and investing. They are the hosts of Investing by the Books podcast and work at Redeye, an investment bank in Stockholm, Sweden. It’s a wide-ranging rich discussion from inheritance to immortality and everything in between. Today, they both share with me not only their childhood stories but also family histories that shed light on their curiosity about money and investing. You know how interested I am in family fortunes, and my guests have stories to tell. We talk about their podcasting experience hosting their wonderful Investing by the Books podcast. My guests share ideas, books, and lessons. Eddie and Niklas introduced me to serial acquirers, a unique type of business they are especially interested in. They shared more about Sweden, where they live, and the wonderful events they host yearly. Stay tuned until the end, when Eddie and Niklas tell me how they look at success from their own perspective. It wasn’t my first chat with my guests, and I’m grateful they sat down with me and talked about their passions, interests, and stories. I greatly enjoyed every minute of it, and I trust you will, too. Please help me welcome from beautiful Sweden — Eddie and Niklas. NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. In this conversation, Eddie and Niklas discuss their childhood upbringing and their relationship with money. They also talk about the importance of long-term thinking in investing and share their investing styles. They reflect on their experience hosting the Investing by the Books podcast and the impact it has had on their listeners. They discuss the value of time and money and how they prioritize their time. Finally, they explore the concept of immortality and how they would live their lives if they were immortal. The conversation explores the impact of books on thinking and investing, the concept of investing with an immortal life, the importance of wealth preservation, the power of multidisciplinary thinking, the impact of survival stories on risk perception, navigating risks and unknowns in investing, the importance of trust in public markets, the different types of serial acquirers, and the case study of Teledyne and Henry Singleton. In this conversation, Eddie and Niklas discuss principles of success, their upcoming conference, and their personal definitions of success. They emphasize the importance of financial independence and following principles taught by successful individuals like Warren Buffett. They also highlight the value of having friends and family who love and admire you for living an honest and good life. The conversation explores the power of habits and the importance of finding happiness in everyday life. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to enjoy the journey of life rather than focusing solely on winning and losing. Chapters: 05:36 Introduction 07:42 Childhood Upbringing and Relationship with Money 14:53 The Importance of Long-Term Thinking 22:22 The Why of Investing and Investing Style 30:12 The Experience of Hosting a Podcast 36:50 The Question They Ask Their Guests 41:02 The Value of Time and Money 43:51 The Concept of Time and Immortality 44:55 The Impact of Books on Thinking and Investing 46:56 Investing with an Immortal Life 48:16 Investing for Long-Term Preservation 50:09 The Importance of Wealth Preservation 53:55 The Power of Multidisciplinary Thinking 55:19 The Impact of Survival Stories on Risk Perception 58:11 Navigating Risks and Unknowns in Investing 01:02:24 The Importance of Trust in Public Markets 01:04:44 The Different Types of Serial Acquirers 01:10:06 The Case Study of Teledyne and Henry Singleton 01:26:26 Principles of Success 01:27:50 The Conference 01:30:25 Defining Success 01:32:57 Finding Happiness 01:34:55 The Power of Habits 01:36:06 Enjoying the Journey NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

My guest today is Dan Haylett (the host of the #1 Retirement Podcast in the UK). Dan’s ‘pull back the duvet every morning’ purpose is to help his clients spend their time and money on what’s truly important. His passion for understanding and learning about the emotional, behavioral, and financial challenges of life after work makes him a true specialist in helping clients have the freedom and confidence to take advantage of their ‘window of spending opportunity’ and live their best life. He likes golf, reading, coffee, and getting up at 5am; he doesn’t like oysters, arsenal, big egos, and Crocs. Today, we talk about money, and specifically about the topic of humans vs. retirement. You’ll hear about the term Retirement Rebel, and you’ll find out how to become one. My guest will help us dispel some money and retirement myths. We’ll take on one of the biggest fears, the fear of running out of money. Dan will discuss some mindset shifts, and he’ll explain why the concept of retirement is flawed. Stay tuned until the end, when we’ll learn how money can make us happy and truly wealthy. www.humansvsretirement.com www.tfp-fp.com NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Thomas Chua writes, hosts a podcast, runs a stock research service, he is the founder of SteadyCompounding.com , where he writes about lessons from super investors, stock analysis and market insights. Compounding is a fascinating concept, so simple, yet so hard to embrace. I lately spoke about it with Pieter Slegers from Compound Quality and Gautam Baid, the author of The Joys of Compounding. Both have been guests on Talking Billions. The word comes from Latin, componere which means to put together. In finance — compounding is a powerful investing concept that involves earning returns on both your original investment and on returns you received previously. Thomas is a very bright, thoughtful student of investing and the markets; he has quite a story to tell, which he shared with me. You are about to hear about how he left the safety of his proverbial iron rice bowl and made his dreams come true against all odds — a story of minimizing regrets, taking risks, making a jump, and getting outsized results… He tells me about the fascinating idea of the S-Curve of Life. Thomas shares with me that It’s difficult to fail if you love the work you do. It made me think of the work I do, and how it’s my only professional passion. There is nothing else I’d rather do. In a busy, noisy world, filters matter; my guest reminds me that “You become what you feed your mind.” — I really like his thoughts on playing long term games with long term people. Life is too short for anything else. Thomas shares his experience teaching investing in a village. Stay tuned until the end, when my wonderful guest takes on two questions, the $3 question and the $30,000 question. I greatly enjoyed talking to Thomas and learning from him, I hope you do too, please help me welcome - Thomas Chua. https://steadycompounding.com https://twitter.com/SteadyCompound https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuathomas/ https://www.instagram.com/steadycompound/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SteadyCompounding NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

My guest today is Pieter Slegers, the founder of the world-famous and hugely successful Compounding Quality Newsletter. Pieter and I missed each at the last year’s Berkshire meeting, but connected soon after. It was Gautam Baid (the author of Joys of Compounding) who in Omaha told me I should chat with Pieter. We had a few wonderful calls since then, and met in person at Guy Spier’s VALUEx in Klosters soon after this recording. Pieter’s enthusiasm for investing is contagious, his appetite for knowledge inspiring, and his dedication to teaching admirable. Pieter Slegers studied Financial Management at the KULeuven and graduated summa cum laude. He worked for three years as a Belgian Asset Manager before focusing full-time on his investment newsletter, Compounding Quality. Compounding Quality has more than 350,000 followers across social media and more than 135,000 email subscribers. The goal of the newsletter is to help other investors by focusing on Quality Investing. His investment philosophy can be summarized as follows: find great businesses led by outstanding managers and trade at fair valuation levels (based on the Buffett philosophy). Pieter is joining us from Belgium, where I spent a year as an exchange student two decades ago and where, at the time, I found Peter Lynch’s book One Up on Wall Street at a tiny, charming English language bookstore. In the same way Peter Lynch introduced me to investing, my today’s guest inspires many readers, followers, and listeners to explore it, too. NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Money is a difficult topic, so when I meet someone who can make it easier, I can’t wait to have them on the show. Rachael is a Certified Financial Planner and owner and founder of Camp Wealth, a financial planning firm for high-earners and entrepreneurs. She graduated from Indiana University Kelley School of Business with a degree in Finance, and spent her entire career in financial services. She created Camp Wealth when she realized financial advisors weren’t providing the service that Solopreneurs and High-earners really need. I've been enjoying her thoughtful writing for a while now, and I’ve been curious to have a deep discussion with Rachael about a variety of money topics and more. Today, Rachael shares how her clients often realize they need less than they thought to have their dream life. She explains the 5 levels of financial freedom. I really appreciate her thoughts on handling a large, sudden sum of money. Rachael shares with me the most common myths associated with financial freedom. I found it refreshing and inspiring to hear that it’s not all about beating the index but creating an environment that encourages disciplined & consistent investing. Rachael explains how: “Investing when it's hard to invest is a way to increase performance.” Stay tuned until the end when my guest reveals some alternatives to traditional retirement. Finally, Rachael tells me how sometimes she uses her time away in a cabin in the mountains with no internet and TV to find inspiration. We take on so many big ideas today. https://www.rachaelcampwealth.com/ NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

My recent podcast guest and a good friend took over the show and asked me some incredibly thoughtful questions -- what followed was a lovely discussion. Matt is one of those multi-faceted individuals that I feel blessed to have in my life that no simple bio can describe, but it doesn’t have to. He reads, writes, loves music, he is passionate about finance and family wealth, and has an endless curiosity that he expresses in many ways — his Cultish Creative blog is one of those places, you have to look it up. He is a seasoned podcaster himself with a radio voice and personality. His brain is on fire and makes connections where few see it. We met not long ago but instantly hit it off. I recently released a Talking Billions episode with him, which is one of my favorite conversations. I highly recommend it. He knows me well enough to ask some terrific questions and short enough to still find new and intriguing facts about me, some that I forgot, but his curiosity helped me unearth. When he asked me to turn the tables and the spotlight on me for an hour or so, I had to say yes. So here it comes, Talking Billions’ very First Fireside chat with the host led by Matt Zeigler. Thank you, Matt, you are a rockstar. https://cultishcreative.com/ NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Christian and I were at the same investor event in Zurich last summer, John Mihaljevic’s MOI Global. A couple of mutual friends told me I needed to have Christian on the show, and he was kind enough to say yes, and we sat down, and chatted for over an hour. Christian Billinger has invested in European equities for close to 20 years, first as an analyst for GAM, Gartmore, and Cheyne Capital based in London and more recently for his own investment company, Billinger Forvaltning. His investment philosophy is focused on owning a small number of great businesses for the long run, and the structure of a private investment company is, in his view, the ideal environment for pursuing this style of investing. For more information: https://www.billingerforvaltning.se Today, Christian and I have a wide-ranging discussion. We obviously start with the early days and talk about the relationship with money. Christian shares his thoughts about managing family money versus other people’s money. I especially like his thoughts on the soul in the game concept. We discuss how in life and investing, we are looking for something that’s really not for sale. As a fellow patient and long-term investor, my guest shares his take on an infinite investment horizon. Stay tuned until the end, when we take on benchmarks and investing solely in publicly traded equities. There are some golden nuggets sprinkled throughout our conversation. NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Vishal Khandelwal is the founder of Safal Niveshak, an investor education initiative. He is an independent analyst and financial writer. He says that he spends 75% of his waking time reading. He is the author of The Sketchbook of Wisdom, A Hand-Crafted Manual on the Pursuit of Wealth and Good Life. I highly recommend it; it’s a beautiful book packed with the wisdom of the ages, from Lord Krishna to Socrates, Charlie Munger, and Warren Buffett. He also published Mental Models, Investing and You, which covers ideas from various disciplines, from psychology, economics, business, and mathematics to literature, statistics, and more. Today, we take on some big questions. First, we’ll hear Vishal’s thoughts on what life is all about beyond eating and making money. We talk about kindness and how to be okay when things are not. My guest shared ideas about the concept of freedom, a topic that came up many times on the show. I really enjoy hearing about minimizing the cost of being wrong, which is at the essence of my own investment philosophy. We dive into a beautiful image that our wealth is like our children, our primary link between the present and the future. Stay tuned until the end, when Vishal tells me if money can buy happiness. https://www.safalniveshak.com/about-vishal/ Twitter: @safalniveshak is the founder of Safal Niveshak, an investor education initiative. He is an independent analyst and financial writer. He says that he spends 75% of his waking time reading. He is the author of The Sketchbook of Wisdom, A Hand-Crafted Manual on the Pursuit of Wealth and Good Life. I highly recommend it; it’s a beautiful book packed with the wisdom of the ages, from Lord Krishna to Socrates, Charlie Munger, and Warren Buffett. He also published Mental Models, Investing and You, which covers ideas from various disciplines, from psychology, economics, business, and mathematics to literature, statistics, and more. Today, we take on some big questions. First, we’ll hear Vishal’s thoughts on what life is all about beyond eating and making money. We talk about kindness and how to be okay when things are not. My guest shared ideas about the concept of freedom, a topic that came up many times on the show. I really enjoy hearing about minimizing the cost of being wrong, which is at the essence of my own investment philosophy. We dive into a beautiful image that our wealth is like our children, our primary link between the present and the future. Stay tuned until the end, when Vishal tells me if money can buy happiness. NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Jordan Olmscheid is a successful small business owner and the editor of the Wealth Letters, a collection of letters written by people from all walks of life. The idea was to tap into the wisdom of the crowd and distill wisdom from the life and business experiences of others. Jordan was kind enough to include me in his project, and we’ve had some wonderful conversations since. Today, we talk about Wealth Letters and what wealth means. We attempt to answer what it means to look, feel, and be rich. Jordan explains how money can be a very stressful topic and proposes a certain framework of 3 big expenses to tackle it. We search for universal wealth principles. Stay tuned until the end, when we talk about the importance of mentors and the idea that if someone out there has already done whatever you are trying to accomplish, it might be helpful to talk to them. https://www.thewealthletters.com/about NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Matt is a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor at Sunpointe Investments. He helps clients create, align, and manage their financial plans and investment strategies. Matt’s talent-turned-skill is engaging people on their level. In his words, "Finance may be complex, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.” Outside of work, Matt has a long-standing interest in all things creativity and culture related. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania, received his undergraduate degree in music from The University of Hartford, and has resided in Connecticut for over 20 years. You can find him with his eyes on a book, his ears in some music, his nose over the stove, his feet on a trail, and his mind on the markets and the markets on his mind. I’ve been greatly enjoying his Cultish Creative blogposts that I highly recommend. Today, we talk about a variety of topics. I especially enjoyed hearing about Matt’s experience straddling both music and investing in life, and what the two have in common. We have a longer discussion about curiosity, and ideas and bring up Rick Rubin, Joseph Campbell, Rory Sutherland, and more. Stay tuned until the end, when we talk about how the world works, and how to make it work for you. It’s just an all-around fun, deep, entertaining, and educational conversation. https://cultishcreative.com/ NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

David McRaney is a science journalist with a deep interest in brains, minds, and culture. He is the creator of the blog, book, and podcast "You Are Not So Smart," which was initiated to understand self-delusion and motivated reasoning. His journey, however, began with diverse experiences, including construction work, selling leather coats, and owning two pet stores. In 2009, McRaney started his blog, which quickly evolved into an internationally bestselling book, translated into 17 languages, and later into a popular podcast. This podcast, once a part of Boing Boing, features interviews with scientists exploring the psychology of reasoning, decision-making, and judgment. McRaney has authored two more books: "You Are Now Less Dumb," released in 2013, and "How Minds Change," released in 2022. Additionally, he travels globally to give lectures on these subjects. His early career as a newspaper reporter saw him covering Hurricane Katrina, NASA's rocket testing, and more. Beyond journalism, McRaney's career includes roles as an editor, photographer, voiceover artist, television host, journalism teacher, lecturer, and even a tornado survivor. Following "How Minds Change," McRaney wrote, produced, and recorded a six-hour audio documentary delving into the history of the concept and the term "genius." Today, we learn about David’s childhood, and early passion for journalism. We have a deep, broad discussion about our decision-making with a realization that we are not that smart. David has some strong comments about the dance between the emotional and the rational brain. We tie it back to investing, the field where we are supposed to be rational and without emotions, but is it really the best advice? My guest shares some thoughts about changing our minds, and how to go about it. Stay tuned until the end, when we talk about the meaning of the word genius. As much as the word might feel familiar, I’ve been looking at it differently since my conversation with David. https://www.davidmcraney.com/ NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Jakob and Tobias Schober have been called the youngest portfolio managers in Europe; they are two out of five brothers. They grew up around business and investing and started earlier than most. I had the pleasure of spending some quality time with them in Zurich last summer. They shared with me stories that I knew belonged on Talking Billions, including a transition from running a family business to managing a portfolio of investments and beyond. It was one of those conversations that truly stayed with me, and I feel very blessed and fortunate to be able to continue our discussion here today. Their TIP (The Investor Partners) is an Austria-based value investment firm, inspired by the Buffett’s partnership. In their beginnings, the Schober brothers have been awarded several prizes in stock-picking contests. As someone who loves complex questions being broken down into sound equations, Tobias is a great fan of Bruce Greenwald‘s theoretical work. As such, he specialized in stock buybacks and issuance, since their simplicity tends to confuse the investing crowd. As a former race driver, it is easy for Jakob to stay calm in turbulent times. Today, we talk about the very early fascination with investing, family dinners with stock discussions, and a story of a family business that preceded it all. They share how they discovered the power of compounding and decided to start before they became teenagers. We touch on the topic of age and what it’s like to venture into the investment world at such a young age. They might be young, but they have a few crises under their belt, including getting started before the 2008/2009 financial crisis. My guests tell me what kind of businesses they look for. Stay tuned until the end when Jakob and Tobias share some fascinating research around buyback policies, when companies return capital to shareholders. When we recorded, I found Jakob and Tobias in Germany at a stock investing competition where their brother was accepting and award, we talk about it as well. https://www.tip-invest.com/ NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

Cayden Chang is a Singapore-based Value Investor with over 20 years of experience; he says that he spent a third of it making all the foolish mistakes that anyone has ever made and the other 2/3 building a family investment fund. He is the founder of the Value Investing Academy, where he hosts guest speakers, among them Lauren Templeton and Todd Finkle, both of whom have been earlier guests on Talking Billions. Cayden also built an endowment fund with Singapore Management University (SMU) to give away the returns to students who are financially challenged. He is a Campaign Ambassador With National Cancer Centre of Singapore to help raise $150 million for the next 5 years. Cayden is the author of 4 books: (a) “Do You Have What It Takes to be Boss?” - all sales proceeds were donated to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (b) “The Book of Hope by Cayden Chang” - all royalties were donated to Singapore Cord Blood Bank & National Cancer Centre of Singapore (c) “Beginner’s Guide to Investing” (in Japanese); books were launched in the largest bookstore chain in Japan, Tsutaya - all royalties were donated to Children Cancer Association of Japan (d) “Value Investing Simplified,” with a foreword written by Ms. Lauren C. Templeton —- it’s a delightful read; we talk about it in our conversation. Been featured in more than 30 different media in total in Singapore 🇸🇬, Hong Kong 🇭🇰, Japan 🇯🇵, Cambodia 🇰🇭 and Malaysia 🇲🇾 Honouree of Lifelong Learners Award 2008 by Minister of Manpower, Mr Gan Kim Yong Honouree of Personal Brand Award (Value Investing) 2017 by Marketing Institute of Singapore Today, Cayden shares a very intimate family story with me that sheds more light on his true passion, not just for investing and value investing but, most of all, teaching others about investing. We talk about his early investment, and his experience of starting and running the famous Value Investing Academy. Cayden makes a very compelling case in favor of owning businesses and explains how it is one of the best ways to become wealthy. Stay tuned until the end, when we talk about investing myths, value investors and technology, and so much more. Cayden is yet another Singapore-based Talking Billions guest — I spoke earlier with a good friend, Eugene Ng, the author of Vision Investing and the founder of Vision Capital. Eugene has been very generous with his advice and feedback on a few occasions, and we had a chance to meet and chat in Omaha as well. Chloe Lin is based in Singapore, and she was a guest on Talking Billions with Mary Buffett. Also, I’m about to record with Thomas Chua from Steady Compounding… what’s your secret Singapore? NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message

What a wonderful way to kick off the New Year with Algy Hall. Happy New Year, all my dear listeners; so grateful to see you here with my guests in a brand new year. Today, it’s one of those conversation that put a big smile on my face. Algy writes about investing but is also an author and illustrator of children’s books; we have some laughs about very serious and less serious matters. Algy Hall is an award-winning financial journalist and author of Four Ways to Beat the Market: A Practical Guide to stock-screening Strategies to help you pick winning shares. For over a decade, Algy followed several market-beating screening strategies in his weekly column for Investors’ Chronicle, an FT-owned, leading British investment magazine. Since 2022, Algy has been the investment editor of Citywire Elite Companies, where he has helped develop Citywire’s objective and powerful stock-rating system based on the level of backing shares have from the world’s best-performing portfolio managers. He is also the author and illustrator of 11 children’s picture books. We start the conversation with a very personal story that sheds more light on Algy’s relationship with money and curiosity about investing. I’m a big proponent of using screening in the investment process. I’ve tested and back-tested a variety of screens throughout my two-decade-long career. Algy takes on a number of stock screens in his book Four Ways to Beat the Market, a Practical Guide to Screen Strategies to Help You Pick Winning Shares. The book came out in 2023, and I believe it belongs among the classics in the genre — James O’Shaughnessy’s What Works on Wall Street, Ken Fisher’s 1984 Super Stocks, and Joel Greenblatt’s The Little Book the Beats the Market. My guest explains how stock screens give investors an edge. One of my biggest revelations over the years has been the power of filters, and I notice the more experienced, the more seasoned investors use very deliberate filters in deciding what kind of stocks, news, and even people make it into their portfolios, days, and lives. We talk about quality stock, contrarian value investing, dividend stock approach, and momentum investing. As serious as the topics might be today, Algy shares his passion for children’s books and tells the story of the scariest monster in the world. Stay tuned until the end to hear how stories and fairy tales we heard as kids might have been hiding lessons, advice, and wisdom that we so desperately need as adults. I had so much fun recording with Algy, and I trust you’ll enjoy the next hours with us as well. https://www.amazon.com/Four-Ways-Beat-Market-stock-screening/dp/0857199412/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Citywire Elite Companies link: https://citywire.com/elite-companies Illustration link: www.algy.co.uk Also mentioned in the episode: James O'Shaughnessy and Morgan Housel. NEVER INVESTMENT ADVICE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/talking-billions/message