Episodes
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If there’s one thing that can be said for certain in the closing months of 2024, it’s got to be that we’re seeing the fulfillment of an apocryphal Chinese curse: “may you live in interesting times.”
Although global events like wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have shaken the stock market, Phil argues that uncertainty in the investment climate presents the best opportunities for investing.
Tune in to this episode of InvestED where Phil and Danielle discuss when and if you should invest in an uncertain investing environment, how to take advantage of lower prices, and how to find antifragile companies.
Learn where to find antifragile companies with Phil Town’s Ultimate Stock Market Crash Survival Guide. Get your free copy of the guide now: https://bit.ly/3xNXFlf
Topics Discussed:
Investing with uncertainty
Finding antifragile companies
Markets responding to the war in Ukraine
Depressions and recessions
Inflation and buying power
Resources Discussed:
Ray Dalio signaling 100 year depression
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
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As we rapidly approach November, one topic seems to suck up all of the oxygen in terms of current events—and it’s not Thanksgiving. No one knows what will happen after the election, but given the razor-thin margins and the heated political climate in America, turbulence is likely. To succeed in investing long-term, focus on buying solid companies that meet Rule #1 criteria and are “on sale.”
Many people struggle with this due to stress, market fluctuations, or other distractions. Managing your emotions is key to making rational investment decisions, which depends on how well you take care of yourself. Stress and fear lead to poor choices, so practice staying mindful, whether through meditation, exercise, or reading, to keep a clear head and avoid emotional decisions.
On this Vault episode pulled from the last presidential election cycle in the US, Phil and Danielle discuss the negative effects of stress on one’s investing practice and how mitigating that stress can improve your well-being in addition to your portfolio.
For more help with avoiding costly investing mistakes, click here to get a free copy of 10 Do’s and Don’ts of Successful Investing: https://bit.ly/3XyEDbD
Topics Discussed:
COVID-19
Li Liu
Self-improvement and self-discovery
Ralph Lauren
Tesla
Circle of competence
Dealing with stress
Transcendental meditation
Resources Discussed:
The Seven Storey Mountain
For Love of the Game
Turtles All the Way Down
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Missing episodes?
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It’s a tricky practice for value investors to navigate through the sea of potential investments. While large, successful businesses can be tempting at the right price, the steps taken to achieve or maintain that success might come with negative environmental and/or societal costs.
Given the global dominance of some of the big tech companies in 2024, it might seem like the Amazons and Googles of the world are here to stay. However, issues like misplaced investments, anti-competitive behavior, and a myopic view of the future have seen industry giants topple in the past.
This week, Phil and Danielle grapple with the growth dilemma faced by successful companies, and what that can mean for your portfolio as a value investor.
To see more sustained growth in your own investments, click here for your free copy of the Rule of 72 Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/47awVb6
Topics Discussed:
The American Dream
Investing in “big” companies
City life vs small town life
Competition and ethics
Sprouts
TikTok
Resources Discussed:
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
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For any publicly traded company, the bottom line is going to be the driving factor in every major decision that gets made at the corporate level. With US tax rates fluctuating between administrations and shake-ups in the Eurozone, it can be like a game of cat and mouse between governments seeking to collect taxes and the companies doing everything they can to avoid those taxes.
As stakeholders in a business, investors don’t just own a stock—we own a portion of the actions that are taken by that company. With the rise of the internet and easier access to up-to-date information around the world, the social component of investing has become a major factor for many in the market.
In this continuation of last week’s topic, Phil and Danielle discuss the headquarter dilemma that some corporations are wrestling with and weigh the costs and benefits of activism in the corporate sphere.
If you’d like to gauge your own investing knowledge and learn how to improve your investing practice, click here to take the Rule #1 Investing IQ Quiz: https://bit.ly/3XL7URR
Topics Discussed:
Corporate tax rates
Companies moving out of the US
Apple’s Ireland woes
Business ethics in investing
DEI initiatives/reversals
Bud Light controversy
ESG
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Cryptocurrency, as a volatile and emerging technology, is used by millions around the world. Some of those users are trying to find security amidst unstable financial situations, while others seeking to avoid government oversight or conduct more nefarious activities. Its decentralized nature offers both opportunities and risks.
The ultra-wealthy, facing heavy taxation, often protect their assets through investments, relocating funds, or even engaging in deception. Meanwhile, multinational corporations hold immense power, frequently manipulating markets and governments, creating widespread challenges for economies and individuals.
Staying abreast of developments in this nascent field is beneficial to investors, as the volatility in crypto markets can distort valuations and complicate the search for long-term investments. In this week’s episode, Phil and Danielle delve into the crypto scene and discuss how the tech sector seems to always be a step ahead of regulators.
For further resources in identifying a company’s long-term trajectory, click here for your free copy of The 5 Moats Investment Guide: https://bit.ly/3Kmb33J
Topics Discussed:
Daily dives into trade publications
Tether
Goldcoin
Apple’s Ireland tax troubles
Coach/Michael Kors merger
Resources Discussed:
WSJ
NYT
Barron’s
All-In Podcast
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Debt plays a significant role in determining the value of a company. But how can you accurately assess the worth of a business you're interested in when it's burdened with debt?
In last week’s Vault episode, Phil and Danielle explored this issue through the lens of Liberty Media Corporation’s acquisition of Formula One Racing. Building on that discussion, they take a deeper dive into using the 10 cap formula to uncover a company’s true value—debt included—and help investors make smarter decisions.
They also touch on the inherent unpredictability of investing, using Tesla’s past and future as a prime example of the uncertainty you should always anticipate.
For some Rule #1 tips on dealing with debt in your own financial life, don’t miss your free copy of our Get Out of Debt Checklist: https://bit.ly/3TjolSK
Topics Discussed:
Value Investing
Factoring debt into investment opportunities
The 3 Fs of shorting
Unpredictability in investing
Resources Discussed:
InvestED by Danielle and Phil Town
Investing Lessons from Formula 1
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When you invest in a business, do you really know who’s pulling the strings? Are you aware of the leadership team and how their choices could significantly influence the outcome of your investment?
Take Formula 1, for example. Owned by Liberty Media Corporation, it stands out as a rare opportunity for sports fans to invest in the sporting world. But is it a wise addition to your portfolio?
Phil and Danielle explore the increasing popularity of Formula One and discuss the factors that could make stocks like this a good fit for your investment strategy.
They break down the first step of their investment approach, using Formula One's background as a case study to demonstrate why it’s essential to fully understand the business behind any stock before making a purchase.
If you want a greater degree of certainty with your next investment, download The Four Ms for Successful Investing for help finding the right business at the right price: https://bit.ly/3LhVUAR
Topics Discussed:
Warren Buffett’s investing strategies
Value investing
Real-life investing
Investing in Trusted Management
Formula 1 Stock
Resources Discussed:
The Innovation Stack
Bill Ackman’s 8 Principles
Phil’s Go-To Investing Checklist
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In an era of fast fashion and planned obsolescence, companies that stand behind their products in the long run seem to few and far between. A company’s warranty policy can be enlightening as both a consumer and an investor, and can also inform us about the customer base in that industry.
With some businesses updating their former “lifetime” warranties to cover shorter periods of time, how can we know whether those changes are due to declining quality or potential abuse from customers trying to take advantage?
Join Danielle as she takes a look at a new policy from one of her favorite companies, as well as some other examples from well-known companies, and what that means for the value investor.
If you’re in the early stages of your investing journey, click here for a free copy of The Complete Guide to Investing for Beginners: https://bit.ly/3MBzewf
Topics Discussed:
lululemon warranty policy change
Aldi
Dr. Martens
Patagonia return/repair policy
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Investing in a great business can sometimes feel like a personal relationship, and much in the same way as breakups can be incredibly difficult, making the decision to exit a position can cause the same doubt and heartbreak as splitting with a romantic partner.
Likewise, the same issues that can arise in interpersonal relationships–keeping secrets, communication breakdowns, divergent goals–can lead to deterioration of trust and change the dynamics of what would otherwise be a long-term investment. It is critical for successful value investors to have the ability to reevaluate positions when new information comes to light, regardless of their prior feelings about a given company.
This episode of InvestED finds Phil and Danielle offering a candid analysis of recent developments in Phil’s own investments, and what lessons can be learned when you’re buying into a business with the objective of holding it through the ups and downs that come over the years.
Whether you’re seeking a new company to buy or deciding whether an existing investment is staying true to your initial assessment, get your free copy of the Must Have Investing Checklist to avoid unnecessary risk in your portfolio: https://bit.ly/49bSWZ7
Topics Discussed:
Paris Olympics
Athletic sponsorships
Bank OZK concerns
Difficulty in reevaluating positions
VIX
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At the end of the 1970s and the early 1980s, a decade of financial instability and high inflation rates led Warren Buffett to ponder the correct path forward for Berkshire Hathaway in his letters to shareholders. His solutions in those years could hold some valuable information for investors as we find ourselves once again in turbulent times.
While the financial, societal, and cultural contexts have drastically changed over the course of three and a half decades, the underlying business principles and inherent behavioral characteristics can offer insights into how wise investors can find success during times of uncertainty in the modern world.
This Vault episode offers us a glimpse into both the recent and not-so-recent past as Danielle considers how a post-pandemic world can benefit from Buffett’s wisdom following one of the most volatile decades of the 20th century.
For help with protecting your investments in unstable markets, get your free copy of the Rule #1 Inflation-Ready Checklist: https://bit.ly/3yyrDdS
Topics Discussed:
Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters
Inflation in the 70s/80s
Indexing investments to inflation
Investing into companies with little debt
Prioritizing gains in purchasing power over earnings
Post-housing bubble concerns related to 30 years prior
Anti-fragility
Resources Discussed:
DanielleTown.com
Buffett’s 1979 letter
Buffett’s 1980 letter
Buffett’s 1981 letter
Buffett’s 1983 letter
Buffett’s 2010 letter
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Investing in companies that interest you can be more engaging and rewarding on a personal level, but it may not always align with long-term financial success. A core aspect of value investing lies in identifying companies that are undervalued but have strong potential for future growth, even if their business is less fascinating.
Additionally, aligning investments with personal values and the way you see the world ensures that your portfolio reflects your beliefs and principles. With a limited lifetime portfolio, it’s crucial to balance passion-driven investments with those that have a solid track record of stability and growth. It makes sense that many people are drawn to flashy consumer-facing businesses, but those aren’t necessarily the best move for every investor.
In this continuation of the utility of expert networks, Phil and Danielle discuss how and why value investors might place restrictions on their research process in order to find the best companies to buy, even if it doesn’t fully match their personal passions.
If you’re searching for the next business to add to your portfolio, click here for an assortment of Rule #1 investment calculators that can help you identify key metrics in your research process: https://bit.ly/3A57OeC
Topics Discussed:
Expert help
“Buying companies” vs buying stocks
Buffett’s punch card
10-K reports
Resources Discussed:
SBA SCORE network
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When you're trying to learn about an unfamiliar industry as part of your investing process, expert networks can be an incredibly helpful tool for getting started. These networks offer the opportunity to connect with people who have deep knowledge and experience in the industry, providing valuable insights into market trends and key players.
However, you're not guaranteed to get completely reliable or unbiased information, so it's important to stay prudent and do your own research to make well-informed investment decisions. The knowledge and advice coming from the person you speak to can depend on the caliber of vetting taking place or the hourly rate you’ll be asked to pay, so the value of these networks will change depending on the specifics of your own investing goals.
Listen in as Phil and Danielle discuss the merits and drawbacks of these networks, who they might be best suited to help, and where they’ll be taking this conversation in the weeks to come.
To get some expert help directly from Rule #1, make sure to grab your free copy of How to Pick Stocks: The 5-Step Checklist: https://bit.ly/3ros8mU
Topics Discussed:
Micro-cap companies
Expert networks
Manipulating financial statements
Resources Discussed:
SBA SCORE network
TEGUS
Knowledge Ridge
Damodaran on Valuation
Understanding Financial Statements
Financial Intelligence
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Do you ever find yourself in the process of research and realize that you’re only looking for information that supports your hunches? That’s confirmation bias, and it’s a trap that value investors must learn to dodge as they investigate the next business to buy into.
With billions of dollars on the line at times, there’s no limit to what some people will do to see their companies achieve success, regardless of the ethics involved. Therefore, one of the best tools we can have in our toolbox is knowing how to spot red flags and steer clear of the deception and fraud that can fool even the savviest investor.
In this week’s episode, Phil and Danielle tell us how “being a reporter for your own newspaper” is not only among the more interesting aspects of investing, but why it can safeguard your portfolio and avoid costly missteps.
To know exactly where to start when researching companies to invest in, don’t miss out on your free copy of Phil’s Value Investing Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/3QeCCje
Topics Discussed:
Oliver White
Confirmation bias
Terrence Howard’s questionable math
Peer review
Scuttlebutt investing
Theranos
Resources Discussed:
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
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To be a well-informed investor, it's crucial to read widely across various topics. This broad knowledge base enhances your ability to make strategic investment decisions by understanding industry dynamics, economic trends, and global events.
Investing involves betting on the future of the country where you place your money, making a comprehensive worldview essential for success. While some may dismiss those without formal education in a specific field, unconventional thinking can offer unique and valuable insights in the investment world.
On this week’s episode, Phil and Danielle take a look at the frontier economics of Daniel Boone, and how going outside the bounds of investing and finance can be a huge advantage for value investors.
To learn how to better plan, save, and invest at any age, click here for a free copy of Rule #1’s guide Map Out Your Investing Journey: https://bit.ly/3DTy4qN
Topics Discussed:
July 4th
The importance of reading broadly
Daniel Boone/Westward expansion
Buffett on betting against America
Confirmation bias
Resources Discussed:
Last of the Mohicans
Irrational Exuberance
JRE with Terrence Howard and Eric Weinstein
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Despite all the mystique around investing, it essentially boils down to understanding the business you’re investing in and viewing it as owning a part of a real company, not just buying a stock. This tends to hold true no matter the company, the industry, or the state of the market as a whole.
Few investors have understood this as well as Warren Buffett and his team at Berkshire Hathaway. With Munger having recently passed and Buffett offering insights into his twilight years as the world’s premier value investing superstar, what does the future hold for BH with the potential for a huge shakeup in leadership?
This week finds our hosts back in the “studio” to discuss the question of succession planning at Berkshire Hathaway, and what that means for the value investor and the market at large.
For more knowledge from some of the most successful minds in value investing, click here for your free copy of The Best Investors in the World: https://bit.ly/3DhbmIS
Topics Discussed:
Instagram
Dataroma/Gurufocus
Li Lu and Timberland
Institutional imperative at Berkshire
Resources Discussed:
The Intelligent Investor
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Summer is here, and the season of barbecues, block parties, and swimming pools may actually have more to offer for your investing practice than just a nice break from sitting in front of the computer.
In this week’s truncated “tidbit episode,” Danielle reminds us that every conversation can be an opportunity to dig a bit deeper into an unfamiliar subject, and that a good value investor keeps their eyes, ears, and mind open to the wealth of knowledge and perspective that comes from the people in their life.
To get a handle on your own investing practice for all 4 seasons, don’t miss out on your free copy of Phil Town’s 12-Month Financial Success Planner: https://bit.ly/45AP6Xh
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The market is a thrilling arena for investors in the internet age. Due to the previously unimaginable connectivity afforded to the public by the internet and social media, we’ve seen coordinated efforts by online investors who’ve used message boards to engineer short squeezes against hedge funds, like with the highly-publicized story surrounding GameStop.
A short squeeze occurs when investors betting on a stock's decline are forced to buy shares to cover their positions, driving the price up further. This phenomenon was vividly demonstrated with GameStop, causing substantial losses for hedge funds and prompting a regulatory response.
In this week’s throwback episode, we check back on the early days of the ongoing GameStop/Reddit saga to see where it all began.
To discover your investing weaknesses and learn how to manage your money smarter, click here to take the Rule #1 Investing Personalities Quiz: https://bit.ly/468F8eW
Topics Discussed:
Reddit
GameStop
Robinhood
Shorting stocks
SEC regulation
Resources Discussed:
Chamath Palihapitiya interview
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The world’s best investing minds have made fortunes that most people can barely dream of in their lifetimes, but having a successful portfolio doesn’t require the highest IQ, an office full of analysts, or access to top secret information.
Understanding your own strengths and being able to identify the fields that are of interest to you are crucial components of a fruitful investing practice, and maintaining a limited scope in your research and analysis can help you maintain focus and avoid wasting energy on superfluous data.
This week, Phil and Danielle take a look (and listen) to the latest Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting and discuss some key takeaways from one of value investing’s most important financial summits.
If you’d like to evaluate your investing knowledge, discover areas for improvement, and enhance your investment strategies, click here for the Rule #1 Investing IQ Quiz: https://bit.ly/3Faf7ks
Topics Discussed:
2024 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Meeting
Market indices
The importance of mentorship
Investing in your interests
Circle of competence
Resources Discussed:
The Intelligent Investor
Moody’s Transportation Manual
Value Line
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InvestED Episode #467: More Ulta Issues
As investors the world over grapple with the rapidly changing financial landscape, where ETFs, meme stocks, and cryptocurrencies are all carving out their own space in a well-established ecosystem, how do value investors gauge the future of a business?
While some might see these changes as a massive disruption to the market at large, there are others who, from a Buffett perspective, see the same cycle of boom/bust/reset playing out as it’s done so many times in the past.
This week, Phil and Danielle continue from their jumping off point of the cosmetics industry to tell us why the difference between growth and value stocks isn’t nearly as significant as establishing the value of the business in order to plan for the future.
For some great tips on what to do (and what not to do) when building your value investing portfolio, click here for your free copy of 10 Do’s and Don’ts of Successful Investing: https://bit.ly/3XyEDbD
Topics Discussed:
P/E ratio
Wall Street vs value investing future outlook
Growth stocks
Intrinsic value
ETFs
Resources Discussed:
The Weather Matrix
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