Podcast
Money For the Rest of Us
Hosted by J. David Stein · EN
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
64episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Should You Investment 100% of Your Retirement in Closed-End Funds?
Mar 26, 2025Summary readyWe compare three approaches to closed-end fund investing: Opportunistic trading, the buy and hold income factory, and a systematic approach of selling closed-end funds after 5% gains.We also explore the pros and cons of closed-end funds relative to open-end mutual funds and ETFs.Episode SponsorsStawberry.meNetSuite Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesThe Closed-End Fund Market, 2023—Investment Company InstituteThe Income Factory: An Investor’s Guide to Consistent Lifetime Returns by Steven Bavaria—McGraw-Hill CompaniesRetirement Money Secrets: A Financial Insider's Guide to Income Independence by Steve Selengut—RIC LLCHow to Invest in Closed-End Funds—Money for the Rest of UsInvesting in Closed-End Funds Course—Money for the Rest of UsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryTariffs and the Mar-a-Lago Accord: What Trump Really Wants
Mar 12, 202500:28:49Summary readyHow the Trump administration is using tariffs as a negotiating tool to weaken the U.S. dollar and increase the global competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.Topics covered include:Why U.S. stocks are falling, and recession risk is increasingHow the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency is becoming a burden on the U.S.How the Trump administration aims to reduce its trade deficit and make it less attractive for foreign governments to own U.S. assetsWhat are the risks of trying to weaken the U.S. dollarEpisode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offStawberry.meInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesStock Market News, March 10, 2025: Nasdaq Falls 4% After Trump Doesn't Rule Out Recession by Caitlin McCabe and Krystal Hur—The Wall Street JournalTrump Says US Economy Faces ‘Transition,’ Avoids Recession Call by María Paula Mijares Torres—BloombergIs the U.S. Heading for a Recession? Here’s What the Experts Say by Caitlin McCabe—The Wall Street JournalMark Carney Wins Canada Liberal Contest, Will Succeed Trudeau in Days by Brian Platt and Laura Dhillon Kane—BloombergEntering the Fall 2024 | Alarming Signs? - Fireside Chat with Scott Bessent by Simplify Asset Management—YouTubeA User’s Guide to Restructuring the Global Trading System by Stephen Miran—Hudson Bay CapitalCould Trump devalue the dollar with a "Mar-a-Lago Accord"? by Paul Diggle and Luke Bartholomew—Aberdeen InvestmentsWonking Out: The Mysteries of the Almighty Dollar by Paul Krugman—The New York TimesOn the Persistence of the China Shock by David Autor, David Dorn, and Gordon H. Hanson—NBERManufacturing, value added (% of GDP)—World Bank Data Group | Prosperity Data360Council of Economic Advisors Chair Nominee Stephen Miran’s Critique of the Global Monetary System—Part I by Steven B. Kamin—AEIUsing Stock Returns to Assess the Aggregate Effect of the U.S.‑China Trade War by Mary Amiti, Matthieu Gomez, Sang Hoon Kong, and David E. Weinstein—Federal Reserve Bank of New YorkTwo cheers for Germany’s fiscal reform by Neil Shearing—Capital EconomicsRelated Episodes404: Why Is the U.S. Dollar So Strong? Will It Continue?322: Why Currency Exchange Rates MatterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryWhy Japanese Stocks Could Outperform with Howard Smith - FEG Insight Bridge
Mar 5, 202500:48:15Summary readyThis week on episode 514, we share a conversation between Howard Smith of Indus Capital and Greg Dowling of FEG Investment Advisors on why Japan could surprise investors over the next decade with strong investment returns. David introduces the episode by sharing his key takeaways from the discussion.FEG Investment Advisor is David's former institutional advisory firm, where he worked for 17 years, before founding Money for the Rest of Us. Greg Dowling is Chief Investment Officer of FEG, and David's former business partner and colleague.Topics covered in the episode include:The false narrative that Japan is a difficult place to invest with subpar returnsWhy Japan's national debt problem is not as worrisome as the U.S. national debtWhy the Japanese yen is tremendously undervaluedHow Japan's corporate governance has improvedOpportunities in Japanese technology industriesInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesFEG Episode pageIndus CapitalBerkshire Hathaway 2024 Annual LetterRelated Episodes468: Lessons from Japan’s 34 Years of Stock Market Underperformance235: What If Home Prices Always Declined178: Japan and the Impact of A Shrinking PopulationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryCrypto: Innovation or Insanity? Meme Coins, Hacks, and Strategic Bitcoin Reserves
Feb 26, 202500:23:18Summary readyWe consider the incongruency of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the latest crypto exchange hack, and how most participants lost money on the Trump meme coin. Given all that, we review some areas where cryptocurrency is helping individuals and businesses.Topics CoveredWhat is the U.S. Strategic Petroleum ReserveWhy it makes little sense for the U.S. and individual states to create and participate in a Strategic Bitcoin ReserveWhat led to the latest and largest cryptocurrency exchange hack in historyHow financial and other data breaches impacted over 1 billion people last year, costing over $15 billionHow quantum computers could disrupt the security of cryptocurrency and traditional financial systemsWhy most speculators lose money on meme coinsWhat are some current ways cryptocurrency is helping individuals and businesses achieve greater financial stability and lower costsEpisode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offStawberry.meInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesAll Information (Except Text) for S.4912 - BITCOIN Act of 2024—Congress.govHouse Bill No. 4087—Michigan Legislature2025 South Dakota Legislature House Bill 1202—South Dakota LegislatureState of Arizona Senate SB 1025—Arizona State LegislatureQuantum computers and the Bitcoin blockchain by Itan Barmes, Bram Bosch and Olaf Haalstra—DeloitteBybit Hack, Crypto’s Biggest Ever, Spoils Coinbase’s SEC Victory Party by Olga Kharif, Muyao Shen, and Emily Nicolle—BloombergCost of a Data Breach Report 2024—IBMITRC Annual Data Breach Report—Identity Theft Resource CenterPost by @realDonaldTrump—Truth SocialTrump MemeEarly Investors in Donald Trump’s Memecoin May Have Been Tipped Off, Experts Claim by Joel Khalili—WiredExclusive: Trump's meme coin made nearly $100 million in trading fees, as small traders lost money by Tom Wilson and Michelle Conlin—ReutersMemecoin scandal rocks Argentina’s Javier Milei by Ciara Nugen—The Financial TimesTether Brings Its $140B USDT Stablecoin to Bitcoin and Lightning Networks by Krisztian Sandor—CoinDeskRelated Episodes488: Should You Invest in an Ethereum ETF?462: Now Should You Buy a Bitcoin ETF?410: Is Cryptocurrency Dead?373: Are Stablecoins Safe? Should You Own Them?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryUnlocking Hidden Returns: How Mortality Credits Boost Retirement Income
Feb 19, 202500:25:44Summary readyHow using a deferred income annuity can increase retirement income compared to an immediate annuity or a bond ladder.Topics covered include:How immediate annuities and deferred income annuities workWhat are mortality credits, and why they are a key diversifierExamples of how mortality credits lead to a 1% to 1.5% higher annualized return over several decadesHow to decide whether an annuity is right for youEpisode SponsorsNetSuite LinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesPost: No, really. Deferred income annuities (DIAs) are superior to SPIAs in every way by Boglehead User "GoWithTheCashFlow"—BogleheadsActuarial Life Table—SSATIPSLadderSafety-First Retirement Planning: An Integrated Approach for a Worry-Free Retirement by Wade D. Pfau—Retirement ResearcherRelated Episodes464: More Ways to Lock in Higher Yields in Case Interest Rates Fall455: Easier Investing, Richer Life: TIPS Ladders to Annuities407: Worry-Free Retirement Investing279: Why All Retirees Should Consider an Income AnnuitySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryWhat Are Sovereign Wealth Funds and Does the U.S. Need One?
Feb 12, 202500:19:32Summary readyThe U.S. and the UK each announced they were establishing sovereign wealth funds. We explore the purposes and types of sovereign wealth funds, how they invest, and some concerns with the U.S. establishing one.Topics covered include:What are the four types of sovereign wealth funds, and why the U.S. doesn't fit the typical use caseHow sovereign wealth funds navigate between politics and generating high returnsWhy a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, depending on its size, could crowd out other investment capital, leading to lower investment returnsHow the U.S. federal government already invests in its economy without a sovereign wealth fundEpisode SponsorsDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offLinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesFact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Orders Plan for a United States Sovereign Wealth Fund—The White HouseA Plan For Establishing A United States Sovereign Wealth Fund—The White HouseInternational Forum of Sovereign Wealth FundsSovereign Wealth Funds: Past, Present and Future by Salman Bahooab, Ilan Alonb, and Andrea Paltrinieria—ScienceDirectGuardians releases 2024 Annual Report—NZ Super FundUK Wealth Fund Brings Government And Private Investment Together by Efraim Chalamish—Global Finance2024 Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management Study—InvescoTop 100 Largest Sovereign Wealth Fund Rankings by Total Assets—Sovereign Wealth Fund InstituteThe Importance and Perspectives of Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Globalised Economy by Jan Černohorský and Kateřina Tesnerová—SHS ConferencesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryContrarian Investing with GMO's Ben Inker - FEG Insight Bridge
Feb 5, 202500:50:41Summary readyThis week on episode 510, we share a conversation between Ben Inker of GMO and Greg Dowling of FEG Investment Advisors on contrarian investing, deep value stocks, and the rise of passive investing. David introduces the episode by sharing his key takeaways from the discussion.FEG Investment Advisor is David's former institutional advisory firm, where he worked for 17 years, before founding Money for the Rest of Us. Greg Dowling is Chief Investment Officer of FEG, and David's former business partner and colleague.Topics discussed in the episode include:How experienced professionals can have a significant influence on one's career, such as the impact Jeremy Grantham and David Swenson had on Ben's careerThe impact of the rise of passive investingInvestment opportunities in quality and deep-value stocksThe distinct risks of the high concentration in large-cap tech stocksShow NotesFEG episode pageInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusRelated Episodes491: The Five Layers of Investing419: How to Make Portfolio and Asset Allocation Changes401: Why Diversifying Your Portfolio Feels AwfulSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryHow to Invest in Private Credit / Direct Lending
Jan 29, 202500:26:20Summary readyWe explore what private credit, or direct lending, is and how to invest in it. We also show how it is similar and different from investing in leverage loans and CLOs.Topics covered include:Why more companies are staying privateHow private credit differs from the leverage loan marketWhy private credit is growing so rapidlyWhat are the benefits to private credit investingWhat are liquid and less liquid ways to invest in private creditSponsorsStawberry.me AcornsInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesThe Credit Markets Go Dark by Jared A. Ellias and Elisabeth de Fontenay—SSRNThe Lost Promise of Private Ordering by Cathy Hwang, Yaron Nili, and Jeremy McClane—SSRNInvestments MentionedVanEck BDC Income ETF (BIZD)Barings Corporate Investors Fund (MCI)Long AngleCliffwater Enhanced Lending FundBlackRock Private Credit Fund (BDEBT)BondBloxx Private Credit CLO ETF (PCMM)Virtus Seix AAA Private Credit CLO ETF (PCLO)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryWho Should Bear the Cost? Socialized versus Market-Based Risk Management
Jan 22, 202500:23:02Summary readyNatural disasters are becoming more severe and costly—who should bear the financial burden? We explore the tension between socialized risk and market-based insurance.Topics covered include:The surprisingly large percentage of natural disaster losses that are uninsuredWhy natural disaster severity is increasingA deep dive into the complexity of the home insurance market, including state-run home insurance plansHow California has tried to update its home insurance regulations, leading to potentially greater coverage but higher premiumsHow socialized insurance relieves the cost burden to consumers but can also lead to riskier behavior and adverse risk selectionEpisode SponsorsAsset CampNetSuite Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesCalifornia wildfires: What we know about L.A.-area fires, what caused them, who is affected and more by Tim Stelloh, Marlene Lenthang, Rebecca Cohen and Phil Helsel—NBC NewsClimate change is showing its claws: The world is getting hotter, resulting in severe hurricanes, thunderstorms and floods—Munich REShaping the Future of Wildfire Insurance in California: New Insights from the Most Comprehensive Wildfire Risk Model in the Market by Firas Saleh—Moody'sInsurers’ Rule Change Puts California Homeowners on the Hook for L.A. Fire by Jean Eaglesham and Sara Randazzo—The Wall Street JournalCommissioner Lara issues landmark regulation to expand insurance access for Californians amid growing climate risks—California Department of InsuranceCalifornia Was Already in Home-Insurance Crisis Before Los Angeles Infernos by Jean Eaglesham and Joe Flint—The Wall Street JournalThe World Is Getting Riskier. Americans Don’t Want to Pay for It. by Greg Ip—The Wall Street JournalReinsurers little exposed to LA fires after retreat from disaster risks by Lee Harris—The Financial TimesA Survey of Residual Market Plan Assessment and Recoupment Mechanisms by Nancy Watkins, Robert Lee, and Rehan Siddique—MillimanRelated Episodes481: How to Navigate the Crippling Home Insurance Crisis444: Natural Disasters: Are They Truly Increasing? Investments MentionedStone Ridge High Yield Reinsurance Risk Premium fund (SHRMX)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryWhere You Live Matters - How Geography Contributes to Wealth
Jan 15, 202500:26:07Tap to summarizeHow geography contributes to economic growth and can increase or lower the cost of living.Topics covered include:Why living in a developing country like Costa Rica is still relatively expensiveHow Amazon and e-commerce platforms lower the cost of livingWhy we should consider slowing down our rate of consumptionHow geography is impacting the rollout of AIEpisode SponsorsLinkedIn Jobs – Use this link to post your job for free on LinkedIn JobsNetSuite Insiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesMarket Research in Costa Rica: Costa Rica is a strong market in Central America providing many benefits.—SIS International Research & StrategyWorld Data Country Comparison: Costa Rica & USAWhy is Gas so Expensive in Costa Rica? by Sarah Jordan—The Tico TimesThe Trailblazers: Inter-American Highway 1940 - 1957 by Norman Wood—U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Highway HistoryUnited States eCommerce Sales Growth (2018 to Q3 2024) by Jason—SellersCommerceThe Era of Finance CEOs Running Retailers Is Over by Amanda Mull—BloombergAI set to fuel surge in new US gas power plants by Amanda Chu and Jamie Smyth—The Financial TimesWhat happened to the artificial-intelligence revolution?—The EconomistLiebreich: Generative AI – The Power and the Glory by Michael Liebreich—BloombergNEFRelated Episodes444: Natural Disasters: Are They Truly Increasing? 413: What if the World Stopped Shopping?151: Amazon Impacts EverythingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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