The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Episode Title: Is Reddit Still a Buy? Democratic Strategy and Rethinking Financial Advisors
Release Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Scott Galloway (Vox Media Podcast Network)

Overview

In this Office Hours episode, Scott Galloway fields listener questions on three major topics:

• The investment outlook for Reddit following its turbulent year as a public company,
• The current and future strategy of the Democratic Party,
• The value proposition (or lack thereof) of hiring a financial advisor when compared to low-fee Robo-advisors.

Galloway blends his trademark candor, humor, and hard-won financial wisdom throughout, offering actionable advice and sharp takedowns, with memorable detours into his own financial regrets and political preferences.

1. Is Reddit Still a Good Investment?

(00:43 - 05:19)

Main Discussion Points:

• Reddit's Performance:
  • Galloway remains a shareholder but isn’t buying more at current levels.
  • Praises Reddit's product but sees risks in the “overvaluation” after a major run-up post-IPO.
  • Points to volatility in Reddit’s share price ($80-280 range last year; $180 at recording time).
  • Notes Reddit’s high Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio (100–120x), which signals robust growth expectations.
• Platform Comparison:
  • Thinks Reddit is “phenomenal” for consumers, especially compared to other social media, with huge, “under-monetized” user base.
  • Expresses ambivalence about the proliferation of virtual communities (Reddit/Discord) replacing real-world social interaction for young men.
• The Big Win & Regret:
  • Shares a personal anecdote about his investment in Netflix—buying at $12, selling at $10 for a tax loss, and missing out on a 110x return—infusing humor and self-deprecation.

Quote Highlights:

• "I'm not a seller here, but I’m not a buyer… I have trouble buying into stocks after they’re up 5 or 600% since the IPO.” — Scott Galloway (02:17)
• "Had I held onto my Netflix stock… I’d be doing this podcast live from a Starlink on my G650." — Scott Galloway (03:10)

Key Bull and Bear Cases:

• Bullish:
  • Hundreds of millions of active users, double-digit revenue growth, improved margins, a data-licensing deal with OpenAI.
  • Under-monetized compared to its user engagement.
• Bearish:
  • “Valuation.” Reddit is expensive versus traditional and social media peers; “a lot of future growth is already priced in.”
• Analyst Consensus:
  • Target prices range from $150 (low) to $325 (high), with a moderate buy rating.

Memorable Moment:

• Galloway’s self-deprecating time travel quip about selling Netflix and wanting to go back and “murder me and then kill myself” for the mistake. (03:00)

2. Democratic Party Strategy: A New Generation?

(05:20 - 10:31)

Main Discussion Points:

• Disappointment with Leadership:
  • Critical of Senator Chuck Schumer's perceived ineffectiveness and age.
  • Calls for generational change—praises younger Democrats like Talarico, Crockett, and AOC for being bold and effective.
• The “All-Star” Democratic Bench:
  • Highlights positive impressions of Senators Murphy, Booker, Kelly, and Bennett.
  • Admires Governors Shapiro and Newsom—shares a “Davos” story about Newsom’s charisma and stature.
  • Sees Whitmer as a strong VP pick, Klobuchar as smart on antitrust.
• Party Strategy (2026 and Beyond):
  • Describes the current Democratic approach as “when your enemy is making mistakes, stay out of their way” (citing Sun Tzu).
  • Notes that Dems are building momentum and winning in unexpected places, hoping for 2026 midterms and 2028 success.
  • Quotes historian Timothy Snyder: “Change never starts with political parties. Change starts with people.”
• Current Frustration:
  • Worries that “raising awareness” alone won’t blunt short-term Republican policy decisions, especially with the Trump administration able to do “a lot of damage” before November.

Quote Highlights:

• “Enough of the Golden Girls and the Walking Dead. It’s time for a new generation of Dem leadership.” — Scott Galloway (06:33)
• “I keep hoping for some sort of religious Mandela, Jesus-like figure to descend... and save us all. And I shouldn’t hold my breath.” — Scott Galloway (08:40)
• “Their strategy is to let them continue to shoot themselves in the foot… focus on affordability, find good candidates and wait till the election.” — Scott Galloway (09:37)

Memorable Moment:

• Galloway humorously compares the crowd reception of different politicians at Davos:
  • “This big, tall, handsome guy with great hair” (Newsom) mobbed like a rockstar, vs. “Lindsey Graham walking around desperately looking for someone to talk to and no one gave a shit about him.” (07:27)

3. Should I Hire a Financial Advisor or Stick with Robo-Advisors?

(13:40 - 19:58)

Main Discussion Points:

• Listener Profile:
  • 33-year-old private chef, married, $240K household income, maxes Roth IRAs, saves $10-15K+ yearly, $170K portfolio managed by Betterment (0.25% fee), considering an advisor (1% fee).
• Fee Math & Compounding:
  • Galloway rails against 1% advisor fees, noting the destructive impact of compounding fees over 30 years.
  • Cites that paying 1% could reduce a hypothetical $6.1 million portfolio to $4.5 million—a 33% haircut simply due to fees.
• His Recommended Approach:
  • Stick with low-cost index funds via reputable providers (Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab, GQG).
  • DIY investing with the help of AI-powered platforms and public information.
  • Only hire a tax advisor if taxation gets complex, not for portfolio management.
• Caveats:
  • Warns against advisors pushing their own vertically integrated products and using client fees to schmooze (sports games, shows, etc.).
  • Urges listeners to “pay yourself” the 1%, as the savings are significant over decades.
• Practical Steps:
  • Upload your financial data to LLMs (AI tools) for tailored asset allocation suggestions and diversification recommendations.

Quote Highlights:

• “Compounding literally takes away a third of your returns… [If you pay] 1% a year, even in down years, it just wrecks your portfolio.” — Scott Galloway (15:40)
• “Boss, no no to the 1%, held to the no of the 1%. Low-cost diversified funds and do your own work here and pay yourself. It’s worth it.” — Scott Galloway (18:44)
• “Vanguard doesn’t take anyone to basketball games. GQG doesn’t take anyone to the theater.” — Scott Galloway (19:37)

Memorable Moment:

• Galloway’s deadpan summary of his early Bay Area real estate triumphs and subsequent regrets, capped with: “Want to find a time machine? Go back and kill myself.” (14:47)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Reddit stock summary:
  “They’ve traded roughly between $80 and $280 over the past year, showing, you know, pretty serious volatility for a newer tech social IPO.” (01:40)
• On Democratic leadership: “I am consistently inspired when I speak to Democratic senators… I just think there’s a…amazing bench.” (07:05)
• On financial advisors:
  “The difference…if you get 9%, which you should be able to get over the long term…in 30 years you’re going to have $6.1 million. Now assume you pay 1% a year in advisory fees… you’re going to have $4.5 million.” (16:55)

Structure & Flow

Scott Galloway’s Office Hours delivers a rapid-fire yet thorough handling of each listener question, interspersed with vivid anecdotes and unmistakable Prof G humor. Each segment includes:

• A direct, actionable summary.
• Tangible numbers and realistic investment math.
• Critique of current political or financial orthodoxies.
• Personal reflection—a blend of humility and bravado.

His tone remains candid, irreverent, and pragmatic throughout.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is a must-listen for:

• Investors curious about Reddit’s future as a tech stock,
• Politically engaged listeners wondering about the Democratic Party’s next moves,
• Young professionals navigating the high-cost world of Bay Area living,
• Anyone tempted (or pressured) to switch from automated investing to human advisors.

Above all, Galloway emphasizes the long game, skepticism of high fees, and the power of new leadership—be it in tech, politics, or your own finances.