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Have you ever looked at an investment and wondered if it was too good to be true?
In this episode, we walk through the red flags that can show up in private investments, real estate deals, mortgage funds, and other “exclusive” opportunities.

What I cover:

• Why high returns with low risk should immediately raise questions
• The problem with returns that look too smooth or consistent
• How urgency can push people into poor investment decisions
• Why you need to understand how an investment makes money
• Why you also need to understand how you could lose money
• The hidden risk in private or illiquid investments

This episode is for education only and should not be considered personal investment advice. Always speak with your financial, legal, and tax advisors before making investment decisions.

Subscribe for more plain-English conversations about investing, financial planning, and avoiding costly money mistakes.

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Your calm self is not always a good judge of what your stressed self will do.
In this episode, we talk about why smart people still make poor financial decisions under pressure.

What I cover:

• Why good intentions do not guarantee good financial decisions
• How hot-cold empathy gaps affect investing, retirement, and estate planning
• Why people misjudge how they will feel during market crashes
• The difference between risk capacity and emotional willingness
• How too many options can create analysis paralysis
• Why pre-deciding rules and automating good behaviour can help protect your future self

Planning is easier before life gets emotional. Subscribe for more plain-English conversations about investing, retirement, tax planning, and better financial decision-making.

References: https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/sds/docs/loewenstein/hotColdEmpathyGaps.pdf

https://dtg.sites.fas.harvard.edu/Gilber%20t&%20Ebert%20%28DECISIONS%20&%20REVISIONS%29.pdf

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Most money advice is popular because it’s easy to follow — not because it’s right.
In this episode, I break down what academic research says about personal finance versus what popular financial books and gurus recommend.

What I cover

• Why “save 10–15%” is simple, but not always optimal
• The difference between smooth consumption and rule-of-thumb saving
• Why dividend investing is often overrated
• How to think about portfolio risk based on time horizon, not just age
• Where passive investing beats active management
• What the data says about debt repayment and mortgage choices

Chapters
00:00 Why finance advice conflicts
01:00 The paper comparing gurus vs professors
03:30 Saving 10–15% vs controlling consumption
09:00 The real key: separate income from expenses
18:00 Portfolio mix: age vs time horizon
24:30 Dividend investing vs tax efficiency
31:20 Small value, international diversification, and indexing
35:00 Debt repayment and fixed vs variable mortgages

Good financial decisions usually come from better frameworks, not better slogans.
Subscribe for more plain-English financial education, and watch the next episode if you want more evidence-based investing and planning conversations.

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