Two Quants and a Financial Planner

In this episode, dive into the complex world of tariffs, national debt, and economic policies under the current administration. With the S&P down 4% and markets reacting to recent policy shifts, we bring you insights from our previous interviews with Cullen Roche and Andy Constan to break down these pressing issues.

This episode is designed for everyday investors and money managers alike, offering a balanced, practical perspect...

In this episode, Matt and Jack dive into the timeless wisdom of Jack Schwager, renowned author of the Market Wizards series. Drawing from two insightful interviews with Schwager, they explore key lessons from some of the greatest traders he’s interviewed, like Paul Tudor Jones and Steve Cohen, and unpack how these principles apply not only to trading but also to long-term investing and life.

From risk management to overcoming failu...

In this episode, we dive into the most controversial takesfrom our podcast guests. Inspired by a brilliant question from Meb Faber(thanks, Meb!), we’ve compiled insights from top financial minds to explorebeliefs that challenge conventional wisdom. From debunking dividend hype toreimagining the role of options and AI in investing, this episode is packedwith thought-provoking perspectives.

Main Topics Covered:

- Meb Faber challenges...

In this episode, we break down key lessons from our conversation with Liz Ann Sonders, Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab, exploring timeless investment principles and market dynamics that remain relevant regardless of current market conditions. From the end of the "Great Moderation" era to practical insights about market timing and portfolio management, Liz Ann's wisdom offers valuable perspective for inve...

In this episode, Jack and Matt dive deep into the state of value investing with special guest Tobias Carlisle, founder of the Acquirers Funds and author of multiple books on value investing. In this insightful conversation, they look at some of the most insightful clips from our guests including Cliff Asness, Aswath Damodaran, Kai Wu, Scott McBride, Larry Swedroe and Dan Rasmussen.

They explore why value investing has struggled in ...

In this compilation episode, Jack Forehand and Matt Zeigler bring you the most valuable insights from our interviews with Bob Elliott, founder of Unlimited Funds and former head of Ray Dalio's research team at Bridgewater.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

Markets and Macroeconomic Reality

Elliott dismantles the notion that markets can permanently detach from economic fundamentals, walking through how earnings, margins, and wage growth are...

In this episode, Jack and Matt dive deep into unique perspectives on markets and investing through the lens of Warren Pies and Fernando Vidal's innovative research approaches.

They explore:

A fresh take on the 60/40 portfolio debate and why the death of this strategy may be greatly exaggerated

How to interpret market breadth and retail sentiment through new indicators like inverse ETF volume

Why Treasury actions may be just as imp...

In this episode of Excess Returns, Matt and Jack explore key lessons from one of our most popular guests, Cem Karsan. Through selected clips from multiple interviews, they unpack Karsan's unique insights on markets, investing, and risk management.

The discussion covers critical concepts including:

The fundamental importance of supply, demand, and liquidity in markets

Why thinking probabilistically is essential for both investing ...

In this episode, Matt and Jack break down key insights from our interview with market strategist Jim Paulsen. Paulsen offers unique perspectives on how markets have evolved over his 40-year career, from the days when investors checked bank signs for daily Dow quotes to today's high-speed algorithmic trading environment.

Key topics covered:

Why traditional market valuation metrics may need updating for the modern era

A novel way to...

In this episode, Jack and Matt dive deep into their conversation with Jason Buck about building truly robust investment portfolios that can withstand any market environment. Moving beyond the typical "stocks only go up" mentality, they explore critical concepts like: The real difference between offense and defense in portfolio construction Why treating your portfolio as savings rather than a get-rich-quick scheme is cruc...

In this deep-dive conversation, Jack Forehand and Matt Zeigler break down key insights from their interview with Dr. Ed Yardeni, one of Wall Street's most respected market strategists. The discussion explores how Yardeni's independent thinking and data-driven approach led him to correctly predict several major market developments in 2023-24, including the path of inflation and the absence of a widely-predicted recession. T...

In this episode, Jack Forehand and Matt Zeigler discuss their fascinating interview with AQR founder Cliff Asness. They explore several key topics from their conversation, including: Cliff's humorous take on morning routines and why correlation doesn't equal causation when it comes to success habits The "Less Efficient Market Hypothesis" and why Cliff believes markets may be becoming less efficient over time, par...

In this episode of "Two Quants and a Financial Planner," we break down some of Warren Buffett's most important investing lessons and life wisdom through a series of interview clips and annual meeting footage. We start by discussing whether Buffett truly deserves the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) title in investing, drawing some interesting parallels to NFL running backs like Barry Sanders and comparing different investing legends' ...

In this episode of "Two Quants and a Financial Planner," we explore key insights from our previous conversations with Larry Swedroe, one of investing's most evidence-based thinkers. Through a series of clips, we examine crucial investment principles including: Why all investment decisions should be grounded in evidence rather than narratives or speculation The challenge of market forecasting and why most predictions fail How marke...

We're back with our annual predictions episode, where we look back at our (surprisingly not terrible) 2024 market calls and make fresh predictions for 2025 (which will likely be very wrong). In this episode, we're embracing the humbling experience of market forecasting to prove to everyone (and ourselves) why market forecasting is a waste of time. You'll hear us: Review how Justin actually nailed the S&P 500 forecast for 2024...

In this episode of "Two Quants and a Financial Planner," we explore one of investing's most debated topics: international diversification. Through clips from 10 different investing experts, we examine whether U.S. investors truly need international exposure in their portfolios. Key topics include: What actually constitutes "international exposure" in today's interconnected markets Why U.S. stocks have dominated for so long and wh...

Join Matt Zeigler and Jack Forehand as they break down some of the most insightful frameworks from our interviews with macro thinker Andy Constan. Drawing from multiple conversations with Andy, they explore: Andy's experience at Bridgewater Associates and their fascinating approach to systematic investing The four pillars of macro analysis that help make sense of complex market environments A practical framework for evaluating m...

We ask one question at the end of each of our episodes: Based on your experience in markets, if you could teach one lesson to your average investor, what would it be? In this episode, we discuss our favorite answers from our guests in 2024. Featuring insights from: Jim Paulsen on understanding your true impact as an investor Cliff Asness on the importance of looking at your portfolio less frequently Aswath Damodaran on preser...

In this episode of Two Quants and a Financial Planner, we explore the timeless investing wisdom of Ben Carlson. We break down several crucial investing concepts, including why investors shouldn't blindly follow billionaires' market moves, the importance of finding an investment strategy you can stick with, and why the market rarely operates at extremes despite what headlines might suggest. We examine why even successful profession...