How to Save for Your Kids Without Sacrificing Your Retirement With Kali and Eric Roberge (EP.253)
The Long Term Investor
You don’t have time to sift through endless financial content. That’s why I do it for you. Get exclusive downloads and my top 5 must-read articles in a quick, easy-to-digest email. . ----- In this episode, I sit down with Eric and Kali Roberge to talk about one of the hardest balancing acts in family finance: how to help your kids financially without losing sight of your own goals. Listen now and learn: ► Why saving for your kids should not come at the expense of your own retirement ► How to think through 529 plans, custodial accounts, and Trump Accounts ► Practical ways...
info_outline
How to Save for College Without Worrying About Saving Too Much (EP.252)
The Long Term Investor
----- 529 plans are one of the best tools available for education savings, but many parents still hesitate to use them because they worry about saving too much. In this episode, I explain how 529 plans work, what the new 529-to-Roth IRA rollover rules actually do, and why custodial accounts may deserve more attention as a flexible companion strategy. Listen now and learn: ► Why 529 plans remain such a powerful way to save for education ► How the new Roth IRA rollover rules help reduce the fear of overfunding ► The key rules and limitations that apply before moving 529 money...
info_outline
Trump Accounts vs. Custodial Accounts: What Parents Should Actually Care About (EP.251)
The Long Term Investor
You don’t have time to sift through endless financial content. That’s why I do it for you. Get exclusive downloads and my top 5 must-read articles in a quick, easy-to-digest email. . ----- Trump Accounts are getting a lot of attention as a new way to save for a child, but new does not always mean better. In this episode, I break down how Trump Accounts work, how they compare to custodial accounts and 529 plans, and what parents and grandparents should actually care about before opening one. Listen now and learn: ► How Trump Accounts work and why they may be appealing to parents and...
info_outline
Can Active Managers Beat the Market? Anu Ganti of S&P Dow Jones Breaks Down the Data (EP.250)
The Long Term Investor
Get updates for my new book: ----- Anu Ganti joins The Long Term Investor to break down the newest SPIVA U.S. Scorecard and what it says about the long-running active versus index debate. This conversation goes beyond the headline numbers to explore why beating the market remains so difficult, why finding the managers who can keep doing it is even harder, and what investors should understand before choosing any index-based fund. Listen now and learn: ► What the latest SPIVA U.S. Scorecard revealed about active manager underperformance ► What the Persistence Scorecard says...
info_outline
What Actually Drives Stock Prices? Sam Ro on Earnings, Valuations, and Market Noise (EP.249)
The Long Term Investor
Get updates for my new book: ----- Sam Ro returns to The Long Term Investor to help make sense of the headlines, valuations, and market narratives that so often distract investors from what matters most. This conversation is a timely reminder that while the story changes every week, the long-term drivers of returns—especially earnings and business fundamentals—still do most of the heavy lifting. Listen now and learn: ► Why earnings remain the most important long-term driver of stock prices ► What elevated valuations do and do not tell us about future returns ► Why U.S....
info_outline
How to Pursue Excellence and Stay Human in the Age of AI With Brad Stulberg (EP.248)
The Long Term Investor
Get updates for my new book: ----- Brad Stulberg returns to The Long Term Investor to share a more grounded, more human definition of excellence—one rooted not in perfection or status, but in meaningful work, clear values, and deep satisfaction. This conversation is full of practical wisdom for anyone trying to do great work, stay focused in a distracted world, and build a life that feels both ambitious and fulfilling. Listen now and learn: ► Why excellence is not the same as perfectionism, obsession, or winning at all costs ► How to build routines that raise the...
info_outline
How to Evaluate an ETF for a 351 Exchange: The Checklist to Get It Right (EP.247)
The Long Term Investor
Not sure if you’re financially ready to retire? Let’s create a strategy to give you confidence. . ----- This is the third and final episode in our ETF series, and it seeks to answer a common question that comes up with 351 exchanges: How do you decide which ETF is the right one when it doesn’t have a track record? In this episode, I explain what a 351 exchange is in plain English and share a practical framework to use before making a commitment before a fund is live. Listen now and learn: ► What a 351 exchange is–and why ETFs are uniquely suited for it ► The right way...
info_outline
The Hidden Mechanics of ETFs: APs, Creation Units, and Pricing (EP.246)
The Long Term Investor
ETFs look simple on the surface—you buy a ticker and move on. But behind every ETF is a set of mechanics that explains how shares get created, why prices usually stay close to what the fund owns, and when trading costs and tax outcomes can surprise you. In Part 2 of this three-episode series, I break down the ETF “plumbing” in plain English so you can use ETFs more confidently and avoid common mistakes. Listen now and learn: ► What authorized participants actually do—and why they matter to everyday ETF investors ► How the creation/redemption process works behind the scenes when...
info_outline
How ETFs Come to Market: From Idea to Ticker (EP.245)
The Long Term Investor
This is Part 1 of a three-episode series on ETFs—and how their behind-the-scenes mechanics ultimately make 351 exchanges possible. When a new ETF shows up in your brokerage account, it can feel like it appeared out of thin air. In reality, launching an ETF is more like launching a regulated business: sponsors test demand, build infrastructure, line up seed capital, and then hope the fund survives long enough to reach scale. Listen now and learn: ► The real “go/no-go” questions sponsors ask before they ever file paperwork ► Why some ETFs take off quickly while others quietly...
info_outline
SpaceX IPO: What IPOs Really Are—and Why Your Plan Doesn’t Need Them (EP.244)
The Long Term Investor
Wondering if you’re making the right financial moves? Let’s build a strategy you can rely on. to get professional guidance. ----- SpaceX could be one of the most anticipated IPOs since Facebook—and whether it happens this year or years from now, the same IPO dynamics will show up the moment the headlines hit. In this episode, I use explain how IPOs actually work, why the “IPO price” isn’t the price most investors can buy, and what tends to happen once trading begins. The goal isn’t to talk you out of curiosity—it’s to help you keep a long-term plan from getting...
info_outlineGet updates for my new book: https://Theperfectportfoliobook.com
-----
Index funds are often pitched as the no-brainer choice for long-term investors—but are they the only rules worth following? In this episode, I use one of my favorite analogies to explain how indexing and factor investing evolved, how they differ, and how to decide which mix fits your goals and behavior.
Listen now and learn:
► Why indexing became the “radar gun” of investing—and what it actually guarantees you
► The key trade-offs baked into market-cap-weighted index funds that most investors never think about
► What “factors” like value, size, profitability, and momentum really are (in plain English)
► A simple framework to know whether you should stick with plain indexing or consider adding factor tilts
Visit www.TheLongTermInvestor.com for show notes, free resources, and a place to submit questions.
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
Please see disclosures here.