My Worst Investment Ever Podcast Andrew Stotz

In this episode of Enrich Your Future, Andrew and Larry Swedroe discuss Larry’s new book, Enrich Your Future: The Keys to Successful Investing. In this series, they discuss Chapter 02: How Markets Set Prices.
LEARNING: Invest in passively managed funds and adopt a simple buy, hold, and rebalance strategy. While gamblers make bets, investors let the markets work for them, not against them.
 
“The only way to beat an efficient market is to either know something the market doesn’t—such as the fact that a team’s best player is injured and will not be able to play—or to be able to interpret information about the teams better than the market (other gamblers collectively) does.”Larry Swedroe 
In this episode of Enrich Your Future, Andrew and Larry Swedroe discuss Larry’s new book, Enrich Your Future: The Keys to Successful Investing. The book is a collection of stories that Larry has developed over the 30 years or so that he’s been trying to help investors. Larry is the head of financial and economic research at Buckingham Wealth Partners. You can learn more about Larry’s Worst Investment Ever story on Ep645: Beware of Idiosyncratic Risks.
Larry deeply understands the world of academic research and investing, especially risk. Today, Andrew and Larry discuss Chapter 02: How Markets Set Prices.
Chapter 02: How Markets Set PricesIn this chapter, Larry explains how markets set prices—probably the most important thing investors need to learn before they invest a penny. Without this knowledge, investors won’t know whether the stock they buy is undervalued or overvalued. Larry insists that investors should have a good understanding of how the market gets to a specific price.
Point spread bettingTo explain the complicated concept of how markets set prices, Larry uses an analogy related to college basketball backed up by academic research. Duke is a perennial contender for the national championship. Every year, it’s ranked in the top 25. At the start of every season, most college teams that are good try to schedule a few of what are called “cupcake” games to give their players a chance to get in the routine, learn the plays, get to know each other, etc., before they meet tougher competition.
Duke often scheduled a game against Army. Army traveled down every year to Duke, where they would get a big payday, and Duke would have an easy win. No one in their right mind would bet on Army to win that game because they have played probably 30-40 times already, and Duke has won every game. And they could play another 30 or 40 times and win every game. However, people decide to entice others to bet on Army.
To make it an equal bet, they create a point spread. The bookies set the initial point spread where they think they can get an equal amount of money bet on both sides. The bookies do their analysis and set the initial spread, but they don’t set the actual spread, which is determined by the betters in their actions. So if a lot of money starts coming in betting on Duke, the bookies will raise the spread until money starts coming in on Army until they get an equal amount of money. Then, the winner has to put up $110 to win $100. If they win, you get their $110 back and the bookies’s $100. But if you lose, you lose $110, not $100. So the bookies collect that $10 on the total of $200. So, what happens is that the point spread is...

BIO: Rizwan Memon is the Founder and President of Riz International, a Canada-based financial education firm that helps thousands worldwide maximize their financial success through trading.
STORY: Rizwan shorted GameStop’s stock, believing the price wouldn’t exceed $300. However, when Elon Musk tweeted about GameStop, the price increased to $500. Rizwan suffered a $160,000 loss on a single trade.
LEARNING: When shorting naked calls, make sure you have enough liquidity. Control the amount of money you bet on any particular position. Don’t trade on emotions.
 
“Sometimes the math, the probabilities—everything—can make sense, and you still end up being wrong.”Rizwan Memon 
Guest profileRizwan Memon is the Founder and President of Riz International, a Canada-based financial education firm that helps thousands of people worldwide maximize their financial success through trading.
Having 17 years of experience behind him, Rizwan is a seasoned expert in 8-figure stocks and options trading. Starting at 16 with just $5,000, he has made $10.5M+ in trading profits.
With 123,000 followers on Instagram and a vast global audience tuned into his trading advice, Rizwan has established himself as a voice of authority in the financial market. In 2023, he secured solid returns of 70% on his 7-figure trading account.
Worst investment everRizwan’s personal investment journey took a hit in 2021 when he decided to buy GameStop stocks. He adopted a strategic approach, betting against the stock going above a certain ceiling. He believed that the stock would remain below $300 per share despite its already significant rise of 300%.
Gamestop was a disgruntled business that was not in great shape. It was on the verge of bankruptcy due to massive cash flow issues. Rizwan knew that this was unsustainable. So, he decided to put a ceiling on his investment, believing the stock would stay below $300. From a probability standpoint, the numbers were 99.5% in his favor. Rizwan shorted naked call options and loaded up a bit, but nothing substantive. After that, the stock went from $300 to $500 in about two days. This was after Elon Musk tweeted about GameStop. Rizwan knew he was in trouble. He remembers going to get groceries and sitting in the parking lot feeling miserable. Rizwan suffered a $160,000 loss on a single trade.
Lessons learnedWhen shorting naked calls, make sure you have enough liquidity.Trading patterns are always rapidly evolving.Sometimes, the math, the probabilities, and everything can make sense, and you still end up being wrong.Don’t trade on emotions.
Andrew’s takeawaysBlack Swans can happen. To handle such events from an investing perspective, ensure you’re diversified.Control the amount of money you bet on any particular position.
Actionable adviceAvoid engaging in trades that may be complex or outside of your purview. Regardless of what influencers say, be skeptical and do your due diligence.
Rizwan’s recommendationsIf you have questions or want to learn more about investing in stock markets, Rizwan is readily available on LinkedIn and Instagram. He is committed to...

In this episode of Investing Principles, Andrew and Larry Swedroe discuss Larry’s new book, Enrich Your Future: The Keys to Successful Investing. In this series, they discuss Chapter 1: The Determinants of the Risk and Return of Stocks and Bonds.
LEARNING: Look for key metrics, traits, or characteristics that help them identify stocks that will outperform the market.
 
“Intelligent people maintain open minds when it comes to new ideas. And they change strategies when there is compelling evidence demonstrating the ‘conventional wisdom’ is wrong.”Larry Swedroe 
In this episode of Investing Principles, Andrew and Larry Swedroe discuss Larry’s new book, Enrich Your Future: The Keys to Successful Investing. The book is a collection of stories Larry has developed over the 30+ years he’s been trying to help investors. Larry is the head of financial and economic research at Buckingham Wealth Partners. You can learn more about Larry’s Worst Investment Ever story on Ep645: Beware of Idiosyncratic Risks.
Larry deeply understands the world of academic research and investing, especially risk. Today, Andrew and Larry discuss Chapter 1: The Determinants of the Risk and Return of Stocks and Bonds.
Chapter 1: The Determinants of the Risk and Return of Stocks and BondsIn this chapter, Larry looks at research that revolutionized how people think about investing and how to build a winning portfolio. The goal is to help investors learn how to look for key metrics, traits, or characteristics that help them identify stocks that will outperform the market, at least in terms of delivering higher returns, not necessarily higher risk-adjusted returns.
The three-factor modelThe first research Larry talks about is by Eugene Fama and Kenneth French. Their paper “The Cross-Section of Expected Stock Returns” in The Journal of Finance focused on research that produced what has become known as the three-factor model. A factor is a common trait or characteristic of a stock or bond. The three factors explained by Fama and French are:
Market beta (the return of the market minus the return on one-month Treasury bills)Size (the return on small stocks minus the return on large stocks)Value (the return on value stocks minus the return on growth stocks).
The model can explain more than 90% of the variation of returns of diversified US equity portfolios. The research shows that ensemble funds are superior to individual funds. It’s better to have a multi-factor portfolio. So you could own, say, five different funds that have exposure to each individual factor, or you own one fund that gives you exposure to all those factors. The ensemble strategies always tend to do better.
The two-factor modelLarry also highlights a second model by professors Fama and French, the two-factor model that explains the variation of returns of fixed-income portfolios. The two risk factors are term and default (credit risk). According to the model, the longer the term to maturity, the greater the risk; the lower the credit rating, the greater the risk. Markets compensate investors for taking risks with higher expected returns. As with equities, individual security selection and market timing do not play a significant role in explaining returns of fixed-income portfolios and thus should not be expected to add value.
Buffett’s AlphaAnother significant academic research publication is the...

BIO: Mark Kohler, M.PR.A., C.P.A., J.D., is a highly respected Founding and Senior Partner at KKOS Lawyers, specializing in tax, legal, wealth, estate, and asset protection planning.
STORY: Mark and his partner bought two properties to put up on Airbnb. The first property needed just a bit of modification, but the second one required far more. It took them more time and money than expected to get it ready for renting.
LEARNING: Take ownership of your mistakes. If a problem occurs, admit it, step up, and try to solve it—don’t run away or stick your head in the sand. The majority of trouble we face in our lives will be caused by ourselves.
 
“When you’re pivoting in the face of a disaster or a bad investment, the first thing to do is give yourself some grace.”Mark Kohler 
Guest profileMark Kohler, M.PR.A., C.P.A., J.D., is a highly respected Founding and Senior Partner at KKOS Lawyers, specializing in tax, legal, wealth, estate, and asset protection planning.
With a reputation as a YouTube personality, best-selling author, and national speaker, Mark is dedicated to guiding clients through complex legal and financial landscapes to achieve their American Dream.
He also serves as the co-founder and Board Member of the Directed IRA Trust Company and has launched the Main Street Certified Tax Advisor Program to train CPAs and Enrolled Agents nationwide.
As the co-host of The Main Street Business Podcast and The Directed IRA Podcast, he simplifies intricate topics like legal and tax strategy, asset protection, retirement, investing, and wealth growth.
Mark Kohler’s commitment to helping entrepreneurs and small business owners attain success and financial security has made him a trusted expert in the field. He has helped countless individuals and businesses navigate the financial and business world with confidence.
Worst investment everMark and his partner bought two properties in Arizona to turn into Airbnbs. They aimed to modify them over two to three months and set them up on the Airbnb platform. They hoped to start renting them out during the winter, which is a great Airbnb season. The first property was beautiful and simply needed yard furnishings.
At the same time, 10 blocks away was the other property, which they thought would need some minor work, just like the first property. A few weeks later, they realized the property would take a ton of work, but the train had left the station, and there was no turning back. And so the damage began. The two partners added a lot of value to this property, but it was far more than they wanted to bite off and chew. Modifying the property took more time and money than expected.
Lessons learnedYou can make a good investment, and something outside your control happens.Take ownership of what you’re doing wrong.If a problem occurs, admit it, step up, and try to solve it—don’t run away or stick your head in the sand.
Andrew’s takeawaysThe majority of trouble we face in our lives will be caused by ourselves.When you do something wrong, admit it to yourself as a first step.If you cause damage to another person, you must amend and resolve it.You can’t get help on...

BIO: Jusper Machogu is a farmer in rural Kenya, an agricultural engineer by profession, and an advocate for Fossil Fuels for Africa.
STORY: In this episode of My Wost Podcast Ever, Andrew and Jusper discuss the potential of fossil fuels to drive economic growth and development in Africa.
LEARNING: Africa needs more fossil fuels not aid.
 
“60-70% of our population depends on agriculture for livelihood. So one of the easiest ways to improve livelihoods is to improve agriculture by having abundant, reliable energy rates.”Jusper Machogu 
Guest profileJusper Machogu is a farmer in rural Kenya, an agricultural engineer by profession, and an advocate for Fossil Fuels for Africa.
Why Africa needs fossil fuelsIn this episode of My Wost Podcast Ever, Andrew and Jusper discuss the potential of fossil fuels to drive economic growth and development in Africa. Jusper argued that reliable and affordable energy is crucial for progress. Jusper is all about economic development in Africa and wants Africans to have what the rest of the world has. He wants Africa to be able to feed itself, to have access to reliable, abundant energy, lots of food, and economic development.
Jusper says that Africa needs lots of fossil fuels to achieve this, and Africans have plenty of them, so they don’t need much aid. What they need is investors in Africa. For instance, Africans can use fossil fuels to power their industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, leading to job creation and economic growth. Africans can also use fossil fuels to generate electricity, which will improve access to energy and enhance productivity. These are just a few examples of how fossil fuels can be harnessed for African self-sufficiency and empowerment.
Jusper emphasizes that once Africa utilizes nitrogenous fertilizer, it will not only produce more food but also significantly improve livelihoods and economic development. He points out that Africa has ample fossil fuels to produce the fertilizer it needs, underlining the importance of African self-sufficiency in this crucial development aspect.
According to Jusper, another way Africa can attain economic development is by adding value to the food it produces and employing its people.
Jusper sheds light on the detrimental influence of international organizations like the IMF and World Bank in African countries. He argues that their policies, instead of fostering development, have led to increased hunger and economic hardship. This stark reality underscores the urgent need for change and a shift in focus towards empowering Africans to drive their own development.
Parting words 
“We don’t need a lot of aid. What we need is investors in Africa. Let’s drill our oil, tap into our natural gas, and mine our coal. Let’s use that to develop ourselves. So that’s what I’m saying: fossil fuels for Africa.”Jusper Machogu 
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Andrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst...

BIO: August Biniaz is the Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital. CPI Capital is a real estate private equity firm with the mandate to acquire multifamily assets while partnering with passive investors as limited partners.
STORY: Upon looking back and reflecting on the worst investment decision August has ever made, he says it’s his time, shiny object syndrome, getting excited about new investment ideas, and then putting a lot of time into learning about those ideas and losing that time.
LEARNING: Don’t be a jack of all trades and a master of none. Focus on your primary business. Stay in your lane.
 
“Being focused is probably the greatest asset anyone could have when it comes to success in business or otherwise.”August Biniaz 
Guest profileAugust Biniaz is the Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital. CPI Capital is a real estate private equity firm with the mandate to acquire multifamily assets while partnering with passive investors as limited partners. August was instrumental in the closing of over $208 million of multifamily assets since inception.
August educates real estate investors through webinars, YouTube shows, weekly newsletters, and one-on-one coaching. He is the host of Real Estate Investing Demystified PodCast.
Worst investment everUpon looking back and reflecting on the worst investment decision August has ever made, he says it’s his time, shiny object syndrome, getting excited about new investment ideas, and then putting a lot of time into learning about those ideas and losing that time.
In one incident, when crypto came around, August got involved in the crypto world, trying to connect with investors, creating businesses within the crypto world, and putting his brainpower and time into learning about this new asset class. However, August went down a rabbit hole that took him away from his main focus.
In another incident, an asset class came across his desk. This was the build-to-rent single-family rentals or BTRSFR. After the great financial crisis in 2008, single-family homes in the US were selling for pennies on the dollar. Wall Street got involved, knowing that the market would eventually turn around, and started buying portfolios of single-family homes. However, as they managed these properties, they realized they were handled similarly to multifamily ones. So, they created this new asset class: build to rent single-family rentals.
August brought this idea to investors in his database and invested in a development project. It was a former purchase contract in which August partnered with a developer. This deal created some difficulties for his investors, partners, and himself. He never closed on that deal. This deal diverted August’s focus from his main business, and he lost opportunities there.
Lessons learnedBeing a specialist is very important if you’re dealing with investors and have partners. Don’t be a jack of all trades and a master of none.Focus on your primary business.Stay in your lane.Have tunnel vision in the business that you’re part ofUnderstand what’s happening in macro, economic, and political situations.
Andrew’s takeawaysWhen things aren’t working well, it’s apparent that you may need to find something else or double down on your efforts to fix them.
Actionable adviceIf you’re in