The Rational Reminder Podcast Podcast Por Benjamin Felix Cameron Passmore and Dan Bortolotti arte de portada

The Rational Reminder Podcast

The Rational Reminder Podcast

De: Benjamin Felix Cameron Passmore and Dan Bortolotti
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A weekly reality check on sensible investing and financial decision-making, from three Canadians. Hosted by Benjamin Felix, Cameron Passmore, and Dan Bortolotti, Portfolio Managers at PWL Capital.2025 copyright - PWL Capital, all rights reserved Economía Finanzas Personales
Episodios
  • Episode 374: The Underperformance of Target Date Funds

    Episode 374: The Underperformance of Target Date Funds
    Sep 11 2025
    In this episode, we’re joined by David C. Brown, Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Arizona, for a deep dive into the mechanics, performance, and pitfalls of target date funds (TDFs)—the most common investment vehicle in U.S. retirement accounts. David has spent years researching glide paths, benchmarking methods, and industry practices to uncover whether these “set it and forget it” funds actually serve investors well. We unpack why benchmarking TDFs is so difficult, what really drives their underperformance, and how tactical deviations from strategic glide paths often harm investors. David explains how fees, active management, and fund structure combine to create persistent drag—and why dispersion across TDF providers is shockingly wide. We also discuss behavioral challenges, the influence of glide path design, and whether innovations like “indexing the indexers” could improve outcomes. David also shares insights on his side project, the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge, where students compete in gamified problem-solving competitions (yes, Excel on ESPN!), and reflects on his own definition of success. This conversation sheds light on a massively important—but often misunderstood—corner of the retirement landscape, giving investors and plan sponsors practical tools to demand better. Key Points From This Episode: (0:05:20) What a Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) is and why TDFs became the default in 2006. (0:05:50) How target date funds work as “one-stop shops” for retirement savings. (0:07:12) The glide path concept: why equity allocations decrease with age. (0:08:04) Why comparing TDFs is hard—fund families design glide paths differently. (0:10:37) David’s benchmarking approach: replicating TDFs with index funds. (0:15:13) The performance gap: ~1% annual underperformance versus replicating benchmarks. (0:15:50) Main culprits: higher fees (~55 bps) and poor active management (~45 bps). (0:18:20) Good news: costs have declined—but dispersion across providers remains massive. (0:20:09) Evidence of wild return differences: up to 23% in a single month across vintages. (0:21:32) Why plan sponsors and investors aren’t reacting to poor performance. (0:25:33) The debate over optimal glide paths—and why the jury is still out. (0:29:15) Tactical deviations: managers shifting allocations beyond the strategic design. (0:33:06) These tactical moves hurt performance (~10 bps on average). (0:35:49) Evidence of return chasing in TDF management. (0:39:07) Big picture: TDFs are a huge improvement over money market defaults, but dispersion and inefficiency remain. (0:42:48) David’s views on Scott Cederberg’s 100% equity lifecycle portfolio research. (0:45:22) Behavioral challenges: why defaults and illiquidity may help investors stay the course. (0:50:57) The Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge—Excel as an esport. (0:52:50) How David defines success: balance, impact, and growth. Links From Today’s Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on X — https://x.com/RationalRemind Rational Reminder on TikTok — www.tiktok.com/@rationalreminder Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — info@rationalreminder.ca Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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    56 m
  • Episode 373: Asset Allocation in Practice

    Episode 373: Asset Allocation in Practice
    Sep 4 2025
    What if choosing your asset allocation was as personal as your life story—and as consequential as your retirement? In this episode, we are joined by PWL Capital’s Louai Bibi and Ben Wilson for a deep dive into how advisors guide clients through the most important portfolio decision they’ll ever make. Louai walks us through the research, psychology, and planning frameworks behind determining the right stock/bond mix, while Ben shares real-world insights from client cases where risk tolerance, pensions, and life events shifted the balance. We explore how Monte Carlo simulations stress-test financial plans, why spouses often disagree on risk, and how pensions act as “bond-like assets” in the bigger picture. Ben Wilson also takes us behind the scenes of PWL’s post-OneDigital acquisition journey, revealing why advisors are drawn to join the firm, how succession planning shapes their choices, and why a unified evidence-based philosophy matters in Canada’s wealth management landscape. The episode wraps with a fascinating look at surprising stock return outliers—like Build-A-Bear outperforming Nvidia—and what that teaches us about the futility of stock-picking versus the power of diversification. Key Points From This Episode: (0:01:00) Introducing PWL’s Louai Bibi and Ben Wilson—today’s topics: asset allocation, advisor succession, and surprising stock return data. (0:03:35) Louai explains the asset allocation decision: balancing stocks vs. bonds and why it’s the biggest choice investors make. (0:05:12) Why asset allocation matters: inflation erodes purchasing power, and stocks/bonds help investors keep up or outpace it. (0:06:50) Historical lessons: $1 invested since 1970—outcomes for bonds, balanced portfolios, and 100% equities. (0:08:35) The risks of downturns: 2008 as a case study in how stocks vs. bonds shape losses and recovery times. (0:11:39) Risk tolerance questionnaires: how PWL uses surveys to gauge willingness vs. capacity to take risk. (0:13:45) When spouses disagree on risk tolerance—balancing perspectives and sometimes splitting portfolios. (0:16:42) Risk capacity: pensions, insurance, income stability, and emergency funds all shape asset allocation. (0:20:08) Real client cases: retirees discovering they don’t need as much stock exposure, or elderly clients increasing equity later in life. (0:22:47) How often do clients change asset allocations? Rarely—except for life events like retirement. (0:27:10) Why Monte Carlo simulations are essential for stress-testing financial plans beyond straight-line projections. (0:30:20) PWL’s “asset allocation email”: summarizing risks, pensions, debt, emergency funds, and personalized tradeoffs. (0:34:02) Pensions as “bond-like assets”—how they increase ability but decrease need to take risk. (0:37:11) Closing thoughts from Louai: think in dollar terms, investing is a marathon, and build confidence gradually. (0:39:32) Education shifts clients’ choices: some reduce risk after learning the realities of volatility, others increase equity exposure with context. (0:43:10) Advisor “fixed effects”: research shows the advisor’s own perspective strongly shapes client allocations. (0:45:39) Transition to Ben Wilson: what motivates advisors to join PWL post-OneDigital acquisition. (0:47:52) Reputation and content: how Rational Reminder, YouTube, blogs, and Canadian Couch Potato attract advisors. (0:50:34) PWL’s unified philosophy: evidence-based, passive investing with a planning-first approach. (0:56:30) Key motivators for advisors: reducing admin burdens, escaping “aggregator” models, and building integrated team structures. (1:00:15) Succession planning: why advisors seek peace of mind for their clients and teams by partnering with PWL. (1:03:04) Ben Felix on why these conversations are exciting and why advisors should reach out early. (1:04:54) After show: Nvidia’s insane 70% annualized 5-year return—and why lesser-known names like Build-A-Bear, Celestica, and Dillard’s did even better. (1:06:33) Celestica’s role in DFA funds and how it helped them keep pace with Shopify-driven indexes. (1:09:25) Why broad diversification captures unexpected winners (Build-A-Bear included) without speculation. (1:10:45) Active advisors pitch “winner-picking”—but history shows how impossible that really is. (1:12:16) Reviews and wrap-up. Links From Today’s Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on X — https://x.com/RationalRemindRational Reminder on TikTok — www.tiktok.com/@rationalreminder Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — info@...
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    1 h y 22 m
  • Episode 372: Elie Hassenfeld - (Approximately) Optimal Philanthropy

    Episode 372: Elie Hassenfeld - (Approximately) Optimal Philanthropy
    Aug 28 2025
    In this episode, we are joined by Elie Hassenfeld, Co-Founder and CEO of GiveWell to discuss how data, transparency, and moral trade-offs can guide charitable giving with maximum impact. Elie brings his background in finance and philosophy to the world of global philanthropy—explaining how GiveWell rigorously evaluates programs to determine which ones save or improve lives most effectively. We explore how GiveWell assesses cost-effectiveness, why transparency is a core organizational value, and how moral weights shape grantmaking priorities. Elie also opens up about the challenges of running a high-stakes nonprofit that directs nearly $400 million annually, why global health interventions are often overlooked by traditional donors, and how they navigate philosophical dilemmas like saving a life versus doubling someone’s income. This conversation blends finance, ethics, and effective altruism into a compelling framework for anyone who wants to do the most good with their giving. Key Points From This Episode: (0:01:00) Why charitable giving is a financial decision—and why it deserves evidence-based thinking. (0:02:20) GiveWell’s mission: Using rigorous research to direct donor funds where they’ll do the most good. (0:03:44) How Elie’s frustration with vague charity claims led him to co-found GiveWell in 2007. (0:08:35) The scope of impact: GiveWell’s 80-person team now directs ~$395M annually. (0:10:43) The weight of responsibility: Why directing hundreds of millions of dollars is both gratifying and stressful. (0:12:22) Radical transparency: Publishing internal debates and mistakes as a matter of principle. (0:13:06) GiveWell’s core values: Maximize impact, transparency, truth-seeking, and deep consideration. (0:16:25) How GiveWell differs from traditional charity evaluators (like those focused on overhead ratios). (0:18:15) The business model: GiveWell is a nonprofit funded by donors—no cut taken from giving funds. (0:21:20) Who gives: A mix of finance and tech professionals across the U.S., Canada, and the UK. (0:22:16) EA and SBF: How distancing from the effective altruism label insulated GiveWell from the fallout. (0:24:04) GiveWell’s four criteria for evaluating programs: Evidence, cost-effectiveness, room for more funding, and transparency. (0:29:45) How GiveWell identifies top charities—through academic research, NGO outreach, and sector immersion. (0:31:07) Current top charities: Against Malaria Foundation, Malaria Consortium, Helen Keller Intl, and New Incentives. (0:34:31) Why GiveWell shifted to global poverty after early comparisons showed massive cost-effectiveness differences. (0:39:24) Why the cost to save a life is higher than people think—nets don’t reach everyone, and malaria risk is probabilistic. (0:43:27) How GiveWell measures “good”: lives saved, health improved, income increased—standardized into one metric. (0:46:47) Moral weights matter: Why GiveWell equates saving a life with doubling 100 families’ income. (0:50:37) Where moral weights come from: surveys, literature, and direct community input from Kenya and Ghana. (0:53:44) Letting donors tweak the model: Tools exist to adjust for your personal moral priorities. (0:54:57) Do top charities cannibalize each other’s impact? (Spoiler: Not really.) (0:56:20) Capacity assessment: How GiveWell determines how much money an organization can productively absorb. (1:00:15) Why even on-the-ground observations (like chlorine testing methods) shape their assessments. (1:01:27) Why evidence matters—especially when trying to help people you’ll never meet. (1:03:55) Elie’s personal definition of success: Deep relationships, personal growth, and demonstrable impact. Links From Today’s Episode: Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on X — https://x.com/RationalRemind Rational Reminder on TikTok — www.tiktok.com/@rationalreminder Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — info@rationalreminder.ca Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/ Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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    1 h y 7 m
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