Episode 381: Investing 101
The Rational Reminder Podcast · 2025-10-30 · 1h 25m
Episode notes
In this special Investing 101 episode, the Rational Reminder hosts - Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Ben Wilson - team up to revisit the fundamental concepts that every investor should understand before diving deep into portfolio construction or market theory. Drawing from Ben's original "Investing 101" presentation and years of client experience, the trio lay out why investing matters, how inflation shapes your future, what stocks and bonds really represent, and why a disciplined, evidence-based approach beats prediction and luck every time. They unpack core ideas like financial independence, risk versus volatility, global diversification, and market efficiency, then connect them to practical tools like ETFs and Vanguard's asset allocation funds. Key Points From This Episode: (0:00:24) Why this episode revisits "Investing 101" - inspired by a listener still unsure how to begin. (0:05:03) Why investing matters: inflation erodes purchasing power, investing fights back. (0:06:33) The math of compounding: how a 7% return versus 2% changes your retirement entirely. (0:10:57) Saving early and often: habit formation beats late-life catch-up.