Sound Investing

Paul Merriman
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Sep 25, 2019 • 38min

Facts and fictions of small-cap-value returns Part 1

Some controversy and concern seems to have risen about small-cap-value returns. While on vacation in Europe recently, I used the early morning hours to complete a study examining the history of returns for many of the popular asset classes: S&P 500, Total Market Index, Large Cap Value, Small Cap Blend, Small Cap Value, U.S. Long Term Bonds, U.S. Treasury Bills …
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Sep 18, 2019 • 28min

Financial Independence Retire Early (Part 2)

In this insightful discussion, Ed Fulbright, a CPA and co-founder of Fulbright & Fulbright, talks with Paul, a passionate advocate of the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement. They explore innovative house-swapping strategies for travel and highlight the balance between enjoyment and wise investing. Paul shares his journey with FIRE and the significance of longevity in retirement savings. The conversation also includes practical retirement planning tips and emphasizes the importance of defensive investment strategies for financial empowerment.
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Sep 11, 2019 • 28min

Financial Independence Retire Early (Part 1)

In this engaging discussion, Ed Fulbright, a seasoned CPA and financial advising expert, dives into the transformative FIRE Movement—Financial Independence Retire Early. He shares compelling insights on high savings rates and frugal living as keys to early retirement. Ed recounts his own path to financial independence, emphasizing discipline and strategic investing. The episode also tackles the complexities of navigating market challenges and investment strategies, encouraging listeners to adopt proactive saving habits and adapt to life's unpredictability.
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Sep 4, 2019 • 47min

Target Date Funds: America’s #1 Retirement Investment

This podcast is the audio-only version of the video, Target Date Funds: America’s #1 Retirement Investment, in which Paul illuminates why Target Date Funds are America’s best retirement investment, and how to maximize that investment with his 2-Funds-For-Life Strategy. While this strategy is ideal for young and first-time investors, it can be effectively used by investors at any stage who want to …
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Aug 28, 2019 • 21min

Are These Two Funds the Only Ones You Need for Life?

In this interview — with Joe Andersen, CFP and “Big Al Clopine, CPA of Pure Financial Advisors, Inc. on their podcast, “Your Money Your Wealth” — Paul makes the case that owning just two funds for life is a “home-run” investing strategy for some investors. Plus, the hosts answer your money questions: how should teachers, and others without Social Security or pension, save for retirement? …
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Aug 21, 2019 • 25min

How to avoid the big mistakes pre-retirees make

How to avoid the big mistakes pre-retirees make Paul addresses the huge decisions facing investors in the final push to meet their retirement goals, about 10 years before retirement. Cautioning against the tendency to jump from one strategy to another or be swayed by Wall Street, Paul presents 12 points for creating a solid long-term investment strategy before you …
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Aug 14, 2019 • 34min

Talking Real Money

Paul joins old friend and Vestory advisor, Tom Cock, on Tom’s Seattle radio show, “Talking Real Money”, which begins with addressing the need for emergency money. In answering call-in questions, they discuss the major decision of when to start taking Social Security, annuities, FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early), how often to rebalance a Buy-and-Hold portfolio at M1 Finance, possible …
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Aug 7, 2019 • 50min

Understanding the 2 Funds for Life strategy

In October 2018, Paul and Chris Pedersen recorded a video that offers a new and significant advantage to standard Target Date Funds. Following the release of the YouTube video, “2 Funds for Life — A simple strategy to maximize your retirement investments,” Paul responded to many questions and decided to use this podcast to expand his answers to several of …
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Aug 6, 2019 • 29min

21 things mutual funds won’t tell you

Are you aware of the many ways that mutual funds can legally and cleverly mislead investors?  An investor should be able to expect the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth but, in reality, mutual funds are marketed putting the best foot forward, like almost every other highly-profitable product. In this podcast, produced for the PBS Special, “Financial …
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Jul 31, 2019 • 56min

Is dollar cost averaging the best approach? And what’s the future of small-cap value index funds?

In a recent article and podcast on diversification, Paul noted that dollar cost averaging can be a form of timing diversification. It ensures that an investor will not put all his/her money in at the top of a market. It also ensures “picking up more shares when prices are lower and fewer shares when prices are higher.” Paul suggested that …

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