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Canadian Couch Potato is a podcast designed to help you become a better investor with index funds and ETFs. It is hosted by veteran journalist, blogger, and portfolio manager Dan Bortolotti. Dan offers straight-up, practical advice for Canadians who want to learn more about index investing, whether they manage their own portfolios or work with an advisor. Episodes typically feature an interview with an expert on a specific investing or financial planning topic. In a segment called “Bad Inves ...
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Erika Toth from BMO joins Dan for a discussion about the inner workings of ETFs and some of the misunderstandings surrounding these products. Then Dan considers whether the traditional method of building indexes according to company size is flawed. We wrap up with an answer to a listener’s question about how an ETF’s management fees are calculated.…
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25 - Dr. Steve Wendel on Investor Success
50:20
50:20
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Psychologist Steve Wendel of Morningstar shares his experience on the behavioural challenges all investors face. Then Dan considers the pros and cons of using a one-fund solution compared with a portfolio built from individual ETFs. For complete show notes on Dr. Steve Wendel on Investor Success visit canadiancouchpotato.com/podcast.…
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24 - Mind Your Money Gaps with Preet Banerjee
50:39
50:39
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Preet Banerjee—blogger, author, media darling, aficionado of fine whisky, and doctoral candidate—joins us to discuss his research on the financial industry in Canada and his outlook for the future of investing. Dan tries to keep it together while rebutting a “study” showing active funds outperform index funds. Finally, we consider whether REITs are…
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Dan and Amanda answer questions from listeners on topics such as the risk of index funds shutting down, days you should avoid trading ETFs, and whether wealthy investors should hold more than traditional stock and bond portfolios. For complete show notes on our Ask the Spud Edition, visit www.canadiancouchpotato.com/podcast.…
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John West of Research Affiliates explains smart beta, one of the most important ETF trends. Then Dan considers whether the last few years of strong stock returns has been a “rising tide that lifted all boats.” We round things off with a tribute to the late Jack Bogle, a hero to investors everywhere. For complete show notes on How Smart is Your Beta…
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21 - Larry Swedroe on Investing in Retirement
37:14
37:14
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Larry Swedroe joins us to discuss his latest book on the challenges of investing in retirement. Then Dan warns about speculators who are held up as “success stories.” Finally, he offers advice for a reader looking to free himself from mutual funds with deferred sales charges. For complete show notes on Larry Swedroe on Investing in Retirement, visi…
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Dan chats with one of the architects of Vanguard’s popular new asset allocation ETFs, which offer a simple one-fund portfolio for index investors. Then Dan questions whether investing courses are focusing on the right lessons. Finally, he answers a reader’s question about whether it’s better to stop buying bonds and make extra mortgage payments. Fo…
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18 - Boots on the Ground With Rob Carrick
43:47
43:47
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The Globe and Mail’s Rob Carrick talks about his 20-year career in financial journalism and how he manages to stay relevant to his readers. Then Dan takes issue with the idea that screening for individual stocks is like building a “personal index fund.” In the Ask the Spud segment, he argues that the market is efficient whether you’re picking growt…
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Real estate analyst Ben Rabidoux joins Dan to discuss home ownership as an alternative to a traditional portfolio. Then Dan questions why investors would be attracted to ETFs that try to emulate hedge funds. Finally, he encourages Couch Potato investors to forget about keeping a “play money” account to trade individual stocks. For complete show not…
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Dan talks investing with Ben Carlson, author of the book and blog A Wealth of Common Sense. Then he explains why candlesticks and death crosses are tools for the dumb money. In Ask the Spud, Dan answers a reader question about whether you need REITs in your ETF portfolio. For complete show notes on Common Sense With Ben Carlson, visit canadaincouch…
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Dan chats with John Robertson, author of The Value of Simple, about the trade-offs between cost and complexity in investing. Then we take an in-depth look at a new family of Vanguard ETFs that allow you to build a one-fund portfolio. For complete show notes on The Value of Simple, visit www.canadiancouchpotato.com/podcast.…
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14 - How to Make Millions in Bitcoin (Not Really)
48:23
48:23
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Ready to add bitcoin to your ETF portfolio? Dan explains why this is probably a terrible idea. In the interview segment, Dan is joined by financial planner and author Shannon Lee Simmons to discuss her new book, Worry-Free Money. Finally, he answers a common question about dollar-cost averaging. For complete show notes on How to Make Millions in Bi…
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Robo-advisors are changing the investment landscape in Canada. To learn more about this trend, Dan speaks with Prof. Pauline Shum-Nolan of York University about the future of online ETF portfolio management. Then we answer a listener’s question about whether you should borrow to invest. For complete show notes on Here Come the Robots, visit www.can…
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Dan and Prof. Robert Shiller (one of whom has won a Nobel Prize) talk about efficient markets, forecasting stock returns, and the Canadian housing market. Then Dan challenges a new book that promises to save investors from major drawdowns, and answers a listener’s question about currency risk. For complete show notes on Robert Shiller: CAPE Crusade…
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Dan talks to Mike Foy of JD Power about the research firm’s recent survey of DIY investors who use online brokerages. He then challenges a magazine article that claims index funds might be an economic evil. Finally, Dan and Amanda comfort an investor who took too much risk and paid the price. For complete show notes on Fighting Evil with Index Fund…
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Dan is joined by David Thomas, former editor-in-chief of MoneySense, to discuss how the magazine has evolved into a digital brand. Then Dan considers whether Canadians need international diversification in their portfolios, and whether it makes sense for a couple in their 70s to fire their advisor and go it alone. For complete show notes visit cana…
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Dan chats with Tom Bradley of Steadyhand Investment Funds about how the ‘active vs. passive’ debate often misses the key point: that both active investors and Couch Potatoes need to focus on the same things: low cost, broad diversification and discipline. Then, Dan answers a reader question about how to make the most of employer-sponsored RRSPs. Fo…
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Tim Nash, the Sustainable Economist, joins Dan to discuss socially responsible investing and whether it’s compatible with indexing. Then Dan consoles the hedge fund manager who lost his million-dollar bet with Warren Buffett. Finally, Dan and Amanda consider whether you should build a new ETF portfolio gradually or all at once. For complete show no…
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Dan answers frequently asked questions about bonds, including how they are affected by changing interest rates, how to calculate their returns, and whether you still need them in your portfolio. For complete show notes, visit canadiancouchpotato.com/podcast.
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Dan speaks to researcher Christopher Davis of Morningstar Canada about the idea of “active share” and whether it has delivered on its promise. Then he considers whether it’s OK to pay more for mutual funds that have performed well in the past. Finally, he offers advice for those worried about investing a lump sum when markets are at all-time highs.…
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5 - Master Class with the Millionaire Teacher
47:15
47:15
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Globetrotting author Andrew Hallam joins Dan to talk about the new edition of his bestselling book, Millionaire Teacher. Dan considers whether indexing investing has become too popular, and answers a reader’s question about how a portfolio should evolve as you move toward retirement. For complete show notes, visit canadiancouchpotato.com/podcast.…
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4 - Charles Ellis and the Index Revolution
44:24
44:24
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Dan interviews Charles Ellis—an indexing titan and the author of the landmark Winning the Loser’s Game—about his long and distinguished career, as well as his new book, The Index Revolution. He also shares his advice for investors who are getting started with ETFs in taxable accounts. For complete show notes, visit canadiancouchpotato.com/podcast.…
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Lars Kroijer, author and former hedge fund manager, explains why most investors have little or no hope of beating the market over the long term. Dan challenges advisors who promise unrealistic returns without explaining their numbers. Then Dan and Amanda discuss whether millennials should build all-equity portfolios. For complete show notes, visit …
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2 - Planning vs Investing with Sandi Martin
33:22
33:22
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Sandi Martin of Spring Personal Finance joins Dan to discuss the differences between financial planning and investment advice. Then Dan considers how things worked out if you revamped your portfolio before the US election. In Ask the Spud, we look at the risks and rewards of corporate bonds. For complete show notes, visit canadiancouchpotato.com/po…
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As we mark the 10th anniversary of the global financial crisis that began in September 2008, many of us still wrestle with the risk-reward trade-offs in investing. Larry Bates, author of Beat the Bank, offers his recipe for Simply Successful Investing. Dan dispels the myth that dividend stocks are a safe alternative to fixed income and answers a qu…
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