The Ethics Problem in Financial Services (Dr. Moira Somers & Philippa Hann) | #425

More from The Rational Reminder Podcast All episodes →

1. 

   S2 · E430 · 8 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

   The Truth About Leveraged ETFs | #430

   In this episode, Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Kelly Thomas revisit some of the blind spots from their recent discussion about the finances of marriage before diving into a deeply nerdy discussion about leveraged ETFs. Kelly brings a different perspective to questions around spending roles, career sacrifices, financial autonomy, and the mental load of managing household finances. The main discussion explores leverage, human capital, volatility drag, and the long-held belief that daily resets make leveraged ETFs poor long-term investments. Ben explains how his own thinking changed after…

2. 

   S2 · E429 · 1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

   Who Causes Stock Market Anomalies? (w/ Victor Haghani) | #429

   In this episode, we're joined by Victor Haghani, founder of Elm Wealth and co-author of The Missing Billionaires, for a wide-ranging conversation about how different types of investors shape financial markets. Victor explains the framework behind his forthcoming paper, Who Killed the Random Walk?, and how fundamental investors, static investors, and extrapolators interact to produce momentum, excess volatility, and other market anomalies. We explore why return chasing is different from momentum investing, how investor flows and inelastic demand can move markets, and how the Merton share…

3. 

   S2 · E428 · 24 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

   Wealthy People Are Hiding in Plain Sight (ft. Owen Zidar) | #428

   What happens when a small group of exceptionally wealthy people holds a growing share of a country's income and wealth? And what can economics tell us about the forces behind that concentration? In this episode, we are joined by Owen Zidar, professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University and coauthor of the forthcoming book The Everywhere Millionaire. We explore the rise of the millionaire class, how tax policy shapes inequality, and why the geography of wealth matters when trying to understand the economic landscape. We also discuss the role of entrepreneurship,…

4. 

   S2 · E427 · 17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 18 min

   What to Know Before (and After) You Hire an Advisor (w/ Matthew Taylor) | #427

   In this episode, we're joined by Matthew Taylor, a litigation lawyer with Sotos Class Actions in Toronto who represents retail investors and pension funds in securities class actions. We take a deep dive into what makes a successful negligence claim against a financial advisor, how courts assess fiduciary relationships in Canada, and what investors should look for when evaluating the people managing their money. We explore the evidence that can strengthen or weaken a negligence claim, from one-size-fits-all portfolios and unexplained trades to poor communication and failures to account for…

5. 

   S2 · E426 · 10 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

   The Finances of Marriage | #426

   In this episode, Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Ben Wilson take a research-driven look at the finances of marriage, from spending personalities and prenuptial agreements to wedding costs, joint accounts, financial infidelity, and household decision-making. The conversation explores how the way couples think about and manage money can affect both financial outcomes and relationship satisfaction. We unpack the difference between being frugal and being a "tightwad," why tightwads and spendthrifts may be drawn to each other despite having more conflict later, and how simply understanding your…

6. 

   S2 · E424 · 27 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

   50 Years of Evidence-Based Investing (w/ David Booth) | #424

   In this episode, we welcome back David Booth, Co-Founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors and author of Stay Calm: Learn to Embrace Uncertainty in Investing and Life. David reflects on his remarkable career at the center of the evidence-based investing revolution, from studying under Eugene Fama at the University of Chicago to helping build investment strategies around decades of financial research. We explore what the data revealed about markets and professional money management, why implementation matters as much as great ideas, and how investors can make better decisions without trying to…

7. 

   S2 · 25 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 24 min

   The Future of AI in the Workplace | Special Episode (Mike Sullivan and Vinay Gidwaney)

   In this special episode, we are joined by Mike Sullivan, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at OneDigital, and Vinay Gidwaney, OneDigital's Chief Product Officer, to discuss their new book, Workforce Intelligence: The People-First Playbook for Leading Your Company Through AI Transformation. Together, they offer a practical, pro-human framework for navigating a future where artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in how organizations operate. We explore why leaders should focus on tasks rather than headcount, how AI can amplify uniquely human capabilities, and why companies may need…

8. 

   S2 · E423 · 20 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 14 min

   The Biggest Myths in Personal Finance

   In this episode, Ben Felix and Dan Bortolotti take on 10 of the biggest myths in personal finance and investing. From the idea that young people should save every possible dollar to benefit from compounding, to assumptions about economic growth, dividends, index funds, valuation ratios, stock picking, bonds, gold, and homeownership, they examine the subtle details that can make conventional wisdom misleading. Ben and Dan explore why personal finance is often about balance rather than absolute rules, why spending decisions can be just as important as saving decisions, and how investors can…

9. 

   S2 · E422 · 13 Aug 2026 · 54 min

   80 Years of Financial Knowledge in 53 Minutes | #422 (Bill Bernstein)

   In this episode, we welcome back William Bernstein to discuss the final book of his longtime friend Jonathan Clements, Money and Me. Bill reflects on Jonathan's ideas about spending, happiness, retirement, investing, inheritance, and the psychology of financial decision-making, while sharing personal stories that bring those ideas to life. We explore why material purchases often lose their appeal quickly, why autonomy can be one of the best things money can buy, and how worrying about money can be a greater problem than spending it. Bill also discusses the four horsemen of financial…

10. 

    S2 · E421 · 6 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 29 min

    Barry Ritholtz: "90% of financial products are crap" | #421

    Barry Ritholtz returns to the Rational Reminder podcast to discuss the biggest mistakes investors make—and why avoiding them may matter more than finding the next great investment. Drawing on decades of experience in markets, wealth management, and financial media, Barry explains why forecasting consistently fails, how investors can distinguish good advice from noise, and why humility, probabilistic thinking, and disciplined behavior are among the most valuable investing skills. Throughout the conversation, Barry shares lessons from his new book, How Not to Invest, covering everything from…