Written By Paula Pant
Today, millions will watch the Super Bowl.
But while most eyes are on the field, I’m thinking about the many winners who made their move when opportunity knocked:
The local Airbnb hosts who spotted this opportunity when New Orleans was announced in 2020, learned to analyze properties and secure financing, and turned their preparations into peak-season […]
By Paula Pant
Todd is in a real estate bind. He found out six days before closing on a new home that it wasn’t legally sellable. And renters are moving into his current home in two weeks. What should he do?
Anonymous is excited about expanding her real estate portfolio. Should she sell her $2.5 million rental property in the Bay Area to do this, or can she keep it and leverage the equity instead?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these two questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
Fear blocks smart money moves. Ask Harvard Business Review advisor Dr. Margie Warrell, who guides Fortune 500 companies through strategic risk-taking. Her client roster includes NASA, Morgan Stanley, and Google.
Her understanding of courage started at home. Her 13-year-old daughter landed an Australian TV role. She flew to LA for acting classes. There, she learned the hard truth: Success meant waiting tables for 20 years.
The daughter’s verdict was clear: “Mum, I don’t want it enough.”
This reveals what Dr. Warrell calls the courage gap. It’s the space between your current life and the life you could create through brave action.
For investors, this gap appears daily. It’s the distance between dreaming of financial independence and taking concrete steps toward building wealth.
Drawing on her doctoral research and Fortune 500 consulting experience, Dr. Warrell outlines five critical steps to bridge this gap:
1. Focus on what you want, not what you fear.
Our brains have a negativity bias — we’re twice as sensitive to potential losses as potential gains. This explains why market downturns feel more intense than upswings.
2. Rewrite your story.
The narratives we tell ourselves shape our actions. Perhaps you see yourself as “too risk-averse” to start a business or “not smart enough” to understand investing. Reframe these stories so you can take smart financial risks.
3. Embody courage physically.
Fear lives in our bodies — whether it’s anxiety about making your first investment or launching a side business. Try simple practices like deep breathing when facing big financial decisions.
4. Step into discomfort.
Growth and comfort can’t coexist. Every successful investor and entrepreneur started as a beginner. Financial literacy and business acumen develops through consistent practice.
5. Find the treasure when you trip.
Market corrections, failed business ventures, and investment mistakes are learning opportunities.
Dr. Warrell emphasizes that courage isn’t about waiting until you feel confident — it’s about acting despite your fears.
This applies whether you’re making your first stock purchase, buying your first rental property, or quitting your job to start a business.
The takeaway: While you can’t control market conditions or business outcomes, you can control your response to financial fears.
By Paula Pant
Kelsey is excited about investing along the efficient frontier, but it feels impossible with the lack of fund options in her employer-sponsored 401k. What’s the best way to deal with this problem?
Molly discovered that her rollover from a 401k to a traditional IRA hadn’t been invested in mutual funds and was still in a money market fund. Manually calculating her net worth helped her identify this oversight, and she shares her experience with us.
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle this in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
The world’s greatest investors have a secret: they’re weird.
When one young fund manager met Bill Miller for the first time, he refused to shake hands. Instead, he locked eyes and declared: “I’m going to beat you, man.”
William Green joins us to share what he’s learned from decades of conversations with investing legends — from the hyper-competitive to the deeply philosophical.
These conversations reveal that success isn’t just about strategy; it’s about understanding yourself and playing to your strengths.
The best investors are mavericks who think differently. They’re willing to look strange, be lonely, and diverge from the crowd.
Templeton demonstrated this during WWII. When Germany invaded France and markets crashed, he bought 104 stocks trading under $1 — including 37 bankrupt companies. His contrarian bet paid off 5x when markets recovered.
But Green emphasizes this isn’t just about getting rich.
His decades of interviews reveal deeper wisdom about building a good life:
— Great investors focus on what they can control. They can’t predict markets, but they can manage their behavior and emotions.
— They embrace simplicity. Jack Bogle advocated owning low-cost index funds rather than chasing complex strategies.
— They understand odds and risk. Howard Marks asks “What’s the consequence if I’m wrong?” before making decisions.
— They play to their strengths. Charlie Munger says if you’re 5’3″, don’t try to be a pro basketball player.
— They live below their means. As investor Tom Gaynor notes, “If you’re living within your means, you’re already rich.”
Green shares a practical framework called HALT PS — don’t make important decisions when Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, in Pain, or Stressed. This applies beyond investing to daily life.
The conversation explores how to build resilience before market crashes through healthy habits, self-awareness, and preparation. Green notes that many successful investors practice meditation and read widely across disciplines.
Even legends make mistakes. Bill Miller saw his assets drop from $77 billion to $800 million during the 2008 crisis. But he rebounded by staying true to his principles and learning from failure.
Green’s key message? Focus less on getting rich and more on building an “anti-fragile” life aligned with your values and strengths.
The best investors aren’t just good at making money — they’re skilled at creating lives of meaning and purpose.
Find more from William Green at williamgreenwrites.com or on his podcast Richer, Wiser, Happier, featured on the We Study Billionaires feed.
Written By Paula Pant
Over the past decade of teaching real estate investing, I’ve noticed something fascinating:
… almost everyone falls into one of three distinct patterns.
Today, I want to share these patterns with you.
As you read, you’ll likely see yourself in one of them. More importantly, you’ll understand why these patterns exist — and what to do about […]
By Paula Pant
What would you do if someone in authority told you to do something that felt wrong? Most of us like to think we’d speak up, push back, stand our ground. But research tells a very different story.
In fact, when Yale researchers conducted a famous experiment in the 1960s, they found that 65% of people would administer what they believed to be deadly electric shocks to another human being… simply because someone in a lab coat told them to.
Today’s guest has spent over 15 years studying why humans comply with authority – even when every fiber of our being is screaming that we shouldn’t. And when it comes to our money, this tendency to comply with authority figures – from financial advisors to real estate agents to car salespeople – can cost us dearly.
Dr. Sunita Sah began her career as a physician in the UK’s National Health Service. During one particularly exhausting period as a junior doctor, she agreed to meet with a financial advisor who had contacted her at work. That meeting sparked questions that would shape the rest of her career: Why did she feel pressured to trust this advisor, even after learning he had a conflict of interest?
Today, she’s a tenured professor at Cornell University, where her groundbreaking research on compliance and influence has been featured in The New York Times and Scientific American. She’s advised government agencies, served on the National Commission on Forensic Science, and helps leaders understand the psychology behind why we say “yes” when we really want to say “no.”
Whether you’re meeting with a financial advisor, negotiating the price of a home, or discussing rates with a contractor, understanding the psychology of compliance could save you thousands of dollars – and help you make better financial decisions. Today’s conversation isn’t just about psychology – it’s about protecting your wealth by learning when and how to say “no.”
By Paula Pant
Krish is fascinated by cryptocurrency and its impact on global investing. What opportunities should he capitalize on, and how?
Apar’s income has more than doubled after he started his own business. His advisor recommends Roth contributions but he’s skeptical due to his high income. Who’s right?
Keith is frustrated by the conflicting advice he’s heard about Roth conversions. Is it better to do it while he’s young and earning a lower income, or should he wait until closer to retirement?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
Written By Paula Pant
For 76 years, the British Cycling team tried – and failed – to win the Tour de France.
The pattern seemed unbreakable.
Until 2012, when everything changed.
That year, a British cyclist won the Tour de France. Another took second place. And for good measure, the team claimed 8 gold medals at the London Olympics.
[…]
By Paula Pant
An anonymous caller has always put her large purchases on zero percent APR credit cards, but something’s been nagging at her. Is she walking on thin ice with this strategy?
Von is confused why he keeps hearing that Roth accounts are better than traditional if they both lead to the same mathematical result. What’s he missing?
Molly and her husband are well on their way to financial independence, but they feel unfulfilled with their careers. Can they afford to plunge into student debt with a 50 percent pay cut?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
