Be Smart by Jared Dillian – Details, episodes & analysis

In episode 395, Jared and Cameron cover topics ranging from his short story collection NIGHT MOVES to insights on the bond market and how strong jobs data impacts rate cuts moving forward, oil prices, and the dualities present in the current economic landscape. Jared emphasizes the importance of having cash on hand for emergencies and shares his thoughts on navigating risks in equities.

Jared and Cameron explore various market trends, including the surprising performance of stocks in September when you look at past performance throughout the years, insights into the energy sector, and the challenges facing the housing market. They discuss the implications of insurance costs in real estate, the political landscape's impact on the economy, and reflect on the first six short stories in Jared’s new short story collection, NIGHT MOVES.

Grab your copy of NIGHT MOVES here!

In episode 385, Jared discusses recent political developments, their impact on markets, and whether the Trump trade is still in play. He also follows up from last week’s episode on the potential for a rotation into small caps… plus, company-specific headlines surrounding Verizon (VZ) and Delta (DAL), uncertainty and volatility in the market, and why his Strategic Portfolio makes sense as a “safe money” investing solution.

Following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Jared discusses the idea of the “Trump trade” gaining momentum as the US nears its 2024 election, how black swan events tend to cluster, and the mispricing of volatility. He also addresses declining inflation, the potential for the Fed to cut rates, and how small caps are showing signs of a comeback.

In today’s episode, fresh off an interview at the Schwab Network in NYC, Jared reveals the weirdness of the New York Stock Exchange, as well as topics such as Nvidia’s recent 10-for-1 stock split, California’s bump in minimum wages, greedflation and rising fast food prices, and why it’s a bad idea to finance used cars. He also addresses readers’ questions, including his thoughts on the FDIC’s $250K insurance limits and people’s irrational fear that the US dollar will lose its status as the reserve currency.

In episode 382, Jared discusses why he thinks private equity is one of the biggest bubbles of all time, as well as Roaring Kitty’s blatant market manipulation with GameStop, Donald Trump, where to begin your investment journey, and an outlet for market junkies. He also dives into the mailbag to tackle concerns such as cash positions, money market funds, and paying taxes on gains before addressing the week ahead, including payrolls and the upcoming Fed meeting.

Time stamps:

1:12 — Market headlines

5:01 — Investing: beginner to market junkie

7:52 — Private equity and gold

13:45 — The week ahead

People pour their hearts out on Reddit. In episode 381, Jared and Cameron tap into personal finance subreddits, addressing questions about payday loan apps, when to repair your vehicle versus buying a new one, mortgages and retirement, negotiating for a higher salary, steps to achieving financial comfort, and… clogged cats?

Anytime a new technology is developed, there's an initial hype phase where money pours into the space, which leads to overinvestment and malinvestment. Then you enter the Valley of Despair before getting a second bull market years down the line. In episode 380, Jared clarifies why we may be close to completing the first runup in AI, why crypto has no place in the Awesome Portfolio, why he’s so bearish on Google, the 2024 election, and more.

Would you have more money if you didn’t buy coffee? Perhaps marginally more, but it’s a rounding error in the grand scheme of things. Stop focusing on the little things that don’t matter. Buying coffee is peewee stuff that just does not matter, and you have these so-called financial “experts” focused on this kind of stuff, alienating everyone in the process. There are so many other things you should be focusing on to improve your financial well-being.

Having money in stocks and mutual funds that perform well doesn’t mean you’re creating wealth. In that case, you’re just a passenger along for the ride on the back of someone else. Creating wealth could mean starting a business or showing up to work and producing value that exceeds what you are paid. In episode 378, Jared discusses the difference between creating and destroying wealth, as well as the president’s impact on the US economy.