We all need to make smart decisions with our money. The Long Term Investor shows you how to do it.
Hosted by the Chief Investment Officer at Plancorp and author of "Making Money Simple," Peter Lazaroff distills complex financial matters into easily digestible lessons.
If you're ready to get a clear plan for your investments and personal finances, you're in the right place.
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Recorded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, this conversation with Robin Wigglesworth, author of A Fabulous Debt, connects centuries of financial history to today's biggest questions about AI, interest rates, and government debt.
Listen now and learn:
► What the railroad boom can teach investors about today's AI frenzy
► Why the "safe" part of a portfolio can be at the center of a financial crisis
► How to think about rising interest rates when you primarily own stocks
► What studying bond-market history changed about Robin's views on government debt
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
Why a Good Investment Can Be Wrong For Your Portfolio (EP.276)
Episode 276
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 43:33
A good investment can still be a bad addition to your portfolio. In this special rebroadcast from The Plancorp Perspective, Ranie Verby puts me in the guest chair to discuss how goals, behavior, evidence, and process shape the investments you should—or shouldn't—own. We also explore why seemingly sophisticated choices can fail in real life and what it actually means for a portfolio to succeed.
Listen now and learn:
► The crucial difference between evaluating an investment and evaluating its role in your portfolio
► Why smart, well-informed investors can be especially vulnerable to costly mistakes
► How to determine whether added complexity is solving a real problem
► Why the benchmark most investors watch may be answering the wrong question
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
"The Perfect Portfolio gives investors of all stripes a useful, dynamic framework to guide them toward long-term success." ―Matt Mendelsohn, Chief Investment Officer, Yale University
"Peter Lazaroff has spent years helping clients reach their financial goals, and his experience and empathy shine through in this wise book." ―Christine Benz, Director of Personal Finance, Morningstar
"The Perfect Portfolio reflects a career devoted to helping individuals understand and execute on what is distinctly "perfect" for them." ―Brian Portnoy, Author, How I Invest My Money
"Utilizing vivid narratives and robust data, Peter Lazaroff provides a persuasive argument for tailoring a strategy to your specific needs. For any person, regardless of their level of experience." ―David Booth, Founder and Chairman, Dimensional Fund Advisors, and author, Stay Calm: Learn to Embrace Uncertainty in Investing and Life
"Peter Lazaroff provides a roadmap for constructing a strategy that remains resilient through cycles of anxiety, exuberance, and volatility and respects your personal objectives, emotional makeup, and fortitude." ―Dr. Daniel Crosby, New York Times bestselling author, The Soul of Wealth
"Peter Lazaroff has a gift for taking complex investing problems and providing simple solutions you can actually use to build a better portfolio and investment plan." ―Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Asset Management, Ritholtz Wealth Management, author, Risk and Reward
Every new investment comes with a compelling story. In this episode, Peter shares a four-question process for deciding what truly deserves a place in your portfolio—and explains why a sound decision can still feel wrong for years.
Listen now and learn:
► How to put a higher evidence bar between you and the next hot investment
► What separates meaningful diversification from simply owning more stuff
► When complexity earns its place—and when it creates more ways to make a mistake
► A better way to judge investment decisions when the results tempt you to change course
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
Are U.S. Treasurys Really Risk-Free? Ft. Mary Childs 1
Episode 273
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 40:28
Get behind-the-scenes stories and access to subscriber-only webinars when you sign up for updates about my new book, The Perfect Portfolio: www.theperfectportfoliobook.com
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U.S. Treasurys anchor the global financial system—but what does "risk-free" actually mean when federal debt and interest costs keep climbing? Mary Childs, host of Mary in America and author of The Bond King, joins me to examine the hidden machinery behind the Treasury market and what could put its stability to the test. We also explore how Mary identifies genuine expertise and why some parts of life may not belong in a market at all.
Listen now and learn:
► What must remain true for U.S. Treasurys to deserve the label "risk-free"
► How rising government debt could reach investors and households
► Why hedge funds and the Federal Reserve matter to Treasury-market stability
► How Mary distinguishes genuine expertise from confident performance
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
When a Simple Portfolio Isn't Enough (EP.272)
Episode 272
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Duration 10:31
Get behind-the-scenes stories and access to subscriber-only webinars when you sign up for updates about my new book, The Perfect Portfolio: www.theperfectportfoliobook.com
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Simple investing is usually the right starting point. But after you build meaningful wealth, concentrated positions, large taxable gains, and estate-planning decisions can create problems a basic portfolio may not solve. In this episode, Peter explains how to decide when added complexity deserves a closer look—and when it does not.
Listen now and learn:
► Why simplicity can become a blind spot for successful investors
► The practical test every complex strategy should have to pass
► How newer investment tools are changing what is possible
► Why experience and due diligence matter more than access alone
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
Stay Calm: What Index Funds Still Can't Solve ft. David Booth (EP.271)
Episode 271
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 37:13
Leave a review of the show and get a free copy of David Booth's new book! Just reply to my email after signing up at www.peterlazaroff.com/newsletter
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Index funds made sensible investing available to almost everyone. But they didn't make it easy to stay calm. Dimensional founder David Booth joins me to explain why—and discuss his new book, Stay Calm.
Listen now and learn:
► The surprising disconnect between index funds and investor behavior
► What an early leveraged-index experiment taught David about investing in the real world
► How to distinguish thoughtful adaptation from emotional tinkering
► Why the hardest money decisions may begin after you have accumulated enough
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
You've Made a Ton of Smart Financial Choices, Now What? (EP.270)
Episode 270
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 • Duration 10:19
You don't have time to sift through endless financial content. That's why I do it for you. Get exclusive downloads and my top 5 must-read articles in a quick, easy-to-digest email. Sign up for my newsletter.
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Making smart financial choices is easier when the rules are clear. But what happens after you've saved consistently, invested well, and built meaningful wealth—yet several reasonable paths remain? This episode explores how financial planning changes when the checklist runs out and judgment takes over.
Listen now and learn:
► Why knowing your net worth may not answer your most important financial question
► How individually sensible decisions can work against one another
► When added complexity improves a financial plan—and when it gets in the way
► What decades of financial discipline should ultimately make possible
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
The Investing Mistakes Even Smart Investors Make (EP.269)
Smart investors can build low-cost, diversified portfolios—and still make costly mistakes. Vanguard senior portfolio strategist Liz Muirhead joins me to examine where investors get tripped up and why the most valuable parts of investment management are often the hardest to see.
Listen now and learn:
► What investors commonly overlook when comparing individual bonds and bond funds
► Why indexing, factor investing, and stock picking test discipline in different ways
► How taxes, rebalancing, and market volatility create hidden decision points
► Where a financial advisor can add value beyond choosing investments
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
Financial Advisor Fees: What You're Really Paying For (EP.268)
Episode 268
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • Duration 13:35
Your future deserves more than guesswork. Use Plancorp's calculator to see the potential value of professional planning and get an idea of your annual advisory cost.
Financial advisor fees look simple until you ask what the fee actually buys. This episode compares hourly, flat-fee, and AUM pricing—and explains why the number alone tells you surprisingly little. Learn how to evaluate cost, service, conflicts, and accountability before choosing an advisor.
Listen now and learn:
► What hourly, flat-fee, and AUM arrangements change beyond the bill
► The incentives and blind spots different compensation models can create
► Why similar-looking fees can buy very different levels of service
► The questions that reveal what you're really paying an advisor for
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
The commentary in this "post" (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
