The Meb Faber Show - Better Investing

Today’s guest is Samuel Hartzmark, a finance professor at Boston College.

In today’s episode, Sam explores why dividends are so often misunderstood by investors. He explains the “free dividends fallacy” and how it can lead to inflated valuations and price dislocations. He also examines the tradeoffs between dividends and buybacks and how payout policies influence investor behavior.

To close, Sam briefly touches on his research on prediction markets and ESG.

(0:00) Starts

(1:59) Sam Hartzmark on dividend misconceptions

(15:24) Mutual funds juicing dividend yields

(27:26) Buybacks, shareholder yield, and reinvesting dividends

(39:57) Tax optimization

(43:40) Importance of total return

(52:26) Divestment, prediction markets, and memorable investments

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For detailed show notes, click here

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Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at [email protected]

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Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. 

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Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! 

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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Will Guidara, author of the New York Times Bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality and former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, which was named the Best Restaurant in the World. He is a Co-Producer on the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear. His new book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide comes out this month.

In today’s episode, Will discusses how unreasonable hospitality can turn routine service into memorable human connection. He explains why unreasonable hospitality is less about grand gestures and more about intentionality, creativity, and empowering teams to take ownership of memorable customer experiences.

To close, Will shares how small acts of care can transform relationships, culture, and loyalty across financial services.

(0:00) Starts

(2:28) Will Guidara on Unreasonable Hospitality

(8:18) Implementing this philosophy in your organization

(17:11) The importance of admitting mistakes

(26:15) Examples of unreasonable hospitality

(37:37) Will's conferences

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Sponsor: Want to learn more about 351 Exchanges? Visit the Alpha Architect 351 Education Center for use cases, tools, FAQs, upcoming launches, and more. Investments in securities entail risks, including possible loss of principal and are not suitable for all investors.

-----

Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube

For detailed show notes, click here

To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com

-----

Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

-----

Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at [email protected]

-----

Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. 

-----

Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! 

-----

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guests are Alex Rubalcava and Paul Bricault of Amplify.LA, a pre-seed venture capital firm.

In today’s episode, Alex and Paul break down the opportunities and challenges AI is creating for both startups and investors. They discuss the changing economics of software, what makes an AI company defensible, where investors are finding opportunity in frontier sectors, and why speed matters more than ever in early-stage investing. 

To close, they explore startup pivots and the tax advantages of QSBS.

(0:00) Starts

(1:27) Introducing Alex and Paul

(2:02) Public software companies & AI

(5:13) Amplify LA background and partnership formation

(7:34) AI use cases in portfolio companies

(15:08) AI's impact on the job market

(30:31) AI's impact on investment opportunities at the pre-seed stage

(41:02) Aerospace sector opportunities

(44:32) Successful startup pivots

(50:18) Liquidity in VC

(55:28) QSBS impact

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Sponsor: Want to learn more about 351 Exchanges? Visit the ⁠Alpha Architect 351 Education Center for use cases, tools, FAQs, upcoming launches, and more. ⁠Investments in securities entail risks, including possible loss of principal and are not suitable for all investors.

-----

Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube

For detailed show notes, click here

To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com

-----

Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

-----

Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at [email protected]

-----

Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. 

-----

Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! 

-----Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guests are Owen Lamont, a Portfolio Manager at Acadian Asset Management, and Randy Cohen, a finance and entrepreneurship professor at Harvard Business School and co-founder of PEO Partners, which is a leader in the emerging liquid Private Equity alternatives space.

In today’s episode, Owen Lamont and Randy Cohen begin with a deep dive into private equity, how to model it in public markets, and why investors are searching for liquid ways to access private-market-like returns. They challenge common views on concentration, market valuations, and explain how investors should think about bubbles and technological change. They also discuss whether the US stock market is Koreafying and the long-term forces that could shape the investing landscape.

(0:00) Starts

(0:34) Welcome Owen and Randy

(5:14) Private equity overview

(9:20) Liquid private equity

(20:05) The US stock market is Koreafying

(24:29) The IPO landscape

(36:03) CAPE Ratio and AI

(44:45) Best ideas investing

(58:44) Deglobalization increases the benefits of diversification

(1:00:36) Randy's five future fears

(1:11:09) Book recommendations

-----

Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube

For detailed show notes, click here

To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com

-----

Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

-----

Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at [email protected]

-----

Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. 

-----

Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! 

-----

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, Van explores the evolution of the rare coin and collectables market, how grading transformed collectibles into an institutional-quality asset class, and why high-grade coins may be undervalued today. He discusses supply dynamics, the historical link between currency, gold, and collectibles, and how technology and AI are reshaping authentication and valuation.

To close, Van explains why rare coins remain a compelling way to preserve wealth and build a lasting legacy.

(0:00) Starts

(2:25) Overview of current coin market and recent gold discoveries

(16:43) Historical significance of coins and storing advice

(25:34) COVID's impact on watches and sports memorabilia

(31:41) Grading with AI

(35:42) Identifying undervalued collectibles and selling lessons

(45:15) Securitizing collectibles

(49:52) Modern companies influencing the collectibles market

(1:01:42) Highlights from coin shows and record-breaking sales

-----

Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube

For detailed show notes, click here

To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com

-----

Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

-----

Interested in sponsoring the show? Email us at [email protected]

-----

Past guests include Ed Thorp, Richard Thaler, Jeremy Grantham, Joel Greenblatt, Campbell Harvey, Ivy Zelman, Kathryn Kaminski, Jason Calacanis, Whitney Baker, Aswath Damodaran, Howard Marks, Tom Barton, and many more. 

-----

Meb's invested in some awesome startups that have passed along discounts to our listeners. Check them out here! 

-----

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices