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Listen "The biggest mistakes beginner investors make—and how to avoid them (Paul Merriman)"
Episode Synopsis
In this practical and inspiring ETFatlas podcast episode, host Jack Lempart welcomes Paul Merriman for a return conversation focused on the biggest mistakes beginner investors make—and how to avoid them.The discussion reveals why most investing errors are emotional, not technical. Paul emphasizes that successful investing is usually simple, though almost never easy.Paul Merriman draws on decades of experience as an educator, advisor, and founder of the Merriman Financial Education Foundation to spotlight key pitfalls:Trusting the wrong adviceStarting too late with investingLetting emotions drive decisionsChasing recent performancePaul’s conversation goes further, sharing actionable tips:How defensive investing and diversification protect you from major mistakesPractical ways to automate good habits and avoid behavioral biasesInsights from both US and European market examplesYou’ll also hear why academic research has shaped today’s best investment practices. Paul strongly advocates:Automating decisions wherever possibleBroad diversificationMaintaining discipline during market turbulenceListeners receive clear advice on keeping investing simple, avoiding high fees, and building portfolios designed to withstand uncertainty.The episode closes with tips for further reading—including free educational resources and helpful links—to support every investor’s learning journey.AgendaPaul Merriman’s journey from stockbroker to financial educator and foundation founderIntroduction to the most costly mistakes for beginners and how they can affect lifetime wealthWhy trusting the wrong advice is potentially the biggest error investors makeThe importance of choosing academically sound, evidence-based sources over industry “experts” or neighborsAnalysis of how starting too late in investing can dramatically reduce future wealthThe emotional traps beginners face and the impact of behavioral biases on decision-makingThe problem of performance chasing and recency bias in investment choicesAutomating investments and the value of regular, disciplined contributionsWhy diversification is considered “the only free lunch” in investing by expertsAdvantages of keeping portfolios simple with solutions like target-date funds and low-cost ETFsExamples illustrating the massive impact of investment fees over decadesThe difference between defensive and offensive strategies in long-term market successReal-world lessons from market history, including US, Europe, and JapanHow to avoid paralysis from choice overwhelm in a landscape of thousands of ETFspowered by ETFatlas.com
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