Podcasts · Business

The Rational Reminder Podcast

Benjamin Felix, Cameron Passmore, and Dan Bortolotti

300 episodes

A weekly reality check on sensible investing and financial decision-making, from three Canadians. Hosted by Benjamin Felix, Cameron Passmore, and Dan Bortolotti, Portfolio Managers at PWL Capital.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. How Leveraged ETFs Really Work (Marco Sammon & Chirs Murray) | #432

    · 1 h 41 min · S2 E432

    In this episode, we are joined by Chris Murray, quantitative researcher and former equity quant and trader, and Marco Sammon, Assistant Professor of Finance at Harvard Business School, for an exceptionally nerdy deep…

  2. The Madness of Markets (Alex Edmans) | #431

    · 1 h 07 min · S2 E431

    In this episode, we welcome back Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at London Business School and author of Grow the Pie, May Contain Lies, and The Madness of Markets. Drawing on academic research and real-world market…

  3. The Truth About Leveraged ETFs | #430

    · 1 h 06 min · S2 E430

    In this episode, Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Kelly Thomas revisit some of the blind spots from their recent discussion about the finances of marriage before diving into a deeply nerdy discussion about leveraged…

  4. Who Causes Stock Market Anomalies? (w/ Victor Haghani) | #429

    · 1 h 08 min · S2 E429

    In this episode, we're joined by Victor Haghani, founder of Elm Wealth and co-author of The Missing Billionaires, for a wide-ranging conversation about how different types of investors shape financial markets. Victor…

  5. Wealthy People Are Hiding in Plain Sight (ft. Owen Zidar) | #428

    · 1 h 05 min · S2 E428

    What happens when a small group of exceptionally wealthy people holds a growing share of a country's income and wealth? And what can economics tell us about the forces behind that concentration? In this episode, we…

  6. What to Know Before (and After) You Hire an Advisor (w/ Matthew Taylor) | #427

    · 1 h 18 min · S2 E427

    In this episode, we're joined by Matthew Taylor, a litigation lawyer with Sotos Class Actions in Toronto who represents retail investors and pension funds in securities class actions. We take a deep dive into what…

  7. The Finances of Marriage | #426

    · 1 h 08 min · S2 E426

    In this episode, Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Ben Wilson take a research-driven look at the finances of marriage, from spending personalities and prenuptial agreements to wedding costs, joint accounts, financial…

  8. The Ethics Problem in Financial Services (Dr. Moira Somers & Philippa Hann) | #425

    · 1 h 24 min · S2 E425

    In this episode, we're joined by Philippa Hann and Dr. Moira Somers, co-authors of The Fault Lines of Finance: Understanding and Preventing Financial Misconduct, for a deep dive into why good people can do bad things…

  9. 50 Years of Evidence-Based Investing (w/ David Booth) | #424

    · 1 h 05 min · S2 E424

    In this episode, we welcome back David Booth, Co-Founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors and author of Stay Calm: Learn to Embrace Uncertainty in Investing and Life. David reflects on his remarkable career at the center…

  10. The Future of AI in the Workplace | Special Episode (Mike Sullivan and Vinay Gidwaney)

    · 1 h 24 min

    In this special episode, we are joined by Mike Sullivan, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at OneDigital, and Vinay Gidwaney, OneDigital's Chief Product Officer, to discuss their new book, Workforce Intelligence: The…

  11. The Biggest Myths in Personal Finance

    · 1 h 14 min · S2 E423

    In this episode, Ben Felix and Dan Bortolotti take on 10 of the biggest myths in personal finance and investing. From the idea that young people should save every possible dollar to benefit from compounding, to…

  12. 80 Years of Financial Knowledge in 53 Minutes | #422 (Bill Bernstein)

    · 54 min · S2 E422

    In this episode, we welcome back William Bernstein to discuss the final book of his longtime friend Jonathan Clements, Money and Me. Bill reflects on Jonathan's ideas about spending, happiness, retirement, investing,…

  13. Barry Ritholtz: "90% of financial products are crap" | #421

    · 1 h 29 min · S2 E421

    Barry Ritholtz returns to the Rational Reminder podcast to discuss the biggest mistakes investors make—and why avoiding them may matter more than finding the next great investment. Drawing on decades of experience in…

  14. Answering Your Financial Questions | #420

    · 1 h 36 min · S2 E420

    In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ben Felix, Ben Wilson, and Louai Bibi tackle a wide-ranging collection of listener questions spanning investing, retirement, family finance, and financial planning. Along the way, they…

  15. The State of Retirement Research | #419 (Jean-Pierre Aubry)

    · 1 h 02 min · S2 E419

    In this episode, we are joined by Jean-Pierre Aubry, Associate Director of Retirement Plans and Finance at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, for a research-driven conversation about retirement…

  16. "I Sold 50% of My Portfolio. What Now?" | #418 (AMA)

    · 1 h 06 min · S2 E418

    In this AMA episode, Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Ben Wilson tackle a wide range of practical investing questions submitted by listeners. They begin by discussing one of the most common investing mistakes—market…

  17. A Financial Plan For Your Entire Life | #417 (Dr. Paul Kaplan)

    · 1 h 00 min · S2 E417

    In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Paul Kaplan, economist, CFA charterholder, former Director of Research at Morningstar Canada, and co-author of Lifetime Financial Advice, for a fascinating exploration of life…

  18. Is VEQT Costing You? (& Other Questions) | #416

    · 59 min · S2 E416

    In this AMA episode, Benjamin Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Ben Wilson tackle a wide range of listener questions covering portfolio construction, diversification, active management, pensions, fiduciary duty, and…

  19. Shannon Lee Simmons: How To Stop Feeling Broke | #415

    · 1 h 20 min · S2 E415

    In this episode, we are joined by Shannon Lee Simmons—Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Investment Manager, bestselling author, and founder of the New School of Finance—for a wide-ranging conversation about the…

  20. Answering Your Financial Questions | #414

    · 1 h 15 min · S2 E414

    In this episode, Ben Felix and Ben Wilson tackle a wide range of listener questions covering portfolio construction, home-country bias, currency exposure, ETF selection, retirement decumulation, leasing versus buying a…

  21. How Canadian ETFs Actually Work | #413 (Morley Conn)

    · 1 h 08 min · S2 E413

    In this episode, we are joined by Morley Conn, Director of Sales and Strategy, ETF Services at Scotia Global Banking and Markets, for a deep dive into the mechanics of the ETF ecosystem. With more than 30 years of…

  22. Ben Carlson: Investing at All-Time Highs | #412

    · 50 min · S2 E412

    In this episode, we are joined by Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management and author of Risk & Reward, for a wide-ranging conversation about market history, investor…

  23. Market Simulations & Financial Planning | #411 (John Yang)

    · 1 h 17 min · S2 E411

    In this episode, Ben Felix and Braden Warwick unpack the surprisingly complex world of expected return modeling and why it matters so much for retirement projections, portfolio construction, and financial advice. They…

  24. Episode 410: The State of Investing in 2026

    · 58 min · S2 E410

    In this episode, we are joined by Shelly Antoniewicz, Chief Economist at the Investment Company Institute (ICI), for a data-rich exploration of the modern fund industry. Shelly walks us through the staggering scale of…

  25. Episode 409: Investment Banker - What Private Equity Doesn't Tell You

    · 1 h 16 min · S2 E409

    In this episode, we are joined by Jeff Hooke, former investment banking, private equity, and private debt executive turned academic critic of alternative investments, for a rigorous and provocative examination of…

  26. Episode 408: Elroy Dimson – Investing & Optimism

    · 1 h 14 min · S2 E408

    In this episode, we are joined by Elroy Dimson, Professor of Finance at Cambridge Judge Business School and co-creator of the Dimson-Marsh-Staunton (DMS) dataset, for a sweeping and deeply insightful conversation on…

  27. Episode 407: Michael Kothakota - The Shape of Financial Planning

    · 1 h 19 min · S2 E407

    In this episode, we are joined by Michael Kothakota for a deeply technical and thought-provoking conversation on interdependent integrative financial planning theory. Drawing from his background in academic research…

  28. Episode 406: When Massive Private Companies Go Public

    · 1 h 11 min · S2 E406

    In this episode, the Rational Reminder team unpacks the mechanics and implications of mega IPOs like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic potentially entering public indices. They explore how index funds handle IPO inclusion,…

  29. Episode 405: Timothy Edwards - Inside S&P DJ Indices

    · 1 h 04 min · S2 E405

    What if the decades-long debate between active and passive investing wasn't really a debate—but a data problem? In this episode, Ben Felix and Cameron Passmore are joined by Tim Edwards, Managing Director and Global…

  30. Episode 404: The Finance Paper that Changed Everything

    · 1 h 03 min · S2 E404

    What if the way we think about investing—and expected returns—was fundamentally incomplete? In this episode, Ben Felix and Dan Bortolotti take a deep dive into one of the most influential papers in financial…

  31. Episode 403: Patrick Adams - When Stock Crashes Matter for Long-Term Investors

    · 1 h 04 min · S2 E403

    What if your biggest investment risk isn't the stock market—but your own income? In this episode, we are joined by Patrick Adams, a PhD candidate at MIT, for a fascinating deep dive into how income risk, spending…

  32. Episode 402: The Problem with Private Markets

    · 1 h 02 min · S2 E402

    In this episode, we unpack the growing tension in private markets—private equity, private credit, and private real estate—and examine whether their long-standing appeal holds up under scrutiny. With increasing pressure…

  33. Episode 401: Eduardo Repetto & Caitlin Ebanks - Opening the Avantis CAGE

    · 56 min · S2 E401

    What if factor investing in Canada became as simple—and affordable—as buying a single ETF? In this episode, we are joined by Eduardo Repetto, CIO of Avantis Investors, and Caitlin Ebanks, Director of ETF Strategy at…

  34. Episode 400: The Evolution of Index Fund Investing

    · 1 h 23 min · S2 E400

    In this special 400th episode, the Rational Reminder hosts reflect on 50 years of index investing and the profound impact it has had on financial markets, investor behavior, and the cost of investing. The episode…

  35. Episode 399: James Choi - Portfolio Theory in a Spreadsheet

    · 1 h 14 min · S2 E399

    In this episode, we welcome back James Choi, Professor of Finance at the Yale School of Management, to unpack one of the most important—and misunderstood—questions in personal finance: How much of your portfolio should…

  36. Episode 398: Tom Hardin - Ethics, Financial Crime, and Redemption

    · 59 min · S2 E398

    In this episode, we sit down with Tom Hardin, also known as "Tipper X," the former hedge fund analyst who became one of the most prolific informants in the largest insider trading crackdown in U.S. history. Tom walks…

  37. Episode 397: Hendrik Bessembinder - Constant Leverage & Measuring Investor Outcomes

    · 1 h 06 min · S2 E397

    In this episode, we welcome back return guest Hank Bessembinder for a deeply analytical conversation spanning leveraged ETFs, volatility, and the future of performance measurement. Hank walks us through his latest…

  38. Episode 396: Theresa Ebden - Protecting Investors at the OSC

    · 1 h 05 min · S2 E396

    In this episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast, we are joined by Theresa Ebden, Vice President of the Investor Office at the Ontario Securities Commission, for a deep dive into how regulators are thinking about…

  39. Episode 395: Charles Chaffin - The Psychology of Financial Planning

    · 1 h 21 min · S2 E395

    Ben Felix and Braden Warwick are joined by Dr. Charles Chaffin, a leading voice in financial psychology, to explore why investors so often act against their own best interests—and how better tools and frameworks can…

  40. Episode 394: Equal Weight vs. Market Cap Weight Index Funds

    · 1 h 06 min · S2 E394

    Equal-weighted index funds sound like an elegant solution to some of today's biggest investor anxieties: high market concentration, elevated valuations, and outsized influence from a handful of mega-cap stocks. In this…

  41. Episode 393: Engineering Financial Outcomes

    · 1 h 15 min · S2 E393

    What if financial planning were approached the same way engineers design aircraft, medical treatments, or complex systems—with clearly defined objectives, constraints, and rigorous trade-off analysis? In this episode,…

  42. Episode 392: The Rise of ETF Slop

    · 1 h 15 min · S2 E392

    ETFs were once almost synonymous with low-cost, sensible investing. But that era is changing fast. In this episode, Ben Felix, Dan Bortolotti, and Ben Wilson introduce and unpack the concept of "ETF slop"—the explosion…

  43. Episode 391: How Assumptions Shape Financial Planning Outcomes

    · 1 h 16 min · S2 E391

    Financial planning is built on assumptions — about markets, inflation, longevity, human behaviour, and even the questions clients bring into the room. In this episode, Ben and Braden welcome a diverse panel that…

  44. Episode 390: The "AI Bubble" and Stock Market Concentration

    · 1 h 10 min · S2 E390

    In this first episode of 2026, we sit down for a deep dive into one of the hottest concerns coming from clients and listeners lately: Is the U.S. stock market dangerously concentrated—and are we in an AI bubble? Ben,…

  45. Episode 389: How the Rational Reminder Podcast is Made

    · 1 h 17 min · S2 E389

    In this special year-end episode, Ben and Cameron turn the spotlight inward for a behind-the-scenes look at the Rational Reminder podcast. They're joined by the extended team that keeps the show running—from compliance…

  46. Episode 388: AMA #11 - Your Parents' Advisor, 100% Equity Portfolios, and Investing $10 Billion

    · 1 h 21 min · S2 E388

    In this special year-end AMA, the full PWL crew — Ben Felix, Cameron Passmore, Ben Wilson, and Dan Bortolotti — sit down together for the first time on the podcast to reflect on the roller-coaster that was 2025 and to…

  47. Episode 387: Lessons from The Wealthy Barber (2025)

    · 1 h 26 min · S2 E387

    In this episode, the team digs into the newly updated 2025 edition of The Wealthy Barber — Dave Chilton's iconic Canadian personal finance book that helped shape millions of financial journeys. Ben, Dan, and Ben walk…

  48. Episode 386: Is anyone doing dd? with Aravind Sithamparapillai

    · 1 h 16 min · S2 E386

    What happens when alternative investments shift from niche products to the industry's go-to value proposition? In this episode, we're joined by financial planner and self-described "pathological nerd" Aravind…

  49. Episode 385: A Case Study on Pension Benefits vs. Commuted Values

    · 55 min · S2 E385

    In this episode, we feature two conversations that highlight PWL's culture, values, and intentional approach to advice. We first sit down with Trevor Daigle and Brett Watt, founders of EB Wealth in Halifax, to talk…

  50. Episode 384: Mamdouh Medhat - A Profitability Retrospective, and Private Fund Performance

    · 1 h 21 min · S2 E384

    In this episode, we're joined by Mamdouh Medhat, VP and Senior Researcher at Dimensional Fund Advisors, for an exceptionally deep, exceptionally nerdy exploration of factor investing—focusing on profitability, value,…

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