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Artwork for Sound Investing

Sound Investing

Paul Merriman
Investment Strategies
Investing
Asset Allocation
Financial Literacy
S&P 500
Target Date Funds
Western Washington University
Personal Finance
Philanthropy
Investment Returns
Market Timing
Small-Cap Value
Stocks
Bonds
Investment Decisions
Retirement Planning
Portfolio Management
Equities
Small Cap Value
Fixed Income

Weekly podcasts with Paul Merriman. Strategic planning for investing at every stage of life.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes541Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessInvesting

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Artwork for Sound Investing

Latest Episodes

Paul Merriman sits down with Mark Zoril, founder of PlanVision, in the first episode of a new series spotlighting affordable financial planning options for do-it-yourself investors.

Mark built PlanVision in 2012 around a simple premise: investing is... more

At 82 years old, I still work. Not because I have to, but because I want to.

I joined Brian Herriot and Kirby Denison on “The Time Freedom Podcast” to talk about exactly that. But we ended up covering a lot more than I expected.

Here's something th... more

Q&A Highlights

* How does a 4-fund portfolio compare to a 10-fund portfolio?

* What is the best way to invest for a child’s future?

* Is it too late to use a diversified strategy like the 10-fund portfolio at age 50?

* Can I create and test my... more

Paul Merriman is dedicated to helping do-it-yourself investors build portfolios they can stick with for life. In this episode, he shares what he believes is the closest thing to a perfect long-term equity strategy he's ever seen.

Paul traces the evo... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jackie Cumminskoski
Co-host of Catching Up to Fi
Episode: How to Bake a Cake: An Asset Allocation Mashup | Rick Ferri & Paul Merriman
Paula Pant
Host and content creator at Afford Anything, known for her insights on financial independence and investing.
Afford Anything
Episode: Questions from Paula Pant
Brian Barnes
Founder and CEO of M1 Finance
M1 Finance
Episode: Interview with Brian Barnes, Founder and CEO of M1 Finance
Stan Haithcock
Known as Stan the Annuity Man, he is a financial expert focusing on annuities and retirement planning.
The Annuity Man
Episode: Understanding the Pros and Cons of Annuities with Stan Haithcock
Christine Benz
Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar
Morningstar
Episode: Your top retirement questions answered with Christine Benz
Paul Heys
Author discussing spending your way to wealth
Not specified
Episode: 10 Investment Decisions “Guaranteed” to Improve Your Financial Future
Andrew Giancola
A young podcaster who interviewed Paul Merriman in a separate episode.
Episode: New Study: S&P 500 vs 4 Fund Portfolio
Paul Merriman
Nationally recognized authority on mutual funds, index investing, and asset allocation
Merriman Financial Education Foundation
Episode: Beyond Numbers: Unveiling the Generosity of Personal Finance

Host

Paul Merriman
Host of discussions focused on investment strategies and educational content aimed at empowering listeners with knowledge about financial growth and portfolio management.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 522 ratings
  • Love the show

    And everyone’s work! Appreciate you all so much.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Qrrvjkgxhjlkvg
    United States5 months ago
  • Great Opportunities

    By utilizing the teachings of Paul Merriman and his associates you will be presented a great opportunity to save and invest for your future. It’s not rocket science, it’s all about consistency over a 20,30,40 horizon of time. Just do it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hawkmaniac09
    United States5 months ago
  • Invaluable information for DIY investors.

    I’ve been listening to this podcast for several years. I always find invaluable data to help shape my understanding of managing my portfolio of investments on my own. Please keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TermLimitsNeeded
    United States7 months ago
  • Great Podcast for Long-Term Inveators

    This is a great podcast for long-term investors. Nobody beats the drum about long-term investing like Paul. When markets get hectic and global markets are tanking this Podcast will help keep you on track. And if you take this advice to heart, it will make dealing with the inevitable market declines less scary.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave_21012
    United States7 months ago
  • Thank you

    Simply the best!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pmtsodu
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The focus on financial literacy attracts a diverse audience, from new investors to seasoned professionals.
Many find the discussions enlightening and empowering for personal finance decisions.
Some feel that the content is occasionally dense and could benefit from more concise presentation.
Overall, there is a strong appreciation for the host's experience and informative approach.
Listeners appreciate the educational value and practical insights on long-term investing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#153
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#43
Argentina/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#150
Poland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#189
Argentina/Business
Apple Podcasts
#189
Finland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#206
Singapore/Business/Investing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Q & A Deep Dive
Q: Question number five: what about separately managed accounts (SMAs) and their value proposition?
SMAs often lack transparent long-term track records and can resemble other actively managed approaches; they may not offer clear advantages and require substantial due diligence. The host suggests caution and emphasizes that public data over long horizons (20–30+ years) is rare for SMAs to judge their merit.
Q & A Deep Dive
Q: Question number four: can a user test a custom portfolio against the tables and distributions, or is this a fixed-model system?
This is not a fully editable database for arbitrary portfolio construction; it provides a set of tested combinations. You can manually approximate a 50-50 split between certain funds to get a sense of expected risk and return, and use the Merriman Lifetime Investment Calculator for scenario testing.
Q & A Deep Dive
Q: Question number three: is the 10-fund portfolio appropriate for someone around age 50 or 82, and how should fixed income be handled?
Yes, the 10-fund approach can still be suitable at various ages; what matters is the proportion in fixed income and how much risk one is willing to tolerate. Strategies like target-date funds or a two-fund/three-fund setup can adjust risk as you age, but the underlying principle remains diversification and staying invested.
Q & A Deep Dive
Q: Question number two: what's the best approach for funding a child's future—custodial Roth, custodial brokerage, or a 529—and how should the asset allocation be structured?
The best choice depends on long-term goals (education vs retirement). If the goal is long-term growth with tax advantages, a custodial Roth is recommended; for education funding, a 529 may be preferred. The asset allocation should balance growth and risk across a simple, diversified mix rather than chasing short-term gains.
Q & A Deep Dive
Q: Question number one: how do the four-fund and ten-fund strategies compare over the long term, and is there a meaningful difference in returns between worldwide and US-only allocations?
Over multi-decade horizons, the worldwide four-fund and the US four-fund strategies deliver very similar returns, with slight advantages depending on the period due to international performance; the main takeaway is that the diversification exposure to equity asset classes tends to produce similar long-run outcomes, making the choice more about balance and risk tolerance than expected return.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sound Investing

What is Sound Investing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on strategic investing, the content emphasizes various aspects of portfolio management, including asset allocation, long-term strategies, and risk diversification. With a heavy emphasis on educating listeners about diverse asset classes, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and mutual funds, the discussions are designed to empower both novice and seasoned investors. The host's unique approach combines personal anecdotes and robust financial data, aiming to simplify complex investing concepts, making them accessible for all audiences. Noteworthy is the blend of practical investment strategies and the emphasis on adhering to disciplined investing principles throughout one's financial journey.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sound Investing?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sound Investing. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sound Investing and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sound Investing get?

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What are the audience demographics for Sound Investing?

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How many subscribers and views does Sound Investing have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sound Investing has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sound Investing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sound Investing:

1. Bogleheads On Investing Podcast
2. The Rob Berger Show
3. Talking Real Money - Investing Talk
4. The Long View
5. Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast

How many episodes of Sound Investing are there?

Sound Investing launched 7 years ago and published 541 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sound Investing?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sound Investing?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sound Investing from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Sound Investing?

Recent guests on Sound Investing include:

1. Jackie Cumminskoski
2. Paula Pant
3. Brian Barnes
4. Stan Haithcock
5. Christine Benz
6. Paul Heys
7. Andrew Giancola
8. Paul Merriman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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