Dan Bortolotti: The Canadian Couch Potato

Dan Bortolotti: The Canadian Couch Potato | Rational Reminder 308

Рет қаралды 5,985

Күн бұрын

Meet with PWL Capital: calendly.com/d/cpws-jyp-znp
When it comes to DIY investing, there’s always a temptation to make things more complicated than they need to be. But, in reality, embracing simplicity is one of the best ways to ensure good investment outcomes. Today’s episode features an exceptional conversation with our long-time friend and colleague, Dan Bortolotti, who has worked alongside us as an Portfolio Manager at PWL Capital for over ten years. Some of our Canadian listeners might recognize Dan as the man behind the Canadian Couch Potato blog (one of the most popular resources for Canadian investors) and the voice behind the Canadian Couch Potato podcast. Dan is a consummate communicator, both on paper and in person; beyond his extensive blogging, he has also written a number of books, both fiction and non-fiction, the most recent of which includes Reboot Your Portfolio: 9 Steps to Successful Investing with ETFs. Dan has played a pivotal role in making PWL Capital what it is today, and in this episode, we learn about his surprising journey to becoming an advisor, before hearing his wide-ranging insights on DIY investing. Dan breaks down key components for investors, from how to approach your asset allocation and picking index funds to navigating fees, taxes, and performance. We also discuss how the investing landscape has changed since Dan started writing and essential lessons he has learned over the years. To hear all about investing from the Canadian Couch Potato himself, be sure to tune in for this expansive conversation!
Timestamps:
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:48 Dan tells the origin story of the Canadian Couch Potato blog
0:09:19 How the availability of index funds in Canada has changed since Dan started his blog
0:13:36 How the Couch Potato model portfolios have changed over time
0:18:32 The biggest obstacle to successful investing for most people
0:21:52 How Dan suggests people approach the stock/bond asset allocation decision
0:27:15 What goes into selecting an index fund once someone has decided on an asset allocation
0:35:12 How important it is to be clear on financial goals before investing
0:37:23 The importance of saving relative to things like fees and performance
0:44:49 Whether the importance of financial planning, as opposed to just investing, is appreciated by the DIY investing community
0:53:51 How people should make the DIY vs. advisor decision
0:58:48 What people should look for in a financial advisor
1:02:15 How Dan got connected with PWL
1:11:31 Dan defines success in his life
Links From Today’s Episode:
Rational Reminder on iTunes - itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/t....
Rational Reminder Website - rationalreminder.ca/
Rational Reminder on Instagram - / rationalreminder
Rational Reminder on X - / rationalremind
Rational Reminder on KZfaq - / channel
Rational Reminder Email - info@rationalreminder.ca
Benjamin Felix - www.pwlcapital.com/author/ben...
Benjamin on X - / benjaminwfelix
Benjamin on LinkedIn - / benjaminwfelix
Cameron Passmore - www.pwlcapital.com/profile/ca...
Cameron on X - / cameronpassmore
Cameron on LinkedIn - / cameronpassmore
Dan Bortolotti - www.pwlcapital.com/profile/da...
Dan Bortolotti on LinkedIn - / dan-bortolotti-8a482310
Canadian Couch Potato Blog - canadiancouchpotato.com/
Canadian Couch Potato Podcast - canadiancouchpotato.com/podcast/
Larry Swedroe on LinkedIn - / larry-swedroe-18778267
Larry Swedroe books on Amazon - www.amazon.com/Larry-E-Swedro...
Books From Today’s Episode:
Reboot Your Portfolio: 9 Steps to Successful Investing with ETFs - www.amazon.ca/Reboot-Your-Por...
Wild Blue - www.amazon.com/Wild-Blue-Natu...

Пікірлер: 20

@Rational_Investor 22 күн бұрын

Cameron, Ben, Dan, and Justin all belong on the "Mount Rushmore" of (Canadian) rational financial education! Thank you very much for all of the education that all of you have provided!

@ReesesPieces81 22 күн бұрын

What a great interview. Finding Dan Bortoletti's podcast all those years ago was the best thing that ever happened to me as a DIY investor. It set me on the right path and because of it I was able to retire early on my couch potato portfolio.

@maxpayne7419 22 күн бұрын

I am forever grateful to Dan for his teachings over the years - all the way back to his time at MoneySense magazine. Using his insights and teachings I was able to retire comfortably at 55. He is right up there with the Wealthy Barber 👍

@alaudet 22 күн бұрын

I owe Dan a debt of gratitude. His couch potato portfolio is the first approach that made any sense to me and I have been doing it ever since.

@investingtoast 22 күн бұрын

I am new to investing and the Rational Reminder, Justin’s index videos and the Canadian Couch Potato have had most profound impact on changing my worldview.

@Willifog72 21 күн бұрын

Thank you for bringing Dan to the podcast. He is my financial hero. He started my financial education and defined my investing strategy since I came across a Money Sense magazine in a fertility clinic's waiting room. I became a subscriber. I started reading Dan's blog when he started it, listened to his podcast and bought "Reboot your portfolio...", I set up re-balancing excel sheets (a nightmare). I was one of those weird people who chose to spend a sunny Saturday morning listening to him (twice) about personal finance. Since I left Canada a few years ago, I have spread the index and passive investing message to anybody who would listen to me. I have helped replicating CCP-like portfolios with my non-English speaking family and friends in Europe. Thanks to him and his works more than a few families benefit from well-diversified low-cost portfolio passive/index investing. Well beyond Canada. Thank you thank you thank you.

@jokkon13 22 күн бұрын

I had no idea Canadian couch potato is a PWL advisor!!! I entered the workforce in 2012 and the modeled portfolios on Dans blog was my guiding star and still is.

@briansmith5239 22 күн бұрын

Dan is a legend in the index investing world, great episode.

@gerryveenstra9646 21 күн бұрын

I've been waiting for this episode since the Rational Reminder podcast began, being a huge Canadian Couch Potato fan whose life was forever changed by reading Dan's website. A decade later, I'm still 99% in Dan's camp with a small tilt to small-cap value inspired by Cameron and Ben (and Paul Merriman). But, Dan, you're totally the superstar in my financial journey - I cannot thank you enough for the wisdom you provided on your Canadian Couch Potato website.

@bobworopay3667 21 күн бұрын

I agree that Dan is a legend. Took the words out of my mouth

@martymendes1 22 күн бұрын

When I started on the road to learning about personal finance, I emailed Mr. Bortolotti with some very basic questions. I didn't even expect a reply, but he took the time to answer me and has done so many times thereafter. That says it all.

@adijhamb528 21 күн бұрын

same. Dan changed my life with his blog and answering questions in 2016/2017

@Willifog72 21 күн бұрын

Same here. A legend in financial education

@adijhamb528 20 күн бұрын

Dan is a legend and someone that changed a ton of people's lives. Reading his content time and time again in my 20's was and is still a highlight for me. Justin Bender is equally great who has taken the time to reply to my emails as recently as 6-12 months ago (when he didn't have to). Forever indebted! If only I could say my thanks to them in-person at some point, that would truly be an honour.

@EberlyWoods 7 күн бұрын

Such an interesting guy! Enjoyed every minute of the podcast

@stevend5782 21 күн бұрын

My personal finance journey started with Dan - I am greatly indebted to him. Great interview as always!

@alirizvi7 20 күн бұрын

Legend has it that both these dudes are still reiterating how great a communicator Dan is😂

@stylezNsmilez 16 күн бұрын

While savings rate is important..one of the biggest things that influence the savings rate will be income and/or reducing expenses. Working on achieving more skills and climbing the income ladder.

@fredngaumond 20 күн бұрын

Amazing discussion.

@missygilly9917 23 сағат бұрын

Went thru 2008/2009 crash & stayed invested but it was really hard to do! It took years & years to bring my account back to normal. So 2022 wasn’t too bad in comparison. Now that I’m retired, I’m sure it’ll be harder during a crash, thinking about recovery timeframes. Thankfully, I still don’t need my investments to live on, so I’m still willing to stay invested in the market.