There is no doubt that the invention of index funds by Jack Bogle and its firm Vanguard has enormously benefitted consumer investors around the world.

Such investment vehicles have lower costs, minimal governance and higher returns than the majority of actively managed funds. The success was so spectacular that it triggered a revolution within the financial world that is still felt today– a recent report by PWC predicts that assets under passive management will grow to $36.6 trillion by 2025.

And yet Jack Bogle himself, shortly before passing away, was worried that the relentless growth of index funds may eventually…

I have always been interested in finding ways for my money to generate a return, and I have found the idea both amazing and almost immoral.

I can see why Einstein described compound interest as the 8th wonder of the world, and, at the same time, I can completely understand why the Old Testament and other Holy Books condemn the practice of charging interest on a loan.

Investing is a dark art, and, like many others before me, I have been burned while practicing it (and, likely, I will be burned again in the future!).

One of such episodes was…

Investing is a difficult endeavour. Several variables go into determining the price of an asset and future unknown events may wipe our entire position out in just a few hours.

And yet investing is not just for the thrill-seekers degenerates of Wall Street Bets, but it has become an unavoidable task for everyone. If we don’t invest, we will simply see the buying power of our hard-earned savings being eroded over time, to the point of putting our entire retirement in serious jeopardy.

In a world where professional investment managers are known for charging high fees while underperforming compared to…

There is a potential storm looming for members of the FIRE community (Financially Independent Retired Early) that have already reached their financial goals and are now exclusively living off the proceeds of their investments.

While all literature and edu-tainment material around the world of personal finance are extremely helpful in teaching us how to save more or how to get out of debt, they appear to be less convincing in providing sound advice about wealth creation and financial planning. This can have dire consequences for its followers.

The vast majority of influencers in this domain are sincere and competent, but…

On 19th August 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed its amended antitrust claim against Facebook.

The agency had to renew its claim, originally filed in December 2020, because the court found that “the FTC has failed to plead enough facts to plausibly establish a necessary element of all of its Section 2 claims — namely, that Facebook has monopoly power in the market for Personal Social Networking (PSN) Services”.

By reading the amended FTC claim it seems safe to say that the new document continues to lack substance when it comes to defining the market for “Personal Social Networking…

If you think that you can, one day, be financially independent and retire early (FIRE), then there is one person that you should be very grateful to.

His name was John Clifton “Jack” Bogle and he was the founder of Vanguard, a firm that first pioneered low cost index funds in 1976 and which today has $7.2 trillion under management and 30 million investors around the world.

The investment philosophy that underpins Vanguard created more wealth for retail investors than any other investment firm, by keeping management fees at the very minimum and by structuring the company as client-owned, ensuring…

In a globally competitive market, attracting and retaining talent should be every company’s top priority.

Technological progress has replaced many jobs but has also empowered those who remain in the workforce. Today, losing a key employee could spell the end of an entire department.

Despite the differences across industries, top employees look for the same 5 things in an employer. And it is likely that salary only ranks fifth in this group.

Purpose

For many, work is a form of nuisance, perhaps even a punishment. Top employees do not see their job in the same way.

Through determination, or sheer luck…

Many, during these months of forced lockdown, took on the challenge of cleaning up the mess in their apartment. Or, if you live in California, to de-clutter because some of your belongings do not spark joy.

In some of these forays into our trash, you may have stumbled upon a camera purchased a few years before and that has hardly been used because — let’s face it — we all have a pretty good digital camera in our pocket now.

You resisted the temptation to use your Covid-19 time to re-start a photography course and you wonder if you can…