Retirement Income Strategies with Actuary Peter Neuwirth

December 15 2023

Ep11: Retirement Income Strategies — Michael Edesess, author of “The Big Investment Lie,” and “The 3 Simple Rules of Investing”

Money Mountaineering with Actuary Peter Neuwirth
Money Mountaineering with Actuary Peter Neuwirth
Ep11: Retirement Income Strategies — Michael Edesess, author of "The Big Investment Lie," and "The 3 Simple Rules of Investing"
Loading
/

November-December 2023: A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA, host, “Money Mountaineering: The Sharing Economy” — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? In the fall of 2023, we launched Season 2, where we focus on the power of the Sharing Economy.

Meet the month’s guest: Michael Edesess, accomplished mathematician and economist and author of The Big Investment Lie, and The 3 Simple Rules of Investing

Our topic: Understanding Crypto

Pete explains: Michael was part of the first wave of math and physics PhDs who became investment advisors in the early ’70s and understands better than almost anyone I know how easily confused and misled people can get when overly complex or inappropriate mathematics is used to ‘sell’ investment products. I grew up in Princeton with several other mathematicians (including Jim Simons) who became the original Quants. Like many innovations in the world of money, mathematical models have their place in investment management but have often been used unethically and inappropriately to keep clients in the dark and generate fees far in excess of the value provided. Michael’s book, The Big Investment Lie, does a great job of exposing those tricks and shines a light on just how hard and uncertain investing is. Nassim Taleb wrote Fooled by Randomness, which describes all the ways that our inability to understand how probability works in the real world leads us to make mistakes with our money. Michael’s book could easily have been called “Fooled by Complicated Math,” as math confusion is yet another thing that gets in the way of people thinking critically about their money.

Pete will ask Michael the following:

  • Tell us about your overall philosophy regarding how an individual who doesn’t have a math background should rationally (and critically) think about their money and how to manage it.
  • Share some examples of things that many believe about investment management but can be shown to be false when you understand the math and study the data.
  • Among the most complicated and least understood investments many people own is cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin. You have been studying it for years and taught the first university course on cryptocurrency in Hong Kong in 2017 at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, just as the crypto craze started. Tell us about the history of this trend.
  • You recently published a comprehensive review of Michael Lewis’ book on Sam Bankman-Fried in Advisor Perspectives. Tell us about that review and where you see the future of Bitcoin heading — as a hedge against a declining dollar and/or as part of one’s investment portfolio.

About Michael: An accomplished mathematician and economist with experience in the investment, energy, environment, and sustainable development fields, Michael is the coauthor of The 3 Simple Rules of Investing: Why Everything You’ve Heard about Investing Is Wrong – and What to Do Instead, as well as author of The Big Investment Lie, both published by Berrett-Koehler. He is currently an adjunct professor in the Division of Environment and Sustainability of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Michael writes regularly for Advisor Perspectives and other publications, has spoken at conferences on investment research, and has taught courses in international finance, mathematics, statistics, systems analysis, and energy and environmental economics at six universities. His articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal and the Journal of Portfolio Management, and he has been interviewed on a number of radio and TV stations.

He was a founding partner in 1995 and chief economist of the Lockwood Financial Group until its sale to The Bank of New York in September 2002. Previously an independent consultant to institutional investors, his clients included several of the largest investment banking and consulting firms. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in pure mathematics from Northwestern University. In addition to his work in investments, Dr. Edesess is active in environmental and resource economics and international development.

Michael chaired the board of International Development Enterprises USA, a nonprofit focusing on increasing the wealth of poor rural smallholders in developing countries, and he has chaired the board of Rocky Mountain Institute, a prominent energy think tank in Snowmass, Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain Advisory Board of Environmental Defense. He has written for numerous publications and spoken at conferences on energy, sustainable development, economics, and investment. His articles on these topics have appeared in Technology Review, Rising Tide, the Christian Science Monitor, Rocky Mountain News, and Pensions and Investments. Click here to learn more about Michael and his books!

About Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA: Pete is an actuary specializing in retirement plan issues. He is a 1979 graduate of Harvard College with a BA in Mathematics and Linguistics. After leaving Harvard, he went to work at Connecticut General Life Insurance, now CIGNA, and for the next 38 years, he worked continuously as an actuary holding significant leadership positions at a variety of firms around the country, including most of the major consulting firms (Aon, Hewitt Associates, Watson Wyatt, Towers Perrin and finally Towers Watson). He spent 5 years as a chief actuary at a regional benefits consulting firm (Godwins), 7 years running a small actuarial firm (Coates Kenney), and one year in a large accounting firm (Price Waterhouse). At the end of 2016, he retired from Towers Watson to focus on writing and researching financial wellness issues.

Pete continues researching various financial wellness issues, including using home equity to generate retirement income. In 2018 he taught a graduate seminar on this subject for the actuarial science department at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is currently associated with the Academy for Home Equity in Financial Planning at the University of Illinois.

In addition to his books “Money Mountaineering” and “What’s Your Future Worth?”, his research has been published in professional journals, including the Journal of Deferred Compensation, Contingencies, and Journal of Financial Planning. His articles have also been published in numerous online actuarial web publications. He is a frequent speaker at professional conferences such as the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Enrolled Actuaries, and Western Pension and Benefits Conference. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Conference of Consulting Actuaries.

Click here to learn more about actuary and author Peter Neuwirth: www.PeterNeuwirth.com • Listen to our podcasts on PeterNeuwirthRadio.com • Watch all of our episodes: www.PeterNeuwirth.tv

Since graduating from Harvard with a degree in mathematics and linguistics in 1979, Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA has held actuary leadership positions at consulting firms including Aon, Hewitt Associates, Watson Wyatt Towers, Perrin, and Towers Watson. He also ran the actuarial firm Coates Kenney and spent a year at Price Waterhouse.

Currently a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Pete regularly consults with the largest corporations in the world about their retirement plans with a focus on time risk and money.

“These fundamental concepts shape our world,” explains Pete, a sought-after speaker for professional conferences and frequently quoted in national mainstream and trade publications.

After being asked too many times: “What is an actuary, exactly?” Pete has written two books in response and also explains: How does an actuary think, and why does it matter?

His first book, What’s Your Future Worth, is an accessible step-by-step guide to using the powerful concept of Present Value. Pete explains, “My goal is to help readers determine the value today of something that might happen in the future and evaluate outcomes that might arise from choosing one path instead of another.”

In his newest book, Money Mountaineering, Pete shares his views on the challenges we face to survive and thrive in a complex, uncertain, noisy and sometimes irrational wilderness. “I hope to help readers better understand the financial world they must live in and what they must do to make their way through it,” Pete shares.

Pete is also a senior consulting actuary for CapAcuity, a member of the University of Illinois Academy for Home Equity in Financial Planning, and the outside director at Rael & Letson. He is a longtime resident of Northern CA. Learn more at www.peterneuwirth.com.

Previous Episodes
Friday, December 15th, 2023

Ep11: Retirement Income Strategies — Michael Edesess, author of “The Big Investment Lie,” and “The 3 Simple Rules of Investing”

November-December 2023: A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA, host, “Money Mountaineering: The Sharing Economy” — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? In the fall of 2023, we launched Season 2, where we focus on the power of the Sharing Economy. Meet the month’s guest: Michael Edesess, accomplished mathematician and economist andClick here to listen to the podcast!

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

Ep10: Retirement Income Strategies — Meet Russ Proctor, AVP and Managing Director of Pensions at Pacific Life Insurance Company

July 2023: A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guest: Russ Proctor, AVP and Managing Director of Pensions at Pacific Life Insurance Company Today’s topic: Shaping the Future of Retirement Income Solutions Pete and Russ discuss:  How have retirement income sources changed forClick here to listen to the podcast!

Thursday, June 1st, 2023

Ep9: Retirement Income Strategies — Meet actuary Ken Steiner, author of the website, “How Much Can I Afford to Spend in Retirement?”

June 2023: A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guest: Actuary Ken Steiner Today’s topic: How Much Can I Afford to Spend in Retirement? Pete and Ken discuss: What are the basic actuarial and financial economics principles and processes to help retired andClick here to listen to the podcast!

Monday, May 1st, 2023

Ep8: Retirement Income Strategies — Meet critical-thinking experts Leland Faust and Richard Conn Jr., founders, Agents for Critical Thinking

May 2023: A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guests: Leland Faust and Richard Conn, Jr., co-founders of Agents for Critical-Thinking Today’s topic: How to Become an Agent for Critical Thinking Pete asks:  What is “critical thinking”? How does it differ from “wishfulClick here to listen to the podcast!

Saturday, April 1st, 2023

Ep7: Retirement Income Strategies — Meet bestselling author Annie Duke taking about her new book, “Quit”

April 2023: A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guest: Bestselling Author Annie Duke Today’s topic: When to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em Pete says: QUIT, by Annie Duke, is an extraordinary book by an extraordinarily practical author who thinks like anClick here to listen to the podcast!

Tuesday, February 28th, 2023

Ep6: Retirement Income Strategies — Learn how financial planners manage your money with Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro

A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guest: Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro Today’s topic: The journey to becoming a financial planner — Diary of a CFP® Pro Petes asks Marguerita: Why did you become interested in retirement income planning? Tell us about your newClick here to listen to the podcast!

Tuesday, January 31st, 2023

Ep5: Retirement Income Strategies — Meet Steve Vernon, F.S.A., president of Rest-of-Life Communications

A Note from Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guest: Steve Vernon, FSA, president of Rest-of-Life Communications Pete asks: Exactly what is longevity risk, and how can people prepare themselves for a long retirement? In managing their assets, how can retirees protect themselves against the possibility of diminished capacity dueClick here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, January 1st, 2023

Ep4: Retirement Income Strategies — Meet David Scharf, president-elect, Conference of Consulting Actuaries (CCA)

A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guest: David Scharf, president-elect, Conference of Consulting Actuaries (CCA) Today’s topic: The important role of a practicing actuary Petes asks David: What is the Conference of Consulting Actuaries? What role does it play as an organization whose members are consultingClick here to listen to the podcast!

Thursday, December 1st, 2022

Ep3: Retirement Income Strategies — Meet Mary Jo Lafaye, a licensed Home Equity Retirement Income (HECM) specialist with Mutual of Omaha Mortgage

A Note from Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, financial experts help us answer the question: What’s your future worth? Meet our guest: Mary Jo Lafaye, a licensed Home Equity Retirement Income (HECM) Specialist with Mutual of Omaha Mortgage Today’s Topic: The practicalities of getting a reverse mortgage, the real-life considerations that individuals and couples need to make when deciding to get one, the challengesClick here to listen to the podcast!

Tuesday, November 1st, 2022

Ep3: Retirement Income Strategies — Join us for this month’s episode of Money Mountaineering with Actuary Peter Neuwirth — Meet our guest Barry H. Sacks, PhD, JD, Reverse Mortgage/Retirement Portfolio Longevity Expert

November 2022: A Note from Actuary Peter Neuwirth — I invite you to tune in for this month’s episode of my podcast and video show, Money Mountaineering, where for 30 minutes, we learn from experts how to plan for your best financial future. Today’s Topic: From reverse mortgages to leaving a legacy, learn how to generate lifetime income Meet today’s guest: Barry H. Sacks Ph.D. earned his Ph.D. in semiconductor physics from M.I.T., then taught at U.C. Berkeley. He earned a J.D. fromClick here to listen to the podcast!

Saturday, October 1st, 2022

Ep1: Retirement Income Strategies — Let’s Go Money Mountaineering with Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth — Welcome to Pete’s Podcast!

October 2022: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, producer, Inkandescent Radio — Hello and welcome to our first episode of a new show on the Inkandescent Radio network — Money Mountaineering with actuary Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA — entitled What’s Your Future Worth? I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, producer of the podcast network InkandescentRadio.com, and I am thrilled to be here today with Pete! About Pete: After graduating from Harvard College in 1979 with a degree in Mathematics and Linguistics, Pete wentClick here to listen to the podcast!

Friday, January 21st, 2022

Episode 49: Margaritas with Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — Meet Peter Neuwirth, author of Money Mountaineering and What’s Your Future Worth

A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week’s episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at 5 pm EST, women learn from industry experts how to flex their financial muscles live on Facebook. Meet our guest: Peter Neuwirth, author, Money Mountaineering: Using the Principles of Holistic Financial Wellness to Thrive in a Complex World and What’s Your Future Worth: Using Present Value to Make Better DecisionsClick here to listen to the podcast!