Invested Poorly: Sad Tales of FInancial Fails is a seasonal podcast to help you invest smarter and reach financial independence by avoiding bad investment decisions. In the Trailer episode, Host Jeff Harrell offers a preview of what to expect in the show.

Have you ever thought of investing in the stock market as though it were a great action movie? Host Jeff Harrell unveils their similarities (and a key difference!) and sets the stage for this seasonal podcast about how to simplify your investment strategy to help you reach financial independence. Jeff, with 20+ of experience as a former portfolio manager and financial advisor, briefly highlights.....

Will the next presidential election be the “most important election ever”? You might think so when following popular media outlets where every four years we have the “most important election ever!” Recognizing how this may be true in some ways—since elections, especially presidential elections, are a big deal—host Jeff Harrell reveals that...

A day has hardly gone by without someone in the media predicting doom and gloom for the stock market. Buying in to this feeling has the potential not only to be devastating to your financial wellbeing, but also to your sanity. Jeff Harrell tells a true tale about a “doomsday prepper” who...

Saving is where the path to financial independence (FI) begins, but if “saving” is all you ever do with your money, then your path might be longer than necessary. Implementing the next step—investing—accelerates your journey. Failure to understand from the outset about the inevitable...

We’ve all heard the term, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” When it comes to the stock market, I’d simply change “beauty” to “risk” in this expression. How you define risk plays a huge role in your perception of stock market investing. A look at one set of data points may change all of that. Jeff Harrell breaks down the fascinating results of a...

Perception is often not reality. Everyday investors would do well to keep this in mind while reviewing their investment accounts. Unfortunately, many investors’ lack of understanding about performance has cost them dearly over the years. Gaining a better understanding of this will better equip you to compare your results to relevant benchmarks, thereby...

Even though everyone knows past performance is no guarantee of future results, the allure of buying what you wished you’d owned tempts us all. This episode will help drive this point home further with examples of why heeding this advice is so important to successful investing. Jeff Harrell also shares what three types of investment returns most...

Timing the stock market is something we’re all told not to do, yet all of us are guilty of it at some point. This episode may have the “smoking gun” illustration to help you avoid this poor decision going forward. Jeff Harrell explains two hypothetical (and impossible) scenarios of the luckiest and unluckiest investors in history...

Are you sure you understand the “Cost Basis” and “Gain/Loss” columns on your investment statements? Cost basis and gain/loss calculations are two commonly misunderstood investment terms. Learn what these calculations actually represent. Jeff Harrell uses several examples to illustrate how cost basis can be misleading and breaks down this technical concept to help you get a...

Perception is often extremely different than reality. Financial news channels may be the posterchild for this. A deep understanding of global economics, business management, politics, financial accounting, etc., still isn’t enough to make you able to truly predict the future. Jeff Harrell presents the evidence to support this, with shocking data...

Nothing is more important than trust when it comes to financial advice. Unfortunately, the complicated nature of investing results in everyday investors having a difficult time identifying misleading tactics. Jeff Harrell shares two true stories—that infuriate him to this day—about deceptive information he discovered on real...

Investing headlines are designed to get you to click. The more extreme the claim, the more likely we are to do what we all know we shouldn’t. What could happen to you when you push that button? Jeff Harrell tells a story about what one investor experienced after “taking the bait” and clicking on a doomsday investing headline. A second story...

Every investor at some point will experience FOMO (fear of missing out). Friends, family, and “experts” influence our investment decisions due to this feeling of FOMO which is rooted in our feelings of fear or greed. Arm yourself with stories of failure and actual data points to help keep you from succumbing to this common investor trap. Jeff Harrell recalls one of his favorite investor FOMO...

Season 1 is now over, and Jeff Harrell reflects on what he hopes you’ve gained from the series. He highlights each of the investment lessons covered in the first season’s 12 episodes. Jeff also previews what is ahead with three...

Invested Poorly: Sad Tales of FInancial Fails returns for a second season to help you invest smarter and reach financial independence by avoiding bad investment decisions. In this short episode, host Jeff Harrell offers a preview of what to expect in Season 2.

Obviously, more experienced investors who know a lot about investing and the financial markets must do better than those with limited investing knowledge; right? The empirical evidence is very compelling when it comes to answering this question with a loud and resounding, NO. Jeff Harell provides research to support why simpler...

Having a well-diversified portfolio is one of the main goals of most investment strategies. Although few would argue with this, the reality is that many investors eventually lose sight of why diversification was implemented in the first place. This episode illustrates, with vivid examples, how investors might say they want something, but...

Quarterly earnings reports announcements are one of the most highly anticipated events in the investing world, so much so that financial news channels even coined the term “earnings season” for when the bulk of companies release their reports. Although it would seem consequential for investors to follow “earnings season” closely for...

Having a basic understanding of your finances and your overall investment strategy is the first step on the path to FI. The problem is, as time goes on, many investors feel obligated to make adjustments to, or “tinker” with, their plan—often unnecessarily. The stories Jeff Harrell recounts in this episode may be some of the most relatable because...

Investing in the stock market is one of the best tools available to help you reach financial independence. However, there is one variable you must factor in that, if neglected, could result in a longer path to get there: taxes. Jeff Harrell shares his experience which suggests that even the professionals often...

This episode might be one of the most controversial because it will challenge the view that dividends and income are meaningful when it comes to investing. Many investors find these to be a vital component of their investment strategy, but Jeff Harrell provides his take on why the yield of an investment is completely...

This episode will blow your mind when you find out how neglecting something that seems so small and insignificant can have a catastrophic impact on your timeline to reach FI. Jeff Harrell discusses how investors who make sure they pick up every “nickel, dime, and quarter” possible in their investment portfolio will reap the benefits many...

Maintaining total control of your finances starts with something that seems simple and yet tends to be a major hurdle for many of us to overcome. Discover the importance of organizing your investment accounts and how merely knowing where all your money is located can lead to better investment results in the long term. Jeff Harrell shares more stories from the trenches of...

This episode highlights the shortcomings of one of the most popular benefits touted by the financial services industry: financial planning software. Jeff Harrell shares his experience with how advisors use this tool in practice, as well as how DIY investors can gain access to...

Speaking especially to people who are sensible with their finances and live within their means, Jeff Harrell discusses one of the greatest fears all investors face, longevity. While this fear is real for many, experience suggests these fears are likely irrational for those who act in...

Season 2 is now in the books! Host Jeff Harrell summarizes the investing lessons learned in the second season, highlighting the theme of each of the 10 episodes—ultimately to help you sidestep those common investing pitfalls that have trapped other investors. Jeff also shares about...