RWH060: What Buffett, Munger & Bill Miller Taught Me w/ Robert Hagstrom
In this episode, William Green chats with Robert Hagstrom, Chief Investment Officer & Senior Portfolio Manager at Equity Compass. Robert is the author of a classic book, “The Warren Buffett Way,” which lays out the principles that made Buffett the greatest investor of all. Here, Robert shares life-changing lessons he learned from Buffett & two other icons: Charlie Munger & Bill Miller. He also explains why a focused, low-turnover portfolio is a brilliant but difficult strategy.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00 - Intro
04:39 - How Robert Hagstrom became a multidisciplinary thinker.
08:09 - How to think better & invest better by tuning out the noise.
26:01 - What mistake Warren Buffett made most frequently.
35:30 - Why AI falls short when it comes to investment decisions.
35:30 - Why Nvidia is Robert’s biggest holding.
01:04:49 - How Miller endured & recovered from a devastating mistake.
01:14:43 - What insights led Bill Miller to make billions in Amazon & Bitcoin.
01:32:04 - Why it’s smart but really hard to own a concentrated portfolio.
01:34:29 - Why Robert views Modern Portfolio Theory with disdain.
01:42:23 - What advice Robert received from investing giant Bill Ruane.
01:48:06 - Why you should be deeply wary of investing in private equity.
02:04:04 - What life lesson Robert has learned from Buffett.
Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
Join Clay and a select group of passionate value investors for a retreat in Big Sky, Montana. Learn more here.
Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members.
Robert Hagstrom’s investment firm, Equity Compass Investment Management.
Robert Hagstrom's books: The Warren Buffett Way, The Warren Buffett Portfolio, Investing: The Last Liberal Art.
Mortimer Adler's How to Read a Book.
Louis Menand's The Metaphysical Club.
William Green’s podcast interview with Bill Miller.
William Green’s podcast interview with Bill Nygren.
William Green’s book, “Richer, Wiser, Happier” – read the reviews of this book.
Follow William Green on X.
Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here.
Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our Premium Feed.
NEW TO THE SHOW?
Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, The Intrinsic Value Newsletter.
Check out our We Study Billionaires Starter Packs.
Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok.
Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here.
Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool.
Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services.
Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts.
SPONSORSSupport our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:
SimpleMining
Hardblock
AnchorWatch
Human Rights Foundation
Cape
Unchained
Vanta
Shopify
Onramp
Abundant Mines
HELP US OUT!
Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a rating and review on Spotify! It takes less than 30 seconds, and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it!
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
--------
2:08:33
--------
2:08:33
TIP745: Best Quality Stock Idea Q3 2025 w/ Clay Finck
On today’s episode, Clay Finck breaks down his best quality stock idea for Q3 2025: Amazon.
Clay explores how Amazon has evolved from a low-margin online retailer into a diversified, high-margin tech platform. He also makes the case as to why Big Tech may be systemically undervalued, providing a unique opportunity for investors willing to ride out the higher levels of stock price volatility.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00 - Intro
03:02 - Why Big Tech, despite its size, may be systemically undervalued.
15:16 - How Amazon evolved from a low-margin online retailer into a high-margin tech platform.
25:11 - The three megatrends Amazon is positioned to benefit from.
29:17 - A breakdown of Amazon’s four main business segments: Retail, AWS, Advertising, and Prime.
50:02 - Amazon’s key competitive advantages and culture of reinvention.
55:07 - How we view Amazon’s valuation today.
And so much more!
Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
Join Clay and a select group of passionate value investors for a retreat in Big Sky, Montana. Learn more here.
Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members.
MBI Deep Dives: Amazon.
The Intrinsic Value Podcast episode on Amazon.
Daniel’s model for Amazon.
The Systemic Undervaluation of Big Tech.
Mentioned Episode TIP727: 7 Powers by Hamilton Helmer.
Related Episode TIP722: Best Quality Idea Q2 2025.
Related Episode TIP698: Best Quality Idea Q1 2025.
Related Episode TIP675: Best Quality Idea Q4 2024.
Related Episode TIP652: Best Quality Idea Q3 2024.
Follow Clay on X and LinkedIn.
Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here.
Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our Premium Feed.
NEW TO THE SHOW?
Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, The Intrinsic Value Newsletter.
Check out our We Study Billionaires Starter Packs.
Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok.
Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here.
Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool.
Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services.
Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts.
SPONSORS
Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:
SimpleMining
Hardblock
AnchorWatch
Human Rights Foundation
Cape
Unchained
Vanta
Shopify
Onramp
Abundant Mines
HELP US OUT!
Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a rating and review on Spotify! It takes less than 30 seconds, and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it!
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
--------
1:01:02
--------
1:01:02
BTC247: Bitcoin's evolution with Traditional Finance w/ Jon Melton (Bitcoin Podcast)
Preston sits down with Jon Melton to explore his shift from Morgan Stanley to Bitcoin, insights on Silvergate Bank’s crypto strategy, and the future of Bitcoin-backed finance.
They delve into lending models, the impact of regulation, and how Jon sees banks engaging with digital assets going forward.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00 - Intro
04:31 - How Jon transitioned from Morgan Stanley to the Bitcoin world.
06:32 - The impact of Wences Casares on Jon’s Bitcoin conviction.
08:43 - What made Zappo a pioneer in Bitcoin custody.
09:42 - Silvergate Bank’s unique approach to cryptocurrency banking.
14:50 - Reasons behind Silvergate’s decision to wind down operations.
20:09 - The importance of over-collateralization in Bitcoin lending.
23:10 - Why Unchained avoids rehypothecation in its lending model.
27:25 - How Bitcoin loans might integrate with real estate in the future.
33:38 - The Federal Reserve vs. Treasury Department on stablecoin policy.
37:49 - Why Jon remains bullish on Bitcoin and its role in future finance.
Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
Website: Unchained Capital.
Related Article: Revisiting Unchained’s Core Lending Principles by Jon Melton.
Related article: Core Lending Principles.
Related article: The Plot to Destroy Silvergate by Nic Carter.
Related Video: Banking, Crypto, and an Upcoming Regulatory Overhaul with Caitlin Long and John Maxfield.
Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here.
Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our Premium Feed.
NEW TO THE SHOW?
Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members.
Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok.
Check out our Bitcoin Fundamentals Starter Packs.
Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here.
Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool.
Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services.
Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, The Intrinsic Value Newsletter.
Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts.
SPONSORS
Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:
SimpleMining
Hardblock
AnchorWatch
Human Rights Foundation
Cape
Unchained
Vanta
Shopify
Onramp
Abundant Mines
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
--------
41:54
--------
41:54
TIP744: Hidden Monopolies w/ Kyle Grieve
On today’s episode, Kyle Grieve discusses a thought-provoking framework that redefines competitive advantage through the lens of customer loyalty. Kyle breaks down the five types of customer loyalty moats, introduces the Moat Strength Index (MSI), and explains how investors can use this approach to measure, monitor, and deepen their conviction in high-quality businesses.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00 - Intro
03:45 – Why scale effects are ineffective against disruption via innovation
06:22 – Why having high customer loyalty is so powerful as an advantage vs competitors
10:01 – The five customer loyalty moats you must know
17:15 – Why ecosystem moats are so hard to build, but generate significant customer loyalty
18:53 – How platform moats generate powerful customer loyalty between multiple parties
20:08 – How can we objectively measure a company's moat using customer loyalty advantages
23:09 – The nine failures in using retention-like KPI’s
25:31 – The three barriers that create customer loyalty
26:57 – Why the moat score index is such a handy tool for measuring moat
47:17 – How customer loyalty moats can be disrupted
And so much more!
Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
Join Clay and a select group of passionate value investors for a retreat in Big Sky, Montana. Learn more here.
Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members.
Buy a copy of Hidden Monopolies here.
Listen to TIP694 The Scuttlebutt Edge here.
Follow Kyle on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here.
Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our Premium Feed.
NEW TO THE SHOW?
Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, The Intrinsic Value Newsletter.
Check out our We Study Billionaires Starter Packs.
Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok.
Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here.
Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool.
Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services.
Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts.
SPONSORS
Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:
SimpleMining
Hardblock
AnchorWatch
Human Rights Foundation
Cape
Unchained
Vanta
Shopify
Onramp
Abundant Mines
HELP US OUT!
Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a rating and review on Spotify! It takes less than 30 seconds, and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it!
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
--------
1:03:00
--------
1:03:00
TIP743: Should Value Investors Own Index Funds?
In this episode, Clay shares John Bogle’s timeless philosophy of passively investing in low-cost index funds. Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, helped spark a global movement that has made investing more accessible and cost-effective. Today, Vanguard manages over $10 trillion in assets, and Bogle’s simple approach has been adopted by millions worldwide, collectively saving investors trillions of dollars in fees over the years.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00 - Intro
03:34 - How John Bogle’s index fund philosophy revolutionized investing.
05:46 - Why most active mutual fund managers underperform the S&P 500 over time.
25:11 - How to estimate realistic future returns for the S&P 500.
31:50 - How fees and taxes quietly erode investment returns.
50:23 - Why index funds are easier to hold onto during market crashes.
52:11 - Why Clay chose not to invest in index funds at this point in his investment journey.
Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
Join Clay and a select group of passionate value investors for a retreat in Big Sky, Montana. Learn more here.
Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members.
John Bogle’s book, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing.
Nick Magguilli’s book, Just Keep Buying.
Related Episode: MI167: The Bogle Effect w/ Eric Balchunas.
Related Episode: TIP709: The Art of Long-Term Investing w/ Francois Rochon.
Related Episode: TIP734: My Investment Philosophy w/ Clay Finck.
Follow Clay on X and LinkedIn.
Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here.
Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our Premium Feed.
NEW TO THE SHOW?
Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, The Intrinsic Value Newsletter.
Check out our We Study Billionaires Starter Packs.
Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok.
Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here.
Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool.
Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services.
Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts.
SPONSORS
Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:
SimpleMining
Hardblock
AnchorWatch
Human Rights Foundation
Cape
Unchained
Vanta
Shopify
Onramp
Abundant Mines
HELP US OUT!
Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a rating and review on Spotify! It takes less than 30 seconds, and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it!
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
À propos de We Study Billionaires - The Investor’s Podcast Network
We interview and study famous financial billionaires, including Warren Buffett, Ray Dalio, and Howard Marks, and teach you what we learn and how you can apply their investment strategies in the stock market.
We Study Billionaires is the largest stock investing podcast show in the world with 180,000,000+ downloads and is hosted by Stig Brodersen, Preston Pysh, William Green, Clay Finck, and Kyle Grieve.
This podcast also includes the Richer Wiser Happier series hosted by best-selling author William Green. William regularly interviews legendary investors such as Mohnish Pabrai and Guy Spier, exploring what they can teach us about how to succeed in markets and life.
And finally, our Bitcoin Fundamentals series is hosted by Preston Pysh, where he interviews prominent figures in the Bitcoin and macroeconomic space. To learn more about TIP, you can visit theinvestorspodcast.com or subscribe to our free daily newsletter here.
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
France