Episodes

  • Mastering Retirement: 5 Critical Decisions for Financial Success
    Apr 21 2026

    This episode covers the five key decisions that influence your retirement success, focusing on practical strategies like the 4% rule, social security timing, Roth conversions, account sequencing, and fee management. Hosted by Erik and Chad, it offers a comprehensive framework for retirement planning, emphasizing actionable insights and nuanced considerations.


    https://retire.arcvest.comhttps://arcvest.com


    ArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.


    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning

    03:13 Understanding the 4% Rule

    08:29 Claiming Social Security: Timing Matters

    12:20 Roth Conversions: When and Why?

    15:33 Navigating Account Sequencing

    20:34 The Importance of Managing Fees

    24:17 Recap and Final ThoughtsOn this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.You’ll find clear explanations on topics like market volatility, index investing, retirement planning, fees, and the psychological traps that quietly derail portfolios. Our goal is to help you think better about money so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.ArcVest is a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisory firm. Everything here is educational and designed to help you become a more informed investor—not to sell hot takes or chase headlines.If you believe investing should be boring, disciplined, and aligned with real life goals, you’re in the right place.Learn more at arcvest.com

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    26 mins
  • Why There's No Free Lunch in Investing: Insights from Experts
    Apr 13 2026

    In this episode, Erik Cooper and Chad Fargason explore the realities behind high-yield investments, private credit, and the myth of free lunches in investing. They dissect various asset classes, the risks involved, and how to build a disciplined, diversified portfolio.


    https://retire.arcvest.comhttps://arcvest.com
    ArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.


    Chapters:

    00:00 Market turmoil in private credit: Wall Street's risky bets

    01:19 The no free lunch principle in investing explained

    02:11 How private credit funds have exploded in popularity

    02:57 The pitch: helping small businesses access credit

    04:12 The SaaSpocalypse: AI's impact on software valuations

    05:17 Market re-pricing and the uncertainty of AI's influence

    06:46 The decline in software business valuations

    08:10 Gates and liquidity issues in private credit funds

    10:35 The yield trap: why yield isn't always better

    14:09 Analyzing BDCs: high dividends but poor returns

    16:16 The reality of REITs: volatility and returns

    19:13 MLPs and energy infrastructure risks

    21:29 Asset allocation: owning broad market vs. sector bets

    22:57 Tax efficiency and the pitfalls of yield products

    25:41 The boring but effective strategy for building wealth



    On this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.You’ll find clear explanations on topics like market volatility, index investing, retirement planning, fees, and the psychological traps that quietly derail portfolios. Our goal is to help you think better about money so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.ArcVest is a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisory firm. Everything here is educational and designed to help you become a more informed investor—not to sell hot takes or chase headlines.If you believe investing should be boring, disciplined, and aligned with real life goals, you’re in the right place.Learn more at arcvest.com

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    26 mins
  • AI's Rapid Rise: What OpenAI's Paper Means for the Future
    Apr 7 2026

    This episode explores the rapid advancements in AI, the implications of OpenAI's recent paper, and the potential economic and societal shifts. We discuss AI's impact on jobs, organizational structures, and the future of capitalism, offering insights for investors and entrepreneurs.


    https://retire.arcvest.comhttps://arcvest.comArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.

    Chapters:

    00:00 The AI Landscape: A New Era Begins

    02:49 OpenAI's 13-Page Paper: A Call for Regulation

    05:54 Economic Proposals: A Shift Towards Socialism?

    08:35 The Future of Work: Adapting to AI Disruption

    11:30 Skepticism and Optimism: Navigating AI's Potential

    17:12 Investing in an AI-Driven Future

    On this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.You’ll find clear explanations on topics like market volatility, index investing, retirement planning, fees, and the psychological traps that quietly derail portfolios. Our goal is to help you think better about money so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.ArcVest is a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisory firm. Everything here is educational and designed to help you become a more informed investor—not to sell hot takes or chase headlines.If you believe investing should be boring, disciplined, and aligned with real life goals, you’re in the right place.Learn more at arcvest.com

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    29 mins
  • Passive vs Active Investing: Strategies for 2026
    Mar 31 2026

    In this episode, Erik Cooper and Chad Fargason discuss passive versus active investing, bond portfolio strategies, interest rate risks, and diversification techniques. They share insights on portfolio construction, market trends, and the importance of evidence-based decisions for wealth growth.


    Chapters:

    00:00 The Misconception of Passive Investing

    02:03 Active Decisions in Passive Portfolios

    04:29 Risk Tolerance and Asset Allocation

    08:27 The Role of Gold in Diversification

    10:58 Navigating Non-Risk Assets

    13:39 Understanding Bond Portfolio Duration

    16:21 Navigating Interest Rate Sensitivity

    18:51 Investment Strategies: Individual Stocks vs. Diversification

    21:36 The Role of Crypto in Modern Portfolios




    https://retire.arcvest.comhttps://arcvest.comArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.On this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.

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    22 mins
  • Private Credit Under Stress: What Retail Investors Need to Know
    Mar 24 2026

    This episode explores the recent stress test in private credit markets, the impact of AI on SaaS valuations, and the risks faced by retail investors in illiquid asset classes. Experts Chad Fargason and Erik Cooper discuss market dynamics, structural mismatches, and investment strategies.


    https://retire.arcvest.com

    https://arcvest.com


    ArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.


    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction: Private Credit Under Stress

    00:27 Recent Market Stress and Its Significance

    01:18 What Is Private Credit? A Quick Primer

    02:08 The Evolution of Private Credit Post-2008

    03:34 The Size of the Private Credit Market

    03:42 The Current Stress Test in Private Credit

    04:11 Private Credit's Exposure to SaaS Companies

    05:03 The Disruption of SaaS Business Models

    05:43 AI's Impact on SaaS and Software Pricing

    07:27 Repricing of SaaS and Market Declines

    08:34 The Mismatch Between Retail Investors and Private Credit

    11:03 Liquidity Mismatch and Redemption Challenges

    11:44 Real-World Example of Redemption Issues

    13:05 Market Sell-Off and Redemption Limits

    14:42 The Role of Secondary Funds and Opportunities

    17:08 Impact on Publicly Traded Alt Managers

    19:23 Valuation and Fee Structures of Alt Managers

    20:13 Investment Strategies for Retail Investors

    21:51 The Value of Risk Ownership and Portfolio Allocation

    22:51 Conclusion: Navigating Illiquid Asset Risks



    On this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.You’ll find clear explanations on topics like market volatility, index investing, retirement planning, fees, and the psychological traps that quietly derail portfolios.


    Our goal is to help you think better about money so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.ArcVest is a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisory firm.

    Everything here is educational and designed to help you become a more informed investor—not to sell hot takes or chase headlines.If you believe investing should be boring, disciplined, and aligned with real life goals, you’re in the right place.Learn more at arcvest.com

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    23 mins
  • How AI and Geopolitics Shape the 2026 Economy
    Mar 17 2026

    This episode explores the current market landscape amid geopolitical tensions, the impact of AI and technological investments, and strategic investment insights from experts Erik and Chad. They analyze market valuations, the influence of oil prices, and the future of capitalism and AI-driven productivity.

    https://retire.arcvest.comhttps://arcvest.comArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.


    Chapters:

    00:00 Market Dynamics and Geopolitical Tensions

    02:08 Understanding Inflation and Oil Prices

    09:22 Valuation Concerns and Historical Context

    14:26 AI Investment and Economic Implications

    19:51 The Future of Work and Unemployment

    26:00 Navigating Investment Strategies in Uncertain Times

    On this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.You’ll find clear explanations on topics like market volatility, index investing, retirement planning, fees, and the psychological traps that quietly derail portfolios. Our goal is to help you think better about money so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.ArcVest is a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisory firm. Everything here is educational and designed to help you become a more informed investor—not to sell hot takes or chase headlines.If you believe investing should be boring, disciplined, and aligned with real life goals, you’re in the right place.Learn more at arcvest.com

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    30 mins
  • Investing During Market Turbulence
    Mar 10 2026

    Erik from ArcVest discusses how investors, especially retirees, can navigate market volatility, understand the importance of diversification, and maintain discipline during turbulent times.


    https://retire.arcvest.comhttps://arcvest.com


    Chapters


    00:00 Market volatility and current geopolitical tensions

    00:26 What’s happening in the markets right now

    01:23 Historical perspective on market fluctuations

    02:19 Why oil prices matter to investors

    03:00 Inflation and its impact on retirees

    03:56 Understanding sequence of returns risk

    05:20 Normalcy of market drawdowns

    05:47 Building a resilient retirement portfolio

    06:41 Actions for retirees during volatility

    07:40 Monitoring key economic indicators

    08:30 Long-term discipline in investing

    08:57 Final thoughts and advice for investors


    ArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.On this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.You’ll find clear explanations on topics like market volatility, index investing, retirement planning, fees, and the psychological traps that quietly derail portfolios. Our goal is to help you think better about money so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.ArcVest is a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisory firm. Everything here is educational and designed to help you become a more informed investor—not to sell hot takes or chase headlines.If you believe investing should be boring, disciplined, and aligned with real life goals, you’re in the right place.Learn more at arcvest.com

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    9 mins
  • War and Your Portfolio
    Mar 5 2026

    This episode explores the impact of geopolitical conflicts on global markets, focusing on oil, gold, and equities. Experts discuss market reactions, sector rotations, and strategic investment responses during times of war.

    Chapters:

    00:00 Geopolitical Tensions and Market Reactions

    01:52 Impact of Oil Prices on Global Economies

    02:58 Global Oil Market Dynamics

    05:24 Volatility and Historical Context

    08:26 Investment Strategies During Conflict

    10:53 Safe Haven Assets and Market Reactions

    14:04 International Stocks and Portfolio Diversification

    17:13 Investor Sentiment and Risk Tolerance


    https://retire.arcvest.com

    https://arcvest.com


    ArcVest helps investors make smarter decisions by focusing on process, discipline, and long-term thinking—not predictions or hype.

    On this channel, we break down how investing actually works: why low costs matter, how investor behavior impacts returns, and why simple, evidence-based strategies often outperform complex ones over time.

    You’ll find clear explanations on topics like market volatility, index investing, retirement planning, fees, and the psychological traps that quietly derail portfolios. Our goal is to help you think better about money so you can make confident decisions in any market environment.


    ArcVest is a fiduciary, fee-only investment advisory firm. Everything here is educational and designed to help you become a more informed investor—not to sell hot takes or chase headlines.If you believe investing should be boring, disciplined, and aligned with real life goals, you’re in the right place.


    Learn more at arcvest.com

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    22 mins