Ep. 1 - Introduction: Investor Behavior 101

In the inaugural episode of the Crazy Wealthy Podcast, host Jonathan Blau, CEO of Fusion Family Wealth, shares his personal story and how it shaped his approach to wealth management. He explores the cognitive and emotional biases that influence financial decision-making, such as loss aversion and regret aversion, and discusses how understanding these biases can help individuals make more rational financial decisions under uncertainty. Jonathan also previews future episodes and introduces the Fix It Fridays mini-series, which will tackle biases in short, actionable episodes.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:57] Meet Your Host Jonathan Blau
• [03:04] The Purpose of Crazy Wealthy Podcast
• [04:42] Understanding Emotional Biases
• [08:36] Cognitive Biases in Financial Decisions
• [11:40] Information Overload and Decision Making
• [13:49] The Role of Temperament in Investment Decisions
• [14:23] Accessibility Bias in Investing
• [15:13] The Illusion of Certainty in Financial Advisory
• [16:48] The Media's Influence on Financial Decisions
• [19:53] Understanding Luck and Risk in Investments
• [21:48] Introducing Fix It Fridays
• [22:35] Podcast Availability and Conclusion

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Loss aversion leads people to prioritize avoiding losses over pursuing gains, often hindering long-term wealth-building strategies.
• Regret aversion can cause individuals to avoid making future financial decisions due to past investment failures, limiting growth opportunities.
• Emotional and cognitive biases systematically influence poor financial decisions, but they are predictable and can be corrected.
• The key to success in investing isn’t just knowledge, but temperament—knowing what to do and sticking to a long-term strategy despite short-term volatility.

RESOURCE LINKS 

Website: https://www.fusionfamilywealth.com/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jonathanblau1

ABOUT THE HOST: 

Jonathan is the CEO of Fusion Family Wealth, a wealth management firm he founded in 2013. His practice centers on Behavioral finance, teaching clients how to make consistently rational money decisions under conditions of uncertainty.

As a sought-after speaker for podcasts and media, Jonathan offers a fresh perspective on wealth management, shaped by insights from behavioral finance. His ability to clarify and illuminate complex financial decision-making processes makes him a distinguished voice in the field.

Jonathan honed his planning and technical skills during his tenure as a senior tax and estate planning specialist in the Tax and Family Wealth Planning division of Arthur Andersen from 1992 to 1996.

He holds a BS in Finance from SUNY Buffalo and two advanced degrees from Fordham University: an MS in Taxation and an MBA in Accounting.

Jonathan lives on Long Island with his wife, Amy, and their two daughters. He is an avid supporter of the Long Island business community and contributes to causes such as the Middle Market Alliance of Long Island and Sunrise Day Camp. He is an avid boater.

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