Weekend Reading – Should You Still Invest With Vanguard? What Are The Odds Of Lower Fees?
Weekend Reading is a collection of Investment Research and Lifestyle topics from all corners of the Web. We source the highest quality insights from Wall Street and Main Street that you may apply to your investment process. Unlike the rest of Bankeronwheels.com, this series is provided without additional guidance. As usual, everything is to be used at your own risk. Below is the type of content we shortlist:
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice - in practice there is.
Featured
VWCE & Chill: Investors Are Cooling Off on Vanguard. Should You Still Invest?
In August 2024, the Vanguard FTSE-All World ETF became the most expensive Irish-domiciled Global ETF, marking a significant departure from the values of the firm’s founder, John Bogle. Bogle was celebrated for championing low fees, a principle known as the “Bogle Effect". Today, we look at odds of Vanguard lowering fees. Should You still invest?
Portfolio Construction
Asset Allocation
10 Investing Ideas You Probably Don't Believe, But Evidence Suggests You Should (Excess Returns)
In this episode, Meb Faber discusses his unconventional views on investing that often go against mainstream opinions. The discussion includes a wide range of topics including dividend investing strategies, international diversification, trend following, or Gold (we did an analysis reaching the same conclusions as one launched the blog 4 years ago) and the relationship between interest rates and stock market valuations.
Understand Financial Markets
What's Behind The Stock Market Drama? (Patrick Boyle)
Last Monday was one of the worst days for global stock markets in years, Stocks in the US, Europe and Japan tanked on Friday and again on Monday before a partial rebound. Bond yields and foreign exchange rates swung around wildly too. The Magnificent seven stocks lost about $1 trillion dollars in value in just two days. So, what exactly is going on in markets, and should we really worry?
- A History of Stock Market Bubbles w/ Legend Investor Jeremy Grantham (We Study Billionaires)
- How a popular trade collapsed (Carry for CTAs and Pension Funds) - and why it matters (Goldman Sachs)
- Options, Futures, Margin, and Short-Selling: The 4 Horsemen of Your Financial Apocalypse? (Whitecoat Investor)
How To Invest
What to do when markets drop (Vanguard)
Sharp or sustained market drops like we’ve experienced in recent years can be hard to stomach. But investing in the stock market has been a prudent long-term strategy for many. Here are some tips for navigating downturns. Bear markets and corrections are a part of life. Keep a long-term focus.
Active Investing
Factor Investing
Discretionary Investing
How investable is Europe? (Goldman Sachs)
Just as Europe emerged from two years of stagnation, recent weak survey data, increased political risk in light of the European Parliament and French election outcomes and, more crucially, the prospect of heightened trade and security risks depending on the US election outcome — all on top of daunting structural issues — have put the region’s outlook back in question. Just how significant Europe’s cyclical, political, and structural challenges are — and what that means for Europe’s investability — is Top of Mind.
Alternative Asset Classes
- Is Illiquidity a Blessing in Disguise for Some Investors? (CFA Institute)
- The Real Benefits Of Private Credit (CAIA Association)
- Vanguard 2024 midyear private equity review and outlook (Vanguard)
- How To Use Alternative Investments With Phil Huber (Peter Lazaroff)
- Matt Hougan: ‘Crypto Is Not Going Away’ (Morningstar)
- Co-investments: the private equity diversifier (Natixis)
Wall Street
The name of Nobel usually calls to mind Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, and the internationally prestigious prizes that bear his name. But Alfred was only one member of a creative and innovative family who built an industrial empire in prerevolutionary Russia. The saga begins with an emigre from Sweden, Immanuel Nobel, who was an architect, a pioneer producer of steam engines, and a maker of weapons.
Bad Bets
The Largest Sovereign Debt Defaults in Modern History (Visual Capitalist)
In July, Ukraine avoided defaulting on $20 billion in loans by reaching a preliminary agreement with private creditors. Given the financial burden of war, the country suspended interest payments on international debt over the last two years, which was set to expire on August 1, 2024. Without this new debt restructuring, this default would have ranked among the 10 largest in recent history. The last time Ukraine defaulted on its debt was in 2015, after Russia’s invasion of Crimea. This graphic shows the largest sovereign debt defaults since 1983, based on data from Moody’s via Aswath Damodaran. Greece’s $264.2 billion default in 2012 stands as the largest overall, unfolding when the country was mired in recession for the fifth consecutive year. Argentina defaulted three times.
ETFs
Wealth Management
Personal Finance
- Millionaire Expat: How To Build Wealth Overseas (Book Review) (Banker on Wheels)
- The Well-Off People Who Can’t Spend Money (MSN)
- What is The Wealth Effect? (Physician on FIRE)
- Discover 2 Powerful Roth IRA Equivalents for UK Investors (Banker on Wheels)
- The Benefits of Investing Early in Life (Visual Capitalist)
Advertisement
COMPARE THE BEST BROKERS
- Unique & Comprehensive Methodology
- Absolute Scores Across All Brokers
- Category Rankings
- Each Week New Broker Reviews From The UK & Europe
- Exclusive Bonuses When You Open An Account
Reviewed by Bankeronwheels.com
Advertisement
(Early) Retirement
What is Coast FIRE? The Ultimate Guide to Semi-Retirement (Of Dollars and Data)
Do you like the idea of early retirement, but you don’t want to have to save every penny? Do you seek financial independence, but you don’t want to permanently leave the workforce? Then Coast FIRE might just be right for you. Unlike the traditional FIRE movement which tries to get you to retirement as soon as possible, Coast FIRE focuses on saving up enough for your future retirement then coasting until you get there. This strategy is not only less stressful than traditional FIRE, but it also provides more flexibility.
Financial Advice
Design Your Lifestyle
Personal Development
Travel
A Tasmanian Bikepacking Memoir (Bikepacking.com)
eizing an extended window of time off this spring, Max Coleman and his partner Shannon left their home in Adelaide for an 11-day getaway to beautiful Tasmania. With hardly a plan, they spontaneously pieced together a bikepacking route that took them along a lively mix of questionable and unforgettably scenic roads and trails. Read their story of unsolved mysteries, steep climbs, colorful locals, and more here…
Tech & Economy
Economy
And Finally
How Europe’s Population Has Changed (1990-2023) (Visual Capitalist)
Between 1990 and 2023, the world population grew by more than 50%. But not all countries grew at the same rate, and some in fact, some didn’t grow at all. We map Europe’s population changes, color-coded by growth (green) and declines (red) in the same time period. Data is sourced from the UN’s World Population Prospects 2024.
Western European countries have seen significant population growth, even as birth rates have fallen, indicating migration into the region. Western European countries have seen significant population growth, even as birth rates have fallen, indicating migration into the region. Türkiye (+56%) and Ireland (+48%) have registered the most growth for countries with more than 1 million people.
Good Luck and Keep’em* Rolling!
(* Wheels & Dividends)
Weekend Reading – Vanguard 10-Year Forecasts For Equities and Bonds & IBKR Borrowing Rates Compared
Interactive Brokers Fixed vs Tiered Plan – Which Is The Best For ETFs?
Weekend Reading – Best Bond ETFs After the Largest Selloff in Modern History & BoW TOP 10 Reads in 2025
Bond ETFs in 2026: Expected Returns After the Biggest Selloff in Modern History
Our Unmissable TOP 10 in 2025 – Did You Catch Them All?
🤔 Wondering why finding honest Investing Guidance is so difficult? That’s because running an independent website like ours is very hard work. If You Found Value In Our Content And Wish To Support Our Mission: