Best Quilt Lessons Podcasts (2025)

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Paul Merriman on Long-Term Investing, Compounding, and Building Wealth 1:20:17

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7d ago1:20:17

1:20:17

Compounding Project Podcast – Episode 36 In Episode 36 of The Compounding Project Podcast, legendary investing educator Paul Merriman shares timeless insights on long-term investing, the power of compounding, and how everyday investors can build lasting wealth. Paul explains why starting early is one of the most important financial decisions you ca…

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AAII Q&A Series (Part 3 of 3) 1:17:55

13d ago1:17:55

1:17:55

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been recording a series of Q&As that came out of a presentation I gave in November for the American Association of Individual Investors — AAII. At the end of that nearly two-hour talk, I promised that I’d do a podcast answering every single question that came in. Well… there were 36 questions. That’s a little too…

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AAII Q&A, Part 2 — 12 More Questions Answered 55:46

21d ago55:46

55:46

Paul continues his three-part series responding to questions from his November 8 AAII presentation. In this episode, he digs into risk-parity portfolios, the role of gold, how the 10-Fund Strategy compares to the S&P 500, growth vs. value, rebalancing discipline, and how to choose the right bond allocation in retirement. If you were at the AAII eve…

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Thanksgiving, AAII Q&As. Retirement Portfolios, Value Tilts, International Diversification, and Investing a Lump Sum 1:06:15

28d ago1:06:15

1:06:15

Recorded from our new home on Bainbridge Island and released on Thanksgiving, this episode is equal parts gratitude and practical investing help. I open with my annual tradition of writing a fresh Thanksgiving list—people, communities, and institutions that have shaped my life and this work. I’m especially thankful for you, the DIY investors who ke…

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#132 You need a "no-filter" friend in your life 14:55

1M ago14:55

14:55

In this raw and unscripted episode, Aaron shares a powerful conversation that completely shifted his perspective on business ownership. After a call from an old mentor, he reveals a revolutionary way to think about firing employees, why you should be happy about tough decisions, and how to audit where you're investing your most valuable asset: your…

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Supercharge Your Retirement with Paul Merriman 44:01

1M ago44:01

44:01

Paul Merriman brings 60+ years of investing experience to the Retire Today podcast, breaking down what really determines retirement success. Most investors think it’s about picking the right fund or timing the market—but Paul says the biggest threats aren’t headlines. They’re costs and emotions. In the 1960s, investors routinely paid 8.5% to buy a …

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AAII Presentation Follow-Up: ETF Tax Efficiency, Rebalancing, and Smarter Diversification 51:30

1M ago51:30

51:30

First, a big thank-you to everyone who joined me for the AAII presentation last Saturday. I appreciate your patience during my rocky Zoom start—and a special shout-out to Suzette Moskwa, who saved the day by running the slides! As promised, I’m following up on your chat comments and questions from the session. This week’s focus is on your insights;…

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#131 I just saved $50k on taxes. Here's how 9:55

2M ago9:55

9:55

Year-end is more than just a party.. It's the most critical strategic period for a business owner. In this episode, Aaron breaks down the essential checklist to close out your year profitably and set your business up for a dominant 2025. He covers how to use your profits to buy equipment tax-efficiently, the right way to pull money out of your comp…

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Staying the Course — Insights on Reasonable & Unreasonable Portfolios, Quilt Charts & 2025 Returns 19:07

2M ago19:07

19:07

In this episode, Paul dives into one of the most important themes in long-term investing: staying the course, even when individual asset classes deliver unexpected short-term results. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY investor or still building confidence, Paul shares timely lessons to help you make better decisions—and support others who rely on your …

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#130 What We Learned at the Largest Print Show in the World 15:13

2M ago15:13

15:13

Aaron breaks down his experience at Printing United 2025 — one of the biggest and most diverse print expos in the world. From setting up a two-story booth in record time to realizing how much reputation and resilience matter in business, this episode is packed with lessons about preparation, presence, and persistence. He shares how SquareCoil’s fir…

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The Merriman Financial Education Foundation: Plans, Priorities & Lessons for 2026 53:26

2M ago53:26

53:26

Paul Merriman welcomes back Chris Patterson, Director of Research, and Daryl Balls, Director of Analytics, for another thoughtful roundtable discussion. These three “underpaid volunteers” reflect on how far the Merriman Financial Education Foundation has come — and where it’s headed next. Together, they cover everything from new educational tools t…

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#129 How Steve Weist built a 40-year legacy in the printing industry 35:01

2M ago35:01

35:01

This week on The AC Method, Aaron sits down with Steve Weist, a true industry veteran who’s spent nearly three decades shaping the print and signage world from the inside out. From learning the ropes in a family business to running large-scale operations across the U.S., Steve shares how his team built trust, maintained excellence, and adapted to t…

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The Biggest Mistake Beginner Investors Make - and How to Avoid them 1:46:55

2M ago1:46:55

1:46:55

In this practical and inspiring ETFatlas podcast episode, host Jack Lempart welcomes Paul Merriman for a return conversation focused on the biggest mistakes beginner investors make—and how to avoid them. The discussion reveals why most investing errors are emotional, not technical. Paul emphasizes that successful investing is usually simple, though…

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#128 I Pay My Metal Guys $40/Hour (It's Worth Every Penny) 22:46

2M ago22:46

22:46

Is "how much should I pay my team?" the question that keeps you up at night? Let’s dive into the taboo topic of pay structures, breaking down the pros and cons of salary-only, commission-only, and hybrid models. Underpaying your sales team is a fatal mistake. So to avoid creating a civil war between sales and production, and create and maintain you…

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Chris & Paul October 2025 Q&A: Best-in-Class ETFs, Equal-Weight vs. Cap-Weight, and How Much Small-Cap Value? 56:53

2M ago56:53

56:53

Watch YouTube video here. Paul Merriman and Chris Pedersen tackle your biggest questions—from simplifying portfolios and picking best-in-class ETFs to understanding equal-weighted funds, tax efficiency, and how much small-cap value to own. They dig into factor investing (size, value, quality, profitability, momentum), why reversion to the mean matt…

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#127 What vertical integration really means? 15:26

3M ago15:26

15:26

Ready to grow your business by adding new services? In this episode, Aaron pulls back the curtain on his own costly mistakes and hard-won victories with vertical integration. What are the true costs of growth? Timelines and operational headaches nobody talks about.Learn how to decide when to bring a new service in-house, how to avoid crippling lear…

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Can You Trust the Market? Equal-Weighted S&P 500 vs. Four-Fund Strategy 53:49

3M ago53:49

53:49

In this week’s episode, Paul Merriman shares lessons from a lifetime of investing—prompted by conversations with students, longtime collaborator Rich Buck, and questions from new investors about trust and risk. Paul dives deep into the data behind his favorite long-term strategies, including the equal-weighted S&P 500 and the classic Four-Fund Port…

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#126 How to scale a $10M sign business? with David Goodson 54:57

3M ago54:57

54:57

In this interview, Aaron sits down with David Goodson, CEO of Impact, to unpack how he grew his company from a garage startup into a $10M operation with 50+ people and a 70,000 sq. ft. facility. David shares his philosophy on leadership, why culture always comes before profits, and how designing efficient workflows and empowering people has shaped …

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#125 Design for museums to airports with Annabel from SEGD 39:59

3M ago39:59

39:59

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Annabel from SEGD to explorehow design goes far beyond what we see—it shapes how we feel, move, and remember experiences. From the World War II Museum to Olympic exhibits and even the way airports are designed, Annabel shares how thoughtful design and signage transform ordinary spaces into immersive journeys.…

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The Final Chapter: S&P 500 vs. 60/40 vs. Four-Fund Strategy 30:39

3M ago30:39

30:39

In this final episode of our four-part series, Paul Merriman compares three powerful approaches for a lifetime of investing: 100% S&P 500: high-risk, high-reward growth. 60/40 mix of S&P 500 and bonds: a defensive balance. 100% U.S. Four-Fund strategy: large-cap blend, small-cap blend, large-cap value, small-cap value. Paul uses 55 years of data (1…

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Retirement Distributions: All S&P 500 vs. 60/40 Portfolio 37:12

3M ago37:12

37:12

Paul Merriman continues our series on radical lifetime investment strategies—comparing an all-equity S&P 500 portfolio to a balanced 60% equity/40% bonds portfolio. After two episodes focused on the accumulation phase, this third installment shifts to retirement distributions: How much income could each portfolio provide? How did they hold up durin…

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Paul Merriman on Money Life with Chuck Jaffe at FinCon 15:16

3M ago15:16

15:16

At FinCon, Chuck Gaffe- moneylifeshow.com sat down with Paul for a wide-ranging conversation about investing and financial independence. Paul shared insights on the rise of index funds, the FIRE movement’s “one-fund-for-life” approach, and how small portfolio adjustments can boost long-term returns. He also discussed timeless investing principles l…

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#124 Design Huddle: Bridging the Gap Between Clients and Printers 38:00

3M ago38:00

38:00

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Dave Stewart, CEO of Design Huddle, to explore how his platform is transforming the way clients, printers, and designers work together. By embedding an intuitive design tool directly into websites, Design Huddle empowers customers to create print-ready artwork without endless back-and-forth revisions. From Sh…

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Two Radical Investments – U.S. 4-Fund Portfolio vs. S&P 500 33:29

3M ago33:29

33:29

In Part 2 of this 4-part series, Paul Merriman compares the accumulation results of the U.S. 4-Fund Portfolio against the S&P 500, using both all-equity and 60/40 strategies. Paul analyzes five decades of data, showing how diversification affects returns, volatility, and long-term wealth creation. Paul also highlights the tables you’ll want to down…

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Breaking the Pattern: Finding Your Inherent Worth 57:39

3M ago57:39

57:39

Quilter Vendulka Battais shares her healing journey from realizing that external validation (including winning awards) made her happy, but didn't bring her ultimate fulfillment, she still needed to find her own inner worth and peace. She explores how her upbringing in communist Czechoslovakia and ancestral patterns influenced her sense of self-wort…

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#123 Old‑School Lighting That Still Works 32:38

3M ago32:38

32:38

This episode dives into the magic of retro sign lighting—chasers, tracers, and marquee effects—and why “old-school” still grabs attention (and customers). Aaron sits down with a lighting veteran to unpack controllers, patterns, color temperature choices, and practical ways to bring kinetic motion back to your installs. From go‑kart tracks to storef…

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Saving for Retirement: 100% S&P 500 vs. 60/40 — A Lifetime Portfolio Comparison 27:01

3M ago27:01

27:01

This is the first of a series of 4 podcasts focused on the decision to have all of your investments be all equities vs. a balanced portfolio of equities and fixed income. In this presentation Paul uses the S&P 500 in both the all equity and the 60/40 stock/bond portfolio. He uses the following tables during his presentation. Table B1 Fine Tuning Ta…

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#122 Discipline vs. Fear: The Real Key to Starting a Business 13:38

4M ago13:38

13:38

This week Aaron opens up about one of the biggest roadblocks that stops aspiring entrepreneurs: fear. Through stories from the Iron Oaks Society and his own business journey, Aaron explains why bravery alone won’t carry you forward, but discipline will. From making your bed in the morning to building consistent habits, Aaron breaks down how small s…

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#121 The #1 Skill Leaders Fail At: Communication 13:33

4M ago13:33

13:33

This week, Aaron dives deep into the single biggest issue that can break any business: communication. Through real-life examples—from clients misunderstanding sign specs to employees missing assignments—Aaron uncovers why most leaders think they’re communicating, when in reality they’re not. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The 3 key elements of real communicat…

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The Last Step To Successful Investing 1:01:10

4M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Paul starts this letter beginning with a letter from a listener. The letter ends with the reason why our work has had more impact than John Bogle and Benjamin Felix (Both Truth Tellers). The rest of the podcast is focused on a recent article- ⁠The Evolution of Financial Advice, by Ben Carlson. The focus is on the math, history and psychology of inv…

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The Biggest Mistake Investors Make 38:23

4M ago38:23

38:23

On this podcast, Paul Merriman dives into three big investor questions: Why would anyone add bonds to their portfolio—even in retirement? How has the Ultimate Buy and Hold Portfolio performed in 2025? And how much Small Cap Value should an investor add to VTSAX? Along the way, Paul explains why diversification and balance matter just as much as cha…

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#120 Estimating Mistakes That Can Sink Your Business 14:28

4M ago14:28

14:28

This week, Aaron goes deep into the hard lessons his company has learned by reviewing past estimates—the good, the bad, and the costly. From missing small details to underbidding massive projects, he breaks down the most common pitfalls that can destroy profitability. If you’ve ever wondered why your projects take longer, cost more, or eat away at …

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100% stocks, Crypto, customizing 4 fund portfolio and Bogleheads & more 48:40

4M ago48:40

48:40

Paul Merriman is looking ahead to the 2025 Bogleheads Conference (October 17–19), one of the premier gatherings for long-term investors. The lineup includes Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji, Christine Benz, Bill Bernstein, Rick Ferri, Alan Roth, Jim Dahle, and more. Paul will be there for all three days to connect with listeners, share new projects, and le…

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#119 Building Stronger Teams Through Radical Transparency 13:13

4M ago13:13

13:13

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a real quarterly meeting—wins, losses, awkward moments, and all. From welcoming new hires to unveiling the design for a 28,000 sq. ft. facility, Aaron shares how openness about numbers, goals, and even mistakes strengthens culture and drives alignment. You’ll hear candid lessons from a tough project loss,…

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4 Portfolio Levels for Wealth Building 1:11:50

4M ago1:11:50

1:11:50

I had never heard of Erin Moriarity before she contacted me about having a conversation with her on “Erin Talks Money.” When I visited her Youtube channel I immediately realized what a powerhouse she is. She has over 200,000 subscribers to her Youtube channel and her videos are terrific. She has over 800 videos on topics most young investors or beg…

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#118 Lasers, Quilts & Signs: Building a 70-Person Business from Fabric and Fire 26:48

5M ago26:48

26:48

This week, Aaron sits down with Clay from Thunder Laser USA — and trust us, it’s not just a conversation about machines. It’s about how one family business turned a quilting shop into a tech-driven operation with 70+ employees, a national sales footprint, and an expanding catalog of cutting-edge tools. From laser-cut acrylic to engraving Stanley cu…

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10 Myths, Lies & Mistakes That Cost Investors Millions (with Don McDonald & Tom Cock) 39:11

5M ago39:11

39:11

What’s holding investors back from building real wealth? Talking Real Money, hosts Don McDonald and Tom Cock take aim at the 10 most damaging myths, lies, and mistakes that cost investors big—often millions. You’ll learn: Why "having a guy" isn’t a strategy—it's a setup Why predicting the market is like calling a psychic How starting too late can c…

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#117 Why Your Website Isn’t Converting (and What to Do About It) 43:40

5M ago43:40

43:40

This week on *The AC Method*, Aaron sits down with Ryan from Striventa and Hyperdrive to unpack why most business websites fail to generate leads—and what you can do to fix it fast. Whether you’re in blue-collar services or scaling a national brand, this episode breaks down the real-world digital strategies that get results. Ryan shares what most a…

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Future of Financial Literacy and Smart Investing  1:07:05

5M ago1:07:05

1:07:05

On this special Q&A episode—recorded July 29 2025—Paul Merriman gears up for his August 2 keynote at the Garrett Planning Network Retreat, where he will address more than 100 hourly financial advisors about the future of financial literacy. He invites listeners to email questions for the panel ([email protected]) and then dives into ten wide‑ra…

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#116 The Truth About Confidence (And Why It Intimidates People) 13:56

5M ago13:56

13:56

In this solo episode, Aaron opens up aboutwhat confidence really means, how it develops, and why people often mistake itfor arrogance. From his own experiences in leadership and martial arts trainingto being misunderstood and even called intimidating, Aaron walks through theinternal work required to become truly grounded — and how to help others ge…

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Small cap value still the best , bonds and 2 funds for life Q&A 54:56

5M ago54:56

54:56

In this episode, Paul Merriman shares insights into upcoming events, including his presentation at the Garrett Planning Network Retreat, as well as his reflections on asset allocation, government bond strategies, and the benefits of various portfolios for different life stages. Tune in for a deep dive into how different funds and asset classes perf…

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Breaking Free: Healing Through Life's Toughest lessons (my own journey) 23:34

5M ago23:34

23:34

Taking a break between Season 2 and Season 3 to reflect on the journey and lessons learned throughout Breaking the Blocks. Thousands of listeners have shared how these conversations about overcoming challenges have inspired their own growth paths. • Life inevitably brings pain, loss, and unexpected challenges – our growth comes from how we respond …

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#115 How to Protect Your Bottom Line in a Shaky Economy 10:11

5M ago10:11

10:11

In this short but high-impact solo episode,Aaron shares how he's preparing his businesses to weather an economiccorrection. From rising tariffs and permit delays to inflation and materialprice hikes, he gives a tactical breakdown on how to defend your margins,communicate clearly with clients, and keep your team steady when times getrocky. This is t…

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12 Million Dollar Decisions 2:13:31

5M ago2:13:31

2:13:31

In November 2020 The Merriman Financial Education Foundation released “We’re Talking Millions! 12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement.” The purpose of the book was to focus on a series of very simple steps any investor might take to improve their financial future. "Understanding how to invest wisely for your future can be daunting. Many peop…

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#114 Are You Lying to Yourself? 11:41

6M ago11:41

11:41

In this episode, Aaron unpacks a hardtruth: most of us confuse motion with progress. After meeting with a newmentor, he was forced to face the fact that he had over a dozen active“projects” pulling his focus — and that being busy doesn’t mean you’re growing. He breaks down how to identify what’s actually worth your time, how to cutlow-ROI tasks, an…

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11 Q&A-Bonds, Rebalancing, All Value, Vanguard vs. Avantis & DFA 54:41

6M ago54:41

54:41

Many of you have been submitting thoughtful questions through our AI chat, particularly on fund selection, asset allocation, and broader investment strategy. It’s encouraging to see this level of engagement with the core principles that shape long-term financial success. While the AI generally provides sound and efficient guidance, there are times …

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The Art of Resilience: Mackenzie Thorpe's Creative Journey 56:18

6M ago56:18

56:18

Mackenzie Thorpe shares his extraordinary journey from a dyslexic child in working-class Middlesbrough to a globally celebrated artist whose work touches hearts worldwide. • Born with an innate urge to draw on anything available—stones, cigarette packets, fireplace ashes • Struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia at school, describing himself as "word b…

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#113 How to Hire Smarter (And Actually Keep Good People) 11:14

6M ago11:14

11:14

In this episode, Aaron shares a powerful mindset shift around hiring, especially as he explores acquiring a local sign company. What starts as a discussion about evaluating a deal quickly becomes a deep dive into core values, people analysis, and what most leaders get wrong when hiring or restructuring their team. If you've ever said “there’s no go…

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Avantis Vs. DFA and the Winner Is? 37:41

6M ago37:41

37:41

On this week's podcast, we dive into my fascinating six-month journey with AI, exploring how tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing access to information and informed guidance. Drawing inspiration from Seth Godin's insightful piece, "Education is Free, Learning is Expensive," we'll discuss why true learning demands commitment and effort, especially…

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#112 Are You the Leader Your Company Needs? | Live at ISA Sign Expo 19:52

6M ago19:52

19:52

This special episode features AaronClippinger's full presentation from the ISA Sign Expo in Las Vegas: Are You the Leader Your Company Needs?In this high-impact talk, Aaron dives into the evolving role of CEOs andpresidents, what leadership really looks like in the sign industry, and howculture, vision, and accountability separate startups from gro…