Best Mike Bergin Podcasts (2025)

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A Golden Moment for Asset Allocation? | Mike Philbrick | #593 55:41

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5h ago55:41

55:41

Today’s returning guest is Mike Philbrick, CEO of ReSolve Asset Management and Founding Member of the Return Stacked Team. In today’s episode, Mike discusses the evolving role of gold and Bitcoin in investment portfolios given the current economic landscape. He explores the historical performance of gold, its risk premium, and how it can help negat…

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668. STRATEGIES FOR THE COMPUTER-BASED ACT 29:37

22h ago29:37

29:37

Starting in September 2025, the ACT will be administered nationally both on paper and on digital devices. Should you take the ACT on a computer? If so, what do you need to know in advance? Amy and Mike invited educator Adam Snoza to review Strategies For The Computer-Based ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What should test t…

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667. THE IMPACT OF DUAL ENROLLMENT 26:09

8d ago26:09

26:09

Imagine two models of education, one of which reserves opportunities for college credit for college students and another which allows high schoolers to also earn college credit. Which do you think most college-bound students would prefer? Amy and Mike invited admissions professional Audrey Moreno to explore the impact of dual enrollment programs. W…

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S3 EP2 - Prof. Russell Cummings - World leader in Aerospace Engineering and Hypersonics 1:43:14

9d ago1:43:14

1:43:14

In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Professor Russell Cummings shares his extensive journey through the fields of aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics and hypersonics. He discusses his early inspirations, his early days at University and the Hughes Aircraft Company - a key time during this life. He also talks about the cyclical nature…

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KKR's Henry McVey - Regime Change is Here: Think Differently About Asset Allocation | #592 58:38

11d ago58:38

58:38

Today’s guest is Henry McVey, Head of Global Macro & Asset Allocation and Firmwide Market Risk and CIO of the KKR Balance Sheet. In today’s episode, Henry discusses the current macroeconomic landscape, emphasizing the regime change underway. He touches on the implications of a decline in the US dollar, where he sees opportunities in global markets,…

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666. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: July 2025 26:15

13d ago26:15

26:15

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. …

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665. HOW TO MANAGE PROCRASTINATION IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS 25:56

15d ago25:56

25:56

Procrastination does not necessarily stem from laziness or disorganization. Sometimes, we put off important tasks to cope with negative emotions associated with their outcomes–perfectly understandable but highly undesirable when it comes to complex college applications and strict deadlines. Amy and Mike invited education consultant Michelle McAnane…

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664. TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2027 34:04

19d ago34:04

34:04

When tests change, so should the conventional wisdom about timelines and options. How will the Enhanced ACT factor into your admissions exam plans? Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to review a testing gameplan for the HS class of 2027. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the main issues for students in the high…

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663. ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE HS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2026 29:12

22d ago29:12

29:12

Every year, new calculations and complications impact the college application process. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski to return to the show with admissions notes for the HS graduating class of 2026. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is the enrollment cliff real, and what does it mean for the C…

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S3 EP1 - Prof. Mike Giles - A CFD and Computational Finance Pioneer 2:07:11

24d ago2:07:11

2:07:11

In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Professor Mike Giles shares his extensive journey through the fields of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computational finance and HPC. He discusses his early academic influences, his early days at Cambridge, internships at Rolls-Royce, his transition to MIT and Oxford where he made significant contrib…

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Tax Strategies, Exchange Funds, and Portfolio Optimization with Wes Gray & Srikanth Narayan | #591 51:21

28d ago51:21

51:21

Today’s guests are Wes Gray, founder, CEO and Co-CIO of Alpha Architect, and Srikanth Narayan, founder and CEO of Cache, which he started in 2022 after experiencing concentrated stock positions in his own portfolio. Previously, he served in engineering and product leadership positions at Uber and Alphabet. In today’s episode, Meb, Wes & Srikanth sh…

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662. COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FOR THE STUDENT ATHLETE 29:30

29d ago29:30

29:30

The path for high school athletes seeking to play at the next level becomes more uncertain every year. The increasing complexity of college sports recruitment is matched only by the uncertainty of every other part of the application process. Amy and Mike invited college advisor Barb Smith to share answers about college admissions for the student at…

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Goldman Sachs’ Sara Naison-Tarajano - Family Office Whisperer | #590 48:55

1M ago48:55

48:55

Today’s guest is Sara Naison-Tarajano, Global Head of Private Wealth Management Capital Markets and Goldman Sachs Apex. Sara has been at Goldman Sachs for over 25 years, and currently leads a worldwide platform that delivers multi-asset trading, financing, and direct-investment opportunities to some of the firm’s largest family offices. In today’s …

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661. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: VEGA AI 18:16

1M ago18:16

18:16

AI-first data-driven platform to build, deploy, analyze, and personalize any course. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind VEGA AI? How does VEGA AI work? Who currently uses VEGA AI? What kinds of outcomes do users experience? What should someone curious about VEGA AI know about it? ABOUT VEGA AI VEGA AI lets…

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660. HOW ARE POLITICAL CHANGES SHAPING HIGHER ED? 26:26

1M ago26:26

26:26

The walls of academia have always seemed distant and distinct from the corridors of political power. But even the ivory tower isn’t safe during periods of dramatic societal change. Amy and Mike invited educator Dominique Padurano to explore how political changes are shaping higher education. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What…

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Dan Rasmussen & D.A. Wallach on The Future of Biotech and Healthcare | #589 1:26:27

1M ago1:26:27

1:26:27

Today’s guests are Dan Rasmussen, founder of Verdad Advisers, and D.A. Wallach, a venture capital investor for Time BioVentures and an acclaimed recording artist. Pharrell Williams discovered D.A.’s band Chester French and signed the group to Interscope Records. In today’s episode, Dan & D.A. discuss the current state of biotech, the impact of AI o…

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659. HOW MUCH AI IS JUST RIGHT IN THE COLLEGE ESSAY? 27:47

1M ago27:47

27:47

Smart college applicants know not to let artificial intelligence agents write their entire personal statement but might shudder at the idea of ignoring these tools entirely. How much is too much? Amy and Mike invited educator Razi Hecker to explore how much AI is just right in the college essay. What are five things you will learn in this episode? …

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Victor Haghani on Predicting the Market and Disciplined Asset Allocation | #588 1:13:32

2M ago1:13:32

1:13:32

Today’s guest is Victor Haghani, founder and CIO of Elm Wealth, which focuses on managing wealth with an emphasis on diversification, low fees, and tax efficiency. He’s also the author of The Missing Billionaires: A Guide to Better Financial Decisions. In today’s episode, Victor explores the Crystal Ball challenge, and how position sizing can be ev…

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658. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: June 2025 26:52

2M ago26:52

26:52

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. …

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657. DOES IT MATTER IF YOU TAKE CALCULUS IN HIGH SCHOOL? 30:22

2M ago30:22

30:22

If you’re applying as a STEM major or looking at selective colleges, there’s no question that you should consider taking advanced or accelerated math courses at the secondary level. The question instead revolves around which course to take. Amy and Mike invited researcher Adam Tyner to review whether taking calculus in high school is absolutely nec…

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Rob Arnott & Cam Harvey on Passive Investing Risks, The AI Boom & Stimulus That Doesn’t Stimulate | #587 1:11:36

2M ago1:11:36

1:11:36

Today’s guests are Rob Arnott, founder and Chairman of the board of Research Affiliates, and Campbell Harvey, Head of Research at Research Affiliates and Professor of Finance at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. In today’s episode, Rob and Cam touch on the state of value investing in a megacap dominated market, emphasizing the potent…

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656. HOW TO PLAN A GAP YEAR 25:23

2M ago25:23

25:23

Most students matriculate directly from high school to college. But what if you’re not like most students? Amy and Mike invited education consultant Julia Rogers to explore how to plan a gap year. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is there a typical profile of "who" takes a gap year? What are the biggest benefits of taking a gap …

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655. TEST PREP PROFILE: Kristen Lefebvre 16:37

2M ago16:37

16:37

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Kristen Lefebvre, the National Director of Education at StudyPoint, an educational services company that supports students across the U.S. on their journey to college by providing one-on-one academic and test prep tutor…

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Whitney Baker on the End of ‘Buy the Dip’ & the American Bubble | #586 1:45:05

2M ago1:45:05

1:45:05

Today we’re joined by Whitney Baker, founder of Totem Macro and one of the sharpest minds in macro investing. Whitney was previously the head of Emerging Markets at Bridgewater Associates and worked at Soros Fund Management under current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In today’s episode, Whitney discusses the current macroeconomic landscape, emp…

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654. TEST PREP PROFILE: Allen Tsao 17:18

2M ago17:18

17:18

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Allen Tsao, who started out as an Electrical Engineer (BS at UC Berkeley, and MS at Stanford University), and worked as a full-time engineer for 11 years before switching to tutoring full-time. He loves helping students…

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653. TEST PREP PROFILE: Margaret Duden 16:00

2M ago16:00

16:00

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Margaret Duden, Founder of Twin Cities Test Prep Tutor, is a full-time test prep and writing tutor who specializes in helping highly motivated students hone their writing skills, achieve their score goals on the ACT and…

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652. TEST PREP PROFILE: Ren Abraham 17:01

2M ago17:01

17:01

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ren Abraham, the founder of Telos Tutors, a test prep and academic tutoring company serving students in the Philadelphia suburbs and beyond. With nearly two decades of teaching experience across both the humanities and …

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Kim Flynn - Unlocking Alternative Investments | #585 55:34

2M ago55:34

55:34

Today’s guest is Kim Flynn, President of XA Investments, which helps provide access to alternative investments. She was previously the Head of Product Development for Nuveen Investments Global Structured Products Group. In today’s episode, Meb and Kim discuss the democratization of alternative investments in relation to the recent explosion of inte…

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651. GAME PLAN FOR THE ENHANCED ACT 46:47

2M ago46:47

46:47

The unfolding changes to the ACT take effect everywhere in September. Are you ready? Let two nationally recognized experts in education–your hosts of the Tests and the Rest podcast–help you understand both the ACT enhancements and how students should navigate them. This free Game Plan for the Enhanced ACT webinar was presented live as part of the T…

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Cole Wilcox on The Power Law of Investing | #584 1:04:02

3M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Today’s guest is Cole Wilcox, CIO of Longboard Asset Management, a boutique asset manager specializing in alternative investment strategies. In today’s episode, Cole walks through one of my favorite papers of all time, Does Trend-Following Still Work On Stocks? Hint: it does. Cole explains why you have to be a good loser to be a good investor, how …

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650. HOW CAN PAST POOR DECISIONS AFFECT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS? 25:24

3M ago25:24

25:24

To err is human, which makes adolescence a particularly intense expression of the human condition. Yes, we all make mistakes, but some are more glaring and likely to impact acceptance than others. But which ones? Amy and Mike invited student advocates Susan Stone and Kristina Supler to clarify how past poor decisions can affect college admissions. …

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Apollo's Alex Wright on The Role of Private Markets in Modern Portfolios | #583 49:06

3M ago49:06

49:06

Today’s guest is Alex Wright, Global Wealth Strategist at Apollo. In today’s episode, Alex discusses the fragility of public markets, citing high valuations, rising correlations, and limited diversification opportunities, which prompt a need to reassess traditional 60/40 portfolios. Then he walks through the opportunity in private markets, includin…

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649. AI AND THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS 29:38

3M ago29:38

29:38

In a process with as many steps as choosing, applying to, and being accepted at a target higher education institution, small improvements in efficiency at any point can compound dramatically for both applicants and admissions offices. Amy and Mike invited ed tech entrepreneur Sam Bernstein to explore the current state of AI and the college admissio…

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648. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2025 26:25

3M ago26:25

26:25

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and educati…

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BCG’s Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak on Global Macro: Recession Risk, Tariffs, Debt Dynamics | #582 45:35

3M ago45:35

45:35

Today’s guest is Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Global Chief Economist at BCG and author Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms: How to Assess True Macroeconomic Risk. In today’s episode, Philipp starts by sharing his framework to assess macroeconomic risk, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changing global conditions. Then he applies that framework to…

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647. THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF TEST SCORES IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS 30:39

3M ago30:39

30:39

The last thing anybody wants to do is sit for a meaningless test. Entrance exams like the SAT & ACT should be able to inform both test takers and target institutions about the likelihood of success at the next level. So do they? Amy and Mike invited educator David Blobaum to explore the predictive validity of test scores in college admissions. What…

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646. ENROLLING IN A TRADE SCHOOL 26:06

3M ago26:06

26:06

Not everyone assumes that life after high school automatically entails immediate enrollment in college. Many teens graduate ready to pursue a more practical education. Amy and Mike invited education market researcher Brady Colby to explain the implications of enrolling in a trade school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exa…

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Jeremy Grantham, John Arnold & Sam Zell Share Their Most Memorable Investments | #581 18:54

3M ago18:54

18:54

Today’s episode features the most memorable investments from Jeremy Grantham, John Arnold and Sam Zell. (0:00) Starts (0:53) Jeremy Grantham (5:25) John Arnold (8:24) Sam Zell To listen to the full episodes, click the links below: Jeremy Grantham I: Apple, Spotify, YouTube Jeremy Grantham II: Apple, Spotify, YouTube John Arnold: Apple, Spotify, You…

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645. TRUE COLLEGE ROI 24:06

4M ago24:06

24:06

One should not take on what is potentially the biggest expense of a lifetime lightly. Motivated students can absolutely make sure college pays off academically, socially, and emotionally; financially, though, can be a big question mark. Amy and Mike invited educator Gage Mersereau to define the concept of true college ROI. What are five things you …

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644. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025 31:23

4M ago31:23

31:23

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and educati…

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Carl Kawaja – Navigating the Investment Landscape: AI, Tariffs, Sports Gambling & More| #580 1:06:13

4M ago1:06:13

1:06:13

Today’s guest is Carl Kawaja, a Portfolio Manager with Capital Group for over three decades. In today’s episode, Carl shares insights into his investment philosophy, early experiences, and the current market landscape. He discusses the transformative impact of AI on semiconductor demand, the challenges posed by tariffs and supply chain dynamics, an…

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S2 EP11 - Foundational AI Models for Fluids 22:33

4M ago22:33

22:33

In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, the discussion revolves around foundational models in fluid dynamics, particularly in the context of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Neil shares insights from a recent panel discussion and explores the potential of AI in predicting fluid behavior. He discusses the evolution of AI in CFD, the challenge…

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643. A TEST TAKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT 33:16

4M ago33:16

33:16

The ACT has been a remarkably stable exam, administered in roughly the same way for decades. However, a new version is on the horizon, and some intrepid souls have braved the uncertainty of the field test to experience it. Amy and Mike invited someone who sat for the April 2025 Enhanced ACT to share the test taker’s perspective. What are five thing…

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642. GETTING READY FOR THE AP ECONOMICS EXAM 25:48

4M ago25:48

25:48

The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Economics is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Michael Rodriguez to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for gettin…

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641. GETTING READY FOR THE AP PRECALCULUS EXAM 23:41

4M ago23:41

23:41

The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Precalculus is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Joey Lin to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready…

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640. GETTING READY FOR AP WORLD LANGUAGE EXAMS 28:22

4M ago28:22

28:22

The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and the various AP World Language and Culture exams are no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Milton Alan Turner to share valuable strategie…

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639. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Wise 15:49

4M ago15:49

15:49

AKA Not Just Your Tutoring Software–It’s Your Tech Team What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Wise? How does Wise work? Who currently uses Wise? What kinds of outcomes do users experience? What should someone curious about Wise know about it? ABOUT WISE Founded by a former test prep tutor, Wise is a feature-p…

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UBS’ Paul Donovan on Tariff Trouble, Swiftonomics & Republican Swings | #579 51:09

4M ago51:09

51:09

Today’s guest is Paul Donovan, Chief Economist of UBS Global Wealth Management. In today’s episode, Paul discusses the impact of structural changes in the economy, particularly in relation to flexible working and demographic shifts. The discussion also touches on the disparities in innovation between the US and Europe, the ongoing trend of spending…

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638. MENTAL MATH AND AUTOMATICITY 25:25

4M ago25:25

25:25

Mental math trains working memory, boosts confidence, supports faster problem-solving, enhances number sense, and facilitates everyday calculations. So why do so many teachers deemphasize this valuable academic and life skill? Amy and Mike invited educator Mike McGibbon to explore the value of mental math and automaticity. What are five things you …

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Francois Rochon - Outperforming the Market for 30+ Years Through Patience, Humility & Rationality | #578 1:04:07

4M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Today’s guest is Francois Rochon, the President of Giverny Capital, which has returned over 15% per year for over 30 years. In today’s episode, Francois walks through the influence of Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett on his investment philosophy. He highlights three principles that have helped him navigate market cycles in his career: patience, humil…