Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte

The Many Faces of Return: Understanding Investment Performance

In this episode of Saturday Morning Muse, Andy delves into the basics of investment returns, emphasizing the importance of understanding different types of returns such as nominal, real, holding period, and total returns. The discussion also touches on the historical development of return calculations and the significance of the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in comparing investments over time. Andy encourages listeners to be informed and critical of marketing materials that may present misleading return figures.

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Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte

Understanding Inflation: When Money Loses Its Power

In this episode of Saturday Morning Muse, Andy explores the concept of inflation, its historical context, and the implications of monetary policy on everyday life. He discusses the various types of inflation, including demand-pull, cost-push, monetary, and expectational inflation, and illustrates these concepts with historical examples, particularly the Great Recoinage of 1696. Andy emphasizes the importance of understanding inflation to make informed financial decisions and highlights the complexities of monetary policy.

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Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte

The Moral Dilemma of Interest

In this episode of Saturday Morning Muse, Andy explores the historical tension between the moral objections to charging interest and the economic necessity for credit. It traces the evolution of interest from ancient civilizations, through religious prohibitions, to modern acceptance, highlighting the innovative financial practices that emerged to reconcile these conflicting views. The discussion emphasizes the ongoing challenge of balancing the need for credit markets with concerns about exploitation and inequality.

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Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte

Interest: The Price of Money

In this episode of Saturday Morning Muse, Andy discusses the concept of interest, exploring its fundamental role in economics as the price of time. He explains how interest rates are determined by factors such as inflation, real returns, and risk compensation. The discussion also covers the calculation of simple interest and the implications of understanding interest for personal financial decisions. Temte highlights the historical moral dilemmas surrounding interest and emphasizes its significance in modern economic systems.

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Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte Saturday Morning Muse Andrew Temte

The Crusades, the Knights Templar, and Modern Banking

In this episode of Saturday Morning Muse, Andy explores the historical roots of banking, tracing its origins back to the Crusades and the role of the Knights Templar. He discusses how the need for secure wealth storage during the Crusades led to the development of early banking practices, including the issuance of letters of credit. The conversation also delves into the evolution of usury laws and their implications for modern banking, highlighting the ongoing relevance of these historical developments in today's financial landscape.

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