Latest published articles

Book 4: The Heart of the Matter

In Book 4 of The Analects, we get to the core of everything Confucius taught. He talked about “humaneness.” It is a big word, but it basically means having a heart. It is the quality of being a decent human being.

Bogle on Equity Styles: Why Growth vs Value Is Like Tick-Tack-Toe

Book: Common Sense on Mutual Funds: Fully Updated 10th Anniversary Edition by John C. Bogle ISBN: 978-0-470-59748-4


If you’ve ever seen a Morningstar style box, you know what equity styles are. There’s a 3x3 grid. One axis is size: large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap. The other axis is style: growth, blend, value. Every stock fund gets placed in one of those nine boxes.

Book 3: Ritual and Music

In Book 3 of The Analects, Confucius focuses on the “how” of life. He talked a lot about rituals and music. If that sounds like boring stuff for an old-fashioned person, hang on. For him, it was about finding your balance in a messy world.

Book 2: Leading by Example

In Book 2 of The Analects, Confucius moves from talking about the individual to talking about how to lead. He believed that the best way to lead is by setting a good example.

Getting Your Mindset Right for Real Estate

The brain is a powerful thing. Once you put yours to work the right way, big things happen.

But mindset isn’t magic. Some people think if you just have positive thoughts, money will fall from the sky. It doesn’t work that way. You still have to do the work. I like to think of mindset as a mental tool. It helps you stay disciplined when things get boring or hard.

Book 1: Learning and Humaneness

We are starting with Book 1 of The Analects. This section is all about the basics. It is like the “getting started” guide for being a decent human being. Confucius jumps right in with a classic quote about learning.