A Conversation with David Swensen

This week in WealthTrack’s series on Great Investors, Consuelo Mack features the never-before-aired portions of her wide-ranging interview with Yale’s renowned endowment chief, David Swensen. Among the topics covered are Swensen’s assessment of the new investment reality and where he is investing his and his family’s money.

Note: The transcript of this interview is not available yet, but will be posted here as soon as it arrives.

Source: WealthTrack, July 10, 2009.

Comments

[youngolf:]

Good man - Swensen. Wish we had more of him versus the common place swine in the business now, who've made a mockery of the word 'fiduciary'. It is a failure in our country's promotion of morality and religiousness that has led us down this path. People need a discipline to keep them themselves in check, otherwise they run like swine....like we just have.

Jul 27 08:53 AM

[Pauly B:]

I couldn't agree with Mr Swenson more. The individual has to do their own homework.

How many brokers advise you to even purchase a few puts in a portfolio becausemaybe you might need a little insurance in case there is major event?

How many say maybe we should go to cash because on the monthly SPX the moving averages have changed and a major downturn is in place? Or for that matter say maybe you should take a small part of your portfolio now because of this downturn and go short in a inverse ETF?

How many offer you a low cost ETF rather than an expensive mutual fund for that matter?

Nope, its all about sales of mutual funds, fat management fees, and asset allocation with continued funding.

Jul 27 09:20 AM