Ben Carlson

5 Companies Make up 18% of the S&P 500. Should Investors Care?

Investors have an endless supply of things to worry about simply because we know more about the markets than previous generations of investors. The massive growth of technology stocks over the past decade or so gives many investors pause about how this impacts the market structure. In this piece I wrote for Fortune I look…

Talk Your Book: Small & Mid Cap Growth Stock Investing

Today’s Animal Spirits: Talk Your Book is presented by Conestoga Capital Advisors: We discuss: Why are small and mid-cap growth stocks so overlooked? The importance of quality when looking for smaller growth stocks The difference between small and large public companies How to pick stocks from a universe fo 2,500 companies More important: sticking to…

Markets Have ALWAYS Been Rigged, Broken & Manipulated

Every year the entire global financial system avoids complete and utter collapse the chorus of anger grows louder from a subset of people who claim markets are some combination of broken, rigged and manipulated. Markets are untethered from fundamentals and nothing more than a casino. Central bank intervention, massive stock buyback programs, the rise of…

Animal Spirits: What Makes People Happier Than Money

This week’s Animal Spirits with Michael & Ben is supported by YCharts: Mention Animal Spirits and receive 20% off your subscription price when you initially sign up for the service. We discuss: Why is wealth inequality getting so out of control? Will the next stock market crash only hurt the rich? Why the middle class has so much…