Ben Felix

In this video Ben Felix warns that the explosion of actively managed and high‑fee ETFs—especially thematic, buffer, covered‑call, and single‑stock products—has created a wave of low‑quality “ETF slop” that buries sensible, low‑cost index options and makes long‑term investing harder. He explains why these complex, costly funds typically underperform and urges investors to stick with simple, low‑expense index solutions.

In this insightful video, Canadian CIO Ben Felix reflects on the tumultuous year of 2025, sharing his personal challenges and the unexpected resilience of the Canadian stock market amidst widespread economic concerns. He highlights essential lessons for investors, emphasizing the importance of staying the course and maintaining international diversification despite the allure of recent U.S. market trends.

In this video, Ben Felix explores the current concentration of the US stock market, where just seven stocks represent a significant portion of the S&P 500, raising concerns about potential economic repercussions reminiscent of past market bubbles. He emphasizes the importance of diversification and disciplined investing in navigating high valuations and concentration in the context of the ongoing AI boom, urging viewers to remain cautious yet informed.

In this video, Ben Felix shares his insights on "The Wealthy Barber," a classic personal finance book that's been updated for 2025, highlighting its engaging storytelling and essential financial lessons like saving and investing strategies. He emphasizes the book's accessibility for anyone looking to improve their financial literacy and encourages viewers to explore its valuable advice, all while maintaining his independence from the author.

In this comprehensive "Investing 101" video, Ben Felix, Chief Investment Officer at PWL Capital, demystifies the foundations of investing by explaining the significance of stocks and bonds, the challenges of inflation, and the benefits of a diversified portfolio. He emphasizes the power of low-cost index funds as a strategic approach to achieving long-term financial independence while navigating market volatility.

In this video, Ben Felix addresses common misconceptions about covered calls, emphasizing their detrimental impact on long-term wealth despite their perceived benefits, particularly in down markets. He critiques the increasing promotion of these high-fee financial products by unregulated creators, urging investors to remain cautious and informed when making investment decisions.

In this video, Ben Felix, chief investment officer at PWL Capital, explores the widespread misconceptions surrounding covered call funds and their potential detriment to long-term investors. Through analysis of performance data and investment strategies, he emphasizes the illusion of income generated by these funds while highlighting the risks and costs they impose on overall returns.

In this video, Ben Felix, chief investment officer at PWL Capital, explores the misconceptions surrounding covered call strategies, highlighting their inherent risks and long-term underperformance despite their high distribution yields. He explains how these strategies can mislead investors by providing what appears to be steady income while actually capping upside potential and exposing them to greater downside risks.

In this eye-opening video, Ben Felix discusses the concerning practices of Canadian banks regarding financial advice, revealing how sales pressures and compensation structures can compromise the best interests of clients. Drawing on investigative research and a recent survey, he emphasizes the importance of seeking qualified financial advisers who prioritize client welfare over sales targets.

In this insightful video, Ben Felix shares some of the most important quotes in investing, drawing on wisdom from renowned experts and practitioners. He emphasizes key principles such as saving, investor psychology, and the importance of having a disciplined investment philosophy, while also highlighting the psychological challenges investors face during market fluctuations.

In this video, Ben Felix compares two U.S. total market ETFs, VTI and DFUS, highlighting that while both provide broad market exposure, DFUS has outperformed VTI since its ETF launch in June 2021 due to its unique management approach that avoids the rigidity of index rebalancing. Felix emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open mind about investment strategies and suggests that modest improvements can be made to the traditional index fund model without dismissing its overall value.

In this video, Ben Felix, Chief Investment Officer at PWL Capital, shares his personal experience with investment scammers impersonating him and reveals the tactics they use to exploit unsuspecting individuals. He emphasizes the importance of education in recognizing and avoiding these scams, providing viewers with crucial insights on how to protect themselves from fraudulent investment schemes.

In this video, Ben Felix from PWL Capital analyzes 20 years of data on renting versus buying homes in Canada, revealing that financial outcomes are often more favorable for renters than many believe. By examining historical market trends across 12 cities, he demonstrates that, despite rising housing costs, renting has frequently allowed individuals to accumulate greater wealth over time compared to homeownership.

In this video, Ben Felix discusses the significant risks associated with holding concentrated positions in individual stocks, highlighting that a staggering 44% of companies in the Russell 3000 index have experienced catastrophic losses that were never recovered. He emphasizes the importance of diversification to mitigate idiosyncratic risk, explaining that most individual stocks underperform over time, and advocates for a more diversified portfolio as a smarter investment strategy.

In this video, Ben Felix explores some of the most controversial topics in personal finance, delving into the psychological and cultural factors that shape our beliefs about renting versus owning a home, income investing, and the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early). He emphasizes that understanding these controversies goes beyond financial trade-offs, as personal identities and emotional ties often influence decision-making and perceptions about financial choices.