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Excess Returns · Tuesday, August 25, 2026

The Role of Circumstances and Base Rates in Investment Decisions

Ian Cassel and Matt discuss the influence of personal circumstances and historical data, or 'base rates,' on investment decisions. Cassel argues that investors often prioritize unique stories over crucial historical data, and that base rates offer a vital framework for decision-making.

personIan Cassel

The tape

3 quotes
“You know, so, you know, I am completely open-minded to the fact that, you know, I kind of started my investing career, you know, during the .com bubble.”
“And I think the importance of base rates is that, you know, they provide us with a, a framework for making decisions.”
“And, you know, I think that's something that's really missing in the investing world.”
Heard on Excess Returns — “Only 2.7% Beat the S&P for 20 Years | Ian Cassel on What Elite Stock Pickers Do Differently”, published Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.06
The Role of Circumstances and Base Rates in Investment Decisions — Heardvine