What Readers Are Saying

"Merriman and his band of merry men have changed my life. Thank you so much to the whole team. PS: Chris, I would love to be half the teacher you are some day."

"My husband, Russell and I started listening back around 2010-11. Among the podcast, the website, and his books, Paul has quite literally changed our whole outlook and our lives! Can't ever thank you enough, Paul."

"The tools and content you provide have changed my life! In particular, the quilt charts, the lifetime investment calculator, and the summaries from Chris on the 2 funds for life strategy have been most impactful. I have passed on your content to everyone I know — several are work friends who just had babies."

"I cannot thank you enough for the impact you've had on my life and my loved ones' lives as well. I sleep better knowing that the hard work you, Chris, Daryl, and the whole team have put in has put us on the right track for the long term. Finding you all has truly been a blessing."

"Thank you for your commitment Paul… can't begin to tell you how much you have helped me. Confidently retired this week thanks to you…"

"Your education has taken away all the financial worries I have about my retirement. Thank you, Paul!"

"I am a 16 year old from Bainbridge Washington. I have listened to every single one of your podcasts up to the bootcamp series. I have also read your book, 'We're talking millions.' Because of the knowledge I have learned from you, I was able to convince my parents to meet with a financial consultant and now they have opened a Roth IRA."

"I found you when I was 19. I'm 30 now and married and we have $203,000 in invested assets and contribute around $42k annually — and only have our mortgage to pay off. I manage it myself following your guidance. Thank you!"

"I am grateful that a friend of mine introduced me to your work, and humbly thank you for guiding me to responsibly manage an inheritance, and specifically implement The 4 Fund strategy as a major component of it. You have also inspired me to teach my children (with your book) and in sit downs with them how to invest now (they're 16 and 19)."

"I want to thank the team at the MFEF for all the work and dedication you are putting in the mission. Thanks to you, I learned about the small cap value premium and discovered Larry Swedroe and Ben Felix. Being only 23, this has changed the course of my financial future."

"I have so much to learn and in my mid 60's with a husband still working I've taken on creating a taxable account with M1. I'm mustering the courage to move away from an advisor and transfer an IRA to save on fees and have some control. I know and trust the research that you've all done."

"I'm helping my parents with flexible distributions and now I've got my 10 year old son investing in best-in-class ETFs for his Roth IRA (with earned income of course)."

"I just discovered you and your program from a mention in a FB investing group and just watched the first video in your bootcamp. WOW — you are an amazing teacher. I learned so much. I've been haphazardly investing since 1994. After all these years and for the first time I understand diversification. You are a gem."

"I am a 72 year old retired physician and manage our portfolio after trying 4 different money managers over the years. I must say that your kindness, teaching skills and foundation mission are a huge boon to young and old alike. The information you and your volunteers provide is powerful and first rate. Bravo to a job well done."

"I watch a TON of investment-related YouTube content (and yes, I've filtered out the 'bad' ones over time as I got more awareness). This was one of the most informative, thought-provoking, and useful content I've seen."

"A wonderful, quality, laudable discussion. Paul Merriman is a sage and a national treasure. As a DIYer, I know I have learned so much valuable information from him."

"I'm inspired by your teaching gifts and enthusiasm. You and Chris and Daryl have turned me into an obsessive listener of your online content several hours daily. You've opened up my world of investing and I only regret not knowing 10% earlier in my life of what I've learned from you all in the past few months."

"Paul, I have been searching the internet endlessly to learn more about responsible investing. This is the first series I came across that provides practical information presented by a knowledgeable individual who is not trying to take advantage of me. It is incredibly valuable, thank you for doing this!"

"Paul, Daryl and Chris — you guys are beyond amazing. I have been listening to you guys for the last 4 years and you have been phenomenally consistent in your messaging. Based on your podcasts, I have somewhat adopted the method Chris' daughter is using — US total market, US SCV, International total market & International SCV. I am old enough (61 yo) to understand that I am in it for the long run."

"You and the team have put together such a nice package on historical results of factor/asset class investing. It's really easy to read the portfolio histories with the quilt charts, tell-tale charts, the tables of returns. It's really a great body of work and foundation you have created."

"We know that small cap value will be a bumpy ride. Fortunately in recent times, the bumps have been upward. Roughly 25-30% of my and my kids' retirement portfolios are in small cap value (AVUV), and I have you and your colleagues, Mr. Merriman, to thank for it."

"I want to applaud Chris Pedersen's work and book on Two-Funds-4-Life. I was a UBH investor, and 2FL in my retirement accounts has greatly simplified my life and I don't worry about my accounts anymore (and I look at them a lot less)."

"Thank you sincerely Paul for the great clarifying and educational questions, Daryl for your hard-earned reputational support, and to Chris for an amazing presentation of data-driven analysis and recommendations which I have been waiting for to prop me up with my own portfolio decisions and also help plan portfolios for my two 20-something nephews."

"There is a Certified Financial Planner who wanted our church to move our pastor 403b funds to his company. I let him run a full analysis on the US 4 Fund from your website. He called me to tell me that they have never run an analysis on a better portfolio. He recommended I keep doing what I am doing."

"Thanks to your hard work educating us, taking control of my retirement portfolio has given me so much confidence and relief that my financial future is as secure as can be, risk adjusted of course."

"Thanks to you I've cleaned up my personal brokerage account and old IRAs and simplified them. I appreciate the way you helped us see that investing can be straightforward — once I set up a formula I wanted, I know easily where each extra dollar will be invested."

"Thank you for the many years of financial education; the podcast and website have been an invaluable resource to me. I deeply respect the mission of improving financial knowledge to the public and certainly agree with the mantra that knowledge is power."

"Your programs and research have helped me understand the value of factor diversification and strategies for safe withdrawal rates, an incredible gift in these times. I have sent your book to every young person I know under the age of 35. And you are an inspiration to me about how to use our experiences and gifts to be a blessing to others in our later years."

"Many thanks for all you do. You are a trooper, Paul. Broadcasting from a hospital is way above and beyond expectations. I have been a faithful listener for over 10 years, but never fancied the simpler portfolios or found a role until today."

"As a 64 year old who didn't prioritize saving and investing in the stock market until very recently, I'm incredibly grateful for you and your team. The fact that you so generously share your knowledge, experience and research results for free, with the goal of helping everyone who will listen — is amazing and awe inspiring."

"I am glad you wrote a column in MarketWatch. I read it, followed the bread crumb trail to your website and became an aficionado. You were the rare gem in MarketWatch. I canceled my subscription (after about 3 years) and donate to your foundation instead."

"Where have you been all my life? Although my husband and I have done well with our small business and real estate investments, we did not have the confidence to invest in the market. Your information and resources have empowered us to get on the road to more diversification and an even brighter future."

"Thank you Paul, thank you Chris for the generosity of sharing this content. It is priceless for those of us who study it, but most importantly use it to take action to invest and bless others with the fruit of the investments."

"I love following your work. I use things I've learned from your materials and videos when I work with clients, and you've inspired me to want to find ways to give back as well. I'm sure other financial advisors who follow you feel the same way."

"Thank you sincerely for the great clarifying and educational questions. The high value and generosity that you three gentlemen give us time and again, is immeasurable and greatly appreciated!"

"Merriman Foundation is putting out the best content out there! Real tools and advice. Talk as long as you want guys, I'll be listening."

"Thank you so much for all the work that you do. I plan to teach my husband and extended family everything I have learned!"

"Thanks for the knowledge that you and your organization have shared with me and my family over the past 20 years. You have made an incredible difference in the whole family finances."

"I want to express my deep thanks for your work in financial education! I wish that I came across your work much earlier, but as I was retired from my tech role three years ago, I have put as much of your advice as I could into action and have urged my adult children to do so as well!"

"Thank you for the 2026 Best in Class updates and all the other resources you put so much effort into! I've been following Paul's work for nearly 2 decades and have a nice portfolio as a result. The 'Ultimate Buy and Hold' is quite comforting given the current concentration in the S&P and Total Market."

"Thank you Paul and Chris. Your research has made me a better investor. It helped me stick with a plan and actually understand diversification. I always wondered how a 100% S&P portfolio is considered diversified when roughly 40% sits in the same 10 stocks."

"Great video Paul, and great to have Chris back. In the past, I was a big believer in Vanguard, but your work has convinced me that Avantis and DFA are worth it. Thank you for all your work. I look forward to each video. You guys and Daryl are all great."

"One of the best sessions I have attended over several years of the speaker series! Paul did a great job, and very informative. I learned so much, and opened up lots of links for future learning. Thanks!"

"What an amazing lesson in factor-based, rational investing! A must for every long-term investor! Great thanks to the two legends."

"Fantastic content and so thankful you are doing this work!"

"Recently found Mr. Merriman in a joint interview with JL Collins and have since been reviewing his website. What a fantastic resource for DIY investors like me! I have been adjusting my 401k every 3 months based on returns for years, but now I'm ready to stick to the 4-fund international plan outlined on his site. Thank you so much for all your hard work, Paul!"

"Erin, that was an absolute Masterclass in investing! Thanks for bringing Paul to your channel. I enjoyed seeing how comfortable you and the guest were and how the conversation naturally flowed between topics. I'm going to make sure my kids view this. Advice and insights for LIFE!"

"One of the best of this kind of interviews I've heard. Filled with information and insights. Like hearing two old friends just talking. Mutual respect goes a long way."

"Paul, Chris and Daryl, love your channel and continue to learn so much. I have reallocated around 2 years ago after watching your channel to include 6% small value and 10% large value. Thank you so much for all you do! And love all the data you share!"

"I am an engineer and can't stop watching all of your podcasts/videos!"

"Paul and the team have been one of my north stars in my journey to learning in the past few years. I'm so grateful for all the information that the Foundation provides. Even if I don't understand all of it I can still make my decisions based on various articles, videos and portfolios that are offered on the site to feel 'good enough' about my choices. Thank you all."

"You can never give me too many Q & A's. I truly respect your opinion on all topics. I listen to all podcasts and I try to read each of your MarketWatch articles. Long live Paul!"

"Paul, you came to Western Washington University 2 years ago and I was president of the financial management association. You held a conversation hour for the students and handed out packets with historical data. You were one of the most influential speakers our club ever had, and what you had to say stuck with me."

"You give people confidence in the long-term functioning of the stock market and make it easier not to get frightened by all the noise out there. Especially here in Europe many people don't have this confidence and shy away from investing in stocks. Thank you so much for all you do."