logo
episode-header-image
About this episode

Tom Gayner is the CEO of Markel Group and has run its investment portfolio for 35 years, beating the index by an astonishing 1.5% pa. This makes him one of the most successful capital allocators in the US stockmarket, yet he is under the radar. He explains why he holds 140 stocks, although the top 40 represent 80% of the value; why there are so few imitators of the insurance/equity and business investment strategy so successfully deployed by Berkshire and Markel; the simple way to analyse an insurance business; what he has learned from being on the boards of Graham Holdings with Warren Buffett and on the Coca Cola Company; and one secret of Warren Buffett’s success which you likely will not have heard before. Tom Gayner is anything but a plodder, but his thoughtful, modest and cautious approach to investing and life makes him a fantastic role model.

Up next
Oct 16
#52 The Traditionalist
Tim Guinness is the founder and Chairman of Guinness Global Investors. He has been in business 5 decades and has been managing money for 44 years. He has built up two firms, the first he sold and the second now runs $11bn. Age 77, he is still thinking about how to grow the busine ... Show More
59m 7s
Sep 18
#51 The Franchise Fan
Nick Train is a seriously thoughtful growth investor with a highly impressive 40 year track record. He invests in eternal franchises and takes a 20 year view. He says his ideal holding period is forever. He was early to recognise that high quality consumer brands were great inves ... Show More
1h 19m
Aug 21
#50 The Art Lover
Christopher Tsai is a deeply thoughtful growth investor. He became one of the foremost collectors of the works of Ai Weiwei, recognising their implicit value and deeply studying the artist. His concentrated portfolio reflects his attraction to growth stocks with Tesla his largest ... Show More
1h 17m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
522: Former Editor of the Financial Times on the Secret Story of the World's Greatest Disruptor
<p dir="ltr">Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 522, an interview with the author of <em>Gambling Man: The Secret Story of the World's Greatest Disruptor, Masayoshi Son</em>, Lionel Barber.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">In this episode, Lionel discusses his career and insig ... Show More
45m 37s
Nov 2024
Anthony Scaramucci: Elon, DOGE & America’s Fate Under New Leadership (w/ Salim Ismail) | EP #132
In this episode, Peter, Salim, and Anthony discuss the future of the Department of Government Efficiency, how long Elon will last in the White House, and how the new Administration should handle Bitcoin.  Recorded on Nov 20th, 2024 Views are my own thoughts; not Financial, Medica ... Show More
1h 47m
Jan 2020
Goldman Sachs CFO Stephen Scherr Recaps the Firm’s First-Ever Investor Day
This week, Goldman Sachs opened its doors for its first-ever Investor Day in its 150-year history. In this episode, Goldman Sachs CFO Stephen Scherr recaps the day and explains how leadership is trying to increase transparency with clients by releasing three-year financial target ... Show More
32m 46s
Feb 2025
Ray Dalio on AI, Job Loss & the Future of the Economy | #EP 148
In this episode, Ray and Peter discuss the changing world order, China vs. the USA, and Ray’s thoughts on the future of the US. Recorded on Feb 3rd, 2025 Views are my own thoughts; not Financial, Medical, or Legal Advice. Ray Dalio is a renowned investor, hedge fund manager, an ... Show More
1h 46m
Apr 2025
Barry Ritholtz: Cutting Through Financial Noise - [Making Markets, EP.58]
My guest today is Barry Ritholtz. As the founder & CIO of Ritholtz Wealth Management Barry manages assets of over $5B. He is also a famous author and commentator, fondly known as the 'Prickly Prophet of Wall Street' for his contrarian views. In this conversation, Barry shares the ... Show More
1h 10m
Nov 2024
Stan Druckenmiller: Inside the mind of a legendary investor
<p>This week, Nicolai Tangen visits Stan Druckenmiller in New York —&nbsp;one of the most renowned investors of our time, known for his insights into macroeconomics and markets. In this conversation, Druckenmiller shares his approach to major trades, like his groundbreaking bet a ... Show More
57m 56s
Jul 2024
693: Facts, Data, and Evidence: Knowing What to Trust or Can We Really Trust Evidence? (with Professor of Finance at London Business School, Alex Edmans)
Welcome to an interview with the author of May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases―And What We Can Do about It, Alex Edmans. In this book, renowned economist Alex Edmans teaches us how to separate fact from fiction. Using colorful examples, he hi ... Show More
49m 26s
Feb 2020
Pop Delusions: Dylan Grice on the golden age of duration, why economists are cargo cultists, and the anatomy of a forecast with Tobias Carlisle on The Acquirers Podcast
<p>Dylan Grice is the founder of Calderwood Capital Research. Before Calderwood, Dylan was the Head of Liquid investments at Calibrium AG, a private investment office based in Zurich, Switzerland. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Prior to joining Calibrium AG in 2014, Dylan was a part of the ... Show More
55m 23s
Feb 2025
"I Fast-Forwarded My Life 10 Years”: How Geo-Arbitrage 3X’d My Wealth and Changed My Life
<p>What if you could fast-forward your financial goals by ten years just by moving abroad?</p><p><br></p><p>That’s exactly what entrepreneur Rob Hoffman did when he relocated to Colombia, where his $3M net worth stretches as if it’s $9M.</p><p><br></p><p>Rob, a member of the Hamp ... Show More
32m 6s
Sep 17
1127: Lean Finance in a Volatile World | Damon Lee, CFO, C.H. Robinson
When Damon Lee reflects on his first conversations with C.H. Robinson’s CEO, he recalls how natural the alignment felt. “We spoke the same language. We were finishing each other’s sentences,” Lee tells us. For a finance leader whose ambition had long been to step into the CFO cha ... Show More
51m 37s