NYT Bestseller David Epstein: Why Too Much Freedom Hurts Investors—and How Constraints Win
NYT bestselling author David Epstein argues that the modern investor’s biggest enemy isn’t risk—it’s unlimited choice. From 4 new ETFs launching daily to 77 task switches a day, Epstein lays out the behavioral science behind why constraints actually make us better decision-makers, better investors, and better thinkers.
Topics covered:
• Why constraints, not freedom, drive better investing decisions
• The 401(k) paradox: how more options lead to worse choices (and lower participation)
• ETF proliferation—nearly 4 new funds launching every day—and what it means for retail investors
• The cost of context-switching: 77 task switches per day and the “attention residue” problem
• How Microsoft’s Project Pink used constraints to ship better products faster
• Time-blocking, deep work, and applying behavioral science to your own portfolio
• Lessons from cancer-treatment research on how doctors (and investors) make decisions under uncertainty
David Epstein, author of “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better,” joins Andy Cross for this interview.
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