On episode 241 of Ask The Compound, Ben Carlson and Duncan Hill answer listener questions on whether private markets are capturing more of the economy’s biggest gains before companies go public, what that could mean for index funds and ETFs, whether paying off a 2.875% mortgage can ever make sense, and how AI could reshape careers in equity research. They also discuss how to diversify an all-stock portfolio as a growth-heavy account gets larger, the role of defensive stocks, and why economies need some inflation, what causes deflation, and why falling prices can become a problem. This episode is sponsored by Betterment Advisor Solutions. Learn more at https://betterment.com/advisors Take The Compound's 2026 audience survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LHC8QHD Compound Merch: https://idontshop.com/ Submit your Ask The Compound questions to askthecompoundshow@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA instagram: https://instagram.com/thecompoundnews Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecompoundnews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecompoundnews Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-compound-media/ Sign up for The Compound newsletter: https://www.thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Listen to our podcasts: TCAF: https://podcasts.thecompoundnews.com/show/TCAF/ Animal Spirits: https://podcasts.thecompoundnews.com/show/animalspirits/ Ask The Compound: https://podcasts.thecompoundnews.com/show/ATC/ Talking Wealth: https://podcasts.thecompoundnews.com/show/talking-wealth/ Talk with us about your portfolio or financial plan here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://ritholtzwealth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Investing involves the risk of loss. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be or regarded as personalized investment advice or relied upon for investment decisions. Ben Carlson, Bill Sweet and Duncan Hill are employees of Ritholtz Wealth Management and may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this video. All opinions expressed by them are solely their own opinion and do not reflect the opinion of Ritholtz Wealth Management. See our disclosures here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ritholtzwealth.com/podcast-youtube-disclosures/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Compound Media, Incorporated, an affiliate of Ritholtz Wealth Management, receives payment from various entities for advertisements in affiliated podcasts, blogs and emails. Inclusion of such advertisements does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof, or any affiliation therewith, by the Content Creator or by Ritholtz Wealth Management or any of its employees. For additional advertisement disclaimers see here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ritholtzwealth.com/advertising-disclaimers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #personalfinance #askthecompound #stocks #investing101 #wealth