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Formerly Guiding Assets, Enterprising Investor is the flagship podcast of CFA Institute and the definitive program for the investment management industry. As stewards of the investment industry, Guiding Assets will feature intimate conversations with some of the most influential people from the world of finance about the topics that matter most to investment professionals. The show will also share crucial insights and best practices to help guide investors to make smart, ethical decisions. Enterprising Investor will continue to help build a better world for investors.

Host: Mike Wallberg, CFA

Producer: Mitchell Forst 

Jul 26, 2023

Ever wondered how your confidence level influences your decision making and how understanding this concept could be a game changer in the world of finance? Tune into our engaging conversation with Peter Atwater, author of  the new book The Confidence Map: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity. You probably know Peter as the thought-leader who coined the term 'K-shaped recovery.’ In this interview we navigate the intriguing facets of confidence mapping, from the two critical axes of certainty and control to the four quadrants — the Comfort Zone, the Stress Center, the Passenger Seat, and the Launch Pad — each providing unique insights into our behaviors and responses.
 
As our dialogue deepens, we explore how personal vulnerabilities can act as catalysts in decision making, shifting our focus to immediate concerns and diminishing strategic thinking. Peter introduces us to the concept of the 'five Fs,' a framework delineating our reactions to stress and providing strategies to evade the negative reinforcement loop of catastrophizing. This discussion serves as a critical reminder of our need to manage vulnerability and anxiety to make more informed decisions.
 
Our discussion then takes a leap into the world of finance, revealing how these concepts can significantly impact investment strategies. We dissect the five reactions to intense vulnerability — fight, flight, freeze, follow, and nihilism — and their crucial role in risk assessment and decision-making within the investment landscape. To cap it off, Peter shares invaluable insights from his own career journey, underlining the importance of understanding the crowd and its sentiment. So, join us for this insightful episode where we delve into the human psyche, its impact on our decision making, and the role it plays in the world of finance.