Investing
A Yale Economist Read 50 Personal Finance Books. He’s Got Some Notes.
Personal finance gurus frequently depart from conventional economic wisdom, Yale SOM’s James Choi discovered, but their advice isn’t all bad.

Navigating a New Now: Investing in ‘Tough Tech’
A venture fund led by Katie Rae ’97 was providing the patient capital required for breakthroughs on major societal problems like climate change and community health. Then COVID-19 complicated their day-to-day work—and gave their efforts greater urgency.
Keeping Community in the Investment Equation
In this series, leaders tell stories about drawing on their core values in critical moments. For Lofton Holder ’90, grounding investing acumen in a connection to community builds trust and delivers returns.
A Passionate Startup Pitch Is Powerful—But Can Be Misleading
According to a new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Song Ma, those with cheerful and enthusiastic presentations are more likely to get venture capital funding—and less likely to build successful ventures.
Does A Mutual Fund’s Past Performance Predict Its Future?
A classic 1997 paper on mutual fund performance doesn’t describe present-day markets, Yale SOM's James Choi found.
Investing in Vietnam’s Future
Venture capitalist Eddie Thai ’12 says that the pandemic is doing economic damage to Vietnam’s globalization-driven tech sector, even as some companies in his portfolio see their valuations grow.
What the Plunge in the Stock Market Means for Individual Investors
We asked Yale SOM’s James Choi, who has examined the implications of academic research for personal finance, what studies say about how to respond to a market crash.
Aspiring to Be the Next Silicon Valley? Think Twice
A study by Yale SOM researchers suggests that when venture capital funding in a metropolitan area increases, industries with customers outside the region suffer and income inequality widens.
For Top Venture Capital Firms, Success Breeds Success
Most investing success is short lived, but venture capital is an exception, with top VCs beating the average year after year. A new study finds that consistent returns owe as much to a firm’s reputation and early luck as the smarts of its employees.
Companies Invest in Startups to Repair Weaknesses
A study by Yale SOM’s Song Ma shows that companies tend to invest in startups when they are struggling, in order to gain access to innovation and shore up an area of weakness.
Ranji Nagaswami ’86 on Telling Hard Truths
As chief investment adviser for New York City, Ranji Nagaswami ’86 delivered the unvarnished truth when she discovered unwelcome news about the city’s pension funds.