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Reasons to be Thankful - but still cautious

Theodore Hicks · 25 September 2026

Author · Financein
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Key topicsStarting My Career in a Market That Kept Proving the Textbooks WrongTheodore began his career determined to become a financial planner rather than a stock picker, only to enter the profession as markets delivered three consecutive years of losses during the dot-com crash. When the global financial crisis followed several years later, he discovered that faithfully applying conventional industry guidance still did not protect investors from severe portfolio damage. That experience forced him to question the theories he had been taught and begin searching for an approach that responded to real market evidence rather than assuming diversification would eventually solve every problem. This conversation gives investors and financial professionals an honest look at how difficult market periods can reshape a career, challenge accepted wisdom and lead to a more defensive way of thinking about wealth. Protecting wealth requires guardrails before growthThe financial industry often celebrates the highest returns, but for people in their fifties, sixties and beyond, avoiding a devastating loss may matter more than capturing every market gain. Theodore’s approach begins with protecting the wealth a client has already spent decades accumulating before deciding how aggressively it should grow. He describes this as “guardrails and growth”, a priority shaped by seeing traditional strategies fail during major market shocks. Listeners gain a practical framework for judging investment decisions by whether they protect the life the money must support, not simply whether they outperform in a good year. The investment advice most professionals still follow was never designed for today's marketsFinancial advisors, planners, and finance students are still taught Modern Portfolio Theory as the foundation of investing, despite it being built on assumptions developed decades ago. Theodore examines where the theory succeeds, where it falls short in real-world markets, and why practitioners should question long-held industry beliefs rather than treating them as untouchable doctrine. This is a conversation about improving investment thinking rather than defending financial orthodoxy. View all topics →

About Theodore Hicks

Theodore Hicks, podcast guest

Wealth Management Author, Financial Planner and Market Strategist

20+ years Financial planning and portfolio management2 awards Winner for Evidence-Based Investing3 credentials CFP®, CKA® & CMT®MoneyShow Masters Symposium Industry speaker

Theodore Hicks is a financial planner, author and speaker whose approach to wealth management was shaped by experiencing some of the most difficult market periods of the past three decades.

He entered the profession determined to help people build thoughtful financial plans, only to begin his career during the dot-com crash and later guide clients through the global financial crisis. Despite following the established guidance promoted by major firms and academic theory, Theodore saw how quickly even a well-constructed financial plan could be undermined by severe market losses at the wrong stage of an investor’s life. That experience led him to question the industry’s default assumptions and develop a more defensive, evidence-based approach to portfolio management.

Today, Theodore helps investors navigate the point at which accumulated wealth brings greater complexity, higher stakes and less room for error. His work is particularly relevant to business owners, senior executives, professionals and retirees who have spent years building their assets but no longer want the responsibility of managing every investment decision themselves. He challenges the idea that investors must simply accept major losses, ride out every downturn and trust that markets will recover on a timetable that suits their lives.

Theodore is also the author of a highly regarded book written for both experienced investors and the next generation of financial professionals.

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