80 - Zero Interest Rates should not reduce your Discount Rate

Mental Models discussed in this podcast: Discount Rate Equity Risk Premium Second-Order Effects Please review and rate the podcast If you enjoyed this podcast and found it helpful, please consider leaving me a rating and review. Your feedback helps me to improve the podcast and grow the show's audience.  Follow me on Twitter and YouTube Twitter Handle: @TreyHenninger YouTube Channel: DIY Investing Support the Podcast on Patreon This is a podcast supported by listeners like you. If you'd like to support this podcast and help me to continue creating great investing content, please consider becoming a Patron at DIYInvesting.org/Patron. You can find out more information by listening to episode 11 of this podcast. Show Outline The full show notes for this episode are available at https://www.diyinvesting.org/Episode80 Interest Rates I discuss The Fed and their recent actions to lower interest rates to zero using the overnight lending rate.  I also cover the equity risk premium and second-order effects of zero interest rates.  Discount Rates Your Required Rate of Return Your need to save and invest can increase as rates fall Summary: When the Fed reduces interest rates to zero the first-order effect is a disincentive to save. Yet, zero interest rates should not reduce your discount rate because the second-order effect is because lower returns would increase your need to save money.