Ways to Wealth EP55: Rethinking Investment Strategies in the Age of AI, with Gertjan Verdickt

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Gertjan Verdickt!Gertjan is a Belgian academic and former market analyst who recently joined the University of Auckland. With a career spanning both academia and industry, he brings expertise in behavioural finance, financial education, and alternative investments. His work bridges the gap between theory and practice, drawing on extensive market analysis experience and in-depth research into asset classes like wine.The conversation explores the evolution of financial education in the era of AI tools such as ChatGPT, and why critical thinking now matters more than memorising financial formulas. Gertjan unpacks key behavioural finance concepts, including male overconfidence versus female caution in investment decision-making.They discuss investment philosophy, with Belgium as a case study of concentrated wealth outcomes and why that reinforces the need for diversification. Gertjan also dives into the world of alternative investments, highlighting wine as a viable but complex asset class, with average returns of 8.5 percent and real-world challenges like storage and liquidity.The discussion closes with reflections on today’s macro landscape, the persistence of US dollar dominance, and why assets such as Bitcoin, Apple, and gold are increasingly seen as alternatives to traditional currencies.Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #BehaviouralFinance #WineInvestment #AlternativeAssets #FinancialLiteracy #InvestmentPhilosophy #WealthBuilding #AIInFinance #MarketAnalysis #StartUps #DiversificationStrategy