Episode 425: More Margin, SCHD, Safe Withdrawal Rate Realities And International Fund Considerations

Risk Parity Radio

In this episode we answer emails from Andy, El Yama and Paulo. We discuss a follow up to the question on margin accounts at Interactive Brokers in Episode 424, the use of SCHD fund as a large cap value fund in a risk parity style portfolio, the meaning of "safe" in "safe withdrawal rates" and the current popular obsession with international funds, as well as diversification considerations for using them. And an upcoming appearance on the "Afford Anything" podcast. And the famous SCTV parody "The Queen Haters."

Links:

Father McKenna Center Donation Page: Donate - Father McKenna Center
SCHD Analysis on Morningstar: SCHD Stock - Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF | Morningstar
Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary:
Dive into the murky waters of investment strategy as Frank tackles listener questions with his signature blend of expertise and irreverent humor. This episode peels back the layers on three critical investing topics that frequently trip up even experienced investors.
Frank first dissects the mechanics of margin accounts at Interactive Brokers, clarifying how leverage percentages work differently when withdrawing cash versus purchasing additional assets. With characteristic frankness, he explains why brokers might offer leverage limits up to five times an account's value while emphasizing that such levels represent "way more margin than anyone really needs or would want, unless they truly have a gambling problem."
The conversation shifts to dividend ETFs, specifically SCHD, which Frank analyzes not by its label but by its actual characteristics. He reveals how this fund functions effectively as a conservative value play that "sits right on the border between mid-cap and large-cap" with "an even lower average PE ratio than most value funds." This practical approach to fund classification—looking beyond marketing labels to actual investment behavior—exemplifies the podcast's commitment to clear-eyed analysis.
Perhaps most valuable is Frank's demolition of several sacred cows in retirement planning. He explains how safe withdrawal rates already incorporate worst-case scenarios, making additional conservative assumptions not just unnecessary but potentially harmful. "When people are talking about 3% or less withdrawal rates, they are really just doing bad forecasting," he argues, characterizing such excessive conservatism as "essentially leaving life on the table by not spending the money when you're alive."
The episode culminates in a masterful takedown of the current "fervor" for international stocks. Frank explains how currency fluctuations—not magical mean reversion—drive performance differences between markets, and why holding total market US and international funds provides minimal true diversification. "That is pretty much the least diversified way of using international funds against US funds," he notes, before offering practical alternatives for constructing a genuinely diversified portfolio across meaningful factors.
Want to support the show? Consider donating to the Father McKenna Center, which helps homeless people in Washington DC. Email your questions to [email protected] or visit riskparityradio.com.

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Chapters

1. Welcome to Risk Parity Radio (00:00:00)

2. Programming Note: Afford Anything Podcast (00:01:40)

3. Andy's Email: Understanding Margin Loans (00:04:30)

4. El Yama's Email: Dividend ETFs & SWR (00:12:15)

5. Paolo's Question: The International Stocks Fervor (00:21:44)

6. Closing Thoughts & Queen Haters (00:34:27)