Applied Financial Thinking: Frameworks for Smarter Investing

This presentation explored how insider trading disclosures, particularly Form 4 filings and legal insider purchases, can provide useful real-world signals for investors when analyzed thoughtfully. It also introduced a practical framework for approaching the stock market, including concepts such as Mr. Market being “bipolar” (Warren Buffett), second-level thinking, and applying first principles. Through class discussion and videos from Robinhood and Howard Marks, the session emphasized that investing is difficult and requires discipline, patience, and independent thinking. Finally, the presentation highlighted Buffett’s business-focused mindset by asking whether a company earns returns on invested capital greater than its cost of capital.