Dan Villalon - Hands on with a Renaissance Man
Dan Villalon
Dan Villalon understands the technical elements of a variety of subjects including: investing, winemaking, surfboard construction, and homemade ukuleles. It’s one thing to understand a complex and intricate topic and another to have the ability to translate it in a palatable, understandable format the way Dan does.
During the pandemic, many people have started making things, bread being one of them. There is something liberating about using your hands to construct something. In this episode, Dan elaborates on one of his favorite quotes by renowned American physicist Richard Feynman. “What I cannot create I do not understand.”
More about Dan Villalon
Dan is the Managing Director and Co-Head of Portfolio Solutions Group at AQR Capital Management. In his role, he oversees the team responsible for advising clients on portfolio challenges, developing custom analysis and writing white papers and other research. Dan is also a member of AQR's Multi-fund Investment Committee, which oversees the design construction and implementation of multi-asset multi-strategy portfolios.
Key Topics
Intro (00:31)
Villalon’s work making wine (01:51)
Biggest takeaway from wine making (10:24)
What wine making taught Villalon about himself (12:42)
Villalon’s interest in physics (14:27)
How Villalon started to build and make things (15:50)
Villalon on making surf boards (18:31)
Making ukuleles (20:34)
Villalon’s podcast (21:46)
Describing hard concepts in simple terms (30:10)
Villalon on investment strategy (32:52)
Thanks for listening!
Be sure to subscribe now on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, or wherever you like to listen to podcasts.
Follow the Take the Long View Podcast on Instagram @takethelongviewpodcast and Facebook, and follow host Matt Hall on Instagram @matthallstl, Twitter @matthallhig, or on LinkedIn
Connect with the Hill Investment Group on Instagram @hill_investment_group, Facebook @hillinvestmentgroup, Twitter @takethelongview, and on LinkedIn
We love our listeners! If you would like to drop us a line or be a guest on the show, please contact Matt.