The Secret Strategies of Billion-Dollar Portfolios | Wendy Li

And in case you missed it, check out last week's episode of Your Money Guide on the Side where we answer the question, How Much Can I Spend in Retirement? Wendy Li managed billions for New York’s top institutions — here’s what she thinks individual investors can (and should) steal from the pros. After leading portfolios for the Met Museum, UJA-Federation, and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Wendy now serves as CIO at Ivy Invest. She’s spent decades on the inside — and in this episode she’s walking us through how institutional investors actually make decisions, where regular people go wrong, and what it means to manage risk. 📚What We Discuss with Wendy: 🧠 02:17 — Institutions vs. individuals: why the ultra-wealthy play a different investing game 📉 06:28 — Risk vs. return: are you really being paid for the risk you’re taking? 📚 08:34 — Invest in what you know: learning by doing (and surviving your mistakes) 🪤 11:48 — Career course-corrections: mistakes, pivots, and staying in the game 🤝 15:28 — Trust but verify: what good investor relationships actually look like 💰 18:00 — The luxury of investing: identifying the how and the when to invest 🧾 20:32 — Portfolio allocation: managing your capital with intention 🚪 25:46 — Alternatives and access: knowing your place in a complex market 🕵️ 30:06 — Fund managers: who and how to choose 🛠️ 33:32 — Investing skills: humility, curiosity, and flexibility in the face of risk 🔍 36:58 — Where to learn: insider investment resources 🧰 42:18 — Practical takeaways: frameworks and tools you can use today 💡 What you’ll walk away with How institutions manage risk — and how to apply it to your own investing Why most retail investors misunderstand returns How to think long-term when markets are volatile What to ask before trusting a fund manager with your money How to approach alternatives without insider access The core skills every smart investor needs If you're game to support the show, leaving a quick review really helps — even one sentence goes a long way! You can also join thousands of others investment minded individuals in subscribing to my newsletter here . If this episode resonated with you, be sure to check out Episode 15, where Tyler breaks down the 7 steps to identifying your needs for a financial advisor.