episode: 118

The Index Investing Revolution: Lessons from “Tune out the Noise”

September 30, 2025

Smarter Investing with Index Funds

Join host Keith Matthews and co-host Marcelo Taboada as they take a fascinating deep dive into the origins and rise of index funds, inspired by the documentary “Tune out the Noise.” In this episode Keith and Marcelo explore how index and passive investing has evolved from a radical idea in the 1960s to today’s gold standard for simplified, cost-effective, and evidence-based portfolio management.

Go behind the scenes of “Tune Out the Noise” as they break down how the index fund revolution began in academia, overcame huge resistance from Wall Street, and ultimately changed the way everyday investors build wealth. Discover the pivotal roles played by innovators like David Booth, Jack Bogle, and Eugene Fama in shaping the landscape of modern investing.

Along the way, Keith and Marcelo share real-world stories from investors who changed their fates by adopting indexing, plus their own “lightbulb” moments in navigating the shift from active to passive investing.

For listeners feeling lost in the noise of investment advice, Keith and Marcelo offer clear perspective: focus on simplicity, discipline, and a long-term evidence based approach. Their message is a reminder that successful investing isn’t about chasing returns or complicated strategies, it’s about building a confident plan that empowers you to tune out the distractions and stay the course.

The Rise of Index Investing

Tune Out the Noise” a documentary on the dramatic rise and value of index investing (0.00)
Why index funds have “taken over” & what sets it apart from active management (3:11)
Real-life case studies: portfolios in 2004 vs. portfolios today (3:52)
The shifting habits of new generations of investors (5:03)
How and why the index fund revolution began in the 1960s–1970s (6:17)
The “data explosion,” academic research, and the birth of efficient market theory (7:00)
Overcoming resistance: why “settling for average” actually beats chasing returns (8:01)
How the first institutional and retail index funds launched (9:23)
The impact of Jack Bogle, David Booth, and other key figures (9:32)
Academic breakthroughs: Efficient Market Hypothesis and the power of data (9:40)
Demonstrating grit: the personal stories of index investing’s pioneers (10:28)
Dimensional’s early culture and how “shoe-selling morals” influenced business ethics (10:36)
Surprising backgrounds of industry icons: farming, family hardships, and more (11:34)
From active investor to passive advocate: why even industry insiders switched sides (14:06)
What simplicity really looks like in a successful investment portfolio (14:53)
The importance of low fees, broad diversification, and ignoring the noise (15:47)
Personal “aha moments”: how Keith and Marcelo embraced index investing (17:50)
Final takeaways: markets work, costs matter, and diversification is your friend (24:00)

And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112 Follow Tulett, Matthews & Associates on social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, and more! Follow The Empowered Investor on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram