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In Episode 84, we welcome investor and entrepreneur, Howard Lindzon.\nHoward starts by giving us his background. He was a broker who felt the pain of the \u201987 crash. In the aftermath, he got the angel investing and entrepreneurial bugs. He\u2019s currently an investor in Robinhood, and he started StockTwits \u2013 which you might think of as Twitter-for-finance. He also runs a fund, Social Leverage.\nGiven that Howard has spent plenty of time in the public markets, Meb starts by asking about his public market framework, and how he approaches markets today.\nHoward tells us that he likes to see which investments are doing well, then try to join in \u2013 in his words \u201cclassic trend following.\u201d He uses the analogy of the great white shark and the pilot fish. Howard is a pilot fish, following the great white. He likes this approach as \u201cthere\u2019s so many ways the markets are rigged that I think it\u2019s best to just follow along the trends.\u201d Howard believes this approach of following the great whites also works in the private markets.\nMeb asks about something Howard wrote in regards to learning to invest \u2013 it was something along the lines of \u201copen an account, lose money, get a mentor.\u201d Howard expounds on that, focusing on how everyone needs a mentor. Howard wants to help other investors through his own writing and advice. He references Millennials, and how he wants to use tools to help them.\nMeb asks Howard\u2019s advice for people who want to learn to be better investors, and how to find a mentor. This leads to a conversation about Howard\u2019s site, StockTwits. Whereas Wall Street felt that people wouldn\u2019t share quality investment information (just keep it to yourself so only you can benefit), Howard felt that many people would want to share their good ideas. Many of these people do exactly that on StockTwits. So, Howard suggests finding someone there that matches your own investing style and temperament, who has a consistent, good track record, and just follow along.\nMeb asks which gurus Howard suggests following these days in order to get great information. Be sure to listen to this part to get the specific names.\nNext, Meb transitions the guys toward private investing. He asks for an overview on the blurring of the lines between private and public markets, and the development of the seed stage being open to individuals.\nHoward tells us things changed in 2007/2008 \u2013 it was \u201cthe cloud\u201d that was the catalyst, bringing down the costs of starting a company. He says now we\u2019re in a transition stage where many private companies are actually staying private for too long. He references Uber, saying how it feels a bit late for it to go public, but it\u2019s too big to be private.\nMeb asks about the realities of private market investing for listeners, noting how some of our pasts guests have had different opinions. Howard has some helpful thoughts you\u2019ll want to hear, but he notes that to be a great angel investor, you need to invest over multiple generations \u2013 20 years or so. You need this time to see an overall crop of investments work out.\nThis leads into a discussion of Howard\u2019s fund, Social Leverage. Howard gives us the details as to what they\u2019re looking for, as well as the fund goals.\nAs always, there\u2019s plenty more, including a discussion of when Bitcoin was less than $1, Howard\u2019s publication, The Peloton, and, of course, his most memorable trade. Not investing in Twitter and Zynga when he had the chance comes to mind.\nHear all the details in Episode 84.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices