Investing for Life Podcast – James Marlay, Co-Founder, Livewire Markets

Livewire Markets Co-Founder James Marlay’s path into the world of investing is an unconventional one, as he shares with host Douglas Isles on the Investing for Life podcast.

While many go from school to university into corporate life, James chose a path less travelled – working in a remote hotel in a small fishing village in Mexico. “I wasn’t a great student... I’ve never had a really strong vocational drive.” But what he did know was that he was a “doer” and big on “experiencing things”.

James eventually found his spark, pursuing a business venture with his fellow Co-Founder, Tom McKay, interviewing listed companies. “We rolled the dice, and it worked out really well. And it was really motivating and rewarding.”

It was from these humble origins that Livewire Markets was born. Their mission was simple: to help investors make more informed investment decisions.

Despite the financial burden of starting a business and numerous knock backs, James stuck at it and took a long-term view. And his persistence in a crowded market paid off.
 
James, Tom and their team have grown Livewire Markets into Australia's number one website for expert investment analysis. With the announcement that Livewire has acquired Market Index, the business is now the largest independent provider of financial market information in the country.

In the episode, James reflects on his unlikely journey from a fresh-faced, young man in Mexico to the successful business leader he is today.

“I have great days where I feel like I'm living close to my best self, and then I have bad habits that I fall back into. But I think the intent is there, moving in the right direction.
 
“You can anticipate problems or challenges ahead of time – I think that's one of the things that comes with experience.”

Tune into this discussion to hear more on James’ journey and Livewire Market’s success, including:
 
- James’ experience growing up; 
- The Livewire Markets journey from start-up to success;
- The turning point for the business;
- Hosting key conversations, like Andrew Clifford with Hamish Douglass in 2019; and
- More details around the Market Index acquisition.
 
You can also learn more about Livewire Markets via this link: https://www.livewiremarkets.com



Investing for Life is hosted by Douglas Isles, Platinum Asset Management. If you would like to listen to Episode 1, where Douglas introduces the concept behind the Investing for Life podcast series, it can be accessed here. 

Investing professionally requires a long-term focus underpinned by a strong philosophy. At Platinum, three core principles underpin our investment approach: we look for companies that are facing temporary setbacks, investigate long-term change, and avoid the crowd. We believe these same three principles can also be applied to life and lead to better outcomes over the long run.

In this podcast series, Douglas explores each of these three principles with a variety of guests to discover the setbacks they have overcome, the changes they have made to improve their odds of achieving long-term happiness, and how they stand out from the crowd.

Disclaimer: Issued by Platinum Investment Management Limited ABN 25 063 565 006, AFSL 221935. This information is general in nature and does not take into account your specific needs or circumstances. You should consider your own financial position, objectives and requirements and seek professional financial advice before making any financial decisions.