Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin
Demystifying Shareholder Activism and Why Some Investors Are Mad at Elon
03 Apr 2025
If you’ve got a 401(k) or invest using Nicole’s Index Funds and Chill approach, chances are you’re a shareholder in major companies like Berkshire Hathaway or Tesla—and that means you have power. You can vote on who runs these companies, how they operate, and where your money goes. But most of us don’t use that power, and while we sit it out, others are stepping in—often to push agendas, not better business. Today, Nicole is joined by Nell Minow—an expert in corporate governance—to break down what shareholder activism should be, what it’s becoming, and why your retirement account might be more influential than you think. Oh, and she’s also got some thoughts on Tesla and Elon Musk… you won't want to miss it. Here are resources from Nell on proxy voting: https://www.iconikapp.com/as-you-sow https://theshareholdercommons.com/potb/
Full Episode
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Find a co-host at airbnb.com slash host. I'm Nicole Lappin, the only financial expert you don't need a dictionary to understand. It's time for some money rehab. If you've got a 401k or if you're investing using my index funds and chill approach, you're probably a shareholder in some of the biggest companies in the world.
Companies like Berkshire Hathaway or Tesla, or maybe you're even invested into them directly. And that means you have the power over how these companies make decisions. Yes, you can vote on what these companies do, who runs them, and how they spend your money. Even if you're a fund investor, there's a growing trend toward pass-through or proxy voting. But here's the thing.
Most of us do not use that power. And while we're sitting it out, someone else is stepping in. And they're using shareholder activism not to boost company performance, but to push political agendas.
Right now, Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's company, one of the biggest and most stable in the world, is being targeted by what some experts are calling extremist proposals from far-right activist groups. If they succeed, it could completely change what corporate America is for. Are companies supposed to make money or take sides in a culture war?
Today, I'm joined by Nell Minow, one of the leading voices on corporate governance and someone who's been inside these battles for decades now. She'll tell us what shareholder activism should be, what it's becoming, and why your retirement account is more powerful than you think. Plus, Nell is a Tesla investor and has been very vocal about her thoughts on Elon. We'll get to that, too.
We have a lot to cover, so let's get started. Nell Minow, welcome to Money Rehab. Thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Very happy to have you here during shareholder activism season. I don't know if that's a season, but it feels that way.
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