Joshua Brown author photo

Joshua Brown

Joshua Brown is an American financial writer, blogger, and commentator whose work focuses on investing and markets. He wrote Backstage Wall Street, co-authored How I Invest My Money, and later published You Weren’t Supposed to See That. His blog, The Reformed Broker, has been read by millions of investors and advisors. ((https://www.cnbc.com/joshua-brown/?utm_source=openai))

Biography & Author's Journey

Joshua Morgan Brown built his reputation as a financial writer from the inside out. Educated at the University of Maryland, he earned his Series 7 license in 1997 while still in school and completed his bachelor’s degree in 1999. Rather than arriving through academic economics, he came up through the brokerage business, where years of firsthand experience exposed him to the incentives, sales culture, and narrative machinery of Wall Street. The decisive turn came during the 2008 financial crisis, when he began The Reformed Broker in November 2008 and used it to write candidly about markets, media, and the industry he knew best. ((https://www.cnbc.com/joshua-m-brown/?utm_source=openai))

Show More

Quotes

quote
The correct question is not how can I find the time to blog, rather, it’s how could I not?
-How Do You Have So Much Time to Blog?
quote
I’ve spent the first half of my life being underestimated
-but before I go…
quote
I’ve never been happier in my entire life but I’ve also never been so uncertain
-35
quote
Financial advice is the only business where you are better off giving customers what they need versus what they want
-Three Things That Will Never Change in Wealth Management
quote
Well, it happened. And then this morning the sun rose anyway
-Off the Lows ™
quote
It’s what I was born to do. I don’t know any other way to say it
-Carry on
quote
All of the value creation for investors comes from the actions they take in falling markets, not rising ones
-Value Creation
quote
Nothing makes a smart person angrier than the perceived success of those they know to be of inferior intelligence
-The stuff they don’t teach you in books

Discover more

Study Finance, Behavior & Memoirs

Study Finance, Behavior & Memoirs

LEARNING PLAN

Study Finance, Behavior & Memoirs

This plan bridges the gap between technical financial literacy and the psychological factors that drive market success. It is ideal for aspiring investors who want to master both the mechanics of wealth building and the behavioral discipline required to sustain it.

2 h 44 m4 Sections
Learn Investing, Finance & Economics

Learn Investing, Finance & Economics

LEARNING PLAN

Learn Investing, Finance & Economics

This comprehensive guide bridges the gap between personal money habits and professional investment strategies. It is ideal for individuals seeking to build generational wealth by mastering both market mechanics and the economic forces that drive them.

4 h 3 m4 Sections
Finance, Investing & Self-Improvement

Finance, Investing & Self-Improvement

LEARNING PLAN

Finance, Investing & Self-Improvement

This comprehensive guide bridges the gap between technical financial mastery and the psychological mindset required for wealth. It is ideal for individuals seeking to transition from basic saving to advanced portfolio management while cultivating the habits of high achievers.

2 h 34 m4 Sections
Master Personal Finance & Investing

Master Personal Finance & Investing

LEARNING PLAN

Master Personal Finance & Investing

Financial literacy is the foundation of a life lived on your own terms, yet it is rarely taught in traditional education. This plan is designed for individuals seeking to transition from basic saving to sophisticated wealth building by combining psychological insights with actionable investment strategies.

3 h 44 m4 Sections
Books Recommended by Michael Burry
BOOKS

Books Recommended by Michael Burry

Explore Michael Burry’s book recommendations to master value investing, decode market risk, and spot hidden financial opportunities before anyone else.

BeFreed team

I want to learn to invest

I want to learn to invest

LEARNING PLAN

I want to learn to invest

This comprehensive roadmap bridges the gap between basic financial literacy and sophisticated wealth management. It is designed for aspiring investors who want to move beyond speculation toward a disciplined, value-oriented approach to the stock market.

2 h 37 m4 Sections
Biz, Econ, Politics & Financial Freedom

Biz, Econ, Politics & Financial Freedom

LEARNING PLAN

Biz, Econ, Politics & Financial Freedom

In an era of economic volatility, understanding the intersection of policy and markets is essential for personal stability. This plan is designed for ambitious individuals seeking to bridge the gap between macroeconomic theory and practical wealth-building strategies.

3 h 9 m4 Sections
Naval Ravikant’s Top Take on Early-Stage Startups and Investments
BOOKS

Naval Ravikant’s Top Take on Early-Stage Startups and Investments

Books recommended by Naval Ravikant to achieve financial freedom through VC-backed startups.

BeFreed team

Community Voices

"Joshua Brown gives voice to what all investment professionals are—or should be—secretly thinking"

Michael Santoli

"Josh Brown is a CNBC contributor known for his sharp market insights and actionable investing strategies"

CNBC

"Joshua Brown may be the funniest writer on finance today"

Barron's

"Joshua Brown is a New York City-based financial advisor and author of the influential Reformed Broker blog"

InvestmentNews

"Brown’s Backstage Wall Street re-creates the boiler room retail brokerage culture of the 1990s and early 2000s in vivid color"

Forbes

"This particular list is curated by Joshua Brown, a New York City-based financial analyst who writes a blog called The Reformed Broker"

Fortune

FAQs about this page

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 1,000,000 Curious Minds

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
Start your learning journey, now