CEO Sued, Anon Promos, & Learning from Success: Junior Mining Insights with Bill Powers & Brian Leni
In this episode of Mining Stock Education, Bill Powers and Brian Leni host their monthly discussion on junior mining investing. The conversation covers a wide range of topics relevant to both new and experienced investors in the mining sector. Bill and Brian respond to a listener’s question about the value of learning from investment successes versus failures, sharing personal stories and lessons learned from both. The discussion explores the challenges of knowing when to take profits, the risks of selling too early, and strategies for managing winners and losers in a portfolio. Advice for newcomers to junior mining is offered, including the importance of only investing what you can afford to lose, avoiding margin, and understanding your own financial situation. The hosts emphasize the need for skepticism regarding rumors, anonymous online accounts, and promotional activity in the sector. They discuss the importance of doing your own research and being aware of potential conflicts of interest. Bill and Brian share their perspectives on where we are in the gold cycle, the impact of macroeconomic factors, and how to manage expectations during bull and bear markets. Brian outlines his approach to position sizing, balancing risk and conviction, and tailoring allocations based on the type of mining company (explorer, developer, producer). The show addresses the issue of management accountability in junior mining, referencing recent lawsuits and the challenges of assessing management competence and intent. The conversation also touches on recent developments in Ecuador and how government actions can impact mining companies and investor decisions.
Notable Quotes:
“You really have to look at your failures and learn from them and adjust. That doesn’t mean you can’t learn from your successes too.”
“Don’t put more money in, even in a bull market, than you can afford to lose.”
“Skepticism is key—do your own due diligence, especially with anonymous accounts and online promotions.”
“Position sizing is one of the biggest things that has led to my success personally.”
00:00 Intro
00:21 Learning from success
01:09 Brian’s early investing lessons and the importance of taking profits
03:21 Taking profits too soon—can it hurt your portfolio?
05:08 Advice for new investors: risk management and avoiding margin
07:08 Skepticism, rumors, and due diligence in junior mining
13:14 Gold cycles, macro trends, and managing expectations
21:14 Position sizing strategies and risk allocation
31:00 Management accountability: Ascot Resources case and lawsuits
39:46 Spotting delusional or incompetent management
46:44 Ecuador mining climate and government risk
49:55 Final thoughts
