Take the Long View

Matt says Dave Butler is one of the most important figures in modern investing. Dave’s path to co-CEO of Dimensional was not a straight one. In fact, it required a detour to Istanbul. Enjoy this conversation taped in Austin, TX. Reaching a height taller than most (6’9”, by some accounts), it was almost inevitable that Dave Butler would play basketball. When an NBA players’ strike meddled with Dave’s professional tryouts, he accepted an offer to try out for a professional team in Istanbul. He nailed it, and for several years played overseas. Unfortunately, an injury derailed his career.  After taking a break to finish his MBA at Berkeley, his mother notified him that he had received a job offer on Wall Street. 48 hours later, Dave was sitting at a desk, learning the ropes at his first job in finance.   But after three years, Dave was disillusioned. The high-pressure culture around buying and selling felt futile. Dave opted to return to his hometown in California and possibly become a teacher and coach basketba