Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Another day, another batch of money myths to bust. In this episode of Talking Real Money, Tom and Don take a sledgehammer to the idea that becoming a millionaire requires some kind of magical stock picking, insane work hours, or pure dumb luck. Spoiler: It’s mostly about spending less than you make, investing consistently, and avoiding financial landmines (like high-interest debt). A listener asks...

In this episode of "Talking Real Money," hosts Don McDonald and Tom Cock address recent market volatility, emphasizing that despite headlines about markets "nosedives," the S&P 500 is still up 10% over the past year and only down 4.4% year-to-date, while globally diversified portfolios have fared even better with minimal losses. They criticize alarming financial media headl...

In this episode of "Talking Real Money," hosts Don McDonald and Tom Cock discuss generational investing habits, highlighting concerning trends among Gen Z investors who start investing at age 19 but often engage in high-risk behaviors like options trading (36%), cryptocurrency (42% of males), and margin trading (25%). Unlike Baby Boomers who typically began investing at age 35, Gen Z rel...

It's another Friday Q&A: 1:38 Inherited IRAs Explained 3:34 Understanding Short-Term Bond Funds 5:35 Tax Implications on Dividends 6:40 The Role of Mid-Cap Investments 8:43 Withdrawal Strategies in Retirement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, Tom and Don explore retail investors' behaviors influenced by users of platforms like Wall Street Bets, highlighting the risks faced by inexperienced traders in high-stakes options trading. We discuss poor investment habits driven by overconfidence, the gambler's fallacy, and behavioral finance pitfalls such as confirmation bias. We reiterate the importance of diversific...

Today, Don and Tom discuss essential personal finance and retirement planning strategies. They consider the future Social Security and the need to delay benefits for better payouts while advising young listeners to establish emergency funds and utilize 401(k) and Roth IRA benefits. The hosts caution against misleading bank promotions and provide personalized insights on listener questions regardin...

In this episode, we examine the intersection of politics and investing, highlighting how emotional decisions can cloud judgment. We discuss politically-themed ETFs, like the Defiance MAGA ETF, emphasizing that economic factors, not political trends, influence stock prices. Listeners are cautioned against allowing political affiliations to dictate investment strategies, as this can lead to underper...

In this episode, we examine the key principles of constructing an investment portfolio, focusing on asset selection tailored to individual needs. We address listener questions about foundational components like stocks and bonds, featuring Paul Merriman's four-fund model for balanced diversification. The conversation includes the value of international investments and real-life scenarios illus...

In this Q&A episode, Don and Tom address listener questions about comparing Vanguard funds with Avantis Global Equity Fund, review an Army officer's retirement portfolio, provide debt management guidance for a young professional, discuss options for handling an old 403(b) plan, and explain fund benchmark comparisons for Dimensional Funds. [0:04] Introduction and explanation for Q&A fo...

In this episode of "Talking Real Money," Don and Tom discuss investment risk using "volatility scores" to compare investments. They break down how the ARK Innovation ETF's higher returns come with extreme volatility and steeper losses compared to the Vanguard Total World Stock Index. They answer listener questions, suggesting a fee-only fiduciary advisor to someone with a...

From Saturday's second radio show hour: 2:04 Magical Technology and Reality 3:05 Understanding Risk in Investing 5:42 Measuring Investment Risk 7:20 The Importance of Drawdown 13:25 The Volatility of Investments 14:12 Comparing Investment Options 16:55 Live Questions and Listener Insights 18:04 Portfolio Rebalancing Strategies 19:41 Call for Listener Engagement 21:50 Evaluating Investment Por...

Saturday's first radio hour becomes a podcast: 1:56 The Truth About Money Lies 3:18 Jonathan Clements' Insights 5:04 Coping with Financial Anxiety 7:01 Automating Your Finances 12:03 Tax Efficiency in Investments 18:36 Finding a Professional Fiduciary 22:21 Planning for Future Financial Care 31:13 Jonathan Clements' Final Advice 34:04 Understanding Rebalancing Risks Learn more about...

In today's episode: 0:58 Introduction to the Dow Debate 2:11 The Dow's Calculation Explained 4:04 Big Tech's Influence on the Dow 5:17 The Dow's Media Presence 6:27 Ownership of the Dow Jones 8:07 The Arbitrary Nature of Indexes 11:21 Trusting Financial Indexes 14:18 Evaluating Investment Choices 17:06 Risks of Complex Funds 20:04 Reassessing Retirement Strategies 22:05 Tax Imp...

Thanks for the great questions (and a comment): 1:29 Long-Term Disability Insights 5:15 Fidelity Target Date Funds Discussion 10:59 Annuity Portfolio Changes 13:02 Understanding Wrap Accounts 16:49 Navigating Long-Term Care Insurance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

In today's episode: 0:33 Investing Truths Uncovered 1:38 The Fallacy of Active Management 2:55 Diversification and Market Cycles 5:23 Autopilot Investment Strategies 6:58 Trusting Long-Term Data 9:19 Historical Returns Explained 11:49 The Power of Index Funds 13:03 Listener Questions and Insights 19:03 Young Investors and Market Perceptions 19:59 Understanding Fund Expenses Learn more about y...

Now, the rest of the Saturday show: 0:52 The Biggest Heist in History 0:54 Financial Literacy: Are We Really Educated? 2:35 The Three Questions of Financial Literacy 5:10 Disappointment in Financial Knowledge 5:16 Finding a Financial Advisor 7:06 Preparing for Your First Advisor Meeting 10:02 Researching Your Potential Advisor 11:41 Understanding Fees and Conflicts of Interest 13:21 Selling Your H...

From Saturday's show: 0:34 US Stocks Take a Tumble 4:44 Market Sentiment and Performance Analysis 7:41 Listener Call: Financial Concerns 12:00 Navigating Taxes and Annuities 14:57 Personalized Financial Planning Importance 17:46 The Challenge of Finding Good Advisors 19:04 Fiduciary Responsibilities and Advisor Selection 24:50 Decumulation Strategies for Retirement 33:01 The Value of Professi...

In today's podcast: 1:27 Vanguard Cuts Fees 2:34 Small Savings for Investors 6:54 Customer Service Concerns 8:22 Index Fund Clarity 13:14 Dog Food Comparisons 13:43 Listener Questions Begin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

In today's podcast: 0:44 Active vs Passive Fund Management 1:40 The Bond Fund Debate 3:01 Active Bond Management Challenges 4:20 Vanguard's Role in Bond Funds 5:46 Comparing Bond Fund Quality 6:55 The Risks of Active Management 13:34 Questions and Comments 21:59 Self-Directed IRA Considerations 24:22 Personal vs Business Investments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Here's Saturday's second radio hour: 1:48 Super Bowl Betting Frenzy 15:55 Long-Term Care Insurance Insights 17:39 Evaluating Pet Insurance Costs 31:52 Understanding Charitable Distributions 36:51 The Podcast Production Team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Here's the first part of Saturday's show: 0:48 Real Money Basics 3:22 Hedge Funds Uncovered 5:15 The Role of AI in Investing 6:12 Listener Questions Begin 18:26 Performance and Client Feedback 19:37 Understanding Fund Comparisons 31:07 Navigating Closed-End Funds 33:22 Strategies for Retirement Income Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Cli...

We needed a special edition: 0:23 Opening the Question Pile 2:58 Historical Reflections 4:59 Tangents and Technology 9:31 Retirement Fund Strategies 11:19 Health Savings Accounts Explained 13:35 Roth Contribution Changes 15:23 Understanding Fund Prices 18:54 Clarifying Roth IRA Confusion 23:04 The Role of Financial Advisors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions?...

Here is this week's Q&A: 1:41 High-Yield Savings Accounts Discussion 5:05 Retirement Income Strategies 8:52 Transforming Your Retirement Portfolio 13:35 Rollover IRA Insight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

In today's big show: 0:33 Social Media and Financial Advice 1:14 The Risks of Finfluencers 2:20 Regulation Gaps in Financial Advice 5:52 Shaquille O'Neal's Financial Evolution 7:14 Finding Reliable Financial Sources 8:55 The Appeal of Meet Kevin 11:51 Dave Ramsey's Legal Troubles 13:09 Kevin's Family Life and Career 14:52 Engaging with Our Listeners 21:44 Navigating Avanti...

From our live event in Bellevue, WA: 1:32 Empowering Young Investors 2:52 Overcoming Financial Knowledge Gaps 4:05 Navigating Financial Information 5:16 Transition to Tom's Return 6:16 Food and Networking at Retire Meet 7:18 Weather Woes and Retirement Concerns 10:02 Addressing Retirement Purpose 13:03 The Importance of Social Security 14:17 Tom Takes Over the Show 14:50 Callers and Financial...