Don McDonald

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Financial talk radio veteran, Don McDonald and former host of Serious Money on PBS, Tom Cock, join forces to talk about real money issues. In each episode, they solve real money problems, dole out real investing (not speculating) advice, and really explain the financial issues that effect all of us. Plus, it's actually fun! Talking Real Money is a podcast designed to provide the real help we all need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).

Author

Don McDonald

Category

Business

Podcast website

talkingrealmoney.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Friday is Question Day 07.06.2024

This week's topics: 1:19 Company Stock Purchase Program Dilemma 4:43 Investing Strategies for a 24-Year-Old 7:06 Listener Input on IPOs and Conservative Fund Options 10:05 Retirement Planning with a Large Investment Portfolio 13:36 Investment Decision for a Late 30s Individual 16:06 Retirement Investment Planning for a 64-Year-Old 19:17 Strategy for Investing Proceeds from Property Sale Learn...

Vast Hidden Wealth 06.06.2024

In This Episode: 1:15 Inaccessible Home Equity 2:24 Tempting Yet Tricky Home Equity Options 3:31 Exploring New Financing Frontiers 4:01 The Evolution of Reverse Mortgages 5:07 Weighing the Home Equity Loan Dilemma 6:11 An Unconventional Option: Home Profit Sharing 7:11 Unpacking Home Profit Sharing Terms 8:45 Evaluating Alternative Financing Routes 9:21 Leveraging Home Equity Strategically 10:26 T...

The Dumb Dow Endures 05.06.2024

Topics in the episode: 2:02 The Dow Jones Industrial Average 5:23 Financial Second Opinions 10:35 Roth Conversions and Financial Planning 13:45 Trusting Financial Data 16:43 Financial Phone-In Questions 19:11 Vanguard Advisory Service Review 21:01 Managing Inherited IRAs 26:28 Diagnosis: Hodgepodge-itis 27:35 Importance of Financial Planning 33:09 Handling Unexpected Fees 37:59 Talking Real Money...

What's Your Happy Price? 04.06.2024

Today we discuss: 1:00 Money and Happiness 5:31 Second Opinions 12:50 Microphone Woes 27:04 Hodgepodgeitis 37:04 Retirement Account Diversification Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Your Brain on Money 03.06.2024

Here's what in this episode: 1:02 Understanding the Psychology of Money 2:32 Rethinking Financial Advisor Terminology 3:27 Rise of Financial Therapy Certification 4:17 Impact of Money on Mental Health 7:17 Overcoming Financial Anxiety 10:58 Addressing Financial Concerns & Ideas 14:09 Tips for Managing Investment Emotions 19:27 The Purpose of Life Insurance 20:59 Adjusting Investment Alloc...

New Questions Week 31.05.2024

In this week's Friday Q&A: 1:52 ETF Purchasing Best Practices 2:53 Avoid Overthinking and Minutiae 5:37 Making Financial Decisions and Pension Options 7:51 Investing Strategy and Career Reset 11:24 Comfort in Financial Decisions 14:45 Long-Term Saving for Family 17:16 Importance of Financial Planning 18:53 Pension Drawing Decision Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

Multi-Level Trading 30.05.2024

In this episode we discuss a trading staregy combined with a multi-level marketing scheme MLMs in general. 5:27 Second Opinions and Financial Decisions  8:49 Learning and Correcting Mistakes 12:37 Multi-Level Marketing and Trading Strategies  21:04 Warren Buffett's Timeless Advice 25:13 Investigating Ron Blue Investments 32:49 Researching the National Electrical Annuity Plan  36:38 The Gracel...

More Investing Mistakes 29.05.2024

In this episode, recorded on Saturday May 22: 0:04 Pre-Memorial Day Weekend Banter 4:00 Focus on Investing Mistakes with Christine Benz 4:54 Portfolio Building and Managing Mistakes 18:30 Being Patient vs. Hands-Off Investing 34:40 Discussing American Funds and Expense Ratios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Don't Trust, Verify 28.05.2024

In today's episode: 0:04 The Trust Issue 2:43 Custodians and Fiduciaries 3:12 Finding True Fiduciary Help 3:53 Fee-Only vs Fee-Based 5:43 Various Compensation Models 8:02 Understanding Terminology 10:52 Brokercheck.org Exploration 12:08 Where to Find Trusted Advisors 13:56 Vetting Financial Advisors 15:38 Insurance Companies and Investments 19:30 Dealing with Large Stock Gains 23:13 Dealing w...

Memorial Day Q&A 24.05.2024

In this episodes, Don answers listeners questions about: 3:15 Seeking a Fee-Only Fiduciary Advisor for Aging Parents 6:24 Uncovering Red Flags in Financial Advisor Disclosures 11:44 Evaluating the Dodge & Cox Income X Bond Fund 12:46 Importance of Reading Form ADVs for Investment Advisory Firms 18:17 The Aftermath of Removing Social Security 19:11 Understanding Mutual Fund Return Reports 21:24...

Affinity Fraud 23.05.2024

In this episode: 1:16 Affinity Fraud in the Military 3:54 Unveiling Investment Fraud in the Military 11:57 Building Trust in Financial Relationships 14:00 Maintaining Boundaries in Financial Relationships 19:33 Trusting Third-Party Sources for Investment Information 23:43 Retirement and Investment Strategies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

The Value of Good Advice 22.05.2024

Can a fiduciary fee-only advisor make you more money, even after expenses. Vanguard says, "yes!" We talk about some of their findings and more: 3:53 Cost-Effective Implementation and Rebalancing  6:20 Financial Future and Advisor Second Opinions  7:16 Asset Location and Withdrawal Strategies 9:00 Hodgepodge-itis and Portfolio Simplification 11:57 The Vanguard Experience 14:30 The Importa...

Roaring Kitty Returns! 21.05.2024

In this episode: 0.54 America's Obsession with New Media and Gurus 1:55 The GameStop Saga Begins 2:43 Reddit's Influence on GameStop Stock 3:33 Lessons from the GameStop Rollercoaster 5:20 Seeking a Second Opinion in Investing 6:19 The Stupidity in Following Stock Recommendations 7:03 GameStop Stock: A Question of Valuation 8:30 The Evolution of the Gaming Industry 8:54 What to Learn fro...

Money for Millennials 20.05.2024

We don't often have guests, but we do, from time to time, invite some of the best minds in money management to join us. Author and financial educator, Dan Solin spends time with us this week to share some wisdom from his latest book, Wealthier: The Investing Field Guide for Millennials. We discuss buying a home versus renting, saving and investing for retirement, and the future of Social Secu...

Tom and Roxy Qs 17.05.2024

On the week's question and answer session, Tom and Roxy take written questions from listeners about: Social Security spousal benefits. Moving Emergency Cash Short-Term Cash Options Portfolio Diversification AVGE vs. BND Allocation Real Estate Sales and Tax Planning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Retirement Income Evolution 16.05.2024

Was retirement really better in thge past? Have 401k plans been a retirement income benefit or detriment? Might there be a better way to insure a secure retirement income? We also explore the difference in long-term returns between large-cap and small-cap value stocks. Plus, we hear from listeners: Why does the actual income from I-Bonds not match the stated rate? Can income from a court settlemen...

They Need Complexity 15.05.2024

Beware of complex investments or those promising to provide higher returns using some financial sleight-of-hand. Higher returns always require some sort of tradeoff. There are no special systems to game the markets, long-term. Then, we hear from listeners: He stayed in bonds and lost money, should he stick with them now? How can current assets be grown to enough to support retirement needs? Does i...

Social Security Sick? 14.05.2024

Millions of people rely on Social Security for a large portion of their income, yet the system is running low on money and won't be able to meet future obligations without major changes. So, which is better, reducing benefits or raising taxes? Plus, we take listeners questions: What's the best way to reduce taxes on retirement plan distributions? What can be done to reduce hodgepodgery i...

Accentuate the Positive 13.05.2024

In the episode, instead of discussing all of the bad financial decisions we make, let's take time to acknowledge all of the good things we do with money. Plus, we take questions on: The possible negative impact that passive investing might have on the stock markets. The potential tax ramifications of a portfolio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Commen...

Cue the Qs 10.05.2024

The questions have started pouring in again. Thanks! Today... Using High-yielding CLOs Instead of Bonds. Adjusting Portfolio for Growth Maryland 529 Plan vs. Other Options Maximizing Growth for Grandchildren Understanding Rebalancing in a 401k Implementing a Three-Bucket Account Strategy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Will They Do What's Best? 09.05.2024

The U.S. Labor Department is going to try again to hold some of those who provide advice on retirement assets to actually act in their clients' best interests. Will this new rule actually go into effect this time and who might it protect. Then we take your questions: What to we think of Keith Fitz-Gibbons investing advice? What's the best way to cover three years of expenses before colle...

Your Wealth Grew? 08.05.2024

After years of diligently saving and investing a your retirement plans, what should you be doing when your accounts have grown to sizable amounts? Plus, we share the reasons for a small cap and value portfolio tilt. Plus, we hear from several listeners who ask: Why don't we talk more about 529 ABLE plans? What do we think of a portfolio with 20-year Treasury bonds? After maxxing out retiremen...

Magic Money Machine 07.05.2024

Is it a mutual fund? Is it an annuity? Can one investment met everyone's retirement needs? That's seems to be the claim of the complex BlackRock LifePath Paycheck funds. Plus, we talk about Warren Buffett's take on corporate taxes and how individuals could all end up paying no income taxes. We also discuss the workings of the "backdoor" Roth IRA. Then, listeners want to kn...

Gold is Not Investing 06.05.2024

Gold has gotten hot again, but just because you can get a bar at Costco is it a decent investment? We look hack at the history and returns of gold over decades and longer. Plus, we take some listener questions: Where can information be found on a school districts's 403b plan? In what account order should money be withdrawn for a college education? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Queries and Responses 03.05.2024

On this week's Friday Q&A: Does more money in emerging markets make sense? What should be done with an 401k now that Vanguard has sold their servicing? Are these two funds diversified enough? Is there any way to calculate future call option premiums? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

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