Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

In an ongoing attempt to entice you into risky bets, another financial firm has found a loophole that allows it to advertise a huge yield that isn't that impressive using a risky variation on covered call writing funds. We go on to explain how covered call writing works and the risks involved. Listeners want to know: Why do we still suggest bonds in an investor's portfolio? What's w...

The Certified Financial Planner Board claims that those with the CFP designation are required to act in your best interests. However, do they always act as a fiduciary and what can be done if they don't? Plus you ask us questions: What to we think of David McKnight's (The Power of Zero) advice? Where should a small business emergency fund be invested? Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

On today's question and answer episode: Can a custodian move a UGMA into a 529? Will there be an online replay of Retiremeet? Why should someone consider AVGE considering its flaws? A caller shares a crypto twofer? How should money from a 401k be invested at Vanguard? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

From a few stocks and bonds, investment options are practically beyond comprehension. How do you pick the best portfolio pieces from the bewidering mix of choices? We discuss the incredible failure of one such hot investment vehicles, ARKK. Listeners ask: Can you be both the owner and beneficiary of a 529 Plan? Do 401k assets count in the pro-rata requirements for a backfoor IRA? Learn more about...

Are we seeing the beginning of the end of traditional mutual funds? ETfs have proven their worth as an investment vehicle that is in many ways better than a regular open-end fund. Will ETFS take over the investing world? Plus, we talk about why some Wall Street firms are accepting crypto into their midst, with one major exception, Vanguard. We also take some questions from listeners: Is it better...

Once, dividends account for a large part of stocks' returns. Today they are far less important. Does it make sense for investors to chase after high dividends? Don shares the past power of a simple balanced fund. Listeners ask: Is a CD the best place to invest real estate proceeds for retirement income? How does rental income compare to income froma diversified portfolio? Can large positions...

Most feel the only way to save for retirement is through qualiried, tax-advangatwed retirement plans like 401ks, 403bs and IRAs. But are they always the best choices for long-term investing? Plus, listeners ask: What do we think of Fidelity Zero funds now? Can someone with a retirement plan at work still contribute to an IRA? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions...

In this episode Don answers more of your questions from talkingrealmoney.com: What portfolio adjustments should be made to avoid IRMAA? How should the bond portion of a portfolio be invested? Is investing in high dividend stocks a good way to create retirement income? Can backdoor Roth conversions be done in the same year for two different tax years? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

There is a lot of misinformations about retirement. Much is spread by people pitching products. Tom and Don go after many of the myths about retirement income, Social Security, Medicare, and more. They also hear from listeners: Wondering if a financial planner is needed goinf into retirement? Taking us to task over a mathematical misundertanding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

Happy to see Jason Zweig back from his sabbatical, Don shares his WSJ article on the wisdom of ignoring the stock market's fluctuations. Tom calls in from Vegas to explian his five-second $100 loss. Listeners ask: What should a house rich person do to create a decent retirement income? Is moving 401k money into an indexed annuity a wise move? This call sets Don on a rant against the horrible...

Now that there are potential fees to be collected from selling Bitcoin ETFs, many Wall Street firms have grwond enamored with this ephemeral speculation. A few firms are still standing firmly opposed. Bitcoin is the best of a bad bunch. The other 8000+ tokens have even less going for them. Don also shares the story of another crypto fraud. Listeners ask: Can a 529 be used as a "carrot" t...

Burton Malkiel and other academics continue to tell us that consistently "beating the market" is essentially impossible. Investors need to understand the impossible natire of accurate prognostication and focus on those things that are in our control. Tom and Don explain the simple path you can take to reasonable investing success. Don talks about the Talking Real Money summer road trip....

This Friday: A listener corrects one of Don's statement about Bitcoin ETFs. Can buying a building for a business replace a REIT in a portfolio? What's the best way to invest a court settlement for a minor? A suggestion that an umbrella insurance policy could lower other P&C rates. A discussion of the difference between dividend reinvestment in mutual funds and ETFs. Learn more about...

Sure, building the wealth we want to retire well is hard work. However, let's look at the bright side. One hundred years ago, we'd probably be dead. Tom and Don talk about the current state of retirement in the U.S. and share some ideas for making it better. Listeners ask: What's the correct asset allocation for a portfolio including an HSA? How should I invest in retirement? Learn...

In very short order, the market sprouted thousands of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). While most were solid concepts with decades of research supporting them, a few were just silly. Thankfully, we are now seeing the demise of these crazy products. We also look at some of the worst ETFs from last year. With so many living with parents, what's the best way to help adult children become financiall...

High-yield CDs are nothing new. It's just been a long-time. While a 5% rate feels pretty good after years of low rates, how long will they last? What should you do when rates fall again? Are there better ways to invest, particularly for younger investors? Did God really tell a Colorado preacher to create and sell a worthless cryptocurrency to his flock? We hear from a listener who believes th...

The real estate sales business is about to face the same issues as other professions that have been squeezed by both technology and regulation. After a costly court ruling, and with increasingly powerful technology, the decline in real estate commissions is expected to accelerate (as have brokerage commissions over the years). Then, we hear from listeners like you: Is it too late to invest in a 52...

In today's episode callers ask Don Which is worse: and annuity of a leaf blower? What can be done for a friend who is on the brink of bankruptcy? Which CD is best and what is a callable CD? After a financial windfall is it too late to hire an advisor? Can a retired pastor take tax-free housing withdrawals after moving from 403b to IRA? Should a portfolio be diversified among accounts based on...

How many securities should you own in a well-diversified portfolio? Is it ten or ten thousand? We explore some advice on proper portfolio diversification versus market-timing and stock picking. Then, listeners ask: How should a Health Savings Account (HSA) be invested? Does it make sense to add Boston Partners Large Cap Value Equity Fund to a portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...

It's no wonder that businesses love the subscription model. It makes paying for products and services automatic and provides steady predictable cash flow. On the flip side, it also creates an almost impercetible drain of your budget. Learn how to reduce the subscription cash suck. We agree with Dave Ramsey's dislike of cash-value life insurance. A listener shares a tool for cutting subsc...

After a big week for stocks, we address the reality of the equity markets and why a "new high" is nothing to get excited about. While 5% rates feel better than zero, we are concerened that too much money languishes in banks. Plus, more money is finally invested in passive funds than actively managed products and why it's about darned time. Listeners ask: Is Retiremeet worthwhile for...

In today's podcast, we present more evidence showing it may be subssrantially cheaper to rent a home than to buy one. However, the equation changes when you factor in emotions. Plus, how much money do you need to be wealthy? Do shares an example of why buying a new cars is a financial mistake? A listener asks: What should be done with an old whole life policy purchased by parents for an adult...

First, a listener wants to take Don to task for his Bitcoin negativity. What is the value of tax-loss harvesting? Can a Coverdell ESA be moved to a 529 plan? Can RMDs be postponed by going back to work? Finally, we conclude with some listener created musical interludes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

We're all over the fiscal place today. After an ad during our radio show we look at the horrible and yet perfectly legal predatory predatory short-term loan business. Then, we try to understand why experts are still advising investors to try to find the right time to buy stocks and consider the psychological effect of bad markets. Plus, we compare whether it makes more sense to buy gold bars...

The SEC finally have given in to the pressure and approved "real" Bitcoin ETFs. Does this change make cryptocurrencies and less ephemeral or improve their possibilities as an "investment?" What are the 5 biggest annuity sales lies? Plus, are "regular investor" hedge funds any better than their "big" investor counterparts? Then listeners asks:: Which funds sh...