Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

In the new year, you can save even more for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. Take full advantage of your opportunities to save now and in the future. Plus, listeners want to know: How should excess money in an HSA be invested? What should be done with a $500,000 inheritance? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

In this Q&A episode: Does it make sense to switch from taxable bonds to tax-free municipal bonds? Does a portfolio need more international or value exposure? What effect will new Bitcoin ETFs have on the value of Bitcoin? A listener disagrees with our statements about buying a home versus renting? Is Emancipare a legitimate advisor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

Beware of most (if not all) of the investing advice in the financial press. This is particularly true when the information is based on short-term data. Don't peek at your portfolio too often. Then we take listeners questions: Does it make sense to purchace pension service credits? Do those with checking at their broker need a bank account? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Of all the types of employer-sponsored retirement plans, 403(b) plans are among the worst. Without a fiduciary requirement, many of the investment options are expensive, high-commission insurance products. That's why the onus is on you to make smart choices. Then, we hear from listeners: To discuss issues with distributions from and taxes on an estate. How to get a portfolio evaluation from u...

Very few Americans feel confident they can financially enjoy a comfortable retirement. So, what do real retirees wish they knew before retiring? We discuss why every investor should have international stocks and and share the hottest global markets. How did the United States fare? Along the way, callers join in. What do we think of the retirement investment options from Northen Trust? In the curre...

Before you enter into any relationship, it's important to know how the other person perceives money. This is particularly important to know if you plan to spend your life with that person. Plus, listeners ask: Can funds from a UGMA or UTMA be moved into a minor's 529 plan? What is our opinion of spiders (the ones spelled SDPRs)? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Happy new year and we have new questions: What do we think of XY Planning Network? Is Vanguard's new Core Actively Managed Bond Fund a good investment? What can or should be done with a gifted annuity? Should VT and VTI be purchased now "at a peak?" Is a $9,000 RMD tax analysis worthwhile? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

There may be a few things we shouldn't discuss. Money isn't one of them. We need to share nuggets of financial wisdom with our families to help them become better money managers. Beware of a clever new gift card scam. Plus, we share lessons from the Great Recession and more of Suze Orman's bad advice. We also take a lot of calls: Does it make sense to get back into target-date funds...

We look back at "expert" market predictions for 2023. Who got it right, and who failed to come close? Then, we share better ways to invest. Do presidential elections have any impact on stock prices? Discover the big difference in fees for financial advice. We also discuss the huge financial mistakes of Don's favorite NFL team. Then we hear from listeners: Can funds (except for propr...

One hundred years ago, very few Americans owned stocks. It was only in the past decade that a majority of us were invested in equities. Yet, the vast majority of stock investors fail even to match the performance of the S&P 500. Find out how you can be a better stock investor. Listeners ask: What do we think of a few of Fidelity's factor funds? Does it make sense to consolidate a portfoli...

This is the last episode of 2023 and it's only fitting that it be Don's favorite type: questions and answers. We have some great ones this week: Is adding a DFA value fund worth the added cost? Should 529 money be used to eventually fund a Roth IRA? Can we make a better case against Bitcoin? What should be done with an old annuity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Retirement can mean gaining the freedom to live anywhere you want. Tom and Don consider the best and worst states for retirees, based on multiple criteria, from two different sources. One of the worst may surprise you. Plus, we answer your questions: How will some short-term, extra income effect Medicare costs? If a major recession occurs, would it make sense to use emergency money to "buy th...

This episode was recorded on December 23, 2023. Just before going on the air, Don's wife told him about a lost dog found 3,000 miles from his Washington state home. The outpouring of offers to help was soul-stirring. Later, we talked about the foolishness of following the hottest parts of the markets and why annuities are one of the best selling "investments." Plus, we took listener...

We return from our holiday hiatus with quiz: Which is an investing fact and which is a money myth? Plus, a listener want to know: What can be done with a brokerage firm that refuses to let go of funds? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

We revisit the "active vs. passive" debate. We thought this debate had been settled, yet many still invest with active money managers. Then, we hear from listeners: Objectively, why do we hate Bitcoin? How should an elderly mother invest for heirs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Where in the country has home equity risen most and least? What can you do to tap that hidden wealth? Does a HELOC or reverse mortgage make sense? Does owning a house even make sense in this economy? Then, we hear from listeners: Should a fiduciary advisor also act as a financial "psychologist?" Does it make sense to borrow home equity and lend it to a friend in construction? Should he s...

Don finally peeked at his brokerage statement and was pleasantly surprised. His portfolio finally made money. Did yours? We talk about the investment markets' ups (and downs) and finding the right balance between safety and potential return. We also share the states with the best and worst home equity appreciation. How can you tap that hidden wealth? Then, we hear from callers asking: What sh...

In this episode, we talk about some of the steps you should take well before retirement to get your financial house in order. We discuss money-saving tips and investing ideas to help those in their younger years improve their odds of retiring comfortably. Plus, we answer your questions: How can I force myself to rebalance my portfolio when my emotions get in the way? Which is better: a bond fund o...

The questions may not be festive, but they're important, and Don answers them: How should assets be allocated across different types of accounts? What happens to the money in a 529 plan if the custodian needs to withdraw some? How should a young adult invest money from an inherited IRA? Can brokers' cash management accounts replace traditional bank accounts? Learn more about your ad choi...

Another problem with actively managed mutual funds is the mortality of managers. What happens if you rely on the incredibly rare, super-smart, practically prescient money manager, and they go away? Plus, we hear from listeners: What do we think of Vanguard's variable insurance funds? Does a 100% equity portfolio make sense for someone comfortable with risk? Learn more about your ad choices. V...

A new academic study concludes that you might be better off avoiding bonds. Tom and Don discuss whether a strategy that potentially risky makes sense for you. We discuss the sorry state of most investing advice, including that from financial psychics. Then, we hear from listeners: Is gold a good investment? What do we think of the "investment" advice provided at a free Italian dinner? Le...

We keep making damaging financial mistakes. Are you ready to manage your money better and actually invest? We hear from listeners: Can iBonds be transferred to others? What's the best way to set up a 529 ABLE plan Is tax loss selling a bit like market timing? What's the best way to sell appreciated stocks to reduce taxes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Que...

The price of both Bitcoin and gold have soared recently. Has anything changed that might make them attractive investments? Plus, there is more evidence that those who chase returns using mutual funds fail to beat those who buy and hold. We also help listeners: Better understand a Nuveen muni bond fund they own. Create a tax minimization plan for retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

After Don grumbles about the length of the holiday season, he goes on to answer listeners questions: Does it make sense to use a 529 Plan to make future Roth IRAs for grandkids? Is the 4.7% interest from Vanguard new Cash Plus account better than a high yield savings account? Does an allocation entirely too small cap stocks make sense? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

Investing "professionals" run the gamut from highly skilled and honest to truly dangerous. How can you avoid the mediocre to crooked financial advice providers out there? Tom and Don have some simple ways to protect your wealth from the unscrupulous. Plus, listeners ask: What is the name of the bank paying over 4%? How should money be allocated between taxable and tax-advantaged "ba...