Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

In the past, talking about money has been considered taboo. It's time to start talking with your family about this critical topic that effects both your future and theirs. Then, listeners want to know: Do we agree with Paul Merriman's equally divided 10-fund portfolio? How should an HSA be invested and in how many funds? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Ques...

We hate listening to our elders, but often their experiences can make your life better. We share some of those retirement investing mistakes. An almost record number of listeners ask: How is my Vanguard international fund up almost 100%? Does Fidelity or Schwab offer a globally-diversified total market index fund? Will old baby boomers selling stock in retirement destroy the stock market? Is there...

Many people believe that higher interest on safe bank instruments makes this a good time to get out of the stock market for a while. The market habitually makes fools of those who think they are smarter than the market. We also discuss the foolishness of paying high commissions to that friend in the business. Don rips into a "radio host" who claims to be honest and sell indexed annuities...

In this episode: What is a P/E ratio, and why are some so much lower than "the market's?" Which is better for future taxation, pre-tax accounts or Roths? With some parental seed money, how much could be in a retirement account in 40 years? Does it make sense to borrow for a big purchase or pay cash? What can be done with mediocre, high-commission investments in a non-profit's e...

As the United States approaches its credit limit what might that do to the investnent markets? We pose that question to Wes Crill, Senior Investment Director and Vice-President at Dimensional Funds. We also discuss active versus passive investing, the value of scademic evidence, the effectiveneed of market times, and the advantages of funds or ETFs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

Real estate speculators discover that leverage can cut both ways. Plus, we discuss the real estate gurus and the more likely source of their wealth. Listeners wonder: What do we think of artificial intelligence? How much small cap is appropriate for a portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Why does the myth that real estate and gold are better investments than equities still persist? We show you the real numbers. Where can you get the best CD rates? Plus, we are innundated with your questions: What should be done with the profits from a home sale? What do the regular stock market reports mean? With ETFs and funds are there crappy ones and good ones? What would our firm do with a cli...

Heck, they're not even industrials anymore. The Dow is an obsolete measure of the stock markets movement. It should have been replaced by the total market index decades ago. What is "the Dow" and what's wrong with it. Plus, investing should alwayd be based on common sense. Listeners ask: After discovering how much was being paid for funds through a broker, is there any reason t...

Another day of Q&A featuring calls about: The wisdom of paying off a mortgage early? Our opinion of Paul Merriman's flexible withdrawal strategy? Would AVGE be better than VT? Taking Social Security early to save funds for a child's inheritance? Firing advisor and moving into active funds as opposed to other balanced funds? Taking a pension now or waiting? Learn more about your ad ch...

With baby boomers nearing the end of their time on earth, a huge wealth transfer is in the offing. What would you do with a big inheritance of guess? Plus, are CFPs always acting as fiduciaries? Then, it's question time: How do we avoid bad companies in our client's portfolios? Does it make sense to move from a target-date fund to a total market index? Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Tom and Don are joined by a rare guest, Phil McInnis, Chief Investment Strategist at Avantis Funds. This episode covers the difference between truly active fund management and rules-based stock selection, how ETFs differ from mutual funds, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

A major new study found that investors care more about fee transparency than the return from their investments. It turns out that investors want the truth from their financial advisors. Yet, the financial industry continues to lie and obfuscate. Then, after Tom suffers a technical breakdown, Don takes calls: Is there a way to set up a 401k transfer before leaving a firm? How can misplaced IRA fund...

Yet another study shows that dart-throwing monkeys (a metaphor for randomness) picked better investments than did professional human stock pickers. Plus, humans cost more. Another study shows that only a few stocks account for the bulk of the market's returns. Then, we hear from a few of you: How much do dual-registered advisors actually charge? Does it make sense to pay off a very low-intere...

This is a particularly good Friday question and answer session: When should a portfolio be rebalanced? What is the difference between VT and VTWAX? Her CFP uses Pershing. Are they okay? Where should a small child's UTMA be invested? Where should emergcy money be invested for safety? How to we feel about Rick Ferri saying that small cap value investing has failed? Learn more about your ad choi...

Another experts predicts the financial futute with absolute certainty, despite the FACT that the future can't be known. Plus, we agree with Bill Gross for the first time. Then, we hear from listeners: Is there a need for an internation fund other than the I Fund in the Thrift Savings Plan? Can taxes be avoided by moving from the Vanguard S&P 500 mutual fund to their S&P 500 ETF? Learn...

Is it the 4% rule? Should you take less in bad times and more in good times? How do you know how much income can you take from your investments in retirement? Listeners ask: What kinds of investments should a young investor have in a retirement account? Are personalized portfolios better than target dates funds? Should an investor be concerned about California bonds in a muni fund? Learn more abou...

Should you be concerned about the money you have in the bank? Listeners wonder: What would have happened if you invested at the highest point of stock market every year? What is the best way to buy gold? Should investors consider investing in high yileding structured notes? Do Schwab intelligent portfolios make sense? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Commen...

It is estimated that the UK spent about $100 million to crown King Charles III. What else could you get for that much money? We also discuss the huge amount of money taken out of the market lately and why we need to stop playing the markets. Then our listeners ask: How much is needed to retire comfortably? How do we feel about "direct indexing?" How can Roth funds be used for emergencies...

Just another Q&A Friday, Cinco de Mayo. Today Don tackles: Should the funds be inside both a regular and Roth IRA? Should siblings' contributions to mother's care be tracked, and what might happen if they help mom? Does the rate on I-Bonds remain the same for their entire term? Is it okay to go ahead and fund a backdoor IRA early in the year? Do the ERISA protections make keeping an...

Do investors need a great money manager like Warren Buffett? Then, we ask: Is he really that good, and are his best days behind him? Two listeners ask us different questions about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Then, we veer way off topic as we talk about visiting Omaha, Nebraska, and its top attractions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

They can't quote high returns and claim low risk if it's not true, right? It may be wrong, but purveyors of investment products have been doing it for centuries. There will always be people who promise big profits and toss out truly unbelievable risk claims, and there is only one person you can count on to protect you: YOU! Plus, a listener asks: What does this portfolio need for better...

In this episode, we continue where we left off in the previous show, sharing various reasons why you might not be ready to retire. We also hear from listeners who: Want to know what to do with undeeded IRA RMDs? Warn about the hazards of not paying estimated taxes on a big capital gain. Shares how he converted an Edward Jones account into a fee-only service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Today and tomorrow, we look at several reasons you might not be ready to retire. Plus, listeners want to know: Is there a deadline during the day for canceling a mutual fund trade? Are we heading for economic trouble? How much of an annuity will need to be withdrawn for RMD? How bad is my financial situation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click...

Don is back, taking on your questions with his answers. Here's what today's episode brings: What is Phoenix Capital, and how can they offer 9-12% yields? How much of BND is in long-term bonds? How should a portfolio be rebalanced to add a REIT fund? Should a bonus go into a 401k and does it make sense to convert to a Roth? Should old 401ks be moved into a new John Hancock managed 401k pl...

With rates all over the place, many are trying to play the fixed-income market. Tom and Don explore the purpose of fixed income in a portfolio and disciplined strategies for investors. Plus, they discuss a new, strange NFT offering. Listers want to know: What do we think of Paul Merriman's target date and small-cap fund strategy? Does it make sense to test the five biggest brokers by giving e...