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
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 10, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Cramer Regularly Wrong 13.02.2023 35:52
Yet another study of Jim Cramer's stock shows just how bad his prediction have been. You would have been better off shorting his picks. Plus, we hear from you: How do you move money from one "advisor" to another? How can you determine the stock/bond ratios of various target date funds? What do we think of a covered call writing ETF? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Few Flying Rights 11.02.2023 22:54
After a bit of a troubled trip to Hawaii, Tom turns to ConsumerMan, Herb Weisbaum to discuss your rights and protections when travelling by air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Q&A with a Big Finish 10.02.2023 34:48
Another great Q&A episode with a surprise ending: We start with a question on money market funds. Where can one get more information on Medicare options? Why do people manage active mutual funds when they must know they can't win? A caller with a good mic has a broker who can systematically invest in ETFs. Does it make sense to just add a new investment manager to a 403b account? Finally,...
Volatility or Bad Market? 09.02.2023 26:50
It seems that most investors are expecting continued volatility for the stock market. Yet, the stock market is always volatile. So, it it really volatility they're concerned about? In today's question time: Are CITs more risky than a mutual fund or ETF? Where should money for retirement be parked? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
ESG is Hard to Do 08.02.2023 20:51
Investing "responsibly" is harder to do it might appear. What makes a compmnay environmentally or socially responsible? Does everyone agree with your definition? You know they don't. These terms elude a business definition and even a sonsensus opinion. Then we take questions: Is there a downside with saving with Bread Financial or other high-yield savings providers? What should be d...
Talking Death is Better? 07.02.2023 34:32
We are more comfortable talking about death than money. Yet, financial planning is an critical part of an estate (and even, life) planning. Then, a school district employee gets us talking about using the tool at 403bWise to look up many school district 403b plan investments. We hear from listeners: How can school district employees get school boards to improve plan investments? You may want to in...
The Rise and Fall of Trading 06.02.2023 34:52
Nothing stops the excitement of trading your way to wealth in the stock than the inevitable bear market. You claim to follow our advice, but many of you seem to be hearing something else. Callers want to know: How to get retirement plan trustees to invest more aggressively? What's the best way to invest for a younger beneficiary? Does it makes sense for his wife to take Social Security at ful...
TGIFQAD 03.02.2023 19:00
Another potpourri of great questions: Should the cost basis in an IRA be documented? Is M1 Finance a decent brokerage service? How do we determine which funds are likely to outperform in the future? Do mutual funds offer an advantage over ETFs for systematic investors? What's the real deal with a Lincoln Financial 403b? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions?...
Is it Really Passive Income? 02.02.2023 20:31
The term "passive income" has been used to refer to everything from buying houses to selling stuff on Amazon. Funny how most of those ideas pitched as providing passive income are actually a lot of work. Usually, the only one making a lot with little effort are the folks teaching you how to do it. Then, we hear from you about: How do I pick the best funds for my risk tolerance? Why would...
Adding Insult to Injury 01.02.2023 19:45
Watch out for this year's tax mutual fund tax forms. Many actively managed mutual funds have a surprise for you. Despite losing money in 2022, you might find you owe taxes on a distributed capital gain. Then, we take your questions: How should money from a broker sold portfolio be invested? Is an inherited Roth IRA subject to the 10-year withdrawal rule? Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
Ramsey, Orman, Kyosaki, or... 31.01.2023 34:35
From whom should you get you financial and investing advice? Robert Kyosaki, Suze Orman, Dave ramsey, economists? We look at the various mainstream financial education providers. Plus, why is Tesla rising so fast? We hear from listeners, too (mostly about banking): Why don't banks pay more on savings? What is the advantage to taking lottery winnings in a lump sum? How do high-yield savings pr...
Investing Near the Ceiling 30.01.2023 34:38
The news can be disconcerting and push us to react emotionally. What should you do just in case the US government defaults on its debut? Why do you keep making horrible investing decisions? What is driving the huge disparity in savings rates? Then a lot of you get in touch: First, the old "...what should I do with this money?" question addressed. How can money be moved from an employer r...
Weekend Special: Tom with Bill Conerly 28.01.2023 21:39
Tom loves interviews. Now that he's figured out the technical aspects of creating them, look for more weekend specials featuring prominet money guests. This weekend, Tom spends time with Bill Conerly, PhD discussing the possible economic future, why highre rates were needed, the future of unemployment, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Co...
Q (and A) Day 27.01.2023 23:57
In today's Q&A session: Is earned income needed to roll 529 money into a Roth IRA? Where is the best place to park emergency money? Are Wisdom Tree core portfolios sensible portfolio additions? After going to cash in 2019, what should I do now? What do we think of Betterment and how should he get help for his mom? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? C...
Destructive Overconfidence 26.01.2023 21:04
The vast majority of people believe themselves to be above average. That is statistically impossible. One area in which you are dangerously overconfident is investing, and it shows. Then, a listener wonders if he should use some extra income to invest for retirement or pay off a car loan? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Few Worthwhile Innovations 25.01.2023 20:39
While Wall Street would like you to think that there are new financial products, being created, all the time, real financial innovations are few and far between. In fact, the last significant change happened exactly 30 years ago, with the creation of the exchange traded fund (ETF). Then, a listener wonders if it makes sense to keep 30 inherited individual stocks to collect the dividends. Learn mor...
Expensive Lessons 24.01.2023 42:38
Most of us don't know what we don't know about money and investing. That lack of knowledge can be more costly that you can imagine. Getting financially educated is hard and yet essential for your future. How much do you pay for investments? Do you really know? Listeners want to know: Does an individual TIPs ladder make sense for portion of a portfolio? What should a real estate investor...
How Should You Invest in a...? 23.01.2023 36:56
Everyone wants to know how how to invest for the next... whatever. Many, included one of the most famous "stopped clocks" of all time, Robert Kyosaki, want you to believe they know. In fact, we do know how to invest for a recession and everything else. It's just pretty boring. Listeners want to know: Which Vanguard ETF is the same as the Total Bond Index fund? What changed to make u...
Q&A: Broker Fees, ETFs vs MFs, CDs vs. Ts 20.01.2023 26:51
Today, Don starts the Q&A edition with a powerful follow-up from a past caller. Then, it's on determining a brokers fees, the differences between exchange-traded funds and mutual funds, a portfolio allocation check, and the best income ladder building materials: CDs, Treasuries, or TIPS? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
The Best Retirement Age? 19.01.2023 19:16
The French are rioting over a proposal to raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64. The US may need to raise the full retirement age beyond 67. When should you retire and how should you plan for it? A listener wants to know how to get into the financial advice business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
How to Dump Debt 18.01.2023 18:59
Is the avalanche better than the snowball? Paying off debt can be challenging. What's the best way to get out? Plus, a listener finds that giving up control is hard to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Their Best Advice? 18.01.2023 40:33
The SEC claims that all "financial advisors" are supposed to act in your best interests and fully disclose any conflict of interest (including high fees, commissions, and expenses). Yet, high-cost, dangerous financial products are still being offered by the many billions of dollars. What can be done to protect you? Merv from Denver is back to take Don to task for his "misleading&quo...
Dangerous Dreck 16.01.2023 40:21
Stop deluding yourself. As much as you want them, there are no higher returning, lower risk investments. Yet, far too many investors are are falling prey to impossible promises from purveyors of high-priced, illiquid investments. Do index-style funds need a track record? Plus, a group that once called index funds "Un-American" now touts it's market beating index fund portfolio. Is T...
Your Lucky Q&A Day 13.01.2023 30:24
This Friday the 13th is your lucky day as Don answers some important questions that could help you build wealth better: How much can an employee contribute to a 403b? Can money in 529 education plans be rolled over into a Roth IRA? What should be done with some extra monthly investing money? Now that Vestory is part of Apella Wealth, what's changed? Should funds in an IRA be moved from Vangua...
Your Advisor Expectations 12.01.2023 18:55
Today, Tom and Don share what they believe those who provide financial and investing advice should do for you, their clients. Plus, we hear from two listeners asking: Does his strategy get around wash sale rules for tax losses? Will the Treasury be sending annual 1099s for I-Bonds? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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