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PODCAST

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).

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All Episodes

26:18

Pecuniary Presidents

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/14

Tom Cock interviews Megan Gorman, author of All the President’s Money, exploring how U.S. presidents have handled their personal finances and the lessons investors can take from their successes and failures. Gorman shares stories of leaders from George Washington to Ronald Reagan, Eisenhower, Nixon, and Clinton, illustrating how factors like marriage, frugality, grit, emotional control, and adaptability shaped their financial outcomes. She notes that while the basic principles of money management

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44:57

Bad to Worse

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/13

Don and Tom rip apart a sponsored “news” piece from the Puget Sound Business Journal pushing a company called FISYN, which promises to buy investors out of their annuities and deliver a “safe” 12% tax-free return via raw Texas land. They expose the misleading fine print, the founder’s disciplinary history, and the high-risk, illiquid nature of such private equity deals. Calls and questions cover long-term care insurance riders on annuities, portfolio allocation in deferred comp plans, Roth vs

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44:30

Barron’s Bond Blunder

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/12

Today’s show exposes how Barron’s ran an undisclosed advertorial from a high-fee bond fund manager pushing junk-heavy, risky products while trashing traditional bonds with misleading comparisons. Don and Tom explained why safe bonds should stay short-to-intermediate term and simple, called out a Starlink “$127 for life” internet scam, and fielded listener questions on tax-adjusted rebalancing between traditional and Roth IRAs, trimming long-held Microsoft vs. American Funds, Social Security timing

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30:15

Avoid Complexity

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/11

Don opens with a rant about Wall Street’s love of unnecessary complexity, focusing on “structured equity products” and other layered investments that promise protection but deliver lower returns at higher costs. The discussion covers the deceptive pitch, the billions invested in these products, and why a straightforward stock/bond mix is usually better. Larry Swedroe’s principles for prudent investing are highlighted, along with a reminder about diversification beyond the S&P 500—especially into

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30:44

Your Q, Don's A

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/08

In this Friday Q&A edition, Don tackles five listener questions spanning kids’ UTMAs vs. 529 plans, Roth vs. pre-tax 403(b) contributions, filling portfolio gaps when a workplace plan lacks small-cap value, why indexed annuities are a costly sales pitch wrapped in deceptive promises, and how to help a recently divorced 26-year-old daughter find hope and financial focus. Along the way, he delivers mic technique tips, portfolio simplification advice, and a blistering breakdown of annuity sales

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31:18

The End... Again?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/07

Don and Tom dive headfirst into the wild world of bad financial predictions—specifically, the apocalyptic ramblings of Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki. They dissect his decades-long streak of failed forecasts, poke holes in his fear-fueled pitch for gold, silver, and Bitcoin, and remind listeners that gurus don’t predict the future—they profit from pretending they can. Listener questions cover 529 plan choices, 457(b) vs Roth IRA, the small-cap allocation in AVGE, and a plea for Don to

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44:46

Millions of Millionaires

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/06

This Talking Real Money episode dives into America’s millionaire boom—1,000 a day—and what it really takes to join the club. Don and Tom discuss inflation’s impact on wealth, the real sources of millionaire status (spoiler: it’s not crypto), and the critical role of forced savings via homes and 401(k)s. Listeners call in with questions on triple-leveraged ETFs (don’t), deferring capital gains on farmland, and gambling on tech stocks in retirement (also don’t). Plus, how to evaluate a financial

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44:39

What Drives Markets?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/05

Don and Tom open the show with a lighthearted reminder that money doesn’t sleep—so neither do they. They dive into a New York Times article featuring Goldman Sachs researchers who identify five patterns that influence retirement accounts and market behavior. The duo emphasizes that while market predictions are near-impossible, understanding these patterns can inform better investor behavior—particularly the value of diversification. Listener questions cover whether you still need a financial advisor

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32:58

Just Invest!

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/04

In this episode, Don and Tom tackle investor emotion during market highs and use a Schwab-inspired scenario to show how discipline beats market timing—every time. They walk through four fictional investors (lucky, disciplined, unlucky, and fearful) to reveal the long-term value of staying invested. The hosts also answer a listener’s question about breaking into the fiduciary advice world and finish with a blistering takedown of FIBA, a so-called fiduciary group pushing high-commission annuities to

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30:49

Saving Investors

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/01

With Don out, Tom Cock and advisor Roxy Butner tackle the increasingly hot question: should you trust a human or a machine with your money? They dig into two recent studies—one showing AI beating most fund managers, and another suggesting no long-term winner at all. Listener questions range from DIY ETF portfolios and Roth IRA conversion pitfalls to a wildly complex $2.5M retirement scenario involving crypto, precious metals, and a self-directed IRA full of land. Tom and Roxy break it all down with

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31:26

Unrealistic Expectations

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/31

Don and Tom take a reality sledgehammer to investors’ wildly inflated expectations for stock market returns. A new survey shows average Americans expect 12.6% after inflation, even as historical real returns rarely crack 9%. They explore how this overconfidence—fueled by recency bias and company loyalty—leads to dangerous behavior like under-saving, over-spending, and poorly diversified portfolios. With real-world client stories, historical decade-by-decade returns, and a deep dive into how long it

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45:44

The End of ETFs?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/30

In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom dive into the latest crypto chaos, pushing back against Ric Edelman’s bold prediction that ETFs will vanish within five years due to tokenization. They explain why that claim is both misleading and premature. Callers ask about tax shelters disguised as life insurance, sketchy “Tax Act 2020” gimmicks, trust issues with advisors, and the realities of Roth conversions and the pro-rata rule. They also revisit the case for holding Bitcoin—and why it’s

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45:12

Why So High?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/29

Despite lousy headlines—tariffs, weak earnings, flat revenues—the market keeps climbing. Don and Tom explain why trying to guess the “why” behind short-term moves is a fool’s errand, and why global diversification (including those long-shunned international small caps) is paying off. Listeners call in with smart, complex questions: million-dollar leftover 529s, the viability of the Hagerty Index for collectibles, catastrophic long-term care insurance, and a 401(k) loan vs. credit union loan for home

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29:21

Can't Stop Progress

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/28

Don takes a fiscal detour into the world of AI, introducing his ChatGPT co-host “Cath” in a strikingly lifelike discussion about the future of jobs, the role of artificial intelligence in our lives, and how we can adapt to massive changes already underway. The episode blends curiosity, caution, and practical insight—with a historical twist that ties today’s tech upheaval to the Luddite resistance of the 19th century. It’s a deeply personal, slightly spooky, and forward-looking edition of Talking

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18:28

Question Day!

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/25

Don flies solo for another Question-and-Answer Friday (not Freaky Friday… despite Hollywood’s best efforts). Listener questions cover everything from Roth IRA choices for young investors to tax loss harvesting and reducing portfolio volatility with bond allocations. Don breaks down the pros and cons of popular ETFs, explains the benefits of tilting toward small and value, and gently guides a listener away from a pricey Fidelity fund. He also reaffirms that tax loss harvesting is a two-account job

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32:20

The Value of Rethinking

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/24

Don and Tom explore the value of changing your mind in the face of new data—financial and otherwise. Sparked by Christine Benz’s recent Morningstar piece, they reflect on how their own views on DIY investing, target date funds, and even TIPS have evolved over time. Listener questions cover annuity taxes, Bitcoin inflation claims, covered call ETFs, and whether CDs beat bond funds in retirement. Grumpiness levels: elevated but entertaining.0:04 Flexibility in finance: Why it’s okay to change your

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41:37

60/40: Down, Not Out

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/23

Don and Tom defend the long-maligned 60/40 portfolio, diving into a 150-year Morningstar study that reveals its lower volatility and emotional survivability—even if it underperforms an all-stock portfolio over time. They tackle fixed indexed annuities head-on, debunking the myth of market returns without risk, citing high commissions, surrender charges, lack of liquidity, and poor transparency. Several listener calls highlight confusion over annuity strategies and Roth vs. pre-tax retirement

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41:56

Small Stocks, Big Upside

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/22

Don and Tom highlight what may be today’s biggest stock market bargain: small-cap value stocks, which have drastically underperformed large-cap growth and now appear poised for long-term reversion to the mean. They explain why chasing big winners like Nvidia and Apple could backfire, and why broad diversification with a tilt toward small and value still makes sense. Callers get help with tax drag from old mutual funds, switching from expensive active funds to ETFs, household asset allocation, Roth

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33:20

Big and Beautiful?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/21

Don and Tom dive into the new “big, beautiful” tax bill with humor and skepticism, covering changes to Social Security taxation, tips and overtime exemptions, expanded SALT deductions, and the controversial $1,000 baby bonus. They also tackle listener questions on Roth vs. IRA asset protection, portfolio rebalancing confusion, and lazy robo-advisory allocations. Bonus: helium speculation, trade school love, and a jab at politicians who pander. 0:04 Intro: “Dearly beloved…” it’s tax time 1:10

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25:12

Suze Q and A

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/07/18

Don answers a handful of listener questions, offering sharp, practical insight on investing myths, flexible retirement withdrawals, taxable brokerage accounts, and misleading financial scare tactics. He critiques Suze Orman’s confusing advice, breaks down the logic of the 4% rule, and dismantles a fear-mongering insurance pitch claiming to “save retirement.” Expect sarcasm, clarity, and one well-aimed diatribe at the insurance-industrial complex.0:04 Summer slowdown in listener questions and

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1,748 results

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