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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

22:32

Questions and Critiques

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/26

In this Friday Q&A edition of Talking Real Money, Don tackles listener questions ranging from the dangers of options trading and critiques of Dave Ramsey, to building a simple 60/40 portfolio, comparing flat-fee versus AUM advisors, and whether international bonds deserve a spot in a portfolio. Along the way, he mixes in humor, candid pushback, and practical advice while emphasizing clarity, simplicity, and the importance of asking good questions.0:04 Intro, gratitude for enough listener questions

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27:20

Gold vs. Reality

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/25

This episode tackles gold mania in its latest surge, debunking its “safe haven” myth with historical returns and practical comparisons to stocks. Don and Tom expose how Wall Street and fund providers exploit the hype, critique Ameriprise and high-yield muni funds, and answer listener questions on target-date funds vs DIY portfolios, HSA withdrawals, and advisor conflicts. The conversation balances humor, skepticism, and blunt warnings about chasing assets after dramatic run-ups.Learn more about

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44:50

Caller Danger

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/24

A candid hour on consumer self-defense. We open with iOS 26’s unknown-caller screening and a New York Times crime reporter nearly duped by a “Chase Bank” spoof—lesson: don’t trust caller ID, don’t transact with inbound callers, verify via the number on your card or the bank app, and remember spoofed numbers make simple blocking imperfect. Listeners jump in: a Rule of 55 correction (not 72(t)/72(q)), plus a sharp TSP/Roth asset-location play—keep core market cap in TSP, use Roth for small-value tilt

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45:53

Invest or Drink?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/23

This episode of Talking Real Money tackles myths about the Federal Reserve and interest rates, explains why mortgage and Treasury rates don’t automatically follow Fed moves, and reminds listeners that markets usually price in expected changes. Don and Tom then pop the cork on wine investing, showing that after costs it performs about as well as plain bonds—and far worse than a 60/40 portfolio. They compare wine and tobacco “sin stocks,” highlight the volatility of individual companies like

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25:05

House=Home

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/22

0:04 Why your home isn’t part of your investment portfolio0:26 The myth of the American Dream and why owning may not make sense 1:33 A buyer’s remorse story from Atlanta 2:35 $3,000/month to own vs. $1,200/month to rent 3:34 Hidden expenses: $13,000 sewer connection surprise 4:31 “I can’t sell my house” = “I won’t lower the price” 5:35 Housing returns: even hot markets underperform stocks 6:19 Divorcees sharing homes to keep a 2% mortgage 7:35 Why paying off a low-rate mortgage often makes

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21:59

More Qs Needed

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/19

Don laments the shortage of voice-submitted questions for the Friday Q&A shows and urges listeners to speak their questions into their phones or computers instead of typing them. He answers four listener questions: whether to take a pension lump sum or annuity, whether to roll a 401(k) into an IRA and how much to keep saving with a union pension, a callout about financial jargon (especially “basis points”), and whether stocks are as speculative as cryptocurrency. Don emphasizes that the annuity

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36:43

Are You Really Broke?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/18

This episode explores Americans’ financial well-being in 2025, using a Yahoo Finance/Marist survey as the springboard. Don and Tom discuss how their audience differs from the average American listener, how perceptions of financial health can be misleading, and what to actually do if your finances—or your feelings about them—are getting worse. They debate the usefulness of net worth tracking, stress the importance of financial literacy, and suggest automating savings. Listener questions cover indexed

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43:57

It IS Gambling

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/17

Don goes solo this week and covers the wild state of “investing” in 2025 — including single-stock ETFs, leveraged funds, and zero-day options that look more like gambling than investing. He answers listener questions about Roth strategies for kids, aggressive long-term allocations, finding fiduciary advisors, dealing with inherited stock portfolios, and the ethics and fees of big Wall Street firms. Plus, he fields questions about new tax-focused ETFs and whether complicated multi-fund factor

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43:44

AI Advice

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/16

This week Don hosts solo and brings in “Cath GPT” (ChatGPT) as a "live" guest to explore the rise of AI in personal finance. They cover what types of questions AI is best at answering, its limits for real-time data and stock trading, and the importance of privacy and skepticism. Don emphasizes planning before investing, critiques dollar-cost averaging with lump sums, and fields listener calls on shifting from commercial real estate to the market, Roth conversions, AVGE vs. AVUV, resetting cost basis

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32:55

Dizzying Heights?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/15

Don and Tom take listeners on a “mountaintop” look at today’s frothy markets, exploring elevated valuations, retail trading spikes, and record margin debt. They unpack what these numbers really mean, warn against trying to time the market, and reiterate the need for diversification and a long-term plan. Listener questions include a young investor’s Fidelity-heavy portfolio, a 30-something’s aggressive allocation and risk score mismatch, and a listener inquiry about “investwithroots.com,” which Don

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23:00

A Few Good Qs

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/12

Don answers listener questions on funding a taxable brokerage account, clarifies what “more buyers than sellers” really means, explains why fixed income is about psychology rather than income, gives advice on setting up joint accounts for aging parents, lays out a lifetime HSA allocation strategy, and clears up confusion about Appella Wealth’s connection to Talking Real Money.0:04 Friday Q&A intro and thanks for listener questions 1:19 When to open a taxable brokerage account (AVGE + SGOV

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26:47

Opportunities Overseas

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/11

Don and Tom dig into international investing — why diversification across borders is essential, why timing international markets is a mistake, and how currency fluctuations affect returns. They revisit Japan’s lost decades, talk emerging markets, discuss John Bogle’s arguments against international investing, and explain why owning all markets all the time makes the most sense. Listener questions cover tax perceptions about California, long-term return comparisons, 401(k) rollover and Rule of 55

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45:34

Why So Mean?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/10

In this episode, Don and Tom dig into the podcast rankings to explain why Talking Real Money isn’t at the top—and why Dave Ramsey still is, despite offering more shame than substance. They explore the concept of financial shaming vs. education, reflect on listener Judy’s brilliant retirement planning, and take aim at stock-trading politicians, especially California Rep. Ro Khanna with his 4,700+ trades in one year. Listener questions cover inheritance allocation, condos as investments, and 401(k)

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43:42

Too Great Expectations

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/09

Don and Tom break down the overhyped expectations around recent market returns, referencing Jason Zweig’s analysis of 230 years of stock market data. They emphasize that spending and saving habits matter more than chasing 15% returns, and explain why realistic planning using a 3–6% real return assumption over 30-year rolling periods is more prudent. They also tackle questions about RMD strategies from Vanguard IRAs and the TSP’s F and G bond funds. The show ends with a tongue-in-cheek breakdown of

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27:19

Extended Child Care

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/08

Don and Tom dive into the emotional, financial, and practical realities of supporting adult children. From layoffs to loans, down payments to dog surprises, this episode tackles the growing trend of parents funding their 20- and 30-something offspring—and how to do it without wrecking your retirement. Plus, listener questions about gifting stock, promissory note scams, and why shady annuity sellers keep showing up on the airwaves.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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16:50

Ready for a Few As

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/05

In this Friday Q&A edition, Don fields listener questions on rolling over a large 401(k) after a layoff, whether IRA money should ever be used to buy real estate, Vanguard’s new active ETF offerings, choosing between Vanguard and Schwab 2035 target-date funds, and whether to treat a foreign apartment purchase as part of an investment portfolio. Along the way, he highlights diversification benefits, cautions against high-cost self-directed IRAs, and emphasizes that homes are assets but not

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44:28

Passive Bubble?

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/04

Don and Tom dismantle the “passive bubble” trope, walk through Morningstar’s active/passive scorecard (great one-year anecdotes vs brutal long-run stats), and recap the steady shift of investor dollars toward indexing. A caller tries to drag the show into politics via data independence (BLS/Fed), prompting a level-headed reminder that markets price reality over rhetoric. The TSP’s revamped I Fund gets kudos for finally adding emerging markets (with a nudge to pair it with value tilts outside TSP)

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44:43

September Nonsense

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/03

Don and Tom mark Labor Day weekend with a lively discussion of the so-called September Effect—Wall Street’s superstition about historically negative returns in September. They remind listeners that short-term market timing is a losing strategy and that knowing (not guessing) your risk tolerance and asset allocation matters most. The conversation ranges from Florida’s endless summer and biblical rains to ETF overload, collective investment trusts, tax quirks, and the futility of dodging volatility

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25:37

Q&A&B(onds)

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/09/02

Tom kicks off with a check-in on bond market returns, reminding listeners that bonds are about stability, not yield-chasing. He’s joined by advisor Roxy Butner, who helps answer listener questions about fixed-allocation vs. target-date funds, how much international exposure is enough, Ameriprise “CL” fund share classes with high fees, and whether hybrid long-term care annuity products are worth considering. Together they emphasize cost awareness, simplicity, and aligning investments with real-life

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21:12

Query Day

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk ·

2025/08/29

Don fields listener questions from Asheville in this Friday Q&A edition. Topics include calculating investment returns with XIRR versus simple time-weighted methods, rebalancing U.S. vs. international allocations in a Vanguard portfolio, whether children can have multiple custodial accounts (and why 529s may be better), AVGE versus VT and why factor tilts matter long-term, and a skeptical look at Frank Vasquez’s Risk Parity Radio strategy that leans on commodities and “golden ratio” portfolio

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