Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

How much might Bitcoin appreciate per year? Someone claims to know. Then, a Bitcoin farm can consume the energy of a small city and while the Chinese won't allow them in China, they have no problem consuming our power and maybe even our national security secrets. Is Bitcoin worth the costs? Don shares some actual numbers. Listeners ask:Do we know of a great 529A Able Plan?What do we think of a simple portfolio and when should it be rebalanced?Are more bonds needed in a portfolio?Is there a case to be made for a traditional, tax-deductible 401k?What do we think of an ESG portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A special episode devoted to paying for your children's higher education. Appella Wealth college-funding specialist, Jim Femia joins Tpm and Don to share his expertise on the various ways you can afford to help your kid's get through college.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Friday is when Don takes the questions you record at Talking Real Money:Why do Treasury security yields change throughout each day?How do you check out a fee-based advisor?What do we think of a company's new fund options?Does his advice for a friend's retirement portfolios make sense?Is the ETF "HIGH" a decent investment?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A Washington Post advice columnist suggested firing a financial advisor friend. How can you find the right person to manage your money? Then we hear from lots of listeners:Is it better to invest fixed income dollars in bonds or laddered CDs?Will moving from one brokerage firm to another cause a taxable event?When is the best time to make a QCD?Why doesn't the Fed raise rates in one big move?How can an employee get out of an Edward Jones 401a?Which of many bad choices should a school district employee use in 403b?How does Merrill Lunch differ from Schwab?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

There's a lot money tied up in our homes, so should you pay off your cheap mortgage? What are the costs to access all of that money should you need it? At Bank of America, it could cost up to 10% for a home equity line of credit. We talk about the potential future of bond prices. The we here from a bunch of Kens, a Barb (and others):What happens to the homeowner's capital gain exemption if you rent you house for a few years?Does direct indexing make investing sense?To invest in other funds should I wait until the old securities price goes up?How much risk should someone with a high risk capacity, but no need for risk, own bonds?Should I-Bonds be sold and reivested in CDs?Do QCDs (qualified charitable distributions) makes sense?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The movie "Dumb Money" depicts a small slice of the pandemic meme stock trading stupidity. Today, we discuss trying to time the market and it's similarity to other ways we lose money. Then, listeners ask:How much should be kept in the short-term liquid accounts?Should we take money from different types of account in different markets?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A recent study found that the vast majority of Americans don't believe they will be in good enough financial shape to retire at age 65. What are some of our biggest concerns and how can we deal with our unpreparedness? Plus, we share the tale of a money talk show host who went wild with listeners money. Then, we here from listeners:One takes us to task for sharing mutual fund portfolios instead of just ETF portfolios.Another asks where Health Savings Account (HSA) should be invested.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this Friday's Question and Answer episode:While stocks plunged for most of the Great Depression, how did bonds perform?Does it make sense to convert to a Roth if the taxes are paid from the IRA?Does taking early Social Security payments and investing them better than waiting until age 70?How is a lump sum pension distribution taxed and should it be used to pay off a house?In which kinds of accounts should different types of investments be kept?Why do we state that homes haven't been a great investment over time?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Trillions of dollars are wasting away in low-yielding bank accounts. Why do investors keep making the same investing mistakes, over and over again, despite evidence that investing is incredibly simple if done right? How can you avoid making bad investing decisions? We also discuss the huge spread between savings account and credit card interest. A listener asks:Is her brother's dividend portfolio a smart way to invest?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The 401k and 403b investment offerings are a mess and the US Labor Department would like to make it better, but the financial product industry opposes mandating truly honest investing advice. Salespeople aggressively push expensive or unsuitable products, while the low cost products are hidden from participants view. What can you do to avoid the bad products and fiind the best retirement investments for you? Plus, listeners wasnt to know:What is our problem with target-date funds?Can an inherited IRA be gifted away?What should be done with investments when someone enters long-term care?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We came prepared to talk about the impact of a government shutdown on your investments. Just as we came on the air, Congress voted to defer the issue for another 45 days. Yet, what would be the financial impact of another shutdown? We look back at the recent performance of the markets. Don shares some great streaming TV shows with Tom. Fund fees keep falling. Then, listeners ask:What should be done with some extra cash in retirement?Should marketable limit orders be used when trading ETFs?What is a reasonable expected return for a portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The evidence continues to show why most "expert" money managers fail to beat their benchmarks. Don and Tom share some powerful academic reasons why money managers (and you) are unlikely to beat the market over time. Plus, those once-hot NFTs have turned icy cold, losing billions of dollars.Then, we take some questions:Is the I-Bond early-withdrawal interest penalty from early interest or the latest amount?With Social Security in trouble, what is the best age to take withdrawals?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In today's question and comment episode:Don is appalled by another great example of a slick salesperson selling a horribly complex and misleading insurance investment for retirement.Should a Roth be funded for someone on the cusp of making too much money.A listener shares positive comments about a recent show.Does overfunding a 529 to allow a future Roth IRA transfer to a child make sense?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A recent study shows that most people trust the right people for investing advice. What is your trusted source of money information? Then, we hear from listeners:What do we think of this retirement portfolio, heavily invested in real estate trusts?Does the Schwab CD ladddering tool look good?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Morningstar recently reported a ongoing gap between investor returns and the returns of the stock market. You and your behavior make less than underlying indexes. We discuss Tom's attempt to buy a new Toyota and the lack of resonse to his queries.A caller shares his long history as a trader.Another looks for our opinion on real estate investment trusts (REITs).Is there any way to avoid the capital gain on the sale of property?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Finding good financial advice is really tough. You might believe that those providing money information in the media are required to tell the truth. They're not. You need to carefully vet anyone providing investing information. We take a close look at the truth behind one the money radio shows in the Seattle radio who calls himself "The Money Professor." We find out there is less there than meets the ear. WE also look at some of the best CD rates and discuss laddering.Our loyal listeners ask:Are Dimensional funds passive or active?What the the first steps to getting started investing?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Instead of lining up at the track or using a bookie, today's compulsive gamblers have a respectable way to feed their dangerous habit: short-duration option trading. The amount of money gambled away in securities markets is staggering, and it is no better than playing slots at a casino. It may be worse. We also discuss the egomaniacal comments of Bill Gross.Listeners ask:Which is better: Regular or Roth retirement accounts?What do we think about Titan Capital?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this week's Friday Q&A session:A caller shares information about the downside of non-qualified deferred compensation plans at work.Should some olf 401k plans be moved to a current 401k?In a TSP, what should the fixed-income allocation be?Do investors need to be diversified globally in large-cap stocksIs his international diversification appropriate?Does longevity insurance make sense?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most "experts" say you'll need $1 million or more to retire comfortably. How will you get by if you've saved less than that, and how can you catch up if you're short on retirement savings? Plus, we hear from listeners:What do we think of an expensive 403b investment?Can funds from a Coverdell ESA be transferred to a Roth IRA?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

With the release of the meme-stock movie "Dumb Money," it seems like a good time to discuss the reality of chasing after the latest hot "investment." Then, with Don tending to his ailing mom, Tom is joined by Paul Merriman to look back at an old, hot investing craze, the "Nifty-Fifty" and to answer listener questions:What's the best way to educate grown children about money and investing?With the UAW on strike, are we likely to see defined-benefit pensions return?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Choosing the right time to take Social Security can add hundreds of dollars every month. With Don away on family matters, Tom is joined by Paul Merriman to discuss money and investing. Listeners ask:Does his decision to take Social Security at FRA make sense?What do we think of Ken Fisher's investing philosophy?What will provide a high return without much risk?How should a 16 year-old invest accumulated savings?What's our opinion of a new Avantis balanced ETF?Does it make sense to convert an IRA to a Roth?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Investors are trying to avoid paying taxes to the detriment of overall returns. Tom and Don discuss tax strategies that might make sense. Plus, it turns out those GICs or guaranteed income accounts aren't actually "guaranteed."A listener asks:Is there any reason to be concerned about Vanguard funds reorganization plans?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It's everyone's favorite day: Q&A Friday with Don. This week listeners ask:Why don't more online brokers adopt automatic rebalancing?Why should we invest overseas when international stocks have done poorly recently?Does it make sense to take a loss on longer term bonds and move to one-year CDs?What do we think of VIOV vs AVUV?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Who wouldn't love double or triple returns on their investments? What is the downside to leverage?Listeners ask:What do we think of Mercer Advisors and their sub-advisors?Should money be moved from a less aggressive small cap value fund to a more aggressive one?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Over centuries, gold has proven to be a lousy investment. Its big selling point has been "safety." But, is gold really safe? What good is gold? Then, listeners want to know:Should a home equity line of credit be used to buy a new home?What's the best way to make a lot, quickly, with both safety and liquidity?What should be dome with retirement investment money after maxing out retirement plans?Should I-Bonds be sold now that they're earning less?After big losses from a brokerage portfolio, what should be done?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Because people have been known to rip off customers, the financial industry is heavily regulated, with a few exceptions. We explore how indexed annuity salespeople get away with misleading customers and how hard it is to stop them. Don explains how indexed annuities work and why they are so lightly regulated.Listeners want to know:Why is BND going down in value?How should unneeded money in IRA be invested?What do we think about the four-year Bitcoin cycle?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Advisor Diana Bacon joins Tom and Don to discuss those future purposes for which you need to invest. Should you invest for a house, education, retirement, or beer, and how much for each? Listeners ask:Is a Fidelity investor limited to their funds, or can a couple of ETFs work?Is buying individual bonds better than a bond fund?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this Q&A (and C) episode:What's the best way to sell gold for an estate and what are the tax ramifications?What type of 401k is better for charitable contributions?Those Vanguard transaction fees get paid back into the funds.Can an index fund be traded, tax-free for an ETF from another firm?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

For decades, bonds moved differently from stocks. Then they moved together. So, what will happen in the future? In addition, can you know things that the "market" doesn't? Why do we refuse to jump on "investing" bandwagons like crypto? Does a crypto ETF makes sense? Listeners want to know:Is it better to invest now of dollar-cost average into the stocks market?What is likely to happen to real estate prices?Are CDs the place to invest safe dollars?How can an illiquid investment vehicle be liquidated in an estate?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, we explore a couple of the big mistakes investors make and clearly and simply explain how to avoid. But, we know most of you will ignore our advice. Thank you! Listeners ask:Is a 401k plan better than an IRA?Why did we ignore this 10-year high-yielding CD?Where should emergency funds be parked?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Is Generation X in retirement funding trouble? With few pensions, low savings, and small portfolios, will Gen X be able to retire comfortably? The listeners ask Don and Tom:What do we think of "defined outcome" funds?What is our opinion of 401k investment choices?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In today's end-of-week edition of interaction between listeners and Don:Would the tax savings from a deductible 401k beat the tax-free aspect of a Roth 401k?Will savings be adequate to provide income while waiting until age 70 to take Social Security?Amounts paid out-of-pocket – instead of an HSA – for medical expenses are eligible for early withdrawal.Does it make sense for a couple with only one money-managing spouse to invest with an advisor?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

If you want to overweight small cap stocks, be aware that small cap index funds are filling with larger sized securities. How can you make sure your small cap portfolio is actually small? Then, listeners ask:Would it be better to dump this active Vanguard "fundle" to move to index funds?Which CD is better: Pays interest at maturity, or pays interest monthly?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Investing is risky. CDs are safe. So, why not put your money in the bank for ten years at high rates? Tom and Don debunk the popular myth that there is easy, safe money. Remember, the money media will tell you what you want to hear. Listeners want to know:What do we think of a loaded, managed mutual fund portfolio?What are our thoughts on bond fund durations, and what's a good time frame?Does taking an extra risk with a retirement portfolio makes sense?What's our opinion on Schwab's private client services?How do fiduciary advisors get paid and how much?What are advisors still recommending bond funds?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We discover that Vanguard charges fees to buy and sell some of their mutual funds. What's the difference between a transaction fee and a commission? Plus, are friends and family the best resource for fiduciary financial advice? What's the best way to find a great financial advisor? After Bob Barker's passing, Tom states, "The Price is Right." Then, we hear from some listeners:Is FICA charged for income from retirement plan withdrawals?Will a widow receive the whole capital gains tax exclusion on a primary home sale?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Apparently, to become a famous market prognosticator, you only need one accurate guess. Tom and Don wonder why we still hang on the advice of those who rarely, if ever, make a correct guess about market direction. Then we hear from some of you:Is my partner right to be concerned about my retirement portfolio?Is is too late to fund a 529 for older kids?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Here are today's questions:Is a friend working with a good advisor?What's the best way to move money from an appreciated mutual fund to a more tax-advantaged fund?How does an organization determine the proper risk profile?How can a a well-diversified ETF portfolio created?At what age does a custodial IRA need to be turned over to a beneficiary in Washington?How should an investment property be sold and the proceeds reinvested?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We all want to make lots of money with no risk. Well, you can't have both. That hasn't stopped many in the financial and insurance business from creating products designed to make it appear you can receive wealth without risk. Tom and Don share the latest confounding example of this phenomenon. Then we answer listeners questions:How does the new law allowing $35,000 to be moved from a 529 to a Roth IRA work?How do you adjust the retirement withdrawal rate between a traditional 401k vs. a Roth?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most of us are not ready for a financially secure retirement. Americans are increasingly on their own when it comes to creating a life-long retirement income stream. What will it take to make us better retirement investors? One of the biggest problems are the high-fee (and commission) annuity products foisted on 403b plan participants by insurance companies. What should you do to become a better rtetirement investor? Plus, why is CBS News allowing blatants ads for gold investing and gold IRAs to be posted online under its name as news articles? Listeners want to know:Is it better to consider the "30-day SEC yield" or "estimated distrubution" when considering bonds funds?What is a reasonable fee to pay for a fiduciary investment advisor?What's the best way to rebalance taxable and retirement accounts?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

First, "they" said rates could never fall to almost zero. Then,"they" said rates wouldn't go this high. Therefore, it's apparent that "they" don't have a clue. So, what should you do? Should you buy long-term bonds? Should you buy a house? Then listeners ask:When does it makes sense to buy long-term care insurance versus self insuring?From a tax-planning what should be done with a hodgepodge portfolio heading into retirement?Finally, Don discovers that he's been earning one cent a month on small Bank of America savings account while paying $8 a month in fees.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

His prices may have been insane, but "Crazy" Eddie Antar was a cold, calculating criminal who used his incredible fame to rip people off for over a decade, from the late 1970s and late 1980s. Tom talks about his many crimes from the book "Retail Gangster - The Insane Real-Life Story of Cray Eddie." He then shares lessons that need to be learned from this shocking story.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

On today's Friday Q&A episode:Is there a way to move from one appreciated fund to another without a tax hit?How many stocks are in AVGE?What is the best way to give appreciated assets to charity and receive an income?Is it better to take money out in retirement once a year or by averaging out over the year?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We share which passive, unmanaged funds have made the most over the past decade? However, does past performance tell you anything aboit the future? Then, we answer questions from a couple of listeners:Should new money be used to rebalance?In it worth converting a mutual fund to an ETF within an IRA?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Does the fact that target-date funds (which hold international stocks) have underperformed their balanced competitors (with generally on US companies) tell you anything about their future?Plus, why is the financial media keep taking the easy path by suggesting big, blue-chip stocks? Oh, and Tom shares a joke from a Norwegian listener. Then, callers want to know:Does it makes sense to start using new Roth option at work versus the old degerred plan?Is 10 years enough time to invest in a well-diversified portfolio or does a target-date fund make more sense?Does it makes sense to convert funds in a qualified plan to ETFs?How can taxes be reduced on portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The show starts with a relatively tame discussion of the reccomendation to sell I-bonds and move the money into long-term Treasury bonds. Then, our first call sets off fireworks as attempts to claim that equity indexed annuities (EIAs) are wonderful, fee-free products that we unfairly slam. This is a conversation not to be missed. The raest of the show is filled with others callers:How should a conservative retiree be allocating investments?Looking advice on moving from a 401k to an IRA?How to invest after maxing out qualified retirement plans?What should be done with savings at US Bank if they are in trouble?How can gold coins be sold?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Talking Real Money Special Travelogue EditionAfter taking his longest vacation in many years, Don share his thoughts about the trip, the ship, and his feelings about vacationing. To follow along with pictures, please visit the podcast on talkingrealmoney.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Back from vacation, Don shares some programming changes then answers listeners questions:Should a bunch of funds be moved into to new Avantis Value ETF, AVGV?How should childrens' Roth IRAs be invested?With Voya as 401k custodian, what should be expected?Does it make sense to move to a more aggressive target-date fund?With a 401k in Fidelity Freedom funds, should a Roth IRA be overweighted to small cap?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don is back from vacation while Tom is well into vacation and yet they managed to get together to discuss the relative unaffordability of single family homes. Are homes more expensive than ever? Plus, homeowners are borrowing record amounts of equity from their homes. Then we hear from listeners:How can I essentially gamble with my retirement money in penny stocks and IPOs?On track for an early retirement at age 55?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don is still away, but will be back soon. In the meantime: Who needs those risky stocks? A brilliant 25-year claims to have discovered the incredible power of nice, safe CDs and savings. How and how much should be invested in cash versus stocks and other investments?Then, our listeners want to know:What should be done with an annuity in a retirement plan?Does it makes sense to move money from one annuity to another?What is a qualified annuity trust?Can an IRA be given to a charity avoiding taxation on distributions?What's the best way to generate retirement income to delay Social Security?Does a QCD avoid taxes on an RMD?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

After a technical problem bringing Don in live from Copenhagen, Tom carries on with Apella advisor, Derek Jobe and talks about our need to always be doing something with money. How much money do you need to retire comfortably? Listeners ask:Does it make sense to move from from bond funds to CDs?Should money be taken from a retirement plan and moved into annuities?What can be done to make long-term care insurance more understandable?How can it be determined when to take Social Security?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!