Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Don answers listeners questions while sitting on the 10th floor of the Copenhagen Marriott (check the cover art for his view):Is there a better way to create a balanced 60/40 portfolio than Fidelity Balanced fundHow to allocate any international portfolio between two American funds?What's the best way to transfer a 403b annuity to Fidelity?Is it better to overfund retirement early or low down to keep getting the employer match?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

What do you know about Social Security. Join us for an exciting game that will help you learn more about most American's primary source of retirement income. Plus, we take some questions:What's the best investment for a 529 education plan?What are the costs for buying and selling brokered CDs?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

While "Waiting for Godot" (an obscure theatrical reference for many) ending up being a waste of time, waiting for Social Security could be very lucrative. Yet, few people manage to hold off until age 70. With Don in Copenhagen, Tom and Paul Merriman discuss this simple yet valuable strategy for enjoying more income in retirement.Then on to your questions:Paul is asked to elaborate on Christine Benz's 3 bucket strategy.With rates up, should bond money be moved to CDs?Is it reasonable to pay an investment advisor 1% per year?What should be done with an inherited IRA at Edward Jones?What's the best way to catch up on retirement investing later in life?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don is still lounging around the North Sea (and editing this podcast). So, Tom in joined by Paul Merriman. The S&P 500 has soared 20% so far this year and now that "the market" (has been) "is" up, investors are feeling frisky. So, is it time to dive back into the equity pool.Paul discusses the number one reason to buy index funds and why you should buy when the market is down. He also talks about using target-date funds in conjunction with a small-cap value offering.Callers ask:What should a son do with money in his IRA?Does is makes sense to buy shares of stock in the Atlanta Braves?Is there a downside to having everything invested with one custodian?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don's on his summer cruise, freezing in Iceland, and answering questions:Does a portfolio of specific date bond ETFs make sense?Should a 28-year old retirement investor use target-date funds or AVGE?How much is needed to become our client?Should retirement money be invested in Schwab Intelligent Portfolios?With today's high yields do CDs have a place in a retirement portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

They gave you the chance to get in on the ground floor of hot new businesses. Special purpose acquisition companies or SPACs were hot "investments" not too long ago. So, what happened?Then, on to questions from listeners:A military member looks for advice on TSP portfolio and wants advice on money in cash accounts.What's a good three fund strategy for TSP investments?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

While Don sails across the North Atlantic, Tom mans the podcast and discusses overrated financial concepts and how you deal with money.Then come the callers:Does it makes sense to have both a 401k and a Roth IRA and what are the differences?Have we forgotten about the less tangible aspects of a paid-off mortgage?What’s the best way to convert a regular IRA to Roth IRA?Is a Roth 457 better?What’s the best way to avoid the high fees at Empower?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

With Don on vacation, Tom spends some time covering the basics of investing. Later he is joined by Consumerman, Herb Weisbaum discussing the latest scams. They also discuss the pros and cons of electric vehicles. Callers ask about:What are the reals costs of mutual funds and ETFs?How to start working toward a financially secure retirement?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Even when on vacation, Don tackles an array of questions and comments from listeners, including:How should an inheritance be invested for a vacation fund?Is this portfolio allocation too aggressive?A listener lays out his case for crypto currencies, and Don responds.What traits should an investor look for in a financial advisor?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, author Larry Swedroe shares his opinion on various alternative asset classes for investment. We also look at the confusing state of ESG investing and the differences between the returns of "green" and "brown" stocks.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, Tom and Dan talk with prolific author and director of research at the BAM Alliance about the differences between passive and active investing. We also discuss the tax differences between mutual funds and exchange-traded funds and the benefits of diversification across various asset classes.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don't spend too much of your savings on a child's college education. People often retire because they can no longer earn a living, so you must ensure your retirement is your financial priority.Then callers ask:What should be done with a hodgepodge portfolio?What can be done with a currently non-deductible disaster loss?What should be done with the stocks in a company purchase plan?Still trying to discover the value of some of Warner Bros. stock.How should a bunch of individual inherited stocks be sold?Should money be placed in a tax-deferred or taxable account?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Nothing from the past can give you a reliable way of predicting the future. Does an inverted yield curve guarantee recession? Does the stock market predict a booming economy? Lots of things work until they don't. Will ETFs kill mutual funds? Then we hear from lots of you:What do we think of a Fidelity fund, and where should future investments go?What should be done with a long-term taxable account?What's the best way to fund the gap between early retirement and age 59?What do we think of his financial advisor's advice?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In today's pre-vacation question and answer session Don addresses:Concerns about the young age of funds like AVGE.Are Fidelity Enhanced funds like Dimensional and Avantis funds?With the yield below 4%, should I-Bonds be cashed in and moved to saving accounts?Which money market yield quote is the right one?Does it make sense to fo with three funds instead of ten to simplify rebalancing?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Today, after a robot briefly seizes the podcast, we talk about the power of advice and when hiring a robot to help you invest makes sense. We also compare a few of the biggest robo-advisory firms.Then we hear from listeners:Praising our help.Where is a great source for information on taking pensions and annuitization options?What should be done with a grandchild's investment vehicles and portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We start with proof that "Luke from WI" is real. Then, we dive into the topic du jour; those annoying never-ending subscription charges. How can we better manage and eventually cancel them?Then, we take your questions:Isn't rebalancing a form of market timing?Is a cash-hoarding financial advisor incompetent?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It can be difficult to get precision investment allocation with "pure" index funds. What are index funds, anyway?Callers ask us:Do stock investments make sense at age 70?How good are the investments in a broker-designed portfolio?What do we think of a dividend-centric portfolio? Then, we discuss the pitfalls of a high-income portfolio.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

"Do as I say, not as I do," Many in the financial advice business epitomize this aphorism. A few are brave enough to admit that they fail to follow their own good advice. One of those is Christine Benz from Morningstar. Why do we fail to follow what we know to be good financial advice? That's up for discussion in this episode. Callers want to know:Is there a better parking place for a future home down payment?Do you need an emergency fund in retirement?Can money be moved from a regular IRA into a gold IRA?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

On this week's Friday Q&A:Vanguard has made another customer angry with their $25 fee and they want to know how to move.Do these two ETFs provide enough diversification?After one year in a Kai-Zen Trust, a disillusioned buyer wants to know if he should continue funding it.What do we think of Dave Ramsey's advice to take Social Security payments at age 62?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

With the US Supreme Court ruling against the student loan, elimination plan, what can students do now to help reduce the burden of their education debt? Plus, we talk about special people and their special financial treatment.Then, listeners ask:Should they go ahead and annuitize a variable annuity or move it into an IRAIs this work 401(k) plan diversified enough?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, we share the surprisingly good returns for 2023 so far and what it means going forward. Then we share a terrible way to find a fiduciary investment advisor and why it’s so hard to find high-quality financial advice.Callers ask about the following:Flexible withdrawals in retirement planning. We explain how withdrawing a reasonable percentage each year can provide a sustainable income.Using QLACs (qualified longevity annuity contracts) as a means to avoid RMDs (required minimum distribution).What are value stocks, and how are they more aggressive?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In today's Q&A session:Does it make sense to buy a new home free and clear with the proceeds from the old house?Which Vanguard bond fund is the best choice?What are good ETFs in which to start investing overseas?Are these 401k funds active or passive?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Lookin' to make 5% on your fixed income investments? With most banks still paying pathetic interest rates, there is a trick to getting substantially more on FDIC-insured CDs.Then, we hear from you:What should be done with a portfolio of almost 500 individual bonds?What investing advice do we have for armed services members?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We are inundated with "expert" financial advice. Is it worth heeding? There are a lot of people who claim to be able to predict the financial future, but they all have one thing in common with plain old us. They CANNOT know the future. So, why bother listening, watching, or reading their advice? Then, we hear from some of you wondering:If Bitcoin makes simple mathamatical sense as an investment?What do we think of lightly traded ETFs?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

What are the big issues that drain your wealth after you retire? Here are five of the biggest wastes of money in retirement: Housing, health, scams, Social Security, and investing.Listeners ask:How can I be sure that my portfolio reflects my core beliefs?How should money from a condo sale be invested in retirement?After losing a job is life insurance still needed?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Risk is part of life, but should we really worry about the possibility of losing everything? A 100% loss from your investments is almost 100% avoidable if you stop gambling. You can dramatically increase your chances of total loss with leverage.Listeners ask:Is a 6 to 7% esoteric bond product a safe way to create retirement income?What should be done with five non-income producing real estate investments?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, Don randomly ends up with a host of similar questions:Is a tax-managed fund better than an ETF?Is the tax-advantage enough to justify using a real estate ETF in a taxable account?Should money be move out of an underperformingAvantis ETF?Would it be smart to move from target-date funds into better performing ETFS?What's the best place to park short-term money being used for home construction?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The "Baby Boom" generation continue to own a large percentage of their wealth in stocks. Are they taking too much risk or are they saavy investors?Then, listeners ask Tom and Don:Can couples get around the "wash sale rule" by trading in their seperate accounts?Should a portfolio's missing asset class be purchased slowly or all at once?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Passive income is paradoxical. While it sounds like getting something for nothing, it either requires a lot of work or money (which generally requires wealth to accumulate). Why do so many people chase after this impossible dream?Plus, you want to know:How should a $250,000 nest egg be invested?Should I ask my broker to help me invest in low-cost index funds and ETFs?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It's a lesson we constantly fail to learn: Avoid investing in your company's stock. Employees who believed their firm could not fail have lost billions of dollars. We compare the rate you can get on a Bank of America CD in the bank itself versus through a brokerage firm. The difference is shocking. Plus, how to make a CD ladder.Listeners stop by to ask:What should be done with an investment account with Securian?What do we think of FDIC-insured online banks?What should be done with a bunch of money that has no stated purpose?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A bull market seems to encourage us to watch our investment portfolios more closely, which can lead to bad, emotionally-driven decisions. Why do we rush into the hot stocks? Plus, an example of studying an advisor's form ADV, Part 2.Listeners want to know:What kind of impact would moving investments have on average annual returns?Is paying bills from a checking account or with a credit card better?What do we think of Vanguard's new $ 25-a-month fee per mutual fund or brokerage account?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this week's Q&A episode:Is it true you can live off of capital gains tax-free?How should young adults' Roth IRAs be invested?What do we think of the cash product from MassMutual's "Flourish" program?Does monthly rebalancing make sense?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

As we approach retirement, several things cause concern, but what do retirees worry about most? Discover how to reduce concerns about running out of money before running out of life. Then, we hear from listeners:Sharing a trick to own the market without using ETFs or funds.Is Morningstar a good source to research funds recommended by my LPL advisor?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Do you need a robo advisor to help you create a fixed-income portfolio? Can they make you more money while also charging you more? We compare a robo advisor bond buying service to cheap bond ETFs. Plus, we take listeners' questions:Will returns rise if you never rebalance your portfolio?A salesperson suggests moving an old 403b to his Roth IRA. Should I ask if he's a fiduciary?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Dave Ramsey received $30 million to promote a deceptive timeshare seller and now faces a huge lawsuit. Much of the financial advice in the media is bought and paid for, leaving you to wonder whose advice to trust.Then a listener:Shares his Tesla excitement, and we explain our concerns about owning Tesla or any other individual stock.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Look at that. Despite all of the "economic uncertainty," the longest bear market since 1948 has officially ended. How many stocks were responsible for the return of the bull? What does that mean for your portfolio and future? We also talk about small side hustles and the changes and troubles at Vanguard.Then listeners ask:How can an investor in a Fidelity retirement plan invest in international small-cap value stocks?What can be done with an old annuity that is slow to pay out assets to the owner?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don fields your comments and questions:Praise for Vanguard's customer service.Taking us to task over life insurance advice.How to invest when Roth ineligible?What would happen if Apple failed?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most Americans invest primarily in US stocks. The same holds true for other countries. How has that worked out for, say, the Japanese. With the help of a recent Morningstar study, we make the case for global portfolios.Listeners want to know:If it makes sense for a child to skip collge and go directly to a trade?Is it okay to invest in Avantis ETFs like AVGE?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

"Investors" – and we use that term a loosely as possible – are pouring money into anything that seems even remotely connect to AI (artificial intelligence). The end result is not likely to be pretty.Listeners want to know:What do we think of the Oxford Club's 200+% return bond trading strategy?Why own international stocks when the US has done so well?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Another fearful event passes and will soon be forgotten. The debt deiling "crisis" is over. What's next? We discuss why we panic financially and how we can make market movement less painful by controlling emotions. What is happening in the Asian markets and should you be concerned? How much had non-fiduciary advice costing investors?Listeners ask:What do we think of a Vanguard advisor's portfolio recommendations?What should be done with some excess cash? Bonds or annuities?Should a hodgepodge be reallocated to just two ETFs?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It's Friday! That means Don is answering a few more of your questions:What should be done with some old, expensive funds in a Roth?Does a pre-tax retirement contribution reduce Social Security earnings penalties?Does it make sense to use RMDs to make charitable contributions?Is an expensive, actively managed small-cap value fund better, and do target-date funds have hidden fees?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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 a place to find forgotten company retirement plans?What do we think of the Washington state capital gains tax?Why do we discourage investors from trying to "buy the dip?"What should be done with a rental property in retirement?What's the best way to move out of real estate and into a more diversified portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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. Then, we discuss the annoying proliferation of tipping screens at businesses. We hear from listeners:How to move from Edward Jones to Vanguard?Are 10-year CDs better than the Vanguard Total Bond Index ETF?Then, we get our holiday weekend drunk caller.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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 endowment?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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 megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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/adchoicesQuestions? 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 client who needed an insurance product?What do we think of a particular bank and cash investing, in general?Is Tesla stock a smart investment?Does a target date fund make sense for simplfying portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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 to keep the expensive funds?How can a participant figure out how much is being paid for the plan?Does cash-value whole life ever make sense compared to other investments?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

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 choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!