Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

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!

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!