Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

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!

With baby boomers nearing the end of their time on earth, a huge wealth transfer is in the offing. What would you do with a big inheritance of guess? Plus, are CFPs always acting as fiduciaries? Then, it's question time:How do we avoid bad companies in our client's portfolios?Does it make sense to move from a target-date fund to a total market index?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don are joined by a rare guest, Phil McInnis, Chief Investment Strategist at Avantis Funds. This episode covers the difference between truly active fund management and rules-based stock selection, how ETFs differ from mutual funds, and much more.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A major new study found that investors care more about fee transparency than the return from their investments. It turns out that investors want the truth from their financial advisors. Yet, the financial industry continues to lie and obfuscate. Then, after Tom suffers a technical breakdown, Don takes calls:Is there a way to set up a 401k transfer before leaving a firm?How can misplaced IRA funds be recovered?Where are all the jobs?Thanks for a great show.Would the total market or a small-cap value fund be a better investment?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Yet another study shows that dart-throwing monkeys (a metaphor for randomness) picked better investments than did professional human stock pickers. Plus, humans cost more. Another study shows that only a few stocks account for the bulk of the market's returns.Then, we hear from a few of you:How much do dual-registered advisors actually charge?Does it make sense to pay off a very low-interest mortgage?How much should be invested in an international ETF?Why do so few investors use indexed bond funds?Is Empower really acting as a fiduciary all the time?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

This is a particularly good Friday question and answer session:When should a portfolio be rebalanced?What is the difference between VT and VTWAX?Her CFP uses Pershing. Are they okay?Where should a small child's UTMA be invested?Where should emergcy money be invested for safety?How to we feel about Rick Ferri saying that small cap value investing has failed?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Another experts predicts the financial futute with absolute certainty, despite the FACT that the future can't be known. Plus, we agree with Bill Gross for the first time.Then, we hear from listeners:Is there a need for an internation fund other than the I Fund in the Thrift Savings Plan?Can taxes be avoided by moving from the Vanguard S&P 500 mutual fund to their S&P 500 ETF?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Is it the 4% rule? Should you take less in bad times and more in good times? How do you know how much income can you take from your investments in retirement?Listeners ask:What kinds of investments should a young investor have in a retirement account?Are personalized portfolios better than target dates funds?Should an investor be concerned about California bonds in a muni fund?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Should you be concerned about the money you have in the bank?Listeners wonder:What would have happened if you invested at the highest point of stock market every year?What is the best way to buy gold?Should investors consider investing in high yileding structured notes?Do Schwab intelligent portfolios make sense?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It is estimated that the UK spent about $100 million to crown King Charles III. What else could you get for that much money? We also discuss the huge amount of money taken out of the market lately and why we need to stop playing the markets.Then our listeners ask:How much is needed to retire comfortably?How do we feel about "direct indexing?"How can Roth funds be used for emergencies?Does a Texas gold-backed debit card make sense or serve any purpose?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Just another Q&A Friday, Cinco de Mayo. Today Don tackles:Should the funds be inside both a regular and Roth IRA?Should siblings' contributions to mother's care be tracked, and what might happen if they help mom?Does the rate on I-Bonds remain the same for their entire term?Is it okay to go ahead and fund a backdoor IRA early in the year?Do the ERISA protections make keeping an old employer's 401k?From which accounts should college money be withdrawn first?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Do investors need a great money manager like Warren Buffett? Then, we ask: Is he really that good, and are his best days behind him?Two listeners ask us different questions about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).Then, we veer way off topic as we talk about visiting Omaha, Nebraska, and its top attractions.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

They can't quote high returns and claim low risk if it's not true, right? It may be wrong, but purveyors of investment products have been doing it for centuries. There will always be people who promise big profits and toss out truly unbelievable risk claims, and there is only one person you can count on to protect you: YOU!Plus, a listener asks:What does this portfolio need for better diversification?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, we continue where we left off in the previous show, sharing various reasons why you might not be ready to retire. We also hear from listeners who:Want to know what to do with undeeded IRA RMDs?Warn about the hazards of not paying estimated taxes on a big capital gain.Shares how he converted an Edward Jones account into a fee-only service.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Today and tomorrow, we look at several reasons you might not be ready to retire. Plus, listeners want to know:Is there a deadline during the day for canceling a mutual fund trade?Are we heading for economic trouble?How much of an annuity will need to be withdrawn for RMD?How bad is my financial situation?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don is back, taking on your questions with his answers. Here's what today's episode brings:What is Phoenix Capital, and how can they offer 9-12% yields?How much of BND is in long-term bonds?How should a portfolio be rebalanced to add a REIT fund?Should a bonus go into a 401k and does it make sense to convert to a Roth?Should old 401ks be moved into a new John Hancock managed 401k plan?Plus, a bit of additional information about crypto creation.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

With rates all over the place, many are trying to play the fixed-income market. Tom and Don explore the purpose of fixed income in a portfolio and disciplined strategies for investors. Plus, they discuss a new, strange NFT offering.Listers want to know:What do we think of Paul Merriman's target date and small-cap fund strategy?Does it make sense to test the five biggest brokers by giving each a whopping $1,000 to invest?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

What if you invested in the S&P 500 decades ago and did absolutely nothing? The answer is shocking. Plus, a special segment featuring a "Last Week Tonight" piece on the forecasting abilities of Jim Cramer.We hear from listeners:What is our opinion of Mint and Nerdwallet and are they safe?Is another firm with a financial podcast worth considering?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don explore another goofy investing advice article (as if something has actually changed).Our listeners ask us:How should assets be consolidated for upcoming retirement?What should be done to create a backdoor IRA with an excess contribution?Which Vanguard fund should replace an American Funds tax-free fund?How safe is Schwab as an investment advisory firm's custodian?What should be done with an old employer's 401k?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Does owning a home make financial sense anymore? Could it be wiser to rent and invest instead?Plus, Tom takes calls about:The effect of joint tenancy on estate taxes.The tax advantage of ETFs over mutual funds.Should a cash account be moved into qualified dividend stocks?Does it make sense to invest in a high-yielding real estate trust?Are there any decent money newsletters?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

An extra large helping of listener questions today:A young investor seeks our portfolio blessing.Does a Merriman-suggested ETF make sense to own?Should he keep shoveling money into savings?Do RMDs impact Social Security taxation?In which types of accounts should various assets be located?Is this a strategy to avoid backdoor IRA taxes?Don is called on to settle a couple's dispute about annuities.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Despite its recent run-up, gold remains a terrible investment. In fact, by our definition, it isn't even an investment as it cannot become more valuable on its own.Then we hear from some of you, wondering:Why do we suggest AVUV when it's an "active" ETF?If an individual fixed-income investor can beat a bond fund or ETF?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

How soon we forget. After years of low to non-existent interest rates on fixed-income securities, suddenly, everyone wants to invest in bonds or CDs. Did the equity markets take that big a beating, and will they return less moving forward?Then we hear from listeners:Does it make sense to move money from a Vanguard S&P 500 fine to the identical ETF?Should a bond fund be added to a diversified equity portfolio at work?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Can someone who provides investment advice be just a little bit fiduciary? What is wrong with investment advisors also being commissioned brokers? How can you find a 100% fiduciary advisor?Listeners ask:In which types of accounts should various investments be held?Which is better: Fidelity or Vanguard?Should we be buying bank stocks right now?Can securities be sold by a new broker?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don shares a new study that, again, illustrates the futility of trying to beat the market. The future remains unknowable. Plus, he discusses the darkest side of cryptocurrencies; power hungry miners.Callers join in to:Praise the show.Is there way to reduce taxes on an investment property sale?What should be done with an extra $20K?What are the tax advantages of putting your life in an LLC?What should be done with some Ferrari stock?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Another day, another five questions answered. Today's topics:How do I know who is a true fiduciary?What's our opinion of "Infinity Investing?"Where can I look up financial advisors?What should be done with an inheritance?Why do we like the flexible withdrawal strategy for retirement income?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We have gotten a bit behind on answering phoned-in questions, so today, Don answers the following:How do you get out of a bunch of individual stocks?What should be done with too much of a single stock in a retirement portfolio?What is a good place to "safely" invest for retirement?How will smaller bank spreads affect the market?How can someone eventually retire with no assets except an almost paid-off home?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Hard to believe, but the US government allows investors to generate tax-free income from a well-diversified portfolio – without using municipal bonds. Plus, a listener wonders if the extra fees for the Avantis Small-Cap Value ETF (AVUV) are worth paying.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The world has changed dramatically. So, how do you manage your money in this mad new world? Plus, we hear from listeners asking:How do you get restarted on a retirement investment path?Will other world currencies supplant the US Dollar?What do we think of these two stocks?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!