Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Tom loves interviews. Now that he's figured out the technical aspects of creating them, look for more weekend specials featuring prominet money guests.This weekend, Tom spends time with Bill Conerly, PhD discussing the possible economic future, why highre rates were needed, the future of unemployment, and much more.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

In today's Q&A session:Is earned income needed to roll 529 money into a Roth IRA?Where is the best place to park emergency money?Are Wisdom Tree core portfolios sensible portfolio additions?After going to cash in 2019, what should I do now?What do we think of Betterment and how should he get help for his mom?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The vast majority of people believe themselves to be above average. That is statistically impossible. One area in which you are dangerously overconfident is investing, and it shows.Then, a listener wonders if he should use some extra income to invest for retirement or pay off a car loan?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

While Wall Street would like you to think that there are new financial products, being created, all the time, real financial innovations are few and far between. In fact, the last significant change happened exactly 30 years ago, with the creation of the exchange traded fund (ETF).Then, a listener wonders if it makes sense to keep 30 inherited individual stocks to collect the dividends.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most of us don't know what we don't know about money and investing. That lack of knowledge can be more costly that you can imagine. Getting financially educated is hard and yet essential for your future. How much do you pay for investments? Do you really know?Listeners want to know:Does an individual TIPs ladder make sense for portion of a portfolio?What should a real estate investor do with new money?Why her experience with Social Security benefit delays does not add up to 8% per year?How do the returns of the Merriman 10 fund portfolio compare to 2 or 3 fund portfolios?What do we think of a friend's advice to move from a target-date fund to a money market fund?Where do we suggest a mix of investment accounts be consolidated?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Everyone wants to know how how to invest for the next... whatever. Many, included one of the most famous "stopped clocks" of all time, Robert Kyosaki, want you to believe they know. In fact, we do know how to invest for a recession and everything else. It's just pretty boring.Listeners want to know:Which Vanguard ETF is the same as the Total Bond Index fund?What changed to make us prefer ETFs over mutual funds?Which site do we use to look up securities?What are our thoughts about SCHD (a Schwab dividend fund)?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Today, Don starts the Q&A edition with a powerful follow-up from a past caller. Then, it's on determining a brokers fees, the differences between exchange-traded funds and mutual funds, a portfolio allocation check, and the best income ladder building materials: CDs, Treasuries, or TIPS?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The French are rioting over a proposal to raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64. The US may need to raise the full retirement age beyond 67. When should you retire and how should you plan for it?A listener wants to know how to get into the financial advice business.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Is the avalanche better than the snowball? Paying off debt can be challenging. What's the best way to get out? Plus, a listener finds that giving up control is hard to do.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The SEC claims that all "financial advisors" are supposed to act in your best interests and fully disclose any conflict of interest (including high fees, commissions, and expenses). Yet, high-cost, dangerous financial products are still being offered by the many billions of dollars. What can be done to protect you?Merv from Denver is back to take Don to task for his "misleading" comments about cryptocurrencies. Surprise, he failed to change Don's mind. In fact, we have even more anti-crypto information.Tangent: What's a Hokie?Listeners ask:Can he still make contributions in a Roth with a 401k?How can massively appreciated stock be sold to avoid taxes?When should money be withdrawn from retirement accounts?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Stop deluding yourself. As much as you want them, there are no higher returning, lower risk investments. Yet, far too many investors are are falling prey to impossible promises from purveyors of high-priced, illiquid investments. Do index-style funds need a track record? Plus, a group that once called index funds "Un-American" now touts it's market beating index fund portfolio.Is Tesla really worth the combined value of almost every other car maker combined?We also hear from listeners:Is it better to invest all at once or slowly average in?How much is needed in an emergency fund and should money g o into a Roth or I-Bonds?Where should short-term money be kept?Is there any need to diversify among fund groups or brokerage firms?What percentage of a total portfolio should be allocated among various asset classes?On what fund was Tom's small-cap value return based?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

This Friday the 13th is your lucky day as Don answers some important questions that could help you build wealth better:How much can an employee contribute to a 403b?Can money in 529 education plans be rolled over into a Roth IRA?What should be done with some extra monthly investing money?Now that Vestory is part of Apella Wealth, what's changed?Should funds in an IRA be moved from Vanguard mutual funds to ETFs?What are the best fund to use in a qualified plan to match personal risk tolerance?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Today, Tom and Don share what they believe those who provide financial and investing advice should do for you, their clients. Plus, we hear from two listeners asking:Does his strategy get around wash sale rules for tax losses?Will the Treasury be sending annual 1099s for I-Bonds?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A few mutual funds turned a profit in 2022. Are the managers magicians? Investors need to face reality. No one has a secret (legal) way to make you lots of money in good markets and lose you nothing when they turn bad.Plus, a listener wants to know the best way to build the best portfolio in his 401k?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The demise of the 60/40 portfolio appears to have been short-lived as sharply higher rates on bonds have lifted the returns for the 40% invested in fixed income funds and ETFs.Listeners want to know:What happened to Vestory?Which is better mutual funds or ETFs?How can a value tilt be added to portfolio?Can a tax loss be taken now for last year?Would taking a tax loss on VTWAX and immediately investing in VT invoke wash-sale rule?What's our opinion of high-yield savings accounts?Are Northern Trust funds good investments?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Have we already forgotten the lessons imparted by the 40-year Madoff scheme that collapsed in 2008? We revisit the unbelieveable story of the biggest investor robbery in history as a new Bernie Madoff documentary airs on Netflix.Plus, we hear from listeners:Should investment changes be made in a 529 plan?How is the impact of a existing IRA on a backdoor Roth?What is our opinion of a covered call writing fund?Then, we go on to explain what covered call writing is and how it works.What is a backdoor Roth?Is her firm a high-fee advisor?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

After being away for two holiday Fridays, Don is catching up on your questions (and comments):Invest or pay off mortgage?Thanks for helping a friend.Looking for a good financial charity.Will crypto trading hurt Fidelity?Why does a bank pay its customers far less interest on CDs?Do we suggest more bonds in a portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

What's hot eventually cools and you will never see it coming. Discover why you need to avoid hot investments and sectors.Then Tom crams in a bunch of questions:Does it make sense to reduce qualified retirement account contributions?How soon can I-Bonds be purchased in the new year?What are the possible issues with moving a from TD Ameritrade?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

After a year in which most securities took a beating, the "no-risk" investment touting free steak dinner offers should soon be filling mailboxes across the country. Don't let your emotion drive you to make foolish decisions.Then, listeners chime in:Have they picked a reasonable ETF allocation for an IRA?What does Don think of his 403b investment options?Does this five-year fixed annuity make sense?Which accounting method should be used for selling securities?What is the best withdrawal strategy to spend most of his money?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Every year about 133 million babies are born. Is there any way to predict which of them will die famous enough to make the TV retrospectives? Of course not. Do you believe you can predict when the investment markets will rise again (and fall again, thereafter)? Then, the phones light up:Does it make sense to use a regular 403b to help reduce income enough to qualify for a Roth IRA?What's the best way to own bonds in a portfolio?Is there reason to be concerned about market volatility during a transfer from a work plan to a private IRA?What might happen with Central Bank Digital Currencies?Does an investor need multiple bond funds?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don look at your top financioal resolutions and what they believe you should do to start growing your wealth. Plus, we take a question:Why do we prefer total market funds as opposed to a US dividend funds?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most people have no idea how much they are paying for their investments and investing advice. In this case what you don't know can really hurt you in the future. Plus Tom gets a surpriningly larger number of holiday calls:One listener call him out for using the show to get out of holiday choses and also seeks advice on fixing a bad mortgage loan.Another wants to know more about tax-loss harvesting.One caller wants to talk about qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).Tom helps figure out how to transfer old work retirement plans.Finally, he takes a question on the impacts of an inheritance.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

With Don on vacation, Tom shares a semi-poetic ode to his absent co-host. He discusses 401k auto-enrollment. ConsumerMan, Herb Weisbaum stopes by to discuss protecting your wealth during the holidays. Are mortgage buy downs worthwhile?Plus, some holiday callers arrive:The first "caller" looks for help dealing with violent holiday financial discussions (sort of).What should be done with a multiple stock portfolio?In 2023, should an employee take advantage of new Roth 401k matching?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

After recently declaring the 4% withdrawal rule dead, Morningstar has decided it's still kicking out income.A listener wonders if the Paul Merriman two-fund portfolio is a sensible way to go?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Home prices rise and they fall. Those fluctuations are not predictable. With prices down recently, should you be a buyer or a seller? Plus, house flippers took s betaing in 2022.A listener wants to know if it makes more sense to contribute more to a regular pre-tax retirement account?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Those who sell "the return of the market, with no risk" is a bald-faced lie. Indexed annuities by any name can't possibly deliver what they promise. That makes those most (if not all) of those who sell them liars. The story of Disney's mismanagement shows just how scary individual stocks can be. Plus, we discuss the best performing stock of 2022.Then we hear from listeners:Should his financial advisor be fired and replaced by a target-date fund?Should she buy an energy ETF to replace her energy mutual fund?What do we think of brokered CDs?What should be done with retirement assets as the market has done so badly?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We lie to ourselves about our prognosticative abilities. We remember making market predictions that were wildly different than we actually did. Plus, retail stock traders have had a very bad year.Listeners ask:How to get into an inexpensive small cap value fund?When we say "risk," don't we really mean volatility?How can listeners hear our Saturday radio show after it airs?Are total market funds appropriate for an 50+ investor?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don discuss those perpetual online subscriptions. They are good for businesses and often terrible for you. Find out how the regain control and slow the money leaks.Plus, a listener wants to know about an insurance policy being offered by a commissioned "financial adviser." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

For some reason one listener really dislikes Don (he's fine with Tom). He disagrees with so much – CBDCs, bonds, cryptocurrencies – that we made an episode of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Another downside to active funds, market declines can lead to dramatic taxable gains. It's like losing even more.Plus, we scold "Mr. Wonderful" for his support of failed crytocurrency exchange, FTX.Then we hear from listeners:The Question: How can I make more money with total safety?How can someone cover long-term care in later years.How solvent are public retirement systems?Are 35 securities in a portfolio indictative of hodgepodgeitis?Which 403b provider is the best of some bad choices?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Investor left billions of dollars on the table by keeping too much money in regular checking and savings accounts. Bad advice on YouTube for millennial investors from ClearValue tax and Meet Kevin. What should you do with their advice? Non-public REITs can do some dangerous things with your money.Then we hear from listeners:Does "Arrived" appear to be good investment?Sold a rental house, how should the proceeds me invested.Non-public REITs can do some dangerous things with your money.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don takes on a variety of questions:How should a son invest in his new 401k?Should he switch American Funds for something less expensive?What's the best way to name beneficiaries on accounts?Why do we suggest some higher cost ETFs?What are the potentail problems when gifting to kids?What do I think of another YouTube financial guru?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

The crazies who pleyed the proverbial meme stocks and failed may be turning in a new direction, gambling with bonds.Then a listener wants to know if brokered CDs might be better than a stable value fund.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We address our favorite question: What should be done with a sudden financial windfall?Then, we answer questions:Is a 100% investment in AVGE too aggressive?Should a small cap value fund be added?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don share some of older Americans biggest financial regrets. Then, we hear from a lot of you:What kind of advisors do I need?Old stock guy is back.Should he invest in company stock options?She regrets not spending enough.What should be done with low-yielding fund?How to invest windfall from toy sale?How far back does Social Security look?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most of the "next new things" are neither new nor hot. Beware of trendy investments, because very few things stand the test of time. Plus, we "Meet Kevin" and his expensive exchange-traded fund (ETF).Plus, callers want to know:Does it make sense to retire early and, if so, how should a lump-sum payout be invested?What can be done with an old share of Warner Brothers Studios?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

This episodes questions:With a new child on the way, what should be done financially?What are collective investment trusts?Daughter being sold a structured annuity, what it it?Does it make sense to pay of home mortgage?Does it make sense to transfer a 403b to an IRA and what are the drawbacks?Can a health savings account (HSA) be moved to another HSA?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Once again, we enter the gift giving season frustrated by trying to pick the perfect present. While things are quickly forgotten a gift of a financial future can literally last a lifetime.Plus, listeners want to know:The best way to allocate money between our "three-fund" suggestions?Does it makes sense to wait on buyiong bonds right now when building a 60/40 portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don get them, too. Those e-mails that offer you a free gift or inform you a gift that couldn't be delivered. Don't get scammed for Christmas.Plus listeners chime in:More agruments against actively managed mutual funds and ETFs.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

If bonuses could cause a large group of Wells Fargo employees to cheat, why impact might large comissions have on financial "advice?"Plus a couple of questions:Can I change my Roth back to a regular IRA and take a tax loss?Should I consider the new indexed annuity in my compnay's 401k?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We recently heard about a non-profit financial education organization, F3E (or Foundation for Financial Education) which claims to provide an unbiased fiscal education. After further review, we found some glaring problems with those who provide this "education." They all appear to be selling insurance products.Plus, a listener wonders if Securities America is a legitimate custodian.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Why would a CBS News reporter tout gold IRAs? Don explains why buying gold in your retirement account is a terrible idea. Plus, he explains what is wrong with most financial advice and why it continues to be so bad. Then, our last caller proves Don's point while trying to to call him out.Your questions:What is wrong with ESG investing?Does it make sense to slowly move an IRA to a Roth?A former crypto gambler looks for a way to invest kid's gifts.An the insurance salesman's response to Don's rant.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

As Tom gets ready to travel to Qatar, we consider the opinion of some that a fallen market makes for a dangerous retirement. Plus, we wonder why so many are scared of "the market." What is "the market," really?Then on to listener questions:Is there a proper order to move asset classes to a Roth?How can a young worker invest for the lowest tax liability?Should a house-flipper own investment property in retirement?What's the best way to give money to kids?Can a recharacterized Roth be "backdoored" into another Roth?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

On this pre-holiday Q&A session listeners want to know:If a pension counts as a fixed-income portfolio?From where should retirement income be drawn first?What's the best place to invest for no risk whatsoever?That we understood he wasn't throwing Paul Merriman under the bus?Is it okay to use brokered CDs?What do we think of Betterment?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Another large cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, collapses and even some crypto advocates are having second thoughts about the viability of this possible mega-scam.Plus, a listener asks of Social Security income can somehow be incorporated into a portfolio as a fixed-income investment?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Every so often, someone tries to make news by declaring a typical balanced portfolio (60% stocks, 40% fixed income) deceased. While a 60/40 portfolio is not the universal answer, creating a properly diversified portfolio for your personal situation should be immortal.Plus, a listener asks why managed international funds outperform index funds? (spoiler: they don't)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

How much is your house really worth? How much is anything worth? One real estate firm decided to stop buying houses because they feared insulting sellers. Tom and Don explain the realities of asset prices.Then, we take listeners questions:Where should an estate executor invest money?How can a lump sum payout stay tax-deferred?From Ireland: Why have we stopped talking about VT?Why do some active funds beat the market even though they cost more?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

After a dreadful three quarters, the stock market soared recently. We discuss which asset classes fared best this year. Then we take lots of questions:What's the best strategy for retiring early and delaying Social Security?After getting out of the market early this year, when should he get back in?Where should a teenager's earnings be invested?What should be done with a chunk of cash?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Another Friday means more of your questions and Don's answers:Should an old Empower managed 401k be moved to IRA?How is a pension added to retirement calculation?Should a Thrivent fund be moved to a low-cost index fund?Where is our live video show?What can be done with an extra $4.37 left in old IRA?If Jeff Bezos invested everything in the total stock market what would happen?Is the 4% Rule just a ruse to help financial advisors?Should 403b money be transferred into an indexed annuity?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A recent study found that there may be a best time of day to invest in ETFs. We wonder if it's worth your while.Plus, a listener asks if it makes sense to get a reverse mortgage for "fun" money?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!