Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

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!

Everyone should have an emergency fund. How big should it be and how can you get started building one. We share our thoughts and examine a ne Suze Orman backed service to help get employees set up with automated savings.Then we hear from a listener wondering what we think of J.L. Collins investing advice.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Many of the hot funds of the past got that way by taking big risks on just a few stocks or sectors. However, the dangers of a concetrated portfolio outweigh the occasional impressive gains. Plus, Tom and Don discuss: Should you have invested in the lottery? Are ARMs better than fixed-rate morgages? Then we take listeners questions:What is the difference between bank and brokered CDs?Can you pick which IRAs from which to take withdrawals?What are the call letters of our Seattle station?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

During the crazy Medicare enrollment period, insurance compnaies will say or do almost anything to get you to sign up for their Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans. This allows them to get their hands on that government money that might otherwise just go to patients.We take some questions, too:What's the best way to add international equities to AVGE?Should precious metals and crypto be in your portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

How is the price of anything determined? We explore that issue after discovering a huge discrepency between the price of publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and non-traded REITs. How can one plunge in price while the other seems to be rising?Plus, a listener wants to know about investing overseas and moving money to safer investments?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Some "top experts" share their thoughts about retiring in times of perceived market turmoil. Tom and Don make them easier to understand.Plus, a listener wonders if his advisor is really a fiduciary when suggesting an annuity purchase.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Just as you can't have calories without weight, you can't have wealth without risk. However, many in the insurance industry want you to believe you can get market returns without losses. Plus, Tom blames Don for the I-bond induced crash of treasurydirect.gov. Don calls Tom an elitist.We take your questions:Is moving from Vanguard Windsor II into their large cap index fund a good idea?When will "real" banks raise their rates?Why did T. Rowe Price merge funds?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We discover we have job security as investors are still missing the basics and looking for advice in all the worong places. Plus, what is investing risk. In addition, we get an update on Tom's new car purchase.Then, we take listeners questions:What should a recent widow do with a found 401k?Should he do a $1 million Roth IRA conversion?How can an investor find true fiduciary advice for a portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

We have some really great questions this week (and hopefully some decent answers). There seems to be a tax-loss and Roth theme:Can money from a tax loss sale in a brokerage account be investing in a Roth?Did she screw up her tax loss sale?How much can be investing in a Roth TSP and a Roth IRA?Why isn't Talking Real Money on Deezer?Is there a better time of day to buy ETFs?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

"But, they're so nice," "She's my niece." He goes to our church, so he must be honest." We hear this stuff all the time about financial advisors. Of course they're nice. Most of them are salespeople. To sell products, you generally need to be nice. Should niceness be one of your top criteria for hiring someone to manage your future? Tom and Don discuss how you should be picking an investment advisor.Plus, a listener wonders which is best, Vanguard, Dimensional, or Avantis?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

A number of fiduciary advisors are being sued for not putting their clients in more expensive mutual funds. Somehow, they equate higher expenses with long-term higher returns.A listener wonders whether individual bonds are better than a mutual fund?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Despite being a proven, long-term wealth building strategy, many Americans still have no stocks on the their portfolios. We explore why. We also spend some time talking with Paul Merriman about the current market and what the future might bring. Plus, we take a question on what should be done with an inheritance?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Money market mutual funds used to be a good place to park money. That has changed as many funds have raised their expenses – some to 1% per year. These high expenses eat up what tiny yield you might have received. There are better alternatives. We also dive into all mutual fund expenses and where they go. How much are you paying, to whom, and for what?Plus, we take a question about the fee structure of funds of funds. Do you pay twice?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It's Friday (for Don anyway) and he takes a bunch of your questions:Can you sell an S&P 500 fund at Vanguard and simultaneously buy a a different S&P 500 fund at Fidelity?Who decides when dividends are declared and terminated?Who should manage a real estate portfolio?Should businesses paying her kids to do some work to fund Roth IRAs provide 1099s?Is AVGE too conservative?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Just when you thought the meme stock traders had learned their lesson, they return with new trading targets and even less knowledge.Plus, we answer our most asked question.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Market volatility frightens many investors. So, with so many financial experts out there, does anyone really understand investing markets wild fluctuations?Plus, why would would ever suggest a brand new fund with little money invested and no long-term track record?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

As real estate prices peak, some of the first feel the effects are speculators like flippers. There is no easy money. Just ask Kevin Bacon.Then, on to the questions:Can you tax loss harvest from a municipal bond ETF in a total market bond ETF?What are the alternatives to to long-term care policies?Does an immediate annuity make sense?What is the purpose of bonds in a portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most people want more money than they have. Many want to be rich. How do we define rich and what are some simple ways to get there? Because inflation and the market have battered portfolios, many have decided to delay retirement. Should you wait?Then we take listeners questions:Is the Avantis All-Equity ETF (AVGE) a good replacement for VT and how should it be added?Do we suggest FOREX trading?In what kinds of accounts to different investments belong?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It's Friday Q&A day with Don and in this episode, he takes six of your questions:Should a home be part of a portfolio mix?Explain the relationship between bond yields and bond prices.Is there a disadvantage to waiting to take Social Security?Is it okay to own multiple funds in similar asset classes?Do I really need bonds in my portfolio?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Here's the reveal: Don discovers that one of the worst investment ideas of all times has risen from the dead. Yes, Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) are being sold again. Then, Tom's topic is retirement. Do we have retirement planning backward? When should we start planning for our post work life?Then we take listeners questions:Is there a better investment than VT for kids long-term investments?What is our opinion of Avantis All Equities Markets ETF (AVGE)?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Numerous investigations point to rampant Medicare fraud by the companies that run some of the largest Medicare Advantage plans. When they cheat the system they hurt all of us.Then we take your questions:What should be done with an indexed annuity in a qualified retirement plan?Does it makes sense to join a class action suit against a mutual fund?How do you convert a percentage to basis points?From which investment should RMD money be taken?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Don looks at his investment portfolio for the first time in months. Yes, stocks and bonds have been down. Should you be doing something? We discuss how to build the right portfolio for any market. We also spend some time discussing the problems with celebrity endorsements for financial products. Also, should the SEC regulate crypto? Then we take some questions:Why do so many start taking Social Security before age 70?We clarify spousal beneficiary benefits from Social Security?How can you buy Treasury securities?Where should parents go for financial help later in life?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It's Friday and Don is answering your questions again:What is our opinion of Personal Capital and AVUV?What is the cost basis and what are the fees to buy and sell ETFs?A listener is disappointed with Tom's opinion of I-Bonds.Is this a good time to buy farm land?Is it better to be in a tax-free bonds fund?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!