Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Financial talk radio veteran, Don McDonald and former host of Serious Money on PBS, Tom Cock, join forces to talk about real money issues. In each episode, they solve real money problems, dole out real investing (not speculating) advice, and really explain the financial issues that effect all of us. Plus, it's actually fun! Talking Real Money is a podcast designed to provide the real help we all need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).

Episodes

November 14, 2025 28 mins
Don fields a full slate of listener questions on everything from SGOV vs. high-yield savings accounts to the differences between AVUV and DFSV, why international stocks belong in a portfolio (but shouldn’t dominate it), and whether equal-weighted funds solve the “Magnificent 7” concentration problem. He digs into target-date and bond-fund suitability for short-term money, clarifies what “rules-based” really means for Avantis and Di...
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Don and Tom question a surprising Wall Street Journal column arguing that annuities should become the default option in 401(k) plans. They explore why the idea is gaining traction, where the logic breaks down, and how the insurance industry benefits when complexity outpaces understanding. Along the way, they dig into the real shortcomings of annuities—fees, opacity, inflation risk, liquidity traps—and why “guarantees” often mask th...
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November 12, 2025 44 mins
Tom and Don grade Gen Z investors from a recent Wall Street Journal article, discussing their portfolios, common mistakes like stock picking, active management, and crypto speculation. They move into practical retirement and college-planning questions from callers — including Roth vs. taxable accounts, 401(k) catch-up contributions, 529 plans, and college costs pushing $90 K a year. 0:04 Gen Z investing habits and media influence ...
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November 11, 2025 44 mins
Don and Tom tackle investor “magical thinking,” especially the belief that private equity, non-traded REITs, and other illiquid “exclusive” investments offer hidden superior returns. They walk through Jason Zweig’s recent reporting on a Florida pension fund that locked up money, paid higher fees, and earned under 1% a year. The conversation underscores why liquidity, transparency, and diversification matter far more than complexity...
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November 10, 2025 21 mins
Tom welcomes consumer advocate Herb Weisbaum (ConsumerMan) to talk through the rising headaches of modern travel and everyday scams. Herb shares a recent Delta Airlines ordeal where he was nearly stranded overseas because he didn’t have the exact credit card used to purchase his ticket months earlier — a policy he and others say is poorly disclosed and inconsistently enforced. The conversation expands to robocall loan scams, fake t...
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November 7, 2025 24 mins
This Friday Q&A tackles a familiar voice: Bitcoin Bob tries again to make the case for crypto as protection against currency debasement. Don breaks down what “debasement” actually means, why inflation gradually reduces purchasing power, and why Bitcoin’s extreme volatility makes it a poor replacement for the U.S. dollar. Productive assets remain the historically reliable hedge. Then: a comparison of target-date funds vs. a DIY thre...
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November 6, 2025 28 mins
Don and Tom take listeners on a wild ride through the booming (and frequently disastrous) world of leveraged ETFs. They break down how these funds promise double or triple the excitement but mathematically bleed away returns through volatility decay. A few listener questions follow, covering retirement cash buffers, negotiating advisory fees on large portfolios, and comparing IRTR vs AOM for a near-retiree allocation. Humor, subtle...
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November 5, 2025 45 mins
Don and Tom tackle the universal truths of investing — namely, that most investors underperform the market due to their own behavior. They discuss the persistence of emotional decision-making, the dangers of market timing, and the importance of diversification and sticking to a plan. Listener calls cover UGMA accounts, bond allocation in IRAs, downsizing for assisted living, robo-investing, annuities, and advisor ethics. The show m...
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November 4, 2025 44 mins
Don and Tom tackle the timeless question: why do you invest? They challenge the “TINA” mindset (“There Is No Alternative”) and dissect new research claiming retirement savers should own no bonds at all. They argue that while stocks outperform over long stretches, bonds remain essential for emotional stability and survival during market crashes. Listeners join in with sharp questions about CD ladder withdrawal strategies, crypto-bas...
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November 3, 2025 29 mins
Don and Tom unpack why even smart, financially literate people sometimes need a financial advisor — prompted by Morningstar’s Christine Benz explaining why she hires one. They explore the value of second opinions, professional organization, tax guidance, spending permission, and succession planning. The conversation also draws lines around who doesn’t need an advisor (DIY investors under 50 with good discipline) versus who does (re...
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October 31, 2025 23 mins
Don answers a range of listener questions covering topics from Fidelity’s fully paid lending program to the Roth 401(k) decision and mortgage payoff strategies. He explains why stock lending rarely adds much value for ETF investors, why paying off a 2.6 percent mortgage makes little financial sense, and why even Berkshire Hathaway isn’t a substitute for true diversification. Listeners also learn about HSA payroll tax savings and ho...
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October 30, 2025 27 mins
Don and Tom open with an honest reflection on market déjà vu—how today’s investing climate echoes the speculative excesses of 1929 and 2008. Citing Andrew Ross Sorkin’s new book 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History, they discuss the modern “financialization” wave: private equity, venture capital, crypto, and private credit being repackaged for retail investors and even 401(k)s, often under looser regulation. They ...
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October 29, 2025 44 mins
Don and Tom go after one of their favorite targets: bad actors in the financial industry—especially those who flee regulation by becoming insurance salesmen. They break down a shocking new study showing that 98% of brokers kicked out by FINRA stay in the business by selling annuities and other insurance products, often with little oversight. The duo compares this behavior to “cockroaches,” slamming state insurance commissions for w...
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October 28, 2025 44 mins
Don and Tom tackle the timeless topic of diversification — why it’s back in style, why it’s so hard to maintain, and why most investors (and pros) still get it wrong. They walk through how market “leadership” shifts over decades, the global vs. U.S. split, and why comparing your portfolio to the S&P 500 is often a trap. Listener questions cover ETF access at T. Rowe Price and Vanguard, whether to invest or pay down debt, and how th...
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October 27, 2025 25 mins
Tom Cock and Apella Wealth advisor Roxy Butner team up for a lively listener Q&A episode covering everything from the new wave of penny-stock IPOs to retirement readiness and tax traps. Tom opens with a warning about the surge in risky penny-stock offerings, then the two dive into listener questions about annuity sales pressure at Fidelity, portfolio diversification mistakes, CD taxation myths, Roth conversions, and one standout 21...
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October 24, 2025 29 mins
Don and Tom tackle another full “Q Day,” answering listener questions on Roth fund selection, bond fund gimmicks, real estate returns, California’s odd HSA tax treatment, switching from Vanguard to Avantis, copying politician trades, and whether Vanguard’s Cash Plus account beats its money market fund. The episode mixes practical investing logic with humor, skepticism, and a bit of Don’s plug for his new storytelling podcast, New T...
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October 23, 2025 28 mins
Don and Tom revisit the Social Security debate after new Wall Street Journal and New York Times articles challenge long-standing advice to delay claiming. They dismantle clickbait claims that “waiting doesn’t make sense,” highlighting emotional biases, unrealistic investment assumptions, and spousal benefit considerations. The episode also covers whether Social Security counts as an asset, then shifts to listener questions about 52...
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October 22, 2025 41 mins
Don and Tom dive into common misconceptions about what’s really been the top-performing asset class over the past five years—spoiler: it’s not the S&P 500. They compare U.S. large-cap growth with international small-cap value, using Larry Swedroe’s data to highlight the importance of global diversification. Listeners call in about estate planning, withdrawal rates in retirement, and portfolio construction. The hosts explain communi...
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October 21, 2025 41 mins
Don and Tom kick off by joking about their “record-breaking” call drought before diving headlong into the week’s biggest speculative loser: crypto. The duo dismantle the mythology around Bitcoin and its countless imitators, comparing the excitement of trading coins to sports betting and reminding listeners that portfolios are for investing, not gambling. They tie the current crypto crash to leverage, insider-like trades, and the sa...
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October 20, 2025 30 mins
Don and Tom tackle a mix of market mania and listener questions, skewering speculative fads like meme stocks, SPACs, private credit ETFs, and covered-call funds. Don opens with a scam text story before the duo dive into the absurdity of “get-rich” products during a record-breaking market. They stress discipline, diversification, and turning off CNBC — repeatedly. Listener questions include Roth conversions in high tax brackets and ...
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