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Episodes

We post new episodes verey weekday (except holidays).
May 24, 2024

Memorial Day Q&A

In this episodes, Don answers listeners questions about: 3:15 Seeking a Fee-Only Fiduciary Advisor for Aging Parents 6:24 Uncovering Red Flags in Financial Advisor Disclosures 11:44 Evaluating the Dodge & Cox Income X Bond Fund 12:46 Importance of Reading Form ADVs for Investment Advisory Firms 18:17 The Aftermath of Removing Social Security 19:11 Understanding Mutual Fund Return Reports 21:24 Replacing Vanguard Bond Fund BND with Risky Alternatives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...
May 23, 2024

Affinity Fraud

In this episode: 1:16 Affinity Fraud in the Military 3:54 Unveiling Investment Fraud in the Military 11:57 Building Trust in Financial Relationships 14:00 Maintaining Boundaries in Financial Relationships 19:33 Trusting Third-Party Sources for Investment Information 23:43 Retirement and Investment Strategies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
May 22, 2024

The Value of Good Advice

Can a fiduciary fee-only advisor make you more money, even after expenses. Vanguard says, "yes!" We talk about some of their findings and more: 3:53 Cost-Effective Implementation and Rebalancing 6:20 Financial Future and Advisor Second Opinions 7:16 Asset Location and Withdrawal Strategies 9:00 Hodgepodge-itis and Portfolio Simplification 11:57 The Vanguard Experience 14:30 The Importance of Seeking Advice Early 20:14 Backdoor Roth ...
May 21, 2024

Roaring Kitty Returns!

In this episode: 0.54 America's Obsession with New Media and Gurus 1:55 The GameStop Saga Begins 2:43 Reddit's Influence on GameStop Stock 3:33 Lessons from the GameStop Rollercoaster 5:20 Seeking a Second Opinion in Investing 6:19 The Stupidity in Following Stock Recommendations 7:03 GameStop Stock: A Question of Valuation 8:30 The Evolution of the Gaming Industry 8:54 What to Learn from the GameStop Frenzy 9:49 Investing vs. S...
May 20, 2024

Money for Millennials

We don't often have guests, but we do, from time to time, invite some of the best minds in money management to join us. Author and financial educator, Dan Solin spends time with us this week to share some wisdom from his latest book, Wealthier: The Investing Field Guide for Millennials. We discuss buying a home versus renting, saving and investing for retirement, and the future of Social Security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
May 17, 2024

Tom and Roxy Qs

On the week's question and answer session, Tom and Roxy take written questions from listeners about: Social Security spousal benefits. Moving Emergency Cash Short-Term Cash Options Portfolio Diversification AVGE vs. BND Allocation Real Estate Sales and Tax Planning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
May 16, 2024

Retirement Income Evolution

Was retirement really better in thge past? Have 401k plans been a retirement income benefit or detriment? Might there be a better way to insure a secure retirement income? We also explore the difference in long-term returns between large-cap and small-cap value stocks. Plus, we hear from listeners: Why does the actual income from I-Bonds not match the stated rate? Can income from a court settlement from a stock in an IRA be transferred into the IRA? Is it better to take retirement income from in...
May 15, 2024

They Need Complexity

Beware of complex investments or those promising to provide higher returns using some financial sleight-of-hand. Higher returns always require some sort of tradeoff. There are no special systems to game the markets, long-term. Then, we hear from listeners: He stayed in bonds and lost money, should he stick with them now? How can current assets be grown to enough to support retirement needs? Does it make sense to buy a second home on the beach? How should a very conservative retiree invest retire...
May 14, 2024

Social Security Sick?

Millions of people rely on Social Security for a large portion of their income, yet the system is running low on money and won't be able to meet future obligations without major changes. So, which is better, reducing benefits or raising taxes? Plus, we take listeners questions: What's the best way to reduce taxes on retirement plan distributions? What can be done to reduce hodgepodgery in a portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
May 13, 2024

Accentuate the Positive

In the episode, instead of discussing all of the bad financial decisions we make, let's take time to acknowledge all of the good things we do with money. Plus, we take questions on: The possible negative impact that passive investing might have on the stock markets. The potential tax ramifications of a portfolio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
May 10, 2024

Cue the Qs

The questions have started pouring in again. Thanks! Today... Using High-yielding CLOs Instead of Bonds. Adjusting Portfolio for Growth Maryland 529 Plan vs. Other Options Maximizing Growth for Grandchildren Understanding Rebalancing in a 401k Implementing a Three-Bucket Account Strategy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
May 9, 2024

Will They Do What's Best?

The U.S. Labor Department is going to try again to hold some of those who provide advice on retirement assets to actually act in their clients' best interests. Will this new rule actually go into effect this time and who might it protect. Then we take your questions: What to we think of Keith Fitz-Gibbons investing advice? What's the best way to cover three years of expenses before collection Social Security? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Cli...
May 8, 2024

Your Wealth Grew?

After years of diligently saving and investing a your retirement plans, what should you be doing when your accounts have grown to sizable amounts? Plus, we share the reasons for a small cap and value portfolio tilt. Plus, we hear from several listeners who ask: Why don't we talk more about 529 ABLE plans? What do we think of a portfolio with 20-year Treasury bonds? After maxxing out retirement accounts, where should other money be invested? Why can't more people save and invest? Learn more about...
May 7, 2024

Magic Money Machine

Is it a mutual fund? Is it an annuity? Can one investment met everyone's retirement needs? That's seems to be the claim of the complex BlackRock LifePath Paycheck funds. Plus, we talk about Warren Buffett's take on corporate taxes and how individuals could all end up paying no income taxes. We also discuss the workings of the "backdoor" Roth IRA. Then, listeners want to know: Nearing retirement is a fiduciary adviser needed and what should one cost? The name of the book Tom mentioned about ...
May 6, 2024

Gold is Not Investing

Gold has gotten hot again, but just because you can get a bar at Costco is it a decent investment? We look hack at the history and returns of gold over decades and longer. Plus, we take some listener questions: Where can information be found on a school districts's 403b plan? In what account order should money be withdrawn for a college education? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
May 3, 2024

Queries and Responses

On this week's Friday Q&A: Does more money in emerging markets make sense? What should be done with an 401k now that Vanguard has sold their servicing? Are these two funds diversified enough? Is there any way to calculate future call option premiums? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
May 2, 2024

Big Investing Factors

There aren't many ways to improve your odds while investing in stocks. So, why have investors like Warren Buffet been so successful and why do we belive in factor investing? Plus listeners want to know: Why do we suggest more expensive products from firms like Avantis and Dimensional? What are the differences between a 403b and a Roth IRA? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
May 1, 2024

Strange Money Perspectives

Don't be fooled by "money illusions." We are often confused about money math, particularly when it comes to the impacts of inflation. Our financial psycology can lead us to make bad decisions. The callers have questions about: Financial Planning for a Special Needs Family Member Estate Planning Strategies for Passing Wealth to Grandchildren Balancing Risk Tolerance with Retirement Savings Directing Inheritance to Grandchildren Understanding Indexed Annuities Learn more about your ad c...
April 30, 2024

Are Bonds Bad?

After bonds suffered a really bad year in 2022, many investors still hate them. Do all bonds deserve the recent bad reputations? Time for a fixed income reality check. We also discuss the bad advice given by most radio advisors. We also hear from listeners: Why do we dislike anuuities as investments? What do we think of the new DOL rule requiring all retirement rollover advice be held to the fiduciary standard? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? C...
April 29, 2024

More Fiduciary Help?

Once again, the United States Depratment of Labor is trying to protect retirement investors against the lies told, and the high fees charged, by many providers of advoce for retirement pland rollovers and transfers. Will they succeed against Wall Street and Big Insurance? Plus, we take your questions: What's the best way to pay for a new roof? Why are my ETFs paying out taxable dividends? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 26, 2024

Question (and Answer) Day

This Friday's Qs: How should an aggressive investor invest money that is not needed in retirement? Does a QLAC make sense as a toold to control long-term care expenses? Are there any tax ramications from moving from an expensive funds to ETFs in a qualified retirement account? Does his portfolio idea make sense for a lazy retirement investor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 25, 2024

Why Take Risk?

What is the best investment strategy in a time of higher "safe" interest rates? For many, the tendency is to play it safer, but how might that work out in the long run? Plus, we answer questions: How much is Edward Jones charging for their investment services? How can an investor harvest tax losses? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 24, 2024

Expensive Retirement Plans

Far too many businesses offer their employees expensive retirement plans. You must know how much you're paying. Plus, many states are now allowing employees to set up automatic payroll deductions into their own IRAs. We hear from callers: What will interest rates do in the near future? What can be done with IRA distributions to reduce taxation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
April 23, 2024

Retirement Quiz

This seemingly simple retirement quiz stumped most who took it. How will you fare? Take the quiz with us. Plus, what can you do if you have a low interest rate bank savings account? Listeners want to know: How long will mom's retirement assets last? Is there any way to get money back from a federal long-term care policy? How can money in a retirement plan be accessed before 59-1/2 without penalties? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!