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Episodes

We post new episodes verey weekday (except holidays).
April 22, 2024

Returns Matter More

Our friend, Mark Hebner from Index Fund Advisors, joins Tom and Don to talk about the most important number to investors, total return. The rise and fall of prices shouldn't be of much concern to investors, it's how much you make on your investments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 19, 2024

TGIQAF

In this week's Friday Q&A edition: How safe are investment in brokerage accounts? Why shouldn't someone tranfer an IRA to Robin Hood to collect a 3% bonus? What do we think of Fisher Investments "bucket" strategy? How should money be invested for the beneficiary of a special needs trust? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 18, 2024

Small Index, Big Stocks

One of the problems with index funds is the fact that they slavishly follow the index. This means that for long periods they can own stocks that are way outside the indexes parameters. This is one argument for rules-basd funds. Then, listeners ask: Are we concerned about the decline in the number of publically-traded stocks? Is it okay to be 100% in stocks close to retirement? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 17, 2024

Emergency Funds and More

Most American's have saved enough for even a $400 emergency? Start there, and then it's time to work on retirement savings. Along the way have those tough financial conversations with your partner. Plus, Don goes on a rant about the financial services industry and it's lack of client care. We hear from callers: With a little help for a previous caller. What do we think of a particular brokerage firm? How can money be moved from a regular IRA in an annuity to a Roth? Is Empower providing g...
April 16, 2024

Should You Worry?

We recorded this episode as the Iranian attack on Israel was beginning. We discussed the impact of global events on your portfolio and how to invest during market turbulence. Then, we give you the chance to build your perfect economy with a quiz. We hear from some of you, too: Is a Fidelity advisor a fiduciary or not? Where should money for intermediate-term spending be invested? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 15, 2024

A New Day of Q&A

Listeners love our question and and snswer episode, so here a special Monday Q&A featuring Tom and Roxyu Butner answer your written questions: Is a Total World Stock Market Index Fund Enough? Should You Pay Off a Low-Interest Mortgage Early? What do we think of the Geiten Clinger Withdrawal Strategy? Is Vanguard Advisor Services Worthwhile? What has happened to ESG Investing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 12, 2024

It's You and Don Day

On today's FridayQ we discuss: Robin Hood's recent offer of a 3% bonus on IRA rollovers. Avoiding a tax penalty of an inherited annuity. A listener's Talking Real Money Road Trip suggestion. The proper small cap portfolio allocation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
April 11, 2024

Best? Be Wary.

We are innundated with articles featuring lists of the "best" investments. Are they really that good and should you invest in them? Plus, we hear from listeners: What's the difference between two bond ETFs? Upset about the performance of her bond fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
April 10, 2024

A True Fiduciary?

Most advisors claim to be fiduciaries and even those who are always required to act in a client's best interests can have conflicts. What makes a true fiduciary financial advisor? We also discuss young investors sources of advice. Callers join in and ask: Does it make sense to split a bond portfolio between US and international bonds? How do you find the right advisor to write a financial plan? Can someone with a 401k still contribute to a Roth IRA? Why didn't a bank supply a 1099 for a CD? Lear...
April 9, 2024

The Highest Heights?

Nobel laureate, Robert Shiller, believes that the U.S. stock market may have run its course for awhile. So, what should you do is he's right? You be shocked (wink) at the answer. Then, aa whole lot of listeners call in: Where should money from a property sale be kept for a future tax payment? Does it make sense to buy a little physical gold? Are money market fund yields lower than stated because of expenses? How should an early retiree invest and generate income? How can you calculate the expect...
April 8, 2024

2% is Too Much

Paying too much for your retirement plan and the investments within can damage your future. Listeners ask: What do we think of direct indexing? Why isn't Don's book available as an audiobook?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
April 5, 2024

A Few Friday Qs

Submit your spoken questions at talkingrealfmoney.com. This week: What if "messing around" with a portfolio simply means using Avantis and DFA ETFs? Are Avantis ETFs reall worth the extra expenses versus Vanguard index ETFs? What should be done with a portfolio of broket sold Franklin-Templeton funds? Is there a way to take money out of an IRA early without paying a penalty? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
April 4, 2024

How Much is Needed?

What is your retirement number? Everyone should have one. Most people's number is too low, so you really need to try and calculate how much money you will need to have invested to create a decent stream of income for thosee post-work years. Then, we take your questions: Should a target-date fund be held in a non-qualified, taxable account? Instead of investing, why not just keep everything in one of today's high-yield money market products? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...
April 3, 2024

Stocks Start Strong

Large-cap, U.S. stocks had a very good first quarter. However, many markets and previously hot stocks lagged far behind. What should this mean for your portfolio? We discuss the powerful research on investing psychology by Daniel Kahneman and Don's upcoming road trip. Plus, listeners join in: What's the best way to sell one house, build another, and still have enough money left to live on? How should a grandparent set up IRAs for working grandkids and how much might they eventually have? Thanks ...
April 2, 2024

Election Has You Worried?

Every four years investors grow concerned about the terrible impact that "other" presidential candidate might have on the stock market after the election. Yes, the evidence shows that new president's have had no discernable impact on the markets, so stop worrying. The listeners ask: Is it time to start reducing a portfolio's aggressiveness? Should the money from maturing bonds be reinevsted in funds all at once or over time? What's the best way to take money out of retirement savings to bu...
April 1, 2024

The Mammoth in the Room

You can probably stumble through most of your financial life. The one money need for which you must plan is retirement. Today, we discuss some of the most important things you must do to retire comfortably. Plus, we answer your questions: How should money from a maturing annuity be invested? Why should we invest in Avantis ETFs when they don't have a long track record? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
March 29, 2024

Another Q and A Day

Don takes on a bunch of your questions again: What can be done about a late required minimum distribution (RMD)? Is there a waiting period before you can withdraw money from a rollover Roth IRA? What's the best way to start properly passively investing? Don't fee-only investment advisors have a conflict becuase of the fee they charge? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
March 28, 2024

Diversification Defined

For your portfolio to be properly diversified, how many stocks should you own? Is ten enough or do you need ten thousand? We share the Motley Fool's perspective and our own. Plus, listeners ask: What kind of credit card do we suggest for maximum reward potential? How do older investors find the financial help needed for a fiscally disinterested spouse? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
March 27, 2024

Thematic Gambling

The latest hot investing craze, thematic funds, are actually a recycled old idea, sector funds. As with any other attempt to nbeat the market, we found that "thematic" fund investors actually for worse than the funds themselves. Individual investors continue to prove thatm overall, the market is typically unbeatable. Plus, we show you how to find the best 403b plans. Listeners ask: Is a cheaper price per share ETF better than a pricier one? How much should be withdrawn from a retirement plan? Do...
March 26, 2024

Portfolios Need Risk

You need to understand risk to be a successful investor. Most of us already have a very safe investment and should take risk elsewhere in our portfolio. What is risk and how can you manage it? We hear from listeners asking: How should an 80-year old's money be invested? How can you find a great financial advisor? What is the best way to invest $1.6 million? How should a recent divorced woman invest her settlement money? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Co...
March 25, 2024

Big Income, Little Risk

The financial product industry knows that you want the highest possible retunr with little (or no) risk. Given the amount of money invoiced, they are willing to try almost anything to pull off this illusion. However, no one has EVER been successful. Don and Tom discuss the latest attempt to provide investors with a near riskless income. Plus we take your questions: Does an employer's contribution count toward 401k limits? Is it better to pay of student loans or fund retirement? Learn more about ...
March 22, 2024

Still More Friday Q&A

Today's question and qnswer session features: Does a CD ladder work for portfolio protection? Is Robin Hood's Gold account worth the fee? In moving from indicvidual stocsk to ETFs can one stock's loss offest another's gain? Can we focus a program on the income generating phase of life? Do these three funds make a decent retirement portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
March 21, 2024

Play it Safe?

After interest rates hit 5%, some investors seem content to stick with savings and CDs. Tom and Don discuss the downside oif settling for today's safe money returns. What about other investments that promise "safe", high yields? Listeners want to know about: The wisdom of investing in a real estate trust? The impact of interest rate changes on pension payouts? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
March 20, 2024

Financial Faux Pas

In this episode, we share several of the biggest blunders that keep us from building the wealth we need for the future. Learn how to be a better investor with some really simple lifestyle and investing tweaks. Plus, we hear from our listeners: Does paying an advisor 1% per year mean that the 4% rule becomes the 3% rule? A real estate broker believes that real estate agents will thrive despite the NAR settlement. How should money be invested with wither New York Life or Edward Jones? Learn more a...