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Episodes

We post new episodes verey weekday (except holidays).
Dec. 27, 2023

A Christmas Dog Story

This episode was recorded on December 23, 2023. Just before going on the air, Don's wife told him about a lost dog found 3,000 miles from his Washington state home. The outpouring of offers to help was soul-stirring. Later, we talked about the foolishness of following the hottest parts of the marke…
Dec. 26, 2023

Investing Realities

We return from our holiday hiatus with quiz: Which is an investing fact and which is a money myth? Plus, a listener want to know: What can be done with a brokerage firm that refuses to let go of funds? Learn more about your a...
Dec. 21, 2023

The Great Fund Debate

We revisit the "active vs. passive" debate. We thought this debate had been settled, yet many still invest with active money managers. Then, we hear from listeners: Objectively, why do we hate Bitcoin? How should an elderly m...
Dec. 20, 2023

Fastest Home Fill-Ups

Where in the country has home equity risen most and least? What can you do to tap that hidden wealth? Does a HELOC or reverse mortgage make sense? Does owning a house even make sense in this economy? Then, we hear from listen...
Dec. 19, 2023

Wait… Stocks Have Risen?

Don finally peeked at his brokerage statement and was pleasantly surprised. His portfolio finally made money. Did yours? We talk about the investment markets' ups (and downs) and finding the right balance between safety and p...
Dec. 18, 2023

Start Investing Sooner

In this episode, we talk about some of the steps you should take well before retirement to get your financial house in order. We discuss money-saving tips and investing ideas to help those in their younger years improve their...
Dec. 15, 2023

Pre-Christmas Question Day

The questions may not be festive, but they're important, and Don answers them: How should assets be allocated across different types of accounts? What happens to the money in a 529 plan if the custodian needs to withdraw some? How should a young adult invest money from an inherited IRA? Can brokers…
Dec. 14, 2023

When Managers Go Away

Another problem with actively managed mutual funds is the mortality of managers. What happens if you rely on the incredibly rare, super-smart, practically prescient money manager, and they go away? Plus, we hear from listener...
Dec. 13, 2023

Real Investing is Hard

A new academic study concludes that you might be better off avoiding bonds. Tom and Don discuss whether a strategy that potentially risky makes sense for you. We discuss the sorry state of most investing advice, including tha...
Dec. 12, 2023

Stop Hurting Yourself

We keep making damaging financial mistakes. Are you ready to manage your money better and actually invest? We hear from listeners: Can iBonds be transferred to others? What's the best way to set up a 529 ABLE plan Is tax loss...
Dec. 11, 2023

Bitcoin and Gold Heat Up

The price of both Bitcoin and gold have soared recently. Has anything changed that might make them attractive investments? Plus, there is more evidence that those who chase returns using mutual funds fail to beat those who bu...
Dec. 8, 2023

Cool Days Q&A

After Don grumbles about the length of the holiday season, he goes on to answer listeners questions: Does it make sense to use a 529 Plan to make future Roth IRAs for grandkids? Is the 4.7% interest from Vanguard new Cash Plu...
Dec. 7, 2023

Avoiding Bad Advice

Investing "professionals" run the gamut from highly skilled and honest to truly dangerous. How can you avoid the mediocre to crooked financial advice providers out there? Tom and Don have some simple ways to protect your wealth from the unscrupulous. Plus, listeners ask: What is the name of the ban…
Dec. 6, 2023

Unexpected Taxable Events

The end of the year often brings mutual fund investors an unpleasant surprise that can raise taxes; the realized capital gains distribution. How can you avoid this tax surprise? Are traditional mutual funds headed for extinct...
Dec. 5, 2023

Lifelong Income Strategies

What's the best way to create a retirement income stream from your investment portfolio. Today, Tom and Don share four popular income strategies. Then, we hear from you (actually, a few of you): Does it make sense to sell App...
Dec. 4, 2023

Pensions Staging Comeback?

Once thought to be nearly extinct (except for government workers), some major employers are bringing back the old fashioned pension plan. Does the apparent certainty of a pension make it a better retirement option than define...
Dec. 1, 2023

A Lot of Questions

In todays's Q&A session: Which funds should be used in a 403b? Thanks for the podcast. How much of fixed income should be in inflation hedges? How could a mom squeeze a bit more income out of her portfolio? Did it makes sense...
Nov. 30, 2023

And the Winners Are...

A recent list of "the best mutual funds" is best ignored. The funds prised in this piece are not great funds, just a few that got lucky by being in the right investments at the right time. Plus, most of the funds are eclecti...
Nov. 29, 2023

Seen the Light?

Most know him as the "Wolf of Wall Street." After ripping on investors for millions of dollars, Jordan Belfort claims to have "seen the light" and now believes that low-cost, index-style investing is the path investors should take. Then, listeners look for help... ...with a Health Savings Account's…
Nov. 28, 2023

Dave Promises Big Bucks

Forget the 4% rule, Dave Ramsey wants you to believe that you can take an 8% annual income from an American Funds (or other broker-sold) portfolio. We explain why that is incredibly unlikely. Then on to the questions: What's ...
Nov. 27, 2023

Financial Illiteracy

A new study of Americans financial knowledge shows that a sizable portion of us are woefully uniformed about financial matters. Tom and Don share the results and ideas for improving our fiscal education. Plus, listeners ask: ...
Nov. 22, 2023

Work Plans Losing

This is the last show of Thanksgiving week, as Tom and Don are taking time off. In the episode, we discuss the many problems with 401k and 403b plans that keep employees from doing as well as they might in other types of acco...
Nov. 21, 2023

So Few Houses

Today, we talk about the biggest reason housing prices have stayed so high in a period of rising rates. We also consider the right time to sell a home and downside and the impact a changing real estate sales market might have...
Nov. 20, 2023

Want to Pay Less?

If you want to reduce the amount you pay the IRS in 2024, there are several things you can do before the year is up to reduce your tax burden. If you wait until it's time to file next April, your deduction options are severel...