Episodes

Another day, another five questions answered. Today's topics: How do I know who is a true fiduciary? What's our opinion of "Infinity Investing?" Where can I look up financial advisors? What should be done with an inheritance? Why do we like the flexible withdrawal strategy for retirement income? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

We have gotten a bit behind on answering phoned-in questions, so today, Don answers the following: How do you get out of a bunch of individual stocks? What should be done with too much of a single stock in a retirement portfolio? What is a good place to "safely" invest for retirement? How will smaller bank spreads affect the market? How can someone eventually retire with no assets except an almost paid-off home? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Com...

Hard to believe, but the US government allows investors to generate tax-free income from a well-diversified portfolio – without using municipal bonds. Plus, a listener wonders if the extra fees for the Avantis Small-Cap Value ETF (AVUV) are worth paying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

The world has changed dramatically. So, how do you manage your money in this mad new world? Plus, we hear from listeners asking: How do you get restarted on a retirement investment path? Will other world currencies supplant the US Dollar? What do we think of these two stocks? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Rather than tell you which investments make the most sense, we decided to share with our list of the worst investments. These are some of the things we believe you should avoid. Some examples: Cryptocurrencies Variable and Indexed annuities Options and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Don tackles more of your questions: What happens if an exchange-traded fund (ETF) sponsor goes bankrupt? Can a Roth IRA conversion count as a required minimum distribution (RMD)? Should old retirement plans be moved into the new plan? After moving from Ed Jones to Schwab, where should some extra money be invested? Does a precious metals fund belong in a diversified portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Many investors seem to believe owning a portfolio of dividend-paying stocks is a safe and effective way to create retirement income. Are there better ways to create investment income in retirement? We explore the evidence. Then, we hear from two listeners: What should be done with a windfall that will eventually go into an IRA? A trick to avoid the "pro rata rule" for backdoor Roths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

So, how did the investment market perform this past quester? Investors are only now starting to avoid stocks. Plus, listeners ask: Where should I put some new money? Is Ally safe? Is it normal for a credit union to limit how much cash you can withdraw? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Money is important. Today we present our second episode devoted to what you need to know about both building wealth and beginning to use it. For example, how much real money is available from your home? What's the best portfolio for retirement? Plus, we hear from a slew of listeners: What should be done with poor-performing investments? Some fiduciaries don't always act in your best interests. Why can't an advisor get the fund wanted, and should you even invest in a sector fund? What could b...

Today, we present part one of a two-part series focused on what you must know about money. In this episode, we discuss spending and credit. Then, we hear from listeners asking: For help looking up his fee structure and an ADV Part Two. You'll be shocked at what we found. Seeking the best plan for reducing company ESOP stock holdings. Wondering why a bank would limit the amount of cash allowed to be withdrawn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments...

On today's episode, Don is asked: Does this "granular" DIY portfolio make sense? Why would he even consider suggesting a reverse mortgage? What should be done with a portfolio that has always lost money? Is there any trick to rescue a Backdoor Roth from ponderous taxes? Does it make sense to build a 5-year income ladder with fixed annuities? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Like financial leeches, old online subscriptions slowly suck your bank account dry. What can be done about these almost to impossible to cancel services? Then, we hear from listeners asking: What should I expect from a wealth manager? Which assets should be in what kind of account? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

One of the biggest annuity collapses in history is progressing in slow motion. This has left the annuity investors stuck without access to their money for years, with no relief in sight. So, just how safe are annuities, and how can those selling them claim they are "guaranteed?" Don is given a fee disclosure document for an Invesco fund, and the costs are shocking. Then, a listener asks: Why don't we suggest Roth IRAs for everyone? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices ...

Two (or more) of the biggest reasons you shouldn't rely on the S&P 500 for your stock market diversification. How should you properly diversify your equity portfolio? Listeners want to know: What do some of the numbers mean for ETF market quotes? Do DFA funds charge 12b-1 fees? How is a transfer from a regular IRA to a Roth reported? What is the difference between investing with an insurance agent versus a fee-only advisor? What should be done with some unexpected money? What's the ...

Don's away, so Tom discusses the billions of dollars that have been moved to cash. Where is it being stashed and where should you be putting your money? How protected are various financial firms? We hear from listeners: With some investing advice. How to check out a Vanguard advisor? How to derive tax breaks from unleveraged investmet property? Looking for our opinion of Vanguard target date funds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Today's questions: Why did my ETF distribute capital gains? Will this tax harvesting and repurchasing strategy run afoul of the "wash-sale" rule? Is there any reason to pay off a mortgage in retirement? Why do banks have 11-month CDs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Millions of retirement accounts have been left behind and apparently forgotten. We're talking REAL money. You need to find yours. A listener asks: What about buying stocks with shareholder perks? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

What you can do now and later this year to reduce your tax bill. Plus, we talk about a non-financial talk show that spews bad words ("F" instead of "T"). Listeners ask us: Should you short the long Cramer ETF? Why did Don change his investing suggestions from those given in the 1990s? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

With the retirement upheaval in France, Tom and Don discuss when should we retire and what will we do then. Plus, when it comes to investing, ignorance might actually be bliss. Callers want to know: Our opinion of a fiduciary advisor being considered by a listener? The answer will help you choose one. Whether or not enough money has been accumulated to retire at 62? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Welcome to March Money Madness. With several banks teetering what should you do with your money. One banker tries to comfort his depositors by offering his personal cell number. Plus, we answer the buriung questions: What is 100% safe? Then we hear from callers who want to know: Whose accounts are covered by FDIC insurance? What is a stable value fund? How many funds are needed to be properly diversified? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Cl...

In this week's question and answer episode: Should he sell his bond funds and create a CD ladder? Can funds from a managed account go into an IRA? Is Fidelity's Brokerlink option for 401k plans a good choice for participants? Is Vanguard's Federal Money Market fund a good place for emergency funds? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Emotions are good for many things, just not for investing. Tom and Don discuss the many money moods that can be financial future killers. Plus, we hear from listeners about: A 401k that only offers Principal products. What is the best way to invest for a small-cap value tilt? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

The fallout from Silicon Valley Bank's failure continues to impact the investing markets. Should you be concerned? What should you do? Plus, listeners want to know the following: Who writes those almost identical stock market headlines and if pros can trade, why can't we? Why does Apella Wealth list insurance sales in its Form ADV? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Are stocks and bonds not good enough for you? Why not take on some of those sophisticated investments used by college endowments? We'll tell you why not. Plus, another reason to avoid individual stocks; lying. Then, onto your questions: How much bond diversification is needed? Why are company retirement plan participants allowed larger contributions than are allowed for IRAs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!