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Episodes

We post new episodes verey weekday (except holidays).
Nov. 28, 2022

Corrupting Bonuses

If bonuses could cause a large group of Wells Fargo employees to cheat, why impact might large comissions have on financial "advice?" Plus a couple of questions: Can I change my Roth back to a regular IRA and take a tax loss?...
Nov. 23, 2022

Risky Financial Education

We recently heard about a non-profit financial education organization, F3E (or Foundation for Financial Education) which claims to provide an unbiased fiscal education. After further review, we found some glaring problems wit...
Nov. 22, 2022

Gold IRA Issues

Why would a CBS News reporter tout gold IRAs? Don explains why buying gold in your retirement account is a terrible idea. Plus, he explains what is wrong with most financial advice and why it continues to be so bad. Then, our...
Nov. 21, 2022

Wrong Retirement Time?

As Tom gets ready to travel to Qatar, we consider the opinion of some that a fallen market makes for a dangerous retirement. Plus, we wonder why so many are scared of "the market." What is "the market," really? Then on to lis...
Nov. 18, 2022

Q&A: CD Day

On this pre-holiday Q&A session listeners want to know: If a pension counts as a fixed-income portfolio? From where should retirement income be drawn first? What's the best place to invest for no risk whatsoever? That we understood he wasn't throwing Paul Merriman under the bus? Is it okay to u…
Nov. 17, 2022

More Crypto Cheats

Another large cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, collapses and even some crypto advocates are having second thoughts about the viability of this possible mega-scam. Plus, a listener asks of Social Security income can somehow be in...
Nov. 16, 2022

60/40 Will Never Die

Every so often, someone tries to make news by declaring a typical balanced portfolio (60% stocks, 40% fixed income) deceased. While a 60/40 portfolio is not the universal answer, creating a properly diversified portfolio for ...
Nov. 15, 2022

Insulting Prices

How much is your house really worth? How much is anything worth? One real estate firm decided to stop buying houses because they feared insulting sellers. Tom and Don explain the realities of asset prices. Then, we take liste...
Nov. 14, 2022

Feeling Any Better?

After a dreadful three quarters, the stock market soared recently. We discuss which asset classes fared best this year. Then we take lots of questions: What's the best strategy for retiring early and delaying Social Security?...
Nov. 11, 2022

Quality Qs

Another Friday means more of your questions and Don's answers: Should an old Empower managed 401k be moved to IRA? How is a pension added to retirement calculation? Should a Thrivent fund be moved to a low-cost index fund? Where is our live video show? What can be done with an extra $4.37 left in o…
Nov. 10, 2022

Right Time of Day

A recent study found that there may be a best time of day to invest in ETFs. We wonder if it's worth your while. Plus, a listener asks if it makes sense to get a reverse mortgage for "fun" money? Learn more about your ad choi...
Nov. 9, 2022

Saving With Suze?

Everyone should have an emergency fund. How big should it be and how can you get started building one. We share our thoughts and examine a ne Suze Orman backed service to help get employees set up with automated savings. Then...
Nov. 8, 2022

Foolish Portfolio Focus

Many of the hot funds of the past got that way by taking big risks on just a few stocks or sectors. However, the dangers of a concetrated portfolio outweigh the occasional impressive gains. Plus, Tom and Don discuss: Should y...
Nov. 7, 2022

Medicare Disadvantage Plans

During the crazy Medicare enrollment period, insurance compnaies will say or do almost anything to get you to sign up for their Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans. This allows them to get their hands on that governmen...
Nov. 3, 2022

How are Assets Valued?

How is the price of anything determined? We explore that issue after discovering a huge discrepency between the price of publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and non-traded REITs. How can one plunge in price ...
Nov. 2, 2022

Retiring in Recession?

Some "top experts" share their thoughts about retiring in times of perceived market turmoil. Tom and Don make them easier to understand. Plus, a listener wonders if his advisor is really a fiduciary when suggesting an annuity...
Nov. 1, 2022

The Big Annuity Lie Snares Investors

Just as you can't have calories without weight, you can't have wealth without risk. However, many in the insurance industry want you to believe you can get market returns without losses. Plus, Tom blames Don for the I-bond induced crash of treasurydirect.gov. Don calls Tom an elitist. We take your …
Oct. 31, 2022

Expert Misinformation

We discover we have job security as investors are still missing the basics and looking for advice in all the worong places. Plus, what is investing risk. In addition, we get an update on Tom's new car purchase. Then, we take ...
Oct. 28, 2022

Wednesday, Thursday, Qday

We have some really great questions this week (and hopefully some decent answers). There seems to be a tax-loss and Roth theme: Can money from a tax loss sale in a brokerage account be investing in a Roth? Did she screw up he...
Oct. 27, 2022

Break Up With Your Broker

"But, they're so nice," "She's my niece." He goes to our church, so he must be honest." We hear this stuff all the time about financial advisors. Of course they're nice. Most of them are salespeople. To sell products, you generally need to be nice. Should niceness be one of your top criteria for hi…
Oct. 26, 2022

Higher Fees, Higher Returns?

A number of fiduciary advisors are being sued for not putting their clients in more expensive mutual funds. Somehow, they equate higher expenses with long-term higher returns. A listener wonders whether individual bonds are b...
Oct. 25, 2022

Many Go Stock Free

Despite being a proven, long-term wealth building strategy, many Americans still have no stocks on the their portfolios. We explore why. We also spend some time talking with Paul Merriman about the current market and what the...
Oct. 24, 2022

Money Market Fund Fees

Money market mutual funds used to be a good place to park money. That has changed as many funds have raised their expenses – some to 1% per year. These high expenses eat up what tiny yield you might have received. There are b...
Oct. 21, 2022

Q&A Day: How Do Dividends Work

It's Friday (for Don anyway) and he takes a bunch of your questions: Can you sell an S&P 500 fund at Vanguard and simultaneously buy a a different S&P 500 fund at Fidelity? Who decides when dividends are declared and terminat...