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Episodes

We post new episodes verey weekday (except holidays).
Dec. 8, 2022

Fixed Income Fools

The crazies who pleyed the proverbial meme stocks and failed may be turning in a new direction, gambling with bonds. Then a listener wants to know if brokered CDs might be better than a stable value fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Dec. 7, 2022

Just Got Money

We address our favorite question: What should be done with a sudden financial windfall? Then, we answer questions: Is a 100% investment in AVGE too aggressive? Should a small cap value fund be added? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Dec. 6, 2022

Senior Regrets

Tom and Don share some of older Americans biggest financial regrets. Then, we hear from a lot of you: What kind of advisors do I need? Old stock guy is back. Should he invest in company stock options? She regrets not spending enough. What should be done with low-yielding fund? How to invest windfall from toy sale? How far back does Social Security look? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Dec. 5, 2022

Not Much New

Most of the "next new things" are neither new nor hot. Beware of trendy investments, because very few things stand the test of time. Plus, we "Meet Kevin" and his expensive exchange-traded fund (ETF). Plus, callers want to know: Does it make sense to retire early and, if so, how should a lump-sum payout be invested? What can be done with an old share of Warner Brothers Studios? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
Dec. 2, 2022

Pre-Holiday Q&A

This episodes questions: With a new child on the way, what should be done financially? What are collective investment trusts? Daughter being sold a structured annuity, what it it? Does it make sense to pay of home mortgage? Does it make sense to transfer a 403b to an IRA and what are the drawbacks? Can a health savings account (HSA) be moved to another HSA? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Dec. 1, 2022

Give Lasting Gifts

Once again, we enter the gift giving season frustrated by trying to pick the perfect present. While things are quickly forgotten a gift of a financial future can literally last a lifetime. Plus, listeners want to know: The best way to allocate money between our "three-fund" suggestions? Does it makes sense to wait on buyiong bonds right now when building a 60/40 portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
Nov. 30, 2022

Avoid Inadvertent Gifting

Tom and Don get them, too. Those e-mails that offer you a free gift or inform you a gift that couldn't be delivered. Don't get scammed for Christmas. Plus listeners chime in: More agruments against actively managed mutual funds and ETFs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
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? Should I consider the new indexed annuity in my compnay's 401k? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 with those who provide this "education." They all appear to be selling insurance products. Plus, a listener wonders if Securities America is a legitimate custodian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 last caller proves Don's point while trying to to call him out. Your questions: What is wrong with ESG investing? Does it make sense to slowly move an IRA to a Roth? A former crypto gambler looks for a way to invest kid's gifts. An the insurance salesman's response to Don's...
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 listener questions: Is there a proper order to move asset classes to a Roth? How can a young worker invest for the lowest tax liability? Should a house-flipper own investment property in retirement? What's the best way to give money to kids? Can a recharacterized Roth be "backd...
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 use brokered CDs? What do we think of Betterment? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
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 incorporated into a portfolio as a fixed-income investment? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 your personal situation should be immortal. Plus, a listener asks why managed international funds outperform index funds? (spoiler: they don't) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 listeners questions: Where should an estate executor invest money? How can a lump sum payout stay tax-deferred? From Ireland: Why have we stopped talking about VT? Why do some active funds beat the market even though they cost more? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
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? After getting out of the market early this year, when should he get back in? Where should a teenager's earnings be invested? What should be done with a chunk of cash? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 old IRA? If Jeff Bezos invested everything in the total stock market what would happen? Is the 4% Rule just a ruse to help financial advisors? Should 403b money be transferred into an indexed...
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 choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 we hear from a listener wondering what we think of J.L. Collins investing advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 you have invested in the lottery? Are ARMs better than fixed-rate morgages? Then we take listeners questions: What is the difference between bank and brokered CDs? Can you pick which IRAs from which to take withdrawals? What are the call letters of our Seattle station? Learn ...
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 government money that might otherwise just go to patients. We take some questions, too: What's the best way to add international equities to AVGE? Should precious metals and crypto be in your portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comment...
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 while the other seems to be rising? Plus, a listener wants to know about investing overseas and moving money to safer investments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!
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 questions: Is moving from Vanguard Windsor II into their large cap index fund a good idea? When will "real" banks raise their rates? Why did T. Rowe Price merge funds? Learn more about your ad ...