Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

• Barron’s Bond Blunder

  Today’s show exposes how Barron’s ran an undisclosed advertorial from a high-fee bond fund manager pushing junk-heavy, risky products while trashing traditional bonds with misleading comparisons. Don and Tom explained why safe bonds should stay short-to-intermediate term and simple, called out a Starlink “$127 for life” internet scam, and fielded listener questions on tax-adjusted rebalancing between traditional and Roth IRAs, trimming long-held Microsoft vs. American Funds, Social Security timing myths, and why Bitcoin isn’t an investment. An email question on replacing BND rounded out the episode with a reminder that its structure still works for most investors. 0:04 Opening; Barron’s undisclosed advertorial problem and high-fee, junk-heavy bond funds 5:06 Scam watch — Starlink $127-for-life ad and why nobody will protect you but you 9:41 Caller Rob: Tax-adjusted IRA rebalancing, simple three-fund global strategy with overlap 16:11 Caller Bob: Which to trim first — Microsoft vs. American Funds ICA 21:41 Caller Tony: Social Security timing and why trust fund worries aren’t a reason to claim early 26:27 Caller Bruce: Bitcoin as speculation, not an investment, and the altcoin glut 35:13 Email: Swapping BND for short/intermediate bonds — why BND’s structure still works Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  44:30

  --------

  44:30
• Avoid Complexity

  Don opens with a rant about Wall Street’s love of unnecessary complexity, focusing on “structured equity products” and other layered investments that promise protection but deliver lower returns at higher costs. The discussion covers the deceptive pitch, the billions invested in these products, and why a straightforward stock/bond mix is usually better. Larry Swedroe’s principles for prudent investing are highlighted, along with a reminder about diversification beyond the S&P 500—especially into international and emerging markets. Listener questions cover how to measure global exposure, medical IRA withdrawals, ETF dividend taxation, eliminating Empower as a middleman, and whether reinvesting dividends affects tax treatment (it doesn’t). The episode wraps with personal anecdotes from Don’s brokerage days, the evolution of his investing philosophy, and a few tech frustrations. 0:04 Don’s Wall Street rant on complexity and costs 1:12 Structured equity products and why they’re pitched 2:27 How they work and why fees are high 3:53 Study shows 7% annual drag vs. benchmarks 5:06 New AQR hedged/leveraged funds at 2.31% expense 7:02 Swedroe’s investing principles: peer-reviewed, low-cost, no timing 8:56 Importance of global diversification and emerging markets history 12:18 Listener Q: Measuring U.S. vs. non-U.S. exposure 13:44 Listener Q: Moving assets from Empower to Schwab 14:31 Listener Q: IRA withdrawals for medical expenses 17:36 Listener Q: ETF dividends—reinvest or not? 18:45 ETF tax advantage vs. mutual funds explained 19:17 Listener praise for Don’s principles leading to $1.7M portfolio 21:37 Don’s broker days selling high-fee products 23:30 Transition to radio and Business Radio Network 24:56 Call-in question pipeline is full for upcoming shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  30:15

  --------

  30:15
• Your Q, Don's A

  In this Friday Q&A edition, Don tackles five listener questions spanning kids’ UTMAs vs. 529 plans, Roth vs. pre-tax 403(b) contributions, filling portfolio gaps when a workplace plan lacks small-cap value, why indexed annuities are a costly sales pitch wrapped in deceptive promises, and how to help a recently divorced 26-year-old daughter find hope and financial focus. Along the way, he delivers mic technique tips, portfolio simplification advice, and a blistering breakdown of annuity sales incentives—plus a reminder to prioritize life and mental recovery over rushing into big purchases. 0:04 Florida heat, Friday Q&A setup, and microphone placement tips 2:29 UTMA vs. 529 rules, Roth transfer limits, and simplification advice 6:59 Mid-40s couple weighing Roth vs. pre-tax 403(b) contributions 9:29 Workplace plan fund gaps, avoiding PIMCO small-cap, and using other accounts to diversify 12:58 Indexed annuity dinner pitch breakdown—hidden costs, low returns, and high commissions 20:58 Helping a divorced 26-year-old refocus priorities, delay big purchases, and stay patient Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  30:44

  --------

  30:44
• The End... Again?

  Don and Tom dive headfirst into the wild world of bad financial predictions—specifically, the apocalyptic ramblings of Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki. They dissect his decades-long streak of failed forecasts, poke holes in his fear-fueled pitch for gold, silver, and Bitcoin, and remind listeners that gurus don’t predict the future—they profit from pretending they can. Listener questions cover 529 plan choices, 457(b) vs Roth IRA, the small-cap allocation in AVGE, and a plea for Don to never give up managing his own money. 0:04 Tom banned from pushing buttons—again 1:00 Why do we idolize financial “gurus” who are chronically wrong? 2:21 Enter Robert Kiyosaki: The doomsayer who keeps getting richer 3:05 Don confronts Kiyosaki over his bogus “guarantee” ad 3:53 His silver and market crash predictions: A 23-year flop fest 5:16 Latest Kiyosaki fear-pitch: Gold, silver, Bitcoin… again 6:37 His one right prediction (Bitcoin hitting $100K) 7:55 Critical reviews: Conspiracies, platitudes, and risky advice 9:22 Can Buffett, Lynch, or Bogle be called “gurus”? 10:24 Listener Q1: Fidelity 529 target date fund—too expensive? 11:26 UTANX and low-cost age-based 529 alternatives (like Utah’s plan) 14:02 Listener Q2: Roth 457(b) with high fees vs Roth IRA 16:47 Listener Q3: Does AVGE need a separate small-cap fund? 19:10 Listener Q4: Should Don stop managing his own money? 21:08 Why everyone needs a backup advisor—even advisors 22:17 Don’s voice acting love: Mighty Man Season 3 teaser 22:34 Listener Q5: AVUV vs AVGE—when and why to use each 24:20 AVGE asset breakdown—15 funds in one 26:12 Explaining the podcast schedule (Monday–Friday layout) 27:34 International listeners, Spotify vs Apple, and how to tune in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  31:18

  --------

  31:18
• Millions of Millionaires

  This Talking Real Money episode dives into America’s millionaire boom—1,000 a day—and what it really takes to join the club. Don and Tom discuss inflation’s impact on wealth, the real sources of millionaire status (spoiler: it’s not crypto), and the critical role of forced savings via homes and 401(k)s. Listeners call in with questions on triple-leveraged ETFs (don’t), deferring capital gains on farmland, and gambling on tech stocks in retirement (also don’t). Plus, how to evaluate a financial advisor and why returns-based promises are a huge red flag. 0:04 The millionaire explosion: 1,000 new U.S. millionaires every day 1:15 Inflation vs. millionaire status: $1M ain’t what it used to be 2:06 Where wealth is coming from—homes and 401(k)s 3:10 Forced savings: why it’s more powerful than market timing 4:02 The third key to wealth: avoiding big financial mistakes 5:39 Financial Flinch Reflex: Don’s mock pharma ad for financial panic 6:55 Listener asks: how exactly do you invest to become a millionaire? 7:37 ETF basics for beginners + starting with a target-date fund 8:47 Caller: What’s a triple-leveraged ETF and is it a cheat code? 10:36 Why you shouldn’t pick ETFs based on past returns 11:05 Building a portfolio starts with a plan, not a product 12:03 TQQQ dangers: up 3x, down 3x…or 80% down in 2022 14:22 How to get help: no-pressure meetings, no sales pitch 16:15 Leveraged ETFs = gambling, not investing 16:52 Caller selling $1.8M Illinois farm: can you defer capital gains? 17:39 Yes—via 1031 exchange or potentially a QOF (but beware fees) 19:24 Dying: not a recommended tax strategy (but technically effective) 21:01 Caller in La Conner, WA: risky to keep all gains in 10 tech stocks? 23:21 $200K gain in 3 months? Congrats—now get out before you regret it 25:18 Why gambling with stocks in retirement is unnecessary risk 26:56 Caller Joe: interviewed 10+ advisory firms—how to choose? 28:03 Don’t trust advisors who promise future returns 30:25 The only advisors to consider: 100% fiduciary, no commissions 32:43 Caller Beverly: state bond fund seems risky—what should I do? 33:45 Use your IRA for safer bond funds like Vanguard BND 36:34 Why there’s no “rule of thumb” for stock/bond allocation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  44:46

  --------

  44:46

Więcej Biznes podcastów

Trendy w podcaście Biznes

O Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk: Podcasty w grupie