Podcast
Talking Real Money - Investing Talk
Hosted by Don McDonald · EN
Financial talk radio veteran, Don McDonald and former host of Serious Money on PBS, Tom Cock, join forces to talk about real money issues. In each episode, they solve real money problems, dole out real investing (not speculating) advice, and really explain the financial issues that effect all of us. Plus, it's actually fun! Talking Real Money is a podcast designed to provide the real help we all need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).
63episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Red Hot or Icy Blue?
May 1200:33:33Tap to summarizeDon and Tom tackle the strange psychology of politics and investing, exploring how Republicans and Democrats consistently perceive the economy and markets differently depending on who occupies the White House. Drawing on research from Spencer Jakab, the University of Michigan, and Dimensional Fund Advisors, they argue that long-term market performance has historically shown little correlation to presidential party affiliation, despite investors’ emotional reactions. The episode also features a thoughtful listener discussion about pensions in public safety careers, including the hidden risks of not paying into Social Security and the limitations of pensions as wealth-building tools. Additional listener questions cover Vanguard target-date fund combinations and the drawbacks of holding a costly variable annuity inside an IRA. The show wraps with commentary on pay-to-play podcast awards, Don’s surprisingly modest Amazon book ranking triumph, and updates on his upcoming Civil War novel The Line Uncrossed which has been pre-released for podcast listeners in an exclusive ebook bonus package at donmcdonald.com0:05 Politics, perception, and the “presidential puzzle”2:26 Partisan views on the economy and stock market3:51 Why presidents have limited long-term market impact6:03 Emotions, investing, and politically themed ETFs8:18 Why asset allocation matters more than politics8:51 Performance of the MAGA ETF vs. expectations10:51 Listener question: pensions, Social Security, and public safety careers15:11 The importance of supplemental retirement savings alongside pensions16:38 Why pensions provide income but not generational wealth19:45 Listener question: mixing Vanguard Target Date 2035 and 2040 funds21:48 Debate over “rebalancing” target-date funds22:57 Listener question: variable annuity inside an IRA at Edward Jones24:28 Why variable annuities can be expensive and inefficient25:11 Fake podcast awards and pay-to-play recognition schemes27:07 “Financial Physics” Amazon ranking discussion28:32 Don’s upcoming novel The Line Uncrossed and Civil War inspirationQuestions? Comments? Click!
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Active Management Myth
May 1100:34:12Tap to summarizeTom and Don take aim at the persistent myth that active management adds meaningful long-term value, using a new study highlighted by Larry Swedroe showing that 1,260 balanced mutual funds dramatically underperformed simple low-cost index portfolios from 1990–2021. The duo contrasts expensive actively managed balanced funds with inexpensive index strategies like the Vanguard Balanced Index approach, illustrating how fees alone can devastate long-term returns. Along the way, they discuss the emotional challenge of rebalancing, the hidden costs inside broker-sold funds, and why simplicity usually beats complexity in investing. Listener questions cover paying off a high-interest HELOC, whether gold or silver make sense as CD replacements, how advisor fees relate to the 4% withdrawal rule, and the behavioral value of good fiduciary advice. The episode wraps with a detour into collectible stock certificates, including Enron, Washington Mutual, and even Trump Media, proving once again that Talking Real Money can turn almost anything into a financial lesson and a comedy bit.0:05 Satirical opening mocking the “you need a professional” investing pitch0:27 The enduring myth that active management beats indexing1:40 Larry Swedroe study on 1,260 balanced mutual funds vs. index portfolios3:05 Balanced funds underperform across returns and risk-adjusted metrics4:32 Massive fee differences between active funds and index funds6:05 Rebalancing challenges and lousy 401(k) investment menus7:05 American Funds Balanced Fund fee breakdown shocks Don8:49 Vanguard Balanced Index Fund cost comparison9:36 Why advisor fees are different from high mutual fund expenses10:30 Simplicity and low costs win most of the time11:41 Enron stock certificate becomes a lesson on stock-picking risk14:47 Listener question about paying off a 7.1% HELOC19:29 Whether pensions should count as “bond-like” assets21:42 Gold and silver vs. CDs discussion25:40 Does the 4% rule include advisor fees?26:11 Vanguard Advisor Alpha and the behavioral value of advisors27:32 Fiduciary advice, tax management, and preventing investor mistakes28:50 Collectible stock certificates and bizarre eBay discoveries30:48 Closing banter and preview of future unpredictabilityQuestions? Comments? Click!
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Invest Like Buffett?
Sep 1, 2020Tap to summarizeHas the "Oracle" lost his touch?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!
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