Talking Real Money - Investing Talk
Episodes
Q&A and Book Day
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don opens the show with a deeply personal announcement: the release of his first novel, The Line Uncrossed, inspired by the life of his great-great-gr...
Indexes Gone Wild
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom take on the uncomfortable reality that even supposedly “rules-based” index investing is starting to look suspiciously active, as major...
Fear Sells
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom unload on sensationalized financial journalism, taking aim at recent articles claiming the 4% withdrawal rule and classic 60/40 portfolios...
The Great and Powerful AI
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tom and Don explore whether artificial intelligence is truly ready to replace financial advisors, sparked by a recent Wall Street Journal experiment u...
Selling Slowly
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tom and Don tackle one of retirement planning’s most misunderstood tools: reverse mortgages. Using the analogy of “selling your house in slow moti...
May Questions
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don opens this Friday Q&A episode with a personal reflection on finally releasing his historical fiction novel The Line Uncrossed, inspired by his...
Retirement Relocation Reality
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom explore one of retirement’s biggest emotional and financial questions: where should you actually live once work winds down? They discuss...
Selling Fear
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom take aim at the booming annuity industry, arguing that most annuities are sold through fear, confusion, and unrealistic promises rather th...
Red Hot or Icy Blue?
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle the strange psychology of politics and investing, exploring how Republicans and Democrats consistently perceive the economy and mar...
Active Management Myth
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tom and Don take aim at the persistent myth that active management adds meaningful long-term value, using a new study highlighted by Larry Swedroe sho...
Another Busy Q&A Day
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This Q&A episode of Talking Real Money covers a wide range of listener questions, from proposed “youth retirement accounts” and 529 plans to t...
Retirement Quiz
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tom takes a Wall Street Journal retirement-account quiz while Don gleefully plays game show host, leading to a surprisingly useful (and occasionally c...
Fear Sells Gold
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom react to the gold-pushing radio show that replaced Talking Real Money, breaking down misleading claims about gold investing, TSP accounts,...
From Funds to Crypto
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Justin Baer about his book House of Fidelity, exploring how Fidelity Investments helped transform ...
Future Proof Jobs?
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A graduation-season episode turns into a surprisingly deep conversation about careers in the age of AI, anchored by a New York Times article from Jodi...
Friday Querisode
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don flies solo for a Friday Q&A, fielding questions on switching into financial services careers, the risks and reality of “enhanced” direct i...
Emerging Markets Matter
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast audio was accidentally posted yesterday, so you might want to listen to our 4/29 episode, if you’ve already heard this one.A listener-i...
Smart Money Myths
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Private equity gets sold as exclusive, sophisticated, and “what the smart money does,” but the reality is far less compelling. Don and Tom break d...
Booking Scams
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode shifts from investing to protection, starting with increasingly sophisticated scams—from fake Microsoft emails to deceptive hotel booki...
Okay, Boomer
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Boomers take the blame (with a grin) while unpacking the real retirement mistakes that still trip people up today—failing to plan, claiming Social S...
Flood of Questions
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A rapid-fire Friday Q&A dives into one of retirement’s biggest debates—flexible withdrawals versus the traditional 4% rule—with Don explaini...
AI Trading Trap
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
AI-powered trading is the latest shiny object designed to make investors feel smarter while quietly encouraging more trading (and more profits for pla...
War vs. Markets
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
War headlines dominate attention, but history shows they rarely have lasting impacts on stock markets. Don and Tom break down why geopolitical events—...
Hard to Save
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Roxy Butner joins the show to break down practical retirement saving strategies—especially for entrepreneurs who struggle to pay themselves first. T...
Why Retire?
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle the idea that retirement isn’t what it used to be—and maybe shouldn’t be at all. From historical retirement ages (when most p...
Qs and Stuff
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A wide-ranging Q&A episode tackles the real-world tradeoffs investors actually face: whether Paul Merriman’s aggressive small/value “ultimate”...
Annuity Tricks
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Annuities promise peace of mind—but often at a steep and poorly understood cost. Don and Tom break down when (rarely) annuities might make sense, wh...
Start Young
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Starting early beats almost everything else in investing—and this episode drives that home with eye-opening math and a brand-new tool for jumpstarti...
On Your Side?
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode exposes the misleading language behind “best interest” financial sales practices, using the insurance-backed fight against the Depart...
Miss a Stock...
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A century-long study by Hendrik Bessembinder reveals a stunning truth about investing: while the U.S. stock market produced enormous overall wealth, t...
Whole Lotta Questions
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This Friday Q&A episode of Talking Real Money features a surge in listener questions, covering key retirement and investing topics including IRA i...
Simple Beats "Smart"
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tear into Kiplinger’s roundup of “best money advice,” separating the genuinely useful from the obvious, the flawed, and the downrigh...
What is an Advisor?
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode cuts through the marketing fog around “financial advisors,” breaking them into three real categories—brokers, insurance agents, and...
Modern Bucket Shops
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom kick things off with a colorful history lesson on 19th-century “bucket shops,” drawing a sharp parallel to today’s emerging world of...
Retiree Ripoffs
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode shifts from investing to the growing threat of scams—especially targeting older adults—breaking down how common fraud tactics work, f...
Questions Aplenty
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This Q&A episode tackles a mix of practical retirement and investing questions, starting with why spousal Social Security bene...
Yield Trap
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode opens with a blistering takedown of sensationalized financial media, using a Kiplinger income piece as the latest example of how risky, h...
Yield Trap
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This episode opens with a blistering takedown of sensationalized financial media, using a Kiplinger income piece as the latest exa...
Final Broadcast - Two
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the final hour of the radio show, Don and Tom blend nostalgia with a blunt reality check—highlighting the looming Social Security shortfall that ...
Final Broadcast - Two
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In the final hour of the radio show, Don and Tom blend nostalgia with a blunt reality check—highlighting the looming Social Secu...
Final Broadcast - One
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The final live radio episode of Talking Real Money blends nostalgia, listener appreciation, and core investing philosophy. Don and Tom reflect on near...
Final Broadcast - One
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?The final live radio episode of Talking Real Money blends nostalgia, listener appreciation, and core investing philosophy. Don and...
College Pays
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode mixes studio banter with a surprisingly substantive look at education and investing trade-offs. Don and Tom walk through data on the lowe...
College Pays
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This episode mixes studio banter with a surprisingly substantive look at education and investing trade-offs. Don and Tom walk thro...
Asking Away
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A lively Friday Q&A kicks off with some unintended voice effects courtesy of Don’s grandkids before diving into listener questions on money market f...
Asking Away
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?A lively Friday Q&A kicks off with some unintended voice effects courtesy of Don’s grandkids before diving into listener que...
Your Retirement Number
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of a universal “retirement number” gets dismantled as misleading and overly simplistic, with Don and Tom arguing that retirement planning...
Your Retirement Number
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?The idea of a universal “retirement number” gets dismantled as misleading and overly simplistic, with Don and Tom arguing that...
Retirement Myths
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Talking Real Money moves into its final week on terrestrial radio, Don and Tom mix transition talk with a practical rundown of common retirement my...
Retirement Myths
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?As Talking Real Money moves into its final week on terrestrial radio, Don and Tom mix transition talk with a practical rundown of ...
You Can't Know
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With geopolitical tension rattling markets and investors stampeding into cash, gold, and energy, Don and Tom step back to deliver a familiar message: ...
You Can't Know
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?With geopolitical tension rattling markets and investors stampeding into cash, gold, and energy, Don and Tom step back to deliver ...
Icy Market
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The housing market is stuck in an unusual freeze, driven by the lingering effects of ultra-low COVID-era mortgage rates, reduced housing inventory, an...
Icy Market
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?The housing market is stuck in an unusual freeze, driven by the lingering effects of ultra-low COVID-era mortgage rates, reduced h...
Fewer Q Friday
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don fields listener questions on asset allocation, advisor timing, and investing complexity with his usual bias toward simplicity and self-awareness. ...
Fewer Q Friday
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don fields listener questions on asset allocation, advisor timing, and investing complexity with his usual bias toward simplicity ...
Optimal Income?
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Morningstar’s latest research nudges the “safe” withdrawal rate down to 3.9%, but Don and Tom make it clear there’s no magic number—just tra...
Optimal Income?
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Morningstar’s latest research nudges the “safe” withdrawal rate down to 3.9%, but Don and Tom make it clear there’s no mag...
Everything Ends
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The show opens with a major announcement: Talking Real Money is leaving terrestrial radio and going fully podcast-only, marking the end of a 16-year S...
Everything Ends
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?The show opens with a major announcement: Talking Real Money is leaving terrestrial radio and going fully podcast-only, marking th...
Retired Broke
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Talking Real Money prepares to leave terrestrial radio and become a podcast-only show, Tom and Don pivot from logistics to a deeper issue: the grow...
Retired Broke
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?As Talking Real Money prepares to leave terrestrial radio and become a podcast-only show, Tom and Don pivot from logistics to a de...
More Questions!
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This Friday Q&A episode tackles several thoughtful listener questions covering 401(k) investment choices, Roth conversion stra...
Exchange Traded Gambling
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Exchange-traded funds began as simple, low-cost index vehicles, but their popularity has sparked a flood of increasingly speculative products. Don and...
Exchange Traded Gambling
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Exchange-traded funds began as simple, low-cost index vehicles, but their popularity has sparked a flood of increasingly speculati...
Questions Four
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this Friday Q&A episode, Don answers four listener questions covering fund recommendations, special-needs financial planning, retirement withdrawal...
Questions Four
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this Friday Q&A episode, Don answers four listener questions covering fund recommendations, special-needs financial plannin...
Don't Invest?
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A debate over jelly bean flavors quickly pivots into a takedown of a flashy Inc. Magazine article claiming people shouldn’t save for retirement. Don...
Don't Invest?
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?A debate over jelly bean flavors quickly pivots into a takedown of a flashy Inc. Magazine article claiming people shouldn’t save...
Retiremeet 2026 Part Two
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcast from RetireMeet 2026 in Bellevue, Don and Tom reflect on the evolution of retirement planning—from a narrow focus on investments to a broa...
Retiremeet 2026 Part Two
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Broadcast from RetireMeet 2026 in Bellevue, Don and Tom reflect on the evolution of retirement planning—from a narrow focus on i...
Retiremeet 2026 Part One
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcast live from RetireMeet in Bellevue, Don announces that after nearly four decades of Saturday radio shows, Talking Real Money will end its live...
Retiremeet 2026 Part One
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Broadcast live from RetireMeet in Bellevue, Don announces that after nearly four decades of Saturday radio shows, Talking Real Mon...
The Wisdom of Crowds
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom start with the classic “jelly beans in a jar” experiment to explain the wisdom of crowds and why large groups ofte...
Future Jobs
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode begins with a look at the changing career landscape as AI and automation reshape white-collar work. Don and Tom discuss a Wall Street Jou...
More Questions!
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This Friday Q&A episode tackles several thoughtful listener questions covering 401(k) investment choices, Roth conversion strategies, bond market fear...
Free Money?
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
AI hype is colliding with financial reality. Don and Tom examine Elon Musk’s suggestion that artificial intelligence could create such abundance tha...
Free Money?
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?AI hype is colliding with financial reality. Don and Tom examine Elon Musk’s suggestion that artificial intelligence could creat...
Teach Real Investing
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Financial education is expanding nationwide—but much of it is still teaching speculation instead of investing. Don and Tom critique stock-picking co...
Teach Real Investing
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Financial education is expanding nationwide—but much of it is still teaching speculation instead of investing. Don and Tom criti...
With the Cost?
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom revisit the eternal temptation to beat the market, dismantling the appeal of equal-weight indexes and active management claims by highligh...
With the Cost?
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom revisit the eternal temptation to beat the market, dismantling the appeal of equal-weight indexes and active managemen...
Funds or Ladders?
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode dives into the surprisingly emotional world of fixed income investing, exploring whether traditional bond funds like BND still make sense...
Funds or Ladders?
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This episode dives into the surprisingly emotional world of fixed income investing, exploring whether traditional bond funds like ...
More Qs reQuired
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?On this Friday Q&A episode, Don answers listener questions on international stock overweighting inside a Seattle city retireme...
More Qs reQuired
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this Friday Q&A episode, Don answers listener questions on international stock overweighting inside a Seattle city retirement plan, whether a Vangu...
Slicing Fees
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Vanguard slashes fees again, pushing its average expense ratio down to six basis points. Don and Tom contrast that with outrageously expensive ETFs ch...
Slicing Fees
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Vanguard slashes fees again, pushing its average expense ratio down to six basis points. Don and Tom contrast that with outrageous...
It's One Portfolio
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode focuses on smart portfolio construction across multiple accounts, using AVGV to complement limited 401(k) options, and why allocation sho...
It's One Portfolio
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This episode focuses on smart portfolio construction across multiple accounts, using AVGV to complement limited 401(k) options, an...
Rules of Thumb
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This episode moves from the origin of “rule of thumb” to why most investing rules of thumb don’t work for real people. Tom a...
Rules of Thumb
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode moves from the origin of “rule of thumb” to why most investing rules of thumb don’t work for real people. Tom and Don explore a Yal...
Extra Income?
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom examine Kiplinger’s list of top retirement side gigs and separate practical ideas from pipe dreams, questioning whether executive coachi...
Extra Income?
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom examine Kiplinger’s list of top retirement side gigs and separate practical ideas from pipe dreams, questioning whet...
Crypto Qs Return
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After a bump in crypto-fueled listener calls, Don tackles a mix of practical and philosophical money questions: why Fidelity’s new “stablecoin” ...
Crypto Qs Return
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?After a bump in crypto-fueled listener calls, Don tackles a mix of practical and philosophical money questions: why Fidelity’s n...
Going So Low
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Vanguard lowers fees yet again, pushing its average expense ratio down to just six basis points — a move that underscores how dramatically fund cost...
Going So Low
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Vanguard lowers fees yet again, pushing its average expense ratio down to just six basis points — a move that underscores how dr...
Even 500 Is Too Few
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle S&P 500 concentration risk and the dominance of the Magnificent Seven, explaining why diversification still matters despite compell...
Even 500 Is Too Few
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle S&P 500 concentration risk and the dominance of the Magnificent Seven, explaining why diversification still...