Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

ETF + Q&A

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?In this listener-driven episode, Don, Tom, and advisor Roxy Butner tackle a wide range of investing questions, starting with the e...

Auto Save

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom open with sports banter and TV talk before diving into state-run retirement savings programs, explaining how auto-enrollment boosts partic...

Auto Save

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom open with sports banter and TV talk before diving into state-run retirement savings programs, explaining how auto-enro...

Money Game?

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A chaotic but revealing game-show-style opening leads into a sharp lesson on why market trivia doesn’t matter nearly as much as discipline. Tom and ...

Money Game?

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A chaotic but revealing game-show-style opening leads into a sharp lesson on why market trivia doesn’t matter nearly as much as ...

Now Spend It

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most retirees aren’t spending anywhere near what they safely could — often barely 2% of their savings — and that hesitation may be costing them ...

Now Spend It

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Most retirees aren’t spending anywhere near what they safely could — often barely 2% of their savings — and that hesitation ...

Taking Your Qs

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This Friday Q&A covers real-world money decisions with real consequences, including how to invest life-insurance proceeds after a spouse’s death, wh...

Taking Your Qs

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This Friday Q&A covers real-world money decisions with real consequences, including how to invest life-insurance proceeds afte...

House Rich?

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Retirement income doesn’t have to mean hoarding assets or obsessing over leaving an inheritance. In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom ...

House Rich?

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Retirement income doesn’t have to mean hoarding assets or obsessing over leaving an inheritance. In this episode of Talking Real...

Bespoke Future

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode dismantles the myth of “one-size-fits-all retirement,” arguing that retirement isn’t a date, an age, or a lifestyle—it’s a pers...

Bespoke Future

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode dismantles the myth of “one-size-fits-all retirement,” arguing that retirement isn’t a date, an age, or a lifes...

Easier Usually Better

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Cock and Don McDonald kick off 2026 with a sharp, skeptical look at portfolio simplicity—what it really means, what it doesn’t, and why promis...

Easier Usually Better

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Tom Cock and Don McDonald kick off 2026 with a sharp, skeptical look at portfolio simplicity—what it really means, what it doesn...

Nobody Knows

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Predictions feel comforting—but they’re usually nonsense. In this episode, Don and Tom dismantle the illusion of foresight by revisiting last year...

Nobody Knows

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Predictions feel comforting—but they’re usually nonsense. In this episode, Don and Tom dismantle the illusion of foresight by ...

Try Before You Buy?

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Investing isn’t a game, and treating it like one can quietly sabotage your future. This episode dismantles the idea of “trying out” investments ...

Try Before You Buy?

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Investing isn’t a game, and treating it like one can quietly sabotage your future. This episode dismantles the idea of “trying...

Can It Be Free?

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

0:04 Remembering the “good old days” of fat commissions 0:33 From $200 trades to zero commissions—what really changed 1:18 Free trading eve...

Can It Be Free?

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?0:04 Remembering the “good old days” of fat commissions0:33 From $200 trades to zero commissions—what really changed1:18 ...

Very Different

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode opens with a reality check on streaming delays before diving into the growing divide between investing and gambling, highlighted by Charl...

Very Different

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode opens with a reality check on streaming delays before diving into the growing divide between investing and gambling, ...

Picking a Good One

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With Tom on vacation and an eerily convincing AI stand-in holding down the mic, Don kicks off 2026 by tackling one of the most persistent listener que...

Picking a Good One

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?With Tom on vacation and an eerily convincing AI stand-in holding down the mic, Don kicks off 2026 by tackling one of the most per...

Why Complicate It?

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Wall Street is pitching “fixed-maturity ETFs” as the perfect solution for retirees who want certainty, income, and peace of mind—but are they ac...

Why Complicate It?

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Wall Street is pitching “fixed-maturity ETFs” as the perfect solution for retirees who want certainty, income, and peace of mi...

Q&A 2026

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The calendar flipped, but the rules didn’t. In this New Year Friday Q&A, Don tackles listener questions on longevity annuities (QLACs), legacy insur...

Q&A 2026

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?The calendar flipped, but the rules didn’t. In this New Year Friday Q&A, Don tackles listener questions on longevity annuiti...

Hot? Don't Touch.

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode dismantles the idea that successful investing comes from finding the next hot thing. Instead, Don and Tom argue that good portfolios are ...

Hot? Don't Touch.

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode dismantles the idea that successful investing comes from finding the next hot thing. Instead, Don and Tom argue that ...

What's Actually New?

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the year crawls to a close, Don and Tom torch the ritual of “New Year, New You” financial advice and take aim at the endless lists of five thin...

What's Actually New?

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?As the year crawls to a close, Don and Tom torch the ritual of “New Year, New You” financial advice and take aim at the endles...

Tricky "Investments"

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this post-Christmas edition of Talking Real Money, Don McDonald and Tom Cock dismantle one of the most seductive myths in personal finance: the pro...

Tricky "Investments"

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?In this post-Christmas edition of Talking Real Money, Don McDonald and Tom Cock dismantle one of the most seductive myths in perso...

Extra Qs

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A year-end Boxing Day Q&A covering realistic downside expectations for global portfolios, the marginal value of adding international small-cap value, ...

Extra Qs

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A year-end Boxing Day Q&A covering realistic downside expectations for global portfolios, the marginal value of adding interna...

Market Value?

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s surprisingly hard to know what something is really worth until someone actually tries to buy it—and that problem is front and center in priva...

Market Value?

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?It’s surprisingly hard to know what something is really worth until someone actually tries to buy it—and that problem is front...

Sucker's Rebellion

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Wall Street Journal column argues that younger investors are turning to options, crypto, and betting as a rational response to a “rigged” econom...

Sucker's Rebellion

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A Wall Street Journal column argues that younger investors are turning to options, crypto, and betting as a rational response to a...

Money Suckers

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Streaming was supposed to save us money. Instead, it quietly rebuilt cable… with better branding and worse self-control. Don and Tom trace the journ...

Money Suckers

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Streaming was supposed to save us money. Instead, it quietly rebuilt cable… with better branding and worse self-control. Don and...

More Holiday Q&A

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this holiday Friday Q&A, Don opens with a festive announcement about Season’s Readings—now Apple-featured and temporarily commercial-free—bef...

More Holiday Q&A

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?In this holiday Friday Q&A, Don opens with a festive announcement about Season’s Readings—now Apple-featured and temporari...

The Upside of Down

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Market drops are a gift when you’re young and a potential gut-punch when you’re retired, and this episode walks through why that’s true—and wh...

The Upside of Down

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Market drops are a gift when you’re young and a potential gut-punch when you’re retired, and this episode walks through why th...

Easy Money Isn't...

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Talking Real Money takes aim at the latest “easy money” illusion—house flipping—explaining why rising costs, higher interest...

Easy Money Isn't...

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode of Talking Real Money takes aim at the latest “easy money” illusion—house flipping—explaining why rising co...

Investing Reality Check

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A classic TRM episode that starts with Tom’s ill-fated attempt to cross a flooded Snoqualmie River (spoiler: no walking on water) and turns into a t...

Investing Reality Check

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A classic TRM episode that starts with Tom’s ill-fated attempt to cross a flooded Snoqualmie River (spoiler: no walking on water...

Retirement Reality Check

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re nearing retirement and uneasy about the math, you’re not alone. Don and Tom tackle the uncomfortable reality that most near-retirees hav...

Retirement Reality Check

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?If you’re nearing retirement and uneasy about the math, you’re not alone. Don and Tom tackle the uncomfortable reality that mo...

Santa's Little As

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A holiday-flavored Friday Q&A that covers a lot of ground without selling a single candy cane. Don answers listener questions on Medicare vs. Medicare...

Santa's Little As

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A holiday-flavored Friday Q&A that covers a lot of ground without selling a single candy cane. Don answers listener questions ...

Four Money Moods

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s show turns a national mood ring into a money lesson. Don and Tom walk through a new Wall Street Journal/NORC survey that sorts Americans int...

Four Money Moods

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Today’s show turns a national mood ring into a money lesson. Don and Tom walk through a new Wall Street Journal/NORC survey that...

Rolling In His Grave?

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom take a sharp look at Vanguard’s surprising new direction, especially the decision to fold annuities into 401(k) target-date funds throug...

Rolling In His Grave?

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom take a sharp look at Vanguard’s surprising new direction, especially the decision to fold annuities into 401(k) targ...

Huh? or Duh!

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special seasonal episode, you and Tom resurrect Ha or Duh, tearing through Investopedia readers’ “rules to live by” and dismantling the...

Huh? or Duh!

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?In this special seasonal episode, you and Tom resurrect Ha or Duh, tearing through Investopedia readers’ “rules to live by”...

Nobody’s Perfect

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Don and Tom saddle up for a tour through Schwab’s “Good, Bad, and Ugly.” They applaud CEO Rick Wurster’s warning about the gr...

Nobody’s Perfect

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?In this episode, Don and Tom saddle up for a tour through Schwab’s “Good, Bad, and Ugly.” They applaud CEO Rick Wurster’s ...

Always Question Season

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This Friday Q&A episode tackles a wide range of listener questions: whether someone with full pension income still needs bonds, how to fix a cluttered...

Always Question Season

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This Friday Q&A episode tackles a wide range of listener questions: whether someone with full pension income still needs bonds...

Year-End Tax Shock

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode digs into the unwelcome December surprise of capital-gains distributions, especially from actively managed mutual funds. Don and Tom brea...

Year-End Tax Shock

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode digs into the unwelcome December surprise of capital-gains distributions, especially from actively managed mutual fun...

Hard to Pick

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A fast, funny Thanksgiving-weekend show where you and Tom unpack why a tiny handful of stocks drive the S&P’s returns, revisit forgotten winners lik...

Hard to Pick

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A fast, funny Thanksgiving-weekend show where you and Tom unpack why a tiny handful of stocks drive the S&P’s returns, revis...

Cold Calls & Commissions

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Don spend this post-Thanksgiving episode dismantling the illusion that big insurance companies—Northwestern Mutual in particular—are “fi...

Cold Calls & Commissions

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Tom and Don spend this post-Thanksgiving episode dismantling the illusion that big insurance companies—Northwestern Mutual in pa...

Black Friday Q&A

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A light Black Friday edition tackles four listener questions covering Vanguard’s Digital Advisor, the timing of Social Security ...

Black Friday Q&A

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A light Black Friday edition tackles four listener questions covering Vanguard’s Digital Advisor, the timing of Social Security versus IRA withdrawa...

The Right Time to Retire

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom run through a Wall Street Journal list of “subtle signs it might be time to retire,” reacting to each one with their usual mix of disb...

The Right Time to Retire

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom run through a Wall Street Journal list of “subtle signs it might be time to retire,” reacting to each one with the...

Value of Wisdom

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode opens with a warning to younger investors who take TikTok advice over historical perspective, especially around claiming Social Security ...

Value of Wisdom

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode opens with a warning to younger investors who take TikTok advice over historical perspective, especially around claim...

Nefarious Non-Profit?

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom go deep on a shady “non-profit” financial education group that funnels retirees into high-commission indexed annuities, using a listen...

Nefarious Non-Profit?

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom go deep on a shady “non-profit” financial education group that funnels retirees into high-commission indexed annui...

Speak Your Qs

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A lively Friday Q&A episode tackling listener questions about FSAs vs. 401(k) contributions, BND vs. BKAG bond funds, intermediate-term bonds vs. CD l...

Speak Your Qs

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A lively Friday Q&A episode tackling listener questions about FSAs vs. 401(k) contributions, BND vs. BKAG bond funds, intermed...

Good Enough

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You and Tom spend this episode unpacking a surprisingly liberating idea for investors: that average is good enough. Kicking off with your own story ab...

Good Enough

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?You and Tom spend this episode unpacking a surprisingly liberating idea for investors: that average is good enough. Kicking off wi...

Simple Solutions

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom open with the investor mistakes Christine Benz highlighted in Morningstar: portfolio sprawl, concentration in the same large-cap tech name...

Simple Solutions

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom open with the investor mistakes Christine Benz highlighted in Morningstar: portfolio sprawl, concentration in the same...

No Absolutes

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You and Tom take on the myth of hard-and-fast financial rules by walking through Real Simple’s list of nine “rules you can break.” From the latt...

No Absolutes

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?You and Tom take on the myth of hard-and-fast financial rules by walking through Real Simple’s list of nine “rules you can bre...

Retirement Robbers

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A listener’s nightmare 401(k) story sparks a deep dive into how small employers can delay, misuse, or even lose employee retirement contributions be...

Retirement Robbers

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?A listener’s nightmare 401(k) story sparks a deep dive into how small employers can delay, misuse, or even lose employee retirem...

More Money Q&A

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don fields a full slate of listener questions on everything from SGOV vs. high-yield savings accounts to the differences between AVUV and DFSV, why in...

More Money Q&A

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don fields a full slate of listener questions on everything from SGOV vs. high-yield savings accounts to the differences between A...

Annuity Reality

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom question a surprising Wall Street Journal column arguing that annuities should become the default option in 401(k) plans. They explore why...

Annuity Reality

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom question a surprising Wall Street Journal column arguing that annuities should become the default option in 401(k) pla...

Z Good and Z Bad

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Don grade Gen Z investors from a recent Wall Street Journal article, discussing their portfolios, common mistakes like stock picking, active m...

Z Good and Z Bad

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Tom and Don grade Gen Z investors from a recent Wall Street Journal article, discussing their portfolios, common mistakes like sto...

Investing Is Dull

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom tackle investor “magical thinking,” especially the belief that private equity, non-traded REITs, and other illiquid “exclusive” in...

Investing Is Dull

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle investor “magical thinking,” especially the belief that private equity, non-traded REITs, and other illiqui...

Bring the Card

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom welcomes consumer advocate Herb Weisbaum (ConsumerMan) to talk through the rising headaches of modern travel and everyday scams. Herb shares a rec...

Bring the Card

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Tom welcomes consumer advocate Herb Weisbaum (ConsumerMan) to talk through the rising headaches of modern travel and everyday scam...

Another Q Show

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This Friday Q&A tackles a familiar voice: Bitcoin Bob tries again to make the case for crypto as protection against currency debasement. Don breaks do...