Talking Real Money - Investing Talk
Episodes
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...
Another Q Show
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This Friday Q&A tackles a familiar voice: Bitcoin Bob tries again to make the case for crypto as protection against currency d...
Leverage Dangers
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom take listeners on a wild ride through the booming (and frequently disastrous) world of leveraged ETFs. They break down how these funds pro...
Leverage Dangers
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom take listeners on a wild ride through the booming (and frequently disastrous) world of leveraged ETFs. They break down...
Most Investors Fail
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle the universal truths of investing — namely, that most investors underperform the market due to their own behavior. They discuss t...
Most Investors Fail
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle the universal truths of investing — namely, that most investors underperform the market due to their own beha...
Take More Risk?
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle the timeless question: why do you invest? They challenge the “TINA” mindset (“There Is No Alternative”) and dissect new res...
Take More Risk?
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle the timeless question: why do you invest? They challenge the “TINA” mindset (“There Is No Alternative”)...
Experts Need Experts
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom unpack why even smart, financially literate people sometimes need a financial advisor — prompted by Morningstar’s Christine Benz expla...
Experts Need Experts
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom unpack why even smart, financially literate people sometimes need a financial advisor — prompted by Morningstar’s ...
Halloween Qs
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don answers a range of listener questions covering topics from Fidelity’s fully paid lending program to the Roth 401(k) decision and mortgage payoff...
Halloween Qs
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don answers a range of listener questions covering topics from Fidelity’s fully paid lending program to the Roth 401(k) decision...
Financial Deja Vu?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom open with an honest reflection on market déjà vu—how today’s investing climate echoes the speculative excesses of 1929 and 2008. Cit...
Financial Deja Vu?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom open with an honest reflection on market déjà vu—how today’s investing climate echoes the speculative excesses o...
Financial Cockroaches
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom go after one of their favorite targets: bad actors in the financial industry—especially those who flee regulation by becoming insurance ...
Financial Cockroaches
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom go after one of their favorite targets: bad actors in the financial industry—especially those who flee regulation by...
Hard to Diversify
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle the timeless topic of diversification — why it’s back in style, why it’s so hard to maintain, and why most investors (and pro...
Hard to Diversify
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle the timeless topic of diversification — why it’s back in style, why it’s so hard to maintain, and why mos...
T&R Q&A
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Cock and Apella Wealth advisor Roxy Butner team up for a lively listener Q&A episode covering everything from the new wave of penny-stock IPOs to ...
T&R Q&A
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Tom Cock and Apella Wealth advisor Roxy Butner team up for a lively listener Q&A episode covering everything from the new wave...
Questions Abound
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle another full “Q Day,” answering listener questions on Roth fund selection, bond fund gimmicks, real estate returns, California’...
Questions Abound
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle another full “Q Day,” answering listener questions on Roth fund selection, bond fund gimmicks, real estate ...
Now or Later?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom revisit the Social Security debate after new Wall Street Journal and New York Times articles challenge long-standing advice to delay claim...
Now or Later?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom revisit the Social Security debate after new Wall Street Journal and New York Times articles challenge long-standing a...
Surprising Win
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom dive into common misconceptions about what’s really been the top-performing asset class over the past five years—spoiler: it’s not t...
Surprising Win
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dive into common misconceptions about what’s really been the top-performing asset class over the past five years—s...
Crypto's Crazy
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom kick off by joking about their “record-breaking” call drought before diving headlong into the week’s biggest speculative loser: cryp...
Crypto's Crazy
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom kick off by joking about their “record-breaking” call drought before diving headlong into the week’s biggest spe...
Protect Yourself
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle a mix of market mania and listener questions, skewering speculative fads like meme stocks, SPACs, private credit ETFs, and covered-...
Protect Yourself
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle a mix of market mania and listener questions, skewering speculative fads like meme stocks, SPACs, private credi...
Friday Means...
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don answers six listener questions covering CD ladders vs. bond funds, global diversification for young investors, allocation shifts for early retiree...
Friday Means...
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don answers six listener questions covering CD ladders vs. bond funds, global diversification for young investors, allocation shif...
Income Sources
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don swats a studio bug, then swats down the idea of dividend-driven retirement portfolios. Drawing on Jason Zweig’s interview with Richard Thaler, t...
Income Sources
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don swats a studio bug, then swats down the idea of dividend-driven retirement portfolios. Drawing on Jason Zweig’s interview wi...
Many Have Millions
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom open with banter about the weather, baseball playoffs, and studio quirks before diving into what it means to be a “millionaire” today ...
Many Have Millions
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom open with banter about the weather, baseball playoffs, and studio quirks before diving into what it means to be a “m...
Retiring Friends
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this playful and insightful episode, Don and Tom explore how the beloved Friends characters might fare financially if they were retiring today. Usi...
Retiring Friends
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this playful and insightful episode, Don and Tom explore how the beloved Friends characters might fare financially if they were...
Friday, Again?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this extended Friday Q&A episode, Don answers six listener-submitted questions covering a wide range of personal finance and investing topics. He k...
Friday, Again?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this extended Friday Q&A episode, Don answers six listener-submitted questions covering a wide range of personal finance an...
Nothing Wins
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom dive into a new Morningstar report showing that tactical allocation funds—those run by “smart” managers who actively shift investmen...
Nothing Wins
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dive into a new Morningstar report showing that tactical allocation funds—those run by “smart” managers who acti...
Fourth Turning?
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom kick off this episode with a satirical bang—mocking the apocalyptic tone of a MarketWatch article about the “Fourth Turning,” a cycl...
Fourth Turning?
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom kick off this episode with a satirical bang—mocking the apocalyptic tone of a MarketWatch article about the “Fourt...
Another Quarter Done
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The show kicks off with a sardonic take on turf wars between delivery drivers—yes, really—before diving into third-quarter market returns, investo...
Another Quarter Done
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?The show kicks off with a sardonic take on turf wars between delivery drivers—yes, really—before diving into third-quarter mar...
Just Questions (and Answers)
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A lively, unscripted listener Q&A episode with no set topic — just a flood of great questions. Don and Tom tackle everything from inheriting farmlan...
Just Questions (and Answers)
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?A lively, unscripted listener Q&A episode with no set topic — just a flood of great questions. Don and Tom tackle everything...
Copious Questions
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the longest Q&A episode yet, Don answers seven listener questions covering everything from concentrated stock windfalls and early retirement asset ...
Copious Questions
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In the longest Q&A episode yet, Don answers seven listener questions covering everything from concentrated stock windfalls and...
A Miracle Plan
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle Americans’ retirement fears, highlighting a survey where one in five say it would take “a miracle” to retire securely. They s...
A Miracle Plan
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle Americans’ retirement fears, highlighting a survey where one in five say it would take “a miracle” to ret...
Behavior Prompting
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle the creeping role of AI in financial advice—highlighting Vanguard’s new “nudges” on its platform—before pivoting into liv...
Behavior Prompting
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle the creeping role of AI in financial advice—highlighting Vanguard’s new “nudges” on its platform—befo...
Clements' Consistent Counsel
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom open with a tribute to financial writer Jonathan Clements, reflecting on his career and unique investing wisdom. They unpack five of his “...
Clements' Consistent Counsel
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom open with a tribute to financial writer Jonathan Clements, reflecting on his career and unique investing wisdom. They ...
ETF Showdown
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom tackle the “big three” global equity ETFs—Vanguard VT, Dimensional DFAW, and Avantis AVGE—breaking down their diversification, cos...
ETF Showdown
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom tackle the “big three” global equity ETFs—Vanguard VT, Dimensional DFAW, and Avantis AVGE—breaking down their ...
Questions and Critiques
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this Friday Q&A edition of Talking Real Money, Don tackles listener questions ranging from the dangers of options trading and critiques of Dave Ram...
Questions and Critiques
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this Friday Q&A edition of Talking Real Money, Don tackles listener questions ranging from the dangers of options trading a...
Gold vs. Reality
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode tackles gold mania in its latest surge, debunking its “safe haven” myth with historical returns and practical comparisons to stocks. ...
Gold vs. Reality
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This episode tackles gold mania in its latest surge, debunking its “safe haven” myth with historical returns and practical com...
Caller Danger
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A candid hour on consumer self-defense. We open with iOS 26’s unknown-caller screening and a New York Times crime reporter nearly duped by a “Chas...
Caller Danger
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?A candid hour on consumer self-defense. We open with iOS 26’s unknown-caller screening and a New York Times crime reporter nearl...
Invest or Drink?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Talking Real Money tackles myths about the Federal Reserve and interest rates, explains why mortgage and Treasury rates don’t auto...
Invest or Drink?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This episode of Talking Real Money tackles myths about the Federal Reserve and interest rates, explains why mortgage and Treasur...
House=Home
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
0:04 Why your home isn’t part of your investment portfolio 0:26 The myth of the American Dream and why owning may not make sense 1:33 A buyer’s ...
House=Home
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?0:04 Why your home isn’t part of your investment portfolio0:26 The myth of the American Dream and why owning may not make sense1...