Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

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...

More Qs Needed

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don laments the shortage of voice-submitted questions for the Friday Q&A shows and urges listeners to speak their questions into their phones or compu...

More Qs Needed

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don laments the shortage of voice-submitted questions for the Friday Q&A shows and urges listeners to speak their questions in...

Are You Really Broke?

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode explores Americans’ financial well-being in 2025, using a Yahoo Finance/Marist survey as the springboard. Don and Tom discuss how their...

Are You Really Broke?

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode explores Americans’ financial well-being in 2025, using a Yahoo Finance/Marist survey as the springboard. Don and T...

It IS Gambling

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don goes solo this week and covers the wild state of “investing” in 2025 — including single-stock ETFs, leveraged funds, and zero-day options th...

It IS Gambling

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don goes solo this week and covers the wild state of “investing” in 2025 — including single-stock ETFs, leveraged funds, and...

AI Advice

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week Don hosts solo and brings in “Cath GPT” (ChatGPT) as a "live" guest to explore the rise of AI in personal finance. They cover what types...

AI Advice

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This week Don hosts solo and brings in “Cath GPT” (ChatGPT) as a "live" guest to explore the rise of AI in personal ...

Dizzying Heights?

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom take listeners on a “mountaintop” look at today’s frothy markets, exploring elevated valuations, retail trading spikes, and record m...

Dizzying Heights?

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom take listeners on a “mountaintop” look at today’s frothy markets, exploring elevated valuations, retail trading ...

A Few Good Qs

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don answers listener questions on funding a taxable brokerage account, clarifies what “more buyers than sellers” really means, explains why fixed ...

A Few Good Qs

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don answers listener questions on funding a taxable brokerage account, clarifies what “more buyers than sellers” really means,...

Opportunities Overseas

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom dig into international investing — why diversification across borders is essential, why timing international markets is a mistake, and h...

Opportunities Overseas

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dig into international investing — why diversification across borders is essential, why timing international markets...

Why So Mean?

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Don and Tom dig into the podcast rankings to explain why Talking Real Money isn’t at the top—and why Dave Ramsey still is, despit...

Why So Mean?

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?In this episode, Don and Tom dig into the podcast rankings to explain why Talking Real Money isn’t at the top—and why Dave Ram...

Too Great Expectations

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom break down the overhyped expectations around recent market returns, referencing Jason Zweig’s analysis of 230 years of stock market data...

Too Great Expectations

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom break down the overhyped expectations around recent market returns, referencing Jason Zweig’s analysis of 230 years ...

Extended Child Care

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom dive into the emotional, financial, and practical realities of supporting adult children. From layoffs to loans, down payments to dog surp...

Extended Child Care

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dive into the emotional, financial, and practical realities of supporting adult children. From layoffs to loans, down ...

Ready for a Few As

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this Friday Q&A edition, Don fields listener questions on rolling over a large 401(k) after a layoff, whether IRA money should ever be used to buy ...

Ready for a Few As

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?In this Friday Q&A edition, Don fields listener questions on rolling over a large 401(k) after a layoff, whether IRA money sho...

Passive Bubble?

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom dismantle the “passive bubble” trope, walk through Morningstar’s active/passive scorecard (great one-year anecdotes vs brutal long-r...

Passive Bubble?

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dismantle the “passive bubble” trope, walk through Morningstar’s active/passive scorecard (great one-year anecdo...

September Nonsense

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don and Tom mark Labor Day weekend with a lively discussion of the so-called September Effect—Wall Street’s superstition about historically negati...

September Nonsense

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom mark Labor Day weekend with a lively discussion of the so-called September Effect—Wall Street’s superstition about...

Q&A&B(onds)

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom kicks off with a check-in on bond market returns, reminding listeners that bonds are about stability, not yield-chasing. He’s joined by advisor ...

Q&A&B(onds)

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Tom kicks off with a check-in on bond market returns, reminding listeners that bonds are about stability, not yield-chasing. He’...

Query Day

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don fields listener questions from Asheville in this Friday Q&A edition. Topics include calculating investment returns with XIRR versus simple time-we...

Query Day

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?Don fields listener questions from Asheville in this Friday Q&A edition. Topics include calculating investment returns with XI...

Looking Back

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Talking Real Money digs into recency bias—our human tendency to expect the future to look like the recent past—and how it’s quie...

Looking Back

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions? Comments?This episode of Talking Real Money digs into recency bias—our human tendency to expect the future to look like the recent past—...

Illiquid Alternatives

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Cock takes the reins while Don visits family, leading a live call-in show that covers liquidity risks in private investments and university endowm...