Talking Real Money - Investing Talk
Episodes
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...
Illiquid Alternatives
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Tom Cock takes the reins while Don visits family, leading a live call-in show that covers liquidity risks in private investments a...
Making Life Better
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Cock hosts this week’s Talking Real Money solo while Don visits his mom. He reflects on Appella Wealth’s annual client event, where clients ta...
Making Life Better
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Tom Cock hosts this week’s Talking Real Money solo while Don visits his mom. He reflects on Appella Wealth’s annual client eve...
Should Have Yielded
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom revisit their long-standing skepticism of Yieldstreet after CNBC’s investigation reveals major investor losses. They highlight how promi...
Should Have Yielded
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom revisit their long-standing skepticism of Yieldstreet after CNBC’s investigation reveals major investor losses. They...
Busy Day of Q&A
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This question heavy episode of Talking Real Money dives into six listener questions ranging from umbrella insurance and portfolio rebalancing to sma...
Busy Day of Q&A
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This question heavy episode of Talking Real Money dives into six listener questions ranging from umbrella insurance and portfoli...
Still Rising
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why has the stock market been so persistently resilient despite crises like COVID, wars, and inflation? Don and Tom explore whether the current genera...
Still Rising
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Why has the stock market been so persistently resilient despite crises like COVID, wars, and inflation? Don and Tom explore whethe...
Mind the Gap
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom explore why real-life investors consistently underperform the market—thanks to emotional decisions, frequent trading, and flashy sector ...
Mind the Gap
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom explore why real-life investors consistently underperform the market—thanks to emotional decisions, frequent trading...
Investing Trivia Time
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This lively episode of Talking Real Money features trivia-packed investing fun, smart listener questions, and sharp commentary from Don and Tom. They ...
Investing Trivia Time
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This lively episode of Talking Real Money features trivia-packed investing fun, smart listener questions, and sharp commentary fro...
Social Insecurity?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Don and Tom confront the emotionally charged—and often financially tragic—decision to claim Social Security early. They debunk th...
Social Insecurity?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this episode, Don and Tom confront the emotionally charged—and often financially tragic—decision to claim Social Security e...
More Money Answers
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listener Q&A covering early retirement feasibility, VT vs. SPGM ETF comparison, tax-efficient liquidation of a legacy mutual fund, recommended financi...
More Money Answers
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Listener Q&A covering early retirement feasibility, VT vs. SPGM ETF comparison, tax-efficient liquidation of a legacy mutual f...
Pecuniary Presidents
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Cock interviews Megan Gorman, author of All the President’s Money, exploring how U.S. presidents have handled their personal finances and the le...
Pecuniary Presidents
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Tom Cock interviews Megan Gorman, author of All the President’s Money, exploring how U.S. presidents have handled their personal...
Bad to Worse
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom rip apart a sponsored “news” piece from the Puget Sound Business Journal pushing a company called FISYN, which promises to buy investo...
Bad to Worse
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom rip apart a sponsored “news” piece from the Puget Sound Business Journal pushing a company called FISYN, which pro...
Barron’s Bond Blunder
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s show exposes how Barron’s ran an undisclosed advertorial from a high-fee bond fund manager pushing junk-heavy, risky products while trashi...
Barron’s Bond Blunder
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Today’s show exposes how Barron’s ran an undisclosed advertorial from a high-fee bond fund manager pushing junk-heavy, risky p...
Avoid Complexity
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don opens with a rant about Wall Street’s love of unnecessary complexity, focusing on “structured equity products” and other layered investments...
Avoid Complexity
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don opens with a rant about Wall Street’s love of unnecessary complexity, focusing on “structured equity products” and other...
Your Q, Don's A
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this Friday Q&A edition, Don tackles five listener questions spanning kids’ UTMAs vs. 529 plans, Roth vs. pre-tax 403(b) contributions, filling p...
Your Q, Don's A
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this Friday Q&A edition, Don tackles five listener questions spanning kids’ UTMAs vs. 529 plans, Roth vs. pre-tax 403(b) ...
The End... Again?
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom dive headfirst into the wild world of bad financial predictions—specifically, the apocalyptic ramblings of Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robe...
The End... Again?
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dive headfirst into the wild world of bad financial predictions—specifically, the apocalyptic ramblings of Rich Dad ...
Millions of Millionaires
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This Talking Real Money episode dives into America’s millionaire boom—1,000 a day—and what it really takes to join the club. Don and Tom discuss...
Millions of Millionaires
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?This Talking Real Money episode dives into America’s millionaire boom—1,000 a day—and what it really takes to join the club....
What Drives Markets?
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom open the show with a lighthearted reminder that money doesn’t sleep—so neither do they. They dive into a New York Times article featur...
What Drives Markets?
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom open the show with a lighthearted reminder that money doesn’t sleep—so neither do they. They dive into a New York ...
Just Invest!
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Don and Tom tackle investor emotion during market highs and use a Schwab-inspired scenario to show how discipline beats market timing...
Just Invest!
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this episode, Don and Tom tackle investor emotion during market highs and use a Schwab-inspired scenario to show how discipline...
Saving Investors
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Don out, Tom Cock and advisor Roxy Butner tackle the increasingly hot question: should you trust a human or a machine with your money? They dig i...
Saving Investors
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?With Don out, Tom Cock and advisor Roxy Butner tackle the increasingly hot question: should you trust a human or a machine with yo...
Unrealistic Expectations
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom take a reality sledgehammer to investors’ wildly inflated expectations for stock market returns. A new survey shows average Americans ex...
Unrealistic Expectations
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom take a reality sledgehammer to investors’ wildly inflated expectations for stock market returns. A new survey shows ...
The End of ETFs?
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom dive into the latest crypto chaos, pushing back against Ric Edelman’s bold prediction that ETFs w...
The End of ETFs?
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom dive into the latest crypto chaos, pushing back against Ric Edelman’s bold pr...
Why So High?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite lousy headlines—tariffs, weak earnings, flat revenues—the market keeps climbing. Don and Tom explain why trying to guess the “why” beh...
Why So High?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Despite lousy headlines—tariffs, weak earnings, flat revenues—the market keeps climbing. Don and Tom explain why trying to gue...
Can't Stop Progress
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don takes a fiscal detour into the world of AI, introducing his ChatGPT co-host “Cath” in a strikingly lifelike discussion about the future of job...
Can't Stop Progress
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don takes a fiscal detour into the world of AI, introducing his ChatGPT co-host “Cath” in a strikingly lifelike discussion abo...
Question Day!
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don flies solo for another Question-and-Answer Friday (not Freaky Friday… despite Hollywood’s best efforts). Listener questions cover everything f...
Question Day!
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don flies solo for another Question-and-Answer Friday (not Freaky Friday… despite Hollywood’s best efforts). Listener question...
The Value of Rethinking
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom explore the value of changing your mind in the face of new data—financial and otherwise. Sparked by Christine Benz’s recent Morningsta...
The Value of Rethinking
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom explore the value of changing your mind in the face of new data—financial and otherwise. Sparked by Christine Benz’...
60/40: Down, Not Out
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom defend the long-maligned 60/40 portfolio, diving into a 150-year Morningstar study that reveals its lower volatility and emotional surviva...
60/40: Down, Not Out
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom defend the long-maligned 60/40 portfolio, diving into a 150-year Morningstar study that reveals its lower volatility a...
Small Stocks, Big Upside
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom highlight what may be today’s biggest stock market bargain: small-cap value stocks, which have drastically underperformed large-cap grow...
Small Stocks, Big Upside
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom highlight what may be today’s biggest stock market bargain: small-cap value stocks, which have drastically underperf...
Big and Beautiful?
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom dive into the new “big, beautiful” tax bill with humor and skepticism, covering changes to Social Security taxation, tips and overtime...
Big and Beautiful?
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dive into the new “big, beautiful” tax bill with humor and skepticism, covering changes to Social Security taxatio...
Suze Q and A
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don answers a handful of listener questions, offering sharp, practical insight on investing myths, flexible retirement withdrawals, taxable brokerage ...
Suze Q and A
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don answers a handful of listener questions, offering sharp, practical insight on investing myths, flexible retirement withdrawals...
ETF Madness
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom dive into the wild world of “speculative” ETFs inspired by Jason Zweig’s WSJ piece, mocking the absurdity of funds like the Icelandi...
ETF Madness
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom dive into the wild world of “speculative” ETFs inspired by Jason Zweig’s WSJ piece, mocking the absurdity of fun...
Melt-Up or Melt-Down?
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don and Tom take on the ever-persistent phrase “This time it’s different,” as Bloomberg and NYT articles suggest AI, financial fragmentation, an...
Melt-Up or Melt-Down?
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don and Tom take on the ever-persistent phrase “This time it’s different,” as Bloomberg and NYT articles suggest AI, financi...
Income Generation
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom returns from his surprise Canadian adventure and the duo dive into the age-old retirement question: How do I get my money out? They break down the...
Income Generation
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Tom returns from his surprise Canadian adventure and the duo dive into the age-old retirement question: How do I get my money out?...
Big Q&A DAY
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don tackles six listener questions in a rare full-stack Q&A Friday. He breaks down a shady universal life insurance pitch, dismantles the myth of “s...
Big Q&A DAY
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don tackles six listener questions in a rare full-stack Q&A Friday. He breaks down a shady universal life insurance pitch, dis...
Vanguard's Advisor Alpha
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don is joined by Mike DeJoseph from Vanguard to unpack the meaning and real-world impact of Advisor’s Alpha—Vanguard’s research showing how goo...
Vanguard's Advisor Alpha
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Questions? Comments?Don is joined by Mike DeJoseph from Vanguard to unpack the meaning and real-world impact of Advisor’s Alpha—Vanguard’s rese...