Consider the Source
How can a fixed annuity afford to pay more than 3% per year for five years and still be considered "safe?"
Oct 13, 2020•2 min•Ep. 83
Talking Real Money Minute - Investing Advice and Money Musings
Looking for real investing advice and a fresh financial perspective, but don't have time for a full podcast. Spend a minute (okay, 90 seconds) with 30-year financial talk show host, Don McDonald. Learn how to build the wealth you need for a brighter future based on solid science, not hunches.
Episodes
Past Tense Market
The markets aren't ever doing something. They have already done it.
Oct 09, 2020•2 min•Ep. 82
Impoverished in Retirement
The Covid crisis has put the retirement millions of Americans at risk at the worst possible time. What can you do to prepare for the worst?
Oct 06, 2020•2 min•Ep. 81
Elections and Stocks
We have enough to worry about without being concerned about the election's impact on our investments.
Oct 05, 2020•2 min•Ep. 80
Seven Investing Rules
Investing isn't complicated. Just follow Don's seven simple rules to investing success without stress.
Oct 02, 2020•2 min•Ep. 79
Trader Theft
Another major Wall Street brokerage firm gets caught illegally manipulating markets. This time they even admitted it. Another lesson on the impotence of the average investor.
Sep 30, 2020•2 min•Ep. 78
Active Keeps Failing
The latest SPIVA Scorcard is out and it shows what it always has. Active utual fund managers fail to beat the market by huge margins. So, why do we keep trying to pick winners?
Sep 29, 2020•2 min•Ep. 77
Easy Financial Protection
Where there is money there will be bad advice or outright fraud. Take a small step to protect yourself by vetting your financial "advisor" at: investor.gov and brokercheck.com Look for "disclosures" in the records avoid those who have misled clients in the past.
Sep 22, 2020•2 min•Ep. 76
Stop Cold Calling
The financial industry is changing and the old brokerage forms need to stop interrupting us at work or during dinner. Who will be the first to publicly eliminate cold calling?
Sep 18, 2020•2 min•Ep. 75
Ignore These "Top" RIAs
Focusing more on size, Barron's 2020 Top RIA list fails to find fee-only 100% fiduciary advisors.
Sep 17, 2020•2 min•Ep. 74
Find Out Fees
About half of all financial advisors charge more than 1% per year. Here are some questions to help you find the right advisor at the best price.
Sep 11, 2020•2 min•Ep. 73
It's Different This Time
There will always be surprises that cause us to worry about the financial future. Yet, time and time again, we have overcome disasters and stock values rise again.
Sep 10, 2020•2 min•Ep. 72
Is Crypto Currency?
One of the most important traits of a currency is stability. No one wants their currency to fluctuate wildly from day to day, yet that's just what crypto "currencies" have done.
Sep 08, 2020•2 min•Ep. 71
Gold Bugs Back
You need to understand one simple fact: Gold is not and never will be an investment. It fluctuates, yet over time has made nothing. So, any money you put in gold is a "bet" that it will rise. That is gambling.
Sep 03, 2020•2 min•Ep. 70
Annuity Exit Issues
For most annuities are best avoided. If you already have one, be wary of those who are trying to get you out.
Sep 02, 2020•2 min•Ep. 69
A Different 529 Isn't Better
Active management. Commissions. High fees. With so many inexpensive 529 education plans is there any need for Scholar's Choice from Legg Mason?
Sep 01, 2020•2 min•Ep. 68
But He Was So Nice...
Another group of investors falls prey to a smooth talking salesman who promised more than anyone can ever deliver.
Aug 28, 2020•2 min•Ep. 67
Fees, Returns, and Risk
High fees can reduce already small returns to less than nothing.
Aug 25, 2020•2 min•Ep. 66
The Right Time to Bail
How will know if Tesla to too high? There's a better way to own hot stocks with less fear: Diversify!
Aug 24, 2020•2 min•Ep. 65
Don't Be the Last One In
Twenty years ago the NASDAQ (remenber the "QQQ"?) was all the rage. Then it fizzed for fourteen years. Is history about to repeat itself?
Aug 21, 2020•2 min•Ep. 64
Stock Market Clueless
Many believe that the stock market is supposed to reflect the current state of the economy.
Aug 19, 2020•2 min•Ep. 63
Brokers Being Bad
Don shares just a few sad headlines from a recent newsletter about financial advisors. No wonder people don't trust brokers.
Aug 14, 2020•2 min•Ep. 62
Panicking Doesn't Pay
Vanguard studied the results for those investors who panicked and caseh out of stocks in March.
Aug 13, 2020•2 min•Ep. 61
Where's My Check?
Still don't have your government stimulus check? Don shares a couple of ways to get help.
Aug 11, 2020•2 min•Ep. 60
A Kodak Trading Moment
After a news report, Kodak's stock went on a wild and crazy ride that made a few people richer and many more poorer.
Aug 10, 2020•2 min•Ep. 59
More Respectable Gambling?
Isn't it time to be honest with yourself. Betting on stocks is gambling, not investing.
Aug 06, 2020•2 min•Ep. 58
I'll Need How Much?
Determining how much money you'll need in retirement can be tricky. It's not an exact science. However, the longer you wait to invest the harder it will be to save enough.
Aug 05, 2020•2 min•Ep. 57
Virtual Steak Dinners
...brokers can now bring the sales dinner to you.
Aug 04, 2020•2 min•Ep. 56
Deciphering Dollar's Dive
Don explores a few of the effects that a cheaper dollar might have on you and your investments.
Aug 03, 2020•2 min•Ep. 55
Gold Can't Grow
Gold is not, and never will be, an investment. Yes, it's price does fluctuate, but it pays no dividends, can't get larger, and there are no magical fowl laying eggs of gold.
Jul 31, 2020•2 min•Ep. 54