Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Ep. 2021: Enough to Retire?

A sharp market drop can rattle investors, but Don and Tom explain why global diversification and a portfolio matched to your real risk capacity matter more than reacting

Ep. 2020: When the Meme Stock Took Off

When GameStop took off, Dimensional sold as the stock moved outside its small-value rules. Don McDonald and Tom Cock revisit the meme-stock frenzy and explain how factor

Ep. 2019: The Easy Money Trap

Merchant cash advances promise quick relief for a business in trouble—but the convenience can hide brutal costs and daily withdrawals that make a cash-flow crisis worse.

Ep. 2018: All Gas, No Brakes

A provocative academic study says retirees should hold 100% stocks—an all-gas, no-brakes strategy that looks great in a spreadsheet. Don and Tom explain why higher expect

Ep. 2017: The Eggs-in-One-Basket Conundrum

Three famous companies in three different industries can still add up to a total loss. Don and Tom revisit Rule 17 from Financial Physics: diversification means much more

Ep. 2016: Five Questions, Clearer Choices

Five listener questions take Don from retirement income to a young investor’s first $100 a month. When does an immediate annuity make sense? What changes—and what doesn’t

Ep. 2015: The Smart Money Myth

Harvard, Yale, and other elite endowments hire armies of experts and pour billions into private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, and real estate—yet simple public-ma

Ep. 2014: The Inflation You Feel

Your grocery bill, insurance premium, and home maintenance costs can tell a very different story from the headline inflation rate. Don and Tom explore why rising prices h

Ep. 2013: Betting Against Your Future

A $50 sports bet can cost more than the money you lose today. Don and Tom explore why treating gambling as an investment can put decades of potential growth at risk—and w

Ep. 2012: The Price of Free

Financial products rarely come with a zero price tag—even when the salesperson insists that “the company pays.” Don and Tom unpack Rule 16 of Financial Physics, expose th

Ep. 2011: Four Questions Before Halloween

On Halloween Eve, Don takes four listener questions about starting young, retiring early, managing risk, and making the most of Social Security. The costumes may be spook

Ep. 2010: The Market Timing Mirage

Market timing always looks easy in hindsight: just miss the 30 worst days. The catch is that the market’s best and worst days cluster together, so getting out means riski

Ep. 2009: Finding Your Fiduciary

Finding an advisor means looking beyond the word “fiduciary.” Don and Tom explore what it takes to find someone who puts your interests first all the time, why experience

Ep. 2008: The Bond Tango

Rising interest rates can make bond prices fall—and still be good news for savers. Don and Tom explain the bond-price mechanics, why higher yields matter, and why bonds b

Ep. 2007: Follow the Money

Financial Physics Rule 15 says to follow the money. Don and Tom explain why an advisor's compensation still matters, how commissions and fee-based arrangements can m

Ep. 2006: Five Questions, No Magic Answers

Don takes five listener questions with no magic tricks required: how simple a young investor’s Roth IRA can be, whether socialist economies have stock markets, and what r

Ep. 2005: The Habanero Portfolio

A little hot pepper can improve a meal. Eating the whole habanero is another experience entirely. Can the same be said for your portfolio? Don and Tom explore why small-c

Ep. 2004: The Annuity Rules Keep Changing

Indexed annuities promise market-like gains without market losses—but Don and Tom explain how commissions, surrender charges, spreads, participation rates, and even chang

Ep. 2003: Seven Styles, One Portfolio

Don and Tom dismantle the idea that investors need to choose one narrow “style.” Growth, value, small companies, momentum, and passive investing are ingredients—not compe

Ep. 2002: The Buggy Whip Theory

The “Buggy Whip Theory” is a reminder that even when investors correctly see the future coming, they rarely know which company—or which part of a new industry—will actual