Episodes

In this episode, Don randomly ends up with a host of similar questions: Is a tax-managed fund better than an ETF? Is the tax-advantage enough to justify using a real estate ETF in a taxable account? Should money be move out of an underperformingAvantis ETF? Would it be smart to move from target-date funds into better performing ETFS? What's the best place to park short-term money being used for home construction? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Co...

The "Baby Boom" generation continue to own a large percentage of their wealth in stocks. Are they taking too much risk or are they saavy investors? Then, listeners ask Tom and Don: Can couples get around the "wash sale rule" by trading in their seperate accounts? Should a portfolio's missing asset class be purchased slowly or all at once? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Passive income is paradoxical. While it sounds like getting something for nothing, it either requires a lot of work or money (which generally requires wealth to accumulate). Why do so many people chase after this impossible dream? Plus, you want to know: How should a $250,000 nest egg be invested? Should I ask my broker to help me invest in low-cost index funds and ETFs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

It's a lesson we constantly fail to learn: Avoid investing in your company's stock. Employees who believed their firm could not fail have lost billions of dollars. We compare the rate you can get on a Bank of America CD in the bank itself versus through a brokerage firm. The difference is shocking. Plus, how to make a CD ladder. Listeners stop by to ask: What should be done with an investment account with Securian? What do we think of FDIC-insured online banks? What should be done with a b...

A bull market seems to encourage us to watch our investment portfolios more closely, which can lead to bad, emotionally-driven decisions. Why do we rush into the hot stocks? Plus, an example of studying an advisor's form ADV, Part 2. Listeners want to know: What kind of impact would moving investments have on average annual returns? Is paying bills from a checking account or with a credit card better? What do we think of Vanguard's new $ 25-a-month fee per mutual fund or brokerage account? L...

In this week's Q&A episode: Is it true you can live off of capital gains tax-free? How should young adults' Roth IRAs be invested? What do we think of the cash product from MassMutual's "Flourish" program? Does monthly rebalancing make sense? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

As we approach retirement, several things cause concern, but what do retirees worry about most? Discover how to reduce concerns about running out of money before running out of life. Then, we hear from listeners: Sharing a trick to own the market without using ETFs or funds. Is Morningstar a good source to research funds recommended by my LPL advisor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Do you need a robo advisor to help you create a fixed-income portfolio? Can they make you more money while also charging you more? We compare a robo advisor bond buying service to cheap bond ETFs. Plus, we take listeners' questions: Will returns rise if you never rebalance your portfolio? A salesperson suggests moving an old 403b to his Roth IRA. Should I ask if he's a fiduciary? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Dave Ramsey received $30 million to promote a deceptive timeshare seller and now faces a huge lawsuit. Much of the financial advice in the media is bought and paid for, leaving you to wonder whose advice to trust. Then a listener: Shares his Tesla excitement, and we explain our concerns about owning Tesla or any other individual stock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Look at that. Despite all of the "economic uncertainty," the longest bear market since 1948 has officially ended. How many stocks were responsible for the return of the bull? What does that mean for your portfolio and future? We also talk about small side hustles and the changes and troubles at Vanguard. Then listeners ask: How can an investor in a Fidelity retirement plan invest in international small-cap value stocks? What can be done with an old annuity that is slow to pay out assets to ...

Don fields your comments and questions: Praise for Vanguard's customer service. Taking us to task over life insurance advice. How to invest when Roth ineligible? What would happen if Apple failed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Most Americans invest primarily in US stocks. The same holds true for other countries. How has that worked out for, say, the Japanese. With the help of a recent Morningstar study, we make the case for global portfolios. Listeners want to know: If it makes sense for a child to skip collge and go directly to a trade? Is it okay to invest in Avantis ETFs like AVGE? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

"Investors" – and we use that term a loosely as possible – are pouring money into anything that seems even remotely connect to AI (artificial intelligence). The end result is not likely to be pretty. Listeners want to know: What do we think of the Oxford Club's 200+% return bond trading strategy? Why own international stocks when the US has done so well? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Another fearful event passes and will soon be forgotten. The debt deiling "crisis" is over. What's next? We discuss why we panic financially and how we can make market movement less painful by controlling emotions. What is happening in the Asian markets and should you be concerned? How much had non-fiduciary advice costing investors? Listeners ask: What do we think of a Vanguard advisor's portfolio recommendations? What should be done with some excess cash? Bonds or annuities? Should a hod...

It's Friday! That means Don is answering a few more of your questions: What should be done with some old, expensive funds in a Roth? Does a pre-tax retirement contribution reduce Social Security earnings penalties? Does it make sense to use RMDs to make charitable contributions? Is an expensive, actively managed small-cap value fund better, and do target-date funds have hidden fees? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

In the past, talking about money has been considered taboo. It's time to start talking with your family about this critical topic that effects both your future and theirs. Then, listeners want to know: Do we agree with Paul Merriman's equally divided 10-fund portfolio? How should an HSA be invested and in how many funds? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

We hate listening to our elders, but often their experiences can make your life better. We share some of those retirement investing mistakes. An almost record number of listeners ask: How is my Vanguard international fund up almost 100%? Does Fidelity or Schwab offer a globally-diversified total market index fund? Will old baby boomers selling stock in retirement destroy the stock market? Is there a place to find forgotten company retirement plans? What do we think of the Washington state c...

Many people believe that higher interest on safe bank instruments makes this a good time to get out of the stock market for a while. The market habitually makes fools of those who think they are smarter than the market. We also discuss the foolishness of paying high commissions to that friend in the business. Don rips into a "radio host" who claims to be honest and sell indexed annuities. Then, we discuss the annoying proliferation of tipping screens at businesses. We hear from listeners: How t...

In this episode: What is a P/E ratio, and why are some so much lower than "the market's?" Which is better for future taxation, pre-tax accounts or Roths? With some parental seed money, how much could be in a retirement account in 40 years? Does it make sense to borrow for a big purchase or pay cash? What can be done with mediocre, high-commission investments in a non-profit's endowment? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

As the United States approaches its credit limit what might that do to the investnent markets? We pose that question to Wes Crill, Senior Investment Director and Vice-President at Dimensional Funds. We also discuss active versus passive investing, the value of scademic evidence, the effectiveneed of market times, and the advantages of funds or ETFs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Real estate speculators discover that leverage can cut both ways. Plus, we discuss the real estate gurus and the more likely source of their wealth. Listeners wonder: What do we think of artificial intelligence? How much small cap is appropriate for a portfolio? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Why does the myth that real estate and gold are better investments than equities still persist? We show you the real numbers. Where can you get the best CD rates? Plus, we are innundated with your questions: What should be done with the profits from a home sale? What do the regular stock market reports mean? With ETFs and funds are there crappy ones and good ones? What would our firm do with a client who needed an insurance product? What do we think of a particular bank and cash investing, ...

Heck, they're not even industrials anymore. The Dow is an obsolete measure of the stock markets movement. It should have been replaced by the total market index decades ago. What is "the Dow" and what's wrong with it. Plus, investing should alwayd be based on common sense. Listeners ask: After discovering how much was being paid for funds through a broker, is there any reason to keep the expensive funds? How can a participant figure out how much is being paid for the plan? Does cash-value ...

Another day of Q&A featuring calls about: The wisdom of paying off a mortgage early? Our opinion of Paul Merriman's flexible withdrawal strategy? Would AVGE be better than VT? Taking Social Security early to save funds for a child's inheritance? Firing advisor and moving into active funds as opposed to other balanced funds? Taking a pension now or waiting? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!