Episodes

With baby boomers nearing the end of their time on earth, a huge wealth transfer is in the offing. What would you do with a big inheritance of guess? Plus, are CFPs always acting as fiduciaries? Then, it's question time: How do we avoid bad companies in our client's portfolios? Does it make sense to move from a target-date fund to a total market index? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don are joined by a rare guest, Phil McInnis, Chief Investment Strategist at Avantis Funds. This episode covers the difference between truly active fund management and rules-based stock selection, how ETFs differ from mutual funds, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

A major new study found that investors care more about fee transparency than the return from their investments. It turns out that investors want the truth from their financial advisors. Yet, the financial industry continues to lie and obfuscate. Then, after Tom suffers a technical breakdown, Don takes calls: Is there a way to set up a 401k transfer before leaving a firm? How can misplaced IRA funds be recovered? Where are all the jobs? Thanks for a great show. Would the total market or a sm...

Yet another study shows that dart-throwing monkeys (a metaphor for randomness) picked better investments than did professional human stock pickers. Plus, humans cost more. Another study shows that only a few stocks account for the bulk of the market's returns. Then, we hear from a few of you: How much do dual-registered advisors actually charge? Does it make sense to pay off a very low-interest mortgage? How much should be invested in an international ETF? Why do so few investors use indexed...

This is a particularly good Friday question and answer session: When should a portfolio be rebalanced? What is the difference between VT and VTWAX? Her CFP uses Pershing. Are they okay? Where should a small child's UTMA be invested? Where should emergcy money be invested for safety? How to we feel about Rick Ferri saying that small cap value investing has failed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

Another experts predicts the financial futute with absolute certainty, despite the FACT that the future can't be known. Plus, we agree with Bill Gross for the first time. Then, we hear from listeners: Is there a need for an internation fund other than the I Fund in the Thrift Savings Plan? Can taxes be avoided by moving from the Vanguard S&P 500 mutual fund to their S&P 500 ETF? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Is it the 4% rule? Should you take less in bad times and more in good times? How do you know how much income can you take from your investments in retirement? Listeners ask: What kinds of investments should a young investor have in a retirement account? Are personalized portfolios better than target dates funds? Should an investor be concerned about California bonds in a muni fund? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Should you be concerned about the money you have in the bank? Listeners wonder: What would have happened if you invested at the highest point of stock market every year? What is the best way to buy gold? Should investors consider investing in high yileding structured notes? Do Schwab intelligent portfolios make sense? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

It is estimated that the UK spent about $100 million to crown King Charles III. What else could you get for that much money? We also discuss the huge amount of money taken out of the market lately and why we need to stop playing the markets. Then our listeners ask: How much is needed to retire comfortably? How do we feel about "direct indexing?" How can Roth funds be used for emergencies? Does a Texas gold-backed debit card make sense or serve any purpose? Learn more about your ad choices. ...

Just another Q&A Friday, Cinco de Mayo. Today Don tackles: Should the funds be inside both a regular and Roth IRA? Should siblings' contributions to mother's care be tracked, and what might happen if they help mom? Does the rate on I-Bonds remain the same for their entire term? Is it okay to go ahead and fund a backdoor IRA early in the year? Do the ERISA protections make keeping an old employer's 401k? From which accounts should college money be withdrawn first? Learn more about ...

Do investors need a great money manager like Warren Buffett? Then, we ask: Is he really that good, and are his best days behind him? Two listeners ask us different questions about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Then, we veer way off topic as we talk about visiting Omaha, Nebraska, and its top attractions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

They can't quote high returns and claim low risk if it's not true, right? It may be wrong, but purveyors of investment products have been doing it for centuries. There will always be people who promise big profits and toss out truly unbelievable risk claims, and there is only one person you can count on to protect you: YOU! Plus, a listener asks: What does this portfolio need for better diversification? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

In this episode, we continue where we left off in the previous show, sharing various reasons why you might not be ready to retire. We also hear from listeners who: Want to know what to do with undeeded IRA RMDs? Warn about the hazards of not paying estimated taxes on a big capital gain. Shares how he converted an Edward Jones account into a fee-only service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Today and tomorrow, we look at several reasons you might not be ready to retire. Plus, listeners want to know: Is there a deadline during the day for canceling a mutual fund trade? Are we heading for economic trouble? How much of an annuity will need to be withdrawn for RMD? How bad is my financial situation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Don is back, taking on your questions with his answers. Here's what today's episode brings: What is Phoenix Capital, and how can they offer 9-12% yields? How much of BND is in long-term bonds? How should a portfolio be rebalanced to add a REIT fund? Should a bonus go into a 401k and does it make sense to convert to a Roth? Should old 401ks be moved into a new John Hancock managed 401k plan? Plus, a bit of additional information about crypto creation. Learn more about your ad choices. ...

With rates all over the place, many are trying to play the fixed-income market. Tom and Don explore the purpose of fixed income in a portfolio and disciplined strategies for investors. Plus, they discuss a new, strange NFT offering. Listers want to know: What do we think of Paul Merriman's target date and small-cap fund strategy? Does it make sense to test the five biggest brokers by giving each a whopping $1,000 to invest? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Quest...

What if you invested in the S&P 500 decades ago and did absolutely nothing? The answer is shocking. Plus, a special segment featuring a "Last Week Tonight" piece on the forecasting abilities of Jim Cramer. We hear from listeners: What is our opinion of Mint and Nerdwallet and are they safe? Is another firm with a financial podcast worth considering? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Tom and Don explore another goofy investing advice article (as if something has actually changed). Our listeners ask us: How should assets be consolidated for upcoming retirement? What should be done to create a backdoor IRA with an excess contribution? Which Vanguard fund should replace an American Funds tax-free fund? How safe is Schwab as an investment advisory firm's custodian? What should be done with an old employer's 401k? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Does owning a home make financial sense anymore? Could it be wiser to rent and invest instead? Plus, Tom takes calls about: The effect of joint tenancy on estate taxes. The tax advantage of ETFs over mutual funds. Should a cash account be moved into qualified dividend stocks? Does it make sense to invest in a high-yielding real estate trust? Are there any decent money newsletters? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

An extra large helping of listener questions today: A young investor seeks our portfolio blessing. Does a Merriman-suggested ETF make sense to own? Should he keep shoveling money into savings? Do RMDs impact Social Security taxation? In which types of accounts should various assets be located? Is this a strategy to avoid backdoor IRA taxes? Don is called on to settle a couple's dispute about annuities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? C...

Despite its recent run-up, gold remains a terrible investment. In fact, by our definition, it isn't even an investment as it cannot become more valuable on its own. Then we hear from some of you, wondering: Why do we suggest AVUV when it's an "active" ETF? If an individual fixed-income investor can beat a bond fund or ETF? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesQuestions? Comments? Click!

How soon we forget. After years of low to non-existent interest rates on fixed-income securities, suddenly, everyone wants to invest in bonds or CDs. Did the equity markets take that big a beating, and will they return less moving forward? Then we hear from listeners: Does it make sense to move money from a Vanguard S&P 500 fine to the identical ETF? Should a bond fund be added to a diversified equity portfolio at work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions...

Can someone who provides investment advice be just a little bit fiduciary? What is wrong with investment advisors also being commissioned brokers? How can you find a 100% fiduciary advisor? Listeners ask: In which types of accounts should various investments be held? Which is better: Fidelity or Vanguard? Should we be buying bank stocks right now? Can securities be sold by a new broker? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Questions? Comments? Click!

Don shares a new study that, again, illustrates the futility of trying to beat the market. The future remains unknowable. Plus, he discusses the darkest side of cryptocurrencies; power hungry miners. Callers join in to: Praise the show. Is there way to reduce taxes on an investment property sale? What should be done with an extra $20K? What are the tax advantages of putting your life in an LLC? What should be done with some Ferrari stock? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...