Financial talk radio veteran, Don McDonald and former host of Serious Money on PBS, Tom Cock, join forces to talk about real money issues. In each episode, they solve real money problems, dole out real investing (not speculating) advice, and really explain the financial issues that effect all of us. Plus, it's actually fun! Talking Real Money is a podcast designed to provide the real help we all need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).
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Financial talk radio veteran, Don McDonald and former host of Serious Money on PBS, Tom Cock, join forces to talk about real money issues. In each episode, they solve real money problems, dole out real investing (not speculating) advice, and really explain the financial issues that effect all of us. Plus, it's actually fun! Talking Real Money is a podcast designed to provide the real help we all need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).
If you’re nearing retirement and uneasy about the math, you’re not alone. Don and Tom tackle the uncomfortable reality that most near-retirees haven’t actually run the numbers—and many won’t like what they see when they do. Drawing on Vanguard data and real-world client experience, they break down three practical ways to shrink a retirement gap: working longer (but not necessarily full-time), thoughtfully tapping home equity, and spending less before and during retirement.
0:06 Opening and the retirement gap problem
0:52 Podcast platforms, Apple vs Spotify, and Don’s short-story empire
4:08 How TRM ranks among investing podcasts and why that still feels surreal
5:24 Vanguard data: only 40% of near-retirees are on track
6:51 Kids, money, and why retirement math gets uncomfortable fast
7:51 Strategy #1: Working longer (and why part-time can be powerful)
9:41 Purpose, boredom, and the underrated psychology of retirement
10:00 Strategy #2: Home equity as a retirement resource
11:12 Downsizing, renting, HELOCs, and reverse mortgage trade-offs
13:05 Strategy #3: Spending less—before and during retirement
14:29 Reverse mortgage costs, limits, and real-world implications
17:01 Social Security timing and when immediate annuities actually help
18:40 Inflation risk, fixed income streams, and practical trade-offs
19:02 Listener Q: AVGE vs DFAW and understanding underlying holdings
21:48 Listener Q: Aggressive Roth portfolios intended for heirs
25:30 Listener Q: Washington 529 plans and GET vs traditional 529s
27:32 Listener Q: Quantum computing (short answer: no)
28:59 Sector investing, AI hype, and why diversification wins
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Talking Real Money - Investing Talk
Financial talk radio veteran, Don McDonald and former host of Serious Money on PBS, Tom Cock, join forces to talk about real money issues. In each episode, they solve real money problems, dole out real investing (not speculating) advice, and really explain the financial issues that effect all of us. Plus, it's actually fun! Talking Real Money is a podcast designed to provide the real help we all need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).
