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).
Wall Street is pitching “fixed-maturity ETFs” as the perfect solution for retirees who want certainty, income, and peace of mind—but are they actually solving a problem that already has simpler answers? In this episode, Don and Tom break down what bonds and CDs really do, why fixed-maturity funds are being pushed so hard right now, and how fees quietly eat away at the promised benefits. Along the way, they explain the real role of bonds in a portfolio, why chasing yield is a trap, and how diversification and simplicity still beat clever packaging. Listener questions tackle fiduciary responsibility in 401(k) plans, loaded mutual funds, and how much international exposure makes sense in retirement.
0:04 New year opener, time anxiety, and refusing to acknowledge large numbers
1:05 What a bond actually is—and what it guarantees (and doesn’t)
1:54 CDs vs. bonds: fixed maturity products that already work
2:37 Why Wall Street suddenly “needs” fixed-maturity ETFs
3:22 BulletShares, yields, and the quiet problem of fund expenses
4:45 Larry Swedroe’s blunt answer: skip the fund, buy the bonds
5:24 Yield fixation and how investors ignore cost and complexity
6:05 When fixed-maturity ETFs might make sense—and when they don’t
7:14 I-Bonds, TreasuryDirect, and Don’s practical reality check
7:48 A simple solution: total bond fund plus a CD ladder
8:28 Why fixed maturity doesn’t mean fixed safety
10:09 Expense ratios compared: broad bond funds vs. sliced products
10:35 The real purpose of bonds in a portfolio
12:04 Putting 2022’s bond losses in proper historical context
12:58 Eugene Fama on Wall Street “innovation”
13:20 Listener question: fiduciary responsibility in a 401(k) plan
16:30 Listener question: A-shares, B-shares, loads, and advisor honesty
19:14 Why high fund expenses hurt more than exit fees
20:52 Listener question: international exposure in retirement portfolios
22:18 Practical global diversification without precision theater
23:02 Why Don is flexible on allocations—but not on insurance sales
23:22 How to send in questions and closing banter
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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).
