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Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Don McDonald
Retirement Planning
Investment Strategies
Social Security
Financial Planning
Investing
Diversification
S&P 500
Stock Market
Bonds
401K
Retirement
Roth IRA
Vanguard
Etfs
Real Estate
Asset Allocation
Private Equity
Artificial Intelligence
Cryptocurrency
Index Funds

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 n... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1914Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Latest Episodes

Don answers a diverse collection of listener questions covering Roth conversions, indexed annuities, emergency fund management, TSP contributions, inherited money, and portfolio construction. He delivers a forceful warning about indexed annuities and... more

Don and Tom tackle rising bond yields and the anxiety they create for investors, explaining why higher bond yields mean lower bond prices and why recent moves in long-term Treasury rates have sparked comparisons to the period before the 2008 financia... more

Don and Tom examine the coming wave of blockbuster IPOs, including rumored offerings from SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI, and explain why investor excitement often leads to disappointing results. Drawing on research from Dimensional Fund Advisors and ... more

Don and Tom explore the difference between smart risk and dumb risk in investing, sparked by new survey data showing younger investors increasingly believe they must take big risks to achieve their financial goals. They discuss the rise in stock trad... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Justin Baer
Author of House of Fidelity; Wall Street Journal editor
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: From Funds to Crypto
Paul Merriman
Founder/coach; Merriman Financial Education Foundation
Merriman Financial Education Foundation
Episode: Final Broadcast - One
Michael from Portugal
A retiree residing part-time in Portugal, looking for financial advice regarding retirement and family financial support.
Episode: Rules of Thumb
Christine Benz
Director of Financial Planning at Morningstar
Morningstar
Episode: Experts Need Experts
Megan Gorman
Author of 'All the President's Money'
Episode: Pecuniary Presidents
Michael DeJoseph
Researcher in Investment Advisor Research at Vanguard
Vanguard
Episode: Vanguard's Advisor Alpha
Weston Wellington
Vice President with Dimensional Funds and seasoned professional in the investment industry
Dimensional Funds
Episode: A Dimensional Mind
David Booth
Founder and Chairman of the Board at Dimensional Fund Advisors
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Episode: Quiet Investing Science
Dave Butler
Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Episode: Quiet Investing Science

Hosts

Don McDonald
Host of Talking Real Money; financial talk veteran with a fiduciary-focused approach.
Tom Cock
Co-host; experienced financial broadcaster with emphasis on accessible investing guidance.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Avantis evangelists

    I was really enjoying this podcast for the last couple of months until I realized they are non-stop advocates of some financial management/funds manager company I’ve personally never heard of called “Avantis” which they weirdly mention over and over again and defend tooth and nail. I think that’s really weird when they are supposed to be an independent investing podcast. But maybe they aren’t independent? The hosts claim they don’t get any money from Avantis or sponsor them but that’s VERY hard ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mabelle 25
    United States24 days ago
  • I never ever miss this podcast

    A must listen to show. They are usually right on. Please keep up the pressure on crypto. Twenty year guaranteed immediate TIAA annuities have a return of 4%. The yearly payout is about 7.5%. I don't think the wealth managers like them because they loose AUM.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Interested bystander
    United Statesa month ago
  • Oh my!

    Don, I enjoy the show, but your Bitcoin takes are consistently hard to listen to.

    At some point it stops sounding like skepticism and starts sounding like an unwillingness to challenge your own assumptions. Bitcoin isn’t difficult because it’s flawed—it’s difficult because it forces you to rethink how money actually works. A lot of early adopters leaned into that. You seem to resist it.

    You keep defaulting to tulip mania and Ponzi comparisons, but those analogies are getting pretty tired—espec... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TRM-7
    United States2 months ago
  • Funny Financial Altruism

    Hey Tom and Don - Fitting to submit my only review after the final show (radio show). Meant to call in but didn’t get to.

    If you want a funny, witty show about common sense investing, nothing beats talking Real Money. Don and Tom provide free, no pressure advice without expecting anything in return. Their altruism always fills me with a sense of trust, which is a bonus while learning about a topic that I find so fascinating. My brother and I will still sport our talking real money t-shirts ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Friend in the North
    Canada2 months ago
  • I never ever miss this podcast

    A must listen to show. They are usually right on. Please keep up the pressure on crypto.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Interested bystander
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Occasional criticism notes political commentary and ads can sometimes color perceived neutrality.
Some reviews call out Bitcoin discussions as a sticking point and want more open-minded crypto dialogue.
Audience appreciates blunt, no-nonsense analysis and advertiser-friendly, low-pressure financial education.
Listeners praise practical, fiduciary-minded investing guidance and straightforward questions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#59
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#186
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#82
Finland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#89
China/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#142
Israel/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#174
Mexico/Business/Investing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Not Bogle's Vanguard
Q: I had a question about ESOP, what percentage of my overall holdings should be invested in the employee stock ownership plan?
The hosts advise diversification away from concentrating too much in a single company, highlighting the risks of ESOPs and recommending moving toward a diversified portfolio, with a suggested plan to reduce single-stock concentration over several years.
Worried About Inflation?
Q: What should someone around age 50 consider when deciding whether to shift from high stock exposure to more bonds as retirement approaches?
The hosts suggest evaluating personal risk tolerance, retirement goals, and a realistic rate of return. They propose a gradual approach—starting with an 80/20 mix and moving toward more bonds over time, potentially reaching around 60/40—while emphasizing diversification and avoiding dramatic shifts based on short-term market moves.
The Great and Powerful AI
Q: How should one think about bucket one (safe money) and how long should that cash cushion last?
They suggest bucket one should cover about a year of spending to simplify annual rebalancing and provide a cushion for distributions, while the rest of the assets are allocated to a diversified mix aligned with risk tolerance and time horizon.
The Great and Powerful AI
Q: What are the major categories of retirement planning and how should one begin building a plan?
The hosts outline income sources (Social Security, pensions), the portfolio for growth or stability, and additional planning areas like insurance, estate planning, and health care costs, with practical steps such as starting with current income and fixed costs, then building a supporting investment plan.
Q&A and Book Day
Q: What are your thoughts on Vanguard International Bond Fund (BNDX) versus a domestic total bond fund (BND)?
BNDX and other international bonds, especially when currency-hedged, don't necessarily add substantial stability to a diversified portfolio because they often correlate with the U.S. bond market; for many investors, sticking with the domestic option (BND) is simpler and cheaper unless the portfolio is large and you're seeking broader diversification. Direct indexing is generally more beneficial for very large portfolios with complex tax situations; for most people, the tax benefits from tax loss harvesting and broad diversification are more impactful, and adding international bonds adds complexity with limited payoff.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Talking Real Money

What is Talking Real Money about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, fiduciary-focused investing show led by two veteran hosts who emphasize low-cost, long-term strategies and real-world financial planning over speculation. Episodes cover retirement planning, tax implications, education savings, cash flow, and the tradeoffs between passive index funds and factor-based products, often critiquing high-fee or opaque strategies. A notable strength is blunt, experience-driven guidance and a clear emphasis on understanding risk, liquidity, and credibility before making moves. Listeners can expect straightforward answers, Q&A with callers, and promotions for fiduciary-advisor resources, booklets, and workshops. The tone tends toward approachable, no-nonsense education with occasional humor and strong o... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Talking Real Money?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking Real Money:

1. The Clark Howard Podcast
2. Sound Investing
3. Retire Sooner with Wes Moss
4. The Stacking Benjamins Show
5. Your Money, Your Wealth

How many episodes of Talking Real Money are there?

Talking Real Money launched 12 years ago and published 1914 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Talking Real Money?

Recent guests on Talking Real Money include:

1. Justin Baer
2. Paul Merriman
3. Michael from Portugal
4. Christine Benz
5. Megan Gorman
6. Michael DeJoseph
7. Weston Wellington
8. David Booth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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