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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Don McDonald
Retirement Planning
Investment Strategies
Social Security
Investing
S&P 500
Financial Planning
Annuities
Diversification
Bonds
Retirement
Vanguard
Roth IRA
Target Date Funds
Stock Market
Artificial Intelligence
Private Equity
Roth Conversions
Bond Funds
401k
Etfs

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes2015Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Latest Episodes

Harvard, Yale, and other elite endowments hire armies of experts and pour billions into private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, and real estate—yet simple public-market investing often leaves them behind. Don and Tom unpack the numbers, the fee... more

Your grocery bill, insurance premium, and home maintenance costs can tell a very different story from the headline inflation rate. Don and Tom explore why rising prices hit households differently, how lifestyle creep quietly absorbs pay raises, and w... more

A $50 sports bet can cost more than the money you lose today. Don and Tom explore why treating gambling as an investment can put decades of potential growth at risk—and why patient, low-cost, diversified investing offers a very different proposition.... more

YouTube

Financial products rarely come with a zero price tag—even when the salesperson insists that “the company pays.” Don and Tom unpack Rule 16 of Financial Physics, expose the hidden commissions and ongoing expenses behind that pitch, and compare a costl... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Paul Merriman
Investment educator and author
Author/Investment educator
Episode: Ep. 1921: They're Back...
Herb Weisbaum
Consumer expert, author of content for checkbook.org
Checkbook.org / ConsumerMan
Episode: Ep. 1920: Summer Travel Tips
Roxy Butner
Advisor
Advisor on Talking Real Money
Episode: Ep. 1919: Tom and Roxy Qs&As
Justin Baer
Author of House of Fidelity; Wall Street Journal editor
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Ep. 1887: From Funds to Crypto
Christine Benz
Morningstar senior columnist and retirement planning director
Morningstar
Episode: Retiremeet 2026 Part One
Joe Saul-Sehy
Host of Stacking Benjamins
Stacking Benjamins
Episode: Retiremeet 2026 Part 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
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

Hosts

Don McDonald
Co-host with a long history in financial talk radio; fiduciary-focused investor education.
Tom Cock
Co-host with PBS Serious Money background; emphasizes long-term, low-cost investing with practical insights.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • I never ever miss this podcast

    Mostly spot on content. Some of the AI songs are strange. They are pro-AUM.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Interested bystander
    United States3 days ago
  • Honest boring guys

    Great guys. Great podcast. If you don't understand something then keep listening. They are consistent so you will gradually understand everything.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    atlld
    United States9 days ago
  • A must listen podcast

    Tom and Don won’t lie to you, and they won’t inflate numbers. They tell you like it is. I’ve been listening to them since 2016 and their advice has kept me calm in the eye of the financial storms. This is a definite listen to podcast no matter if you’re a teenager, or already retired. Because of them, I’ve been able to retire early!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Krismarief
    United States22 days ago
  • Ask a Question

    I’ve written in two questions so far, Tom has reached out, has had me on the podcast, and has provided valuable advice, thanks to both Tom and Don for all that you do, it’s much appreciated!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Redbankfarms
    United Statesa month ago
  • I Have To Admit I Like It

    I have to admit that I like this podcast and the devotion of these two guys for the breath of material they cover on practically daily basis. Definitely a top 50 financial podcast like no other.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Starman44870
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, listeners appreciate the practical, fiduciary-focused investing guidance and approachable banter.
Positive feedback often highlights the show's balance of humor and solid financial planning tips.
Many reviews note the show's clear stance against high-fee products and sales pitches.
Listeners frequently mention the educational value and trust built over years of listening.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#38
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#77
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#215
Canada/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#86
Finland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#113
Mexico/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#126
Norway/Business/Investing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 2007: Follow the Money
Q: Why don't financial advisers discuss statistical factors when deciding between Roth and traditional accounts or Roth conversions?
The hosts say Roth conversions are not automatically beneficial and should be assessed each year based on the investor's tax bracket, ability to pay the tax and overall retirement plan. They also recommend holding a mix of traditional, Roth and taxable savings when appropriate.
Ep. 2007: Follow the Money
Q: Should I own bonds today, and what should I consider when choosing bond exchange-traded funds?
The hosts favor diversified, low-cost, passive bond funds with short or intermediate duration. They advise against reacting to small short-term price movements and say bonds should be considered as one part of a diversified portfolio.
Ep. 2008: The Bond Tango
Q: What is your take on the Ares Core Infrastructure Fund being recommended for an 85-year-old investor?
The hosts advise against the investment, citing its high expenses, leverage, limited liquidity and risk, and say the recommendation is inappropriate for the investor.
Ep. 2008: The Bond Tango
Q: Why do you recommend BND over money markets if money markets are much more stable?
Money market yields adjust quickly as rates change, while intermediate-term bonds can help preserve yields if rates fall. The hosts recommend diversification, potentially using money markets alongside bonds or a bond or CD ladder.
Ep. 2009: Finding Your Fiduciary
Q: Can you go over how bonds are typically taxed? Is it normal income or is it something like capital gains?
Tom explains that bond interest is generally taxable as ordinary income at the federal marginal rate. He says the difference in yields often makes a regular taxable bond fund preferable to a municipal bond fund for many investors.

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 money-show hosted by two veteran financial minds focuses on long-term investing, fiduciary responsibility, and accessible guidance for real-life finances. Discussions routinely cover retirement planning, diversification, tax efficiency, and avoiding gimmicks, all delivered with light banter and a listener Q&A style. Noteworthy are strong cautions against high-fee products, advocacy for fiduciary guidance, and a clear emphasis on staying disciplined through market cycles. The sponsor relationships and tangible how-to tips (cash versus investments, bond strategies, and retirement withdrawals) help listeners translate concepts into action. This mix of approachable education, skepticism of sales pitches, and steady, real-world advic... 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. Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast

How many episodes of Talking Real Money are there?

Talking Real Money launched 13 years ago and published 2015 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. Paul Merriman
2. Herb Weisbaum
3. Roxy Butner
4. Justin Baer
5. Christine Benz
6. Joe Saul-Sehy
7. Michael from Portugal
8. Megan Gorman

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