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Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1984Founded13 years ago
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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Latest Episodes

Winter comes for markets, too. Don and Tom ask the useful question before the next bear market arrives: will your portfolio—and your nerves—be ready? They revisit painful declines, concentrated bets, and why a plan matters most when selling feels irr... more

Coast FI promises that if you save enough early, your retirement money can coast the rest of the way. Don and Tom run the numbers and find the missing passengers: inflation, Social Security, uncertain returns, and the messy surprises of real life.

T... more

Exciting investments often arrive wrapped in a great story—and hide a much bigger risk. Don and Tom revisit Financial Physics Rule 10, explain the price of chasing sizzle, and separate investing from speculation.

Then they answer whether quarterly a... more

Friday’s listener questions cover the kind of decisions that sound simple until the details arrive. Don weighs the ease of Vanguard’s total bond fund against building a Treasury ladder, and explains why convenience can be a perfectly sensible investm... more

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Recent Guests

Herb Weisbaum
Consumer expert, author of content for checkbook.org
Checkbook.org / ConsumerMan
Episode: Ep. 1920: Summer Travel Tips
Justin Baer
Author of House of Fidelity; Wall Street Journal editor
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Ep. 1887: From Funds to Crypto
Paul Merriman
Founder/coach; Merriman Financial Education Foundation
Merriman Financial Education Foundation
Episode: Final Broadcast - One
Joe Saul-Sehy
Host of Stacking Benjamins
Stacking Benjamins
Episode: Retiremeet 2026 Part One
Christine Benz
Investment expert introduced as a guest for an on-stage interview
Morningstar
Episode: With the Cost?
Michael from Portugal
A retiree residing part-time in Portugal, looking for financial advice regarding retirement and family financial support.
Episode: Rules of Thumb
Roxy Butner
One of the advisors and guest host
Episode: T&R Q&A
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
  • Great trustworthy show

    Talking Real Money is a great trustworthy podcast. Finding honest financial advice in this world is difficult. I really appreciate the true fiduciary advice Tom and Don give. 5 stars. Now my only criticism is Don's use of AI for music bumpers. AI should not be used for that. I would rather have no music than listen to souless AI music. I don't mind most other uses for AI such as cleaning up bad audio from the calls. That is a good use for AI.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D Sherrill
    United States19 days ago
  • Downhill Show

    This show used to be decent but has steadily declined. Lately, Don thinks he’s a DJ and will spend more time with his AI songs than the financial content. At least he has moved on from promoting his book every episode Tom, on the other hand will actually call listeners with the pretense that he knows what he is doing. His advice is so basic. It is a wonder he is integrated with Apella Wealth. I am really, not sure why anyone would listen to this guy.. it is obvious he thinks he knows a lot mo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    South Dakota Boy1
    United States20 days ago
  • One of the Best!

    One of the best financial podcasts I’ve listened to. They are funny and informative. The humor is refreshing in an industry that seems to be competing with the funeral business in terms of seriousness.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jon762GA
    United Statesa month ago
  • Too much AI gushing

    I’ve been listening for many years now. We get it, you use AI but hearing about how you use it every episode to clean the audio or have conversations with it, is tiring. I personally do not want my voice ran through AI so I won’t be calling in that way.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    orangeadrenaline
    United Statesa month ago
  • Good not great

    This show generally provides reasonable and solid financial advice but there are a few things that might be better. First it is clear that Don is sorta phoning it in at this point. People ask specific questions and he answers things with platitudes and offers nearly no data to support his statements. He likely believes it’s cause that’s what his listeners want but reviewing for example the reason that size and value work and also why they sometimes don’t would be of benefit but instead he will j... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Pediheart
    United Statesa month 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
#59
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#248
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#67
Finland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#141
Mexico/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#180
China/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#201
Finland/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 1982: The Price of Excitement
Q: Jonathan from Canton, Georgia asks whether rolling a Schwab 401(k) into a Vanguard IRA is advantageous and what protections might be lost.
The hosts explain that moving from an ERISA-governed 401(k) to an IRA can reduce creditor protections in some situations, but it may offer simplicity and easier consolidation. The decision depends on individual risk tolerance, the desire for centralized asset management, and whether the caller values protections versus simplicity and access. They also emphasize planning around required distributions and overall portfolio balance.
Ep. 1972: Your Questions, No Detours
Q: Would you expand on turning off reinvestment of dividends and capital gains on mutual funds once one is retired?
Yes, turning off reinvestment during withdrawal phases helps with portfolio rebalancing by allowing dividends and capital gains to flow into cash for expenses, reducing the need to sell other assets and simplifying the decumulation process.
Ep. 1972: Your Questions, No Detours
Q: Is it true that 401Ks can allow ETFs if the plan administrator sets up a self-directed brokerage window, and can a 4-501(c)(3) switch from a 403(b) to a 401(k)?
Yes, 401Ks can offer ETFs directly if the plan allows it and a brokerage arrangement is in place. Switching from a 403(b) to a 401(k) is possible for tax-exempt organizations but requires administrative changes and vesting considerations; it's not automatic and can be complex.
Ep. 1972: Your Questions, No Detours
Q: Logically to me, we would make a single large withdrawal covering our yearly expenses and the conversion amount from our pre-tax 401K, converting it all at once into one of our Roths. Am I missing something?
There is no advantage to converting your entire annual spending money into a Roth and then withdrawing it right away; you would still owe taxes on those funds, so it doesn't provide a tax benefit. It's better to convert only the portion you intend to keep in the Roth long-term and rely on pre-tax funds for the yearly spending.
Ep. 1980: Don’t Crack the Nest Egg
Q: When should Dave consider starting Social Security given his earnings history and full retirement age?
Wait until 67 if possible to maximize monthly benefits, unless he needs the money immediately; if he can cover withdrawals from other assets, delaying preserves a larger base for both spouses and later years.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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. Your Money, Your Wealth

How many episodes of Talking Real Money are there?

Talking Real Money launched 13 years ago and published 1984 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. Herb Weisbaum
2. Justin Baer
3. Paul Merriman
4. Joe Saul-Sehy
5. Christine Benz
6. Michael from Portugal
7. Roxy Butner
8. Megan Gorman

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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