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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
Roth IRA
Bitcoin
Vanguard
401k
Retirement
Etfs
Real Estate
Artificial Intelligence
Inflation
Investment Strategy
Private Equity

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1886Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Latest Episodes

A graduation-season episode turns into a surprisingly deep conversation about careers in the age of AI, anchored by a New York Times article from Jodi Kantor. Don and Tom explore the idea that successful careers are built not by chasing trends, but b... more

Don flies solo for a Friday Q&A, fielding questions on switching into financial services careers, the risks and reality of “enhanced” direct indexing strategies, whether newer Avantis ETFs add real value, and a classic diversification debate sparked ... more

YouTube

This podcast audio was accidentally posted yesterday, so you might want to listen to our 4/29 episode, if you’ve already heard this one.

A listener-inspired revisit of emerging markets investing—sparked by the legacy of Mark Mobius—highlights why mo... more

YouTube

Private equity gets sold as exclusive, sophisticated, and “what the smart money does,” but the reality is far less compelling. Don and Tom break down the illusion: limited transparency, questionable valuations, high fees, and serious liquidity risks—... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Roxy Butner
Advisor at Appella Wealth
Appella Wealth
Episode: Hard to Save
Paul Merriman
Founder/coach; Merriman Financial Education Foundation
Merriman Financial Education Foundation
Episode: Final Broadcast - 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
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
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
Joe Saul-Sehy
Host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast and a prominent speaker at Retiremeet 2025.
Stacking Benjamins
Episode: Retiremeet '25 - Part One

Hosts

Don McDonald
Co-host and financial expert known for his engaging delivery and deep financial knowledge, often addressing complex money issues in a relatable way.
Tom Cock
Co-host and former PBS financial programming host who brings humor and clarity to discussions on investing and finance, aiding listeners in navigating their financial queries.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • 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 States13 days 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
    Canadaa month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Love these guys insight and commitment

    Have worked with Tom quite a bit over the years and have called in several times. Can't recommend them highly enough for financial approch and guidelines. I have done their free portfolio review and there is no hard sell, nothing shady... completely professional. They are one of the few TRUE fiduciaries that are not only required to work in your best interest, they seek out the opportunities to do so and that is rare and refreshing. They have started doing a podcast almost every day, a huge bene... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steeler Craig
    United Statesa month ago
  • You’re aging yourselves

    Old Guys

    You guys talk all over each others. I think the podcasts will be better than the radio show because you won’t have live callers. Can’t believe you have to obsess about moving to a podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Benicia Listener
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the down-to-earth, actionable financial advice provided in an engaging manner.
Overall, the podcast garners respect for its educational value and practical insights into personal finance.
The hosts are often recognized for their humorous banter and ability to simplify complex topics.
Some reviews express concern over particular investment perspectives shared by the hosts, particularly regarding cryptocurrencies and other speculative elements in investing.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hard to Save
Q: A listener asks how to balance retirement plan contributions if they have variable income as a realtor or entrepreneur.
Roxy and Don recommend using plans like solo 401(k) or SEP IRA to capture higher contribution limits, with the strategy of contributing both as employee and employer where possible, and prioritizing saving early and consistently.
Hard to Save
Q: The host asks about the relative performance of money market funds (VMFXX) vs. total bond funds (BND) for the fixed-income portion of a retirement plan.
Roxy explains that while money market funds can offer stability and decent yields in the short term, over the long run bonds typically provide higher expected returns, and that investors should allocate to a total bond portfolio for longer-term stability while using money market funds for emergencies.
Hard to Save
Q: Pamela asks about asset allocation for an HSA and how to balance risk with a long time horizon.
Roxy recommends a blended mix with a meaningful allocation to fixed income as the account approaches withdrawal age, suggesting total bond funds or Avantis/BND-type options to smooth volatility, and emphasizes maintaining some equity for growth while protecting the funds for medical expenses in the long term.
Okay, Boomer
Q: When should a young investor start including bonds in their portfolio?
Typically not needed for a young investor with a high risk tolerance; consider a small bond allocation (perhaps 5-10%) later, especially as you approach retirement or if you can't tolerate big stock drawdowns.
What is an Advisor?
Q: Given my retirement plan with about 5 million dollars, mostly in a brokerage account, how should I structure my fixed income and whether to favor treasuries over corporate bonds?
The answer is that there isn't much difference in long-term returns between a total market bond fund and a fixed-income ladder; diversification and keeping a core in high-quality bonds, with some government exposure, helps stability. The key is to avoid overexposure to risk and ensure liquidity to cover expenses, with a laddered CDs approach being a practical option.

Audience Metrics

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

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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 dynamic and informative financial podcast engages listeners by addressing real-world money issues and providing actionable investing advice. Co-hosted by financial radio veteran Don McDonald and former PBS host Tom Cock, the show offers insights into diverse financial topics including investment strategies, retirement planning, and market trends, all while maintaining an entertaining tone. The hosts draw on personal anecdotes and listener call-ins to make complex financial principles accessible, aiming to equip listeners with the knowledge needed to make informed investing decisions and achieve financial security for the future.

With a strong focus on practical advice, the discussions often highlight the dangers of speculative investing ... 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 1886 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. Roxy Butner
2. Paul Merriman
3. Christine Benz
4. Michael from Portugal
5. Megan Gorman
6. Michael DeJoseph
7. David Booth
8. Dave Butler

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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