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Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Don McDonald
Financial Planning
Cryptocurrency
Exchange Traded Funds
Investment Strategies
Bitcoin
Investing
Social Security
Retirement
Mutual Funds
Dividends
Retirement Planning
Health Care Expenses
401(k)
Investing Strategies
Retirement Savings
Medicare
Fiduciary Duty
Certified Financial Planner
Vehicle Financing
Portfolio Diversification

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

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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Latest Episodes

A century-long study by Hendrik Bessembinder reveals a stunning truth about investing: while the U.S. stock market produced enormous overall wealth, the vast majority of individual stocks were losers, with just 46 companies responsible for half of al... more

This Friday Q&A episode of Talking Real Money features a surge in listener questions, covering key retirement and investing topics including IRA inheritance strategies, borrowing in retirement, how to find fiduciary advisors, the powerful tax advanta... more

YouTube

Don and Tom tear into Kiplinger’s roundup of “best money advice,” separating the genuinely useful from the obvious, the flawed, and the downright silly. They agree that core principles like living below your means, automating investing, and seeking q... more

YouTube

This episode cuts through the marketing fog around “financial advisors,” breaking them into three real categories—brokers, insurance agents, and fiduciary investment advisors—and exposing how incentives, commissions, and murky regulations shape the a... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
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
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
  • 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 States20 days ago
  • Here We Go Again!

    I usually enjoy Talking Real Money, but the latest Bitcoin segment replays the same tired arguments. The hosts claim Bitcoin fails as currency because it’s volatile and therefore unusable. That sounds sensible—until you remember money has three jobs: medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value. They focused on the first and ignored the most important one for savers.

    Fiat currencies work for spending—but they reliably lose purchasing power. Inflation isn’t a bug; it’s policy. Bitcoin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TRM-7
    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. 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 benefit to the audience and what has to b... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steeler Craig
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great advice

    Been listening for about 3 years now. They have really great advice and are willing to help people that call or write in with questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Omaha Brad
    United States2 months ago
  • Here We Go Again!

    I usually enjoy Talking Real Money, but the latest Bitcoin segment replays the same tired arguments. The hosts claim Bitcoin fails as currency because it’s volatile and therefore unusable. That sounds sensible—until you remember money has three jobs: medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value. They focused on the first and ignored the most important one for savers.

    Fiat currencies work for spending—but they reliably lose purchasing power. Inflation isn’t a bug; it’s policy. Bitcoin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TRM-7
    United States2 months 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.

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.
Questions Aplenty
Q: What's your view on discussing wealth with adult children and who should manage access to the money?
Open communication about expectations and appointing a trusted power of attorney can prevent intra-family conflict, with one person eventually making final decisions to avoid gridlock.
Questions Aplenty
Q: I'm in Texas with a pension and a Roth IRA; should I start investing now in the Roth and which funds do you recommend?
Starting a Roth IRA at 45 is a prudent move, and a mix of broad, low-cost funds (potentially Avantis or Vanguard) can balance growth with diversification while keeping fees low.
Questions Aplenty
Q: What features should I look for in a retirement calculator, and does FINRA's ballpark estimator meet those needs?
The FINRA calculator is a basic tool that's useful for getting a rough ballpark, but more robust tools from reputable firms and fiduciary advisors offer deeper Monte Carlo analyses for planning.
Questions Aplenty
Q: Hello, Don. This is Jay from Dallas. How does spousal Social Security work and why isn't it mentioned more often?
Spousal benefits are based on a percentage of the working spouse's benefit and can affect your break-even point; however, the mechanics are complex and depend on both partners' ages and claims, which is why the hosts emphasize personalized analysis.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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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 1872 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Talking Real Money?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Talking Real Money?

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What guests have appeared on Talking Real Money?

Recent guests on Talking Real Money include:

1. Paul Merriman
2. Michael from Portugal
3. Christine Benz
4. Roxy Butner
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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