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Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1955Founded13 years ago
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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Latest Episodes

Fresh from passing the CFP exam, Roxy Butner joins Tom to work through a classic retirement fork: take the richer lifetime teacher pension, or accept a $315,000 lump sum and invest it. The math matters, but so do longevity, survivor benefits, liquidi... more

Just when you thought America had invented every possible retirement account, along comes the Radish. Don and Tom dig into the proposed employer-funded savings plan, the man who helped create the 401(k), and whether workers really need another tax-ad... more

Financial Physics rule five asks the uncomfortable question every investor should answer: what is the worst that could happen? Don and Tom revisit leverage in 1929, the crashes of 2000, 2008, and 2020, and the practical defenses that keep a bad marke... more

Don opens with a spirited defense of AI as a creative tool—especially when it makes ideas possible that would otherwise be too expensive or time-consuming. Technology changes the jobs around us, but learning to direct it responsibly can expand what o... more

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Recent Guests

Herb Weisbaum
Consumer expert, author of content for checkbook.org
Checkbook.org / ConsumerMan
Episode: Summer Travel Tips
Justin Baer
Author of House of Fidelity; Wall Street Journal editor
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: 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
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

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 1.1k ratings
  • My favorite financial advice podcast

    The Talking Real Money Podcast has taught me so much about the financial services industry. After listening for the past 2½ years, I used what I learned to find a new fee-only, 100% fiduciary financial advisor this year.

    I also met with a Apella Wealth financial advisor out of the Connecticut office. He reviewed my investment portfolio, answered all of my questions about my financial situation, and explained the services available at Apella Wealth per my request —all at no cost. I highly recom... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Manhong123
    United States8 days ago
  • Overall an ansolutely great Podcast, I wish it was back Love on actual radio!

    Thank you Don McDonald, Tom C. Cock and Appella Wealth for this absolute superb investing podcast, I have been listening since late 2024 via Overcast honestly, but these guys are great at helping people understand the basics and even some of the details of Investing funds, in some of the best no/frills, no bologna/baloney ways! They let people know how best to diversify and what to avoid when it comes to individual stock and etf and crypto etc. gambling vs. actual diversified investing! go to ta... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @really-John-V-J-TREY
    United States11 days ago
  • Ouch

    I had to stop listening to the July 30th podcast. The banter turned into an ego driven mess. Don, let Tom finish a sentence before you stomp on him. This was a bad podcast. Stopped at the 7 minute mark.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ElPadrino38
    United States13 days ago
  • Really like the show and the gadgets

    This is a very good help me think about my future and investing and they have humor with it, which makes it very nice

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fun time to listen
    United States14 days ago
  • My Favorite Podcast

    Tom and Don are the best. We are being educated at the same time as we are being entertained about such an important subject.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Not My Real Name Near Atlanta
    United States19 days 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
#67
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#248
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#126
Finland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#163
Mexico/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#220
Finland/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Calculating Your Future
Q: Should you pay off the debt, or fund retirement more?
The hosts emphasize prioritizing debt with the highest interest (like 22% credit card debt) because the guaranteed reduction in outflow and the return on that decision often beats contributing more to a match, though the final choice can depend on your exact situation.
Qs and Stuff
Q: Hi Don, Tom. I have a question about selling mutual share or ETF funds from a brokerage account to pay an expense, and whether to sell shares with minimal capital gain rather than realizing a loss and waiting for them to come back up.
Yes, you can choose specific lots and use tax lots strategically; you can identify which shares to sell before the trade settles to minimize current capital gains and preserve other lots for future tax outcomes.
Qs and Stuff
Q: Hi Don, this is Andrew. I was wondering if it was a good idea to go from investing in Roth to traditional, if on the FAFSA form it would change my income enough to allow my children to get a Pell Grant.
It generally makes sense to look at FAFSA as it considers adjusted gross income; in most cases, shifting from Roth to traditional IRA for FAFSA purposes does not meaningfully improve eligibility and is unlikely to help with Pell Grants.
Qs and Stuff
Q: Hi Don, this is Jim in Cincinnati. Was that your voice I heard on some of the ads for the special exhibit Auschwitz not long ago, not far away at the Cincinnati Museum Center?
Yes, that was me; I was hired to read the Auschwitz exhibit copy for both the Boston original and the Cincinnati tour, and I'm proud to have been part of it.
Tom and Roxy Qs&As
Q: What should a recent graduate prioritize first when starting to manage money?
Understand spending, build an emergency fund, and start contributing to retirement to capture matching contributions while keeping debt manageable.

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 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. Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast

How many episodes of Talking Real Money are there?

Talking Real Money launched 13 years ago and published 1955 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. Christine Benz
4. Joe Saul-Sehy
5. Michael from Portugal
6. Megan Gorman
7. Michael DeJoseph
8. Weston Wellington

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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