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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
Certified Financial Planner
Fiduciary Duty
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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1841Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for Talking Real Money

Latest Episodes

This episode dives into the surprisingly emotional world of fixed income investing, exploring whether traditional bond funds like BND still make sense or if newer laddered bond ETFs offer a psychological edge by returning principal at a set maturity ... more

On this Friday Q&A episode, Don answers listener questions on international stock overweighting inside a Seattle city retirement plan, whether a Vanguard target-date fund might be a smarter emotional guardrail than self-managing allocations, how much... more

Vanguard slashes fees again, pushing its average expense ratio down to six basis points. Don and Tom contrast that with outrageously expensive ETFs charging 2% to 14% annually, walk through why evidence-based factor funds cost a bit more than pure in... more

YouTube

This episode focuses on smart portfolio construction across multiple accounts, using AVGV to complement limited 401(k) options, and why allocation should be viewed holistically. A caller debates stretching into a later target-date fund, prompting a d... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
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
Dave Butler
Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors
Dimensional Fund Advisors
Episode: Quiet Investing Science
David Booth
Founder and Chairman of the Board at 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
Roxy Butler
Advisor to Pell Wealth, returning guest known for her engaging insights
Pell Wealth
Episode: Tom + Roxy + Qs
Wes Crill
Senior Investment Director
Dimensional Funds
Episode: Presidential Preference?

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
  • 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 States13 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 States16 days ago
  • Annoying Ads

    I couldn’t bring myself to listen to this podcast after hearing the annoying ads on other podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Chris_Tyler
    United States18 days ago
  • The best!

    30 year DIY investor through the Clark Howard School of Basic Investing. Decided to listen after hearing an ad and I’m glad I did. TRM has quickly become my 1 one podcast. I haven’t missed a show in 2-3 years. Sorry Clark! I’ve learned a lot, added more diversity to our investments and I’m feeling more comfortable on the process of generating an income from our investments when the time comes. Keep doing what you do. Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CT Design Guy
    United Statesa month ago
  • A couple has-beens leeching money

    I’ve started listening to these guys and while they offer decent information, other times they’re way off. Especially when it’s a topic that threatens their livelihood, even if true. Or on topics they just don’t understand. Looking at them further, they’re former radio hosts that had some success an decided to start an advisory group… one of those bad ones that operates under an AUM framework, essentially leeching 1% off your portfolio for minimal value. While their DIY portfolios on their w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Phuoc-SD
    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.

Apple Podcasts
#69
United States/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#221
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#52
Philippines/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#52
Finland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#167
Finland/Business
Apple Podcasts
#216
China/Business/Investing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Crypto Qs Return
Q: How should I invest my grandfather's $125,000 savings that earns no interest?
A high-yield savings account with liquidity would be a better option than a brokerage account, given the need for potential access to funds.
Crypto Qs Return
Q: Is it worth getting the 50% match from the traditional 401k or should I continue with the Roth 457?
The 401k has complicated terms for the match, and if there's uncertainty about staying with the employer, the Roth 457 might be preferable for its flexibility.
Crypto Qs Return
Q: What do you guys think about the new Fidelity stable coin FIDD and if I were to invest, what percentage of my portfolio should I use for that?
FIDD is essentially a way to turn dollars into crypto dollars, but it won't yield significant returns, so it's not recommended for investment.
It's One Portfolio
Q: Is it worth it to me to maybe put it in like a 2060 fund?
It depends on your risk tolerance and need for return, and if you've run the numbers on your potential retirement needs.
Rules of Thumb
Q: How often should I rebalance my portfolio?
You should ideally rebalance once a year to maintain your asset allocation, selling from winners and pocketing money as needed.

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 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. Your Money, Your Wealth
3. The Stacking Benjamins Show
4. Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast
5. Retirement Answer Man

How many episodes of Talking Real Money are there?

Talking Real Money launched 12 years ago and published 1841 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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What guests have appeared on Talking Real Money?

Recent guests on Talking Real Money include:

1. Michael from Portugal
2. Christine Benz
3. Megan Gorman
4. Michael DeJoseph
5. Dave Butler
6. David Booth
7. Joe Saul-Sehy
8. Roxy 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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