Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 21: Avoid Bad Advice May 18, 2018

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In this episode, Don and Tom want to keep you from falling victim to a Ponzi scheme or greedy stock brokers. Their advice: Stick to fee-only fiduciaries and keep those investments as diversified as possible. We look at how to check up on possible advisors using BrokerCheck, answer some questions on stable value funds and bonds indexes, look at the state of pensions in Seattle and advise that if you want to play the market you might as well head off to the casino.The reason why people like Bernie Madoff are not more uncommon.Using BrokerCheck to your investment advantage.Do not get caught out by the multitude of Ponzi schemes out there.A reminder about the Vestory risk quiz and how easy it is to take it.Don looks back on his dark history as a broker.Some traveling advice on shuttles from Don and his trip.A strange similarity between index funds and Uber rides. The differences between a fee-only fiduciary and a stock broker. Choosing between a stable value fund and a bond index fund. Is there an alternative to equities?Seattle’s pension problems and what this shows us. Why picking stocks is no better than going to the casinos. How to get ready for retirement the smart way. Money Thirty Podcast — https://www.moneythirty.com/Real Investing Journal — https://www.realinvestingjournal.com/Vestory — https://vestory.com/401411 — http://www.401411.com/Vanguard — https://investor.vanguard.comThe Science of Retirement Investing - http://www.talkingrealmoney.com/new-events/2016/6/3/lunched-the-science-of-retirement-investing-portlandRetiremeet North — http://www.retiremeet.com/Johnny Cash — http://www.johnnycash.com/Bernie Madoff — https://www.biography.com/people/bernard-madoff-466366BrokerCheck — https://brokercheck.finra.org/Knowles Systems — https://knowlessystem.com/Charles Ponzi — http://mentalfloss.com/article/20377/who-was-ponzi-what-was-his-schemeUlysses S. Grant — https://www.biography.com/people/ulysses-s-grant-9318285Emirates — https://www.emirates.com/Uber — https://www.uber.com/MarketWatch — https://www.marketwatch.com/Alternative to Equities Article — https://www.marketwatch.com/story/theres-finally-an-alternative-to-equities-says-billionaire-fund-manager-2018-05-11Seattle Times — https://www.seattletimes.com/Seattle Times Pension Article — https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattles-retirement-fund-was-mismanaged-now-taxpayers-are-paying-the-price/
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Ep. 20: Reasonable Returns? May 17, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Don and Tom look at reasonable portfolio returns, the 2008 crash and, of course, cryptocurrency. The duo continue to explain the use of intermediate bond funds in getting your investments ready for retirement.Returns on portfolios and weighing good percentages.Why you can make more than 5% a year on a diversified portfolio.The risk quiz and why everyone should take it.Remembering the 2008 market crash and its legacy. Looking at how many times bitcoin has dropped a large percentage of its value. Intermediate bond funds and balancing your risk.Estimating what you need so that you do not lose what you have.Looking ahead to unencumbered finances after your dependents have graduated.
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Ep. 19: Special Investor? May 16, 2018

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Don't learn the hard way. There are no special investment for "special" people. Today on the show, Don and Tom help you to avoid falling victim to a Ponzi scheme or greedy stock brokers. We look at how to check up on possible advisors using BrokerCheck. Don and Tom answer some questions on stable value funds and bonds indexes, look at the state of pensions in Seattle and advise that if you want to play the market you might as well head off to the casino.Some information on penguins and their swimming habits.The reason why people like Bernie Madoff are not more uncommon.Using BrokerCheck to your investment advantage.Do not get caught out by the multitude of Ponzi schemes out there.A reminder about the Vestory risk quiz and how easy it is to take it.Don looks back on his dark history as a broker.Some traveling advice on shuttles from Don and his trip.A strange similarity between index funds and Uber rides. The differences between a fee-only fiduciary and a stock broker. Choosing between a stable value fund and a bond index fund. Is there an alternative to equities?Seattle’s pension problems and what this shows us. Why picking stocks is no better than going to the casinos. How to get ready for retirement the smart way.
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Ep. 18: Retiremeet Q&A May 12, 2018

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This episode features a panel of experts from Retiremeet North, Harlan Accola from Fairway Mortgage, Rick Gregorek from Gregorek and Associates, Paul Merriman formerly of Merriman, Don McDonald, and Tom Cock.The most difficult decisions we see people make as they get close to retirement.Understanding the mental shift required to spend home equity.Overcoming the fear of action and breaking free of planning paralysis.How to end your reverse mortgage prior to selling your house.The most common information a client omits/forgets to tell an advisor.Learning to foresee potential problems that can arise when writing your will.The best way to set up power of attorney with multiple agents. What you should be looking for when choosing a new financial advisor. Truly understanding the definition of a fiduciary relationship.Utilizing real estate as part of your long-term strategy to build passive income. The difference between a reverse mortgage as a home equity and a regular home equity.Incorporating Publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) in your portfolio.Understanding sector funds and why it is an over-weighted, gamble of an investment.The pros and cons of market cap-weighted index funds versus ones that are not.Why artificially impoverishing yourself to get on Medicaid is a matter of ethics.The best two-minute advice from our panelists to get prepared and ready for retirement.Money Thirty Podcast — https://www.moneythirty.com/Real Investing Journal — https://www.realinvestingjournal.com/Vestory — https://vestory.com/401411 — http://www.401411.com/Retiremeet North — http://www.retiremeet.com/Tom Cock — https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-cock-846234b/ Harlan Accola — https://www.linkedin.com/in/harlan-j-accola-crmp-b6544819/ Fairway — http://fairwayreverse.com/Rick Gregorek — https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-gregorek-esq-86687513/ Gregorek and Associates — http://www.rjglegal.com/Your Partner in Law — http://yourpartnerinlaw.com/ Paul Merriman — https://paulmerriman.com/25 Things You Should Be Getting From Your Financial Advisor — https://paulmerriman.com/25-things-getting-financial-advisor/ Get Smart Or Get Screwed — https://www.amazon.com/Get-Smart-Screwed-Financial-Advisor/dp/1480179531 Dimensional Fund Advisors — https://www.dimensional.com/ My Future Blueprint — http://www.myfutureblueprint.com/
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Ep. 17: Retiremeet Classes May 11, 2018

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This episode is the second part of live recording at the Retiremeet North Conference and on today’s roster of speakers we have Harlan Accola from Fairway and Rick Gregorek from Gregorek and Associates. Harlan is an expert author and advisor on reverse mortgages. He explains how to use these products and clear up all confusion about reverse mortgages. Rick covers the topics of estate planning, putting together a team of advisors, the different retirement plans you can choose from and he even quickly looks at Medicaid.Introducing our first guest in today’s episode, Harlan Accola.Common misconceptions about reverse mortgages.Some information Harlan’s book on home equity and reverse mortgages.When to stop putting your money into equity and why.Why reverse mortgages are a part of a diversification strategy.The worthlessness of equity when you go into retirement.Why Harlan’s family distrusted his ideas on reverse mortgages. Introducing our second guest for today’s episode, attorney, Rick Gregorek. Rick’s professional background and the concepts he will covering today.Integrated estate planning and the importance of compiling a team of advisors.Comparing will based and trust based plans.How Rick and his colleagues came up with their wealth plan system. Business tools for estate planning and what you can use to your advantage.The subtle difficulties of dealing with Medicaid and health tools. Harlan Accola on Linkedin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/harlan-j-accola-crmp-b6544819Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages — https://www.amazon.com/Home-Equity-Reverse-Mortgages-Cinderella/dp/0692044965Fairway — http://fairwayreverse.com/Rick Gregorek — http://www.rjglegal.com/Page/richard_gregorekGregorek and Associates — http://www.rjglegal.com/
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Ep. 16: Paul Merriman May 11, 2018

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This special episode features Paul Merriman’s keynote address at Retiremeet North on May 5, 2018 in Everett, WA. Paul talks about the essential aspects of smart investing and what he calls the ten million-dollar decisions that investors make. These choices have to be made, either consciously or just by default and Paul is here to remind us of the importance of making these decisions carefully correctly to ensure a bright financial future.The ten million-dollar decisions that one makes as an investor.Picking a trustworthy advisor to aid you on your path to financial security.Balancing stocks and bonds for the best returns and longevity.Signing up for the rises and drops in the market and the returns over the long term.Market timing as opposed to buying and holding.The importance of planning and setting out a glide path. The role of luck in the life of any investor.Real Investing Journal — https://www.realinvestingjournal.com/Vestory — https://vestory.com/401411 — http://www.401411.com/Vanguard — https://investor.vanguard.comRetiremeet North — http://www.retiremeet.com/Paul Merriman — https://paulmerriman.com/ Merriman — http://www.merriman.com/101 Investment Decisions Guaranteed to Change Your Financial Future — https://paulmerriman.com/101-investment-decisions/Bessembinder — https://wpcarey.asu.edu/people/profile/2717225General Motors — https://www.gm.com/SPIVA Report — https://us.spindices.com/spiva/Morning Star — http://www.morningstar.com/John Bogle — http://johncbogle.com/wordpress/
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Ep. 15: The Best and Worst May 10, 2018

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This is the last of Don’s holiday episodes and so we gratefully thank Paul Merriman for stepping in one last time as co-host. In this episode, we cover some historically good and bad investments from none other than our hosts, reversed mortgages, gold and silver investments, market speculation and the work of Professor Bessembinder. Paul gives some invaluable information on salespeople and why you should avoid employing them as advisors. We even go so far as to give some tips for preparing for rough times in the market.Tom and Paul’s best and worst investments of all time.Selling good investments versus good ideas and stories. The possibilities of a reversed mortgage and the implications on inheritance.Investing in gold and silver and the volatility of this option.Preparing for the next bear market and covering your bases. Should you speculate at all? Clarifying exactly what Professor Bessembinder said.What to look forward to in Paul and Tom’s presentations at Retiremeet. Farewell to Paul Merriman, our amazing guest host!Real Investing Journal — https://www.realinvestingjournal.com/Vestory — https://vestory.com/Paul Merriman — https://paulmerriman.com/ Merriman — http://www.merriman.com/401411 — http://www.401411.com/Vanguard — https://investor.vanguard.comRetiremeet North — http://www.retiremeet.com/SeaWorld — https://seaworld.com/orlando/Harcourt Brace Jovanovich — https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/harcourt-brace-jovanovich/221290/Warren Buffett — https://www.investopedia.com/university/warren-buffett-biography/warren-buffett-success-story.aspGeneral Motors — https://www.gm.com/Aerospace — http://www.aerospace.org/Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Bessembinder — https://www.nasdaq.com/article/bessembinder-rocks-the-investment-world-cm862572
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Ep. 14: Roth Power May 09, 2018

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The focus of this episode is the Roth account, as our hosts take a few calls on the subject and unpack the benefits for our listeners. Guest host, Paul Merriman lays out his ideas around really long term investing, for your grandchildren, and how to utilize the Roth IRA for this purpose. We also talk about picking strategies for multiple accounts and how much of an effect small choices make over the years with compounding interest. We also look forward to the fast approaching Retiremeet and Paul gives us a small idea of what to expect from his presentation.Why to pick a Roth IRA over a 401(k).Investing for your grandchildren with the a Roth IRA.Deciding on levels of aggression for your investment strategy.The widening difference that occurs with compounding interest. Best practices for long term investing with regards to risk.More reasons why we like the Roth IRA as a long term option.Looking forward to the best and worst questions surrounding investments. A taste of Paul Merriman’s Retiremeet topic.Money Thirty Podcast — https://www.moneythirty.com/Real Investing Journal — https://www.realinvestingjournal.com/Vestory — https://vestory.com/Paul Merriman — https://paulmerriman.com/ Merriman — http://www.merriman.com/401411 — http://www.401411.com/Vanguard — https://investor.vanguard.comRetiremeet North — http://www.retiremeet.com/MarketWatch — https://www.marketwatch.com/Dwight David Eisenhower — https://www.biography.com/people/dwight-d-eisenhower-9285482Dimensional Funds — http://dfaus.com/101 Investment Decisions Guaranteed to Change Your Financial Future — https://paulmerriman.com/101-investment-decisions/
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Ep. 13: Cut Fund Costs May 08, 2018

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Tom is joined by Paul Merriman again this week as Don is still traversing New Zealand in a camper-van. On today’s episode Tom and Paul look at the news regarding 2017’s mutual fund costs, talk about important phone calls, answer questions on real estate, retirement and index funds. As usual the emphasis is on long term, diversified, passive investments. Paul states that, on average, people overstate their returns, miscalculating them to their supposed advantage.Mutual fund costs drop in 2017.Know your costs, your fees and your expenses!The three phone calls that changed your life. Miscalculating your returns and the better than average rule. Why index funds are proven to give better returns than almost anything. The difficulties of purchasing real estate from a 401(k). The idea of turning assets into income in retirement. The life changing quality of equities! Paul Merriman — https://paulmerriman.com/ Merriman — http://www.merriman.com/401411 — http://www.401411.com/Vanguard — https://investor.vanguard.comRetiremeet North — http://www.retiremeet.com/MarketWatch — https://www.marketwatch.com/Stan the Annuity Man — http://www.stantheannuityman.com/Your Money and Your Brain — https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Brain-Science-Neuroeconomics/dp/0743276698Morningstar — http://www.morningstar.com/General Electric — https://www.ge.com/
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Ep. 12: Not a Toy May 07, 2018

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Welcome to the Talking Real Money Podcast! We are once again joined by Paul Merriman, who will be helping us talk about all the things that matter to you most and field your questions about how to make the most of investments. Paul and Tom go through some information about mutual funds, annuities, show again why stock picking is a bad choice and tackle index funds. Paul also gives a teaser of what you can expect from him at the upcoming Retiremeet conference and we finish off getting a bit of background to his history in investing and discussing some ideas for improving today’s financial education, to better equip the younger generation. So if you would like to keep that finger on the money’s pulse, tune in!Some more information on last week’s social media bust-up.Why it’s okay to get mutual fund returns instead of trying to play the market. A special call from Don, all the way from New Zealand!Shopping around for annuities and the complexities of the subject.A taste of what Paul Merriman will be presenting at Retiremeet. Looking at some examples of stock picking.Comparing good options for index funds. Financing a problem-free retirement according to your needs. Low risk investment and the basics of the game.Some of Paul’s work since he sold his company.What’s missing from today’s financial education in universities. Money Thirty Podcast — https://www.moneythirty.com/Real Investing Journal — https://www.realinvestingjournal.com/Vestory — https://vestory.com/Paul Merriman — https://paulmerriman.com/ Merriman — http://www.merriman.com/401411 — http://www.401411.com/Vanguard — https://investor.vanguard.comRetiremeet North — http://www.retiremeet.com/Money Magazine — http://time.com/money/Wall Street Journal — https://www.wsj.com/europeStan the Annuity Man — http://www.stantheannuityman.com/Warren Buffett — https://www.biography.com/people/warren-buffett-9230729Berkshire Hathaway — http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/Dimensional — https://us.dimensional.com/Bainbridge — http://www.bainbridge.com/
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