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 need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).
All content for Talking Real Money - Investing Talk is the property of Don McDonald and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
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 need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).
Don and Tom tackle a mix of market mania and listener questions, skewering speculative fads like meme stocks, SPACs, private credit ETFs, and covered-call funds. Don opens with a scam text story before the duo dive into the absurdity of “get-rich” products during a record-breaking market. They stress discipline, diversification, and turning off CNBC — repeatedly. Listener questions include Roth conversions in high tax brackets and funding a home purchase without wrecking retirement plans. The show ends on a hilarious tangent about listeners wearing backpack banners to promote Talking Real Money.
0:04 Scam text from Colorado and the hazards of living alone in a studio
1:09 Market highs and the illusion of perfect timing
2:35 Stock concentration, meme stock mania, and the “Magnificent Seven” dominance
3:34 Listener call: investing in a soccer team partnership promising 15–30% returns
5:12 Why “too good to be true” often is — scams and speculative traps
6:09 Covered-call ETFs (JEPI, GPIQ) explained and debunked
9:39 New private credit ETF (PCR): high fees, low transparency, huge risk
12:49 CNBC hype vs. reality — why turning off financial TV is sound advice
16:21 Listener question: Roth conversions and tax traps in the 30% bracket
19:26 Another listener: funding a new home without derailing retirement
21:47 Don’s rant on overpricing homes — “every house sells at the right price”
23:24 Real estate emotion vs. math — the price always tells the truth
24:31 Episode wrap-up: humor, gratitude, and an absurd “wearable banner” promo idea
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Talking Real Money - Investing Talk
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 need to enjoy a really great future. Call in with your questions anytime at 855-935-TALK (8255).