Don McDonald Show - Don McDonald: Recent Episodes
Don McDonald
Talk about the most important parts of life with Don McDonald, entertainer, educator, author, and talk radio veteran. Don has been helping listeners wade through the problems we all face since 1988 with simplicity, humor, and a solid grasp of the workings of the financial world. He has a knack for making the complex understandable and the confusing comprehensible in an entertaining package that makes the Don McDonald Show a podcast pleasure.
We all know interest rates are rising. Right? Well, then why was this fund
that bets on rising rates been such a loser? Speaking of losers. Many of
you have redisovered one of the dumbest ways to speculate, ever! Finally, a
cool new gadget that will help you find your lost keys or your lost phone
(as long as you don't lose both).
Shouldn't everyone who works with YOUR money be required to act in your
best interest? You would think so, but most hope they don't have to. Some
sneaky malware that will make you wish you had backed up your files. Plus,
the only sure way to make more money.
Vanguard starts offering inexpensive investment advice and some advisors
are mad. Brokers start offereing horrible, expensive, complicated,
misleading, etc. Equity Indexed Annuities. About a third of U.S. households
live "hand-to-mouth."
If over 80 years of evidence hasn't done it, what will it take to convince
"investors" that no one knows what the stock market will do in the future.
Why does Dave Ramsey believe that load funds are better than no-load funds?
(Hint: Follow the money.)
Is Merrill's boss serious about fee transparency. My musings on our
motivations for work. Finally, the case against gloom and doom.
The Don McDonald Show merges with the old InvestoRadio for a new weekly
podcast starting about March 28th.
They sent a sales package to the wrong investment advisor. Why would anyone send me sales literature on a non-publicly traded real esate investment trust (REIT)? I'm sure glad they did though, so I can sgare the huge risks and high fees with you.
Be careful when buying individual municipal bonds. The spreads are onerous, and then there's that whole issue of no diversification.
Turn $25 a month into $100,000 in just 10 years! That's the claim of a
class being taught at colleges across the country. Ready to learn the
truth?
Can you really turn just $25 into $100,000 in just 10 years? Sounds hard to believe, but someone is teaching classes across the country that promise to do just that. What huge annual return would be required? Find out in part one of my series, "Don't Getting Fooled in School."
What a difference a year makes. When looking at past performance of
investments, the longer the track record the better.
Can you become a billionaire by simply investing well? The odds aren't good
and you'll need some serious dough to get started. Plus, even the very best
investing advice doesn't look so good in reality.
Far too many investment advisors charge far too much to create portfolios
that stand little chance of overcoming the "drag" of high fees. So, why
does the Wall Street Journal give so much press to pricey advisors like
McGaldrey Wealth Management?
No big surprise; stock prices are falling today as those who call
themselves investors panic about the possibility of a new Crimean War.
One of our competitors, The Mutual Fund Store, is watching us pretty
closely. Find out why they should be worried because of the fees they
charge and the type of funds they use.
Why does one financial columnist act like he knows what the market is going
to do in one breath and then suggest long-term, low-cost, diversified
investing in the next?
Today, my concern is with the number of folks entering the crazy (and
dangerous) business of day trading. Day trading is really gambling and the
numbers prove it.
Why do fcolumnists give either bad or half-bad advice? Plus, the Journal
adds a brilliant new disclaimer.
There are only three ways to make money. If you choose the path of Matt
Martoma, you could find yourself doing time
A recent op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal illustrates just how
foolish and self-serving many investing ideas really are.
Wall Street just can't seem to find any eveidence that mutual funds
managers exhibit any predictable skill.
MyRA, a weak plan to try and get more young and/or low-paid workers to save
for retirement.
Buying individual stocks is almost like gambling. Here are some examples of
the dangers of betting on one business
While looking back at the past does not provide a glimpse of the future, it
can provide some serious perspective about how we should behave going
forward.
We check the market "time" from two well know "stopped clocks," Harry Dent
and Rober McHugh. Are they right yet?
Why would anyone in the investment business fight against being required to
do what's right for you? Plus, is JP Morgan Chase truly incompetent?
Why you should own bonds. Plus, Chuck Jaffe agrees that diversification is
the key to investing success.
What is the worst investment? Could it be gold? Also, a listener shares
some other great reason for hiring a good investment advisor.
Is the market going to fall 50%? Listen in as Henry Blodgett and Jeff Macke
pay "Dumb and Dumber" on Yahoo! Finance. Plus, another positive piece about
Dimensional funds is published.
How does DFA compare to Vanguard? Don looks at a crazy new fund idea and
how much money should you have in stocks?
Don explains why his favorite fund family, DFA, became his favorite. He
also answers a listener's question about the downside of deflation.
Don's final broadcast program featuring a final poke at Dave Ramsey's and
Jim Cramer's bad investing advice.
Don answers listeners deep questions and which financial products worry
regulators most.
Don has a momentary "Scrooge" attack and why high performance money
managers are either lying or cheating.
The best indicator of a good mutual fund and the nasty surpise lurking
within many cash value life insurance policies.
Target gets targeted by a gang of cyber thieves and you could have a lot of
work ahead of you and FINRA says that non-publicly traded REITs need more
oversight.
The question that should NEVER be asked of a financial "expert" and the
perfect Christmas gift?
Do insurance regulators really care about doing right by their customers
and how many people admit to having sex on a plane.
Wall Street "promises" high returns and low risk. Plus, why every advisor
should be a fiduciary and what that means.
The five year anniversary of Bernie Madoff's arrest and the lessons that
must be learned. Plus, get Cody Willard's trading history for a mere $99
per... wait for it... MONTH.
Don presents "How I spent my winter business trip and other travel tips." One of Don's favorite advisory firms starts dabbling in a very expensive, possibly dangerous investment. Remember CMOs and CDOs? How about ILSs? Insurance linked securities could be Wall Street's latest attempt to baffle you with BS while claiming high yields and "reasonable" safety. Finally, gold bugs keep spouting lies and half truths.
How much can you make on your investments and what is risk? Is the best 529 plan your local plan or the least expensive ones and which are the best? Can hedge funds actually make you money? Let's look at few. The problem with the Wall Street Journal's stupid electronic subscription model. Is this the time to be buying stocks? Finally, are you ready for printed food?
Financial lists: the good and the bad. Including the worst "how to pick a broker" list ever. Don also picks on the talk radio industry. Plus, who knew you could make a living hugging.
How Don almost became "the voice" of a senior citizen scam. What makes a great movie (hey, we spend money on these) and what are the best movies in theaters so far this fall? Plus, we take a look at Iowa's 529 plan which uses Vanguard.
Don takes on some deep questions from listeners on using commodities for diversification, is there a need to use active funds for portions of your portfolio, and many, many more. Which investment products does FINRA suggest you avoid. Should the U.S. government pay off everyone's debt? Which 529 plan is best for college savings?
Butterball warns of a fresh turkey shortage. How will your holiday be effected? Some of the best Black Friday deals, particularly technology deals. How should a caller get started with smaller amounts of money at Vanguard? Is there any way to play a "bubble?" We're sure you actually know the answer. How should you take retirement income from portfolio? Plus, we celebrate a belated World Toilet Day.
Some many predictions, so little of any value. What about the future for gold? George Soros, John Paulson and Goldman Sachs share their forecasts, while Don explores his more sensible "golden rule." How bad are the "bank on yourself" deals?
Can money buy happiness? Maybe. The basics of investing asks, "What is investing, really." Jack Bogle has the answer. A listener looks for advice on taking required distributions from retirement accounts. A great new perk for Delta's most elite frequent fliers. Does rebalancing make sense? Avoid big fines by avoiding these unusual laws.
Let's start with the basics of saving and investing. The Twitterverse takes on JP Morgan Chase with hilarious and pointed results. A New York Times op-ed piece criticizes the "Efficient Market Hypothesis" of Noble laureate, Gene Fama and yet concludes that normal investors can't beat the market. Gloomy John Hussman remains consistent, but how far will stocks need to fall for him break even from his bearish "investments."
What is Modern Portfolio Theory and can investing really be so simple? Hear Nobel Prize winner Harry Markowitz explain. Do we have any idea what we will need to live comfortably in retirement? Don talks with a caller about some bad investments made by his wife. Should everyone in the country get a paycheck for just being alive?