Talking Real Money Minute - Investing Advice and Money Musings

How can a fixed annuity afford to pay more than 3% per year for five years and still be considered "safe?"

The markets aren't ever doing something. They have already done it.

The Covid crisis has put the retirement millions of Americans at risk at the worst possible time. What can you do to prepare for the worst?

We have enough to worry about without being concerned about the election's impact on our investments.

Investing isn't complicated. Just follow Don's seven simple rules to investing success without stress.

Another major Wall Street brokerage firm gets caught illegally manipulating markets. This time they even admitted it. Another lesson on the impotence of the average investor.

The latest SPIVA Scorcard is out and it shows what it always has. Active utual fund managers fail to beat the market by huge margins. So, why do we keep trying to pick winners?

Where there is money there will be bad advice or outright fraud. Take a small step to protect yourself by vetting your financial "advisor" at:

investor.gov

and

brokercheck.com

Look for "disclosures" in the records avoid those who have misled clients in the past.

The financial industry is changing and the old brokerage forms need to stop interrupting us at work or during dinner. Who will be the first to publicly eliminate cold calling?

Focusing more on size, Barron's 2020 Top RIA list fails to find fee-only 100% fiduciary advisors.

About half of all financial advisors charge more than 1% per year. Here are some questions to help you find the right advisor at the best price.

There will always be surprises that cause us to worry about the financial future. Yet, time and time again, we have overcome disasters and stock values rise again.

One of the most important traits of a currency is stability. No one wants their currency to fluctuate wildly from day to day, yet that's just what crypto "currencies" have done.

You need to understand one simple fact: Gold is not and never will be an investment. It fluctuates, yet over time has made nothing. So, any money you put in gold is a "bet" that it will rise. That is gambling.

For most annuities are best avoided. If you already have one, be wary of those who are trying to get you out.

Active management. Commissions. High fees. With so many inexpensive 529 education plans is there any need for Scholar's Choice from Legg Mason? 

Another group of investors falls prey to a smooth talking salesman who promised more than anyone can ever deliver. 

High fees can reduce already small returns to less than nothing.

How will know if Tesla to too high? There's a better way to own hot stocks with less fear: Diversify!

Twenty years ago the NASDAQ (remenber the "QQQ"?) was all the rage. Then it fizzed for fourteen years. Is history about to repeat itself?