Best Don McDonald Podcasts (2025)

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Reset Your Portfolio Expectations, Before It's Too Late | Peter Lazaroff - E112 54:45

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4h ago54:45

54:45

Jesse welcomes back Peter Lazaroff to discuss the psychology and strategy of investing during uncertain times. They explore how media narratives and recession fears can distort investor behavior, emphasizing the importance of focusing on business earnings rather than sensational headlines. Peter shares why he separates his portfolio thinking from h…

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Small Stocks, Big Upside 41:56

3h ago41:56

41:56

Don and Tom highlight what may be today’s biggest stock market bargain: small-cap value stocks, which have drastically underperformed large-cap growth and now appear poised for long-term reversion to the mean. They explain why chasing big winners like Nvidia and Apple could backfire, and why broad diversification with a tilt toward small and value …

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From the Archives: Audra McDonald is the "Luckiest Survivor in the World" 40:40

1h ago40:40

40:40

Much like the staggering beauty of her voice, Audra McDonald is impossible to ignore. The only artist to sweep all four acting categories at the Tony’s, she’s the most decorated Broadway star of all time. Reviews of her award-winning performances overflow with accolades, describing her stage presence as “spellbinding,” “haunting,” and “genius.” But…

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Big and Beautiful? 33:20

1d ago33:20

33:20

Don and Tom dive into the new “big, beautiful” tax bill with humor and skepticism, covering changes to Social Security taxation, tips and overtime exemptions, expanded SALT deductions, and the controversial $1,000 baby bonus. They also tackle listener questions on Roth vs. IRA asset protection, portfolio rebalancing confusion, and lazy robo-advisor…

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What are the limits of modern executive power? Checks and balances with Academy Fellow Robert Shea and Yuval Levin of American Enterprise Institute 24:17

2d ago24:17

24:17

In this episode of Management Matters, host James-Christian Blockwood explores the evolving dynamics between the executive branch, Congress, and the judiciary with guests Yuval Levin of American Enterprise Institute and Academy Fellow Robert Shea of GovNavigators. The discussion delves into the (self-imposed) weakening role of Congress, the impact …

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Suze Q and A 25:12

4d ago25:12

25:12

Don answers a handful of listener questions, offering sharp, practical insight on investing myths, flexible retirement withdrawals, taxable brokerage accounts, and misleading financial scare tactics. He critiques Suze Orman’s confusing advice, breaks down the logic of the 4% rule, and dismantles a fear-mongering insurance pitch claiming to “save re…

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ETF Madness 44:42

6d ago44:42

44:42

Don and Tom dive into the wild world of “speculative” ETFs inspired by Jason Zweig’s WSJ piece, mocking the absurdity of funds like the Icelandic stock market ETF (35 stocks, really?) and those tracking things like crude oil shipping futures. They debunk the myth that “ETF” means safe and highlight the rise of investing as entertainment. Later, the…

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Melt-Up or Melt-Down? 48:16

7d ago48:16

48:16

Don and Tom take on the ever-persistent phrase “This time it’s different,” as Bloomberg and NYT articles suggest AI, financial fragmentation, and inflation have permanently changed the investing game. The duo questions whether these changes actually warrant different investing behavior—or if they’re just the latest in a long line of panics dressed …

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Jake Tapper: From Breaking News to Bestsellers 39:44

8d ago39:44

39:44

Jake Tapper is a journalist, news anchor, author, and the current lead Washington anchor for CNN. Tapper hosts the weekday news show, The Lead with Jake Tapper, and co-hosts the Sunday morning public affairs program, State of the Union. At CNN, Tapper has won numerous journalism awards, including Emmy Awards in 2023 and 2024. He also played a key r…

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Income Generation 32:48

8d ago32:48

32:48

Tom returns from his surprise Canadian adventure and the duo dive into the age-old retirement question: How do I get my money out? They break down the three most common withdrawal strategies—dividends, total return, and hybrid—and make the case for why a well-managed total return strategy usually comes out on top. Listener questions cover Roth IRA …

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Next Generation or Final Frontier - Is Federal Science Under Threat? With Marcia McNutt of the National Academy of Sciences and former USDA Chief Scientist Chavonda Jacobs-Young 29:37

9d ago29:37

29:37

Host James-Christian Blockwood discusses the status of science and government with Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, and Chavonda Jacobs-Young, former Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, and Chief Scientist at the US Department of Agriculture. They address the challenges facing the scientific communit…

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When Smart Financial Planning Backfires - ChooseFI Companion Episode - E111 1:00:06

9d ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Today’s episode is a special bonus episode, a companion to Jesse’s discussion on episode 555 of ChooseFI! Jesse examines the risks of over-optimization in personal finance, concentrating on tax-loss harvesting, asset allocation, Roth conversions, and dividend investing. He explains how each strategy can offer value when used thoughtfully, but warns…

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Big Q&A DAY 26:52

11d ago26:52

26:52

Don tackles six listener questions in a rare full-stack Q&A Friday. He breaks down a shady universal life insurance pitch, dismantles the myth of “smart” market timing with limit orders, and offers clarity on Roth conversions, rebalancing strategies, and inherited IRA hacks. A master class in how to stop making dumb money moves. 0:04 Intro – Friday…

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Vanguard's Advisor Alpha 42:01

12d ago42:01

42:01

Don is joined by Mike DeJoseph from Vanguard to unpack the meaning and real-world impact of Advisor’s Alpha—Vanguard’s research showing how good financial advisors can add up to 3% annually in net value to client portfolios. They break down the origins of the concept (internally coined back in 2001), clarify what alpha actually means, and dig into …

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Burgers for Bitcoin 46:26

13d ago46:26

46:26

Don and Tom kick off this episode by responding to a one-star Apple Podcast reviewer who promised to upgrade to five stars—if they correct their allegedly false Bitcoin claims. Challenge accepted. Don clarifies his earlier “nobody uses Bitcoin” remark by digging into the actual numbers: only 15,000 businesses worldwide accept it, out of over 359 mi…

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Annuity University 46:54

15d ago46:54

46:54

In this hard-hitting episode, Don and Tom expose “Retirement Planning University”—a slick, misleading marketing operation posing as a legitimate educational program. Despite hosting seminars at respected universities, the organization isn’t accredited and exists primarily to funnel attendees into high-commission indexed annuities sold by Strategic …

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From the Archives: Nicolas Niarchos Exposes the Cobalt Gold Rush 39:47

15d ago39:47

39:47

(Recorded October 4, 2021) Journalist Nicolas Niarchos may be the grandson of a famous Greek shipping magnate, but he can be found covering challenging and dangerous subjects like conflicts, minerals, and migration in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He is a reporter at large at The New Yorker and a contributor to TIME, The Guardian, The New Yor…

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Brokers and Models 37:22

16d ago37:22

37:22

Is your portfolio built by a broker or a model? Don and Tom break down the surprisingly persistent patterns of old-school broker portfolios—loaded with local stocks, overpriced “index” funds, and actively managed everything—versus the growing adoption of model portfolios based on actual research (not just a hunch and a handshake). Along the way, th…

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U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va) visits AI in the Public Sector in this Special Crossover Episode 26:18

16d ago26:18

26:18

Special Crossover Episode with AI in the Public Sector, Season 3! AI has the potential to transform the way citizens interact with the government and the way agencies deliver services to citizens. In previous episodes in this series we have heard from a number of Executive Branch leaders on the promises and potential risks of AI and how it's starti…

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Solar Scams, Pig Butchers 28:13

18d ago28:13

28:13

In this fast-moving, fraud-fighting episode of Talking Real Money, Tom Cock is joined by longtime consumer advocate Herb Weisbaum (aka The ConsumerMan) to expose two of the fastest-growing scams in the U.S.: predatory solar sales and the “pig butchering” crypto scam. Herb details the dangerous combination of shady sales reps and shadowy financing p…

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Gen Z's Retirement Edge? 43:32

20d ago43:32

43:32

Gen Z may just be schooling the rest of us in retirement savings—sort of. Don breaks down why the kids are all right… and also why they’re misled. Auto-enrollment rules, social media misinformation, and shaky FinTok advice are all under the microscope. He then tackles smart ETF choices for young investors, questions about windfall investing and bur…

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Buffett’s Blueprint - 8 Examples of Warren’s Timeless Wisdom - E110 44:09

21d ago44:09

44:09

Jesse explores the timeless wisdom of Warren Buffett, highlighting both his disciplined investment philosophy and his unwavering emphasis on trust and character. Jesse breaks down Buffett’s approach to buying great businesses at fair prices, holding them long-term, and focusing on intrinsic value, margin of safety, and staying within one’s circle o…

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Highs Hype 45:12

21d ago45:12

45:12

The market hit another “all-time high”—shocking no one. Don dismantles the myth that record highs are reasons to panic or pull back, reminding listeners that long-term investing and diversification remain undefeated. He breaks down the actual recent S&P 500 data, explains why global diversification matters (even when it lags), and skewers both sing…

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Victor Garber on Stage and Screen 34:58

22d ago34:58

34:58

Victor Garber is a prolific actor and singer who seamlessly traverses theater, film, and television. He originated roles in iconic musicals such as “Sweeney Todd”, “Godspell”, “Noises Off”, and “Assassins”. Garber also appeared in Oscar award-winning films such as “Titanic”, “Argo”, and “Milk”. You may also recognize him as Jack Bristow from the lo…

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Dr. Doom or Dr. Boom 29:30

22d ago29:30

29:30

Don and Tom tear into the lunacy of financial predictions—starting with famed doomsayer Nouriel Roubini suddenly turning optimistic (is that a good sign or a terrifying one?). Then it’s onto Ron Baron and his wildly volatile, high-fee Barron Partners Fund, which beat the QQQ—barely—by taking massive concentrated bets on Tesla and SpaceX. Finally, t…

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Episode 98 - Bob Nichols 2:07:41

23d ago2:07:41

2:07:41

Bob Nichols was on a mission. His goals were to become an accountant and a curling world champion. Bob captured his first Air Canada Silver Broom in 1974, playing third for Bud Somerville. It was the inagural season for the team from Wisconsin, which included Bill Strum and Tom Locken at front end. His second world championship came in 1978 as a sk…

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Brent Fischer 1:19:40

23d ago1:19:40

1:19:40

Continuing the legacy of his father, the late Clare Fischer, Grammy award-winning Brent Fischer has been one of the most sought after composers, arrangers, and producers in the music industry. Just like his father, Brent’s adaptability to a variety of music genres has been a key element to his success, having composed projects for pop, jazz, Latin,…

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Funding Democracy: Stepping up or Overstepping? with Xavier de Souza Briggs of Brookings Institution and Daniel Stid of American Enterprise Institute 27:59

23d ago27:59

27:59

James-Christian Blockwood hosts Xavier de Souza Briggs of the Brookings Institution and Daniel Stid of American Enterprise Institute. This conversation explores the multifaceted role of philanthropy in society, particularly in the context of governance, civil society, and the impact of the Trump administration on nonprofits and higher education. Br…

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Question Time with Tom & Roxy 21:31

25d ago21:31

21:31

Tom welcomes Roxy Butner back to field listener questions on retirement income, Roth vs. traditional 401(k) choices, car financing math, leftover 529 rollovers, and bond price confusion. Listeners hear sharp, practical advice on optimizing savings and withdrawals—without slipping into tax traps. Plus, a shoutout to the record 401(k) savings rate an…

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Behavior Beats Brilliance 28:35

26d ago28:35

28:35

In this episode, Don and Tom dive into a revealing YouGov survey that shows Americans might not be as overconfident as we thought—except when it comes to trustworthiness, loyalty, and… mechanical skills? The guys unpack what this means for investors, especially the surprising gaps between men and women in self-perception. Then they outline the trai…

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Can't Have Everything 45:46

27d ago45:46

45:46

Don tackles the dangerous myth of “safe” high-yield investments, calling out misleading financial advice around covered call funds and non-traded real estate deals. He takes calls on 529 plans vs. UTMA, long-term care insurance pitfalls, robo-advisors for special needs planning, and a shady pitch for a fixed-indexed annuity disguised as a fiduciary…

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Gold Medal Worthy? 45:29

28d ago45:29

45:29

Don flies solo from Florida while Tom continues his Euro-tour, tackling the deep flaws in Morningstar’s mutual fund and target-date fund ratings. He skewers their cozy relationship with high-fee fund companies and explains how commission-based funds keep getting top honors while cheaper, investor-friendly alternatives like Vanguard are buried down …

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From the Archives: Billy Joel 1:04:31

29d ago1:04:31

1:04:31

Recorded July 29th, 2012. Billy Joel has sold more records than The Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna—though the “rock star thing” is something he can “take off.” Joel started playing piano when he was about four or five years old. He admits that he doesn’t remember how to read sheet music anymore saying it’d be like reading Chinese. That does…

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Episode 97 - Beau Welling 54:36

30d ago54:36

54:36

Beau Welling followed a peculiar path. From studying physics to designing golf courses and eventually becoming the President of World Curling. Beau shares his origin story and how the cancellation of a European business trip led him on a quest to explore curling in Bemidji, Minnesota. Beau offers perspectives on how technology is impacting golf and…

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Low Risk Fantasies 29:17

29d ago29:17

29:17

Don and Tom expose the seductive illusion of “wealth without risk” by dissecting the explosion of equity-hedged ETFs and mutual funds. They tear into the high fees, low returns, and false promises sold by funds claiming to protect investors from market drops while capturing the upside. With support from recent Wall Street Journal coverage and AQR d…

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"The Leader's Job is to Provide Hope" - Martin O'Malley and Bob McDonald on Executive Leadership 30:06

1M ago30:06

30:06

In this episode of Management Matters, host James-Christian Blockwood talks with Secretary Bob McDonald and Commissioner Martin O'Malley, two seasoned government executives from Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, to discuss approaches to public service, leadership philosophies, and the transformative changes they implemented i…

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Fast Paced Friday 29:53

1M ago29:53

29:53

CORRECTION: During the 13:45 caller, I gave erroneous advice on the withdrawal rules for an inherited IRA. Given that this was his father’s IRA, he is not eligible to wait until the end of the 10-year period. So he will need to distributions and, then, make a charitable gifts. -Don Don tackles a stack of listener questions in this rapid-fire Friday…

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Math Over Models 45:50

1M ago45:50

45:50

Don and Tom dive into the human obsession with prediction—especially in finance—and why models fail us more than they help. They dissect the CAPE ratio, Fama vs. Shiller, and why “knowing” the market is a fool’s errand. Listeners also get lessons on ETF pricing myths, market cap misunderstandings, SEP Roth IRAs (spoiler: they’re basically unicorns)…

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Scrimping, Splurging, and Other Crazy Spending Stories - E109 50:04

1M ago50:04

50:04

Jesse explores the value of financial priorities and the balance between spending and saving with guests Diania Merriam, Justin Peters, Bill Yount, Jeremy Schneider, Doc G, and Joe Saul-Sehy. Diania highlights the “iceberg principle” of stealth wealth—how true wealth is often what you don’t see, like deferred purchases and unspent money. Justin sha…

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Home Bias Harm 45:41

1M ago45:41

45:41

Don and Tom tackle the behavioral trap of “home bias” in investing—why U.S. investors tend to overinvest domestically and why it’s dangerous. They compare global fund allocations across countries, poke fun at nationalist investing instincts, and explain why international diversification is essential. Listener calls cover early Social Security regre…

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From Concert Hall to Cinema with Anthony Parnther 37:39

1M ago37:39

37:39

Anthony Parnther is a conductor, bassoonist, and music educator prominently known for his work conducting and playing for critically acclaimed film scores. In 2019 he was appointed music director and conductor of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra and concurrently serves as the music director of the Southeast Symphony in Los Angeles, California,…

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Stock Picking Trap 28:47

1M ago28:47

28:47

In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom take aim at one of the most persistent investing mistakes: owning individual stocks. With humor and sharp skepticism, they explore why investors—even those who say they follow the show’s advice—still concentrate wealth in a few companies like Apple, NVIDIA, or their employer’s stock. Referencing Ja…

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Long Time Coming - Former Commissioners Danny Werfel and John Koskinen on what's next for the Internal Revenue Service 31:22

1M ago31:22

31:22

As the Senate votes to confirm new IRS Commissioner Billy Long, w e welcome two titans of IRS leadership, former Commissioners Danny Werfel and John Koskinen, both Academy fellows. They discuss the challenges and changes at the IRS, including budget cuts, workforce reductions, and the impact on taxpayer services. We get an up close look at the futu…