This episode dismantles the idea that successful investing comes from finding the next hot thing. Instead, Don and Tom argue that good portfolios are built by eliminating what doesn’t belong: actively managed funds, sector ETFs, alternatives, high-yield bonds, gold, and other distractions that add complexity without purpose. Drawing on a Morningstar column by Amy Arnott, they reinforce that most investing mistakes come from chasing performance rather than embracing simplicity and discipline. The show also tackles listener questions on retirement “bucket” strategies, rebalancing timing, Dimensional fund structure, and annuities—emphasizing that bonds exist for stability, cash should be limited and intentional, and any strategy must be personal, rules-based, and boring enough to actually work. 0:04 Opening banter, Apple censoring Tom’s name, and the beige pudding world 1:12 Bitcoin critics, one-star reviews, and a bad 2025 for crypto 2:03 Core idea: good investing is about elimination, not prediction 2:56 Amy Arnott and the case against active management 4:07 Why past winners usually become future losers 5:28 REITs, once useful, now mostly redundant 6:01 Sector funds as performance-chasing traps 8:19 Alternatives, I Bonds, and junk bonds—complexity without payoff 10:04 Bonds explained properly: stability, not income or excitement 11:14 Gold (and Bitcoin) as non-productive speculation 13:21 Simplify first and portfolios become easier—and calmer 15:05 Retirement bucket strategy: where it helps and where it hurts 18:48 Cash as an emergency tool, not a long-term holding 21:04 MYGA annuities, safety trade-offs, and insurer risk 29:04 Insurance failures as cautionary history 31:04 DFAW explained: Core Equity 1 vs Core Equity 2 35:53 Rebalancing discipline: timing beats tinkering 39:11 Final reminder: stop watching your portfolio so much Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices