You Ask. Don Rants.

Talking Real Money - Investing Talk

Don McDonald

Business, Education, Investing, How To

4.2 • 680 Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Don’s back from NYC with pride (and maybe jet lag), tackling a full slate of thoughtful listener questions. From Roth conversions and the TSP G Fund to cash balance plan gimmicks, RMD timing, overpriced 401(k) plans, and yes, the eternal question: Are annuities ever worth it? Don delivers straight talk, a little outrage, and no-nonsense advice—with some well-placed jabs at the industry’s smoke and mirrors. 0:04 Don returns from NYU graduation trip and thanks listeners for sending questions0:56 Should a 54/61-year-old couple convert traditional IRA to Roth? “It depends”3:05 Federal employee asks about the TSP G Fund – why it’s loved, and when not to use it5:47 High earners ask about cash balance plans – Don says beware the fees and opacity11:05 Planning for RMDs at 73 – monthly, quarterly, or lump sum? Don prefers year-end13:38 60-year-old stuck in a principal 401(k) with 2.3% fees – Don goes full outrage18:28 “Are annuities ever appropriate?” Yes—but rarely, and only immediate ones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:27.7	slash setup reality radio for a really great future.
0:38.0	We're talking real money.
0:40.2	Welcome to a Friday.
0:41.6	It's Question and Answer Day again.
0:43.2	Hey, everybody, Don McDonald here.
0:46.8	Been a crazy period here.
0:48.9	Doing a lot of traveling, was visiting my daughter in New York for her graduation from NYU grad school,
0:57.6	very proud of her. And glad you're there. You guys keep calling in questions, calling in.
1:05.0	Okay, I guess we're going to go with calling in. You guys keep sending in questions at talking
1:09.3	real money.com on that contact us form, and I appreciate all of those.
1:13.7	Remember, you can also call us on Saturdays at 855-935-935-8-25-8-25-5-8-25-. It's really easy.
1:22.2	Call Saturday 3 p.m. Eastern time, noon, Pacific time.
1:27.0	But we've got a lot of questions for today.
1:29.0	So let's do the first one.
1:31.5	My husband 61.
1:33.1	I am 54.
	...

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