Don should stay in his lane—discussing the merits of investing in a well-diversified portfolio, where his knowledge and insights truly shine. Unfortunately, whenever he veers off into other topics—be it alternative investments or, most recently, tariffs—he undermines his own credibility. His latest podcast is a prime example. His commentary on tariffs revealed a shallow understanding, reducing a complex economic mechanism to its effect on the price of his next iPhone. What he failed to grasp is that tariffs are far more nuanced than a simple one-to-one cost transfer to the consumer. In fact, history tells a different story. When the U.S. imposed a 20% tariff on Chinese goods in 2020, the cost of an iPhone for American consumers rose by only about 4%. Why? Because the impact of tariffs is distributed across the supply chain—manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers all absorb part of the burden. Additionally, China responded by devaluing its currency, further offsetting the impact on U.S. consumers. Oversimplifying tariffs to a direct consumer surcharge not only misleads his audience but also diminishes the sophistication expected from someone in his position. If Don wants to preserve his influence, he should stick to what he knows best—and leave macroeconomic analysis to those who understand its intricacies..

A good podcast for the newbie investor that’s looking to improve their financial literacy.

You are going to get grief over the April 15 tax day broadcast. Japan had a very slow growth rate for around 30 years starting in 1990. They are called the lost decades. Sometimes governments can meddle too much. It is ironic that the no-regulation party is regulating.

Don claims to be a moderate and then talks about tariffs from a completely one sided view. As he made very clear, he is concerned tariffs will cost him more for his next iPhone purchase. However, he failed to even mention the current administration’s purpose for the newly implemented tariffs. Although very tariff critical, like so many others, he offered absolutely no alternatives. The path driven by previous administration’s is mathematically unsustainable.

Don has a serious case of TDS. He claims to be in the middle but his bias on the tariffs is very apparent. Trump knows what he’s doing and is using leverage to improve the US’s trading position with many countries. My question to Don is does he really think we would be better off with Kamala? MAGA.

Need to get a handle on how to grow your money safely, logically and steadily? Check these 2 old friends out. It’s kind like sitting beside your fiscally wise grandpa and his buddy. Sure, they tease each other, and can be a bit tangential occasionally, but it keeps it light as well as informative. I don’t miss an episode.

Listen to the show! It’s a lot of fun and you will learn something too. Thanks for the honesty and the banter, I really enjoy it.

This is by far one the best investment podcast out there. Don and Tom are not trying to sell any complex investments and always inject a healthy amount of skepticism into anyone who does. Crypto bros won’t like them, neither will insurance salesmen, which should be taken as solid evidence of the quality of their advice. Do I follow their advice all the time? No, particularly on alternative investments. But I would strongly consider investing with Apella, given their evidence-based fiduciary approach to investing.

I have learned a ton of information about investing from Tom and Don’s podcast. I love the real-life questions from callers and they deliver the answers in a lively and informative way. Thanks Tom and Don!

These guys are very smart and are entertaining. They have good analysis of topics and can do math. But their answer to everything is to invest in two obscure high fee ETFs which I can only assume they are paid to endorse. The show is a front for their investment firm where they claim to be fee only but push these terrible products. I looked up one of these ETFs and it’s only been around a year and has huge fees. Listen to their advice but do not buy any stocks they recommend.

Great advice when it comes to long term investing and planning. It gets hard to listen to at times when politics are injected. Politics can be relative to the Q&A, but it goes beyond that and you can tell what is trying to be sold. As an example, rebates on road tolls are “vote buying” (he doesn’t like Florida’s Gov) but he cheers canceling student debt and somehow that isn’t vote buying. Don also believes there isn’t enough bloat in government to make a dent if you try and cut, so the only option is to raise taxes to reduce the deficit. It makes me wonder about his objectivity on other financial investments.

These two guys are unprofessional and act very childish; talking over each other and bickering every single show. How can anyone take them seriously with the childish behavior acting like junior high punks. Clean up your act, for goodness sake you are two old gizzards. Is this how you want people to remember you two by. Cut it out, the sad part is that you don’t seem to want to listen to the audience. Many listeners had commented on this, yet you removed their reviews. Grow up Don and Tom, it is very hard to listen to your podcast since your childish behavior has become worse.

Excellent podcast!

Tom and Don go on and on about how crypto is a scam, but then they have a crypto ad before their podcast? Seriously? Have some integrity, gentlemen. Don’t be ruled by profit alone.

This show is entertaining and easy to understand. It has made me think a lot about my retirement and I feel ready to move forward.

Tom and Don have great show banter and are a genuinely great listen. I have listened since I was 25 and am confident their advice has helped me perfect my portfolio with a small and value tilt. They are advocates for investors everywhere and have equipped their listeners with questions and knowledge to ensure they are receiving true fiduciary advice. I love that they bring in current events into their radio show and podcast only segments. Keep up the great work!

The “Why Take Risk” episode is the best in the history of investing podcasts. First time I ever got my wife to listen. Five hours later, we can’t stop laughing. We love you guys here in Mississippi Frank & Dawn

These guys are fantastic. A bit conservative and sometimes grumpy about bitcoin, but the investment world needs more of their type speaking to investors. Roxy should be a regular guest to break up the cranky old men shouting at crypto…..from time to time

Truths spoken by two guys who have (sorry) been around the block a couple of times (each😃). I also love the banter and mutual love and respect you guys have for each other. -Jerry PS - For the record Tom is the funny one.

As someone who has struggled with investing for 40 years, I really wish I had found the advice of Tom and Don a long time ago. I have followed the advice of some who turned out to be not so good and others who were good (Paul Merriman). However, Tom and Don give the right advice that makes it so easy. Thanks for providing a resource that I can pass on to my 30 year old daughter!

Perhaps it’s the holiday spirit talking but Tom was on fire today (Dec 18th)! Set him free more often!

Show is fairly basic. Listened to 3 episodes and found them a bit condescending and simplistic. They talk as if they have extensive expertise yet I heard nothing that hasn’t been talked about for years. They do have a left leaning political slant but that typically doesn’t bother me. What annoyed me was the belittling of another more successful podcaster simply because they disagreed. I’m not a huge fan of the other podcaster either but their criticism was immature and I just don’t take what they are selling very serious. Anyone that spends an entire podcast ripping someone else generally has little of substance to offer.t condescending I’d skip this one and try a few others…there at dozens much better at doing this type of show.

I really appreciate the sound, CONSISTENT investing and money advice. It’s like hanging out with some friends who are really good with money and trustworthy. It’s so refreshing to have a financial podcast that is not selling me anything other than their own services (but I have never felt pressured). Thank you for sharing all your knowledge, keep up the good work! I started listening to financial podcasts in mid-2020 and just began listening to everything I could find. I have whittled it down to a core set of about 6 shows and Talking Real Money made the cut. I always learn at least 1 new thing with each episode. We went from no retirement savings in our early 50s to having ROTH IRAs set up, a brokerage account with much less “hodgepodge” and a rudimentary understanding of the pension plan at my husband’s work. THANKS Don & Tom!!!

It’s nice having Don gone. His overuse of useless words gets old. Don let’s us know how much he loves his own voice (& microphones) and waste so much of the show on himself, he’s so not funny! They are so worried about their own reviews that they put down actual successful media types. These guys don’t know what Dave Ramsey actually says about paying off a mortgage. Dave says only pay off your mortgage after your retirement savings is on track and you’re saving at least 15% of your gross income for retirement. But these guys twist it around and try making themselves seem smarter than Dave. You guys aren’t even on the same podcast planet as Dave. FYI, I’m a client of Apella Wealth. I do believe in most of the company’s investment choices, but would never ask Don for advice on anything!

There have been recent reviews casting dispersions toward Don. I completely and wholeheartedly disagree! Tom AND Don give great advice, provide almost daily podcasts, and answer listener questions. The show is informative, enjoyable, fun and educational. People, don’t expect podcast hosts to be perfect or align with every belief you have! As you can tell, I am not a fan of those who leave negative reviews because they disagree or because Don says something “political.” Great show guys and keep it up!

You get what they advertise with no hidden fees.

I found this podcast while listening to the Clark Howard podcast, and I’m glad I found it. Tom and Don are a great team. I appreciate the straight forward approach to investing. I feel I’ve benefited from their advice and only wish I found the show sooner! If you want sound financial advice that isn’t boring or from someone trying to sell a product, then this is that podcast. Great unbiased financial advice, well maybe biased against annuities, but nonetheless a great podcast.

There is helpful information, but it’s mixed in with so much unnecessary banter. The worst is when they’re just trying to crack each other up. It’s really annoying. I don’t mind some chatting, but I’m not listening to podcasts like this to be entertained. I’m sure there are some people who love this kind of thing, but I’m not one of them. There are plenty of other good financial podcasts that respect my time and know that I have other things to do.

As a few year listener I have stopped following this podcast. I just can’t take Don anymore after some egregious information that was recently discussed : 1) saying HELOCs have 2-4% fees, which is highly untrue and 2) the suggestion of dropping homeowners insurance if you don’t have a mortgage. Tom gives much wiser advice but I’m done with this podcast.

Many financial podcasts feel as tedious as watching paint dry. Not "Talking Real Money." Don and Tom bring a unique blend of entertainment and actionable advice, making financial topics engaging and easy to digest. Where many shows drown you in jargon, this one keeps you tuned in with its relatable discussions and lively banter. Highly recommended for those seeking both knowledge and entertainment in their financial education. Wish I would have found them years ago…

I thoroughly enjoy listening to your podcast whenever it becomes available…your clear-cut common sense advice is the reason your podcast resonates with me as much as it does not to mention the humor sprinkled in which is also much appreciated. Thank you and keep up the fantastic service you provide.

I have listened to Don and Tom give the wrong answers to social security questions numerous times. Don’t run with what Tom and Don say. Please do your own diligent research on anything they mention on this show. These guys are not the best resource for financial answers to your questions.

This is the most well rounded financial advice podcast I have found. Tom and Don have hilarious personalities and give non biased general recommendations for financial planning.

Super helpful info!

Tom and Don are great with the advice that they give. Great podcast!

Ron and Dom are great hosts! I know, that is not their names (inside the podcast joke). I first discovered this podcast while listening to the Clark Howard podcast (another very good podcast!). I feel that Tom and Don really have your investment back! They are not trying to sell you anything. They are just trying to help their listeners with their investment knowledge. They have a very simple investment philosophy – Invest in Broad market, low cost, Index mutual funds or ETFs. They seem to espouse this view each episode, but some of their callers say one thing, but practice something totally different. They believe that you need to keep your portfolio simple, low cost and approach retirement with a plan. They work for Apella Wealth (a fiduciary advisor), but recommend if that doesn’t work for you just make sure your advisor is a fiduciary (someone who puts your best interest first). I highly recommend this podcast!

First, boo-hoo to the trolls writing juvenile and misinformed poor reviews here. Go hide under some other bridge. This show offers sound advice, perspectives on current economic and financial news and wit that comes across as unscripted and fresh. Those attributes aren’t easy to produce and Tom and Don deliver them with high production value almost every day. Thanks for a great show!

I had to take over the finances for my grandma. I found this podcast. They were slow to explaining the basics, but I picked it up over time. I felt safe and comfortable starting my own investments off their policies. They don’t tell you to buy or sell depending on how the market is moving. They preach the same message week to week, buy and hold the market. No hysteria. But they TRY to make their dad jokes hysterical :)

Appreciate the advice and fun bantering between these two investment specialists!

I have just started listening to your podcast for about 3 weeks and I can’t get enough of your input about how and where to invest. Thank you for what you do !

These guys are the real thing in that if you listen on a continuing basis you will learn a bunch about the fundamentals of investing for a lifetime!

Have been listening for close to a year and would like to hire Tom to go over my pro folio. Bob talked about U-Hauls leaving his home state. Which is a total lie. All I have to say is what would Jesus do. Maybe spend some time with the good book.

I found this podcast through an ad on the Clark Howard podcast and, for me, it is a breath of fresh air —a bit like wearing a comfortable old sweatshirt— you just don’t want it to end I love the humor and sound advice is they are really talking real money.

I've been listening to your podcasts for about a year usually when I'm on the treadmill while I'm at the gym. I like your investment philosophy and follow your advice with my portfolio. I would give you 5 stars but the constant overtalking and interupting each other (especially by Don) is a bit annoying. A little of that goes a long, long way. Other than that I love the podcast and keep up the good work. Thank you for the advice.

The ads that this show runs are so annoying that I solemnly vow never to download an episode.

I found these guys about 2 years ago, and I love listening to Don and Tom! Their financial advice is spot on and genuine. They are not selling any product, just helping people with investing. And they are funny, both in their own way. Tom comes with the dad jokes and Don with all the witty references. I will skip other podcasts when life gets busy, but I always catch up on Talking Real Money. These guys truly provide a public service that everyone should take advantage of!

So informative and straight forward! I love listening because I learn so much AND Tom and Don have such a GREAT sense of humor!!! No dull and drab mundane talk here .. I am hooked and can’t wait to listen every day!

The jealousy of Dave Ramsey is very tiresome!

Please stop the silly bantering and get on with the advice.

The humor is nice. The advice is sound. Callers’ questions are interesting and the answers straight forward. They also look up data like advisers fees on the air and give names and numbers. I don’t know anyone else that does that.