Don and Tom tackle a mix of market mania and listener questions, skewering speculative fads like meme stocks, SPACs, private credit ETFs, and covered-call funds. Don opens with a scam text story before the duo dive into the absurdity of “get-rich” products during a record-breaking market. They stress discipline, diversification, and turning off CNBC — repeatedly. Listener questions include Roth conversions in high tax brackets and funding a home purchase without wrecking retirement plans. The show ends on a hilarious tangent about listeners wearing backpack banners to promote Talking Real Money.
0:04 Scam text from Colorado and the hazards of living alone in a studio
1:09 Market highs and the illusion of perfect timing
2:35 Stock concentration, meme stock mania, and the “Magnificent Seven” dominance
3:34 Listener call: investing in a soccer team partnership promising 15–30% returns
5:12 Why “too good to be true” often is — scams and speculative traps
6:09 Covered-call ETFs (JEPI, GPIQ) explained and debunked
9:39 New private credit ETF (PCR): high fees, low transparency, huge risk
12:49 CNBC hype vs. reality — why turning off financial TV is sound advice
16:21 Listener question: Roth conversions and tax traps in the 30% bracket
19:26 Another listener: funding a new home without derailing retirement
21:47 Don’s rant on overpricing homes — “every house sells at the right price”
23:24 Real estate emotion vs. math — the price always tells the truth
24:31 Episode wrap-up: humor, gratitude, and an absurd “wearable banner” promo idea
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