About this episode
Don and Tom take aim at America's favorite financial myths—starting with the widespread belief that real estate and gold are the best long-term investments. They present nearly 100 years of historical data to show why stocks have far outpaced both. The conversation also tackles misleading annuity pitches, a classic pension lump sum dilemma, and the age-old question facing 20-somethings: save for a house or retirement? Callers bring smart questions about guaranteed annuities, where to park surplus cash, and the VT vs. VTI+VXUS tax argument. As always, the show delivers investing wisdom with skeptical charm and a few zingers. 0:10 — A third of Americans believe real estate or gold are the best long-term investments 1:40 — The real historical winners: stocks beat gold and real estate by miles 3:03 — Nearly 100 years of returns: real estate (4.2%), gold (5%), stocks (9.9%) 6:00 — Don’s missed heart procedure and Tom’s recycled joke vault 7:49 — Don’s NYC hotel sticker shock vs. Tom’s five-star absence excuse 9:02 — Caller Jim asks about multi-year guaranteed annuities as bond alternatives 10:01 — Why MYGAs aren’t remotely comparable to U.S. Treasuries 13:07 — If something looks too good (5.8% guaranteed), it probably isn't 14:25 — Another Jim (Florida) asks: lump sum or $250/month pension? 17:30 — Financial flexibility vs. longevity risk in pension decisions 21:32 — Listener dilemma: save for retirement or a house at 24? 23:57 — Why early Roth contributions beat early homeownership for long-term wealth 25:41 — Kyle in Indianapolis has an extra $40K—where should it go? 27:26 — If it’s 5 years, don’t risk stocks. If it’s 10+, maybe 30:47 — Allie from Wyoming asks: VT vs. VTI+VXUS for better foreign tax credits 32:25 — Why foreign tax credit isn’t a good enough reason to skip VT 34:21 — Global GDP, stock valuations, and the eternal U.S. vs. international allocation debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices