About this episode
Don and Tom take listeners on a wild ride through the booming (and frequently disastrous) world of leveraged ETFs . They break down how these funds promise double or triple the excitement but mathematically bleed away returns through volatility decay. A few listener questions follow, covering retirement cash buffers, negotiating advisory fees on large portfolios, and comparing IRTR vs AOM for a near-retiree allocation. Humor, subtle self-mockery, a Jonas Brothers detour, and a reminder that gambling is not investing. 0:04 Opening banter and the thrill-seeker pitch for leveraged ETFs 1:29 Leveraged single-stock ETFs explode from zero to $40B 3:26 MicroStrategy example: stock up ~30%, 2x ETF down ~65% 5:03 How volatility decay quietly destroys leveraged returns 7:36 5x ETFs and the “go to zero in one day” problem 9:01 When leverage stops being “investing” and starts being gambling 11:38 Listener question: Should retirees hold a bigger cash buffer to avoid selling in downturns? 14:37 Listener question: Should a $4M managed client negotiate fees? (Yes.) 17:43 IRTR vs AOM comparison for someone three years from retirement 22:54 Seasonal weather rant and hunkering down for productivity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices