Don McDonald Show - Don McDonald

We all know interest rates are rising. Right? Well, then why was this fund that bets on rising rates been such a loser? Speaking of losers. Many of you have redisovered one of the dumbest ways to speculate, ever! Finally, a cool new gadget that will help you find your lost keys or your lost phone (as long as you don't lose both).

Shouldn't everyone who  works with YOUR money be required to act in your best interest? You would think so, but most hope they don't have to. Some sneaky malware that will make you wish you had backed up your files. Plus, the only sure way to make more money.

Vanguard starts offering inexpensive investment advice and some advisors are mad. Brokers start offereing horrible, expensive, complicated, misleading, etc. Equity Indexed Annuities. About a third of U.S. households live "hand-to-mouth."

If over 80 years of evidence hasn't done it, what will it take to convince "investors" that no one knows what the stock market will do in the future. Why does Dave Ramsey believe that load funds are better than no-load funds? (Hint: Follow the money.)

Is Merrill's boss serious about fee transparency. My musings on our motivations for work. Finally, the case against gloom and doom.

The Don McDonald Show merges with the old InvestoRadio for a new weekly podcast starting about March 28th.

They sent a sales package to the wrong investment advisor. Why would anyone send me sales literature on a non-publicly traded real esate investment trust (REIT)? I'm sure glad they did though, so I can sgare the huge risks and high fees with you.

Be careful when buying individual municipal bonds. The spreads are onerous, and then there's that whole issue of no diversification.

Turn $25 a month into $100,000 in just 10 years! That's the claim of a class being taught at colleges across the country. Ready to learn the truth?

Can you really turn just $25 into $100,000 in just 10 years? Sounds hard to believe, but someone is teaching classes across the country that promise to do just that. What huge annual return would be required? Find out in part one of my series, "Don't Getting Fooled in School."

What a difference a year makes. When looking at past performance of investments, the longer the track record the better.

Can you become a billionaire by simply investing well? The odds aren't good and you'll need some serious dough to get started. Plus, even the very best investing advice doesn't look so good in reality.

Far too many investment advisors charge far too much to create portfolios that stand little chance of overcoming the "drag" of high fees. So, why does the Wall Street Journal give so much press to pricey advisors like McGaldrey Wealth Management?

No big surprise; stock prices are falling today as those who call themselves investors panic about the possibility of a new Crimean War.

One of our competitors, The Mutual Fund Store, is watching us pretty closely. Find out why they should be worried because of the fees they charge and the type of funds they use.

Why does one financial columnist act like he knows what the market is going to do in one breath and then suggest long-term, low-cost, diversified investing in the next?

Today, my concern is with the number of folks entering the crazy (and dangerous) business of day trading. Day trading is really gambling and the numbers prove it.

Will retiring baby boomers bust stock prices? Find out what Vanguard believes.

Fall in love with your fund? How (or) should you accomplish this?

Why do fcolumnists give either bad or half-bad advice? Plus, the Journal adds a brilliant new disclaimer.

What are the 3 good reasons to roll your 401(k) or 403(b) into an IRA?

There are only three ways to make money. If you choose the path of Matt Martoma, you could find yourself doing time

A recent op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal illustrates just how foolish and self-serving many investing ideas really are.

It appears that when it comes to investing, great minds do think alike.

Wall Street just can't seem to find any eveidence that mutual funds managers exhibit any predictable skill.

MyRA, a weak plan to try and get more young and/or low-paid workers to save for retirement.

Buying individual stocks is almost like gambling. Here are some examples of the dangers of betting on one business

Still fighting a nasty bug, Don checks in with listeners 

While looking back at the past does not provide a glimpse of the future, it can provide some serious perspective about how we should behave going forward. 

How safe are your investments from hackers?

We check the market "time" from two well know "stopped clocks," Harry Dent and Rober McHugh. Are they right yet?

Why would anyone in the investment business fight against being required to do what's right for you? Plus, is JP Morgan Chase truly incompetent?

Why you should own bonds. Plus, Chuck Jaffe agrees that diversification is the key to investing success.

Don answers listeners questions of the gold and investment tax strategies.

What is the worst investment? Could it be gold? Also, a listener shares some other great reason for hiring a good investment advisor.

Is the market going to fall 50%? Listen in as Henry Blodgett and Jeff Macke pay "Dumb and Dumber" on Yahoo! Finance. Plus, another positive piece about Dimensional funds is published.

How does DFA compare to Vanguard? Don looks at a crazy new fund idea and how much money should you have in stocks?

Don explains why his favorite fund family, DFA, became his favorite. He also answers a listener's question about the downside of deflation.

Don's final broadcast program featuring a final poke at Dave Ramsey's and Jim Cramer's bad investing advice.

Don answers listeners deep questions and which financial products worry regulators most.

Don has a momentary "Scrooge" attack and why high performance money managers are either lying or cheating.

The best indicator of a good mutual fund and the nasty surpise lurking within many cash value life insurance policies.

Target gets targeted by a gang of cyber thieves and you could have a lot of work ahead of you and FINRA says that non-publicly traded REITs need more oversight.

Why are passive portfolios better for you and should you practice retirement?

The question that should NEVER be asked of a financial "expert" and the perfect Christmas gift? 

Do insurance regulators really care about doing right by their customers and how many people admit to having sex on a plane.

Wall Street "promises" high returns and low risk. Plus, why every advisor should be a fiduciary and what that means.

The five year anniversary of Bernie Madoff's arrest and the lessons that must be learned. Plus, get Cody Willard's trading history for a mere $99 per... wait for it... MONTH.

Don presents "How I spent my winter business trip and other travel tips." One of Don's favorite advisory firms starts dabbling in a very expensive, possibly dangerous investment. Remember CMOs and CDOs? How about ILSs? Insurance linked securities could be Wall Street's latest attempt to baffle you with BS while claiming high yields and "reasonable" safety. Finally, gold bugs keep spouting lies and half truths.

How much can you make on your investments and what is risk? Is the best 529 plan your local plan or the least expensive ones and which are the best? Can hedge funds actually make you money? Let's look at few. The problem with the Wall Street Journal's stupid electronic subscription model. Is this the time to be buying stocks? Finally, are you ready for printed food?