Money For the Rest of Us Plus is a weekly premium podcast that answers questions from members on a variety of investing and finance-related topics. New episodes are released on Saturday. Members can submit a question here for consideration in an upcoming Plus episode.
Here is a list of all of the Plus Episodes:
449 Plus: Retaining an Investment Advisor, Money Market Funds, Repos, and a QT Update
In Plus episode 449, we answer a member’s question about retaining an investment advisor. We compare bank-offered money market accounts and money market mutual funds. We review what repurchaseGo to episode…
448 Plus: Speculations, Automating Investments DRIPS, and Purchasing Land in Mexico
In Plus episode 448, we discuss speculations in marijuana stocks and AI. We explore how dividend reinvestment programs work, and the benefits of making sure there is congruence between one’sGo to episode…
447 Plus: The Tax Impact of Active Stock Funds, Municipal Bonds, and Balancing Cash and Longer-term Bonds
In Plus episode 447, we discuss how to calculate the performance impact of capital gains tax distributions for an active stock mutual fund. We answer a member’s question on what to do with aGo to episode…
446 Plus: September 2023 Investment Conditions and Strategy Commentary
In Plus episode 446, we review why the consensus believes the global economy can achieve a soft landing. We also consider why interest rates are rising. We look at how the stock market has performedGo to episode…
445 Plus: More on Estimating Bond Fund Returns and Spin-Off Investing
In Plus episode 445, we reference an academic study as we try to better explain why the starting yield to maturity is a good estimate of a bond fund’s or ETF’s annualized return if theGo to episode…
444 Plus: Master Limited Partnerships, Differing Bond Yield Calculations, and AI Model Hallucinations
In Plus episode 444, we provide an update on master limited partnerships. We look at the differing bond yield calculations for bond funds and ETFs, and why there can be a disconnect between yield toGo to episode…
442 Plus: August 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 442, we review economic trends, asset class valuations and market internals as of early August 2023. We consider how the consensus appears to expect a soft landing, but that it is notGo to episode…
441 Plus: Fixed Rate Debt, Japan and Yield Curve Control, Activist Short Sellers, Treasuries and Taxes
In Plus episode 441, we consider the economic impact of private-sector fixed-rate debt versus variable-rate debt. We discuss the Bank of Japan’s apparent abandoning of yield curve control. WhenGo to episode…
440 Plus: What Age to Rebalance, PIMCO Income Fund, Comparing Two Other Bond Funds, and Buying a Small Business
In Plus episode 440, we revisit when and why to rebalance a portfolio. We analyze the PIMCO Income Fund to see if the dividend is sustainable. We compare the Dodge & Cox Income Fund to theGo to episode…
439 Plus: New Portfolio Trades, Market Temperature, Providing Investment Help, and TFLO
In Plus episode 439, we continue discussing AI large-language models and how to think about them. David shares two AI-influenced trades in his portfolio. We review a recent editorial by Howard MarksGo to episode…
438 Plus: July 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 438, we review financial market returns, economic trends, and asset class valuations as of early July 2023Go to episode…
437 Plus: Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds and an Advantage of Closed-End Fund Premiums
In Plus episode 437, we explore the history of the 90-year-old Federal Home Loan Bank, and why its bonds can be attractive to individual investors. We also explore how closed-end funds that sell at aGo to episode…
436 Plus: Asset Camp and Plus Membership, Qualified Dividends, and Mutual Fund Share Classes
In Plus episode 436, we discuss why Asset Camp is separate from Plus membership even as charts and data from Asset Camp are used in materials on the Plus membership site, including the monthlyGo to episode…
435 Plus: June 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 435, we discuss why we bother producing and consuming a monthly investment conditions report when most of the time over the past nine years investment conditions have been neutral. WeGo to episode…
434 Plus: Model Portfolios Overview, Why DFJ, and Icahn Enterprises Follow Up
In Plus episode 434, we review the Money For the Rest of Us Plus model portfolios, their history and how they are used. We discuss why the WisdomTree Japan Small Cap Dividend ETF (DFJ) is included inGo to episode…
433 Plus: Wealth Trackers Review, How Many Bond Funds, Inflation and the Trillion Dollar Coin
In Plus episode 433, we compare Kubera to Exirio. We discuss bond portfolio structure and compare the DoubleLine Core Fixed Income Fund to the DoubleLine Total Return Bond Fund. Finally, we discussGo to episode…
432 Plus: Where To Invest In Bonds Now and a Cockroach Role-Based Portfolio
In Plus episode 432, we compare investing in CDs, municipal bonds, investment grade corporate bonds, U.S. Treasuries, or TIPS in the current investment environment. We also analyze a version of aGo to episode…
431 Plus: May 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 431, we provide an update on the U.S. banking crisis and its potential impact on the global economy and financial markets. We also look for evidence of financial stress and reviewGo to episode…
430 Plus: Merriman Two Fund For Life Portfolio and Premium Income Barrier ETFs
In Plus episode 430, we analyze the risk and reward of combining a target date retirement fund with a small cap value allocation. We also analyze Innovator ETFs’ new Premium Income BarrierGo to episode…
429 Plus: Stocks and Inflation, Emerging Markets Bonds
In Plus episode 429, we consider how stocks perform during periods of high inflation by looking at the example of Argentina and a recent academic study on the topicGo to episode…
428 Plus: CMBS Risks, ETF Replacements for Money Market Mutual Funds, and Comparing Two Value ETFs
In Plus episode 428, we explore how commercial mortgage-backed securities work. We look at ETF options that are similar to money market mutual funds. We analyze the U.S. Benchmark Series, a new ETFGo to episode…
427 Plus: April 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 427, we review economic trends, asset class valuations, and financial market trends in light of the banking scare last monthGo to episode…
426 Plus: TIPS vs CDs, 1031 Exchange, and a Balanced Leveraged ETF Portfolio
In Plus episode 426, we analyze how to decide between 5-year TIPS or 5-year certificates of deposit. We explore how real estate investors defer taxes through 1031 exchanges and investing in DelawareGo to episode…
425 Plus: Bank Contagion Update, Mid Cap Value ETFs, SEC Yields, and Deciding When to Retire
In Plus episode 425, we provide an update on the U.S. banking situation and the potential impact on financial markets and the economy. We look at mid-cap value investing and profile three mid-capGo to episode…
424 Plus: CLO ETF Trade, Bonds vs Stocks, Preferred Stock Dividends, and AI ETFs
In Plus episode 424, we review a recent portfolio trade David made. We look at the valuations of stocks versus bonds. We consider why more preferred stocks are non cumulative versus cumulativeGo to episode…
423 Plus: March 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 423, we review economic trends, asset class valuations, earnings expectations, and market internals as of early March. February was a case of good news being badGo to episode…
422 Plus: A TIPS Trade, TIPS Taxes, Wash Sale Update, and Finding Alternative Investment Funds
In Plus episode 422, we discuss a recent TIPS purchase David made. We review how TIPS are taxed, including what are original issue discounts. We look at examples of tax loss harvesting trades thatGo to episode…
421 Plus: Follow Up to Hiring an Investment Advisor and DoubleLine’s New Bond ETF
In Plus episode 421, we revisit a situation from Episode 389 in which a member was interviewing investment advisors to see what he decided to do. We also compare DoubleLine’s new DoubleLineGo to episode…
420 Plus: Member Case Study Follow-Up and AI Investing
In Plus episode 420, we follow up with two members featured in previous Plus episodes about what they chose to do. We analyze investing using AI including the AI Equity Powered ETF (AIEQ)Go to episode…
419 Plus: February 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 419, we review the current state of financial markets and the global economy. We also share our outlookGo to episode…
418 Plus: Mortgage REIT Preferred Stock, Debt Ceiling Standoff, and Fallen Angel Bonds
In Plus episode 418, we review the current status of mortgage REITs and analyze the mortgage REIT preferred stock David recently purchased. We consider whether investors should move assets out of cashGo to episode…
417 Plus: Which Assets Now, How Much in Real Estate, Disinflation, Foreign Taxes, and CEFs
In Plus Episode 417, we consider whether there is an optimal price to renter the S&P 500 Index or other asset classes. We discuss what disinflation means. We consider what is a reasonableGo to episode…
416 Plus: Updated Expected Return Assumptions, Will the Dollar Stay Strong, and More on Dollar Cost Averaging
In Plus Episode 416, we review the methodology Money For the Rest of Us uses to develop expected returns for different asset classes. We review the latest expected returns and how they differ from sixGo to episode…
415 Plus: January 2023 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 415, we review 2022 financial performance and discuss the current outlook based on year-end investment conditionsGo to episode…
414 Plus: Emerging Markets Latin America Stocks, Bank Safety and Investing Lump Sums
In Plus episode 414, we review the current valuations of Latin American stocks, deconstruct historical performance, and develop estimates for returns over the next decade. We review ETFs for investingGo to episode…
413 Plus: December 2022 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 413, we review why investment conditions were upgraded to low neutral YELLOW from REDGo to episode…
411 & 412 Plus: Floating Rate Treasuries, TFLO, Real Yield Curves, Trust, and GBTC
In this combined Plus episode 411 and 412, we explore how U.S. Treasury Floating Rate Notes work, and why they are cash equivalents. We discuss the iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO) thatGo to episode…
410 Plus: TIPS Auction Results, Normal Interest Rates, 90/10 Portfolios, and Financial Independence
In Plus episode 410, we review the results from the recent TIPS auction that David participated in. We look at what determines interest rates and whether there is a normal level. We discuss WarrenGo to episode…
408 Plus: November 2022 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 408, we explore current asset class valuations, economic trends, and market internals to see what if any changes investors should make with their portfoliosGo to episode…
407 Plus: More on Annuities, Real Estate, Yield Curve, Strong Dollar, and Zombie Firms
In Plus Episode 407, we continue our discussion on fixed annuities and fixed index annuities. We discuss real estate crowdfunding platforms, inverted yield curves, Series I savings bonds, and is now aGo to episode…
406 Plus: More on SVOL, Active Bond Funds, Vanguard Risk Rates, and Purchasing Real Estate in IRAs
In Plus Episode 406, David provides more detail on why he sold the Simplify Volatility Premium ETF. We discuss how all bond investing involves some active decisions and why an investor would considerGo to episode…
405 Plus: October 2022 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 405, we review why overall investment conditions were downgraded to RED and whether investors should further reduce risk in their portfoliosGo to episode…
404 Plus: More on Bonds, Interest Rates, Monetary Velocity, and Inflation
In Plus Episode 404, we discuss paying down a mortgage early now that interest rates are higher. We answer a member’s questions on how to invest college savings to be used in seven years orGo to episode…
403 Plus: Is This Normal? Rate Increases, Negative Returns, and Owning Short-term versus Long-term Bonds
In Plus Episode 403, we consider whether the current market volatility is normal compared to earlier periods of rising interest rates. We review the latest leading economic indicators to see ifGo to episode…
402 Plus: Buying TIPS, Taxes and Bonds, and Calculating Investment Returns
In Plus Episode 402, we discuss purchasing individual Treasury Inflation Protection Securities versus TIPS ETFs. We look at how bonds are taxed and how to tax-adjust municipal and corporate bondsGo to episode…
401 Plus: September 2022 Investment Conditions Review
In Plus episode 401, we review the latest investment conditions including economic trends, the outlook for inflation, and asset class valuationsGo to episode…
Money For the Rest of Us Plus launched in December 2014. Consequently, MNY029 Plus is the first Plus episode. There are no Plus episodes that correspond to earlier episodes of Money For the Rest of Us.
