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:
523 Plus: May 2025 Investment Strategy Commentary and a Portfolio Change
In Plus episode 523, we review the impact of the trade war on financial markets and portfolio positioning for navigating the crisis. David also discusses a new asset-based lending investment in hisGo to episode…
521 Plus: Investing in European Union Bonds, Hedging Currency Risk and a Weakening U.S. Dollar
In Plus episode 521, we explore how investors can invest in AAA rated bond backed by the European Union. We also review how non-U.S. stock currency-hedged ETFs work and whether now is a good time toGo to episode…
Active Bond Management, TIPS Volatility, and a New Asset-backed Bond ETF
In Plus episode 520, we examine why a greater percentage of bond managers outperform a passive index compared to active stock managers. We review why Treasury Inflation Protection Securities exhibitGo to episode…
Plus 519: PUTW Rebranding, a Member Portfolio Review, and a New Public Private Corporate Bond ETF
In Plus episode 519, we share two announcements that impact Plus members. We review how the WisdomTree PutWrite Strategy Fund (PUTW) was rebranded and became the WisdomTree Equity Premium IncomeGo to episode…
518 Plus: April 2025 Investment Strategy Commentary
We review what happened, where are we now, and where are we heading after the steepest stock market decline in five yearsGo to episode…
515 Plus: U.S. Dollar, a New All Weather ETF, and Daily Rebalancing
In Plus episode 515, we provide a follow-up to episode 515 on the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency. We analyze the new SPDR Bridgewater All Weather ETF (ALLW). Finally, we look at a strategyGo to episode…
514 Plus: March 2025 Investment Strategy Commentary
In Plus episode 514, we review what happened with financial markets and the economy, where we are now, and where we are heading. We explore the potential impact of U.S. tariffs and other fiscallyGo to episode…
512/513 Plus: Exiting MCI and Comparing Conservative Fixed Income Options
In Plus episode 512/513, David discusses why he sold his position in the Barings Corporate Investors Fund (MCI). We also compare the yields and tax rules of U.S savings bonds, nominal Treasuries, zeroGo to episode…
U.S. Small Cap Value Comparison, Bitcoin ETF Performance, and New Money Market ETFs
In Plus episode 511, we discuss differing performance among U.S. small-cap value ETFs. We see if Bitcoin ETFs accurately track underlying Bitcoin. Finally, we analyze two new money market ETFs byGo to episode…
510 Plus: February 2025 Investment Conditions Commentary
This week on Plus episode 510, we review financial market returns, economic trends, asset class valuations and explore some of the headwinds and tailwinds for financial markets in 2025Go to episode…
509 Plus: MCI Premium, BCD Fees, and the Missing Small Cap and Value Premium
In this week’s Plus episode, we clarify some points from our private credit discussion in episode 509. We look at the risks with Barings Corporate Investors (MCI) selling at a 30% premium to itsGo to episode…
508 Plus: Annual Asset Class Expected Returns and Ranges Update
This week on Plus episode 508, we review the revised asset class expected returns. We discuss the process, changes to the assumptions, and tools available that incorporate the revised assumptionsGo to episode…
507 Plus: Performance Attribution Revisited, Efficient Market Hypothesis, Private Credit
In Plus episode 507, we provide an update on the stock market performance attribution shared last week. We consider whether asset class pricing follows the efficient market hypothesis so asset classesGo to episode…
506 Plus: January 2025 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 506, we review financial market performance for 2024, analyze investment conditions, and consider risks and opportunities for investors looking to rebalance their portfoliosGo to episode…
505 Plus: Japanese Stocks, Investing at All-Time Highs, and Exchange Funds
In Plus episode 505, we review the investment thesis and performance of the WisdomTree Japan Small Cap Dividend ETF (DFJ). We look at U.S. stock market performance when investing at all-time highsGo to episode…
504 Plus: Portfolio Trade, Indexing Bubble, and Money Market Capital Gains
In Plus episode 504, David explains his recent portfolio trade to exit his AI-related ETFs and increase his allocation to non-U.S. small-cap stocks. We review Simplify ETF strategist MichaelGo to episode…
Plus 503: December 2024 Investment Conditions
In Plus episode 503, we review financial market returns, economic trends, asset class valuations and other factors that are impacting investment markets leading into 2025Go to episode…
502 Plus: TFLO Flash Crash, Active Asset Allocation, Coinbase, and Investing in Bitcoin
In Plus episode 502, we discuss the one-day flash crash for the iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF in 2014. We discuss the reasons for the initial allocation to TFLO in the adaptive modelGo to episode…
501 Plus: Why Interest Rates Are Rising, Maximum Drawdowns, and Buffer ETF Underperformance
In Plus episode 501, we review why Federal Reserve Chair Powell said the Fed isn’t in a hurry to lower its policy rate. We revisit why interest rates are increasing. David shares the expectedGo to episode…
500 Plus: November 2024 Investment Conditions and a Correction
In Plus episode 500, we acknowledge 10 years of Plus episodes. We correct a misstatement from last week’s Plus episode. We also review investment conditions as of early November 2024Go to episode…
499 Plus: Reducing Savings Bond Exposure, A New Tax Aware ETF, and Did a Tail Risk ETF Work
In Plus episode 499, David shares why he reduced his exposure to Series I Savings Bonds. We briefly look at the recently announced Cambria Tax Aware ETF (TAX). Finally, we analyze the historicalGo to episode…
498 Plus: Using an Advisor in Retirement, Non Investment Grade Bonds, and a CLO Follow Up
In Plus episode 498, we consider whether to use a financial advisor in retirement. We explore if there is a rule of thumb for when to invest in non-investment grade bonds. We analyze the BondBloxx CCCGo to episode…
497 Plus: Portfolio Trade, Bond and CLO Defaults, and Non-U.S. Stock Valuations
This week on Plus episode 497, we review David’s trade to sell ASGI. We review historical default rates for bonds and CLOs. We also explore why non-U.S. stock valuations are lower today than 20Go to episode…
496 Plus: October 2024 Investment Conditions and a Portfolio Trade
In Plus episode 496, we review investment conditions as of early October 2024. We also discuss David’s recent portfolio trade to switch out buffer ETFsGo to episode…
495 Plus: China’s Stock Boom, U.S. Recession Risk, and Fractional Shares
In Plus episode 495, we explore why the Chinese stock market has gained 15% this month. We review the latest leading economic indicators to assess U.S. and global recession risk. Finally, we touch onGo to episode…
494 Plus: TIPS, When to Sell a Bond, and a New Deletion ETF
In Plus episode 494, we compare owning a TIPS ladder versus using TIPS ETFs. We consider when an investor should sell an individual bond that has appreciated in price. Finally, we review the ResearchGo to episode…
493 Plus: Investing in India, Simplify Volatility Premium ETF, and Stock Market Inelasticity
In Plus episode 493, we revisit the case for investing in the Indian stock market and consider whether one should do so with an ETF that hedges currency exposure. We revisit the Simplify VolatilityGo to episode…
492 Plus: September 2024 Investment Conditions
In Plus episode 492, we review the latest financial and economic trends to determine whether they warrant changes in our investment strategyGo to episode…
491 Plus: Buffer ETFs, TIPS, Brokerage Bankruptcies and HSA Accounts
In Plus episode 491, we explore why buffer ETFs use European-style options with a set exercise date rather than American-style options that can be exercised at any time. We look at the maximum lossGo to episode…
490 Plus: Accredited Investors, David’s Private Capital Allocation, Closed-End Funds and BLW
In Plus episode 490, we continue the discussion on accredited investors. David breaks down his private capital allocation and discusses potential substitutes. We answer several questions aboutGo to episode…
489 Plus: August Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 489, we review investment conditions after a volatile week for the stock market. We unpack the latest data to understand what, if any, changes investors should make to their portfoliosGo to episode…
488 Plus: Portfolio Trades, Pershing Square USA Follow Up, and CEF Premiums
In Plus episode 488, David reviews changes in his portfolio, including adding a fixed-income bullet ETF, an equity buffer ETF, and increasing his allocation to CLOs. We discuss why Pershing SquareGo to episode…
487 Plus: Bank Loans, CLOs, and Pershing Square’s New Closed-end Fund
In Plus episode 487, we answer some members’ questions on bank loans and collateralized loan obligations. We also analyze Pershing Square USA (PSUS), Bill Ackman’s anticipated closed-endGo to episode…
486 Plus: Callable Bonds, U.S. AI Stock Bubble, Robinhood, and Crypto Taxes
In Plus episode 486, we review how to estimate expected returns when a fund or ETF holds callable bonds. We consider two questions from members worried about high valuations for the U.S. stock marketGo to episode…
485 Plus: June 2024 Investment Conditions Commentary
In Plus episode 485, we review financial market returns, economic trends, asset class valuations, and market internals as of mid-July 2024Go to episode…
484 Plus: ETF Family Size and a Review of QE’s Impact on Inflation and Asset Prices
In Plus episode 484, we answer a member’s question on whether it is better to invest in larger ETFs and with larger ETF families. We also review quantitative easing and quantitative tighteningGo to episode…
483 Plus: Private Credit, BDCs, CLOs, Cash Balances and Is This Portfolio Too Aggressive
In Plus episode 483, we analyze the Virtus Private Credit ETF (VPC), which invests in business development companies (BDCs), leveraged loans, and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). We review theGo to episode…
482 Plus: Investing in Municipal Bonds, Interpreting Bond Spread Data, and YieldStreet Update
In Plus episode 482, we review the types, structures, default risks, and different tax treatments of municipal bonds. We also explain how to interpret the Income Strategies and Bond table in theGo to episode…
481 Plus: June 2024 Investment Conditions and No Longer Selling Bitcoin
This week on Plus episode 481, we review why overall investment conditions were updated to neutral YELLOW from low neutral. David also explains why he no longer intends to take profits in Bitcoin, butGo to episode…
480 Plus: U.S. Treasury Auctions, Fundamental Index, and a Peer Street Bankruptcy Update
In Plus episode 480, we explore how Treasury auctions work and what metrics are monitored to assess whether demand is strong or weak. We review the performance of fundamental indexing relative toGo to episode…
478 and 479 Plus: Public and Private REIT Update, Analyzing Individual Stocks, Comparing Brokerage Firms, and Direct Indexing
In this combined Plus episodes 478 and 479, we review public equity REITs’ historical performance, expected returns, and current valuations. We also compare public equity REITs to private REITsGo to episode…
477 Plus: May 2024 Investment Conditions
In Plus episode 477, we review why financial markets sold off in April and how to position our portfolios going forwardGo to episode…
476 Plus: Reflections on Money for the Rest of Us Plus Ten Years Later
In Plus episode 476, David shares his thoughts on where Money for the Rest of Us and Plus membership has come and where it is goingGo to episode…
475 Plus: Convertible Bonds, Treasury ETFs, Cash Equivalents and Taxes on RSUs
In Plus episode 475, we review investment conditions for convertible bonds. We answer a member’s question on investing in Treasury ETFs and cash. Finally, we discuss the tax consequences whenGo to episode…
474 Plus: Who Really Owns Our Stock Shares, a New Private Tech Company CEF, and a Canadian Cash Equivalent
In Plus episode 474, we review what it means that investors who purchase stock through a brokerage firm don’t really own the stock but are only entitled to the dividends. We explore a newGo to episode…
473 Plus: April 2024 Investment Conditions and Exiting AMJ
In Plus episode 473, we review investment conditions as of early April 2024. We consider options for rebalancing away from U.S. stocks after their 30% gain in the past year. David also shares why weGo to episode…
472 Plus: When to Use Option Writing Strategies, Premium Income Barrier ETFs, and Performance Tracking Apps
In Plus episode 472, we compare covered call and put writing strategies to Innovator’s Premium Income Barrier ETFs. We consider how option writing strategies fit into a portfolio. Finally, weGo 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.
