Questions Abound

Questions Abound

Update: 2025-10-24
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Don and Tom tackle another full “Q Day,” answering listener questions on Roth fund selection, bond fund gimmicks, real estate returns, California’s odd HSA tax treatment, switching from Vanguard to Avantis, copying politician trades, and whether Vanguard’s Cash Plus account beats its money market fund. The episode mixes practical investing logic with humor, skepticism, and a bit of Don’s plug for his new storytelling podcast, New Tales Told.


0:04 Q Day begins — Don riffs on “Q” words and high-quality listener audio


1:42 Betsy from Minnesota asks: best funds for a Roth IRA (AVUV, VOO, AVGE)


2:39 Don suggests simplifying to AVGE, but warns of risk and emotional resilience


4:12 Jesse from Seattle on CPAG “tax-efficient” bond ETF — Don calls it a gimmick


5:55 Don’s math: CPAG only helps slightly at 35% tax bracket, not worth complexity


9:06 Listener compares 403(b) vs. home value growth — Don confirms results typical


12:45 Real estate’s weak real return over time and lifestyle vs. investment value


12:45 California HSA confusion — Don explains CA taxes HSAs like normal accounts


15:22 Nathan from Georgia: Vanguard vs. Avantis funds, and “copy politician trades”


17:20 Don: Avantis adds small/value tilt, AVGE can simplify portfolio management


19:14 Don: “copy-trade” apps are expensive, delayed, and silly gimmicks


20:58 James from Virginia: Vanguard Cash Plus vs. money market funds


22:34 Don explains FDIC difference and risk-reward tradeoff, prefers money market


24:11 Closing reflections, legacy talk, and plug for New Tales Told

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Don McDonald