Worried About Inflation?

Don and Tom tackle investors’ obsession with inflation protection and the financial industry’s willingness to sell expensive products that promise impossible outcomes. Using PIMCO’s Inflation Response Multi-Asset Fund as a case study, they explain why complex, high-cost inflation hedges often create more problems than they solve. The discussion explores historical inflation, why stocks remain the most effective long-term defense against rising prices, and the dangers of chasing investment magic. Listener questions cover retirement asset allocation at age 50, the role of bonds as retirement approaches, balancing Roth and traditional retirement contributions in a high-tax state, and the surprisingly small impact of foreign tax credits on international fund returns.

0:05 Why investors constantly search for inflation-proof portfolios
2:09 Historical inflation, Fed targets, and perspective on rising prices
5:47 The endless appeal of inflation hedges
6:15 Breaking down PIMCO’s Inflation Response Multi-Asset Fund
8:09 Why TIPS, commodities, and leverage aren’t magic solutions
10:57 Stocks as the best long-term inflation defense
12:39 Listener question: Moving from 100% stocks toward retirement
14:15 Risk tolerance versus age-based allocation formulas
15:58 Building a bond allocation before retirement
17:26 Small-cap value and international diversification considerations
19:24 Roth versus traditional 401(k) contributions in New York
21:44 The value of tax diversification and multiple retirement account types
23:13 Countries that operate without personal income taxes
24:19 Understanding foreign tax credits and international funds
27:58 Why tiny tax differences shouldn’t drive investment decisions
28:14 Celebrating 1,900 Talking Real Money podcast episodes
29:09 An advisor shares how the podcast helps her growing practice
30:26 Working with a fiduciary advisor at Appella

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