Tom and Don open the show with tech woes and quips before diving into a serious discussion about the U.S. credit rating downgrade and its implications for borrowing costs and long-term debt. They offer practical investing advice in light of the downgrade—think short- and intermediate-term bonds and global diversification. Listener calls bring a colorful array of financial situations: a comfortably retired couple managing rental income, a military retiree with credit card debt, a candid debt history rant from a longtime listener, and a woman with $80K in savings and a low mortgage who's frozen in financial fear. The show wraps with WWII plane trivia, laughs about caulking commercials, and a reminder: simplify your finances before they complicate you.

0:04 Show open; Tom and Don back on the line, with tech trouble and small-town banter
1:45 U.S. credit downgrade and what it means for investors
5:20 What to do now: diversify bonds, stay short-term, add global exposure
7:26 Call: Ike from Marysville — strong retirement income, rental questions, safe stock skepticism
13:44 Installment sale talk, tax planning, and passive income alternatives
15:41 Call: Nick vents on U.S. debt history and tax policy—“Reagan to Trump, same mistakes”
19:44 Call: Pat the military retiree—$14K in credit card debt, $400K in IRA, what to do?
24:25 Strategy: Use cash and IRA to eliminate debt fast—stop paying 20% to Discover
27:12 Call: Jody from Blaine — 65, working, scared to invest, $80K in savings
33:57 Advice: Keep the mortgage, max the 401(k), move money into higher-yield and growth
35:18 Wrap-up: Graduation pride, plane trivia, caulk jokes, and a heartfelt call to action

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