In this special seasonal episode, you and Tom resurrect Ha or Duh, tearing through Investopedia readers’ “rules to live by” and dismantling the silliest ones with mock gravitas. Between the dad-joke arms race, a spirited defense of compounding, strong opinions on due diligence, and a surprising detour into crypto-mad zip codes, the show blends real financial guidance with holiday-season chaos. The episode also hits deeper listener questions on rebalancing, Roth vs. pre-tax strategy in high brackets, and the danger of thinking blue chips alone equal diversification.

0:04 Seasonal return of Ha or Duh and setup of Investopedia’s “investing rules”

1:32 Rule 1: Never sell because of emotions — duh

2:44 Rule 2: “Only invest in what you know” — emphatic huh

3:35 Rule 3: Good investment in a bad market — phrasing unclear, lean duh

4:26 Rule 4: Never underestimate compounding — mega-duh

5:35 Rule 5: Cash and patience as “positions” — hard huh

6:25 Segment break into calls

7:49 Back to Ha or Duh lightning round

8:33 Buy low, sell high — duh (with caveats)

9:58 “Losses are tuition you won’t get at uni” — pass

10:21 Hold for the long term — duh

11:09 Marathon, not sprint — duh

11:39 Is education the best investment? Nuanced disagreement

12:45 “Always do your own due diligence” — modified duh (about advisors, not stocks)

15:22 FOMO avoidance — duh

16:27 Final rule: Start now — biggest duh of all

17:41 Wrap-up and transition back to regular Q&A

18:06 Listener question: Finding the “sociopath son” episode

19:28 Setup for Friday’s Q&A episode

20:18 Don’s town turns into “free Disney World” during holidays

21:51 Disney hotel pricing shock and personal stories

23:42 Don’s new original Christmas story: Santaverse

24:01 Story podcasts spike; Short Storyverses mention

25:28 Listener from Bothell: 90% blue chips, 10% cash — how to rebalance?

26:39 Why blue chips aren’t diversified and the S&P concentration problem

28:52 Listener in high bracket asks when Roth beats pre-tax

30:26 SECURE Act 2.0 catch-up rules; Roth vs. pre-tax philosophy

32:10 Monte Carlo vs. unknowable future tax rates

33:26 Why all-Roth 401(k)s would simplify life

34:28 Advice: Likely stay pre-tax in 24% bracket

35:50 Shocking stats: Seattle among highest crypto-owning zip codes

37:24 Air Force bases dominate crypto ownership — why it’s dangerous

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