Don and Tom dig into America’s $1.7 trillion in forgotten retirement accounts—29 million of them! They walk listeners through how to search for their own missing funds and share their own finds (or lack thereof). They answer questions about where to park $100K in short-term savings, when (or if) to convert to a Roth in your 70s, the pros and cons of ETFs versus mutual funds in taxable accounts, and the murky territory of backdoor Roth timing and the pro-rata rule. A listener also calls in with praise—and a gentle challenge—to donate or support the show, leading to reflections on how to really help Talking Real Money thrive.

0:05 Welcome back—same truth, new week: invest simply, diversify, and stop overthinking

1:24 Financial complexity is mostly unnecessary—simple portfolios work best

2:37 Listeners have lost $1.7 trillion in forgotten 401(k)s—here’s how to find yours

4:34 Don checks the retirement lost & found—comes up empty

6:33 Tom finds $29 from Starbucks—through a different database

7:36 Sites to check: National Registry, Lost & Found DB, MissingMoney.com

9:15 Caller Alan: What should I do with $100K in liquid, short-term funds?

11:30 Don’s “Three Easy Pieces” ladder strategy: savings + 1-year + 2-year CDs

14:13 Alan’s happy—Bread Savings gets a shout-out

15:43 Talking Real Money Friday Q&A is the listener favorite

17:00 Caller Joel: Should I switch my Vanguard mutual funds to ETFs?

19:14 Yes—especially in taxable accounts, for better tax efficiency

20:44 Caller Sue: At 77, is it too late to convert $100K from IRA to Roth?

27:05 Probably not worth it—tax impact likely the same or worse

29:51 Rethinking retirement tax math—it’s not “your” money until it’s taxed

33:19 Don checks reviews—guess who’s back with a grudge?

33:49 Caller Ray: Can I move IRA to 457 to avoid pro-rata on backdoor Roth?

36:40 Caller Jim: Mom’s advisor switched to LPL—should I worry?

38:59 Jim’s suggestion: listeners donate to a favorite charity in TRM’s name

40:04 Victory Capital funds: Don’s not a fan of their approach

42:41 Why broad diversification beats thematic ETFs with 100 holdings

44:12 Wrap-up: Where to listen, how to submit questions, and why reviews matter

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