Show notes
This episode shifts from investing to the growing threat of scams—especially targeting older adults—breaking down how common fraud tactics work, from fake virus alerts and spoofed calls to AI-driven voice cloning and recovery scams. Don and Tom emphasize a simple but powerful rule: if you didn’t initiate the contact, assume it’s a scam, and never act under pressure. The conversation then pivots to listener questions, covering how to construct a globally diversified portfolio with proper U.S./international balance, how to structure fixed income for retirement income needs, and why investors should resist the urge to “take winnings” after gains—focusing instead on long-term discipline and occasional rebalancing.0:05 Scams targeting older adults and why susceptibility increases1:21 AARP article and life in The Villages as a scam hotspot backdrop3:05 Fake virus alerts and tech support scams (iPad example, $25K loss)6:10 Scale of scam losses (older Americans, underreporting, $5B+ impact)6:48 Common scam types: fake purchases, investment fraud, and urgency tactics7:23 Caller ID spoofing and law enforcement impersonation scams8:25 AI voice cloning and evolving scam sophistication8:39 Call screening tools and reducing scam exposure9:53 Bank impersonation scams using stolen personal data11:14 IRS scams—what the IRS actually does (mail only)11:57 Key defense rule: urgency = scam12:47 “Recovery scams” targeting prior victims13:27 Core principle: assume unsolicited contact is fraudulent14:44 Transition to listener Q&A intro and contact methods16:07 Portfolio construction: balancing U.S. vs international exposure using ETFs18:00 Fixed income strategy: BND vs CDs, money markets, income buckets19:26 Listener question: should you “take profits” after gains?20:03 Why long-term investing ≠ gambling (stay invested vs timing)21:39 Exception: rebalancing vs profit-taking22:38 Historical perspective on long-term economic growthQuestions? Comments? Click!
