Modern Money Myths Meet Their Match

On this myth-busting episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom tackle persistent financial fables that sound logical but often lead investors astray. With help from a Kiplinger list and their own experience, they dissect myths around mortgage payoff returns, Roth conversions, Social Security fears, withdrawal rules, and tax refunds—plus three bonus myths that still haunt conversations today. Along the way, Don shares his own recent experience filing for Social Security online (spoiler: it was surprisingly smooth), and they answer listener questions about muni bond funds and a bizarre Social Security payback tax mix-up. As always, it’s myth-busting with a side of snark and a dash of real advice.

0:04 Myth-busting opener and Greek mythology jokes1:03 Myth #1: Paying off a 5% mortgage equals a 5% return5:14 Myth #2: Roth conversions always reduce taxes7:57 Myth #3: Social Security is going bankrupt13:20 Myth #4: The 4% rule guarantees retirement success17:16 Myth #5: It's better to get a tax refund than owe taxes18:54 Bonus myths: “I can save later,” “Investing is zero-sum,” and “High-cost funds perform better”21:21 Listener question: Social Security payback tax confusion26:42 Listener question: Best muni bond ETF for a high-tax-bracket senior
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