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Today’s myth is from Paul Krugman’s erroneous How not to Panic About Social Security (2-28-23).  (A far more accurate, complete, useful and relevant take can be found at https://socialsecurityworks.org/).  Sloppy articles like this on such an important topic are my pet peeve. First error:   “I haven’t studied the detailed history of the program’s origins [that would be advisable next time, Paul], […]

(This post is copied from IRS’s Tax Tips newsletter) Issue Number:  Tax Tip 2023-38 ___________________________________________________________ Don’t fall for these federal tax refund myths. Once people complete and file their tax return, many of them eagerly await any refund they may be owed. No matter how a taxpayer plans to use their tax refund, knowing fact

In general, yes, you can trust a fiduciary adviser with your money.  But why would you?? Weekly, in the many financial journals I read, are one or more news stories about “financial advisers” who have outright stolen their clients’ money.  Here’s an especially egregious one involving the elderly: https://www.financial-planning.com/news/ex-lpl-advisor-bradley-a-goodbred-charged-with-felonies And this one involving twin brothers

This is a myth based on falsehoods circulated by, of course, large powerful companies who are not ESG in their practices.  To appreciate how false this myth really is it is important to have a basic understanding of what the term means. The following summary was written by ChatGPT using the query “basics of ESG

Yes, Suze Orman is a myth, writ large.  And much of what Suze Orman says on Oprah.com is mythological.  I was especially taken aback by this interview done on Oprah.com.  As far as I know, she hasn’t changed her tune.  I almost hate to respond to it and thereby increase its exposure.  But I feel

I like this quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson’s new book, “Starry Messenger” regarding the media’s market comments. “The major averages rose on Friday extending Wall Street’s strong rallythis week despite inflation hitting a 39-yr high.” (CNBC) He continues.  “But if they were being honest they would say: The market rose today. We have no clue

This post is not a myth.  It’s a more thorough response to a question asked at the end of my last two-hour Social Security class:  “What are the things Social Security can’t tell me”.  This question has been asked once before, probably intended as a “gotcha!” but I was baffled both times, having just spent 90

What’s the number one thing you want to experience on your next vacation? A new adventure? Local sights or the most authentic version of your favorite dish? These days, more folks want meaningful interactions when they travel.1 They’re not just looking for fancy hotels with spas, group tours, parasailing, and the typical resort fare. They

For the past few months (years, really) it seems like there’s a 24/7 stream of bad news bombarding us all the time. Markets, the economy, housing prices, grocery store prices, gas prices, and that whole COVID thing that’s still happening. It’s a lot. So, what do we do? Do we give in to doom-scrolling and

I don’t believe that title at all although I admit I used to (and still do, for fleeting moments), that unless a person, place, thing or event made me happy it was “negative”.  (By the way, this post is closely related to my November 14, 2021 post about Bullies.)  Constant, uninterrupted “happiness” is highly overrated