Barron’s Bond Blunder

Today’s show exposes how Barron’s ran an undisclosed advertorial from a high-fee bond fund manager pushing junk-heavy, risky products while trashing traditional bonds with misleading comparisons. Don and Tom explained why safe bonds should stay short-to-intermediate term and simple, called out a Starlink “$127 for life” internet scam, and fielded listener questions on tax-adjusted rebalancing between traditional and Roth IRAs, trimming long-held Microsoft vs. American Funds, Social Security timing myths, and why Bitcoin isn’t an investment. An email question on replacing BND rounded out the episode with a reminder that its structure still works for most investors. 0:04 Opening; Barron’s undisclosed advertorial problem and high-fee, junk-heavy bond funds 5:06 Scam watch — Starlink $127-for-life ad and why nobody will protect you but you 9:41 Caller Rob: Tax-adjusted IRA rebalancing, simple three-fund global strategy with overlap 16:11 Caller Bob: Which to trim first — Microsoft vs. American Funds ICA 21:41 Caller Tony: Social Security timing and why trust fund worries aren’t a reason to claim early 26:27 Caller Bruce: Bitcoin as speculation, not an investment, and the altcoin glut 35:13 Email: Swapping BND for short/intermediate bonds — why BND’s structure still works Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices