In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Greg and Scott return with another installment of Financial Mythbusters, breaking down a viral "FinTok" video where a 33-year-old offers early retirement advice—including dividend ETFs, REITs, and so-called passive income strategies.
They analyze each of her six investment tips and explain where the logic holds up—and where it falls apart. Along the way, they cover key financial planning concepts like income vs. growth investing, liquidity risk, mortgage-backed securities, and the true meaning of passive income (hint: it's not what you think).
Whether you're on the path to early retirement or just trying to avoid common TikTok finance traps, this episode brings real-world context to the most overused investment buzzwords online.
Topics Covered:
What REITs can and can't do for early retirees
Are dividend ETFs really "passive income"?
Why private REITs may hide risk—not reduce it
Liquidity, leverage, and the FIRE movement
How U.S. and Canadian tax rules differ in practice
The importance of aligning your investment strategy with your human capital
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Libsyn.
