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Don’t Fall for Catchy and Scary Headlines

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Don’t Fall for Catchy and Scary Headlines
Tom Margenau talks about misleading article headlines and social security in this topic sequel. zimmytws/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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I guess I picked a bad title when I called my little guidebook “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” I'll never attract readers and get rich with a boring title like that. Instead, I should have called it something like “Buy This Book and Gets Thousands in Extra Social Security Benefits!” or maybe “Social Security Secrets That Will Make You Rich!”

I was thinking about this today while I was playing one of my little morning word games on my iPad. (My wife and I have this pre-breakfast routine where we play a few online puzzles and games before serving up our scrambled eggs or cereal.) And while playing one of my word games, this teasing headline popped up: “Social Security mistakes that could cost you a fortune!”

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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