Can Republicans Actually Make the Trump Tax Cuts Permanent?
Release Date: 07/09/2025
What Are the Creditor Protection Rules for Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s?
The Power Of Zero Show
In today’s episode, David McKnight breaks down the creditor protection rules for Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s, as well as why more and more Americans are turning to tax-free accounts to insulate themselves from creditors… and the Government itself. In theory, under Federal Law, all IRAs traditional or Roths receive a certain level of bankruptcy protection under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. However, that protection is specifically tied to bankruptcy proceedings. If you’re sued in civil court, the Federal bankruptcy statute doesn’t automatically...
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Top Five Reasons to Pick a Roth 401(k) Over a Traditional 401(k)
The Power Of Zero Show
This episode features David McKnight sharing the top five reasons why a Roth 401(k) is far superior to a traditional 401(k). Something important to keep in mind: the decision you make today will determine how much of your retirement money your future self actually gets to keep. David touches upon the fact that choosing the wrong 401(k) could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes in retirement. Tax rate risk is the first big reason why you should consider investing in a Roth 401(k) over a traditional 401(k). David lists a series of key questions people who invest in a...
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Suze Orman Says Roth IRAs Are Great — But Here’s What She’s Missing
The Power Of Zero Show
This episode sees David McKnight look at Suze Orman, who, despite being one of the most widely recognized financial voices in America, shares what appears to be incomplete advice. David believes that Orman has done a lot of good for a lot of people thanks to her financial discipline-centered approach (in addition to being a big proponent of Roth IRAs). He agrees with Orman: “Roth IRAs are powerful, no doubt about it. You contribute after tax dollars, your money grows tax-free, and, provided you meet the requirements, you can withdraw those funds in retirement 100% tax-free”. The U.S....
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The 3 Questions You MUST Answer BEFORE Doing a Roth Conversion
The Power Of Zero Show
David McKnight addresses three key questions you must be able to answer before executing a single Roth conversion. Too many people go for Roth conversions without a game plan – this is something that can lead to overpaying taxes and running out of money sooner than anticipated. David points out that if you can’t answer the three key questions, you should stop and reevaluate because guessing here can cost you big. “What’s the total amount I should convert from my IRA or 401(k) to tax-free?” is the first and most critical of the three questions. Remember, the goal of a Roth conversion...
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Five Roth Conversion Myths Busted: What Most Americans Get Wrong
The Power Of Zero Show
David McKnight busts some of the most common Roth conversion myths that are costing retirees hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of dollars over the course of retirement. The “Don’t worry about Roth conversion, you’ll be in a lower tax bracket when you retire” myth is based on two flawed assumptions. The first one is that your lifestyle will drop significantly in retirement, while the second is the one related to future tax rates being the same or lower than they are today. David points out that, in retirement, people want to maintain their lifestyle. In some cases,...
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Two Experts Debate When You Should Take Social Security—But here’s the TRUTH!
The Power Of Zero Show
Today’s episode revolves around one of the biggest financial debates among pre-retirees and retirees: When should you take Social Security? Host David McKnight touches upon the recent debate of two of the smartest voices in the field – Dr. Laurence “Larry” Kotlikoff and Dr. Derek Tharp – on this exact question. Dr. Tharp, out of the University of Southern Maine, notes that economists commonly recommend delaying social security benefits until age 70. Boston University’s Dr. Kotlikoff agrees and explains that delaying can give you a 76% higher monthly benefit compared to taking...
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What REALLY Happened with Kyle Busch's $8 Million Lawsuit against Pacific Life
The Power Of Zero Show
David McKnight looks at what happened when NASCAR legend Kyle Busch reportedly lost $8+ million in what was supposed to be a tax-free retirement plan. The plan Busch relied on was built around an indexed universal life insurance policy. According to Kyle and Samantha Busch’s lawsuit, they paid more than $10.4M into several IUL policies issued by Pacific Life Insurance between 2018 and 2022. While these policies were pitched as a safe, self-funding, tax-free retirement plan, things didn’t go as promised… Poor design, unrealistic expectations, a delayed 1035 exchange, and poor...
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The Financial Guru Hall of Shame--Who's Leading You Off a Cliff?
The Power Of Zero Show
David McKnight focuses on three of the biggest names in personal finance – Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, and Ken Fisher – and why you should be careful with following their advice. David emphasizes that anyone trying to wring the most efficiency out of their retirement savings should focus on advice that’s backed by math… not soundbites. While David Ramsey is the right person for people who are making less than they are spending, the same can’t be said for his retirement planning advice. For instance, he claims that 100% of cash value life insurance sucks 100% of the time. For...
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Suze Orman Says 3%, Bill Bengen Says 4.7%--Who’s Right on Sustainable Withdrawal Rates?
The Power Of Zero Show
David McKnight compares the approach of some of the biggest names in personal finance: Suze Orman, and William “Bill” Bengen (the man who invented the 4% Rule). In a recent interview covered by MSN, Suze Orman declared flat out that the 4% Rule is dead since markets are volatile, interest rates fluctuate, and people are living longer. David shares the “origin story” of how the 4% Rule came to be – and its creator Bill Bengen. Interviewed by MSN, Bengen updated his research and concluded that, based on current data, a 4.7% withdrawal rate is now sustainable. David compares Orman’s...
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Why Dave Ramsey’s Roth Conversion Advice Could Cost You a Fortune
The Power Of Zero Show
David McKnight discusses one of the most destructive pieces of retirement advice he has ever heard: that you should never do a Roth conversion in retirement or within five years of retiring. Dave Ramsey believes you should forego doing a Roth conversion if you’re within five years of retirement or are already retired – because of the so-called Five-Year Rule. The problem with this approach, according to David, is that Ramsey is misinterpreting what that rule actually means, in addition to confusing multiple rules and applying them to the wrong people. Ramsey’s advice, continues David,...
info_outlinePresident Trump’s proposed Big Beautiful Bill (BBB), which has been getting everyone’s attention of late, is the topic of this episode of The Power of Zero Show.
Host David McKnight points out that the “crown jewel” of the BBB is the extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts.
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCGA) brought about cuts to individual income taxes, corporate taxes, and a dramatic expansion of the estate tax exemption.
While corporate tax cuts were made permanent – going from 35% to 21% – the tax cuts for individuals and estates had an expiration date.
If the status quo stays unchanged, those tax rates will revert back to their 2017 levels on January 1st, 2026.
David goes over how Republicans could make the tax cuts permanents through some outside the box accounting techniques.
Since Republicans don’t have a supermajority in the House or Senate, they would have to rely on a special Senate process known as Budget Reconciliation.
A few fiscal conservatives such as Representative Thomas Massie and David Schweikert, as well as Senator Susan Collins and Rand Paul may not be on board with such an approach…
Their main concern? The fact that making these tax cuts permanent would add between 4.6 and 5.5 trillion dollars to the national debt over the next 10 years.
David addresses the single greatest obstacle preventing Republicans from making the Trump tax cuts permanent: the Bird Roll.
The Bird Roll states that budget reconciliation bills cannot increase the federal deficit beyond the budget window, which is typically 10 years.
In other words, to make the tax cuts permanent, Republicans would have to find a way to pay for them.
Cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamps Program), as well as tariffs on imports are how Republicans are trying to go about things.
Some Republicans suggest that the tax cuts won’t increase the national debt over the next decade and beyond, for the fact that they’ll actually spark economic growth.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the cost of the 2017 tax cuts was $1.9 trillion over an eight-year period, while the tax cuts themselves only increased revenue by about $400 billion.
As David stresses, “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ended up increasing the debt by about $1.5 trillion, meaning that the tax cuts were in no way self-financing.”
If Trump tax cuts were to be made permanent, it will almost certainly increase the likelihood that taxes will have to skyrocket by the year 2035.
According to a Penn Wharton study, when the country’s debt-to-GDP reaches 200%, we’ve passed the point of no return.
If that were to happen, no combination of raising taxes or reducing spending would arrest the financial collapse of the nation.
Former Comptroller General of the Federal Government, David M. Walker, has even suggested that tax rates could have to double to keep the U.S. solvent.
This means that even if Republicans make the tax cuts permanent, they will have to raise taxes eventually…
For David, this may lead to Congress being forced to raise taxes in dramatic fashion in 2035 in an effort to avoid a financial apocalypse in 2040.
David believes that, if you have the lion’s share of your retirement savings swirling away in tax-deferred accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, you should take advantage of what’s likely going to be 8 to 10 years more of historically low tax rates.
Mentioned in this episode:
David’s national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America’s Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track
PowerOfZero.com (free video series)
@mcknightandco on Twitter
@davidcmcknight on Instagram
David McKnight on YouTube
Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com