The Money Advantage Podcast

Want your charitable giving to make the greatest difference in the world? Today, we’re talking with Kris Putnam-Walkerly, author of Delusional Altruism, who advises philanthropists who want to achieve greater clarity, impact, and joy with their giving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWVQF5___XQ&t=11s We’ll discuss why how you give matters, the 7 delusions of altruism, and how to create lasting change. If you’re a philanthropist, donor, or an everyday person who donates time, money, and experience to help create a better world… tune in now! Table of contentsDelusional Altruism: What Makes Philanthropy Effective or Not?Invest Like It’s Your BusinessHow Do Philanthropists Get in Their Own Way?How to Ask the Right QuestionsHow Can You Be Transformational in Your Giving?Links Mentioned: About Kris Putnam-WalkerlyBook A Strategy Call Philanthropy Coaching [7:08] “I also provide a lot of coaching and advising. So most of my clients now retain me as a private coach to help them navigate their philanthropic journey and help them get clarity on what they’re trying to accomplish. And help hold them accountable to accomplishing it. And really being a sounding board to them, because it can be a very lonely place to be. Either you’re the executive director, perhaps, of a foundation...but also for, perhaps, an ultra-high-net-worth donor...it can feel lonely because you can feel a lot of guilt with having all that wealth.” The reason it’s lonely, as Kris mentions, is that there aren’t many people you can have a conversation with about your finances. Either people are asking for that money, or they don’t validate your struggles because you have money. Delusional Altruism: What Makes Philanthropy Effective or Not? [9:35] “Delusional Altruism is really about how donors of all sizes and types are generally genuine in their altruism. They really want to make a difference, change the world, want to help others; but are getting in their own way and are preventing themselves from having the impact that they seek….So part of the challenge with effectiveness is, it’s hard to be effective when you’re getting in your own way.” [10:05] “One of the challenges is a scarcity mindset, and this is when donors believe that maintaining a spartan operation for themselves or their grantees...somehow equates to delivering greater value in the community.” [11:00] “If you want a non-profit to be successful, just like a business, it requires investment in your growth and in your success.” [11:55] “I think a lot of people of wealth feel guilty. They feel guilty because maybe they inherited the wealth and didn’t earn it, and therefore don’t deserve it. Or maybe they made more money than they ever thought they’d make in their lifetime, sold a business, and suddenly have wealth... But the problem with that is it really holds funders back, from a mindset perspective. It often causes people to shrink, to kind of mask their talent and mask their ability to make a difference in the lives of others.” [13:04] Rachel: “The business in the first place is service to mankind and to the world. And you are not taking money from society; you are giving something that’s more valuable, and the exchange of that is that you are profitable.” Invest Like It’s Your Business [18:50] Kris: “Is that how you invest in your business? Do you only allow one cent of every dollar to go to pay your staff salaries? [Or] to go to pay for your own business development? So why are we asking a non-profit, who’s trying to save people’s lives, why are you asking them to do [that]?” How Do Philanthropists Get in Their Own Way? [20:20] “I think fear really is the primary cause of the scarcity mindset. And there are lots of different ways funders feel fearful; which might surprise you because you assume that the donor is wealthy, and with wealth should come confidence.” [25:30] “Sometimes we...sort of stumble through our giving based on what’s presented to us—the appeals that arrive at our doorstep. But often people haven’t had a chance to really reflect and think as an individual or as a couple or as a family or a business, [about what the] issues are that [they] really care about.” [27:58] Rachel: “At the root of doing the most good, we have to first understand what do we truly value. And I love that you’re saying that that’s really important.” How to Ask the Right Questions [31:15] Kris: “Questions are really powerful, and I think if you ask the right questions, they send you down the right path. And if you ask the wrong questions, they send you down the wrong path. And one of the questions that I think people ask—and it’s really about ordering them—is they ask how to do something before they ask themselves what it is they’re trying to accomplish. Really what that means is they’re focused on the tactics of doing something before they’re thinking through the strategy... You can’t possibly know how you want to go about doing something unless you have clarity on your objective.” How Can

If you're shaking your head at the state of the world right now, you're not alone. There are food shortages, supply chain disruption, medical mandates, unemployment, price inflation, and more of our freedoms at stake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zaew0MenJhU Yet, people are thriving, there's more opportunity than ever, and you will succeed if you live by this one truth. To join the conversation… tune in now! Table of contentsThe Domino Effect of Supply ChainsIt’s Easy to Be Discouraged…Walking in AbundanceAn Abundance Mindset Causes SuccessEntrepreneurs Are the Real Movers and ShakersBook A Strategy Call The Domino Effect of Supply Chains Are the shelves at your local stores looking a bit empty? If so, you’re not alone. And while there may technically be food “shortages,” we’re not lacking food. What we’re actually experiencing is shortages along the supply chain. Lack of workers, for example, means that there are gaps in how food and other goods get distributed to stores. This is the same reason it’s taking longer to receive packages. There’s no huge headlining problem, rather there are small structural pieces missing that are affecting the economy on a global scale. And these small pieces can have a massive domino effect. Because if a single piece of this supply chain is broken, everything that comes after that “break” is delayed or impacted. If you’re looking for a great read for all ages—The Miraculous Pencil, a children’s book by Connor Boyack about free markets, really breaks down the global economic infrastructure. It’s Easy to Be Discouraged… When you look at the state of the world and know that our freedoms hang in the balance, it can be devastating. It’s easy to feel discouraged by the news and media. However, it’s important not to let this mindset make you feel hopeless, or like you no longer have control. I think we can walk in a state of abundance because here’s what I know: people are still finding tremendous opportunity in the midst of the state of the world. Walking in Abundance The big question is, are we going to walk in scarcity, or are we going to walk in abundance? And the choice may seem obvious, but it’s important to actively choose abundance. You have to live abundance to walk in abundance. In a world like what we’re experiencing now, that means not walking in fear. It can also look like not hoarding supplies and food, and being confident that you will be provided for, as well as your fellow man. Walking in abundance may also mean looking at your income, and determining how to maximize your income and your cash flow. How can you manage your resources so that you have increased access to and control of those resources? An Abundance Mindset Causes Success Actively cultivating an abundant mindset doesn’t just increase your odds of success. This mindset actively causes success. When you think abundantly—free of fear, free of limitation—you can see and seize opportunities that someone living in scarcity mode is simply unequipped to do. If thinking this way doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t worry just yet. Fortunately, you can train yourself to think this way. It takes work, consistency, and time—but it is possible. The whole spectrum of scarcity to abundance can all be boiled down to this idea of being in fear or being in faith. If you are in fear, it’s very easy to be controlled by other things, and not be in control. And scarcity always causes you to give up control. In today’s world, there are a lot of fears: fear of the virus, fear of the vaccine, fear of shortages, and job loss and mandates. We could continue the list for quite some time. The point is, when you act solely upon these fears, you allow the fear to control you. Choosing abundance means asking how you can act in faith, even when the world around you feels uncontrollable. Entrepreneurs Are the Real Movers and Shakers Entrepreneurs, whether you realize it or not, make the world go round. It is entrepreneurs who innovate and breathe solutions and new life into the world. If you see the world abundantly, you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. I’m really excited at the opportunity for individual people to be able to take their unique lens of the world and be able to improve the world and improve other people’s lives. As we stay focused on that, we don’t have to participate in the scarcity thinking. Just because we’re living in the same world doesn’t mean we have to operate with the same lens. There’s a lot of fear around in the world but we can not just survive but thrive in the midst of that. And this will continue to be true, so long as we choose to see it. Book A Strategy Call Do you want to coordinate your finances so that everything works together to improve your life today, accelerate time and money freedom, and leave the greatest legacy? We can help! Book an Introductory Call with our team today https://themoneyadvantage.com/calendar/, and find out how Privatized Banking, alternative investme

How does the quality of your life relate to the health of your business? How do you free yourself from the constant demands of your business? If you have a cash-sucking business, there’s hope. It doesn’t have to be this hard. Joining us today for this conversation is Dr. Sabrina Starling, the Business Psychologist. with Tap the Potential. She’s an author, speaker, and coach who believes that work should support your life, not the other way around. And she's introducing her new book, The 4 Week Vacation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e84ovViK6yo If you’re not taking time off, on the edge of burnout, exhausted, struggling with team performance, stressed or cash-strapped… tune in now, and find out how making a 4-week vacation pledge might be your answer! Table of contentsFinding A-Players for Your BusinessBurnout, and the Need for The 4 Week VacationThe 4 Week VacationWhat’s in The 4 Week VacationContact Dr. Sabrina StarlingAbout Dr. Sabrina StarlingBook A Strategy Call Creating Freedom in Your Business [4:00] “When we have success, we struggle. When our businesses grow and they take off, they demand more and more of us. Being an entrepreneur is our greatest opportunity for personal development. Because we have to grow ahead of that business in order for that business to be where we need it to go. So what I take from that experience is that hiring and being in business has always been challenging. This is nothing new.” [7:50] “The book that I always wanted to write is The Four Week Vacation…. But before I could write this book, I realized I had to help them [entrepreneurs] with their hiring challenges. So I dug in and wrote How to Hire the Best, and I developed the How to Hire the Best system so that business owners could take their lives back….And that’s really what it takes to have a thriving business, and a business that’s going to continue to grow, that’s going to not rely on you, the owner, for the day-to-day operations of the business.” [9:00] “When we design our businesses to give us freedom and generate profit and ongoing owner’s pay, then we have that opportunity to make strategic decisions with the wealth that’s being created; not just for ourselves, but for team members, and impacting the communities that our businesses are located in. So it’s really much bigger than just creating a business that gives you freedom. It’s really about creating a business that’s going to have an impact for all involved—and what I like to call life-giving businesses.” Hiring Top Talent [12:30] “I really think it is getting clear on the ‘why’ that we are in business. If we are in business to be perfectionists, then we can work 70 plus hours a week and we can be great perfectionists and really be good at it. If we are in the business to create freedom and opportunity for others, then we need to align our choices and actions with that.” [13:13] “When we’re in survival mode, psychologically, it’s very hard to access that creative part of our brain; it’s just not there. So creating a vision and a compelling why is really the most important thing. And the irony is that we tell ourselves we don’t have time to step back and get into that creative zone... Well, all the research shows that the less we work, the more effective we become.” Dr. Starling shares a few things you can do to step back and rest: take a lunch break, stop working at 5 PM, and don’t check emails and texts until the next day. Otherwise, you get burnout and overwhelm, and somewhere along the line your life stops being the one you’re trying to create. Thoughts on Retirement [18:10] “When I titled my book The Four Week Vacation, I almost changed the title. Because as I’ve been talking about this book for years with people and entrepreneurs, I get pushback. Because I hear, ‘I don’t know what to do with myself if I take four weeks off.’ What is that about? And I think so much of it is that we’re so used to working hard that we’ve convinced ourselves that this is where we need to spend our time.” [19:25] “When you start having that space, where that business doesn’t need you anymore, that’s where you have that opportunity to really ask, ‘What else? What else is there? What’s important to me?’ And I’m with you--I don’t want to retire. I just want more time for what matters most in my life. I don’t want my business dictating every moment of my day, and how my week runs.” Finding A-Players for Your Business [24:40] “What’s interesting to me is that when we have A-players in a role that aligns with their strengths, and they get to use their strengths a lot on a daily basis, they will be 900 to 1200% more productive than a warm body. The other side of that is, you can hire an A-player who was an A-player in another business, bring them into your business, and put them in the wrong role, and you will see over time their performance and their motivation going down. Because they are no longer in a role that aligns well with their personality strengths.” [25:58] “You

We all have money questions. If you don’t, you just haven’t asked them yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrsQ4Tzo7ao Today, we continue to answer questions from you—our audience, tribe, fans, those in a quest to control their money and financial future! You can view part one of this conversation here. There are some great ones here that might be on your mind too. So maybe you’ll get the answer you’ve been needing, so you can clear the hurdle and get one step closer to your goals… OR maybe it will prompt you to ask a question of your own… tune in now! Table of contentsWhat Should You Do With Extra Cash?How Can Debt Be Advantageous?Compounding InterestIBC Isn’t About Paying Off DebtCan You Withdraw Your Cash Value?Available Cash ValueLow Cash ValueWhat Happens if You Withdraw All Your Cash Value?What Happens if You Collateralize All Your Cash Value?Policy CollapseIs There a Difference in Dividends on Base Premium vs. PUA?Do You Get Your Cash Value When You Die?What Endowment MeansCan You Pay Premiums on a Monthly Basis?Book A Strategy Call What Should You Do With Extra Cash? In this instance, a listener named Matthew says he recently did a cash-out refinance. Now, he’s wondering what to do with the cash he has leftover. Really, the answer depends: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question (or in fact, many questions). The follow-up question that we would like to pose in return, is what is the purpose of your money? What do you want to accomplish with your money? You can approach this from the big picture as well as on a smaller scale, like what you want your money to do at this stage of your life. If you’re unsure of what to do with extra cash and want to hone in on your money’s purpose, here are some clarifying questions: Does your money need to be accessible to you? Or is this money you are comfortable locking into an investment or other illiquid arrangement?Are you looking to create a cash-flowing asset that will create passive income?Do you wish to use this money for long-term growth? Or do you have a short-term opportunity?Is your emergency fund sufficient? Are you looking to take on some risk, or protect what you have? It’s also okay to wait and be patient until you know what you want to do—or an opportunity presents itself. A privatized banking system may be a good way to store cash long term while you wait. Or you may want to park your cash short-term. You may want to do a combination of many things. How Can Debt Be Advantageous? Another listener mentions their interest in IBC, yet is unsure what the advantage is of funding a whole life insurance policy just to take a policy loan? They offer an example of funding a policy with $40,000 of cash value and accessing $36,000 to make a purchase, such as a car. By their calculation, they’ve funneled $76,000 into a $36,000 car. This is an extremely important question and one that “makes or breaks” people’s understanding of IBC. Because this can be hard to wrap your head around, and it may take some “unlearning” of what you’ve been told about life insurance. First and foremost, you can’t think of your life insurance premium as a “cost” to you. Instead, consider it savings that you can automate. Because the premium payments you make directly fund your cash value, which grows over time. It’s no different from paying money to the bank; or more directly, paying into your home and taking a home equity line of credit. If you contribute $40,000 to your savings account, and then spend the savings, you’re not paying twice. You’re storing your money and then using it. A life insurance policy is another means of storing money, and a policy loan is another means of using that money. The advantage of taking a policy loan, rather than a withdrawal from a savings account, is twofold. First, you have control. You can determine how fast, or slow, you pay the loan back. If you run into a lean year, you can make lower car payments if you want to (unlike a bank). You also own the car outright, rather than having a bank loan secured by the car. Compounding Interest Secondly, you have the power of compound interest. Say you paid for your car in cash that you withdrew from your savings account. While you’re not paying interest, you’re also not earning it. On the other hand, when you borrow money against your cash-value account, your money stays where it is. As such, it continues to earn interest, which has a compounding effect. The interest you earn also earns interest, and it picks up speed. So while you may be paying interest on a loan, you are also earning compounding interest. Does this mean it always makes sense to take a policy loan? No. However, the cash value of your policy gives you many opportunities. To learn more about policy loans: Privatized Banking – Life Insurance Loans and Why We Use Them IBC Isn’t About Paying Off Debt The primary reason for IBC is not to pay off debt. If you’re looking to be debt-free, or pay off debt as quickly as possible, IBC may

What if your thoughts about the Bible and what it has to say about money were crippling you instead of helping you to flourish the way you’re meant to? Today’s guest is Rabbi Daniel Lapin, returning for another deep and powerful conversation about business, money, and the Bible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytZD5GkFlp4 He’s a rabbi, speaker, TV host, and author of seven books, including America’s Real War, Business Secrets from the Bible, and Thou Shall Prosper-The Ten Commandments for Making Money. In this episode, we explore and discuss some of the foundational principles behind his book Business Secrets from the bible and the timeless wisdom that connects faith, prosperity, and ethical business practices. Instead of avoiding the seeming conflict in our culture between God and money, Rabbi Lapin is known for uncovering and unpacking Biblical wisdom to guide today’s business leaders. Prepare to be challenged, changed, and grow… tune in now! Table of contentsBusiness Secrets from the Bible that Rabbi Lapin Shares:Welcoming Back Rabbi LapinWhy Business MattersRabbi Lapin's Retirement ParadoxThe Impact of InflationInvesting vs. Making Money in the First PlaceFaith and FinancesA Godly EconomyDoes God Want You to be Wealthy?Learn to Be of ServiceFrequently Asked QuestionsIs there a difference between biblical business principles across different faith traditions?What should I do if my current job conflicts with biblical business principles?Should I tithe or give to charity from business profits before paying myself?What are the main books Rabbi Lapin recommends for understanding biblical wealth principles?Previous Discussions with Rabbi LapinAbout Rabbi Daniel LapinBook A Strategy Call Business Secrets from the Bible that Rabbi Lapin Shares: Why wealth creation is actually a spiritual discipline - Discover how Rabbi Lapin connects biblical principles to modern entrepreneurship without compromising your faith. How to make money by giving, not taking - Learn the counterintuitive biblical approach that creates sustainable wealth through service. Why your synagogue or church beats networking events - See how authentic community and shared values create more business opportunities than traditional networking. The certificate of appreciation economy model - Grasp Rabbi Lapin's vision for how a godly economy actually functions in practice. How to answer "Does God want me to be wealthy?" - Get Rabbi Lapin's nuanced response that reframes the entire question around service and stewardship. Welcoming Back Rabbi Lapin [2:23] Rachel: “We believe alike when it comes to money. And it’s amazing to me, to be able to understand the roots of what everything means, financially, and how that connects to our Christian faith, how it connects to biblical principles.” And a common journey is reconciling faith with finances—how can you be a good Christian and a good entrepreneur without those things being in conflict? Fortunately, as Rabbi Lapin shows us, there’s more overlap than you think. We’ve enjoyed having him as a guest several times before because he has a deep understanding of the bible and the financial wisdom within its pages. [4:54] Rabbi Daniel Lapin: “We are not using our time today to try and surreptitiously convert people to faith. What we are trying to do, very forthrightly, is impact their bank accounts.” Why Business Matters We’ve talked about many of the Rabbi’s books on The Money Advantage, and today we’re discussing one of his older books, Business Secrets from the Bible. What’s great about this book is that it provides a strategic, spiritual approach to business. And the foundation of this approach is within the pages of the Bible. Understanding the business secrets from the Bible starts with recognizing that entrepreneurship and wealth creation aren't separate from spiritual life - they're expressions of it when done with the right heart and principles. Rabbi Lapin's Retirement Paradox The conversation begins with a few thought experiments, such as the one below: [13:15] “If retirement is such a good thing, what would happen if everybody in your world retired? According to the way many people think, people should say, ‘Well...God bless them, good for them. They’ve made enough money, they don’t need to work anymore. It’s great!’ And that would be great until you decide you want to go to a restaurant for dinner. And then you discover that nobody’s there because they’ve all got enough money, they don’t need your money.” [14:18] “Without other people, you have nothing.” The Impact of Inflation Rabbi Lapin brings another thought experiment into the conversation. He asks you to imagine you found a duffel bag filled with a million dollars. And to your surprise, it’s addressed to you, as a gift from the white house. Your mind begins to fill with the possibilities of that money, and you call your friend to tell them. But before you can say anything, they tell you that they also

We all have money questions. If you don’t, you just haven’t asked them yet. Today, we’re answering questions from you—our audience, tribe, fans, those in a quest to control their money and financial future! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiW3MeJiL7c There are some great ones here that might be on your mind too. So maybe you’ll get the answer you’ve been needing. Then you can clear that hurdle and get one step closer to your goals. OR maybe it will prompt you to ask a question of your own. Find out and tune in now! Table of contentsDoes it Make Sense to Fund a Policy with a Loan?Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage ASAP?Can You Borrow Against Your Death Benefit?Why Can’t You Simply Increase the Face Value of an Existing Policy?Is it Complicated to Prove Disability?What Insurance Companies Do You Suggest?What are the Interest Rates on a Policy Loan?Can I Do a 1035 Exchange Between Companies?What Are the Best Companies to Work with for Policy Loans?How Do Premiums Contribute to Cash Value?Isn’t a Dividend Just a Refund of Premium? Book A Strategy Call Does it Make Sense to Fund a Policy with a Loan? A YouTube viewer of our show asked us the question, “Does it make sense to take out equity from an investment rental to start a policy and then borrow from that policy to reinvest in other investments?” We believe that it makes sense to have a life insurance policy as a foundation for your finances. This is because it protects your income, provides liquidity, and shields your money from creditors. On the other hand, properly funding a whole life insurance policy requires consistent payments. Depending on your funding source, it may not be wise to fund a policy with a loan if you don’t have a strategy for paying premiums after that. This depends on your personal economy and your investing goals. The other reason for caution is that it can take a few years for your cash value to “break even.” While you are able to take a life insurance loan right away, your cash value will not immediately equal your premiums paid. It will take time to build your policy to a point where you can make larger investments. However, when you do reach that point, it’s an excellent strategy to leverage policy loans for cash-flowing investments. Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage ASAP? This question comes from Lon, another viewer on YouTube. He shared with us a HELOC strategy, and ended with this hypothetical: “The other question that you really need to ask is: Is it really better to pay off my mortgage ASAP vs. using my available income for investing?” We agree that this is a great question to ask. The answer, again, is not black and white. There are two answers to this question: a mathematical answer, and an emotional one. Mathematically, it often doesn’t make sense to accelerate payments because you lose control. Contrary to popular belief, the less you owe on your home, the more control the banks have. This is true because, in the event that you cannot pay your mortgage, the bank is less likely to foreclose when you have a large loan balance. This is because there’s a chance the banks will be unable to make up the difference. On the other hand, if you’re only a few years away from owning your house, it’s easier for banks to foreclose. They can sell your property and have a much greater chance of making up the difference on the house. This doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t pay down your mortgage. However, it does illustrate the benefits of saving or investing your additional income, rather than putting it into the house. You can build equity in a life insurance policy, then use that to pay down your home. This is one way to maintain control of your home and your money. Then, there’s the emotional component. Sometimes, you just sleep better at night knowing that you're reducing your loan balance. To learn more: 15 vs. 30 Year Mortgage: Myths About Paying Off Your Mortgage Can You Borrow Against Your Death Benefit? The short answer is, you cannot. When we talk about Infinite Banking, we’re talking about the ability to take a loan against your cash value. Cash value is a separate component of your whole life policy that grows based on your premiums and dividends. The first function of your premium is to cover the cost of insurance. This cost is the highest when your policy is new, because if the company has the most at stake if you were to pass away and they paid a death benefit. Over time, however, this risk lessens because you’ve paid more premium. So more of your premium contributes to your cash-value account. You also have the potential to earn dividends, which will increase your cash value. This cash component is the only portion of your insurance policy that you can take a loan against. As your CV continues to grow, you’ll have a larger pool of money to borrow against. Why Can’t You Simply Increase the Face Value of an Existing Policy? This is due to the actuarial science that goes into your insurance contract. It’s important to re

Want the most effective and radically simple marketing system in existence? Today, we’re talking with Mike Michalowicz, perennial best-selling author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan, FixThis Next, and his newest release Get Different. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LENRtB7xGY If you want to scale your business and reach more people, here’s the answer you’ve been waiting for. Tune in now! Table of contentsWhy Marketing Blends Into the BackgroundThe Problem with Email MarketingHow to Break Through the HabituationUsing the DAD MethodHow to "Get Different"Overcoming the Fear of Being DifferentSuccessfully "Get Different"Get Different with Mike MichalowiczAbout Mike Michalowicz Book A Strategy Call We love having Mike Michalowicz as a guest because he knows and understands entrepreneurs like you! Mike has joined us before to discuss his books Profit First as well as The Pumpkin Plan, and now we’re excited to talk with him about his latest book, Get Different! This book is all about how to stand out and be different so that you can not only attract clients and customers, but attract the right ones for you. Marketing is like the lifeblood of any business, but it can be all too easy to lose your “edge.” Mike Michalowicz is here to share his ideas so that you can continue to innovate your marketing strategies. Why Marketing Blends Into the Background [2:50] “I discovered this concept called habituation, and how it works biologically is we have a thing called the reticular formation. It’s a neural network, both figuratively and literally; it's a net that sits at the brain stem, and as stimuli come in...its primary job is actually to disregard or ignore most things. It’s the way we maintain focus.” Without this reticular formation, anything and everything can distract us. Our brain uses this function to manage productivity and focus. Because the daily stimulation from things we experience with our senses is constant. Just imagine all the things you filter out as “normal” in your daily life. [3:25] “So the job of the reticular formation is to ignore everything unless it meets one of three qualifiers. Threats get prioritized—our safety depends on it, so that’s the number one feature. The second...is opportunity. If there’s a known opportunity, we will pursue it. And there’s a third way through, and it’s the unknown or the unexpected because our mind then needs to open up and say is this something I need to consider as a threat or opportunity? Everything else is ignorable. And this happens on a subconscious level.” A great example Mike shares is how we filter through junk mail. It’s amazing how quickly people can rifle through their mail and pick out the garbage from the important pieces, with very little information. The only things that make us stop in our tracks are the things that stand out from what we’re used to. The Problem with Email Marketing Now, more modern forms of marketing, like email, are facing the same problems. People have become so accustomed to certain practices that they can filter out “junk” in milliseconds. Mike reminisces about the first time he got an email with the subject line, “Hey Friend.” It was novel and created a sense of kinship. Then he opened it and realized it was a marketing message. As this continued to happen, it got easier to filter out emails that started with this as being “junk.” This is an experience that most people with an email address can relate to. And it’s therefore no longer a very effective way to market through email. The same goes for dozens of email strategies. Yet they’re still commonplace, and marketers still teach these methods to entrepreneurs. As consumers, we all become habituated to certain marketing messages that our reticular formation has learned to filter out. It’s not a threat or opportunity, so it's unnecessary knowledge for our brain to spend time on. [4:43] “Our job when we market our business, is to do something that is different than the norm. That’s the only way to pierce through this because if you are the norm, you are white noise, you are habituated, you’ll be ignored. The last little asterisk I want to put here [is that] I’m not saying you have to be outrageous...No. You simply need to do something that your market isn’t doing to get in front of your customers.” How to Break Through the Habituation [5:56] “There are two things. First of all, we have to overcome the biggest impedance to successful marketing for small businesses, which is our own fear. It’s ironic that we want to stand out without standing out. We want to be noticed without being noticeable...And therefore, what we have to realize is this...that we not only have a responsibility to market, but marketing is the ultimate act of kindness. You know, most people feel that marketing is bothersome...but the reality is if what you offer is superior to the alternatives...it’s your responsibility is to market.” The reason Mike offers is that if you d

Want to get an insider’s look at an IBC policy? When it comes to how the Infinite Banking Concept works, the magic is (mostly) in the paid-up additions or PUAs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_tJHiD61FU Let’s go to the IBC lab and talk about PUAs today. What are paid-up additions, and how do they impact your whole life insurance policy? If you want to understand just how valuable these three letters are, how they add access, growth, and flexibility to your policy… tune in now! Table of contentsWhat are Paid Up Additions?How Do Paid-Up Additions Enhance Your Life Insurance?The Difference Between Base Premium and Paid-Up AdditionWhich Earns the Most DividendsWhat are premium splits?When and How to Use PUAs EffectivelyCan You Start a Policy Today and Add PUAs Later?Book A Strategy Call What are Paid Up Additions? The acronym PUA stands for Paid-Up Additions, and they can significantly enhance growth, access, and flexibility in your life insurance policy. If you’re interested in setting up a policy for the purpose of creating an infinite banking system, it is essential to understand the importance of PUAs. As you may be able to guess, PUAs is additional coverage on your life insurance policy that you can buy. In other words, you’re adding additional life insurance coverage that is completely paid up and requires no further premiums. As you add PUAs to your policy, you’re thus incrementally increasing the impact of both your cash value and death benefit. Nearly any contract has the ability for PUAs; however, the mechanics can vary from policy to policy. The company, for example, also establishes how much additional coverage you can purchase within your contract–as well as when and how you purchase it. How Do Paid-Up Additions Enhance Your Life Insurance? Let’s think about this from a real estate perspective for a moment. If you bought a residential property, you’ve bought an asset. Whole life insurance is also an asset—as you pay premiums, you’re building up equity like you would in a home. Then, let’s say you want to build an addition to this residential property in order to add value. In this instance, let’s say you add a $10,000 sunroom and have an appraiser check it out. If the sunroom is well done, your appraiser might tell you that your value went up by $40,000. The same happens when you purchase a paid-up addition. That $10,000 PUA could add around $40,000 to your death benefit, or the total coverage of your insurance policy. Not to mention that an increase in death benefit also positively impacts the efficiency of your cash value build-up. This is one of the reasons many people look closely at paid-up addition life insurance when they want more early access and stronger long-term growth inside their policy. Here’s where things get really interesting. Upon the appraisal of your residential property, you could then go to the bank and say, “Look, the value of my property has increased. I’ve paid for the addition out of pocket. Could you lend me money based on what I spent on the addition?” The bank could then lend you a portion, or the full value, of that $10,000 to create more value. Life insurance works the same way. The $10,000 is your premium for the PUA, and a portion of that is available to you as a loan against your cash value. In both scenarios, the $10,000 you pay increases the value of your asset by $40,000. This makes it easier for a bank or insurance company to lend to you because they know that even if you default on the loan, there’s additional value there as collateral. The Difference Between Base Premium and Paid-Up Addition Base premium is the money you pay to obtain your life insurance coverage to begin with. The base premium that you pay is what largely contributes to your long-term growth, dividends, and death benefit. PUAs, on the other hand, will contribute more heavily to your early cash value accumulation and less to the death benefit. This difference is one of the reasons people look at PUA whole life insurance when they want more control over how quickly their policy builds usable value. This is because your base premium is designed to cover the cost of your insurance first, with anything leftover contributing to your cash value. This is because the risk to the life insurance company is greater in the early years. In other words, if you were to die in the first few years of the policy, the life insurance company would pay out your full death benefit regardless of how many premiums you have paid. The older you are, the more premiums you have paid, and the more your death benefit has been funded. This also means that as the years pass, more of your base premium will go toward cash value. The PUAs, on the other hand, buys a much smaller amount of additional life insurance coverage and can contribute more heavily to your cash value. So in the years where less of your premium goes toward cash value, PUAs can improve the cash value that is accessible to you. Which Earns the Most Divide

Would you like to make better investment decisions? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sML_fmFh2s Today, we’re talking with Kent Ritter, full-time real estate investor and operator of Hudson Investing about scaling and diversifying your real estate portfolio. So if you want to expand your investing perspective… tune in now! Table of contentsHow Kent Ritter Got StartedMoving From Passive to Active InvestingTaxes in Active and Passive InvestmentsThe Pros of Multifamily Real EstateWhy it’s a Good Environment for Multifamily Real EstateHow Long Should You Hold Your Properties?Where to Invest in Multifamily Real EstateConnect with Kent RitterAbout Kent RitterBook A Strategy Call How Kent Ritter Got Started In 2010, Kent started as a partner in a boutique management consulting firm, before exiting in 2015. In that timeframe, he helped build the business to over $30 million in annual revenue, with 95 employees. After the successful sale of the business, Kent was left with a decision. He had capital, now he had to decide what to do with that capital. He didn’t want to put all his eggs in one basket and certainly didn’t want to ride the stock market roller coaster. In his journey to diversify, he started looking at alternative investments before finally landing on real estate. As he developed his real estate knowledge, he quickly gravitated toward multifamily properties. This love of multifamily properties helped him to move from passive investing through syndications to a more active role in his investments, and sponsoring his own syndications. Moving From Passive to Active Investing Passive investing, in this context, is where you’re investing your own dollars into an existing deal—through a deal sponsor or syndicator. This person is finding and putting the deal together, and you’re joining by adding your dollars to the pool. The syndicator is responsible for the active elements, including finding the property, securing the debt, and determining any renovations. Even as a passive investor, you’re part owner of that property, so you receive distributions from the profits. You also share in the appreciation at the time of sale. So passive investing in syndications like this really allows you to learn more about the experience, without the responsibility of putting the deal together. As Kent built up his own base of knowledge, he was able to move into a more active role. In other words, finding the properties, creating a plan for value-add, and securing investors to help make it happen. Taxes in Active and Passive Investments As someone who has invested passively and actively, Kent touches on the tax implications of multifamily real estate. [7:59] “When you think about taxable income, you think about three buckets. There’s your...ordinary income, which is typically your active income, right? Your W-2 job...or from the property standpoint, the profits that the property is throwing off...Then you have your passive bucket, which would be your investments in things like rental properties...Then you have your portfolio income, which is like your stocks and your mutual funds...When you think about it from a tax standpoint, one of the biggest advantages of real estate is the ability to...pass through the depreciation.” In other words, being able to offset your gains by getting the depreciation helps you save money in taxes. And many times, you have carry-over losses. Those carry-over losses are different depending on whether you’re investing actively or passively. This is based on your investor status. The IRS defines Kent as a real estate professional because all of his investments are in real estate, and that’s his income. So all three of those “income buckets” he mentioned can be offset by depreciation. Passive investors will partake in those deductions differently based on how their income is structured and where it comes from. The Pros of Multifamily Real Estate From a pure investment standpoint, real estate is attractive because it’s not correlated to the stock market. So when you’re diversifying your investments, this means it won’t act in relation to what the stock market is doing. If you’re strongly positioned in “correlated assets,” having a non-correlated asset can be helpful. So if the market moves down, your apartment buildings won’t decrease in value. Another selling point in real estate is the cash flow. While there are dividend-producing stocks, real estate offers more stability. You can get consistent rental income each month from real estate. [13:09] “Typically our cash flows, on a yearly basis, are anywhere from 7-10% annualized cash-on-cash return on your investment. So if you invest in fifty thousand, it would be somewhere between $3,500 to $5,000 a year that you could expect to receive in your share of the distributions of the profits of the company.” On top of the cash flow, there’s an appreciation component. When you create a lot of value through renovations and improvements to the property, you can ex

Are you planning to have multiple IBC policies, and don't know where to start? If you’re already a few years into using the Infinite Banking Concept, you’ve seen and experienced the power of storing cash in a whole life policy. You’re earning interest and dividends, have exceptional compounding power, and guaranteed access to use your money. You’re also watching the death benefit increase. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nugZZ1HcrY8 Now you want to store more cash. It’s time to think about how to use all your policies well and maximize their capacity. Today, we’re continuing the conversation in our series about how to take your Infinite Banking to the next level. In the last episodes, we dug into how to maximize your current Infinite Banking Policy. Then, we talked about insuring other family members, like children and grandkids. Now, we’ll talk about managing multiple policies. So if you want to hear about what to do after your whole life insurance policy is already working… tune in now! The Problem of Information “The internet has allowed us to be drowning in information while starving for wisdom.” That’s the unfortunate truth of the internet—everything seems like it is generated for clicks. That's why we are striving to help impart wisdom so that you can make the best decisions for your family today. The purpose of today's content is to help you take ACTION. Because too much information can cause inaction. Storing Capital Everybody has a need to store capital. And there are many financial institutions that allow you to store capital: banks, insurance companies, Wall Street, pension plans, and your own home. The real work is in evaluating where your capital should go, in order to do what you want it to do. Remember: what is the purpose of your money? Once you’ve identified what your money should do—evaluating the WHERE becomes simpler. And while there’s no perfect solution, there are products with flexibility and control. Primarily, cash value insurance offers you liquidity, safety, growth, and certainty. More importantly, it can offer you flexibility and control. It’s important that when your future is uncertain, you have something that IS certain. You may not know how much money you’ll have in the future, or what your job will be, or how your family will grow. But by having cash value life insurance policies, you WILL know that you have money you can use strategically. You won’t lose it if the stock market crashes, it will continue to grow, and you don’t need permission to access it. How do you have the best-case scenario no matter what happens? The Purpose of Your Policy If you do not believe in the death benefit, and you’re only worried about the cash value, then you should just keep your money in the bank. Rodney Mogen, who has joined us on The Money Advantage before, has expressed this sentiment. And we fully agree. While it’s easy to talk about the benefits of the cash value in terms of infinite banking, it’s harder to talk about the death benefit. You can likely imagine why, as talking about death is often uncomfortable. We don’t like to think about our own deaths, let alone the deaths of our loved ones. But it’s an essential component of life insurance that helps protect the people you love from loss of income. So if you’re only interested in life insurance because of the cash value, and you’re not invested in the protection component, how likely are you to maintain your policy? It becomes easier to manage a system of policies when you are also thinking of the generational impact. In other words, the income protection from loss of life, and the transfer of wealth that occurs therein. Why Take a Policy Loan? It’s simple: control. It’s popular now to use your cash value as collateral, in order to take a lower interest rate. Why pay the life insurance company 5% when you can pay the bank 3.5%? The answer is, it depends! The insurance company offers you control. They’ll give you a loan regardless of what the funds are for, unlike a bank, as well as control over the repayment terms. You can pay on your own schedule, effectively eliminating late payments and credit bureau reporting. A third-party lender is not going to offer that same control. So it’s important to consider your actions strategically. Will you benefit from more control over the repayment terms? The bottom line is that if you have the life insurance policy in place, you have the options and the freedom to make several different choices, depending on your personal circumstance. This is why it’s important to evaluate the information you get online. Anyone telling you there’s only one right asset or strategy should be questioned. Should You Pay Your Premium or Your Loan? If you think about it logically, the premium payment will build up your cash value, or leveraged death benefit. This is the portion of your policy that acts as collateral on the loan and is compounding within your policy. If you’re in a place of limited incom

It can often seem that there’s a tradeoff between money and relationships, that you get one only at the expense of the other. But if you want to succeed in both critical life categories—you want thriving relationships you feel great about, and to live at the peak of your financial performance, you need wisdom that’s greater than both to get there. Today, we’re talking with Rabbi Daniel Lapin, author of Business Secrets from the Bible, Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money, and The Holistic You. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BUWOoOmKFo We’ll discuss why you need a holistic view of your financial performance, and how it relates to your family, friendships, and other relationships. This is ancient Jewish wisdom and Jewish financial principles for success in life. If you want to feel good about your money and use it to benefit your family for generations to come… tune in now! Table of contentsThe Holistic YouDebunking the “Scrooge”What is Business?Charity Requires ResourcesWhat is a Happy Warrior? Why You Need to be a WarriorFinding BalanceThe Pathology of PovertyImprove Your Relationships, Improve Your LifeRabbi Daniel LapinBook A Strategy Call The Holistic You The last time we had Rabbi Lapin as a guest, we had a fantastic time discussing Thou Shall Prosper, and the biblical wisdom of wealth. We’re delighted to welcome him back now to discuss another of his books, The Holistic You. This book is a manual for integrating wealth, family, faith, and more—in a way that is fulfilling. Sometimes it can feel like juggling practice, so we’re excited to take a look at Rabbi Lapin’s wisdom in finding balance. Rabbi Lapin came into this field because he found himself speaking to largely Christian audiences and was frequently asked, in earnest, why Jews seem to be disproportionately good with money. Without taking offense, he realized that it was a question worth pondering, and so he began to look for answers within scripture. Debunking the “Scrooge” [11:23] “[Business] is one of the only areas of activity where doing well is a function of being good. And this is a very hard thing for people to hear because they love the idea of Scrooge—the horrible, selfish, [inaudible] millionaire.” In business, reputation is actually one of the most important aspects. Because those with poor reputations don’t last long in business. So the idea of the curmudgeonly Scrooge is a fantasy. In reality, businessmen strive to have good relationships, because what happens when a reputation goes south? Investors pull out, and money flows away from the company. You can be an actor or a tennis player with great skill and manage to find success with a bad reputation. Business cannot be the same. What is Business? [15:20] “Business is just a technical term for people being nice to each other… Whether you like it or not, we happen to live in a world where... we are incentivized to be nice to other people with an incredible blessing called financial abundance... Business is becoming as useful as you can, to as many other people as possible. What could be more beautiful?” Rabbi Lapin continues by saying that this is something that God smiles upon, because “Our Father in heaven is not so different from our fathers on earth.” In other words—all fathers prefer when their children get along. However, some believe that because business owners are making money by doing so, it morally discredits the entire process. To that, Rabbi Lapin shares the story of a woman he knows, who battled cancer and survived. And to her, it was important that she find a wig that was comfortable and natural-looking so that she could restore a sense of normalcy to her daily life. She searched high and low for the perfect wig, and once she had found one, began importing them. Then, she returned to her cancer treatment center and proposed a setup to help patients find a wig that suited them, so they didn’t have to wait or conduct their own lengthy search. This was a service she provided to several hospitals, helping women with cancer regain their confidence after hair loss, and became wealthy doing so. And she came to Rabbi Lapin for guidance because her own Rabbi had told her that she should be ashamed for profiting off of the illness and suffering of other people. That Rabbi suggested that if she truly cared, she would do it for free. Charity Requires Resources The problem with this suggestion is that charity requires resources. If this woman had offered wigs to other cancer patients for free, how long until she ran out of funds? How many people would she have been able to help? The bottom line is that she was doing an incredible service for thousands of women. She made the process of obtaining a high-quality wig simple and convenient—and likely saved many women money in the long run. Profiting from this business allowed her to help many more people than she could through charity alone. [20:40] “I helped her understand that she is providing an incredible service,

Are you already a few years into your first IBC policy, and you’ve experienced the power of storing cash in a policy? Maybe now, you want to store more cash. Is it time to start another policy? Should you insure yourself, your spouse, kids, or grandkids? Why? How does it work when you build a system of policies? Should you even have life insurance for children? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKq1QNKZnUc Today, we’re continuing the conversation in our series about how to take your Infinite Banking to the next level. Last time, we dug into how to maximize your current Infinite Banking Policy. We’ll talk about private family banking and insuring other family members, like spouses, kids, and grandkids. In our third and final part, we’ll talk about managing multiple policies. So if you want to hear about what to do after your first whole life insurance policy is performing well… tune in now! Table of contentsLife Insurance Isn’t Just About DeathHow to Reframe Your Insurance MindsetBuilding a Portfolio of PoliciesWhat is the Benefit of Insuring Yourself First?Order of InsuranceAre You Insurable?Should You Have Life Insurance for Children?How to Insure Your GrandchildrenStarting a Life Insurance Policy for GrandchildrenHow Do You Know What's Right for You?Find Your Human Life ValuePlanning for Generational ImpactBook A Strategy CallFAQsWhat is the benefit of buying life insurance for grandchildren?Who should own the life insurance policy for grandchildren?Can a life insurance policy for grandchildren be used for education expenses?Is it difficult to qualify for life insurance for grandchildren? Life Insurance Isn’t Just About Death We hear it all the time—“I don’t want to think about death.” This can be especially true when life insurance for children enters the discussion. However, life insurance isn’t just about death. When used correctly, it can provide liquidity and certainty... and peace of mind. It might also surprise you to learn that cash value life insurance is useful in teaching children good money habits. This is a key in family banking strategies and building generational wealth. If you’re skeptical, we understand—and that’s exactly why we’re going to be digging into the topic today. How to Reframe Your Insurance Mindset Today, most financial planning involves saving for a future goal—retirement, college, etc. In turn, this often means locking money up in qualified plans like a 401k or 529 plan, where it’s inaccessible for long periods of time. While saving is better than the alternative, the problem is that these accounts offer little flexibility. And what is life if not an exercise in flexibility? After all, things happen all the time that we cannot predict—unexpected medical expenses, job loss, and economic crises, as well as investment opportunities, extra vacation time, and more. But what happens when you don’t have the capital? Unfortunately, you have to make sacrifices or pass up on rare opportunities. Cash-value life insurance—and in particular, infinite banking strategies—offers a solution. It gives individuals and families a way to save money without locking those dollars away. The cash value component is liquid and out-earns typical savings accounts. And, you can use the money at any time, for any reason. This means that you can cover unexpected emergencies and opportunities. Yes, there’s a death benefit, but there are living benefits too. And while thinking about death can cause a lot of emotions to bubble to the surface, it’s an event none of us can avoid. Thinking about it as a logical protection mechanism, rather than an omen, can help you combat any misgivings. And in the long run, you’ll have financially prepared your loved ones for what will be a difficult time. Building a Portfolio of Policies Over the course of your life, you’ll likely be entitled to more insurance. In the first part of our IBC 201 discussion, we talked about the importance of insuring up to your Human Life Value. This will change over the course of your life. The tricky part of building an IBC portfolio is knowing who to insure, at what time, and in what order. If‌ ‌you’re‌ ‌considering‌ ‌another‌ ‌life‌ ‌insurance‌ ‌policy,‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌own‌ ‌a‌ ‌policy‌ ‌on‌ ‌someone‌ ‌other‌ ‌than‌ ‌yourself.‌ ‌This‌ ‌means‌ ‌that‌ ‌while‌ ‌you‌ ‌may‌ ‌make‌ ‌the‌ ‌premium‌ ‌payments,‌ ‌the‌ ‌death‌ ‌benefit‌ ‌is‌ ‌tied‌ ‌to‌ ‌someone‌ ‌other‌ ‌than‌ ‌yourself.‌ ‌You‌ ‌may‌ ‌wonder‌ ‌why‌ ‌you’d‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌insure‌ ‌other‌ ‌people,‌ ‌or‌ ‌even‌ ‌how‌ ‌you‌ ‌would‌ ‌be‌ ‌able‌ ‌to. So let's talk about the reasons why, and why not, to have life insurance for children or grandchildren. Each policy within your growing portfolio can play a different role. One might be designed primarily for protection, for example, while another might focus on building cash value for liquidity. A third may exist purely to leave behind a financial legacy. Rather than viewing multiple policies as redundant, it helps to see them as parts o

Want to scale your real estate investing business, and make more money? Today, we’re talking with Gary Boomershine, CEO of RealEstateInvestor.com, who has created software to grow your real estate business, services to scale your income, and coaching to help you achieve the freedom you deserve. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6rN8gE4MrU If you’re an investor or business owner who wants to create the life you envision … tune in now! Table of contentsThe Three “Buckets” of Real Estate InvestingBeing Self-Employed vs. Being a Business OwnerKnowing Your WhyThe Power of Passive IncomeLeverage Money AND TimeReal Estate CyclesScaling Your Real Estate Investing Business with Infinite BankingAbout Gary BoomershineBook A Strategy Call [4:10] “Every professional athlete, every musician, everyone has a coach...even Google.” If you are going to start a business, why wouldn’t you have a coach as well? Gary Boomershine started in the industry doing a dozen different things. It wasn’t until he had a coach that he learned to exit the rat race. [8:50] “In real estate, the key is being able to find the deal...And right now in real estate, it’s really hard to go find the deals.” This is part of how RealEstateInvestor.com got its start—as a tool to find off-market deals. [9:22] “As an entrepreneur, and building a business, every business needs a CEO. And if you’re a CEO doing ten dollar an hour work, you’re going to have a ten dollar bank account. So as a CEO, you’ve got to actually run the business as a CEO.” The role of the CEO, as Gary defines it, is to create leverage. A CEO leverages other people’s money and other people’s time. That way the CEO can do more, without doing everything alone. Otherwise, you run the risk of a JOB, which Gary defines as “just over broke.” The Three “Buckets” of Real Estate Investing [11”10] “There’s three main buckets people should be thinking about in real estate. There’s cash now, cash flow, and cash later.” The “cash now” category is what Gary Boomershine distinguishes as real estate operators, rather than real estate investors. These are the people who do wholesale deals or fix-and-flips. In other words, they buy low-value properties, make improvements, and sell them. They’re investing for a one-time transaction—so if they stop doing what they’re doing, they stop making money. Then, there’s cash flow, which is a monthly stream of income. The most common cash flow real estate investment is rental property. The investor buys the property and rents it out, and that monthly rent pays the mortgage and creates income for the investor. Private lending is another cash-flowing real estate deal. Then, there’s the cash later category. This type of income typically comes from inflation or appreciation, as well as equity. To truly scale your real estate investing business, all three components are needed--though passive income is the key to unlocking wealth. Being Self-Employed vs. Being a Business Owner Robert Kiyosaki’s cash flow quadrant is the process of moving from having a job to being an investor. And as Gery Boomershine puts it, real estate operators are in the “self-employed quadrant.” They’re in a space that has more freedom than being an employee, yet are still trading time for money. RealEstateInvestor.com is designed for these operators, to help move them into the business owner quadrant, and finally the investor quadrant. [17:30] “Everybody gets in [to real estate] and they’re like—How do I do a rehab? How do I wholesale a property and make some money?...No, what you want to do is stand back and say, what do you want? What do you want for your life, right?... Because at the end of the day, we’re looking for financial freedom and a life of time. The most valuable commodity is not the money, it’s the time.” Knowing Your Why The solution to this problem of “how,” is by defining your “why.” Why are you in the game, and what do you want your life to look like, and what do you want real estate to do for you? Thinking about your money’s purpose can help you have a clearer vision of what you want to do, and the “how” will follow. Gary’s personal “why” is to be free to do more things with his time. So his goal is to work three hours a day, four days a week. In order to do that, much of his income has to be passive. And so his investing decisions reflect that. The Power of Passive Income In Gary’s book, he states that most people are about 7 houses away from complete financial independence if done right. That’s because properties can provide consistent cash flow, and you have the leverage of using other people’s money. You use the bank’s money for the mortgage, and the renter’s money to pay down the mortgage. And eventually, you own that property free and clear and can support your lifestyle on that passive income alone. Gary sees that the investors he teaches are so focused on a dollar figure that they don’t think about the power of passive income. Robert Kiyosaki says, “The definition of a wealth

Do you already have your first IBC policy and want to take it to the next level? Maybe you’re a few years in and you’ve seen and experienced the power of storing cash in a policy. You’re earning interest and dividends, have exceptional compounding power, and guaranteed access to use your money, and you’re watching the death benefit increase. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfEVjNWZZ6g At this stage, many people begin looking for ways to get more out of their IBC insurance policy, especially when they realise how much control and liquidity the system can offer over time. Now you want to store more cash. Is it time to start another policy? Should you insure yourself, your spouse, your kids, and your grandkids? Why? How does it work when you start building a system of policies? These questions naturally come up once your IBC policy is already doing its job and you’re ready to build out a broader personal banking system. We’re starting a series for those who are already IBC owners and want to take their policy to the next level. Today, we’re digging into how to amplify your Infinite Banking Policy. Next, we’ll talk about insuring other family members, like spouses, kids, and grandkids. Then, we’ll talk about managing multiple policies. So if you want to hear about what to do after your whole life insurance policy is already working to continue to grow and accelerate its potency… tune in now! Table of contentsWays to Maximize Your IBC PolicyCatch Up On Any Missed PUAsTake and Repay Policy LoansWhen Should You Add Another Life Insurance Policy?What is Human Life Value?Term, Whole Life, and HLVThe Power of Dividends in IBCIBC Best Practices for Family BankingBook A Strategy CallFAQsHow to maximize an IBC policy?Does having more than one IBC policy make a difference?What role does an IBC insurance policy play in long-term planning?Is it risky to rely on policy loans for opportunities? Ways to Maximize Your IBC Policy A common misconception of Infinite Banking is that when you pay back a policy loan, you’re paying yourself interest. This isn’t exactly true, however. When you pay back a policy loan, any interest you pay is to the insurance company. What Nelson Nash talks about in his book is making payments beyond the interest, which can help make your policy more efficient. This shift in perspective is part of understanding how to get the most from your IBC insurance policy, especially once you’ve moved beyond the basic mechanics and into long-term strategy. The most efficient way to maximize your policy has a lot to do with your Paid-Up Additions. The PUA rider allows you to make extra premium payments in the early years of your policy so that your policy grows faster. If you’re maximizing your PUAs, you’re supercharging the savings component of your policy. In the early stages of your policy, it’s crucial to maximize your PUAs for as many years as you’re able. That’s because, in the early years, you have more certainty. So you’re creating more room for the future when you may not be able to maximize those PUAs. Catch Up On Any Missed PUAs If you’re in a position where you were unable to maximize your PUAs one year, you have some time to catch up on those payments. Different companies offer different time limits for how far back you can “catch up.” So if you didn’t fund your policy as much as you could have, you have more room to pay those PUAs. Catching up will allow you to maximize your policy after lean years. It’s also important to note that the catch-up provision has some limitations. For example, the amount of premium you’re allowed to catch up each year is based on the average of what you’ve contributed in the previous 7 years. This ensures that the insurance company stays viable, which is good for you and all policyholders. Take and Repay Policy Loans Another way to maximize your IBC policy is to be a good steward of your policy loans. If you’re a few years into your life insurance policy, there’s a good chance you’ve utilized your loan provision. Maybe you’re even using it to create cash flow. That’s a great sign that you’re on the right track. Good loan management is one of the most practical ways to strengthen your IBC insurance policy, because it keeps your capital available without interrupting growth. The next step in maximizing the effects of your policy is to pay back those loans. Your loan payments may not be scheduled, yet paying back your loans frees up more of your cash value to be used again. This is the true power of an IBC policy. In a way, it’s like a line of credit, where you pay down your balance to free up money for new opportunities. And have no liquidity fears—the second your payment clears, that same amount of capital is free for you to use again. When Should You Add Another Life Insurance Policy? We’ve heard the following question several times: If I design a policy for $50,000 this year, what happens if next year I come into a large sum of money? The first questions we ask in respons

Today, we’re talking with Mike Kitko; author, speaker, coach who helps you lead powerfully, love selflessly, profit shamelessly, and play recklessly. If you’re an elite business owner who wants to break through to success and live soul out… tune in now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Bo-zzgpts Table of contentsWorking in Your Zone of GeniusBreakthrough to Success and HappinessMike's Personal Breakthrough to SuccessHow Do You Own Your Zone of Genius?Solving the Money MindsetThe Breakthrough to Success Begins with Real LeadershipMike Kitko’s Prosperity PrinciplesGet in Touch with Mike KitkoAbout Mike KitkoBook A Strategy Call Does success have to be hard? Mike Kitko argues that the breakthrough to success doesn’t have to be! You can make it simple, and today we’re talking about how to simplify your journey to success. It starts with letting go. [1:48] “For 43 years, I made everything in my life as hard as I possibly could because I was taught...that if it’s not hard, it’s not valuable. And if it’s easy, then you’re missing the point.” Working in Your Zone of Genius Your “zone of genius” as defined by Gay Hendricks, author of The Big Leap, is the space where you rely on your innate abilities. Many people call this “purpose,” and when you’re working within this zone, as Mike says, life is easy. This is where the magic happens, energy is limitless, and synchronicities occur. And yet, because we're conditioned to believe that success is hard, we distrust ourselves when we're in that zone. We are trained to think we have to work hard to be worthy. And it’s the exact opposite of what we should be striving for. Mike breaks down the steps for working in your zone of genius in this way: Find and understand your purpose Create a vision for your life that reflects what you want to experience Understand your desires and know that new ones will always surface Get into your flow in your zone of genius Act from within your zone of genius [5:50] “Life doesn’t have to be hard. I have too much fun having joy and success and happiness and wealth the easy way. My wife termed them grind gurus and hustle whores. Let all those guys teach everybody... I’m looking for the path of least resistance.” [13:40] “When you’re in your zone of genius, it’s like time stops and things happen for you and because of you.” Breakthrough to Success and Happiness [6:45] “I think the mind has a problem with happiness. The mind creates problems where they don’t exist... We don’t understand what’s happening [in our mind], and we don’t understand how to discipline this, and we don’t understand how to eat the fruit and spit out the seeds... We don’t understand that we can let the thoughts go—the ones that don’t serve, that create struggle, that create stress out of joy and happiness. When we can let them go, we don’t have to follow them into a problem-solving space. You don’t have to solve problems that don’t exist.” The average human has 6,200 thoughts per day, and we spend so much of our mental energy on our problems. What would happen if you identified the problems that don’t exist and let them go? When we allow our thoughts to have control and run rampant, we drain our mental energy. The breakthrough to success occurs when we can let go of thoughts that don't serve us, or take us down a rabbit hole of worry and doubt. Mike's Personal Breakthrough to Success In 2016, Mike Kitko was fired from his second executive level position in 20 months. And it was an easy climb to the top, even though he “made it hard” for himself. And he admits that he was fired because he himself was toxic at the time. [10:10] “The struggle that I felt inside, and the pain that I felt inside, I wanted everyone else to experience it too. We see in the world what we feel...We experience the world from our internal lens. When we expect life to be hard, or we expect life to be painful, then we see it everywhere and we create it where it doesn’t exist.” Despite the challenges of job loss, Mike recognized the call to do better. This was the catalyst for his personal breakthrough to success. It began with two things—the willingness to embrace uncertainty, and the desire to make things easy. [11:35] “If you trust yourself in the presence of uncertainty, entrepreneurialism is for you.” How Do You Own Your Zone of Genius? [15:41] “When I was in corporate, I felt like I had to do nine hundred and ninety-nine things so that I could get to do the one that I loved.... After I was unceremoniously uninvited from corporate, I said I'm never doing those nine hundred and ninety-nine things ever again.” The key is to find your one thing—the one that you’re willing to suffer for the opportunity to do—and then do it. Just drop the suffering from the equation. If you’re looking for more of a formula, find the intersection of these things: What are you great at? And what are you good at? What are you passionate about? What will people pay you for? When you can find some

Want to use your Infinite Banking policy, but wish you understand the nuts and bolts of how Infinite Banking interest rates work? Today, we’re answering a question from our wonderful community of listeners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFSgJlrjL4U For example, what’s the policy loan if I wanted to borrow 1K? Are there any interest rates?—Riley Nelson If you want to learn exactly how interest works on life insurance policy loans… tune in now! Table of contentsWhat is IBC?The Power of LeverageDo Life Insurance Companies Charge Interest on Policy Loans?Why Compounding Interest Matters Fixed vs. Variable InterestThe Nuances of Variable Interest RatesHow Companies Charge InterestBook A Strategy CallFAQsWhy do insurance companies charge interest on policy loans?Are policy loan rates high compared to banks?Can my loan interest rate change?Do I have to repay a policy loan?Does taking a loan reduce my policy performance? What is IBC? A friend of ours, James Neathery, often says, “If you understand the concepts, the details don’t matter, and if you don’t understand the concepts, then the details don’t matter.” Ultimately, what he’s saying is that you must ultimately understand the big picture of how and why IBC (Infinite Banking Concept) does what it does. Without that conceptual understanding, the rest doesn’t matter. And so, we’re first going to look at infinite banking or privatized banking on a conceptual level, so that we can get into the weeds. Infinite banking is an alternative banking position. As we know, banks pay you interest, and they charge you interest. Life insurance companies work the same way. If you have a whole life insurance policy, the insurance carrier will pay you interest and charge you interest. The power of “banking” with a life insurance company is in the rates, the leverage, and the level of control. To access the cash value of your life insurance, you can take a policy loan. The benefits of a private system are that you do not need permission or approval. This is also where infinite banking interest rates begin to matter, because the loan structure is directly tied to how your cash value continues to grow while the policy remains fully active. The Power of Leverage The reason that IBC works in a way that regular banking does not is because of the power of leverage. The rate at which insurance companies pay interest is often far greater than what the banks offer, as well as dividends. This allows for greater accumulation. Then, you can leverage that money to do more jobs. This could mean taking a policy loan at 5% and investing it in real estate at an even better rate. You can then put the monthly cash flow towards the loan repayment and give your money a better rate of return in the long run. And because you’ve leveraged the insurance company’s money (using your cash value as collateral), your policy continues to accumulate interest at its maximum compounding potential. The benefit is that you’re not JUST putting your money in a vehicle with better safety, liquidity, and growth. You also have an ASSET that allows you to accumulate more assets with uninterrupted compound interest. IBC is not magic. However, it’s a strategy you can use to make your banking more efficient and work more in your favor - and understanding how infinite banking interest rates fit into that strategy helps clarify why leverage is such a central part of the system. Do Life Insurance Companies Charge Interest on Policy Loans? Yes, the life insurance companies DO charge you interest. This is because you’re borrowing from the insurance company instead of taking money directly from your cash value. This means that your entire cash value can continue to compound uninterrupted. Instead, your cash value acts as collateral. This means that your death benefit will be reduced until the loan is paid back. You aren’t borrowing your own money and paying yourself interest, which is a common misconception. It’s also why infinite banking interest rates become part of the overall design, since the loan structure is tied to keeping your full cash value growing while the policy remains intact. Why Compounding Interest Matters You might wonder WHY you would want to pay interest at all, when you could just withdraw from a regular savings account. The answer is in the compounding. When you withdraw money from a bank account, there’s less money to earn interest on. As we all know, interest accumulates better on larger sums of money—1% of $1,000 is only ten dollars. On the other hand, 1% of $10,000 is a hundred dollars. At the higher balance, not only are you earning more money, you’re also earning money on THAT money. Which means next year, you’ll earn $110 of interest, and it will continue to compound and become more efficient. If, however, you withdraw $10,000 the next year, leaving $100 in the bank, you're only earning one dollar. You’ve minimized the velocity of your interest. A policy loan fixes this problem. So, although you

Are you frustrated with the volatility, fee structure, and abstract nature of most investments? Do you feel that you’ve outgrown the status quo investing strategy and want to play a bigger game with your investing? Have you heard of alternative investments, but don’t know where to get started? Do you need investments that are built for high performers like you, who know it’s possible to increase your income today? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8dmb8n8Cw Today, we’re talking with Denis Shapiro, Managing Partner of SIH Capital Group and author of The Alternative Investment Almanac: Expert Insights on Building Person Wealth in Non-Traditional Ways. So if you want to hear about how one investor in the alternative space is helping others with a simplified strategy to invest for passive income… tune in now! Table of contentsWhat IS An Accredited Investor?Denis Shapiro’s Journey to Alternative InvestmentsHaving a Portfolio with Stocks AND Alternative InvestmentsThe Importance of Building RelationshipsAn Overview of the Asset Classes A Note on Ponzi SchemesThe Give and Take of Alternative Investments Diversify Between Liquid and Illiquid Assets How to Get Involved in Accredited InvestmentsGet The Alternative Investment Almanac by Denis Shapiro About Denis ShapiroBook A Strategy Call What IS An Accredited Investor? Accredited investors have certain investment opportunities available to them that the average person does not. Namely, a number of alternative investments outside of the stock market. So how do you know if you’re an accredited investor? Accredited investor status is actually defined by your income (or Net Worth). Let’s break it down; you’re an accredited investor, as defined by the SEC, IF: You are SINGLE, and have had an income of at least $250,000 for the past two years, with the expectation to keep earning the same or greater Your are MARRIED, and have had an income of at least $300,000 for the past two years, with the expectation to keep earning the same or greater OR, if you have a Net Worth exceeding $1 million. If you’re an accredited investor, or on track to become one, you’ll want to stick around to learn more. Denis Shapiro’s Journey to Alternative Investments In high school, Denis' older brother gifted him a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Yet, he was skeptical of the ideas that Kiyosaki brought forth. His key takeaway, however, was that he should start buying assets--which was a mindset his peers did not have. So, he started with a mutual fund that didn’t do very well. That’s when he started to look for a different way, and he experimented with different assets. He also dedicated his college career to finance, which overlapped with the housing crash. When he graduated, the job market wasn’t great, so he decided to continue his education and get his MBA. Eventually, he broke into real estate and started building a portfolio that had stocks AND alternative investments. Having a Portfolio with Stocks AND Alternative Investments What Denis found when he had a portfolio only made of stocks, was that he couldn’t do it all. He couldn’t have appreciation and income and tax savings. In reality, though, the stock market just doesn’t work that way. You have to have a truly diversified portfolio to have everything—and that means having a portion of investments that aren’t correlated to the stock market. In other words, the performance of those investments doesn’t depend on what the stock market is doing. The problem with stocks is that the way they perform can depend on too many external factors. Stocks can drop based on rumors, company reinvention, and so much more. Instead of picking stocks, Denis realized that his stock portfolio performed better when he went with an index fund. Yet his income from that portfolio was still lacking. His epiphany was that in order to get the most from his index fund, he needed to let it appreciate on autopilot. Then, find a different solution to create income that wouldn’t tank at the whims of the market. So he turned to real estate. Real estate is much lower volatility because it’s not traded on a daily or even hourly basis. The Importance of Building Relationships Unlike the stock market, many alternative investments rely on relationship building, which can take months or even years. One of the networks Denis Shapiro has built for himself is for investors in apartment buildings. And because he’s spent the time building up relationships, he receives honest feedback about different investors and operators. These types of relationships can enrich your investing experience in many ways that you won’t find in stock-based assets. Simply because the stock market has too many variables. Real estate, however, has fewer variables. And one such variable is a very human element that depends on good relationships—between landlord and tenant, or investing partners, and more. If you’re looking into non-correlated assets, one of the best places to start is by b

Are you on track for financial freedom? If you don’t know the answer to this question, you’re not alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uNyH8npUik Most people think the answer is how much more they have left before the house is paid off, how much left on the student loans, the balance of their retirement fund, the stock market’s performance, the Federal Reserve chair’s economic analysis, or interest rates. While these things paint the landscape along the road to financial freedom, they have almost nothing to do with your progress. Really, these answers avoid the question. The problem is that you can do all the analysis and understand the market factors, possibly make a lot of money when times are good, but still have the same nagging fear that you’ll lose it all or lose control. Today, we’re speaking out about the reasons why your financial plan is failing, and why so many good people with good intentions who are doing “all the right things” are still getting derailed. It’s not interest rates, the stock market, inflation, or having selected the wrong risk tolerance. So if you want to find out exactly why you’re not where you want to be… tune in now! Table of contentsThe “Problem” with Financial Advice5 Reasons Your Financial Plan is Failing1. You're Not Taking Action2. You Haven’t Defined What Financial Freedom Means to You3. You’re Distracted4. You’re Guessing 5. You’re Making Things ComplicatedAre You Doing the Best You Can with What You Have?Book A Strategy Call Do you find yourself asking questions like: Do I have enough money?Am I managing my money correctly?Do I have enough cash flow?Will I be able to afford retirement?Can I put my children through college?Am I going to be able to grow my business the way I want to? If you are, first know that you’re not alone and that there are solutions for you. Your financial experience doesn’t have to keep you up at night, and we want to help you jump over any hurdles on your path. We know that there are financial struggles at every income level—no matter how well someone appears to be doing from the outside. And in the same vein, there are also solutions at every income level. In today’s post, we want to address the five reasons your financial plan is failing, so that you can rectify them and get back on track to financial freedom. The “Problem” with Financial Advice Financial advice can be tricky because there are so many moving parts. You could talk with a broker and get one strategy, a CPA and get another, and a life insurance agent and get something completely different! Not to mention, when you go online and do the research yourself, you’ll read hundreds of conflicting viewpoints. It can seem like there are no right answers, or that you have to have a degree in finance or economics to really understand anything, yet that’s not true. We want to help you sift through the noise and put together something cohesive that works for you. First things first: you don’t have to do it all or start by doing everything. Sometimes mastering one strategy, and making it your own, can make a huge difference. Find something or someone that aligns with your values, and start somewhere. 5 Reasons Your Financial Plan is Failing 1. You're Not Taking Action When it comes to your financial future, one of the best things you can do is take action. If you let fear of failure keep you in a state of inaction, you can hinder any forward momentum. It’s important to acknowledge the things you’re afraid of—like losing money—so that you can take actions that will better your odds and your current circumstances. Because the reality is, there are too many variables outside of your control. The stock market and the economy will continue to change, even if you don’t take action. So what actions can you take to protect yourself and your finances now, so you can make riskier decisions with greater confidence? 2. You Haven’t Defined What Financial Freedom Means to You Another reason we see people struggling with their financial plan because they haven’t defined what financial freedom means. Financial freedom is not a dollar figure, or a certain amount of cash flowing properties. It’s not a fully paid-off house, and certainly not a certain net worth. Financial freedom, we believe, is a reliable income stream that is sufficient to not have to worry at night. Because as long as you’re stressing about how you’re going to pay the bills, you’re not financially free. Your mental and emotional energy is tied up. And this isn’t just a “now” problem. You may be able to pay your bills now, but worry about twenty years in the future when your kids are in school or you’re ready to retire. And those fears for the future affect your decisions now. You can also define financial freedom in a more personal way. Is financial freedom the ability to do what you want, when you want to do it? Is it more time spent with your family (and not stressing about making ends meet)? 3. You’re Distracted Your business

How do you create a healthy relationship with money that serves you? Today, we’re talking with Bob Wheeler, author of The Money Nerve, about how to create radical abundance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YczbRpnO0E4 Bruce and I recently had the pleasure of joining Bob on his podcast, Money You Should Ask, and we just knew we had to share him with you. After all, how many CPAs do you know with a great sense of humor? We hope you’ll enjoy our delightful and humorous conversation with Bob about the feelings we have about money. So if you want to feel good about your money… tune in now! Table of contentsThe "Money Nerve" Behind the MoneyAn "External" View of Money(There is No Finish Line)Abundance is About PerspectiveWhat is a Money Nerve?Overcoming the Money NerveAbout Bob WheelerBook A Strategy Call The "Money Nerve" Behind the Money When Bob initially became a CPA, what he found was that people continuously made money decisions that weren’t in their best interest. They would receive advice, then do the opposite. Bob himself wasn’t doing well financially and he was making seemingly simple mistakes. So he decided to do the internal work and look at his emotional motivations, so he could learn why he was seemingly “self-sabotaging.” [4:35] “It all started to become really clear to me that we’re all working on these unconscious, emotional money beliefs and money blocks that we’ve been carrying since we were probably five, six years old. And we have to unpack that, for many of us, to go forward.” This research has helped Bob unlearn his own emotional blocks, as well as improve his client’s views of money, and break down the stigma and money shame so prevalent in our world today. And it led to his book, The Money Nerve. An "External" View of Money Beyond shame and guilt, the way we view other people’s money needs a huge overhaul. How many times have we judged someone by their home, or their car, and placed a certain value upon that? Not only do we believe that people with more must be happier, and label things as a solution to our problems. We also believe that at a certain income level, problems will cease. Yet this doesn’t really address the root of the problem—and that is, once again, the way we as a society feel about money. A certain income level does not define wealth, although it is easy to believe—true wealth involves what you can do with what you have. [6:23] “Social media, and our culture, really cultivates this [idea] that you have to be successful and you are your assets, you are your accomplishments...I think what happens is, we don’t stop and take a look and say—Wait a minute. That person with that jet and that fancy mansion also has incredible debt or something. Or they inherited it, and they feel incredibly shameful, and guilty, that they’ve taken on all these assets that they don’t deserve.” Social media is an arena we use to show the best of ourselves. Most people don’t share their credit card debt or how close to bankruptcy they are on Facebook. So we can’t judge by what we see on social media. Even the person with the best life you know has carefully cultivated their online presence. (There is No Finish Line) [9:25] “Everybody’s trying to get to the finish line. The thing is, I don’t want to get to the finish line—that’s my last breath. I want to have as much fun on the way to the finish line. For me, that’s where life exists, is on the way to the finish line. I think with athletes and these folks that can be in the moment, they’re conscious of that. I think most of us are unconsciously thinking—I gotta get there, I gotta do this, I gotta hit my mark—and so we’re unconsciously trying to get there instead of realizing... we’re here.” Abundance is About Perspective Abundance thinking is a bit of a misnomer, because so often people attach a number to abundance, and attempt to quantify it. What’s truly great about abundance thinking is that there is no magic number. Instead, it’s the ability to make what you have work for you better. And it all starts with being in control of your money (as opposed to someone else being in control). You don’t have to have $10 million to reach abundance. You could have significantly less and still live abundantly because it’s about perspective. How much control do you have over your own money? How much freedom do you have in your schedule? Do you live life on your own terms? Do you believe money in infinite? These are all notions that have no price tag, and from our perspective, this is abundance! Bob uses an example from his time in Africa to explain abundance, citing how the people he met saw opportunities in everything, and were immensely grateful. However, the attitude in America is often, “I don’t have enough.” True abundance, to Bob, is considering how abundant you are in your relationships, your time, your travel, your ideas, your opportunities, etc. Abundance is about what you have, and what you could yet have if you

We like to ask our audience, what is your biggest challenge with building wealth, and we receive so many insightful questions. Today, we’re answering a question from Matt about how to create a balanced wealth portfolio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZztP3WOhF4 So if you want to make sure you’re thinking through all the pieces of your financial plan and doing the best you can with your money for today and for the future, tune in now! Table of contentsAnswering a Viewer QuestionStarting with “Why”Having Cash for Emergencies and OpportunitiesMindset Matters for a Balanced Wealth PortfolioFixing Money LeaksAsset ProtectionYour Financial PictureThe Right Financial Vehicles for a Balanced Wealth PortfolioBook A Strategy Call Answering a Viewer Question We love when our audience asks questions, and we often answer them live in our recordings. However, we recently received a question from a viewer named Matt, and we thought it was a wonderful opportunity to dig into the topic more thoroughly. Matt asked, “How [do I] create a balanced wealth portfolio that includes a mixture of short, mid- and long-term savings for now and the future? [I’m] weighing between Backdoor Roth (for someone that has been funding a Roth for 20yrs)401k....where to stop....do you fund just to your match? Or what’s the income level where a couple loses the tax advantage of FULLY funding (I was always taught, get to a point where you can fully max for tax savings... but now I’m not sure)Independent stock investing in a basic brokerage accountWhole life Cash Flow accounts (when does it make sense to [add] this into one’s investment strategy).” If you’ve been thinking about how to do the best that you can with your money, this is the post for you. Starting with “Why” Financial advice is not one-size-fits-all… although it’s often talked about as though it is. The reason it isn't is because everyone has a different set of goals, as well as different financial histories. That's why it is so important to understand your “why" when building a balanced wealth portfolio. What are you saving for, and why do you want to optimize your money? In other words, what is the purpose of your money? Retirement is one of the most frequent savings benchmarks, yet it’s an incomplete goal. Retirement means different things to different people. The FIRE movement seeks to “retire” at 40, but most of them only retire from a job they don’t like. They continue to work in other capacities—filming videos, writing blogs, and managing investments. The underlying reality is the importance of finding fulfilling work, and creating enough cash flow to enjoy life in the moment rather than a future date. To other people, retirement means quitting work completely at the age of 65 or so. However, life expectancy is beyond age 100. That means that many people need to save enough money over 40 years of working to retire for another 40 years. That can be a challenging accomplishment. The answer for many is somewhere in the middle. Finding work that is fulfilling (and constantly reevaluating that fulfillment), optimizing your dollars for more freedom, having more control, and creating more opportunities. Some people may have entirely different goals. Therefore it's crucial to ask yourself—What is the purpose of your money? That purpose could be: Freedom to spend your time and money how you wantPutting your children through school or funding their passionsTravelling more now, rather than later The clearer you get on the purpose of your money, the easier it will be to tailor your portfolio to YOUR wants and your current financial picture Having Cash for Emergencies and Opportunities When we hear concern about having short, medium, and long-term financial success, what we hear is a desire for an emergency and opportunity fund. To have cash on hand for unexpected costs like car or home repairs, as well as money for longer term dreams or opportunities like travel, investments, or “fun money.” Matt’s question speaks to a desire to have all the financial bases covered, so that there’s more freedom and flexibility across all stages of life. And so the appropriate financial strategy is going to reflect that purpose. There has to be liquidity, control, flexibility, and sure, maybe a little risk. That’s the power of knowing your money’s purpose. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to end up with financial vehicles and assets that don’t fit those goals. An asset like a 401(k), for example, isn’t going to be a good short-to-mid term asset because the money is locked. A balanced wealth portfolio will have a mix of liquid and illiquid assets, comparable to your goals. Mindset Matters for a Balanced Wealth Portfolio The best starting point in almost all money matters is mindset. Mindset is a lifelong journey—we all have to work towards an abundant mindset. Scarcity thinking can slip into our lives easily. It’s the fear that we can’t afford something, or that we can’t endure a challenge, o

Want to grow and scale a profitable business? It’s just like growing a giant pumpkin! Back on the show after discussing Profit First, we have multi-best-selling author Mike Michalowicz to discuss some of newest books: The Pumpkin Plan, and Get Different. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it6WjNmBU7A I promise, a few minutes with this guy and you’ll have a whole new perspective on your business. So if you want to transform your business, find out how to hit your sweet spot where you’re serving clients you love, profitably, and marketing in a way that always gets results… tune in now! Table of contentsWelcoming Back Mike MichalowiczStand Out from the CrowdWhy You Should Profit FirstThe Mindset ShiftThe Pumpkin Plan1. Match the seed to the soil. 2. Pruning.Creating JobsA Special OfferAbout Mike Michalowicz Book A Strategy Call Welcoming Back Mike Michalowicz For the second time, we’re excited to welcome Mike Michalowicz of Profit First back to The Money Advantage. You can read more from his first interview here. We’re fans of Mike because he helps entreprreneurs bring profit into their business FIRST, so that they can help more people. It’s like putting on your own oxygen mask first, so that you can help others—you’ll do more good for more people when you take care of yourself and your business. Stand Out from the Crowd Mike recently asked his clients, “What is your biggest struggle right now?” And for most, their pain point was that they weren’t getting consistent quality in lead flow. This prompted Mike to consider what the root of the problem was. He determined that industry “best practices,” after some time, become a prime example of what NOT to do. That’s because once they’re adopted throughout the whole industry, everyone's the same. And prospects are seeking someone who stands out—someone who they perceive as uniquely positioned to help them with their problems. [3:23] “Do you vaguely remember getting that first email that was like, ‘Hey friend’?” In Mike’s example, he recalls how excited he was to receive his first “hey friend” email. The initial feeling was one of excitement and belonging, until he opened it and realized that it was just marketing. The second time he got an email with that subject line, he was more cautious. And by the third, he stopped opening emails with that subject line altogether. We’re sure you can relate. [3:57] “That points to the power of habituation. Meaning when we, the prospect, see something, we very quickly learn to qualify it as relevant or irrelevant. And ‘hey friend’ is irrelevant. What I researched was how to break through the habituation. Best practices are the ‘hey friend’s’ of the world.” Why You Should Profit First [5:30] "Every time you...sell something, you have a responsibility to deliver up what you sold--that product or service. So the more we sell, the more responsibility we have. And as small business owners, that’s more and more weight on our shoulders. It starts to show the cracks in the foundation. We don’t have the deliverable systems in place, the sales aren’t profitable. So we’re putting more burden on the organization, without extracting health.” So instead of placing all focus on sales, new businesses should actually be focusing on profit (first). Once profits are in place, sales and efficiency can come next. Otherwise, having attention too divided can be dangerous. The Mindset Shift [7:37] “Most entrepreneurs and business owners, like us, call ourselves entrepreneurs and business owners. I believe hose words have become bastardized. An entrepreneur is about hustle and grind, how bad do you want it, workaholism. And I think that’s a horrible thing to put out into the market. I think what we are about is, we’re a creator of jobs. Our job is to create a business that actually provides for people who want jobs. The way to make this mindset shift is to frame it with a different word. I suggest the word shareholder.” Mike’s recommendation is, instead of saying you own a small business, say you’re a shareholder of a small business. It might be awkward, but here’s the reasoning: shareholders take the investing risk and get the profit, and get to vote in future strategies. The Pumpkin Plan Mike says that growing a business is like growing a giant pumpkin. So what does that mean? It starts with an idea called “biomimicry,” which means emulating things that are naturally occurring. After all, Mother Nature spent centuries perfecting certain things, so what can we learn from her? In Mike’s research, he learned that some plants, with human intervention, can have explosive growth that is both safe and healthy. Three words: colossal pumpkin farming. Growing a colossal pumpkin doesn’t happen by accident—it happens with intentional cultivation. And here are some of those lessons: 1. Match the seed to the soil. Certain seeds will thrive in certain soil. In the same way, certain businesses will thrive in certain communities. So you don’t want to waste any ti

Ever wonder if the rich and famous use life insurance? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWNYEK6iuio Life insurance is a private asset. That’s why you don’t hear a lot about it in the public arena. But wouldn’t you love to hear how life insurance is being used in the lives of people whose names you’d recognize? Today, we’re talking about some life insurance that’s as close to the spotlight as you get—coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh, agreed to have his compensation package include life insurance. Today, we’re going to talk about one case where life insurance was used as executive deferred compensation that benefits both the employee and the employer. So, if you’d love to see how other people are using life insurance, join us for the conversation! Table of contentsWhy Don’t More People Talk About Life Insurance?Jim Harbaugh’s Life InsuranceBenefits for Harbaugh’s HeirsA Creative Way to Use Life InsuranceA Split-Dollar ArrangementOther Successful Uses of Permanent Life InsuranceBook A Strategy Call Why Don’t More People Talk About Life Insurance? Well, likely because it’s such a private asset. Whole life insurance shields policy owners from creditors, is not reported to the IRS, and it doesn’t have to be included on FAFSA forms. In fact, it can’t be used in lawsuits either. The privacy afforded by whole life insurance is so valuable, and yet it also means that unless someone talks about their own experience, there’s no way to Google how much insurance someone has or doesn’t have. Add to that the fact that many people still believe whole life insurance is only useful for death benefits or that it’s too expensive or complicated to understand. This combination of legal privacy and public misunderstanding is why many people (even professionals) rarely talk about life insurance in depth. But it’s not just for retirees or families. Whole life plays a major role in executive compensation packages, often structured to reduce tax exposure or retain top talent. By its nature, insurance is private, which means people who have it tend to be private about it. Now that someone in the spotlight—Jim Harbaugh—has publicly spoken about life insurance, it’s a little easier to put it into context for you. His life insurance strategy is a perfect case study in how this under-the-radar financial tool gets used at the highest level. Jim Harbaugh’s Life Insurance Not only is Jim Harbaugh being paid $5 million a year as a coach, but the Jim Harbaugh life insurance package negotiated with Michigan adds another layer of long-term value. The university has loaned him $4 million to start a policy, with an additional $2 million a year for the following five years. This type of agreement is known as a split-dollar arrangement, which is commonly used in high-level executive contracts to offer long-term incentives and minimize tax liabilities. The ability to leverage his policy means he can take loans without incurring income tax. And as long as he keeps his policy in force, he does not have to repay the loan from the school until he passes on. A portion of the death benefit will pay it off. In practical terms, this gives Harbaugh tax-advantaged access to cash throughout his life while still leaving a sizable benefit behind. This is what we call a win-win situation—where the school has a near-guarantee to receive their money back, they’ve secured Harbaugh as a coach, and Harbaugh gets the benefit of a policy. Of course, there are stipulations to this contract. If Harbaugh leaves his coaching position before the contract is up, he will have to repay the premiums loaned to him upon termination or resignation. This life insurance strategy isn’t unique to football coaches. It’s a smart approach for any executive seeking long-term financial security and flexibility without giving up liquidity today. Benefits for Harbaugh’s Heirs Not only will Harbaugh benefit, but this arrangement actually acts as significant protection for his heirs. If Harbaugh were to pass on while Michigan is paying for the policy, they won’t be disinherited. They will receive no less than 150% of the premiums paid on the policy. That means, if Harbaugh were to pass, and Michigan had paid $10 million until that point, his heirs would receive at least $15 million. The payout would also help the university recover what they had loaned him, and be able to cover the cost of replacing him. A Creative Way to Use Life Insurance Ultimately, not only does this move allow Harbaugh to earn more money, as well as leverage power, but it also allows the University to invest in him through a cash value life insurance policy. A Split-Dollar Arrangement A split-dollar agreement is a way of structuring life insurance, where the employer and employee determine who will pay what. Then, they determine how much of the cash value and death benefit each party is entitled to. In other words, it’s a shared agreement, often used to give executives life insurance coverage without the full fi

Need capital in your business, fast? Today, we’re talking about another way to get a capital infusion through business credit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_qT49JxLlI The problem is that most business owners who want financing don’t get as much as they could, because they haven’t worked on the qualification process. That’s where CreditSuite can help. Ty Crandall has become a recognized authority in business credit building, business credit scoring, and business credit repair. So if you want to improve your fundability, build business credit, or get loans and credit lines… tune in now! Table of contentsBreaking into the Business Credit WorldCredit ReportingBusiness Credit vs. Consumer CreditThe Right Time to Build Business CreditBusiness Credit Cards vs. Consumer Credit CardsLeveraging DebtBuilding Business Credit Separate from Personal Credit1. Create Separation2. Get Your Credit In Line3. Find Companies that Report to Business Credit Reporting AgenciesFinding the "Sweet Spot"4. Start ImmediatelyBusiness Credit Gives You OpportunitiesTy Crandall’s OfferBook A Strategy Call Access to cash is critical for a business owner. While you don’t want to rely solely on credit for your business cash flow, you don’t want to be stuck in a spot where you need it and don’t have it. Breaking into the Business Credit World Ty Crandall's first company was a mortgage company that he quickly grew into a 7-figure company. And he rode that wave right up until the subprime mortgage crash, when things started to go south. While he thought he had access to plenty of capital, it turns out that wasn’t the case. After a few late payments, as he figured out how to navigate a failing business, the unexpected happened. His credit card companies actually shrunk his credit limit down to what he owed, so that he could not spend anymore, which effectively tanked his credit score. Then they pulled the money out of his personal bank accounts, depleting his cash stores. When something like this happens, other areas of your life can snowball—checks can bounce, and you can’t use credit to get out of the hole. Ty worked overtime to get out of this hole, but he couldn’t find quality credit information anywhere. During this period, he learned about business credit, and realized that the information was nearly impossible to access. So he decided to compile information about business credit himself, and begin teaching people how to use it and why. Credit Reporting Many people don’t understand the scope of credit reporting, because it happens in the background. Ty shares that a lesser known practice of consumer credit reporting is transparency from company to company. So if you have a late payment on one credit card, and not the others, the other companies will still know because it's in your report. Since all the companies have access to this information, your other credit providers can choose to lower your limits on that reporting alone. That’s what happened to Ty when his credit imploded. Business Credit vs. Consumer Credit Business credit is a “hidden gem,” even though it has been around longer than consumer credit reporting. If you’re a business owner, having business credit can help keep your business separate from your personal credit, so that you can have more privacy and safety... and avoid negative outcomes in uncertain financial times. [11:20] “The main scores that are used are just based on how you paid in the past. That’s it! It’s just a mathematical interpretation of how you, on average, pay your bills. And I love that! How easy is credit, if we’re scored just based on: Do we pay on time? Do we pay late? Do we pay early? How late do we pay?” Consumer credit has many factors built into the score, and can take years of diligent monitoring to get to the top. But with business credit, you can build your score in as little as one month by getting a single account that stays in good standing with Experian or Equifax, or accounts that report to DNB. The Right Time to Build Business Credit Business credit takes time to establish—not nearly the time it takes to establish personal credit, however you still need a few months. So how do you know when it’s good timing to establish business credit? The best course of action, according to Ty, is not to wait. As soon as you establish a business, it’s a good time to start building your business credit. Otherwise, you risk negative outcomes to your personal credit. [13:00] “Business credit really is created to help your business fund itself. The biggest mistake... I see business owners make, is they try to fund a startup using consumer credit cards. And they make two essential mistakes that a lot of established entrepreneurs know. They think thighs will happen way faster than they end up doing, and they also think things will cost way less than they end up costing.” The reality is, starting a business will take more time and money than you think it will. And consumer credit cards we

For Infinite Banking, the ideal policy is a specially designed, high cash value, dividend-paying, whole life insurance policy with a mutual company. But some mutual companies, including Ohio National, have recently demutualized. So what is whole life insurance demutualization, and what does it mean? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS9lWhrTpGU Today, we’re going to talk about demutualizing and how it affects Infinite Banking policies. You’ll learn: How a mutual company worksWhy you want a mutual company for Infinite BankingWhy life insurance companies demutualizeWhat to do if your life insurance company demutualizes Hopefully, we’ll cover the question on your mind. So, if you’d love to see what the future holds for Infinite Banking, join us for the conversation! Table of contentsOhio National DemutualizationWhat is Infinite Banking or Privatized Banking?What is a Mutual Life Insurance Company?How Do You Choose the Best Company?How Does Whole Life Insurance Demutualization Work?What's the Reason for Ohio National Demutualization?Book A Strategy Call Ohio National Demutualization On March 23rd, a very prominent insurance company, Ohio National, announced their demutualization and planned merge with a Canadian company. In anticipation of the questions, we want to debunk and provide some clarity about what it means to demutualize, and how it should or shouldn’t affect you. What is Infinite Banking or Privatized Banking? Conceptualized by Nelson Nash, Infinite Banking is a strategy of accessing the cash value of an insurance policy for leverage. It wasn’t a new function, however his ideas were new. And so, he wrote a book called Becoming Your Own Banker. By leveraging the cash value of an insurance policy, and borrowing against it rather than withdrawing from it, you can make your money do two jobs. A specially designed policy, for high cash value, with a mutual company, is the preferred method for privatized banking. What is a Mutual Life Insurance Company? A mutual insurance company is a company in which policy owners are partial owners of the insurance company, rather than stockholders. As a partial owner, you are entitled to a portion of the company’s profits in the form of dividends. This also means that mutual companies are not beholden to investors. This allows them to operate on a much more conservative basis for long-term performance. A stock company, on the other hand, does not pay dividends to policy owners. Instead, investors pay dividends to stock owners, who may or may not have a policy. As a result, stock companies have to make short-term, risky decisions to appease stockholders and keep stocks up. How Do You Choose the Best Company? In the world of life insurance, it can seem like there is an overwhelming amount of options. Do you choose mutual companies or stock companies, direct recognition companies or non-direct recognition companies, etc. How do you determine which are the best life insurance companies? First and foremost, we want to be clear that there are two main factors you should consider before anything else—the financial strength of the company, and the customer service. The former is important because you want a company that can meet its financial obligations. Life insurance companies commit to paying every policyholder a death benefit. So are they making risky choices with their finances, or being more conservative? Mutual companies tend to think long-term and hold more reserves than stock companies. Even within mutual companies, it’s important to look at financial strength. Then, you want to look at customer service. How do various companies treat their policyholders? What are people saying? Because of the nature of permanent insurance, you’ll be working with a life insurance company for life. It’s important to know how their service is. How Does Whole Life Insurance Demutualization Work? In the case of demutualization, a company is legally changing its structure from a private member-owned, dividend paying company to a publicly traded stock company. When this happens, a company has the option to offer stock to policyholders, although this doesn’t always happen. Otherwise, your cash value and death benefit remain intact. The only thing that really changes is that you stop receiving dividends. As a policy owner with a company that has demutualized, you have a few decisions. First, you can keep your policy in place. Another option is to 1035 your cash value into a new policy elsewhere. Depending on your policy age and cash value, a 1035 exchange may not be your best option. When Bruce had a policy demutualize in the 80s, he ran an analysis on his options. Ultimately, he chose to keep his policy in place, because it kept his higher death benefit in-tact. One of the best things you can do is determine what you want from your money. Then, assess if your policy will still meet those objectives. The takeaway? Demutualization isn’t doomsday. In the end, you still have one of the most c

Inflation is in the news. Should you be concerned? What should you do to make sure you’re protected? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l43QGtzmKg In today’s conversation, we’ll talk about inflation, the consumer price index, and how to stay financially strong so you can build financial freedom. Join us below for the conversation! Table of contentsWhat is Inflation?The Consumer Price IndexCPI Has Risen More than ExpectedWill the Fed Raise Interest Rates?Financial Freedom in the Face of InflationResources and Links:Book A Strategy Call What is Inflation? The most common belief about inflation is that businesses raise their prices to make more profit. However, it’s much more than that. Inflation is linked directly to the money supply. And when the money supply increases, prices tend to increase in proportion. The feeling of inflation is that your dollars do not go as far—that prices are increasing for items, without the volume rising. It feels as though your dollars are worth less. Investopedia defines inflation as “the decline of purchasing power of a given currency over time. ... Inflation can be contrasted with deflation, which occurs when the purchasing power of money increases and prices decline.” If you look at the overall inflation from 1913 to now, there was an average increase of about 3% per year. While in reality some years inflated more or less, we can expect an upward trend in the future—give or take. The Consumer Price Index If you’re wondering how inflation is calculated, it’s calculated through something called the Consumer Price Index. Investopedia defines this as “a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food, and medical care. It is calculated by taking price changes for each item in the predetermined basket of goods and averaging them.” What’s interesting is that not all the items you may see inflate are included in this basket of goods. So just because there is a certain inflation rate doesn’t mean that you’ll experience that increase exactly with all products. The way you may experience inflation is going to depend largely on your geographic location. There’s personal inflation, city inflation, state inflation, national inflation, and international inflation. That’s why your money might go farther (or not as far) when you travel to other countries. You can see the CPI history for yourself on the Bureau of Labor Statistics site. CPI Has Risen More than Expected At the time of writing, the CPI has increased by 0.6% since March, and is up 2.6% since last year. That’s more than projected and represents the highest year-over-year gain since 2018. With inflation rates increasing, there’s considerable conversation about how that’s going to impact Americans. Most notably, gas prices have skyrocketed. In March, gas prices increased by 9.1%, and is up 22.5% from last year. These fluctuations have had a big influence on the CPI in an indirect way. The CPI doesn’t factor in gas or energy directly because of how volatile the prices can be. And more importantly, because gas and energy prices directly impact the prices of goods like groceries, because of what it takes to produce and transport them. Will the Fed Raise Interest Rates? Despite inflation projections, the Fed has made a statement that they’re unlikely to hike interest rates in response—even with a strengthening economy. Instead, they will continue to commit $120 billion a month to bond purchases. We see it this way—if the Fed raised rates now, and something stopped the growth we’re seeing, they wouldn’t have any “bullets in their gun.” It would be more difficult to drop the rates if needed, than to continue riding the low rates for the time being. Financial Freedom in the Face of Inflation How do you create more certainty and create time and money freedom for yourself, even in the face of inflation? While saving is the cornerstone, regular savings won’t outpace inflation on its own. First, it’s important that as inflation rises, your income rises as well. Otherwise, any debt you have can stymie your growth. For example, if your credit card payment increases, or the feeling of that payment does, and your income does not, it’s a much bigger burden on you. Suddenly, you’re allocating more of your dollars on past purchases than saving for the future. The next step is to stay calm. What you need is a level head—before acting out of fear, slow down. Making rash financial decisions can negatively impact your objectives. Instead, focus on the principles of wealth: Paying yourself firstSaving a percentage of your incomeLeverage assets with safety and liquidityChoose assets that keep up with inflationSeek as much growth as possibleInvest in what you know and can control We’ve found that Privatized Banking strategies with cash value insurance help you to grow money safely and with liquidity. Then you can leverage that cash value to make smart investments that facilitate ca

Love the idea of Infinite Banking, but want to see how it could apply to your business? Looking for a way to improve your creditworthiness, financial stability, get great cash storage, capital reserves, to maximize your profitability in your business? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAqNmDGzhyM Today, we’re going to talk about how to boost your business's financial performance with Infinite Banking—and how to use Infinite Banking in your business. You’ll learn: How storing capital in an Infinite Banking policy serves your businessWhat you can do with the cash valueWho should own the policyWho can use the policyHow to best leverage this Swiss army knife of an asset in your business So, if you’d love to see exactly how to take your business to the next level with Infinite Banking, join us for the conversation! Table of contentsBrand New to Infinite Banking?The Art of Long Term and Short Term ThinkingInfinite Banking for BusinessA Place to Warehouse CashHow Quickly Are Premiums Available to Use?How Can You Fund a Policy for Business?Who Should Own the “Infinite Banking” Policy?Buy-Sell AgreementsInfinite Banking for Business Can Keep You ProtectedBook A Strategy Call Brand New to Infinite Banking? Infinite Banking is a concept originated by Nelson Nash, who realized that he could leverage his whole life insurance in his own business. This prompted him to write his immensely popular book, Becoming Your Own Banker. Whole life insurance accumulates a cash value that earns dividends, and can multiply wealth by using policy loans to create cash-flowing investments. In fact, policy loans can be used for whatever you want (however, investments help you generate more cash flow). The Art of Long Term and Short Term Thinking As Nelson Nash has said, there’s an art to marrying long-term and short-term thinking together. Too often, people choose one or the other—or they mistake long-term thinking for five-year thinking. True long-term thinking spans decades, or even generations. And it takes long-term thinking to make Infinite Banking strategies work, because whole life insurance is a long-term asset. You won't get rich overnight. However, you must also have the foresight to see the short-term actions necessary to take the leap and set yourself up to benefit from Infinite Banking. Establishing good savings habits, making wise short-term decisions, and having a good business trajectory are all essential short-term actions. You’ll make the best short-term decisions in your business when you think about the long-term impact. The more range you have in your “vision,” the better choices you’ll make today. It’s important as you move into business that you learn how to balance these short- and long-term trajectories. Infinite Banking for Business A Place to Warehouse Cash Where are you going to store your capital? This is a question that any good business ought to ask—because if you’re making a profit, it has to go somewhere. And ideally, you also want that money to be earning while it’s in storage. While bank accounts and money markets offer a place to store money, they earn next to nothing. Whole life insurance, on the other hand, offers an alternative that far outpaces those accounts. In addition, whole life insurance offers growth without risk. It’s non-correlated to the stock market and therefore is not subject to the same whims of the market. You can use your cash value in times where profits are lean, or to make big-ticket purchases that will help expand your business. Your cash value can also help you secure financing for projects that the bank might find risky, yet may help you increase revenue. It can also protect your privacy from both creditors and the IRS. How Quickly Are Premiums Available to Use? When you pay your first premium, your cash value is available for a policy loan within 30 days. The amount of your premium, however, can differ. When a policy is new, a good portion of the premium goes towards the cost of the policy. This is because there is more risk to the insurance company at this stage—if you were to die right after your insurance goes in-force, the company must pay your entire death benefit. So early premiums skew heavily toward that “funding.” Over the years, as you pay your premiums, a higher and higher percentage goes into your cash value. And often, around the 7-12 year mark, your policy will “break even” and match the total amount you’ve paid in premiums. After that point, your cash value will always exceed what you’ve put into it (unless defaulting on a loan). Long-term thinkers will recognize the benefits—higher liquidity, higher death benefit, and higher growth. Policy “design” can also affect what percentage of your very first premium is available to use right away. With the right design, you can still have access to up to 70% of your contributions in the beginning. Your advisor can help you find the right design for you, based on your unique needs. How Can You Fund a Policy for Bu

In part 1, we started discussing the top questions about Infinite Banking that we hear all the time. This week, we’re finishing up the conversation, so that you can make a decision about Infinite Banking with confidence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNKGjD5eEIg Hopefully, we’ll cover the question on your mind. (And if we don’t, check out Part 1 of this conversation to see if we’ve covered it there.) So, if you want to clear up your doubts, find out exactly what to do about your concerns, and know what to do next, join us for the conversation! Table of contentsStrategy vs. ProductYour Top Questions About Infinite Banking, Answered1. How do I compare illustrations effectively?2. Can’t I get better growth with an IUL?3. Can I use my home equity instead of life insurance?4. Do I make enough money to have or benefit from insurance?5. Is it the right time if I’m in a big personal or business transition?6. Am I too old for life insurance?7. What if I’m not in perfect health?8. I have stores of cash now, what if I don’t want to commit to ongoing funding?9. What happens if I become unable to pay my premiums?10. How can I trust this if no one I know is doing Infinite Banking?Book A Strategy Call Strategy vs. Product Before we begin our conversation, it’s important to note the difference between Infinite Banking as a concept, and whole life insurance as a product. As a product, insurance offers many benefits that we advocate for--growth, liquidity, asset protection, and more. On the other hand, Infinite Banking refers to how you use your products. Insurance, on its own, isn’t “magic.” However, the way you design your policy, combined with the strategies you use to leverage that cash value, is what makes up Infinite Banking. Now that you have that framework, let’s get into round two of your top questions about infinite banking. Your Top Questions About Infinite Banking, Answered 1. How do I compare illustrations effectively? When comparing illustrations between companies, it’s important to note that illustrations are projections, and are non-guaranteed. Although illustrations often have a guaranteed portion, you can expect dividends to be paid. Once dividends are paid, your entire projected illustration will change, as will projected dividends. You can use illustrations as a good guideline, although so much will change from year to year, and the difference between companies will not be much different in the long run. If you’re trying to choose between a direct or non-direct recognition company, for example, the long-term differences are not that significant. The most important decision you can make is the decision to get a policy today, for the best results possible. Differences between premiums and face amounts will be more significant in your decision-making process than which company you go with. 2. Can’t I get better growth with an IUL? You could, potentially, get better growth in an IUL. However, IUL illustrations often leave a lot unsaid. For starters, there’s an increasing term insurance cost within the policy (rather than a level cost) that your growth will have to outpace. On another hand, IULs have fewer guarantees and more risk involved. People often misunderstand the language used in IUL contracts as well--people are told that they cannot lose money, so they buy policies with a false sense of security. And while you cannot lose money from the stock market component, you can lose cash value from the increased cost of your insurance, which correlates to the market performance. Everything in insurance has a trade-off, including the “market-returns” of an IUL. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide the purpose of your money, as we mentioned in Part 1. With an IUL, you take on the risk. With whole life, the company assumes the risk. If you are seeking to save and grow money, whole life insurance is likely the better vehicle. 3. Can I use my home equity instead of life insurance? The more people learn about whole life insurance and Infinite Banking, the more they realize that building cash value is very similar to building equity in a house. The challenge, however, is how you access the equity in your house, via a HELOC. This is often the vehicle used for velocity banking. The first roadblock is that you must ask the bank for access to that equity. If they see you as unfit to pay back a lien against the equity, they can deny you. The bank has the ultimate authority over your access to that cash. Insurance companies, on the other hand, will give you a policy loan without question because it is collateralized against your cash value. The other downside is the unpredictable nature of the housing market. If your house were to lose value, your equity will evaporate. Your insurance is not subject to market volatility, and cannot evaporate or diminish in any way because of the contractual obligations. 4. Do I make enough money to have or benefit from insurance? We see this question often, and we’re happy to say that In

Are you looking for a formula to grow your business? Cesar Quintero, Certified EOS Implementer and visionary of The Profit Recipe is here to help! So, if want to figure out how to tap into your purpose, get traction, and solidify a healthy team… tune in below! Table of contentsUnique AbilitiesThe Power of VulnerabilityThe E-volution FlywheelThe Ikigai ConceptEOS and The Profit RecipeContact Cesar QuinteroAbout Cesar QuinteroBook A Strategy Call Is there a formula for business growth? As it turns out, there just might be, and Cesar Quintero holds a key to entrepreneurial success. Now, he's sharing his lessons about entrepreneurship with us. We're sharing the highlights of our conversation below. Unique Abilities Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach teaches about unique abilities--the skills that we all inherently possess and are uniquely positioned to do. When we work from these abilities, we have more energy and create more value than when we do things we are not uniquely designed to do. And this idea is the foundation of Cesar's work with entrepreneurs. [8:15] “Everybody says that entrepreneurs can change the world, and businesses can change the world—and I’m a true capitalist. I really feel that if we can generate value we can change the world... I truly believe that only happens if the entrepreneur... really leverages their unique ability.” When you take care of your team, and have them working in their unique abilities, they can take care of clients and create more value. So focus on creating a team that thrives first—so your customers thrive naturally as a result. The Power of Vulnerability Building a team of entrepreneurs who are working in their unique abilities takes vulnerability. It’s not always easy, but it fosters trust and growth. Opening up your numbers to your team, for example, takes massive vulnerability. However, the amazing result is that people take ownership of those numbers—they’re contributing, and that’s empowering. [12:39] “I started my business at 24, and most people around me were older than me. Every room I went to... I was always the youngest guy there. I had to prove something to people, I think, in my mind I always had to prove that I knew, and I was right. And I think letting down my ego helped me become a better leader and a better businessman.” The E-volution Flywheel Cesar shares one concept behind his upcoming book, and the foundation of his business, the E-volution Flywheel. [15:39] “After hundreds of different entrepreneurs that I helped, I saw a pattern... There’s five stages. The important thing with this cycle, is that true entrepreneurs and true leaders and people, we don’t go through this on a sequential aspect.” The stages of Cesar’s model are: Startup—You’re seeing opportunities in the marketplace. Leader by Design—Understanding what you can and cannot do. Team by Design—Delegating what you cannot or will not do to internal and external teams. Biz by Design—Create systems for your business to work without you, so you can continue to scale and create value. Life by Design--Living life on your own terms. While these stages can be happening at once, Cesar has found that moving sequentially helps you get unstuck. So if you’re stuck designing your team, you need to look at the next stage of the cycle—Biz by Design—to get some clarity and get unstuck, and on and on. So rather than a linear cycle, the E-volution Flywheel deals with the stages on a random and cyclical basis. The Ikigai Concept In this Venn Diagram of sorts, Cesar shares with us the components of the Ikigai Concept. The heart symbolizes purpose. The star is for things you’re great at. The bottom represents things that make you money. Finally, the globe represents things that benefit the entire world. The intersections of these traits are what society often says should be your hobbies, profession, vocation and mission. [27:15] “The Ikigai concept is, 'What’s best for you? What makes you tick? What’s your purpose, what are you great at, where do you make money, and what’s great for the world?'” You need the intersection of all four for true fulfillment, and it’s a fallacy to think that you have to box yourself in—that you should only work where you’re skilled and make money, or only treat your skilled passions as hobbies. Instead of striving for a work-life balance, strive to have a life you don’t need to escape from. If you’re seeking more balance because you don’t enjoy your career, it’s time to make some changes. EOS and The Profit Recipe The EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) is a model that Cesar follows and uses to coach clients through their businesses. It equips entrepreneurs and teams with systems, so that they can be self-sufficient in the future. [35:28] “EOS has 6 key components. So the six components are Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction.” Cesar uses EOS is his businesses, including The Profit Recipe, explained below. [36:10] “What The Profit Recipe rea

Are you considering Infinite Banking, but you aren’t sure yet if it’s a good fit for you, and you’d rather figure it out before investing time into a personal conversation with an advisor? Look, your concerns are absolutely valid! But let’s let those questions propel you to action, not indecision. Today, we're answering the top questions about Infinite Banking that we have heard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVZbt1tog3w Hopefully, we’ll cover the question on your mind. So, if you’d love to clear up your doubts, find out exactly what to do about your concerns, and know what to do next, join us for the conversation below! Table of contentsWhat is Infinite Banking?Your Top Questions About Infinite Banking, Answered1. What if I don’t like whole life insurance?2. What if I don’t need insurance?3. Can’t I get better returns in the stock market?4. Will I lose access to some of my cash at the beginning?5. I already have a policy; is it a good one?6. I’ve heard many people talk about the "ideal" policy design—how do I know if I have that?7. Am I overpaying for insurance?The Reason for Infinite BankingBook A Strategy Call What is Infinite Banking? Infinite Banking is a strategy of using a financial product in a way that accelerates growth. We use specially designed, high cash value life insurance with mutual companies that pays dividends. These policies grow with guaranteed interest, and non-guaranteed dividends (although dividends are highly anticipated and have a good track record of being paid). This means that you have access to cash that is growing, liquid, and will not drop in value. Infinite banking is often misunderstood, yet it’s a strategy that has been used for centuries by our country’s wealthiest people as a means to build and protect wealth. If you have questions about Infinite Banking, we highly recommend checking out this post to get some of your top questions about infinite banking answered. Your Top Questions About Infinite Banking, Answered 1. What if I don’t like whole life insurance? When this comes up in conversation, we often come back with the question, “Compared to what?” In reality, life insurance is hard to compare to other assets because it is fundamentally different from many assets. Rather than getting hung up on the product itself, we encourage you to take a different route. When we meet with people, one of the first things we ask them to consider is the purpose of their money. If you’re looking for growth, availability, investment capital, etc—those are purposes. When you can define what you want to do with your money, then you can determine the best products to use. Despite what you’ve been told, insurance may be the ideal asset for the goals you want to accomplish. It may not. However, you cannot judge it simply based on whether you like it—you have to see it as a means to an end. 2. What if I don’t need insurance? We hear this question often, for many reasons. Some people view insurance as something to protect their children. Others view insurance as unnecessary because they have enough money to “self-insure.” We think the better question to ask is, “Do you want everything that comes with insurance?” Insurance companies will never sell you more insurance than you “need,” so we prefer to look at the benefits. Beyond the living benefits, insurance protects your estate and can help ease unexpected costs (including loss of income). Insurance helps your money go further and your assets last longer. 3. Can’t I get better returns in the stock market? Let’s start with this: life insurance is not an investment. When we compare insurance to investments, we’re setting it up for failure. We prefer to look at cash value insurance as an alternative to savings accounts. Investments have risk involved, and therefore the potential for different returns. Savings, on the other hand, provide certainty and liquidity. Your cash value is the money you will access in emergencies and opportunities. In fact, you can even use your cash value to make investments. Insurance is a long-term strategy for wealth building (and asset protection). And Infinite Banking is a both/and strategy—you can invest AND save, and you can often yield better results in the long-term with both. 4. Will I lose access to some of my cash at the beginning? In the short-term, it’s true that your cash value will have a lower value than the premiums you pay into your policy. However, in the long-term, your cash value will surpass your premiums paid after a certain period. It’s difficult for many people to deal with this initial drop in liquidity. However, this discrepancy between your cash value and your premiums in the beginning pays the cost of insurance. This protects the contractual guarantee that the insurance company will pay a death benefit when you pass on. This trade-off protects the strength of your insurance policy, so that you can reap the long-term benefits. 5. I already have a policy; is it a good one? Whil

How are your New Year’s resolutions going? We’re almost three months into 2021, and it’s a great time to take an inventory of how you’re doing. This one simple morning routine I learned from Dan Sullivan has had a greater impact on my year than anything else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EahEyM9wj-Q Today, we’ll talk about that one little idea that has the power to change everything for you. So, if you want to find out how to master your emotions, step into confidence, and get more done… tune in below! Table of contentsA Daily Morning Routine1. What’s my biggest danger for today?2. What is my biggest opportunity for today?3. What strengths do I have that I can reinforce today?Setting Your Foundation with a Morning RoutineBook A Strategy Call Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach is an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere, which is why I always appreciate his words of wisdom. Dan calls himself a simplifier—he takes processes and makes them even simpler. When his email came across my inbox, I knew I had to share it with you. A Daily Morning Routine If you’re looking to be even more successful, and find even more inspiration in your day, creating good habits is a great place to start. That’s why Dan Sullivan proposes his specific morning routine—one that has been a game-changer for him personally. Having morning routines and habits can keep you grounded in an otherwise uncertain world, and it can also keep you on track with your goals. It starts with questions, which help to keep you focused on your goals. Here are the three things you should ask yourself to stay on a trajectory for success: 1. What’s my biggest danger for today? Or, "What am I afraid of?" At the heart of this question is structure. What you’re really doing is assessing your fears. What are you afraid of not doing, and how will that impact your success? Asking this question as a part of your morning routine sets you up to take action in the face of fear. And it keeps your fear from growing, like when you put off a project and it snowballs, progressively becomes more overwhelming. This question, consequently, can also help you filter out tasks that aren’t meant for you. If you’re dreading a task, and you’re dreading the consequences of not doing it, it’s likely a task you should delegate. You’re still taking action by delegating, and it gives you more freedom to do what you want to do. 2. What is my biggest opportunity for today? This is your chance to examine what you’re looking forward to in your day. If you follow these opportunities that you’re excited about, and take action, you can put yourself further ahead. In the first question, we addressed the importance of handling fear and delegating tasks. Following what energizes you is another great way to identify how you should fill your day, and what tasks you should delegate. Good tasks, activities, or opportunities are ones that will leave you feeling as energized as when you started (if not more energized). 3. What strengths do I have that I can reinforce today? The third question in this morning routine is about building confidence. It’s about taking action so that you can practice your strengths, hone them, and come out on the other side more confident and capable. There’s no better way to celebrate your strengths than by using them! If you continually work on your strengths, you allow them to develop and blossom. If you don’t use them, they atrophy. You likely know that it feels great to use your strengths, so don’t be afraid to use them often. This will help you feel more confident and step into your full potential. It also helps you be as energized as possible. Setting Your Foundation with a Morning Routine The world is so overwhelming right now, and if you're an entrepreneur, your mind is probably being pulled in a million directions. This exercise helps you simplify and focus on what you can do, today. It’s about pulling you into the moment and cutting out the background noise so that you can focus. These questions are tied to the emotions you probably feel each morning—fear, excitement, and confidence. When you can work through these emotions and apply them to your day, you can move from a place of inaction to action. There’s no better time than the present to plunge into the things you're excited about, take action on things you’re fearful of, and celebrate your strengths. Incorporating these principles into your morning routine will help you take action and be more successful. Book A Strategy Call Do you want to coordinate your finances so that everything works together to improve your life today, accelerate time and money freedom, and leave the greatest legacy? We can help! Book an Introductory Call with our team today https://themoneyadvantage.com/calendar/, and find out how Privatized Banking, alternative investments, or cash flow strategies can help you accomplish your goals better and faster. That being said, if you want to find out more about how Privati

Do you want to be more profitable, and enjoy the success of a thriving business, instead of running ragged on the hamster wheel of chasing the next sale? Barbara Stackhouse is writing Profit First for Dentists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzsWDyjLA2Q Sound familiar? It’s the specific application of Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First system, tailored to the dental industry, with their unique challenges and solutions. So, if you’re a dentist who would like to build a successful practice, or a chiropractor or physician, or even a business owner in another industry who wants to find out the secret code to profitable and sustainable business… tune in below! Table of contentsMike Michalowicz’s Profit First SystemLeave the Grind BehindThe Sales ProcessProfitability in Any BusinessSolving Business ProblemsFixed vs. Variable ExpensesPut Systems in PlaceWhy “Profit First”? Links MentionedAbout Barbara StackhouseBook A Strategy Call Regardless of your experience in the dental field, we think that Barb has amazing lessons to teach business owners. Her experience in Profit First systems make her an expert at organizing systems that help you keep more of your revenue. Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First System After discovering Mike’s Profit First system, Barb could instantly see how the Profit First system fit into the dentistry field, despite being a system geared towards CPAs. She contacted Michalowicz to see if she could go through his professional training process, despite being in a completely different industry. Now, not only is Barb a certified Profit First professional, but she is releasing a book for dentists to implement this process. Leave the Grind Behind [7:50} “If you’re an entrepreneur, you get stuck in the grinding it out. You're the technician in the business, you’re the person doing it all. And it doesn’t have to be that way.” Too often, entrepreneurs enter the business thinking that they HAVE to be un-profitable for a while. They grind and work hard, and hope that in five years, their business will be where they want it so they can slow down a bit. To Barb, this couldn't be further from what should happen. Instead, entreprneuers need to work smarter and build out their own profit, so that they can be prosperous now, enjoy their practice, and set it up for decades of success. The Sales Process [8:11] “So the main other thing that I talk about—which is another big area that dentists struggle with, and even team members sometimes need training with too—is kind of the sales process in dentistry. And it’s actually the same sales process that I use myself when I talk with a client. It’s all about serving that client. And really putting the need for the sale over on the shelf and just connecting. Having that relationship first and not pushing.” Through her work, Barabara created a system to facilitate this sales process, called P SERVE. The P stands for purpose, and Barbara urges dentists or team members to understand their purpose before taking a call, and then truly giving service from the heart. SERVE, as an acronym, describes the steps in the process. This methodology is something that Barb speaks on and teaches—to help dentists serve their clients first, knowing that the profit follows. Money flows by creating value—so serving and giving allows any business to flourish. This is very similar to Bob Burg's Go Giver mentality. [10:34] “The more you help people get what they want, the more you will get what you want.” Profitability in Any Business [10:53] “If you are an entrepreneur, and you open a business, you have a dream of being your own boss, probably. You want to call the shots. These are the common themes that I find. But you have to make a living at it. If you’re not profitable, then you have a hobby, you don’t really have a business. So I think that profitability has to be baked into the plan, if you will. It has to be a part of what happens from the start.” What Barb has found in her coaching is that too often dentists opening their own practices aren’t paying themselves when they start out. What she helps dentists learn is how to pay themselves first so that they can continue to keep their practice open. It starts with having a plan. The problem is that many businesses don’t follow a “Profit First” mentality. Entrepreneurs expect to not be profitable, or they’re "waiting for the leftovers." It can be rooted in scarcity thinking, yet once you pay yourself first, AND offer value to your clients, you can find true profit. One key problem? People don’t really know their true overhead. Solving Business Problems Here's what Barb identifies as some of the key problems that dentists or other independent medical practices face: [18:50] “So I would say that one of the big ones, especially now post-covid, is team. Its sad, but a lot of team members left the profession, because of covid... So there’s been big changes in their practice. Not all, but some younger teams.” Barb has no

Have you heard Dave Ramsey’s opinion of Infinite Banking and Whole Life Insurance? He says it’s a scam, a joke, hogwash, horrendous, a pile of manure, old school life insurance done poorly, a jumbled word picture, you can’t cut through the BS, screwing people, and just doesn’t feel right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnbs0iANdMU Today, we’ll separate opinion from fact, so you can decide for yourself if Infinite Banking is a scam (or not) based on knowledge and understanding. So if you want to find out why the wealthy and independent thinkers have been using the profound guarantees and wealth-building strategy of Infinite Banking for centuries … tune in below! Table of contentsAre Insurance Agents Financial Advisors?How Do Mutual Companies Work?What is a Dividend, and How is it Non-Taxed?Are You Paying for Your Own Money?What Happens When You Die?Is Whole Life Insurance Expensive? Summing Up What Dave Ramsey Says About Infinite BankingBook A Strategy Call Dave Ramsey does a lot of good for a lot of people—he helps them to get out from under crippling debt and create better money habits. However, he has famously spoken against Infinite Banking, or what we often refer to as Privatized Banking. Are Insurance Agents Financial Advisors? To evaluate whether infinite banking is a scam, it's important to understand who is giving the advice. When met with a question about whole life insurance, Dave Ramsey was not thrilled about the idea, to say the least. However, his first criticism was that the advisor who recommended insurance was only an insurance agent and not a financial advisor or planner. However, most insurance agents often have other certifications—like CFP (certified financial planner) or a Series 65 (for giving financial advice). Just because someone is able to sell insurance does not mean they can’t sell investments or give advice. Insurance is simply one certification. How Do Mutual Companies Work? Infinite Banking works with mutual life insurance companies. Dave correctly identifies the difference between mutual companies and stock companies. Policy owners own mutual companies, while stockholders own stock companies. This means that mutual companies pay profits to the policy owners, while stock companies pay profits to stockholders. Critics who call infinite banking a scam often overlook how mutual companies are structured to serve the policyholders. This is where his accuracy stops. According to Dave Ramsey: “If you are the owner of the company and you’re also a customer of the company, and the only place the company gets money is from the customers that are owners, and they give you money from profit, by definition, that means it’s because they took too much from you as a customer. There wouldn’t have been a profit otherwise.” This, however, is not true. The life insurance companies make profits outside of premiums paid into life insurance policies. Companies also make money from their conservative investments--many of which are corporate and treasury bonds, as well as derivatives, mortgage backed investments, and some equities. Policy owners receive dividends based on these profits after policy expenses. It’s not accurate to say that premiums are the only profits. His understanding of mutual companies is not accurate. What is a Dividend, and How is it Non-Taxed? Dave Ramsey says, "So the IRS has deemed, consequently, that mutual life insurance company dividends are not dividends, in the true sense of a dividend, that they are instead, and this is the IRS’s language 'the refund of a deliberate overcharge.' So they overcharge you in order to give you some money later and make you feel like you’re making money off of them. And it's absolute hogwash. It’s a pass-through. Mathematically, it’s a pass-through. It’s the way it has to be, it’s the legal definition the freaking company, and the IRS says so." The government considers dividends non-taxable because they are considered a refund of an overcharged premium, but it’s important to realize that not all dividends are overcharged. The government also decides not to create a taxable event because it wants to incentivize people to have insurance. While dividends are not guaranteed, mutual companies have paid them consistently for over a century. If you're wondering 'Is infinite banking legit,' the tax treatment of dividends is part of the value proposition. Here’s the bottom line—if dividends were only a return of premium, you would never receive more than what you paid into a given year. However, if you look at an illustration, you will eventually come to a point where your policy’s cash value far exceeds what you’ve paid into your policy total. Are You Paying for Your Own Money? Next, Dave raises an objection to the policy loan provision. He says, “You’re borrowing your own money, and you’re paying them interest?! This is Infinite Banking for them!” While he raises a valid concern, policy loans are commonly

Do you want to make more money this year? Today, we’re talking with Rabbi Daniel Lapin, author of Thou Shall Prosper — Ten Commandments for Making Money, one of the deepest and most profoundly philosophical books about the wisdom you need to be successful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTujheo9dAk So if you want to learn about the steps that make success possible and make more far more money than you’re making right now… tune in now! Table of contentsThe 10 Commandments (of Making Money)Business is Not Piracy Biblical Wisdom as a FoundationThou Shall Prosper (and Be Happy)Charging InterestThe Most Important Thing To Starting a BusinessSpiritual CharacteristicsRabbi Daniel LapinBook A Strategy Call We’re excited to bring you a unique guest who may surprise you. Rabbi Daniel Lapin is more than just a man of faith, he’s also an accomplished speaker, scholar, and author of a book on our favorite topic—Prosperity. The 10 Commandments (of Making Money) While most financial books focus on returns and strategies and products, Thou Shall Prosper is a deeply profound look at the philosophical underpinnings of success and wealth. The book sprung into being after a series of lectures Rabbi Daniel Lapin gave on socio-political topics, when his most frequently asked question was, “How come Jews are so good with money?” It was a question many were sheepish to ask, yet it gave the Rabbi cause to study the question. Especially when he realized he did not have the answer readily at hand. And so he pursued the history of the financial success of many Jews, and in the process debunked many of the bogus explanations. He boiled his research down to one truth: [7:43] “It is that the vast catalogue of ancient Jewish wisdom embedded in the Hebrew scriptures, that have been part and parcel of Jewish culture. Whether it’s a man, dedicated sages who study the word diligently, or whether it’s among secularized Jews whose conversation around the dinnertable revolves around the way they raise their families and inculcate their children. All reflect these intrinsic values and so, in a nutshell, that’s what it was. And I worked as hard as I worked in my life to condense all of that into ten fundamental principles.” Business is Not Piracy In his research, Rabbi Daniel Lapin learned many Jews became pirates in the 17th century. They pillaged and plundered and built a trove of treasure. Then when they were ready to retire from piracy, they funded churches or other projects to reenter society peacefully. It's dangerous to compare modern day business to the same model. The wealthy should not have to buy their way back into polite society. Today, people compare businesses to this same model, despite being very different from piracy. Businesses are lauded for their donations, yet criticized for their income. Giving to charity should be a moral act, and it cannot "right" something that is not inherently wrong, like making money. [13:02] "If giving charity is giving back to society, then what the hell were you doing to society when you were making money in the first place?" No one complains athletes make too much. Yet people complain about CEOs—they do specialized work and are the linchpin of many major decisions. Biblical Wisdom as a Foundation Our world as we know it is based on principles and ideas found in the Bible. [23:50] “So ancient Jewish Wisdom explains that—that is the way that it teaches and explains that—you’re not allowed to exploit a lack of information in a business transaction that isn’t transparent. And so, I’m actually prohibited from offering you a price for your property without disclosing to you that I’m aware that there is a plan development or infrastructure that is going to be built there that is going to increase the value of your property—I am not allowed to make you an offer for it without disclosing that information.” In the same way, there’s a verse in Genesis 2 that says gold is very good. This is one reason that gold became a method of monetization. On its own, it has no intrinsic value. Yet we've interpreted the scriptures in a way that makes gold valuable to us. [25:50] “It’s just that from time immemorial, people read that God said gold is good.” Rabbi Daniel Lapin also points out that when God says it’s not good to be alone, it is not simply regarding marital prospects, like Adam and Eve. It also explains the human need for connection—it is not good to be solitary. Thou Shall Prosper (and Be Happy) [27:59] “Many people say money doesn’t make you happy. And, you know, that is a mistake. It’s like saying a car doesn’t drive you anywhere. Well, yeah, it doesn’t. You’ve got to put gasoline in it, you’ve got to put a driver behind the wheel, but yes, with those provisos a car absolutely does get you places. There are certain provisos with respect to money as well, and with those provisos in place, money makes you very, very, very happy. "And the chief, and most important, of those

Right now, you have a fantastic opportunity to use whole life insurance as a place to store cash, build capital reserves, get better than bank rates on savings, AND the ability to earn never-ending compound interest, even WHILE you’re using the same money for something else. And you don’t have to qualify to access your capital. You can thank the 7702 Plan for that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lMnZARrqys But is this long-time financial bunker of the wealthy about to become an obsolete vintage classic? The recent spending bill Trump signed into law went into effect on January 1, 2021. As a result, we'll be seeing some critical changes to the IRS code that has made Privatized Banking such a powerful opportunity. There’s still much to be determined, but today, we’re looking at tax code changes and how they affect you. So if you want to find out what these changes mean for your ability to get the profound guarantees and wealth-building strategy of Privatized Banking… tune in below! Table of contentsWhat is the 7702 Rule?What is a MEC?What's Changing with 7702 Plans?MEC QualificationsChanges in GuaranteesThe Impact of the 7702 Plan Changes7702 Plan Changes and MECSDid the 7702 Plan Change Destroy Privatized Banking?Book A Strategy Call What is the 7702 Rule? In short, this is the part of the tax code that enables Privatized Banking strategies with life insurance. The way life insurance has been defined in the past, according to the Federal Government, offers many tax advantages. Tax-deferred growth, which can sometimes be experienced tax-free if used properly,Tax-free policy loans,And an income-tax free death benefit. Because of these tax advantages, there is a provision that prevents whole life insurance from being abused. If too much premium is funneled in too quickly through Paid-Up Additions, a policy can become a modified endowment contract (MEC). What is a MEC? Up until the 80s, people were abusing the benefits of life insurance by purchasing a small face value, funneling in extra premium, and calling it life insurance. Then, they were reaping all the tax benefits. In 1984, the government put a stop to that by placing limits on over-funded policies. While still possible to do, once a policy becomes a MEC, it no longer carries the same tax advantages. The trick to Privatized Banking is to design policies with as much premium as possible, without a policy becoming a MEC. That way, you can get as much cash value as possible, while still reaping the benefits of tax advantages. What's Changing with 7702 Plans? The bill, signed in December, went into effect in January. The 5,593 page document has taken time to wade through, but here's what we now know. Regulations for what constituted a MEC are changing. MEC Qualifications Prior to this bill, a life insurance policy had to pass something called a 7-pay test to qualify. The test determines how quickly a policy could be considered "paid-up," or fully funded. If your policy was paid-up within the first seven years of the policy, it would fail the test and become a MEC. Now, the MEC test will be based on a floating rate relative to the Prime rate. Changes in Guarantees One of the greatest strengths of a life insurance policy is certainty: there are guarantees built into the policy that keep your money secure—and growing. Previously, the minimum guaranteed interest rate on policy growth was 4%, however the government lowered that rate to 2%. However, it's important to note that insurance companies have been successfully navigating a low-interest rate environment for a long time. And just because the floor has lowered does not mean rates can't be higher. The Impact of the 7702 Plan Changes While these changes will affect policies going forward, it's important to note that any policies currently in-force will not change. Life insurance is contractual, and companies are required to uphold current contracts. New policies, both whole life and universal life, will be affected. However, we see this as a positive change overall. Low bond yields overwhelmed insurance companies as they worked to meet their contractual obligations. This new minimum will allow insurance companies to continue to meet their guarantees in this low-interest-rate environment. It's important that life insurance companies maintain their longevity and integrity, and the returns were almost too good for how low bond yields were in 2020. We want mutual companies to succeed, because it allows our policies to succeed, too. Remember, mutual insurance companies share profits with policy owners—if yields go up, so do dividends. The lower guarantee threshold allows companies to stay afloat in leaner times. 7702 Plan Changes and MECS One of the other powerful side effects of lower interest rates is that you can funnel in more premium dollars per death benefit without a policy becoming a MEC. In the long run, this can improve compounding, and in the early year

If you want to achieve the impossible, connect with the most powerful people in the world, achieve the next level in your business, strengthen your relationships, lead your community, and make an impact… listen in, because we're talking with Steve Sims. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHXpuecDrjM Quoted as “The Real Life Wizard of Oz" by Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine, Steve Sims is the best-selling Author of BLUEFISHING—The Art of Making Things Happen, a sought-after coach, and a speaker at a variety of networks, groups and associations, as well as the Pentagon and Harvard—twice! So if you want to transform your life, attract influencers and high net worth clients… tune in below! Table of contentsSteve SimsThe Number One Mindset Tip“You Are the Room You’re In”How to GrowEntering with a SolutionSteve Sims' Millionaire PartiesA Note to EntrepreneursLinks MentionedBook A Strategy Call Steve Sims Steve Sims is a master at helping people achieve the impossible with the most powerful people in the world. Or, if you ask him, he’d say he’s good at achieving the stupid, or the unexplained. That’s because, as Steve shares, once you label something as impossible, you’ve created a mental barrier for yourself. So if one thing is clear, Steve knows how to transcend the unthinkable, and impact the world. Steve has had many paths in life, all of which hae led him to where he is now. For the last 25 years, he's been in what is technically the concierge and spa business. In his own words: [2:27] “One of the famous stories everyone knows was I had a client who wanted to have a meal in Italy, and he wanted it to be unforgettable. And so I closed down the Academia, the Galleria in Florence, that houses Michel Angelo’s David. Set up a table of six at the feet of David. And halfway through the pasta I had Andrea Bocelli come in and serenade them. And so I’m basically the Make-A-Wish foundation for people with really, really, really big checkbooks.” Now, Steve acts as a mindset coach to help people get the clients that they deserve and want, rather than the clients they get. The Number One Mindset Tip When asked what his number one mindset tip is, Steve answered to not identify the problem. Which at first may seem completely counterintuitive. That is because in his experience, people spend the bulk of their energy telling you why they can’t do something. Either they don’t have the money, or the time, or the resources. The trick is to shift to how you can do something. The answer may be to set aside thirty minutes a day to reach your goal, or write grants to fund your project, or build more cash flow with a side hustle. Maybe, the solutions are far more creative than that, as Steve Sims shares with us in the interview. There’s an infinite number of solutions for an infinite amount of ideas—it just takes work and a vision. As Steve says: [5:02] “Have you ever noticed that when you get into a room full of entrepreneurs, you’re at home?” That’s because the entrepreneurial mindset is energizing—it’s about innovation, creativity, and finding solutions. It’s the exact opposite of the—"Here’s why I can’t”—mindset. “You Are the Room You’re In” You’ve likely heard the statement before—you’re a combination of the five people you spend the most time with. One of Steve Sims' strategies, regardless of his position, has been to surround himself with wealthy people. This could be people of intellectual wealth or monetary wealth. This strategy has allowed him to grow, and to be the person with all the solutions, instantly making him one of the most valuable assets in a room of wealthy people. How to Grow [10:38] “Sometimes the greatest growth comes from the most devastating problems and mistakes and issues." Later in our conversation, Steve shares a personal story of how he was flown to China for work, then fired. What seemed like a dark situation turned out to be a phenomenal opportunity that led him to being a bouncer and making connections with some of the most affluent customers in the establishment. This growth was fueled by the idea that he could not remain stagnant. He is always seeking opportunities and solutions, so that he can becomes a better version of himself each day. [15:02] “I say, ‘If I don’t try to get there, I’m going to stay here.’ Whoa. I don’t want to be me, even today. You know, I live well, and I’m absolutely fine, but I don’t want to be me this time next year. And I remember someone saying to me the definition of Hell is to have met the man you could have been.” Entering with a Solution Steve Sims will tell you, he’s not a networker in the typical sense. He’s not about the watercooler talk or casual conversation, he’s all about solutions. That’s how he made some of his greatest connections—he didn’t enter a conversation until he had a solution to present. Part of being the solution requires listening and paying attention—you must understand the problems people are facing, so you can po

Americans are saving more money than ever, yet interest rates are at an all-time low. If you're looking for the best place to save money, it might be time to stop saving with banks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl02XkqwwDg A recent CNBC article states: "In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, many Americans are spending less and saving more. At the same time, banks are paying next to nothing on those deposits." Are you, too, looking for the best place to keep savings but want to make sure you’re doing the most with your money? Today, we’re talking about this unspoken challenge from a fresh lens. So if you want to learn about one of the best places to save money, so you don’t have to give up returns or resort to high risk in search of them… tune in below! Table of contentsWhy More People are SavingInterest Rates and the Federal Reserve Decline of Customer ServiceBank Accounts and LendingTraditional and Alternative Savings Options ComparedWhere Is the Best Place to Save Money?Whole Life Insurance: Emergency Fund and Alternative High-Yield Savings AccountWhy isn’t it Mainstream?Common Savings Mistakes to AvoidBottom Line Why More People are Saving Americans are saving more money than ever, yet bank savings rates are at an all-time low. So, how does a scenario like this happen? We think primarily, COVID-19 has been an eye-opener for the world. On one hand, workers who were affected by job closures have likely realised that they didn’t have enough money saved to fall back on. While a tough lesson to learn, the fact that Americans have been successfully saving more money gives us hope. After all, having money saved is what enables you to weather economic storms (and seize opportunities when things are going well). On the other hand, business closures meant a lack of things to do. Movie theaters, aquariums, museums, restaurants, and shops all closed. Pretty much all indoor (and many outdoor) businesses had to shut down for a good portion of the year. This also means that many families turned to other alternatives for entertainment, in other words, free. Hiking, swimming, and being outdoors became more popular. Americans started saving more money by default because so many businesses put a halt to operations. So not only are people choosing to create better savings habits, they’re also creating better spending habits. Now that you have the money, it’s time to ask—where is the best place to put your money? Interest Rates and the Federal Reserve A tumultuous economy means changing interest rates. The Federal Reserve controls interest rates, and in order to boost the economy, they’ve lowered rates dramatically, almost to zero. Meanwhile, they’ve also pumped trillions of dollars into the banks. Now, banks are at a surplus - meaning that overnight lending between banks is down, as are savings rates. In the past, banks would use high-interest rates and “prizes” to incentivize opening accounts at their establishment, appealing to people who were looking for the best places to save money. Now, with a surplus, there’s no need for banks to offer this incentive. High savings rates are the bank's way of broadcasting that they want your money, and they’re willing to offer something in return. Now, banks can lower these incentives almost to zero, because they aren’t relying on that money to come in. We’re seeing a mismatch in supply and demand. While there’s a high demand for a safe place to store liquid cash, where it will also grow, there’s relatively low demand from banks for new accounts. Decline of Customer Service One unfortunate consequence of this low-interest-rate market is a decline in customer service. Because banks do not need new accounts, they are not incentivising new customers, which also means that there is no incentive for them to provide better customer service. Combine that with a high demand for saving and a pandemic, and the issue worsens. Lobbies are closed, drive-through lanes are cramped, and phone service is difficult. Bank Accounts and Lending Under normal circumstances, banks have higher interest rates on savings accounts and money market accounts because they want your money. Ultimately, because that’s how they make theirs. You see, banks don’t lend their own money to their customers. They leverage their customers’ money - YOUR money. For example, if you deposit $100,000 into a savings account, making 0.05%, you’ll earn $50 on that deposit. Then, say that the bank agrees to loan that same $100,000 to someone else for their mortgage. If they offer an interest rate of 3%, that’s $3,000 of interest. So the bank is making 60 times what they’re paying you in interest. In other words, for a $50 investment in your savings account, they’ve made $3,000. We’re not arguing that banks shouldn’t make a profit. However, we are saying that this is the reason for low interest rate markets - to bolster banks and get money recirculating. Yet what if you could store your money elsewhere, earn a b

There is a major problem in the world today: it’s not people disagreeing with one another… it’s that they cannot disagree agreeably, civilly, and most importantly, persuasively! Here, at the end of a turned upside-down year, the gift we need most is a solution. That's where The Go-Giver Influencer comes in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtLxPvRHxZ4 In this interview, we’re talking with Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver Influencer. So if you want a way to find common ground where there appears to be only irreconcilable conflict, and get the secret to achieving your goals, this is the answer you’re looking for… tune in below! Table of contentsWho “The Go-Giver: Influencer” is ForWhat is Influence?Healing Political RiftsThe 5 Secrets of Genuine Influence1. Master Your Emotions2. Step Into the Other Person's Shoes3. Set the Proper Frame4. Communicate with Tact and Empathy5. Let Go of Having to Be RightAbout Bob Burg Who “The Go-Giver: Influencer” is For Bob Burg, along with his co-writer John Mann, has now written four books about the “Go-Giver” parable. The first story is about the seemingly counterintuitive steps to success that can make a vast difference in your life. The Go-Giver Influencer is the second book which tells yet another parable of success, and important lessons about relationships. [5:09] “John and I… really wanted to take [the concept of] influence to a deeper level because of its importance. Now, in both of the other parables… influence was certainly a part of it. It was even law number three—the law of influence in The Go-Giver. So we have to really look at, ‘What is influence, and why is it important?’” The answer is people skills. Talent can only take you so far in business and in life. And of course, hard work keeps your talent honed. Yet without people skills, you’ll have a hard time making actual progress toward your goals. Everything we do in life is filtered through the relationships we have with other people. That is where The Go-Giver Influencer comes into play. What is Influence? [8:18] “I think that’s the essence of influence, it’s pull. Pull as opposed to push, right? As in, how far can you push a rope? And the answer is not very fast or effectively. Influencers don’t push… their will on others. They don’t try to push their ideas on others.” You can’t push your way to what you want—it won’t end well for anyone, nor is it sustainable. Influence is the art of pulling, or better yet attracting, people. In fact, the best influencers do this genuinely, because they understand that there’s power behind being inviting. [10:20] “[Genuine influencers] will ask themselves questions. How does what I’m asking this person to do… align with their goals? With their needs, with their wants, their desires?... How am I helping them overcome a challenge...Now, when we ask ourselves these questions thoughtfully, intelligently, genuinely, authentically—again, not as a way to manipulate another human being to our will, but as a way of building [inaudible]---[we earn] that person’s commitment, as opposed to trying to depend on some type of compliance.” Healing Political Rifts 2020 has been a tough, sometimes contentious year, and the rift between political affiliations has only grown. We’ve been most concerned by the conversations across political divides, which have put a strain on relationships of all types. And we’re even seeing a shift in the conversation. Between parties, we used to see, “I’m right, you’re wrong” discussions. Though not the healthiest outlook, there was still discussion. Now, the conversation is, “I’m right, you’re evil.” [18:44] “This is a totally different frame, and one which makes it nearly impossible to engage. Because you’re not going to engage with evil. Evil is incorrigible. There’s nothing you can do with evil. So because of that, what people have done on both sides is hunker down, listening only to the information that supports what they already believe.” This creates rifts, and healthy communication can’t take root in this type of environment. Healing these rifts and re-opening conversation begins with a willingness to engage. The second step is to try to understand where the other person is coming from, and why. This doesn’t mean you have to agree. Yet, you must attempt to understand those thought processes. The 5 Secrets of Genuine Influence 1. Master Your Emotions [22:09] “It’s only when we’re in control of our own emotions that we’re even in a position to take a potentially negative situation or person and turn it into a win for everyone involved. The challenge is, as human beings we’re emotional… Now, what we’re not saying is to deny your emotions…What we can say is, make sure you’re the master of your emotions and they’re not the master of you.” 2. Step Into the Other Person's Shoes It’s easier said than done. [23:10] “The fact is, most of us don’t have the same size feet. So we literally can’t step into another person’s shoes. More importantly,

If you’re planning to leave an inheritance to your children, there’s a new rule in the Secure Act that will probably cause your kids to pay more taxes if you pass on your retirement plan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yQ22dT2H6I Today, we’re discussing how the Secure Act, passed in 2019, affects your retirement plans and may front-load taxes to kids who inherit these plans. If you want to know what the Secure Act is, how it applies to you, and what you can do about it… tune in below! Table of contentsThe Key Takeaways of the Secure ActContributionsPart-time Workers Get 401(k) OptionsTax BreaksParental AidThe Secure Act and IRAsHow the Secure Act Impacts InheritanceMaximize Your InheritanceBook A Strategy Call If you have an IRA, the following changes to the tax laws are important for you to know. These changes can affect how your inheritance is distributed from an IRA, making it prudent to reassess your financial strategy. We want to help you continue to maximize your retirement and still leave an inheritance, should you choose. Staying on top of the changes and making some smart pivots can save you and your family on heavy tax penalties down the road. We have designed this article as an overview of the changes so that you can meet with your CPA and financial advisors with confidence. It’s always crucial to be informed, yet work with a professional on the specifics. The Key Takeaways of the Secure Act Before we can dive too deep into the impact of these changes, and what you can do differently, it’s important to look at what those changes are. Contributions Previously, you could make contributions to your traditional IRA until age 70 ½. Now, you can make those contributions indefinitely. This also means that you don’t have to take your required minimum distributions (RMDs) until age 72. The implications could be an increase in taxes, for two reasons: Your account has more time to grow. While growth is good, this also raises your tax liability.That two-year window (or more) gives room for tax brackets to change, and it’s more likely that taxes will increase than decrease. So if you’re taking a higher distribution, and the taxes increase, the tax hit could feel even greater. Part-time Workers Get 401(k) Options In the past, part-time workers were not eligible for 401(k) plans. Now, the Secure Act has created a provision for long-term part-timers to make contributions to a 401(k). This broadens the scope of who is eligible for government-sponsored retirement plans, which could entice more people to participate. Those who are eligible? Anyone who works 1,000 hours in a year, or who has worked 500 hours a year for three consecutive years. Tax Breaks The Secure Act also rolled in some tax breaks, many specifically for businesses. One of the bigger breaks is for businesses who set up automatic enrollments for employees. This means that rather than opting into a 401(k) plan, employees may have to opt-out. Parental Aid Along with other changes, a provision was added that will allow parents to withdraw $5,000 without penalties, to help cover birth and adoption fees. This can help offset some of the typical costs of new parenthood. This is significant, because in the past any withdrawals from a qualified plan before a certain age would incur a penalty. Similarly, parents will now be able to withdraw up to $10,000 annually without penalty from a 529 plan to repay student loans. The Secure Act and IRAs One of the reasons provided for the change in required minimum distributions, is that people are living longer. Often, people are working longer, too. On one hand, this allows the money more time to grow, and helps it go farther in retirement. On the other hand, it also raises questions about the tax implications in the long-run. We think one of the most prudent questions to ask yourself is: “If I’m not paying this tax on my income today, what will that tax implication be in the future?” Because unfortunately, tax-deferment isn’t a free pass. While there are some strategies in which a deferral makes sense, there are other factors to consider, such as: Will your income increase over time?Will taxes increase over time?Can you afford to live your current lifestyle on the interest of your IRA or 401(k)?How much do you want to leave to your heirs? (And how much will be taxed?) How the Secure Act Impacts Inheritance With an inherited IRA, we can see one of the biggest changes. In the past, a non-spousal inheritance of an IRA could be taken in small distributions over the beneficiary’s lifetime. This was referred to as a stretch IRA. Now, that inheritance must be taken in full over 10 years. According to Investopedia, this will create an additional $15.7 billion of tax revenue for the government. Our understanding is that you can either take these distributions incrementally over ten years, or in a lump sum at the beginning or end of the 10-year window. However, this is taxed as ordinary income. So regardless of how you take

Curious about how investing in raw land could help you accomplish your financial goals? In this episode, we’re talking with Mark Podolsky, The Land Geek, the raw land investor who’s completed over 5500 land deals, with an average ROI of over 300% on cash flips, and over 1,000% on the deals he sells with financing terms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMB7SWZLyn8 So if you want to learn from a raw land investor who’s replaced his income and helped many other people do the same … tune in below! Table of contentsHow Do You Invest in Raw Land?Doing Your Due Diligence with Raw LandWhat Happens Next?How to Make Your Offer IrresistibleRaw Land Creates ValueThe Risks of Raw Land InvestmentsPrivatized Banking and Raw LandAbout Mark PodolskyLinks How Do You Invest in Raw Land? In our interview, Mark starts us out with a case study, using Bruce as a hypothetical. In this instance, Bruce lives in St. Louis, yet owns 10 acres of land in Texas. He also owes $200 of back taxes. He’s advertising two things here: no emotional attachment to that raw land, and there’s some sort of financial distress. You, as the raw land investor, would look at the comparable sales on his 10-acre parcel for the last 12-18 months. Then, you take the lowest comp divided by four, giving you what Warren Buffett would call a 300% margin of safety. Then you’ll send an actual offer. Pretend the lowest comp is $10,000. You would send an offer of $2,500. Chances are, Bruce will accept the offer, because it’s better than nothing. In Mark’s case, 3 out of 5 people typically accept his offers. Then it’s time to do his due diligence. Doing Your Due Diligence with Raw Land When Mark Podolsky talks about due diligence, here’s what he means: Does “Bruce” still own the property?Are the back taxes only $200?What’s the ingress and egress?Are there any breaks in the title's chain?Are there liens or encumbrances?Is there legal access?What are the neighbors doing?How far is the property from other services?What are the roads like?What is compelling about the property? It’s crucial that before you make an investment on a property, you know all the important factors. You can also enlist help: Mark himself outsources this step to his team in the Philippines, because they are connected to an American title company. It’s not costly either. For larger investments, working with an American title company directly is beneficial. Or you can even outsource through Craigslist. Taking the time or spending the resources to vet your land thoroughly will pay off in the long run. What Happens Next? The trick to raw land investments, after you vet the property, is to sell in 30 days or fewer. Then, you can make it cash flow similarly to a rental property, and be ready to invest in the next plot of land. So who do you sell to? Fortunately, with raw land, you have built-in buyers: the neighbors. Intrinsically, the neighbors are going to have an interest in this land more than anyone else to start. They may want it to protect their privacy, or to build out their estate. Giving them the first pass can often have a huge payout. Should that not pan out, you have several other options to find buyers. Start with your buyer's list, then you can start looking online: CraigslistFacebook Marketplace (or buy/sell groups)Land sale websites How to Make Your Offer Irresistible How you package and sell the land makes the offer irresistible. You ask for a $2,500 down payment and recoup your investment. Then, Mark recommends this: a monthly payment of $449 over 84 months at 9% interest. This way, you have a onetime sale, earn your capital back, and then you have monthly cash flow without renters, renovations, or rehabs. Because you’re not dealing with tenants, you’re also exempt from Dodd Frank, RESPA, and the SAFE Act. [13:28] “The game we play is, can we create enough of these land notes, where our passive income exceeds our fixed expense, and now we’re working because we want to, not because we have to?” Raw Land Creates Value One of the many benefits to raw land investing is that it doesn’t just line your own pockets. You’re fulfilling the needs of the seller. In our case study, Bruce was looking for a way out—he wanted to be free of the land and get caught up on his taxes. Then, you have buyers with a need, so you’re also solving their problem. It’s a win for all sides. Nor can you forget about the county region. The county collects more tax revenue this way, so you’re helping to improve schools, hospitals, and county services as well. There’s value all the way down the line. The Risks of Raw Land Investments The first risk of investing in raw land is the environmental risk. Before buying any property, there’s another component to add to your “due diligence” list. Go to the epa.gov site to ensure you’re not buying a Superfund site. A Superfund site is a site that ensures that the company that pollutes the land is liable for cleaning it up. If you buy it, it does not make you liable, h

Most people never maximize their full financial potential. That means they don’t accumulate the assets they could, and what they do save and invest isn’t protected and gets eroded too quickly. Then they take distributions in a way that shrinks their income, and they’re always trying to outrun the fear of running out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2qIGF_hwn4 Sound too close for comfort? This doesn’t have to be you. We’re talking with another of our stellar advisors on The Money Advantage team, Scott McCright. You’ll hear the tenured experience he’s gained in over 27 years of working with clients, and his approach as an educator, strategist, and engineer. So, if one of your goals for the NEW YEAR is a fresh start financially, where you take ownership and lock in a plan you’re CONFIDENT will maximize your potential and do the most with your money… tune in below! Table of contentsIntroducing Scott McCrightDefining Financial FreedomStrategizing for Full Financial PotentialMindset MattersOpportunity CostReach Your Financial Potential with Privatized BankingBook A Strategy Call As we usher in this New Year, it’s time to think about your finances with fresh eyes. We recommend starting by zooming out: by looking at the big picture of your finances, you can maximize your lifestyle with efficiency. That means maximizing your income, your protection, your assets, and ultimately, realizing your full financial potential. To do that, you have to know how the pieces fit together. Today, we’re sharing with you a way to think differently. Introducing Scott McCright Scott is a member of the team here at The Money Advantage and offers a really valuable perspective to our clients. What we’ve seen time and time again is that he treats everyone as he would treat his friends. And that is so crucial to our mission here at The Money Advantage and treating finance like a team sport. After spending time in the Navy, Scott transitioned into the financial services world in 1993. He started first in insurance, and then moved to securities, when he had a realization. He was seeing time and time again that everyone was told to do exactly the same things. The advice wasn’t tailored for the individuals, and no one was really hitting it out of the park either. How could everyone expect to have different results when they were making the same mistakes? So he joined hands with other professionals, to see if there was a better way to help people. [7:25] “I’m a big believer in, ‘There’s not one specific product that’s going to get you where you want to go.’ It’s more in the how and the why you do things than it is the where.” Defining Financial Freedom The financial landscape has gone through many changes over the last few decades, though people can more or less agree on one thing: they are looking for financial freedom. We think one of the best places to start, as highlighted by Scott’s quote above, is figuring out your “how” and “why.” Get clear on what you want. What does financial freedom look like to you? What will you be able to do once you reach financial freedom, that you cannot do now? There are a few things that happen here when you get really clear on your vision. The first is, you can create a plan, or a strategy. If you’re working with a team of advisors, bringing your ideas to the table can be a great asset to the process. The next thing that happens is, you create a sort of discipline, because you’ve pinpointed the future that you want for yourself. You’re motivated, rather than defeated by what you don’t have. This combination pulls you out of the narrow view and allows you to think about your big picture finances. It’s easier to create long-term strategies to reach your full financial potential when you’re working toward specific dreams. This is the time to make sure that all the pieces and parts of your financial life are going to work together to get you there. Strategizing for Full Financial Potential [10:03] “I think everybody always says taxes, well—taxes are a big thing... I’m a big believer in thinking, well okay, if I’m going to climb the mountain, I’ve got to have a way to get back down. People don’t plan for that, they plan on going up, but they don’t plan on coming down. And that’s where people fail.” Strategy is an important part of your financial life. From income, to taxes, to acquiring assets—you must know where you’re going. Or to pull from Steve’s analogy, you have to know how to go up the mountain and how to come back down. It’s easy, too, to put it all on paper and know what you’ll do over the next 30 years. Except life happens over that time, and you must be flexible. Scott says: [11:09] “I always tell people, you know, life gets in the way over those next 30 years, so don’t get discouraged if the plan has to change slightly. But you do have to have goals and aspirations and some discipline to get where you want to go. And that is why working with a financial professional is like the checkup, going to the d

Considering Infinite Banking, or IBC, but still a little skeptical? https://youtu.be/UNw8fUMhiNU In this episode, we’re talking with Dr. Robert P. Murphy, a free-market economist, who has testified before Congress on energy markets and monetary policy and has given many interviews on TV and radio. He is the author of hundreds of articles and several books on economic topics created for the layperson, including one of his most recent: The Case for IBC. So if you want to hear from a highly respected economist perspective just why Infinite Banking works … tune in below! In this episode on The Case for IBC, you’ll hear: How the Nelson Nash Institute came to be Common misconceptions about whole life insurance What Dave Ramsey gets wrong about “buy term, invest the difference” Why IBC is about more than just the rate of return The future of dividend rates And more! Table of contentsIn this episode on The Case for IBC, you’ll hear:The Nelson Nash InstituteThe Case for IBCOther Common Objections of IBCThe Future of Dividend RatesClosing RemarksOrganize Your Finances or Get Life Insurance TodayThanks for Tuning In! The Nelson Nash Institute [7:00] “Carlos and I wrote a book called, How Privatized Banking Really Works.... That phrase [Privatized Banking] was actually Carlos, his idea.” [8:23] “If you’re doing IBC, you’re not contributing to the problem, because the Austrian view is commercial banking that expands and contracts the credit supply. So if you’re...financing your purchases via policy loans, then you’re not contributing to the boom/bust cycle in the Austrian view.” [8:58] “...Carlos and I were going around, giving presentations to the public and life insurance agents would hire us often to come do that, you know, presumably knowing that they were going to be able to sell more if we came and talked to a crowd about...the big picture here... And so over time we just realized this isn’t going to work. We need a more formal way of both, you know, training agents to make sure they know what Nelson’s principles are and how to design these policies correctly, but also so we feel comfortable… [putting] the public into the hands of certain life insurance professionals… So that was the birth of the IBC practitioners program.” You can find out more about Nelson Nash here: Nelson Nash: The Father of Infinite Banking (IBC) The Case for IBC [13:30] “... often this concept clicks with [business owners] sooner than with other people, is [because of] the importance of cash flow. So for like a salaried employee, you know, they kind of know every month how much money is coming in the door, and then they have their bills. And they’ve just got to make sure… [they] spend less each month than what’s coming in.” [15:20] "I came across a pretty sophisticated critique of IBC a while ago, from another economist, and he said, 'You know, this concept actually makes sense. What they’re really doing here is using an asset as collateral to then borrow money from some other institution to finance their cash flow. And they happen to be using life insurance or using...the cash surrender value, and a dividend paying whole life insurance is the collateral... When in principle you could take your house, as long as you have a bunch of equity, and go to a commercial bank and take out either a home equity loan or a HELOC.'" "And so... the concept the economist was arguing was, 'It has nothing to do with life insurance, and the only reason they’re doing it with life insurance is to get the commission.'" "So I go through and explain why, actually, that’s a perfect illustration of why Nelson was right to pick this vehicle or platform of a dividend paying whole life policy." Other Common Objections of IBC [19:54] “So another common one is… 'Oh everyone knows a whole life policy is a terrible place to put your money, you should buy term and invest the difference.’” [20:47] “The way we put it is that the whole life insurance policies are the platform upon which IBC is implemented. So yeah, if people don’t want their foundation, then they’re going to be hesitant to step onto it.” [22:06] “It’s going to be clear, we’re not arguing that you should never get a term policy... but virtually, you know, they are trying to make the other case saying that you should never get a whole life policy, it is always advantageous to buy term invest the difference...So the big issue is, it’s an apples to oranges comparison.” The Future of Dividend Rates [29:40] "My prediction is that the Feds are going to keep the interest rates low until the point at which the dollar starts significantly slipping against other currencies. And/or domestically, prices start rising such that...it’s too painful and they have to start ratcheting up rates to stem that." [30:20] “They can’t just keep interest rates at one percent, if price inflation is running at eight percent. They’d have to raise rates just like they did in the

Want to optimize your money and maximize your wealth and income for life, and curious about how we can help? Been listening for a while and want to learn more about our company and what we can do for you? Today, we're taking you behind the scenes of The Money Advantage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS5o1gL_vzE So, if you want to get to know us, what we do, and why we do this work … tune in below! Table of contents“Why” The Money AdvantageRachel Marshall Bruce WehnerWhat is The Money Advantage Philosophy?Our 9-Step Signature ProcessFoundationProtectionIncreaseFinance is a Team SportBook A Strategy Call “Why” The Money Advantage Today, we’re sharing more about who we are and why we do what we do. First and foremost, the Money Advantage exists to help wealth creators build financial freedom. There are three key components to this wealth building: Cashflow StrategiesPrivatized BankingAlternative investments We’re your team of financial architects, and our goal is to help you get into a position where you never run out of money. What we so often see is people who make a lot of money, yet aren’t being as efficient as possible. This can create a lot of financial stress. Money is emotional, and that causes people to hold their financial state close to their chest. Yet by not talking about money, we do ourselves a disservice. So we also look for ways to help people improve their money mindset. Rachel Marshall Rachel Marshall is the co-host of The Money Advantage Podcast, co-founder of The Money Advantage, and Chief Financial Educator. The education that she provides, through podcasts and articles and videos, helps you understand your financial life so you can choose a way forward. Her role is to look for any way possible to help you understand how to keep control of your financial life. Rachel has been a lifelong teacher—helping others learn the concepts she was learning herself. She looks most forward to seeing that flash of inspiration and awareness when someone understands something they didn’t know before. Nine years ago, Rachel went into this business with her husband, Lucas. It stemmed from a desire to build their own financial freedom. And what they realized was missing, at the time, was liquidity. After recognizing the need of wealth creators to maximize cash flow and have access to capital, they recognized the tremendous value of Privatized Banking and began their own policy. Then, a near-death experience truly opened her eyes to the importance of the death benefit and helping others build the greatest legacy possible. Bruce Wehner Bruce Wehner is the Chief Cash Flow Strategist & Lead Advisor at The Money Advantage. Growing up in the 60s' and 70s opened Bruce’s eyes to the financial struggles of business owners like his father. After Nixon removed the gold standard, massive inflation made it difficult for businesses to stay afloat, and interest rates were continuing to spike year after year. This got him thinking about personal finance, and how businesses worked. He then began a teaching career of 17 years, in which he experimented with entrepreneurial pursuits. It was at this time that he became involved in the insurance business and real estate. Eventually, he landed in St. Louis, where he remains today, and works with e3 Consultants Group and The Money Advantage. Bruce is also a certified Nelson Nash practitioner, which means he focuses first on guarantees. Wealth building is first about the money you protect, not hitting a home run. So he helps people create financial teams and protect more of their wealth through guarantees. What is The Money Advantage Philosophy? The financial status quo is to build the biggest pile of money possible and then live off of that money in the future. What happens too often with this strategy, is that the money is in the control of everyone else--investment managers, banks, and mortgage companies. This typical philosophy takes the control out of the individual’s hands. Then, that money is subject to future taxes, which are unknowable. Yet taxes are likely to increase, not decrease. We believe that cash flow is the way to build time and money freedom. This is the money that you get to keep from day to day. This can be through regular income, business revenue, or from cash flowing alternative investments. The freedom that comes from cash flow then gives you the freedom to choose what you do with your time. We don’t believe in the typical philosophy of retirement, where you build a pile of cash and then stop working. We would much rather see people enjoy their lives from day one and continue to thrive well into their older age through fulfilling wealth creation. And that looks like gaining control. Our 9-Step Signature Process This is the exact process that we use to help people like you master financial control and freedom. This will help you fulfill your money’s highest purpose, so you can live a life of the highest significance. We split these steps into t

Now and then, you have the chance to meet extraordinary people and learn more from their story than you ever thought possible. This conversation with Steven Sashen of Xero Shoes is one of those opportunities! https://youtu.be/ZxaGb90SUtY In this episode, we’re talking with Steven Sashen about shoes, speed, and success. He’s one of the fastest men over 55 in the country, co-founder of Xero Shoes that’s creating not only a brand, but a movement, he’s also turned down a $400K funding offer on Shark Tank. So if you want to learn from a successful entrepreneur, so you can build a life and business you love … tune in below! Table of contentsIn the Business of Making Xero ShoesFrom DIY to Worldwide RecognitionTurning Down Shark TankXero Shoes: A Fast-Moving CompanyChance vs. ControlTaking Responsibility of Your FinanceCash Flow in BusinessXero ShoesAbout Steven Sashen We believe that his ability to create a community and a movement is something that you can benefit from as business owners and entrepreneurs. No matter where you’re at in the journey, we think you’ll find something valuable in this conversation with Steven Sashen. Enjoy the show notes below. In the Business of Making Xero Shoes When you think of how a business gets its start, you probably think of all the planning, designing, and prep work that goes into a brand. However, that’s not quite how things happened for Sashen. [3:27] “The way it actually happened is my favorite thing, which was a complete accident. So what happened was...a little over 13 years ago, I was 45, I got back into sprinting after a 30-year break, which I don’t really recommend. I was getting injured constantly for like two years. And finally, a friend of mine, who’s like a world champion runner...said, ‘Try running barefoot and see if you learn anything about why you might be getting injured.’” This planted the seed, and Steven discovered that running barefoot allowed him to correct his movements with more ease and fluidity. From DIY to Worldwide Recognition When Steven Sashen finally hit his stride, everything changed. That’s when he knew he must lock-in the benefits of this natural movement. He had heard of natives in Mexico who ran with sandals made from scraps of tire. So he created his own version. With some rubber from a shoe repair shop and cords from Home Depot, he created what we could consider his first prototype. Here and there, friends would request their own. Then one day, he was approached with the opportunity that started it all. A barefoot running coach was writing a book, and said that if Sashen treated this hobby like a business and made a website, he’d feature it in the book. In the following three and a half years, Xero Shoes became a DIY sandal-kit company. Now, Xero Shoes sells a complete line of casual and performance shoes, boots, and sandals. Turning Down Shark Tank Early on, Xero Shoes appeared on Shark Tank. And though they were offered $400,000 Sashen turned the money down. This sparked a lot of discussion on whether he made the right decision. [12:38] “People kept telling us all along that we should be on the show, we didn’t even know what they were talking about. And then we found the show.” Steven Sashen realized that, were they to get on Shark Tank, regardless of the outcome, it would be free exposure to millions of people. [13:37] “The thing that was really valuable is that once they told us they wanted us on the show, it really made us focus on who were are, what we did, and what we wanted.” [15:40] "So the key moment though, was that thing with Kevin, where he offered us 400 grand for half the company, [and] we were offering 8% of the company. We had done a lot of research about valuations of footwear brands. And so we knew what the range for yes and no was, we were very negotiable. We just didn’t get that far, and so it was a non-starter.” Xero Shoes: A Fast-Moving Company [20:12] “You’re constantly running two races when you’re running a business. One is a speed race: velocity is important. The more you can do, the better. The faster, the better. At the same time, there’s certain things you can’t rush. And luckily, my wife and I have different skillsets and mindsets. So I’m the sprinter. She’s the detail-oriented, long-distance person.” [20:48] “The line that I have is that all businesses rise to the neuroses of their founders.” Essentially, combining skill sets in a business is the key to success. The more you can balance out, the greater accomplishments you can achieve together. This is the model that Steven and Lena have operated under, and found outstanding success. Chance vs. Control In business, Steven Sashen shares some interesting insight. He relates it back to barefoot running, where he had to analyze the information his body was giving him and make corrections, all in a split second. [28:02] “It’s a weird thing, because you’re going to take in all that information and you’re going to make a decision, and you’ll either be right or

Want to shelter your assets from the prying eyes of the IRS, claims of creditors, or the public? Can creditors take life insurance proceeds after death? In many cases, the answer depends on how your policy is structured. https://youtu.be/yu7D09hTe3M Cash surrender value and life insurance proceeds are exempt from creditors in most states. In this episode, we’re talking about the privacy and creditor protection of life insurance. So, if you want to know how to protect your wealth from future risk of creditors taking life insurance proceeds through litigation, civil suits, bankruptcy, or even divorce … tune in below! Table of contentsWhat You’ll LearnWhere Creditor Protection of Life Insurance Fits In The Bigger PicturePrivacy and Protection LiabilityLiability Insurance and AutoThe Privacy of a Life Insurance PolicyCreditor Protection of Life Insurance Cash ValueFederal LawHow Creditor Protection of Life Insurance Policies Varies by StateWhat States Protect Life Insurance Cash Value from Creditors?When Life Insurance Exemptions Don’t ApplyOther Types of Asset ProtectionFor More Information on Protection From the Claims of CreditorsBook A Strategy CallFAQs About Life Insurance and Creditor ProtectionCan creditors take life insurance proceeds after someone dies?Does life insurance have to be used to pay the deceased’s debts?Is life insurance cash value protected from creditors?Can debt collectors take life insurance money from beneficiaries?Do federal laws protect life insurance policies?Sources What You’ll Learn Whether creditors can take life insurance proceeds after a policyholder’s death How life insurance cash value is protected from creditors in many states Why some protections vary depending on state vs. federal law When life insurance may not be safe from creditor claims or bankruptcy How privacy features in whole life insurance work in your favor Where life insurance fits into a broader asset protection strategy Where Creditor Protection of Life Insurance Fits In The Bigger Picture Life Insurance is just one step in the greater Cash Flow System. But where does it stand when it comes to asset protection? Can creditors take life insurance proceeds after death, or does this financial tool offer legal safeguards? While it’s nestled into Stage 2, Protection, it also improves everything else around it. Infinite Banking helps you keep more of the money you make in Stage 1, amplify your cash-flowing asset strategy in Stage 3, and accelerate your Time and Money Freedom. Privacy and Protection Liability Privacy and protection liability are never something you need until you actually need them. In other words, most of us operate as if “it won’t happen to us,” and when an event occurs, it’s too late to protect against it. This is where life insurance can quietly offer protection from legal claims or judgments that threaten your financial security. For protection from creditors and protection in bankruptcy, it’s not the wealthiest who need protection the most, although they’re the most likely to protect their wealth. The people who should be most interested in asset protection are those who have fewer assets and cannot afford to lose them. Understanding how life insurance protects against creditor claims is essential for anyone looking to keep their assets intact under pressure. Asset protection isn’t the most exciting topic, yet it is something that the wealthy think about. Success leaves clues–follow these clues that the wealthy leave and see how they grow and protect their assets. Liability Insurance and Auto A Property and Casualty insurance agent once said, “People don’t think about liability until after the fact”. So much so that many people think that their auto insurance covers all liability. It doesn’t. So, if your dog bites somebody at the park and causes an injury that lands them in the hospital, those hospital bills can come back to you. If the bills are above your liability coverage, a creditor can take this debt and potentially use your assets to cover it. Small or random incidents like this can happen, and they do happen all the time. Then, because we don’t think we need protection from them, we don’t have it in our times of need. It’s one thing to have an emergency or opportunity fund; it’s another to have a protected asset like a whole life insurance policy to act as this fund that creditors cannot garnish or seize. That’s the key distinction: liability insurance covers specific risks, while life insurance offers broader, long-term asset protection that can’t be tapped by creditor claims in most states. The Privacy of a Life Insurance Policy Life insurance is an incredibly private asset, meaning no one can really see past that insurance barrier and know how much wealth you have. This level of life insurance privacy from creditors and outside parties is one of its most underrated benefits. Privacy, especially around finance, is a significant concern in our society. Privacy is a huge advantage of who

Should you be concerned about asset protection? What types of risk should you know about? What you don’t know about protecting your assets CAN hurt you. In this episode, we’re talking with Douglass Lodmell, one of the nation’s leading asset protection experts and founder of Lodmell & Lodmell about asset protection and how it works. https://youtu.be/d173g5beiU8 So if you want to learn about the keys to asset protection, why insurance isn’t enough, and how to protect real estate, other physical assets, securities, and liquid assets … tune in below! Table of contentsWhere Asset Protection Fits into Your Cashflow Creation SystemHow to Keep Your WealthWhat is Asset Protection?Life Insurance as Asset ProtectionLLCs and Limited Partnerships as Asset ProtectionSetting Up Your LLCMisconception of LLCsThe Next Level of Asset ProtectionAsset Protection TrustFraudulent TransferAbout Douglass LodmellContact Douglass LodmellFind Out Your Next Step to Time and Money Freedom Where Asset Protection Fits into Your Cashflow Creation System Protecting assets with legal planning will maximize your peace of mind. But it’s just one small step of a greater journey. That’s why we’ve put together the 3-step Entrepreneur’s Cash Flow System. The first step is keeping more of the money you make. This includes tax planning, debt restructuring, cash flow awareness, and restructuring your savings so you can access it as an emergency/opportunity fund. This step frees up and increases your cash flow, so you have more to save, and consequently, more to invest. Then, you’ll protect your money with savings, privatized banking and legal protection. This is where estate planning fits in. You’ll know that no matter what happens to you, your wishes will be carried out, your assets will remain intact, and your wisdom will empower generations after you. Finally, you’ll put your money to work and get it to make more by investing in cash-flowing assets to build time and money freedom and leave a rich legacy. How to Keep Your Wealth Once you’re wealthy, the trick is to stay wealthy. One of the number one reasons that a person's wealth comes crashing down is a lack of proper asset protection. Unlike other countries, the United States is very litigious. To put it bluntly, people don’t sue the poor, so you have additional risks to mitigate when you build wealth. Douglass Lodmell, of Lodmell & Lodmell, is one of the nation’s leading asset protection attorneys. His firm handles $4 billion worth of assets. He shares with us the pyramid of asset protection, and why it matters. What is Asset Protection? Asset protection comes in many forms. If you don’t have any assets, that’s asset protection. Similarly, having assets that are exempt from creditors acts as protection. For example, you could have a $15 million home in Texas, and $100 million in debt, and no one could touch your home because of Texas' homestead exemption. Another protected asset? Retirement funds, because under the ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act), the government decided not to allow people to lose retirement money through lawsuits. Otherwise, the burden would be back on the government. True protection begins with a review of all your assets. Then you can identify what's exempt, and where to strategize. Asset protection strategies take your assets back off the table and away from creditors and lawsuits. Life Insurance as Asset Protection Life insurance is another asset that typically falls into the exempt category, however this varies from state to state. In some states, your entire policy could be exempt from creditors, while in other states, only a portion is exempt. When you’re looking to protect your life insurance, first you must look at your state. If you have 100% exemption, you don’t need to do anything else. If it’s not, then you look for other ways to protect it, either through holding companies or directly into asset protection stocks. LLCs and Limited Partnerships as Asset Protection Limited partnerships and LLCs have charging order protection. They protect assets because creditors cannot foreclose on a limited partnership and get the underlying asset. All they can get is a charge, which you can think of as a lien against the debtors interest in that limited partnership. This is the foundation of an asset protection strategy. Setting Up Your LLC When setting up your LLC, you must consider jurisdiction. If you do not establish your LLC in the jurisdiction where you’re investing in, it has no value. For example, you wouldn’t invest in California real estate, and then set up your LLC in Wyoming because you like the statute better. Otherwise, if you get into trouble in California, California law applies to your case. You’ll just end up paying more fees. LLC is great for most assets, especially real estate, which reduces your liability as a landlord and protects the value of a property. Your inside liability is protected to a certain amount through a

Are you considering whole life insurance and want to know which is better: Direct vs. non-direct recognition life insurance companies? What does it mean? Why does it matter? How does it impact your policy's average rate of return? And should it be a part of your decision-making process? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1UZ_EYIns0 In this episode, we discuss the why, how, and what of direct recognition vs. non-direct recognition so you have the knowledge you need to decide. So if you want to know how a life insurance company's treatment of dividends when you have a policy loan affects your policy's cash value growth over time and your future ability to borrow against your policy for Infinite Banking, this episode is for you. We'll help you find out whether it matters and, most importantly, tune out the biased opinions of some who say you should ALWAYS have it one way, and NEVER the other. You’ll really understand it, so you can get the best dividend-paying whole life policy, tune in below! Table of contentsWhat You'll Learn Where Whole Life Insurance Policies Fit Into the Bigger PictureWhat Does Direct or Non-Direct Recognition Mean?How Direct Recognition WorksHow Non-Direct Recognition WorksWhy the Comparison Isn't Always ClearDirect vs. Non-Direct Recognition CompaniesHow Policy Loans Affect DividendsFixed vs. Variable Loan RatesShould You Choose Direct or Non-Direct Recognition?Check Company Ratings & Customer ServiceChoosing the Best Life Insurance CompanyReady to Start Your Life Insurance?Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do I find out if a company uses direct or non-direct recognition?Will one recognition type always outperform the other?Besides recognition method, what loan terms should I compare?Can I change my mind about the recognition method after I buy a policy? What You'll Learn Here's what we'll cover: Direct vs non direct recognition explained - What these terms actually mean and why you should care How to identify recognition method before policy purchase - The right questions to ask your agent What does direct recognition mean for policy loans? How does it really affect your dividends when you borrow Direct recognition life insurance companies - How to size up different insurers and their approaches Choosing between direct or non direct recognition - Which one makes sense for how you'll actually use your policy Where Whole Life Insurance Policies Fit Into the Bigger Picture When you're building a solid financial foundation, the details matter. That's why dividend strategy matters in life insurance, especially when you understand how recognition methods affect your long-term results. Privatized Banking with whole life insurance is just one part of the bigger journey. That’s why we’ve developed the 3-step Cash Flow System. It’s your roadmap to go from just surviving to a life of significance, purpose, and financial freedom. The first stage is the foundation. You first keep more of the money you make by fixing money leaks, becoming more efficient and profitable. Then, you protect your money with insurance and legal protection and Privatized Banking. Finally, you put your money to work, increasing your income with cash-flowing assets. What Does Direct or Non-Direct Recognition Mean? When you’re shopping for a life insurance policy, you’re likely going to hear an insurance agent use the terms direct and non-direct recognition thrown around often. The terms have roots in the relationship between dividends and policy loans. Whole life insurance dividends are the non-guaranteed part of the life insurance contract, though historically, companies have an excellent track record of paying dividends. Each year, companies will declare their dividend rates. How Direct Recognition Works Companies handle dividends differently depending on whether you have an outstanding policy loan. Direct recognition companies directly acknowledge outstanding policy loans and will pay dividends accordingly. This often means that they have a different, unpublished rate for any money that is being borrowed against. How Non-Direct Recognition Works On the other hand, non-direct recognition companies pay dividends at the same rate, regardless of any policy loans. The trade-off is that Non-Direct Recognition companies only have one dividend rate, which often seems lower than direct recognition dividends. Why the Comparison Isn't Always Clear However, companies all declare dividends differently, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. It’s tempting to see a higher dividend and jump on it, but these rates are projections. Factors such as the age of your policy and your paid-up additions can affect whether you get more or less than the projection. Whether or not you will use your policy as a family bank will also change which option you go with. Direct vs. Non-Direct Recognition Companies With non-direct recognition vs. direct recognition insurance companies, ther

Do you want to use whole life insurance to store cash, build an emergency/opportunity fund, and create a legacy, but you wish you’d learned about this concept when you were younger? Do you feel like you’re too old for the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC)? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX91AY2tYlo Fortunately, it might not be too late for you to get started. In this episode, we’re going talk about how life insurance works when you start a policy later in life, and how you can make the most of it. So if you want to see if Privatized Banking can still work to build cash value and accelerate time and money freedom, even if you’re starting a policy as a senior, tune in below! Table of contentsWhere The Infinite Banking Concept Fits In The Bigger PictureHow Old is Too Old for Infinite Banking?The Impact of Privatized Banking Later in LifeHow Can You Use Privatized Banking Now?Transfer of IRAFamily BankingPrivatized Banking As IncomeSocial Security and Pension MaximizationVolatility BufferPermission to SpendAccelerated Death Benefit RiderNot Too Old for Infinite BankingBook A Strategy Call Where The Infinite Banking Concept Fits In The Bigger Picture The Infinite Banking Concept is just one step in the greater Cash Flow System. While it’s nestled into Stage 2, Protection, it also improves everything else around it. Infinite Banking helps you keep more of the money you make in Stage 1, amplify your cash-flowing asset strategy in Stage 3, and accelerate your Time and Money Freedom. How Old is Too Old for Infinite Banking? Many people assume that because Privatized Banking takes time, that after a certain age it’s no longer a viable strategy for them. In reality, there’s more time than you’d think. Your results, after a certain age, will depend more on what you’re hoping to accomplish than anything. Most people look at life insurance and think of term insurance, the simplest insurance, and have preconceived notions. It’s insurance that is pure cost. And based on experiences with term insurance, people are hesitant to pursue insurance strategies later in life. However, whole life insurance can work for you even if you start in your senior years. Whether you’re hoping to bridge income, leave a legacy, or round out your estate plan—it’s likely not too late. You can be in your 70s and start your first policy. In reality, most insurance companies will take policies until age 80. So clearly, they believe that it’s valuable enough for someone in their 70s. Ultimately, this is possible because of the careful actuarial planning of life insurance companies, which allows them to insure people up to that point. The Impact of Privatized Banking Later in Life One of the biggest concerns we hear is that the cash value won’t be as large. While it’s true that your break-even point may be later, the trajectory will be more or less the same. The opportunity cost lost in your cash value may only be a few hundred dollars. The amount of cash value is proportionate to the way the policy is designed, and the premiums paid because of that design. The most significant loss is the face value of your death benefit. What would be a $2 million death benefit for a 30-year old is going to be about $1 million for a 50-year-old. For a 70-year-old, it may be closer to $500,000. However, that half a million will have a better impact on your legacy planning than nothing. The reason the death benefit will decrease the older you are when you start a policy is that the cost of insuring you goes up. Insurance companies know that they’ll have to pay a claim on everyone they provide whole life insurance to; however, they use very careful mortality calculations to do so. The likelihood they’ll pay a claim on a 30-year-old is minuscule. So the costs of insurance are more likely to be covered. Someone in their 70s is likelier to have a claim paid sooner, which means the company has a smaller window to cover the costs of insurance. So the same premium will buy less death benefit. How Can You Use Privatized Banking Now? Although whole life insurance itself may be available to you, Privatized banking strategies do take time. Does that mean if you’re in your 60s or 70s that it’s no longer available to you? Fortunately, you're probably not too old for Infinite Banking. We have several real-world examples of people who have started policies in their 70s and have used them to implement wealth strategies. Here are some ideas of what you can do with your insurance. Transfer of IRA With a new policy, one woman in her 70s decided to transfer her IRA into a whole life policy. She wanted to leave a legacy for her children and saw the advantages of paying taxes today, to transfer a tax-free inheritance. Additionally, she has no interest in real estate or starting a business, but she does take an annual trip to South America. Usually, she pays for this trip by saving a few hundred dollars a month. So instead, she’s decided to borrow against the policy, and use the money s

Are you concerned about ballooning healthcare costs? You should be! It’s an expense that’s risen far faster than inflation, and paying more than you need to is a money leak that prevents you from making the forward traction towards your financial goals that you deserve. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9J6MGxNFMU In this episode, we’re talking with Dave Chase about how community-owned health plans are revolutionizing a stagnant industry that’s failed to develop. So, if you want to learn how to save 20—40% in healthcare costs while improving access to high quality, trustworthy, local, affordable care, with a solution-oriented look at transforming the industry, and your life with it… tune in below! Table of contentsWhere Profit Maximization Fits into the Cash Flow SystemYou’re in the Healthcare BusinessAre Healthcare Costs Legitimate?Health Insurance vs. Healthcare CostsDirect Contracting HealthcarePreventative HealthcareAbout Dave Chase Where Profit Maximization Fits into the Cash Flow System Minimizing your health care costs, so more of the money you make is yours to keep, is just one part of a bigger journey to building time and money freedom. No matter how big your business grows and how much money you make, if it’s all leaking out between your fingers, you’ll never be free of just working harder and harder to make more money. That’s why we have created the 3-step Business Owner’s Cash Flow System, your roadmap to take you from just surviving, to a life of significance, purpose and financial freedom. The first step is keeping more of the money you make by fixing money leaks, becoming more efficient and profitable. Then, you’ll protect your money with insurance, legal protection, and Privatized Banking. Finally, you’ll put your money to work, increasing your income with cash-flowing assets. Minimizing health care costs happens right here in The Money Finder step of your financial foundation. When you find, recover, and keep more of the money you’re making, you put more gas into your cash flow machine. And that accelerates your time and money freedom. You’re in the Healthcare Business ...regardless of whether you like it or not. If you’re a business owner, healthcare should be a part of your business model. It’s the last area to modernize inside businesses. However, the health of your employees directly affects their work, so it’s an essential element of running a business. The rising healthcare costs, thanks to health insurance, leave individuals and businesses alike feeling downtrodden. However, insurance is not the only solution for health and wellbeing. The common misperception is that solving healthcare seems as difficult as solving Middle East peace. That is only true if you believe and work with those desperately focused on preserving the status quo. The distinction lies between care and insurance. Are Healthcare Costs Legitimate? Health care isn’t expensive. What's expensive are price-gouging hospitals, profiteering PBMs, bloated carriers, inappropriate treatment, and outright fraud. Only $0.08 of every $1 ostensibly spent on healthcare goes to physicians ($0.27 for all). As a result, medical practices are shutting down, while mega-carriers are making record-breaking profits. The solution is to rethink care. How can employers provide care in a way that is cost effective for everyone? In the era of high deductible health plans, there are large and fast-growing markets in the direct contracting (employer to provider) and cash pay markets. Because the underlying costs of care haven't changed (i.e., clinician pay and medical supplies), there is no good reason for hyper-inflating prices. Organizations like Pacific Steel put this insight into action. Four years ago, they were spending over $8 million on health benefits (for 750 employees). Last year, they closed out at under $3.5M while benefits improved. All because they reimagined health care. Health Insurance vs. Healthcare Costs So what’s the difference between health insurance and healthcare? Healthcare centers on predictable items you can budget. These are the things we know most people will require or experience in a lifetime. They’ll have a particular amount of checkups, surgeries, and ailments. When we think of healthcare in this way, health insurance becomes coverage for the unpredictable. Rare cancers, diseases, or surgeries that aren’t as likely to occur. As an employer, this insight can help you provide better benefits for more people while reducing spending. Having "in-house" care allows employees to focus on regular and preventative care, keeping themselves healthy. Additionally, it keeps healthcare costs low. This is how Pacific Steel reduced their largest cost and provided better benefits. Direct Contracting Healthcare Healthcare costs have inflated faster than nearly any industry, while costs have remained level. Had this spending tracked regular inflation, the average baby boomer could have a $1 million nest egg. Ins

I heard whole life pays dividends — but what does that really mean? This question comes up constantly when we talk with business owners and high-earning professionals about Privatized Banking. And honestly, I get it. The world of whole life insurance dividends can feel a little murky. Confusing. https://youtu.be/AwW0cKHR-sA So we brought in someone who knows this stuff inside and out: Perry Miller, former Regional VP of Lafayette Life Insurance Company. Perry spent decades in the trenches, helping advisors and families navigate the complexities of whole life insurance. So if you want to see how dividends work, understand how they will impact your policy in the future, and make the best decision when starting your Privatized Banking policy now, so you'll get the most use out of your money later, tune in below! Quick Highlights In this article, you'll discover: What whole life dividends actually are (and why they're completely different from stock dividends) The 4 biggest myths about dividend rates Why comparing dividend rates between companies is almost meaningless How to use dividends strategically to build generational wealth The track record of mutual companies paying dividends for 150+ years through every economic crisis What's guaranteed vs. what's not in your whole life policy Where Whole Life Insurance Fits Into the Bigger Picture Privatized Banking with whole life insurance is just one part of the bigger journey. That’s why we’ve developed the 3-step Cash Flow System. It’s your roadmap to go from just surviving to a life of significance, purpose, and financial freedom. The first stage is the foundation. You first keep more of the money you make by fixing money leaks, becoming more efficient, and profitable. Then, you protect your money with insurance, legal protection, and privatized banking. Finally, you put your money to work, increasing your income with cash-flowing assets. Table of contentsWhere Whole Life Insurance Fits Into the Bigger PictureWhat Are Whole Life Dividends?The Guarantees of Whole Life InsuranceHow Dividends Are CalculatedDividend Payment Options ExplainedPaid-Up AdditionsTaking CashPremium OffsetAccumulate at InterestWhy Dividends Actually MatterYour Money Compounds FasterYour Family Gets Better ProtectionYou Get More Financial Scope4 Myths of the Whole Life Insurance Dividend1. The highest declared dividend means you’ll get more growth in the long term.2. Dividend rates mean the same thing from one company to another.3. Today’s dividend rate on the illustration means guaranteed dividend rates in future years.4. Everyone gets the declared dividend.Direct Recognition vs. Non-DirectHistorical Reliability and Future OutlookLooking Deeper than Whole Life Insurance DividendsWho is Perry Miller? What Are Whole Life Dividends? There is some confusion in the marketplace equating whole life insurance dividends with stock dividends; however, they’re not the same. So, does whole life insurance pay dividends? Yes. But here's what they actually are: returns of excess premium from mutual insurance companies to their policyholders. These dividends are a calculation of a few factors, including expense and interest rate forecasts, portfolio performance, and mortality rates. If they do better than expected on any of those fronts, they share some of that "extra" with you. That's your dividend. In short, stock dividends come from profits from investments. Dividend insurance comes from the insurance company's operational performance. The Guarantees of Whole Life Insurance Your whole life policy guarantees three things, period: Your premium (it won't go up) Your death benefit (it won't go down) Your cash value growth (it will happen) Everything else? Including dividends? NOT guaranteed. Dividends are the icing on the cake. By charter and by law, insurance companies must pay contractual guarantees. If rates, mortality, and expenses change or fluctuate, that can affect the company’s ability to pay those guarantees. So the dividend is like the safety valve. If something doesn’t work out as expected, companies will lower dividends to compensate. On the flip side, if those factors do better than projected, you get to participate in higher rates as well. Most companies can boast that they pay dividends regularly, yet do they meet the projections? Not always. However, that flexibility allows them to meet their guarantees. This mechanism allows the companies to give policy owners the certainty of the death benefit and other guaranteed provisions. So not only are the dividends a bonus, they act as an assurance that the company will meet their contractual obligations. How Dividends Are Calculated Companies look at three main buckets: Company profits and how their investments performed. If they projected 4% returns and actually earned 5%, that extra 1% factors into dividends. Interest earnings on their portfolio. Insurance companies invest VERY conserva

Do you want the freedom to sell real estate at the top of the market and wait to invest until the right time, without having to rush cash into a new property with a 1031, but still be able to defer taxes? A deferred sales trust may be for you - this capital gains tax deferral strategy offers investors unprecedented flexibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvbmzY7Xqw4 In this episode, we’re talking with Brett Swarts about why investors need to know about the Deferred Sales Trust. If you want out of the box solutions to capital gains, a rescue from a failed 1031, or to find out how to save capital gains taxes over the deferral limits, so you can maximize your real estate investing progress and momentum, in your own timing and on your own terms … tune in below! What You'll Learn About Deferred Sales Trusts: Why capital gains taxes can devastate your profits - and the legal strategies the IRS encourages to minimize them How deferred sales trust benefits outperform 1031 exchanges - no time limits, no like-kind restrictions, complete investment flexibility The exact step-by-step process of how a deferred sales trust works to defer your capital gains taxes When to set up a DST - including the three critical windows that can save a failing 1031 exchange Expert insights from Brett Swarts - CEO of Capital Gains Tax Solutions and leading DST specialist What is Capital Gains Tax? Capital gains tax can seriously reduce profits from your investments when you sell them. And there are any number of reasons you might be selling an investment. On investment real estate, you pay capital gains taxes on appreciation over your cost basis and the recaptured depreciation of the asset sold. However, the tax rate for capital gains is why strategies exist to defer and diminish their effect. These are legal tax incentives that the IRS actually encourages entrepreneurs and investors to use, to continue to stimulate the economy. If you can overcome a big payment now, you set yourself up to take advantage of bigger and better opportunities. 1031 Exchange Limitations You’ve likely heard of the 1031 Exchange, which allows you to defer capital gains tax. However, the 1031 has limits. You have 45 days to identify the new property, and 180 days to close. And, it requires an equal trade—a like-kind asset of equal or greater value. When it makes sense, it’s a great provision, but results depend on the market. Then, there’s the deferred sales trust—which allows you to play the long game. What is a Deferred Sales Trust? So what is a deferred sales trust exactly? It's a powerful alternative to traditional 1031 exchanges that gives investors complete control over their timing and investment choices. The Problem with Traditional 1031 Exchanges When investors sell their properties, a 1031 Exchange is a popular choice and allows them to transfer ownership without realizing capital gains. However, in a market like 2008, it isn’t nearly as effective. Investors who had taken on too much debt and overpaid for their properties were finding themselves selling high and then buying high. If a 1031 exchange doesn’t seem right for you, or you're unable to complete your exchange, you won’t want to sit on your cash. Otherwise, you’ll be paying up to 20% in federal capital gains taxes, plus there could be additional state and Medicare taxes, depending on which state you live in. On top of that, you'll owe depreciation recapture taxes at ordinary income tax rates. The DST Solution With a DST, you work with an outside trustee to sell the property within the trust. Rather than receiving a big payout upon closing, the money goes into a trust. From there, you’re only taxed as the money is distributed. The funds from the sale allow you to diversify your investments, giving you the chance to wait for the right deal. There’s no pressure to purchase another property. Where a 1031 is quick, a deferred sales trust allows patience. By setting up a trust, a trustee can re-invest the money from your sale in a diversified portfolio, use up to 80% of the funds to purchase new properties (without it needing to be of equal or greater value), and provides liquidity. Deferred sales trusts put time on your side. 1031 Exchange vs. Deferred Sales Trust Feature1031 Exchange Deferred Sales Trust Primary PurposeDefer capital gains taxes when selling investment or business property by reinvesting into “like-kind” property. Defer capital gains taxes by selling to a trust and receiving payments over time. Time Limits45 days to identify, 180 days to close No time restrictions Eligible AssetsReal estate only Diversified portfolio options Control of ProceedsA qualified intermediary must hold proceeds until reinvestment. Proceeds are held by the DST trustee and invested per the trust agreement. Tax TreatmentDeferred until sale Taxed only on distributions Best ForInvestors who want to stay in real estate and follow strict timelines. Sellers who want diversification, liquidi