The Money Advantage Podcast

Why the Indexed Universal Life lawsuit is a wake-up call The headlines about the Kyle Busch vs Pacific Life indexed universal life lawsuit sparked the same question I hear from thoughtful families: is my policy designed to serve me, or to serve a sales incentive? This isn’t tabloid noise. It’s a real-world reminder that choices around products, product design, and behavior determine outcomes. When insurance gets framed like an investment, confusion wins—and families pay for the confusion later. https://www.youtube.com/live/3aLnzmv2dlc Behind the headlines is a deeper issue many families face: when insurance starts getting pitched as an investment, people get hurt. This indexed universal life lawsuit isn’t just celebrity drama. It’s a cautionary tale about design choices, incentives, and behavior—three ingredients that make or break outcomes. Why the Indexed Universal Life lawsuit is a wake-up callWhy this Indexed Universal Life lawsuit matters to you1) What actually happened in the Kyle Busch vs Pacific Life case2) What Indexed Universal Life is designed to do (and why the moving parts matter)3) Why Indexed Universal Life is usually a poor fit for Infinite Banking4) The commission conversation: what really matters5) Red flags to spot in any IUL illustration6) The behavior factor: decisions drive outcomes7) Where IUL can make sense—and where it doesn’t8) How to review your current policy or a proposal in 20 minutesWhat this Indexed Universal Life lawsuit teaches usListen to the full episode on the Indexed Universal Life lawsuitBook A Strategy CallFAQWhat is the Kyle Busch vs Pacific Life indexed universal life lawsuit about?Is an indexed universal life policy a good fit for Infinite Banking?Are whole life policies safer than IUL for building cash value?How do agent commissions affect IUL performance?What red flags should I look for in an IUL illustration?Can IUL still make sense for estate planning?What’s the simplest way to protect myself before buying?Is life insurance an investment?What should I do if I already own an IUL? Why this Indexed Universal Life lawsuit matters to you Here’s the premise: The Kyle Busch vs Pacific Life indexed universal life lawsuit is shining a bright light on how certain policy designs and sales incentives can set people up for disappointment. Our goal in this article is to unpack what happened at a practical level, explain why it happened, and give you a simple framework to evaluate your own policy or a policy you’re considering. What you’ll get: A clear understanding of indexed universal life (IUL) mechanics—caps, participation rates, floors, and charges Why IUL is often a poor fit for Infinite Banking, and where it can make sense How agent compensation and death benefit decisions impact performance The difference between marketing hype and durable guarantees A short checklist of questions to ask before you sign anything We’ll speak plainly. We’ll respect your intelligence. And we’ll give you steps to protect your family and your capital. 1) What actually happened in the Kyle Busch vs Pacific Life case Bruce here. Based on the widely discussed analysis from respected product designer Bobby Samuelson, the policy at the center of this story was a complex indexed universal life contract. The pitch focused on future “income.” The design featured a very high death benefit, which increases internal charges and agent compensation. It also appears the early-year cash value was constrained by both high expenses and allocation choices, and that funding didn’t match the schedule the clients initially expected. The result: heavy costs, lower-than-expected performance, and ultimately a policy lapse after substantial premiums were paid. Rachel again. Two principles jump out. First, when life insurance is positioned as an investment promising tax-free income, the conversation gets blurry fast. Second, the higher the initial death benefit,

“It’s not the math. It’s the mindset.” When Bruce recorded this episode solo, he opened with something we’ve learned after thousands of client conversations: the biggest Infinite Banking mistakes aren’t about policy illustrations or carrier choice. They’re about us—our habits, our thinking, and the quiet patterns we bring to money. https://www.youtube.com/live/tvSGb9GkRG4 I remember Nelson Nash repeating, “Rethink your thinking.” That line annoys the part of us that wants a clean spreadsheet answer. But it’s also the doorway to everything you actually want—control, peace, and a reservoir of capital that serves your family for decades. In today’s article, I’m going to unpack those human problems—Parkinson’s Law, Willie Sutton’s Law, the Golden Rule, the Arrival Syndrome, and Use-It-or-Lose-It—and connect them to the most common Infinite Banking mistakes we see. Most importantly, I’ll show you the behaviors that fix them.  “It’s not the math. It’s the mindset.”What you’ll gain (and why it matters)Infinite Banking Mistakes #1 — Treating IBC like a sales system, not a lifelong conceptInfinite Banking Mistakes #2 — Short-term policy design (and base vs. PUA confusion)Infinite Banking Mistakes #3 — Misunderstanding uninterrupted compoundingInfinite Banking Mistakes #4 — Ignoring the five human problems Nelson taughtParkinson’s Law: “Expenses rise to equal income”Willie Sutton’s Law: “Money attracts seekers”The Golden Rule: “Those who have the gold make the rules”The Arrival Syndrome: “I already know this”Use It or Lose It: “Habits decay without practice”Infinite Banking Mistakes #5 — Forgetting that illustrations aren’t contractsInfinite Banking Mistakes #6 — Not paying policy loans back (on purpose)Infinite Banking Mistakes #7 — No written strategy or scorecardListen To the Full EpisodeBook A Strategy CallFAQsWhat are the most common Infinite Banking mistakes?Should I prioritize PUAs or base premium to avoid Infinite Banking mistakes?Do I have to repay policy loans in Infinite Banking?How does Parkinson’s Law cause Infinite Banking mistakes?Are policy illustrations reliable for Infinite Banking decisions?What did Nelson Nash mean by “think long range”?How do taxes relate to Infinite Banking mistakes? What you’ll gain (and why it matters) If you’re new here, I’m Rachel Marshall, co-host of The Money Advantage and a fierce believer that families can build multigenerational wealth with wisdom, not stress. The primary keyword for this piece is “Infinite Banking Mistakes,” and we’re going to name them, explain why they happen, and give you practical steps to get back on track. You’ll learn: Why behavior beats policy design over the long term How short-term thinking shows up in base/PUA decisions The right way to think about uninterrupted compounding How to use loans and repay them without sabotaging growth The five “human problems” Nelson warned us about—and how to overcome them If you can absorb the mindset, the math becomes simple. If you skip the mindset, no design hack will save you. Let’s go there. Infinite Banking Mistakes #1 — Treating IBC like a sales system, not a lifelong concept The mistake: Looking for a quick fix—“set up a policy, borrow immediately, invest, done”—and calling it Infinite Banking. Why it happens: Our culture loves shortcuts. We’re used to products, not principles. But IBC isn’t a product; it’s a way of life. Nelson was explicit: it’s not a sales system. When we treat it like a gadget, we ignore the behaviors that made debt a problem in the first place. What to do instead: Adopt a long-range view. Commit to capitalization for years, not months. Build rhythms. Premium drafting, policy reviews, loan repayment schedules. Measure behavior. Not just cash value growth; also repayment habits, added PUAs, and opportunity filters. Infinite Banking Mistakes #2 — Short-term policy design (and base vs. PUA confusion)

If you want to increase your savings, don’t start with your budget—start with your lifestyle.Your lifestyle isn’t about how much you spend.It’s about what you prioritize.It’s the visible result of invisible decisions—what you say yes to, what you say no to, and what you're building quietly behind the scenes. https://www.youtube.com/live/wZIJnteQW-g Too many people let lifestyle be the engine of their money—chasing comfort, appearances, or upgrades without ever asking: Does this reflect the values I want to pass on?Does this build up my family or just maintain an image? You don’t need a bigger house or fancier car.You need a bigger vision.You need a coordinated plan that reflects your values in how you live today—and what you leave behind tomorrow. The quiet thief of financial progress: lifestyle creep. We don’t see it coming. It’s the subtle shift that happens every time our income rises. We eat out a little more, upgrade our phone, take an extra trip, and before we know it, our expenses grow in lockstep with our income. We think we’ve moved forward—but our savings tell a different story. And that’s why Bruce and I recorded an entire podcast about this topic: how to increase your savings without reducing your lifestyle. Because true wealth isn’t about deprivation—it’s about design. Why You Can’t Save Your Way to Wealth—Without a PlanWhat Is Lifestyle Creep—And Why Is It So Dangerous?Why We Overspend—And How the Mind Tricks UsThe Savings Crisis—And What It Means for YouThe Secret Weapon—Your Wealth Coordination AccountHow to Increase Your Savings Without Reducing Your LifestyleThe Compounding Effect of Intentional SavingWhy Simplicity Beats ComplexityMargin Is the Measure of StewardshipBook A Strategy CallFAQWhat is lifestyle creep?How can I increase my savings without reducing my lifestyle?What is a Wealth Coordination Account?Why is lifestyle creep harmful?What savings rate should I aim for? Why You Can’t Save Your Way to Wealth—Without a Plan Most people try to willpower their way to saving more money. They cut lattes, cancel subscriptions, and create color-coded budgets that last about two weeks. But here’s the truth: you can’t build lasting wealth on discipline alone. You need a system—one that helps you automatically grow your savings while maintaining the lifestyle you love. In this article, Bruce and I will show you: What lifestyle creep really is and why it sabotages your wealth How Parkinson’s Law explains your struggle to save The practical tool we use with clients called a Wealth Coordination Account How to rewire your habits to save more—without cutting joy out of your life When you finish this article, you’ll see that increasing your savings doesn’t mean living smaller. It means living smarter. What Is Lifestyle Creep—And Why Is It So Dangerous? We live in a consumption-driven world. Everywhere we look, there’s an ad convincing us we need something new. Apple doesn’t ask what we want—they tell us what we didn’t know we needed. The next iPhone, the next upgrade, the next experience. That’s lifestyle creep. It’s the pattern of spending more simply because we earn more. Bruce calls it “the hidden drain on your future.” Because when every new dollar gets consumed by an upgraded lifestyle, none of it turns into wealth. And here’s the sneaky part: it doesn’t feel reckless. It feels normal. Everyone around us does the same thing. We raise our standard of living instead of our standard of saving—and we end up with more stuff but no margin. Lifestyle creep makes you rich on the outside but broke on the inside. Why We Overspend—And How the Mind Tricks Us Our culture makes spending effortless. Credit cards, one-click shopping, social media retargeting—these are all designed to bypass logic and hit emotion. As I said on the show, “It’s the sea we swim in.” Most people don’t realize how much marketing is shaping their sense of ...

Bruce Wehner, an experienced financial strategist specializing in life insurance and estate planning, joins to explore the complexities of premium financing life insurance. They discuss when it can be beneficial for high-net-worth individuals facing estate tax issues and how it can preserve liquidity without tapping into personal funds. Bruce outlines potential risks—like performance and interest-rate risks—and factors to consider before diving in, making this a must-listen for anyone curious about sophisticated financial strategies.

Explore the concept of hidden money traps that quietly sabotage financial well-being. Hear a cautionary tale about emotional spending, featuring an $80,000 Corvette purchase post-divorce. Understand the dangers of immediate gratification versus long-term gains. Discover how human behavior and mindset shape financial strategies even more than external factors. Unpack principles like Parkinson’s Law and the risks of lifestyle creep. Learn about the importance of saving habits, the impact of divorce on wealth, and the necessity of continuous learning in money management.

The Gas Station Story That Reveals a Common Money Mistake Let me paint a picture for you. https://www.youtube.com/live/uqGN5Sz9tJg You’re driving down the highway and see gas at $3.00 a gallon. Three miles later, you spot it for $2.97. You think, "Yes! A deal!" So you turn around, drive the extra six miles, and save... 30 cents. Except you used 40 cents of gas to get there. This is the kind of logic many people use when comparing Infinite Banking vs Index Funds. It’s a hyper-focus on rate of return, while missing the bigger picture of financial control, access, and long-term strategy. So let’s talk about it. The Gas Station Story That Reveals a Common Money MistakeRate of Return Isn’t the Whole StoryInfinite Banking vs Index Funds: What Are We Actually Comparing?Why Rate of Return Isn’t the Only FactorUnderstanding the Purpose of Your DollarsInfinite Banking Is About Ownership and LeverageInterrupting Compounding Is the Real CostControl vs Performance: What Matters Most?Infinite Banking vs Index Funds Is the Wrong ComparisonListen to the Full Podcast EpisodeBook A Strategy CallFAQ: Infinite Banking vs Index FundsQ: Are index funds better than Infinite Banking?Q: Can I use both Infinite Banking and index funds?Q: Does Infinite Banking have a good rate of return?Q: Is Infinite Banking risky? Rate of Return Isn’t the Whole Story There’s a conversation happening everywhere in the financial world: Should I use Infinite Banking or just invest in an index fund? Maybe you've asked this question yourself. You’ve heard someone say, "Wouldn’t I make more money if I just put it in an S&P 500 index fund?" This comparison sounds reasonable — until you realize it’s like comparing a hammer to a screwdriver and asking, "Which one builds a better house?" The truth? You're asking the wrong question. In this article, you’ll learn: Why comparing Infinite Banking to index funds is fundamentally flawed The purpose and role of each strategy How to think like a wealth creator, not just a rate chaser Why long-term control beats short-term returns Let’s flip the script and empower you to take control of your financial life—with clarity, confidence, and a legacy mindset. Infinite Banking vs Index Funds: What Are We Actually Comparing? Here’s where we start: Infinite Banking is not an investment. It’s a cash flow system, a capital control strategy, a way to reclaim the banking function in your life. It uses a specially designed, dividend-paying whole life insurance policy as the tool—but Infinite Banking is the process. Index funds, on the other hand, are investments. They're baskets of stocks that mirror the market—the S&P 500, the Russell 2000, etc. The goal of an index fund is growth through market performance. So when someone says, "But the market earns more than whole life insurance," they’re missing the point. We’re not solving the same problem. Infinite Banking solves for control of capital. Index funds solve for growth. Why Rate of Return Isn’t the Only Factor We get it. Everyone wants to know their ROI. But when that becomes your only filter, you lose sight of what really matters. Consider this: When you access money from an index fund, you sell shares. You interrupt compounding. You lose growth potential. With Infinite Banking, you borrow against your cash value—without interrupting growth. That means your money continues to earn even while you're using it. "You’re always paying interest. Either to someone else, or by giving up what you could have earned on your own capital." — Bruce Wehner When you control the banking function, you stop giving away the opportunity to earn. And that’s where legacy wealth starts. Understanding the Purpose of Your Dollars All money has a job. We teach our clients to classify money into three roles: Safety Liquidity Growth Most people try to make every dollar do all three. That never works.

When Bruce came back from recording this episode of The Money Advantage podcast, he told me something that hit hard: https://www.youtube.com/live/r5oyEytzj1w He shared how frustrated he feels every time he hears about a family who loses a loved one without proper life insurance. Suddenly, their friends and community are scrambling to create a GoFundMe page just to cover funeral expenses and basic needs. Life insurance is more than numbers—it’s a financial hug that wraps around your family when they need it most. And the person who helps you design and implement it—your insurance agent—has an enormous impact on whether your family experiences peace of mind or financial devastation. Why the Right Life Insurance Agent MattersWhy Learning How to Choose the Right Life Insurance Agent MattersNeeds vs. Wants: A Modern Approach to InsuranceTop Qualities To Look For When Choosing the Right Insurance Agent1. Integrity and Trust2. Longevity and Commitment3. Education4. Process and Personalization5. A Network and Legacy MindsetRed Flags When Deciding How to Choose the Right Life Insurance AgentWhy Infinite Banking Requires the Right Insurance AgentQuestions to Ask Before Hiring an Insurance AgentWhy This MattersBook A Strategy CallFAQ SectionQ1: Why is choosing the right insurance agent so important?Q2: What qualities should I look for in an insurance agent?Q3: What are the red flags of a bad insurance agent?Q4: Do I need a special agent for Infinite Banking?Q5: Should I replace my existing whole life insurance policy? Why the Right Life Insurance Agent Matters Most people don’t realize how choosing the right insurance agent can impact their family’s entire financial future. The right agent will walk with you for decades, guiding you through life insurance decisions and strategies like Infinite Banking. The wrong one? They may sell you a policy you don’t understand, disappear within a year, and leave your family unprotected. In this article, I’ll share insights from Bruce Wehner and his guests Rob Brayton and Jesse Durham on what to look for, red flags to avoid, and exactly how to choose the right life insurance agent for your needs. In this article, I want to share the insights Bruce and his guests, Rob Brayton and Jesse Durham, discussed on the podcast. Together, their combined decades of experience in life insurance highlight exactly what you should look for in an insurance agent—and the red flags to avoid. By the end of this article, you’ll know: Why your choice of insurance agent matters so much. The difference between traditional “needs analysis” and a modern, values-based approach. The top qualities that separate a great insurance agent from a mediocre one. Red flags that should make you pause before signing on the dotted line. Why Infinite Banking requires a very specific kind of agent. The key questions you should ask before choosing your advisor. This isn’t just about buying a product—it’s about choosing the right partner for your family’s financial future and legacy. Why Learning How to Choose the Right Life Insurance Agent Matters Too often, people see life insurance as a commodity. They Google “cheapest life insurance” and buy the lowest-priced option, thinking they’ve checked the box. But life insurance is not about buying the cheapest product. As Bruce said, that would be like asking, “What’s the lowest price I can get cancer removed from my body?” No one in their right mind would ask that! You’d ask, “Who’s the best doctor? Who will walk with me through treatment? Who will actually care for my life?” That’s the role of a great insurance agent. They’re not just selling coverage. They’re protecting your family’s future, guiding you through complex financial decisions, and ensuring your strategy works not just today, but decades from now. Needs vs. Wants: A Modern Approach to Insurance In the old days, insurance was sold through a “needs analysis.

Bruce Wehner, an experienced life insurance professional, discusses the pitfalls of using Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policies for Infinite Banking. He highlights the misleading promises of IULs, showcasing how they can collapse under rising costs and shifting assumptions. Bruce emphasizes the importance of guarantees and certainty in financial planning, contrasting IULs with whole life policies that offer consistent dividends. His real-world examples reveal the substantial risks involved when relying on IULs for financial stability.

When most people first hear about Infinite Banking, one of the first questions that comes up is: “But what are the risks of Infinite Banking?” It’s a fair question. We live in a financial world where we’ve been conditioned to look for the fine print, the hidden traps, and the potential downsides of anything that sounds “too good to be true.” https://www.youtube.com/live/7JHmm5jEfQ0 I get it. When you first hear the concept of becoming your own banker through whole life insurance, the mind immediately goes to skepticism: Are the premiums too high? Is whole life a bad investment? What if I can’t afford it later? Here’s the truth: most of what people call the risks of Infinite Banking aren’t really risks at all. They’re misconceptions, misunderstandings, or simply the result of looking at Infinite Banking through the wrong lens. In this blog, we'll pull back the curtain and unpack the myths, expose the real risks, and help you see why Infinite Banking—when understood and implemented correctly—is not risky, but rather one of the most powerful financial strategies you can use to take control of your wealth. Common Misconceptions About Infinite BankingMyth #1: Whole Life Insurance is a Bad InvestmentMyth #2: The Premiums are Too HighMyth #3: Infinite Banking = Life InsuranceThe Real Risks of Infinite BankingRisk #1: Not Understanding the Problem You’re SolvingRisk #2: Poorly Designed PoliciesRisk #3: Dipping Your Toe InRisk #4: Wrong Perspective (Consumer vs. Owner)Why Infinite Banking Works When Done RightControl vs. DependencyRecapturing Opportunity CostMutual Companies Align With OwnersShould You Be Worried About the Risks?The Bottom Line on Infinite Banking RisksBook A Strategy CallFAQ: What Are the Risks of Infinite Banking?Is Infinite Banking risky?What are the downsides of Infinite Banking?Is Infinite Banking a scam?Can I lose money with Infinite Banking? Common Misconceptions About Infinite Banking Myth #1: Whole Life Insurance is a Bad Investment This is the first thing most people say when they hear about Infinite Banking. They’ve been told for years by financial gurus that whole life insurance has a low rate of return and is therefore “a bad investment.” But here’s the problem: Infinite Banking is not an investment. It’s a system. It’s about controlling the flow of your money, not chasing the next hot stock. Whole life insurance is simply the tool that makes Infinite Banking possible—it provides the guarantees, safety, and contractual structure you need to run your own banking system. So when someone says Infinite Banking is risky because life insurance is a “bad investment,” they’re comparing apples to oranges. Myth #2: The Premiums are Too High Another common objection: “What if I can’t afford the premiums long term?” Here’s what most people miss. Premiums are not a bill—they are a way of paying yourself first. Every premium dollar you pay is a contribution to your own financial system. Unlike money you pay to a bank, that premium isn’t lost—it builds guaranteed cash value that you can use for opportunities, emergencies, or expenses. The real risk isn’t paying premiums. The real risk is not valuing your own capital and continuing to let someone else profit from your money. Myth #3: Infinite Banking = Life Insurance This is one of the biggest misconceptions. People hear Infinite Banking and immediately equate it with whole life insurance. But Infinite Banking is bigger. It’s about a process—the flow of money, storing it, using it, replenishing it. Life insurance is just the storage tank that makes the process efficient. Confusing the two is like saying “banking equals a vault.” The vault is just the tool. The banking process is much bigger. The Real Risks of Infinite Banking Now let’s get into the real question: What are the actual risks of Infinite Banking? Risk #1: Not Understanding the Problem You’re Solving

Becca Wilhite, co-author of Beaver Bankers and a frequent guest, discusses the often-misunderstood concept of infinite banking. She dives into its potential as a transformative financial tool rather than just a sales tactic. Becca shares the metaphor of a beaver building a dam to illustrate how this system can provide security and control over one’s finances. The conversation challenges conventional banking views and encourages a mindset shift from scarcity to abundance, empowering listeners to manage their resources effectively.