The Money Advantage Podcast

Are you looking for good investment opportunities to put your capital to work? Have you considered franchising as an opportunity for business ownership without starting a company from scratch?  Today, we're talking with Jon Ostenson, a top 1% Franchise Consultant, former Inc. 500 Franchise President and Multi-Brand Franchisee, and author of "Non-Food Franchising." So if you want to learn about the non-food franchising business model, the pros and cons, and why this might be a good fit if you're already in real estate...tune in now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEMh7BSNPl0 Finding Your Non-Food NicheIs Franchising Right for You?Franchise Ownership StylesHow to Work with Jon OstensonAbout Jon OstensonBook A Strategy Call Finding Your Non-Food Niche Owning a business franchise has been a time-tested way to get into business ownership with a tried-and-true business model. Many entrepreneurs like it for the relatively low barrier to entry. You don’t have to pioneer a new idea, you just have to invest in an existing one. It’s also a way to bring much-needed business to your community.  While many people think of restaurant chains when they think of franchises, there’s so much more to franchising than food. And that’s where Jon Ostenson comes in. He has ample experience in the franchising-industry and sees non-food franchises as a particularly shrewd investment because they’re often necessities. Pet supply stores, auto shops, and pharmacies are just a few examples of essential businesses with franchising potential.  If you think you want to break into franchising, Jon’s advice is to think about the gaps in your community and what people need—not just what they want. Because if a recession hits, businesses that are “non-negotiable” are going to weather the storm. [7:59] “What I go back to is, what are you personally going to continue to spend on regardless of the economy? It’s the things you care about—your kids, your pets, your aging parents, your home, and your health. And so businesses that operate in these types of industries—again they’re more needs-based in a lot of cases, maybe a little less discretionary—those are the ones that are getting a lot of attention.” Is Franchising Right for You? One benefit of franchising that Jon shares is that it’s a way to increase your Net Worth through income rather than appreciation. If you’ve got the capital to invest and you want something that’s already got a blueprint, franchising can be great for you. Especially once your location is up and running, you don’t have to have constant involvement.  In other words, franchising can be great for the investor who’s “been there, done that,” and is ready to take a step back from full-time business operations.  On the other hand, if you’re wanting a business that you can leave your mark on, franchising might not be the way to start. Despite owning your particular location, you’ve got to operate your business within company parameters. You might have a say in some factors of the business, but you won’t be able to dictate anything that messes with the franchise's “brand.” After all, one of the major benefits of franchising is that you get to capitalize on brand recognition immediately. You’ve got a built-in customer base, and those customers have certain expectations of the brand.  If you really want to have a hand in the business down to the last detail, you might find more fulfillment in starting your own business. That way, you have complete creative control over the operations.  Franchise Ownership Styles While owning a franchise business can be a bit more hands-off than starting your own, it’s not a completely passive endeavor. There’s absolutely some time trade-off when you own any business, including an existing one. However, this obligation can be greater or lesser depending on your own personal management style. Let’s go over the three ownership styles Jon has personally witnessed.  First is the owner-operator. This is usually the person who wants to start a business but doesn’t need full creative control. However, they still want to have some control, so they are involved in the management of the store, at least initially. Most owner-operators have a goal of putting the store under someone else’s management eventually, so they can buy more franchises.  Then there’s the semi-passive or semi-absentee owner. Jon estimated about two-thirds of his clients opt for this ownership style. This is where, from the beginning, the franchise owner puts strong management in place to run all day-to-day operations. There’s still some level of owner involvement, but it’s not constant.  Finally, there is a truly passive investing model. Though Jon only knows of four businesses/brands that truly offer the option to operate under this model. This passive model is when the franchisor will run the business for you. You fund the business, but the franchisor operates it as though it’s a corporate location.  [20:30] “I’d love to see more brands offer that, but only if they’ve got the infrastructure in place to be able to support that.” How to Work with Jon Ostenson If you’re interested in franchising, Jon Ostenson can help. His company, FranBridge Consulting, helps entrepreneurs and investors connect with non-food franchising opportunities. Before you connect, Jon advises doing some research and understanding the market as much as you can so you have an idea of what you could do.  If you’re ready to start the process and connect with FranBridge to see if franchising is right for you, you can request a no-obligation consultation. And when you sign up for the FranBridge newsletter, you can get a free digital copy of Jon’s book, Non-Food Franchising. About Jon Ostenson Jon is a top 1% national franchise broker, investor, author, and international speaker specializing in the area he has coined “Non-Food Franchising.” Having served as the President of an Inc. 500 franchise system and now as a multi-brand franchisee himself, Jon is uniquely positioned to educate others on franchising and franchise selection.  Jon serves as the CEO of FranBridge Consulting and has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and investors explore business ownership and investment opportunities.  Jon is the author of the book "Non-Food Franchising" and is a frequent contributor and thought leader for publications on the topic of franchising and franchise investments. Prior to FranBridge, Jon was the President of ShelfGenie, a national franchise system with 200+ locations. 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 Privatized Banking gives you the most safety, liquidity, and growth… plus boosts your investment returns, and guarantees a legacy, go to https://privatizedbankingsecrets.com/freeguide to learn more.

Learn about the concept of Infinite Banking and how it can help you make better decisions about your wealth. The podcast explores the original text by Nelson Nash, the father of Infinite Banking, and discusses the power of thinking differently about financing. It emphasizes the importance of taking control of the banking function in your life and understanding the flow of money. Discover how storing capital in life insurance policies can provide access to cash value for opportunities, regardless of interest rates.

Concerned about taxes in the future? Taxes are a huge eroder of wealth. While you do not have control over tax rates, you can strategically position yourself to maintain control of as much of your money as possible. Taxes are at a historic low, so it is time to learn how to pay less tax legally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB4IoCq9Y-8 So, if you want to find out how to protect your wealth from likely tax rate hikes and minimize your tax rate ... tune in now! *Disclaimer: This is not tax advice. Table of contentsTaxes Are Paid on the MarginReducing Your Taxable IncomeActive Tax PlanningWhat is Tax Deferral?Are There Tax “Loopholes”? Book A Strategy Call Taxes Are Paid on the Margin A common misconception about taxation is that your tax bracket is the percentage of tax you pay for your entire ordinary income. In reality, everyone is taxed the same way, on the same dollars. Income is taxed on the margin. So for married couples, everyone’s first $20,550 is taxed the same exact way, at 10%. The next margin is taxed at 12%. So everyone’s income from $20,551 to $83,000 is taxed at 12%. Any income you make past $83k is taxed at the next bracket, which is 22%. The highest bracket is 37%.  You may be able to reduce your taxable income through deductions, and that comes off the top. So if you make $100,000 in a year, only 10,550 of those dollars are being taxed at 22%. If you can reduce your taxable income by $10,000 then only $550 gets taxed at 22%.  In other words, just because you’re in the 22% tax bracket does not mean that 22% of your income is going to taxes. It represents which margin you’re in. This also means that everyone is being taxed the same on the same dollars. If you reduce your taxable income, you’re not being taxed unfairly because you’re still being taxed in the same way as everyone else.  Source: Truth Concepts It’s also important to note that the above pertains to ordinary income, which is W-2 income and many investments. Capital gains—income from the sale of investments—have a different tax structure. Reducing Your Taxable Income [7:13] “Your taxable income is all your [ordinary income], minus your deductions, which is either because you itemize… or the standard deduction. And then if you own a business, you also get what’s called a qualified business deduction. And then you come up with the taxable income after that.”  The standard deduction is $12,950 if you’re single, and $25,900 if you’re married and filing jointly. If your own a business it is worth itemizing your expenses and seeing if they exceed the standard deduction, to get the most benefit with your taxable income. It’s also wise to be mindful of how you access different accounts that you own. Many people love their tax-deferred 401k because they can defer paying taxes on their contributions. They see this as a tax credit when really it just means you don’t have to pay taxes yet. But if you need access to those dollars, you can bet you’ll be paying income tax. That’s why it’s powerful to have other sources of liquid cash that won’t increase your taxable income. A policy loan from your whole life insurance or a Roth IRA, for example. Active Tax Planning By 2026, the tax brackets will shift in a way that may necessitate some active tax planning. This means working with your trusted tax advisor to come up with a plan. The reason is that in 2026, the 22% margin will return to 25%. The top threshold of the margin is also decreasing from $178,000 to $153,000. What this means is that if your income is around $153,000 to $178,000, you could make less money in 2026 and still be in a higher tax bracket. This also means that any money you make from $83,550 to $153,000 will be taxed at 25% instead of 22%.  If you are close to that upper threshold, work with a trusted tax advisor to reduce your taxable income. And if you have tax-deferred assets, you think you’ll want to access or liquidate; doing it now could save you money. You’ll still have to pay taxes, but you’ll pay them at a more favorable rate now than you will later.  Even if you think you may leave your money in tax-deferred accounts for estate planning purposes, it may not be exactly what you think. Under current tax law, assets passed to the next generation must be withdrawn over 10 years, not a lifetime. This might bump heirs into higher tax brackets, during what could be their peak earning years is they are in their 30s and 40s.  What is Tax Deferral? [19:53] “Tax deferral sounds fancy, right? It sounds like I’m avoiding a tax that I should be paying. It kind of sounds like grace, like I deserve to pay this but somehow I’m getting a free ride or a pass. Deferral, if we really just break down the word, means to postpone. And it’s better and more logical to think about taxes from that perspective. If I defer a tax, that doesn’t mean I’m not paying it, or I’m getting a free pass. It literally means I’m postponing it. Which means on that portion of income I’m not paying today, but I will pay in the future.” The unfortunate risk of tax deferral is that it’s a guessing game. Not only can you not know what the tax rates will be when you need or want that money, but you also can’t know what your income will be. Even if the tax rates don’t increase, your income could be much larger and accessing that money if you need it could push you over a threshold.  As we mentioned, you might choose to pay taxes now in favor of paying more later. Sometimes paying more tax can be beneficial in the long run. It all depends on your personal economy, your morals, and the purpose you have for your money. Therefore, it’s important to work with a specialist who can help you implement the right strategies for you. Whole life insurance cash value is tax-deferred, however, you have the option to access it tax-free through policy loans. This is why we call it tax-advantaged—because you have the option to experience your cash value as if it were tax-free, however, it is a tax-deferred product.  Are There Tax “Loopholes”?  One way to decrease your taxable income is by doing things that the government wants you to do. These are often, incorrectly, referred to as tax “loopholes.” However, the term loophole implies that there is something sneaky about these practices. In reality, they are tax incentives purposely written into the tax code because the government wants to encourage certain behaviors.  In exchange for engaging in practices or behaviors that the government wants you to do, you get to benefit from tax deductions. Through these strategies, you can reduce your taxable income significantly. For example, there’s an interest deduction on mortgages because the government wants to encourage homeownership.  For business owners, there are usually tax incentives for providing housing. The more landlords can provide housing, the less the government has to do it itself. There are many other investments that the government incentivizes through deductions.  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 Privatized Banking gives you the most safety, liquidity, and growth… plus boosts your investment returns, and guarantees a legacy, go to https://privatizedbankingsecrets.com/freeguide to learn more.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss the implications of rising interest rates on Infinite Banking policies. They explore the difference between direct and non-direct means of paying dividends and highlight the importance of considering all financial aspects beyond whole life insurance. The speakers also emphasize the importance of discipline, confidence, and policy design in achieving financial security through the concept of infinite banking. Additionally, they discuss the importance of buying quality products and being in control of financial decisions, as well as the power of delayed gratification and surrounding oneself with uplifting resources. Overall, this podcast provides valuable insights for understanding the impact of interest rates on Infinite Banking strategies.

Money is often confused, misunderstood, and classified as part of our basic, natural, carnal human nature. But money is spiritual. Understanding, earning, using, managing, and growing money is a part of our lives that is deeply spiritual. Rabbi Lapin knows this and shares his wisdom about money far and wide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdDMBgWHwkg For more than forty years, Rabbi Daniel Lapin has taught audiences around the world that wealth creation isn’t merely practical, but also moral. His message reframes the way we view money, showing that financial success reflects service, trust, and contribution rather than greed or selfishness. By recognizing that money is spiritual, he encourages people to synchronize their values with their actions, so that prosperity becomes a genuine extension of their overall purpose. Today, Rabbi Daniel Lapin explains why and how you can improve your finances with this one simple mindset shift. Tune in now to join the conversation! Table of contentsOn Redistributing WealthMoney Is Spiritual: The Spiritual Attributes of MoneyThe Exception, Not the RuleWhen Should You Teach Children About Money?How Do You Price Your Services?About Rabbi LapinBook A Strategy Call [3:45] “You’re only a slave to money when you don’t have the money.” On Redistributing Wealth [6:48] “The one problem is that we don’t have a successful model anywhere in history to go on. You know, when has this approach to economics actually worked? When and where? Oh, nowhere at no time? Well then, I recommend you be extremely cautious about applying something to the lives of three hundred million people that hasn’t been successfully done anywhere.  That’s one huge problem. The other huge problem is that redistribution or equality is just a really nice word for a really ugly idea, which is taking money away from people who own it. And that’s really a fundamental value of all morality. We really have to decide: Do you or do you not agree with the statement that nobody else has a right to any money that you have made?” [8:00] “Something that’s really worthwhile [for people to understand] is that the government can only get money by taking it from the people who have made it. The government has no way to create wealth. The government can print money, but that’s just another way of taking it away from productive people; it’s called inflation. And so, no, there is no way for the government to give you money other than taking it away from other people.” Rabbi Lapin draws a sharp distinction between forced redistribution and spiritual generosity. In his view, wealth shared voluntarily — whether through charity, service, or community giving — retains a moral connection between the giver and the outcome. This bond is broken when wealth is redistributed through coercion, eroding the spiritual principle that you gain by giving value, hinting at the age-old notion that money is the root of all evil. Giving with purpose is rooted in biblical tradition, where obligation is guided by intent, not guilt. In this context, money is spiritual because it reflects the choices we make, not just in what we earn, but in how we give. Money Is Spiritual: The Spiritual Attributes of Money When something is physical, as Rabbi Lapin shares, you can measure it in a lab. It’s real and tangible. When something is spiritual, it’s felt. You cannot measure it in any scientific way. And yet, the effects of spirituality can be observed. While money may have physical uses, it also has spiritual significance because it can transcend physical results.  [16:44] “Each and every one of us can benefit financially by understanding the spiritual implications of what money really is.” When you give someone cash, there’s a physical connection between the value of the money and the work that went into earning that money. It helps others, like children, understand the true significance of what they have and its spiritual value. Credit cards and digital payments separate us from the value and work that went into those dollars and can make it difficult for kids to understand and appreciate them.  [20:09] “I always made a point of walking around with more cash than I ordinarily would, simply because I wanted to make sure that if I needed to give money to a child for any legitimate purpose, it was always in cash.” [22:57] “Money is brought into being when one human being serves another. There is no other way of money being created. And people must really understand that if the government prints money, that’s really not the creation of money at all.”  As you can see, to Rabbi Lapin, money is far more than just a means to an end. It’s also a true reflection of human connection. Every transaction speaks to a bond of trust, cooperation, and mutual respect. These spiritual attributes give money its true weight: Money is a connector, not a divider: it links people through service and shared purpose. Money rewards contribution: the more value you bring to others, the more you’re likely to receive. Money honors diligence and fairness: it flows most consistently where people act with reliability, gratitude, and honesty. In this view, money isn’t earned in isolation. It’s a byproduct of how well we serve others. The spiritual power of money lies not in the paper, but in the relationship behind the exchange. The Exception, Not the Rule Of course, one of the arguments against the “money is spiritual” idea is that bad people have money too. To this, Rabbi Lapin shares a story about the time he met the actor George Burns. The actor smoked a few cigars a day and was in good health. The conclusion that some people might draw is that you can be perfectly healthy by smoking cigars. However, George was clearly the exception, not the rule. There’s plenty of evidence that it’s not good for you.  Money is the same way. The creation of money is a spiritual endeavor. When bad people have lots of money, that’s not evidence that money is bad. It’s the exception to the rule. And in most cases, those people are still providing a service that is good in some way, which is why they make money.  [35:17] “More than ten percent of my book, Thou Shall Prosper, is devoted to shattering that incredibly destructive spiritual schematic—that making money either labels me as a less-than-good person or that making money is going to end up being a huge problem for me.” One of the first ways to get rid of this spiritual schematic is to unlearn that making money is synonymous with bad behavior. Making money is not ripping people off, nor is it taking money. Making money is providing value to other people and enriching their lives, and being rewarded for doing so.  When earned through ethical service and intentional effort, you might say that money becomes part of spiritual stewardship. Wealth created this way affirms that money is spiritual, and not just a material pursuit. Again, in essence, it is a reflection of how well we serve others. When Should You Teach Children About Money? A listener asked the question: At what age should you teach children about money? And Rabbi Lapin joked that the correct age is negative three-quarters. In other words, at conception.  [50:28] “One of the reasons that we Jews believe that God gave us nine months instead… [of] two days after conception? Because we need time to prepare, and part of the preparation is for [the] father and mother to be on the same page. And that can take a few months to get right.” As he shares, the education of your child begins with the conversations between mother and father. So while your child may not be born yet, it’s the perfect time to get clear on things. And from birth on, everything you do is teaching your children about money.  That includes how you model work, handle spending, talk about value, and make giving a natural part of life. Children learn that money is spiritual when they see it used with gratitude, discipline, and purpose, especially when they are rewarded for contribution rather than entitlement. This approach echoes The Money Advantage’s principles around family banking: modeling responsibility, creating structure, and treating money as a long-term stewardship rather than a short-term fix. How Do You Price Your Services? [58:42] “The answer is really very simple and not at all complicated. You have to price your goods and services at the figure that gives you the highest revenue. If you make your price low, then you’re going to get more customers… then if you raise your price, you’ll have fewer people, but they’ll all be paying more. And whether x or y is bigger will tell you which direction to go.” Rabbi shares that people most commonly get hung up on the idea of “fair” pricing, which leads back to the idea that money is about taking and not making. You must root out this mindset and recognize that what you can offer is valuable to someone. By offering your service, you’re not taking money, you’re making it. Fairness and morality are already built into our economy because if the price is too high, nobody will purchase your services. So you reevaluate. It’s as simple as that. Eventually, you’ll arrive at a price that people will pay, even if it’s outside of some people’s budgets. Or, as stated above, you might make more revenue with a lower price if you have a high volume of customers. Whatever you do, make sure that you’re able to profit.  Rabbi Lapin’s advice encourages entrepreneurs to price from a place of confidence, not guilt. Undercharging doesn’t just affect your income; it can subtly signal to clients that your service isn’t worth much. But when you understand that money is spiritual, you recognize pricing as part of stewardship: honoring your time, talent, and the value you deliver in the marketplace. About Rabbi Lapin Rabbi Daniel Lapin, author, speaker, and TV host,

Considering Infinite Banking, got questions? We love your questions because we know that gaining clarity and getting answers frees you up to make decisions about your financial life. And chances are if you’re asking, someone else is too! Today, we're tackling audience questions on inflation, pensions, and infinite banking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hsoxa0Q3Pg To get more clarity on common questions we get from our tribe, tune in now! Table of contentsHow Do You Weather the Current Economy?How Do You Track Borrowed Funds?What Are the MEC Guidelines on Single Premium Life Insurance?Think Long-TermAre IBC Policies Inflation-Proof?How Do You Maximize Your Pension Plan?When Can You Borrow from Your Policy?Why Do You Lose Control When You Pay Back Your Mortgage?Do the Cash Value and Death Benefit Both Get Paid at Death?Does Infinite Banking Work Internationally?Do I Have to Take a Policy Loan if I Have Other Options?Book A Strategy Call How do you weather the current economy?This is a good time to be in a position of cash and wait for the right opportunity. This means raising your standards and only choosing high-caliber deals that align with your values. This is also a good time to innovate in your field. How Do You Weather the Current Economy? To be more specific, this listener asked how they can navigate the current economy and also create passive income within a year. Is this possible?  Getting capital within a year may be difficult because the Fed is tightening up on capital. This is part of the reason we’re looking at a recession now. Remember that “opportunity seeks liquidity,” as Nelson Nash would say. Don’t feel like you need to deploy capital right now. Since the cost of capital is increasing, you want to wait for the right deal, not just any deal. It’s good to be smart and hang onto your capital until you find something that meets all your standards.  This is also a good time to network and connect with other professionals that you can learn from. Be sure you’re connecting with high-caliber people that have good advice that aligns with your values. You can also look at your current career path or income stream and seek ways to increase that revenue now. That doesn’t necessarily mean investing. It can also mean expanding your offerings, pivoting to fit the market, and improving your services. A recession is a long game, so you need to think about the bigger picture as you navigate this time. Short-term decision-making won’t serve you in this economic climate. How Do You Track Borrowed Funds? Whether you have a large portfolio of policies or just one policy, you might have some loans you want to track. Staying organized can help you with your due diligence, however, don’t get too bogged down with the minute details. One way you can keep track of things is by opening a separate bank account. When you take a loan, put the money into that one account, separate from your other money. Then pay for the investment or whatever you’re doing from the new account. Then send the cash flow from the investment back into that checking account. You can then use this as the fund with which to pay back the policy loan. This way, everything is organized, yet you don’t have to get into the weeds to track it all.  If you’re really picky about it, you can have multiple accounts, one for every loan or investment. Whatever you do, make sure it works for you and makes things easier, not harder.  What Are the MEC Guidelines on Single Premium Life Insurance? This viewer asked about the guidelines for Modified Endowment Contracts (MECs), and whether there is some benefit for churches or non-profit organizations.  A MEC policy is a policy that has been overfunded in the early years and loses its designation as life insurance. This is an IRS guideline to prevent people from laundering money or using life insurance as a tax shelter. When a policy becomes a MEC, it loses tax advantages and other benefits.  MEC guideline interpretations differ from company to company because they have different company structures and different growth projections. However, they will send notifications if you are going to MEC your policy so that you can rectify it if you wish.  Single Premium life insurance is when you fully pay up your life insurance in one year. The challenge is that if you take a large loan after a single premium policy, the interest cost may not be covered by the interest and dividend growth. This happens because the growth on the base premium is less than the growth on the paid-up additions, and a single premium is mostly PUA. This could mean that you run into a loss of tax advantages.  Think Long-Term Rather than aiming for perfection right now, don’t be afraid to just get started, even if it’s small. If you use a single premium policy, you could run into trouble with taxes and interest costs. You might want to put everything you can into a policy right away, but you don’t have to. It’s often better to take small steps. Figure out what’s sustainable for you (or your church or non-profit).  You don’t have to do a long schedule of premiums, either. You could contribute over ten years, for example. This allows you to feed a large lump sum into the policy for a relatively short amount of time. This can put you in a safer position.  Are IBC Policies Inflation-Proof? This question depends a bit on what facet of the policy you’re looking at. For example, if the costs of goods are going up, then there’s a lot of power in a level premium. Over time, that premium will feel less and less simply because it’s not increasing alongside everything else. And yet, your account is still increasing with interest and dividends. If you consider the cash value, it might not always be “inflation-proof.” This is going to depend on the rate of inflation compared to the growth rate of the policy. However, you also have to factor in the risk. A life insurance policy is virtually risk free because it can’t decrease. So while the growth rate might be a steady 4-5%, it’s safe and stable. The stock market may have an average of 12%, but if any losses occur, it can take years to recover. Tack inflation on top of that and it’s not looking so good.  How Do You Maximize Your Pension Plan? One of our viewers has a pension plan that didn’t pan out the way he had hoped it would. He expresses regret for what he wishes he had done but wants to do the best with what he has regardless. His question to us is, how can he do the best with what he has?  [39:25] “What’s interesting is, if our listeners think that they don’t have a lot of knowledge about how money works, people that pensions really don’t, because they don’t have to. Because they know when they retire there’s just going to be an income stream coming in. It’s an annuity.” These kinds of hyper-specific questions are hard to answer in a public format, however, there is some general wisdom we can impart. What’s interesting here is that if you started a life insurance policy now, you know that at some point, a benefit will pay to your spouse or other heirs. There’s some certainty there, and you won’t disinherit your heirs.  Paying into a life insurance policy may also enable you to create some hybrid income strategies that you wouldn’t otherwise have. When Can You Borrow from Your Policy? This is a common misconception that you borrow money FROM your life insurance policy. In reality, you’re borrowing AGAINST your policy. This distinction is critical because it indicates where the money is coming from, and to who you’re paying interest. When you take a loan, the life insurance company is your lender. They lend you the money because your cash value acts as collateral, and they know the loan will get paid back. Then, you pay interest to the life insurance company as you repay the loan. This means that during the entire term of the loan, your cash value is untouched. That way, the money can earn interest and dividends uninterrupted. You can’t actually borrow money from your policy, you can only withdraw it. Once you do, there’s no way to put it back. So taking a loan from the insurance company is advantageous.  To answer the original question, you can take a policy loan from day one of your policy. You won’t have much cash value to leverage at that point. However, it is available. Sometimes new policy owners like to take a small loan in the beginning and pay it back immediately, just to prove to themselves that it’s possible.  Why Do You Lose Control When You Pay Back Your Mortgage? It’s a common misconception that the closer you are to paying off your mortgage, the better off you are. This, unfortunately, is not true. The reason is that the banks are incredibly strict about loans and leverage. And if you’re only a few years away from paying off your mortgage, and lose your job, the banks will not be lenient. The first question they’ll ask if you want to access your equity is “where do you work?” If you’re unemployed, you won’t even make it to the application.  And because you’re close to paying off your home, it’s easy for the banks to foreclose on your house and still make a profit. On the other hand, if you are at the start of your loan, banks don’t want to foreclose on your home. Otherwise, they’ll be at a loss. So they’re more lenient and willing to work with you on solutions because they want the most bang for their buck.  Do the Cash Value and Death Benefit Both Get Paid at Death? Unfortunately, this is a topic that frequently gets miscommunicated to clients. This can be detrimental to common knowledge and understanding of cash value and death benefit. So, to be as clear as possible, you do not get both values upon death. So if your death benefit is $1 million, and your cash value at the time is $500k, your beneficiary does not receive $1.5 million.

You only have 18 summers with your kids. How will you make them count? Today, we’re talking with Jim Sheils of 18 Summers and author of The Family Boardroom. We're digging into how you—the entrepreneur, business owner, and busy parent—can deepen your relationship with your child. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mg58L5y8J8 So, if you want to create lifelong connections, trust, bonding, respect, and experiences in your family… tune in now! Table of contentsThe Origins of 18 SummersThe Power of 18 SummersThe One-to-One PrincipleYou Must Be PresentSay the UnspokenConnect with Jim SheilsAbout Jim Sheils Book A Strategy Call The Origins of 18 Summers [1:00] “Basically, there was a study done that the average person will spend… almost 85 percent of all the quality time they have with their children by the end of the 18th summer. Which starts to make sense, you know, because the time minimizes when they’re moving out and becoming adults and possibly not living near you. So it’s saying try to make the most of those 18, because [then] they’ll want to come back for more.” This flies in the face of common entrepreneurial advice that you should put your head down and focus solely on your business for 5 years. Supposedly, after that, you should have all the time in the world. However, Jim feels that this is the wrong way to approach business and family culture. Because if you don’t make the most of those first 18 summers of your children’s lives, you’ll lose out on future opportunities to be with them.  [13:35] “When you think about it, they turn 18 [and] they can go off to college, join the military, go out on their own. They’re out of high school. I don’t know about you, but my 19-year-old doesn’t hang out as much with me. Although we hang out, he doesn’t hang out with me as much as my 5-year-old.” The Power of 18 Summers [14:20] “It causes a positive urgency.” This is the power of the “18 summers” mindset. Of course, you’re going to have more time with your kids than that. However, those first 18 years are pivotal to your relationship with your children. Those years are formative for them and are the foundation of your relationship. Despite the time you have after they turn 18, you’ll never have more time than you do while they’re still in the school system.  Spending time with your children and making memories while they’re young will lay the groundwork for how the future goes.  [14:38] “Here’s what I know [from] working in this over a decade: you do those first 18 years right… the odds of your child [wanting] you to be a part of their life as an adult go up dramatically. [If] you’re missing, you’re not there, you’ve just been kind of a distant, disciplinarian, ATM machine that wasn’t part of the family life, the odds go down.” The One-to-One Principle [17:05] “If you want to have a really strong family and those dynamics of deeper relationships, you have to separate the parts to strengthen the whole. And that is what we call the one-to-one principle. One-on-one time. One-on-one time puts the magnifying glass on that individual relationship, takes away sibling rivalry, gives full attention. It is an absolute potent, potent relationship builder that’s rarely practiced.” This, Jim shares, is the secret to building strong relationships. Yet when you build a family, having one-on-one time can seem inefficient—you’ve got so many people to bond with and seemingly little time. But it doesn’t take much, it just has to be intentional. This is something you should do with your spouse, your siblings, your kids, and your in-laws. Your kids should have one-on-one time with each other.  This can take work, and it is so worth it in the grand scheme of things. You have to schedule and plan this time and prioritize it to ensure that it happens. And there should be balance so that all children feel like there is equal attention and care.  If you feel like things are disconnected, stale, or fraught in your household, schedule one-on-one time. That which gets scheduled gets done. To make it easier, do it on a rhythm. Do date nights on the same night every week. Plan something with each of your children once a quarter.  You Must Be Present Part of being intentional is also being 100% present in the moments that you spend with your family in one-on-one time. For Jim, that means no phones. What seems like an insignificant divide can actually be a barrier to your time with your loved ones.  [31:31] “If we’re always on our phones, how do our children know that they’re most important? Or our spouse? And if we’re always seeming to be dragged into that useless text or email—and maybe it’s not useless, I understand you’re working hard—but if they have something really important to talk to you about, do you think that’s going to invite them out to talk about it? Or is it going to continue to hold it in?” If you’re going to spend time with your loved ones, spend time with them. Make it about bonding and building your relationships. Don’t allow those walls to go up because you’re not fully invested in that time with your family.  Say the Unspoken [37:00] “On these days, or on these date nights with my wife, I’ve learned to say the unspoken. And what I’ve learned for a lot of our relationships, they’re missing a genuine compliment or a sincere apology.” In Jim’s opinion, one of the best things you can do when you spend time with your family is to lower your guard and be vulnerable. It’s opposite to how most of us move through the world, and yet it’s necessary to create meaningful relationships with your spouse and kids. It makes the person you’re spending time with see you as more human, and it makes them feel seen, appreciated, and connected to you.  [39:20] “Although providing for our families is a huge honor and nobility, I think, it doesn’t give us immunity. It doesn’t give us the immunity of manners and respect. And I’ve watched a lot of parents roll over their children saying, ‘I don’t need to apologize, I’m working too hard.’ And let me tell you, that only lasts so long, and when it starts to come out towards the end of that 18th summer where they’re like, ‘I don’t need to put up with this… anymore.’ “ If you want to have a healthy connection with your kids, you’ve got to model respect TO them by being genuine in your apologies and compliments. And be generous with them. Your kids learn to respect you in the long term by the respect you show them. [40:03] “The guard comes down, the relationship builds up.” Connect with Jim Sheils Instagram: @18summerstribe 18Summers.com Jim@18Summers.com The Family Board Meeting book About Jim Sheils  When YPO, EO, Harvard University, and other world-class organizations want to help their people to succeed at home, they call on Jim Sheils. There's a reason people call him Crazy Glue for families. In keynote presentations, workshops, team events, or private consulting, Jim has helped hundreds of the top entrepreneurs and thought leaders around the world focus and implement where it really counts, at home. Book A Strategy Call We offer two powerful ways to help you create lasting impact: Financial Strategy Call – Discover how Privatized Banking, alternative investments, tax-mitigation, and cash flow strategies can accelerate your time and money freedom while improving your life today. Let us show you how to align your financial resources for maximum growth and efficiency. Book a Strategy Call with our team today. Legacy Strategy Call – If you want to uncover your family values, mission, and vision, and create a legacy that’s about more than just money, we can guide you through the process of financial stewardship and family leadership. Save time coordinating your family’s finances while building a legacy that lasts for generations. Book a Legacy Strategy Call to learn more about how we can help. We specialize in working with wealth creators and their families to unlock their potential and build a meaningful, multigenerational legacy.

Despite the fact that many know they need life insurance, nearly half of consumers do not have insurance, according to a 2021 LIMRA study. The most common reasons are that they think it is too expensive, they have other financial priorities, or they aren’t aware of what they need and what type to purchase. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuKJznszXbE To help you overcome the hurdles and make decisions to shrink your life insurance coverage gaps, we’re sharing the 10 benefits of life insurance. Life insurance isn't just about death benefits but a powerful tool for creating security, growth, and legacy. So, if you have life insurance needs, doubts, interests, questions, or even fears, and you want straight-talk, no-nonsense answers… tune in now! Table of contentsWhy Do People Need Insurance?How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?10 Reasons People Buy Life Insurance1. The Benefits Outweigh the Costs2. Financial Protection for Loved Ones3. Peace of Mind During Life’s Uncertainties4. Tax Advantages to Grow Wealth Faster5. Additional Retirement Income Strategies6. Automatic Savings & Forced Discipline7. Excellent, Efficient Cash Storage8. Ability to Capitalize on Opportunities9. Leverage the Velocity of Money10. Generational WealthWrapping up on Life Insurance BenefitsBook A Strategy CallLinks for Further Reading Why Do People Need Insurance? [1:50] “I really just think it comes down to [the fact that] people do not want to face their own mortality. I think I said this once before on a podcast—we all know we’re going to die, we just don’t believe we’re going to die.” It’s almost an evolutionary development because if we were constantly obsessing over our mortality, the world would be a much different place. Even so, people think about their deaths the more they have to protect: families, estates, etc. Life insurance is the product that protects your family and estate if you die. Knowing that that protection is in place, you can sleep easier at night knowing that what matters to you will be taken care of no matter what.  How Much Life Insurance Do You Need? Unfortunately, many families in the US are underinsured. Life insurance is perhaps one of the only insurance categories where this can happen. You can’t underinsure your car or your house, nor would you want to. Yet people underinsure themselves all the time.  One way this happens is because many people calculate their insurance by using a “needs analysis.” In other words they count out how much money they’d need to pay off their home, car, and other debt if they passed away. Sometimes they include the cost of their children’s education. However, this doesn’t account for any income. While this is of course a better approach than having no insurance, there’s an even more effective way. It’s called the human life value approach, or HLV. This is a way of calculating all the income you’d earn over your working years so that your insurance can act as a full income replacement. So if you’re 30, you may multiply your annual income by 30 to get your HLV. If you’re 50, you’d multiply it by about 10 or 20, depending.  While this number seems shocking to many people, it’s realistic. Insurance companies won’t overinsure you, and they calculate HLV to determine the maximum amount of insurance you are entitled to. Many people don’t start out with enough liquidity to pay the premiums for their full HLV. However, just by knowing what that number is, you can feel more confident in the amount of insurance you do choose to purchase.  10 Reasons People Buy Life Insurance We don’t want to tell you what you “need,” because everyone has different circumstances. However, what we can do is share with you why people buy life insurance, and why they keep it. Hopefully, these can help you decide for yourself whether life insurance will be a benefit to you. So let’s explore these 10 life insurance benefits: 1. The Benefits Outweigh the Costs [17:10] “Instead of painting in your mind ‘It’s too expensive, I can’t do it,’ just check it out first. And then figure out if it’s too expensive.” The problem with “too expensive” is that it means something different to different people. For some, it may mean that they can’t fit it into their monthly expenses. For others, it may be expensive if the cost outweighs the benefits.  To the former, there may be a way that we can help you find some wiggle room. That may include rearranging some of your expenses or paying down some debt. Or, you could get a smaller whole-life policy, and fill in the gaps with cheaper term insurance.  For the latter mindset, we encourage you to think about the benefits. Protecting your family, having a non-correlated asset, the ability to leverage your dollars, and contractual guarantees—these are just a few of the true costs of whole life insurance. Consider these value comparisons: A $500,000 whole life policy might cost $400/month, but provides $500,000 immediate death benefit The same $400 invested monthly would take years to reach $500,000 (and market risk could reduce it) You get protection PLUS cash value growth, not just one or the other 2. Financial Protection for Loved Ones Insurance pays out to your loved ones in the event that you pass. This could mean your spouse, your children, or anyone else of importance to you. The loss of your life will be one of the most difficult things your family can experience. That time is made significantly harder by financial troubles of any kind. When you have life insurance in place, those troubles disappear for a time. This gives family the space to grieve and regroup without other stressors.  With life insurance money, families can keep food on the table, have a roof over their heads, pay funeral costs, hire childcare, and otherwise keep the house running. Your family won’t have to start a GoFundMe or file for bankruptcy. And if you have a policy on your spouse, you can have the comfort of knowing that you won’t have to worry if something happened to them. 3. Peace of Mind During Life’s Uncertainties Knowing that your family is going to be protected can ease a huge burden off your shoulders. And how much easier will it be to live your life knowing that no matter what, things will be okay? That your family will continue to be cared for the way they would if you were still alive. It provides a sense of absolute certainty that’s hard to find in life.  When you have certainty, you act with much more confidence and joy. If you can have peace of mind knowing your family will be looked after, the way you live your daily life will be completely transformed.  [29:00] “If you don’t believe in this principle, then just cancel your car insurance and drive across town. You will drive completely differently and inefficiently because you’re worried about your speed, you’re worried about how you make your turns. You’re worried about everything, and you can’t be efficient in your driving.” 4. Tax Advantages to Grow Wealth Faster Another benefit of Whole Life insurance is that it’s a very tax-advantaged asset. When you access your cash value via a policy loan, you get tax-free access to your money. (With some caveats). The death benefit is also passed to your heirs completely income-tax-free (no caveats). This is a significant advantage because accounts like a 401k are tax-deferred. Many people love that they can contribute to their qualified plans with pre-tax dollars. However, that tax bill has to come due eventually. This can translate to a significant tax bill in retirement when you least want to pay those taxes.  While you may pay your whole life insurance premiums with after-tax dollars, you’re getting the benefit of virtually tax-free access to your cash reserves when you want to use them. The stipulation is that if you overfund your policy so that it becomes a MEC, you lose tax advantages. You must also pay taxes if you withdraw funds (rather than borrow against) beyond the cost basis from the cash value. 5. Additional Retirement Income Strategies When you have a whole life insurance policy, you open yourself up to additional income strategies in retirement. Cash value is guaranteed not to drop because it’s not exposed to the whims of the stock market. This means you can use it as an income buffer to increase the longevity of your investment accounts. Dr. Wade Pfau calls this the Volatility Buffer.  Whole life insurance tends to make all assets work a bit better. By virtue of having it you have access to new strategies that will take your money further in almost every circumstance. Even if you elect to use other assets for future income, whole life insurance can be a good addition to your portfolio. 6. Automatic Savings & Forced Discipline When you open a whole life insurance policy, you’re creating a system of automatic savings for yourself.  [40:20] “This is extremely beneficial because many people think about saving if there’s money left over at the end of the month. It’s a side strategy.”  When you open a life insurance policy, your premiums feel like a bill. You’ve got to pay them each month in order to keep your policy in good standing. However, for every single premium payment, you’re contributing to your cash value. Just like your mortgage builds equity in your home, your premiums build equity in your policy.  You can then leverage this equity at any time for any reason because it’s not controlled by the banks. And when you do leverage it, your cash value stays intact, so it continues to compound uninterrupted. In this way, you can save money in an extremely efficient way.  7. Excellent, Efficient Cash Storage When you save money into a whole life insurance policy designed for Infinite Banking, you get safety, liquidity, and growth. Most assets only have two of those three qualities,

Do you want to build your family bank that will provide capital to you and future generations? Come see behind the scenes as we talk about our Marshall Family Banking System in real-time.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4u4YRT5wIs Today, we’re updating you in real-time to show the impacts of paying another year of premium, how our cash value is growing, and our vision for how we’ll use our family bank as the foundation to grow generational wealth. So, if you want to see exactly how and why you can grow a family bank to secure capital reserves for your family for generations to come… tune in now! Table of contentsHow Do Life Insurance Illustrations WorkA Brief History of the Marshall Family BankMaximizing Human Life ValueThe Capitalization Phase of Infinite BankingWhere the Marshall Family Bank StandsOther Installments of the Marshall Family Bank SeriesBook A Strategy Call How Do Life Insurance Illustrations Work [3:45] “What I want you to understand is that the illustrations are simply snapshots in time. They are the insurance company’s best guess at what’s going to happen. In some periods of time—whether it’s 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years—[the policies do] better than what they projected. And then some periods of time they’re slightly worse than what they projected.”  Because of the nature of these projections, illustrations go out of date quickly. As soon as the floor of your cash value increases, your illustration is out of date. First, you’ve “locked in” your cash value floor, which will affect all future projections. And second, every year the companies declare new dividends, which will change the projections.  Ultimately, when you look at an illustration, it’s a snapshot in time. So although you can trust the general trajectory of your policy, thanks to the good work of the actuaries, it won’t be accurate to the dollar. Don’t get bogged down in the minor details of illustrations. What’s most important is that you find a mutual company with good business practices.  [9:13] “There are too many people selling on the basis of an illustration, which is a projection, which can look really good up front. But the real reason to have an infinite banking policy is that you’re looking for a place to store cash that is safe, it’s liquid, and that’s growing. And if you’re looking for as much safety [as possible], you want a stable, solid company.”  A Brief History of the Marshall Family Bank We’ve discussed how we got into Infinite Banking in other posts, but we’ll do a quick recap for you here. In December of 2012, we opened our first infinite banking policy on Lucas. At the time, we had a pretty sizeable store of gold and silver but found that we weren’t in a position of much liquidity that way. Because the market was down at the time, we ended up losing about half of what we put into those assets.  This was a major catalyst for us to change how we thought about our savings and capital. We realized how valuable it was to have quick and easy access to your money, as well as protection from market losses.  In November 2021, we did a 1035 exchange of that policy into a new policy with a higher annual premium of $20,000. Then, about 7 months ago, we opened a policy on me, as previously I had only had term life insurance. That policy has a $30,000 premium.  When we set up my policy, we backdated it by six months, before my birthday. This allowed us to get more bang for our buck because the cost of the insurance is less the younger you are. It also allowed us to put more capital in from day one of the policy. So our first premium was able to be retroactively applied to when we backdated the policy. Effectively, this allowed us to pay two years' worth of premiums in a year.  Maximizing Human Life Value In addition to our two whole life insurance policies, we also have term insurance that helps us reach our full Human Life Value. This means that we have the maximum amount of death benefit that each of us can have. Even though we’re using infinite banking strategies for our savings, the death benefit still has incredible value.  Besides allowing us to create generational wealth by leaving a legacy, the death benefit is also about protection. It’s there to support our family in the event of a death. While term insurance may be temporary, with no cash value, it’s an important part of our system because it gives us maximum protection and peace of mind.  The Capitalization Phase of Infinite Banking Our policies are now in what we call the capitalization phase. We’re funding the policies so that they can grow and eventually pass the “break-even” point. This is the point at which the cash value equals or surpasses the total amount of premium paid into the policy. During this time, we can access the cash value if necessary, however, we’re more focused on funding this policy.  For most companies, the break-even point happens somewhere between years 7 and 10, give or take depending on certain factors. While the company may factor into this slightly, it’s more important to pick a strong company than to pick a company that has the best projected break-even point. This can change over time, and it’s more important you pick a solid company you can trust.  After this point, your cash value will always exceed the premiums you’ve paid (unless you make a withdrawal). This is because the interest and dividends on the policy are incredibly efficient, especially when you’re maximizing PUAs.  Where the Marshall Family Bank Stands Here’s a snapshot of where the Marshall Family Bank currently stands: Total Whole Life Premiums Paid: $160,673.54 % of Premium as Cash Value: 87.75% % of Premium Available to Loan: 76.35% Total Cash Value: $139,376.37 Total Cash Value Available to Loan: $122,674.23 Total Loan Balance: $0 Total Whole Life Death Benefit: $1,495,721.35 Total Term Death Benefit: $5,508,960.00 Total Death Benefit: $7,004,681.35 As you can see, the cash value of both of our whole life insurance policies have almost caught up to the total premium we’ve paid. Last year, the percentage of our premium available in cash value was only about 75%. And the cash value grows every single day, which means in the near future we’ll be able to see that percentage reach 100% and even cross that threshold. Our loan balance is at zero because we’re focusing on this capitalization phase. We’re working on building our family bank up first and keeping it as liquid as possible for emergencies and opportunities.  [1:04:34] “What’s really amazing is that we know where we’re going. And where we’re going is having more cash value than we’ve paid into a policy. Having more death benefit, should we pass away, that would pay into our trust that would be taking care of our children. We have a plan for continuing our family legacy and the financial resources to do good for generations to come in the future. And so, getting started capitalizing a policy might not be the most fun portion of having a life insurance policy, but we’re looking forward to those years ahead where we’re going to be able to say, ‘We’re so grateful that we did this.’” Other Installments of the Marshall Family Bank Series Part One: Tour Our Private Family Banking System Part Two: Why We Started a New Life Insurance Policy 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 the Infinite Banking Concept gives you the most safety, liquidity, and growth… plus boosts your investment returns, and guarantees a legacy, go to https://privatizedbankingsecrets.com/freeguide to learn more.

Mass Mutual, a top life insurance company and heavily relied upon insurance carrier in the Infinite Banking space, recently came out with a memo to their agents against the Infinite Banking Concept. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFhcV4Kp1yg They shared that the company doesn’t support concepts that promote or present whole life insurance as a personal banking policy, prioritizing the maximization of policy cash values and immediate and regular access via policy loans. [paraphrased] Today, we’ll talk about why an insurance provider may choose to take this position, why this doesn’t impact the Infinite Banking Concept, and how you, as a wise financial steward and wealth creator, can ensure you’re making the best decisions. So, if you’re considering Infinite Banking, and you want to see exactly what you should watch out for … tune in now! Table of contentsWhy Would Mass Mutual Denounce Infinite Banking?Combating MisinformationWhat Does This Mean for the Future of Infinite Banking?What Should You Be Aware of About Infinite Banking?Sales Tactics vs. Education and DisclosureBeware of Transactional RelationshipsRecognize that Illustrations are Projections, Not PredictionsKnow You’re Buying Life InsuranceBook A Strategy CallFAQsIs Infinite Banking still a valid strategy?Why would an insurance company limit the language around Infinite Banking?What’s the deal with Mass Mutual and infinite banking?Can I still use policy loans for personal investments or expenses? Why Would Mass Mutual Denounce Infinite Banking? When a company shoots down the infinite banking concept, what they’re really doing is denouncing the use of oversimplified sales tactics in the sale of whole life insurance. In other words, Mass Mutual and other companies have an interest and a duty to make sure that life insurance remains life insurance. That means that the death benefit remains the purpose of a life insurance policy.  This doesn’t mean people can’t use whole life insurance to save money and take policy loans, especially considering how closely tied Mass Mutual and infinite banking have historically been. In fact, life insurance companies legally must allow policy loans as a contractual provision—they’re not going anywhere. Insurance companies like Mass Mutual are simply taking a stance against practices that may indicate life insurance is not performing first and foremost, as life insurance should.  This statement is about the integrity of the industry, not about IBC in general. Combating Misinformation There’s a lot of misinformation about infinite banking policies, both within the IBC community and outside of it. One of the major problems within the industry is that advisors are trying to make whole life insurance look better than it is. And to be clear: whole life insurance is a very good product. But it’s not magic. The problem arises when people attempt to spread information that makes it seem magical.  It’s unfortunate when clients purchase a whole life insurance policy only to be blindsided by how life insurance actually works. We’ve heard many a horror story about how clients didn’t know their policy loans counted against their death benefit if they didn’t pay it back. Or they believed that the cash value was unrelated to the death benefit. Many clients are also misled about how life insurance is taxed. It’s critical that companies like Mass Mutual take a stand against this misinformation to protect consumers. This is, first and foremost, the priority of the life insurance companies, as it should be. Hopefully, this will encourage more agents to take IBC seriously, thereby preventing the spread of misinformation. [21:30] “The problem is [that] this muddies the water. It makes it difficult for consumers to figure out well who do I actually listen to. Who is telling me the right information? How am I going to get a policy that lasts? How am I going to make sure this is set up properly, [and] how do I make sure it’s not just a flash-in-the-pan policy? So the insurance company is looking at all of this happening and recognizing if people are putting in too much premium dollars because they don’t know what they’re really doing, it’s not sustainable.” What Does This Mean for the Future of Infinite Banking? As far as you are concerned, education will be critical. Before you or any consumer makes a choice, you should seek all the information. Listen to those who are transparent, who discuss the product from all angles, and who are fighting to dispel misinformation. This can take some time to find the right people, but it will be worth it. You want to understand the decisions you’re making so that they empower you rather than blind you.  In particular, pay attention to those who talk about the value of whole life insurance as a protection product. If you come across a producer who doesn’t acknowledge the importance of the death benefit, that’s something to be cautious of.  For producers and agents, it’s imperative to act with integrity and teach people the truth about whole life insurance and infinite banking from every angle.  [30:40] “Ultimately we believe that when you do the right thing, that pays dividends. It just might take longer to get there.” What Should You Be Aware of About Infinite Banking? Ultimately, this conversation isn’t about whether infinite banking is right or wrong, but rather about ensuring that Mass Mutual and infinite banking aren’t misunderstood as being mutually exclusive. It’s a concept that many people successfully put into practice every day, but it may not be right for everyone. This conversation isn’t even about Mass Mutual and whether they’re right or wrong. The underlying conversation here is about how to disseminate the most important information so that you can make the best decisions for you and you’re family. Sales Tactics vs. Education and Disclosure If you’re shopping for life insurance and even hoping to implement IBC, you should look for education, knowledge, and disclosure. The producer who can provide this to you is likely someone with integrity who has your best interests at heart. They are more apt to care about you and your personal economy, not just making a sale.  Someone who is just selling may try to entice you with gimmicks, promises, and fancy spreadsheets. This producer may avoid giving you a complete illustration, with all the disclaimers and “fine print” involved. It’s also common for this type of producer to drive home the idea of day-one cash value, or dividend rates.  At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter which company has the best dividend rate (this changes every year) or how much cash value you have on day one. What matters is that you have a product that is going to serve you and your long-term goals well.  The reason we don’t share a lot of illustrations and numbers on our show is that those numbers mean nothing unless you understand the concepts. We teach the concepts so that when you’re ready to sit down with a producer, the illustration is going to make perfect sense to you.  It’s also helpful to understand how different companies approach policy design. The conversation around Mass Mutual and infinite banking has sparked confusion, but it really highlights the need for clarity.  While Mass Mutual may limit how agents describe certain strategies, it doesn’t change the fact that whole life policies from mutual companies can still support the core principles of Infinite Banking when designed and used properly. Beware of Transactional Relationships Another thing to be cautious of when you work with a producer is how much time they’re willing to give you. If you work with a producer who doesn’t take the time the answer your questions, explain concepts, or address concerns, proceed with caution. You don’t want to work with someone who simply treats you like a number—your personal life and goals don’t matter. You deserve to have a producer who cares about you and your family. This should be someone who asks YOU questions about what you want, where you live, what you do, and who is in your family. This is how you build a real relationship, and a producer who cares is a producer who can help you find the best possible tools and strategies for your personal situation. Recognize that Illustrations are Projections, Not Predictions [40:16] “[Illustrations] are projections. They’re projecting an assumption into the future based on everything that is happening today. They are not predictions of what exactly will happen 30 and 40 and 50 years from now. It is way too easy to make that switch and take an illustration as a prediction of what exactly will happen.” The reason this distinction is so critical is that it’s tempting to take illustrations from several companies and compare them under a microscope. This may seem like the best method, yet when you really understand illustrations, you know that this is frankly a waste of time and energy.  Illustrations become inaccurate the moment your cash value increases because you have new data to apply to the dividend and interest projections. Not to mention, all companies declare new life insurance dividends each year. One company could be on top this year and at the bottom the next.  The minutia of your illustration projection is the least of your concerns. Instead, you want to focus on the big picture of how Mass Mutual and other companies operate. Do they invest conservatively? Are they a mutual company? Do they have a strong business rating? Know You’re Buying Life Insurance Whether you’re planning to execute the infinite banking concept or not, at the end of the day, you’re buying life insurance. IBC is a long-term strategy, and it’s also one that can provide tremendous protection to your family. Don’t discount how important this is. [44:05] “I almost died about three and a half years ago now,