
Insurance Pro Blog Podcast
The Insurance Pro Blog Podcast releases new episodes each week that support professional life insurance agents and financial planners who seek to better understand how cash value life insurance, in particular, might work for the benefit of their clients.
Latest episodes

Apr 27, 2025 • 28min
Indexed Universal Life and Its Reset Magic During Downturns
Wonder how your IUL policy behaves during market volatility? In this episode, we unpack how Indexed Universal Life insurance performs in today's unpredictable market conditions. You'll discover why IUL isn't actually buying market exposure and how it creates a unique value proposition during economic downturns. Learn about the annual reset feature that prevents you from having to recover losses before moving forward. This reset magic means your policy can take advantage of market rebounds without dragging the baggage of previous declines. You'll understand why this makes IUL especially valuable for retirement income strategies. We explore how IUL has evolved beyond simple caps and floors to offer more sophisticated options including lock features and alternative indices. Discover how these innovations help weather financial storms and why, despite not outperforming the market during bull runs, IUL provides an important hedge against bad conditions in your overall retirement portfolio. _________________________ Ready to explore how IUL can strengthen your retirement strategy? Contact us today to learn if this approach aligns with your financial goals. We'll help you understand the benefits of adding IUL to your portfolio and show you how it can provide stability when markets get turbulent.

Apr 20, 2025 • 28min
Guaranteed Income in Uncertain Times
In this episode of the Insurance Pro Blog Podcast, hosts Brandon Roberts and Brantley Whitley dive into the resilience of the life insurance industry during periods of market volatility and geopolitical tension. You'll learn why life insurance companies remain stable even when other financial sectors struggle, and how they've weathered previous economic storms like the dot-com bubble, the 2008 collapse, and the COVID pandemic. We explore the different categories of annuities available and explain why they're becoming increasingly attractive income tools in today's economic environment. You'll discover how insurance companies manage their bond portfolios to create reliable income streams, and why they're less concerned with market fluctuations than other financial institutions. If you're looking for guaranteed income options during uncertain economic times, this episode highlights why annuities offered by life insurance companies provide exceptional stability. You'll leave understanding why higher interest rates can be beneficial for insurance products and how these companies are uniquely positioned to offer reliable income solutions when markets become choppy. _____________________ Want to learn more about creating guaranteed income for your retirement? Contact us today to discuss how annuities might fit into your financial strategy. We're ready to help you find the right solutions for your specific situation.

Apr 13, 2025 • 32min
Life Insurance: The Ultimate Market Buffer
Life Insurance: The Ultimate Market Buffer When market volatility strikes, your retirement plans can take an unexpected hit. In this episode, we discuss how life insurance serves as a non-correlated asset during uncertain economic times. We explore why diversification outside traditional market investments matters, especially for those approaching retirement. We break down the real psychology behind panic selling and why data alone often fails to prevent emotional financial decisions. We examine how cash value life insurance—particularly whole life and indexed universal life policies—continues to move upward regardless of market fluctuations. You'll learn why wealthy investors tend to weather market downturns more successfully and how you can apply similar strategies. If recent market volatility has you concerned about your financial future, this episode offers practical insights into creating stability. We explain how life insurance can provide not just protection but also a strategic buffer against market corrections. Discover how policy loans allow you to access funds without selling assets at inopportune times, potentially preserving your wealth during market recoveries. ________________________________ Ready to create your own market buffer with life insurance? Contact us today to discuss how these strategies can work for your specific financial situation. We've helped hundreds of clients build financial security that stands strong regardless of market conditions.

Apr 6, 2025 • 34min
Bad Ideas with Life Insurance
In this episode, we dive into problematic life insurance schemes that have led to lawsuits. We examine how premium financing - originally designed for high net worth individuals seeking death benefits - was repurposed as a risky retirement strategy for people who didn't need it. You'll learn about a recent lawsuit involving complex tax schemes paired with premium financing that left clients with massive loan balances, inadequate collateral, and IRS penalties. We break down the warning signs of these overly complicated arrangements and why they often fall apart when interest rates rise. We share our firsthand experiences with clients who pursued these strategies despite our advice and later regretted it. You'll understand why simpler approaches to life insurance usually produce better results without the legal and financial risks of elaborate tax schemes. ____________________________ Have questions about your life insurance options? Contact us today to discuss straightforward strategies that actually work. We'll help you navigate life insurance without the complicated schemes or hidden risks.

Mar 30, 2025 • 34min
Whole Life's Unbeatable Tax Advantages
In this episode, you'll learn about the tax advantages of whole life insurance that make it a powerful financial tool. Discover how whole life insurance offers tax-deferred growth, tax-free access to cash value, and income tax-free death benefits without complex financial maneuvers. Explore how these features compare to other investment options like Roth IRAs and 401(k)s, and why combining these benefits in one product creates unique advantages for retirement planning. Learn about using whole life insurance to supplement retirement income, minimize sequence of returns risk, and create an estate for your loved ones—all with favorable tax treatment. _____________________________________ Have questions about how whole life insurance might fit into your financial strategy? Contact us today to learn how these tax advantages could benefit your specific situation.

Mar 23, 2025 • 29min
Tapping Your Policy for Retirement Income
In this episode, we tackle a common question: Can you really use life insurance cash value for retirement income? We explore how permanent life insurance policies can provide a stable income source that isn't subject to market volatility. You'll learn the practical differences between withdrawals and loans from your policy and why most retirees don't use a static withdrawal strategy. We discuss realistic withdrawal rates (around 5% for whole life and 6% for indexed universal life) and how this compares to traditional retirement assets. You'll understand why life insurance can be particularly valuable during market downturns and how it complements other retirement assets. We also share practical advice on managing your withdrawals to maximize the longevity of your income stream. ___________________________ Whether you're planning for retirement or already there, this episode provides straightforward information about using life insurance as part of your income strategy. Contact us to learn more about how cash value life insurance might fit into your retirement plan.

Mar 16, 2025 • 32min
Is Whole Life Insurance a Good Hedge Against Tariffs?
Are you wondering how to protect your assets during economic volatility? In this episode, we explore whether whole life insurance and other cash value life insurance products can serve as effective hedges against tariffs and market turbulence. We discuss three key benefits these insurance products offer during volatile times: stable retirement income that isn't affected by market downturns, emergency fund access without tax penalties, and potential opportunities to capitalize on depressed asset prices. We also explain why insurance companies themselves are uniquely positioned to weather economic storms and why both whole life and indexed universal life policies maintain their value even when markets don't. If you're looking for financial stability in uncertain times, this practical discussion offers insights into how life insurance might fit into your strategy. ____________________________________________ If you'd like to learn more about implementing these strategies in your financial plan, please click here to contact us. And if you'd like to read the full blog post that accompanies this episode, click right here.

Mar 9, 2025 • 33min
Whole Life's True Performance Revealed
You've heard the claims about whole life insurance, but what's the reality? In this episode, we dive into the actual performance data from our book of business spanning over 10 years. We reveal that whole life policies have averaged a 5% year-over-year growth in cash value. We explain why whole life insurance performance often exceeds expectations as policies age. You'll learn about the factors that influence returns, including policy design, premium amount, and funding duration. We also compare whole life's stable growth pattern to other financial instruments and discuss its tax advantages. This episode provides clarity on one of the most misunderstood financial products. You'll understand the true role whole life can play in your financial planning and why its liquidity, guarantees, and consistent growth make it worth considering as part of your portfolio. __________________________ Have questions about how whole life insurance might fit into your financial strategy? Contact us to review your specific situation and see if this approach makes sense for you. We can analyze your needs, explain policy options, and help you design a solution that aligns with your long-term financial goals.

Mar 2, 2025 • 32min
Real IUL Returns Revealed
You're about to discover what really happens with indexed universal life insurance policies based on actual data, not hypotheticals. The average index credit across our database of IUL policies is 7.93% - significantly higher than the 5.25-6% assumptions typically used when modeling these products. This episode breaks down how IUL policies have performed in the real world, including older policies with different cap rates and floor structures. You'll learn why the timing of interest payments matters and how the fluctuation between zero and cap rates creates meaningful long-term growth with no risk to principal. Whether you're considering IUL or already own a policy, these historical results offer valuable perspective on what you can realistically expect. Next week, we'll compare these findings with whole life insurance performance to give you a complete picture of your cash value options. __________________________ Click Here to Contact Us and discover how our tailored policy design can strengthen your financial future.

Feb 23, 2025 • 39min
Rethinking Retirement Math
You may believe that stocks are the only path to retirement success, but this episode challenges that conventional wisdom. We explore why whole life insurance might produce similar retirement income despite lower apparent returns and why managing risk becomes even more crucial when you're likely to fall short of traditional retirement targets. We show a realistic example of saving $15,000 annually over 20 years, comparing returns from stocks versus whole life insurance. The math might surprise you. The income streams are remarkably similar when you factor in withdrawal rates and market volatility. The episode also examines why becoming wealthy is harder now than for previous generations. It candidly examines how housing costs, living expenses, and changing financial behaviors impact retirement planning. We discuss why the old rules of retirement planning may need updating and why focusing solely on the rate of return misses the bigger picture. This practical discussion avoids taking sides in the stocks versus insurance debate, instead showing how different tools can complement your retirement strategy. You'll learn why time and consistency matter more than chasing returns and why your retirement planning should focus on generating reliable income rather than accumulating a specific account balance. ________________________ If you'd like to find out how cash value life insurance might fit into your retirement income plan, please click here to contact us.