The Power Of Zero Show

What is ChatGPT? David starts the conversation by explaining what ChatGPT is and the things that make it so revolutionary. ChatGPT is so advanced it has Google worried about its search engine's future. Will the advanced AI chatbot ever replace retirement advisors? David tests the chatbot by asking it a series of questions designed to stretch its basic retirement planning capabilities. When David asks ChatGPT whether tax rates will go up in future, the chatbot replies that it's tough to predict what future tax rates will be - a response David feels is rather "diplomatic." David tries to push the chatbot further by asking it what a life insurance retirement plan is. He is impressed with its answer, which is much more specific and descriptive than what you'd normally find online. After playing around with ChatGPT for over an hour, David believes the AI is not auditioning to replace financial advisors.  The even more impressive thing about the chatbot is that its answers are much more balanced and devoid of emotions.  Although the technology is not a replacement for financial advisors in the near future, David feels you can still use it to learn more about retirement planning.    Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube

Learn the 12 rules of tax-free investing in a rising tax rate environment, including strategically shifting surplus funds to tax-free accounts. Discover the value of Roth accounts for tax-free withdrawals and the importance of avoiding higher tax brackets. Explore effective strategies for tax-free investing in retirement and the differences in life insurance retirement plans. Gain insights into the need for multiple streams of tax-free income.

David kicks off the conversation by laying out the 3 basic Life Insurance Retirement Plans (LIRP) and how you can find the best one for your particular situation. For David, an LIRP is like marriage - it's a long-term commitment that you only ever consider if you're willing to keep it until death.  If you are looking for absolute guarantees, David explains that no product compares to whole life insurance. The promise to pay a death benefit if the premium has been paid, plus the option of a very stable and safe savings plan, make it attractive for most investors.  David points out that the potential to borrow money from a policy is one of the reasons some people buy whole life insurance. However, whole life insurance has its drawbacks. For example, David reveals that unmonitored policy loans can derail your retirement plans or leave you with a significant income tax gain. In the case of Variable Universal Life Insurance (VUL), David explains how the policy has investment subaccounts that allow the insurer to invest the cash value of a policy. Although you may enjoy better-than-average returns with a VUL, your cash value can be significantly reduced due to poor performance of your investment options. The thing that makes Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL) attractive is its ability to generate greater upside potential, flexibility, and tax-free gains. However, David explains that the IUL is not designed to be a stock market replacement, nor can you experience the type of return you could get from a VUL.  When it comes to ILRPs, David is convinced there is no one perfect solution because all three have distinct attributes. Your job is to find the best one for your situation while protecting yourself against potential downsides.      Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube

David kicks off the conversation by revealing that tax rates will revert to where they were in 2017 - you have only four years to take advantage of the historically low tax rates and do a Roth conversion.  David explains that most people will try to accelerate their Roth conversion efforts before the 2026 deadline. The problem with this is that trying to accelerate your conversions could bump you into the dreaded 32% tax bracket.  You don't have to be a mathematician to realize that the 32% tax bracket is a 33% increase over the 24% - and an unnecessary expense to your Roth conversion strategy.  According to David, the 24% tax bracket is the sweet spot in Trump's tax cuts because for an additional 2% on the margin, you can convert an extra $160,000.  David points out that the people who accelerate their Roth conversions and end up in the 32% tax bracket will be paying more to the IRS than is absolutely necessary.  David explains why the 32% tax bracket is the riskiest region of our current tax laws.  David believes the easiest way to get ahead of the 2026 deadline is to extend your Roth conversions past 2026 to 2028 - the three more years will guarantee that you stay in the 22 and 24% tax brackets.  Although taxes are going up in 2026, David believes you don't need to move heaven and earth to complete your Roth conversions. As long as you remain in the future versions of the 22 and 24% tax brackets, you will be safe.  Regardless of who takes office in 2024, David maintains that Trump's tax cuts will likely be extended, and the taxes for the American middle class will likely stay the same.  David explains why the year you should be worried about is 2030 and not 2026 when it comes to the risk of rising taxes.      Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube

David starts the conversation by pointing out that more and more financial experts are convinced that tax rates will rise dramatically to pay for unfunded obligations in the future. One way to protect yourself against rising tax rates is to do a Roth Conversion. Taxes will be on sale for another 4 years before they go back to the 2017 highs. If you are serious about retirement planning, David believes you would be wise to take advantage of what he calls "The Tax Sale of a Lifetime." The second way would be to contribute to your Roth 401K. It may make sense for you to stop contributing to your 401K and direct those contributions to a Roth 401K because now is arguably the best time in the history of the US to be making contributions to tax-free accounts.  The third point would be to max out on your Roth IRA. As of 2022, you are allowed to contribute $20,500 per year to a Roth IRA and an additional $6500 for catchup if you are above age 50.  Point number four is taking advantage of a Health Saving Account. A Health Savings Account allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. Contributions are tax-deductible, grow tax-deferred, and can be distributed tax-free.  Last but not least is making contributions to a cash-value life insurance. David explains that Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman may preach against permanent life insurance, but the more experienced financial experts are all for it.  A great example is America's IRA Expert, Ed Slott, CPA, who went on live television to declare permanent life insurance as the single most valuable benefit in the IRS tax code.  David agrees with Ed Slott that making money from investments is harder than it ever was. The last thing you'd want to do is share your hard-earned gains with the government.     Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube

David starts the conversation by describing the changes you can expect from SECURE Act 2.0 and what these changes will mean for your retirement plans. According to David, too many workers retire without enough savings to comfortably live. However, SECURE Act 2.0 may change all of that by expanding coverage, increasing amounts on savings, and simplifying the current retirement system. David explains why SECURE Act 2.0 enjoys broad bi-partisan support. Although SECURE Act 2.0 still has a long way to go before being passed into law, the Senior Vice President of NAIFA, Diane Boyle, said she is "optimistic" the bill will be passed into law in 2022. David highlights how one of the more notable changes in the proposed bill will move the date for required minimum distribution from 70 and ½ to 75.  Under current law, if you fail to take the right amount in a required minimum distribution, you will be forced to pay a 50% exercise tax. However, with the SECURE Act 2.0, the penalty gets reduced to 25% and down to 10% if you get everything corrected. David believes, if passed into law, SECURE Act 2.0 will encourage more retirement participation.  For the workers still paying their student loans, David reveals how the bill will allow employers to match the amount employees pay towards student loans.  Several politicians have expressed the desire to get the bill passed before the end of the year. David believes now is the ideal time to get your affairs in order because some changes will come into effect as early as 2023.     Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube

David starts the conversation by explaining why financial gurus like Dave Ramsey and Suzzie Orman hate permanent life insurance. With all the financial information floating around on the internet, who do you follow for advice on where to invest your money? David believes everybody's situation is different, but the best people to follow are the ones who are consistent with their messaging.  David calls out The White Coat Investor for misleading people that interest rates won't go up, only for him to change his mind when Biden's tax proposals threatened to raise taxes.  According to David, there are two sides to every investment advice on the internet. Instead of stubbornly following one narrative and muting everything else, your job as an investor is to listen to both sides of the story and decide based on your current situation.  When meeting with an investment advisor, David believes the least you can do is ask as many questions as possible.  There is so much controversy around permanent life insurance because gurus like Dave Ramsey and Suzzie Orman have continuously peddled lies that life insurance doesn't compare well to the stock market and that the expenses are too high - both of which are false.  For David, permanent life insurance is like marriage; you should only invest in one if you plan to keep it till you die. Although most financial advisors agree that interest rates will go up, David feels they need to take more action. Believing is one thing, but taking action to mitigate the risk of higher tax rates is a whole different story. When asked what advice he would give to people approaching retirement, David explains they only need to plan for two things - higher taxes and outliving their money. For the younger people who are not that close to retirement, David notes that tax rates will undoubtedly be higher in the future. So now would be a good time to take advantage of all the tax-free savings tools at their disposal.     Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility by David M. Walker

In this episode of The Power of Zero Show, David McKnight talks about what you can do to protect your pension in the current rising tax environment.  David explains that tax rates will rise dramatically within the next 10 years due to massively unfunded obligations like Social Security and Medicare.  According to former Comptroller General of the United States, David Walker, tax rates will likely double by 2030 to keep the country from bankruptcy. Given the impending doom, David believes it's time we all start to think about protecting our taxable income streams. David highlights that the pre-tax amount on your pension might be guaranteed, but your after-tax amount is not. If you'd like to protect your pension from higher tax rates, David explains the first step would be to consider a lump sum pension distribution option. If this option is available for you, it would be advisable to move as much money into a Roth IRA to shield your dollars from the impact of higher taxes.  However, when moving pension dollars into an IRA, David reveals you must move slowly enough so you don't move into a tax bracket that gives you heartburn, and fast enough that you don't get caught up with higher tax rates.  David discusses the role of tax-deferred retirement accounts when combating the impacts of rising tax rates.   Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube

In this episode of The Power of Zero Show, David McKnight shares evidence that unless there is immediate and dramatic fiscal realignment by the Federal Government, the U.S. will be mired down in a Great Depression by 2030. Citing Brian Beaulieu, David discusses the role Baby Boomers play when it comes to Beaulieu's prediction of the U.S. undergoing a Great Depression beginning in 2030. David shares that Maya MacGuineas’ recent study showed that, just to prevent the debt from growing at a rate in excess of $1trillion per year by 2025, the Government would have to raise taxes on any dollar earned above 400,00 to 102%. David brings David Walker's words into the conversation. According to Walker, on average, Americans pay about 21% of their income to federal taxes, and another 10% to state and local governments. By 2030, to pay the rising bills, that amount could be at least 45%, even higher that the average 42% that most Europeans pay. David talks about a couple of points Brian Beaulieu, David Walker, and Maya MacGuineas seem to be in agreement on: that tax rates will have to go up dramatically by 2030 and that politicians are likely to kick the can down the road. David touches upon what you can do to best prepare for the Great Depression of 2030.     Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube POZ Video: How High Will Biden Have to Raise Your Taxes? Comeback America by David M. Walker Brian Beaulieu David M. Walker Maya MacGuineas

This episode of The Power of Zero Show addresses the recently-released new contribution limits for the 401(k) in 2023, as well as additional increases in other IRS thresholds. David shares that the IRS just released all their inflation-adjusted numbers for 2023. The biggest surprise is a 9.7% increase in the limits for the 401(k) contributions, which went from $20,500 this year to $22,500 next year.  In addition to the contribution limits for the 401(k), the IRS has also increased the catch-up contributions for people over 50. According to David, the Roth 401(k) has become one of the real juggernauts for those looking to build huge amounts of tax-free retirement wealth. David goes over some of the additional changes and increases, as well as their repercussions on single people, married couples, and people over 50. David reiterates the fact that the 24% tax bracket is the single biggest sweet spot in the Trump tax cuts, and goes over what will happen if you aren’t going to take advantage of it.     Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube