Bankless by Design

Tricia Miller is joined by three fellow practitioners and friends— Jodi LaFrance, Nicole Gardner, and Becca Wilhite —to unpack their week at the 2026 Nelson Nash Institute Think Tank in Birmingham, Alabama (the 20th anniversary Think Tank). This conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at what Think Tank is, why the theme "thinking long range" matters, and what it really means to build a financial...

In this episode of Bankless By Design , Tricia Miller continues her conversation with fellow Infinite Banking practitioner Nolan Johnsrud, focusing on one of the most misunderstood parts of the Infinite Banking Concept: capitalization . Why did Nelson Nash say "don't be afraid to capitalize" ? Why does paying high premium come first? And why are policy loans not something to fear? This conversatio...

Saving money shouldn't mean putting life on hold. In Episode 26 (Part 1) of Bankless By Design , Tricia Miller is joined by fellow practitioner Nolan Johnsrud for a grounded conversation about Infinite Banking for real people. Together, they explore how Infinite Banking helps families save and live at the same time —so they can ultimately thrive. This episode covers mindset shifts around saving, t...

Tricia and Jonathan continue the Becoming Your Own Banker series with the second half of Nelson Nash's Grocery Store example (5th edition, page 16). They unpack the "back door" problem — why taking from your own system without paying it back is a quiet form of self-sabotage — and how scrupulous honesty, long-term thinking, and disciplined repayment are essential to building a thriving family banki...

If you understand the grocery store example, the rest of Infinite Banking gets easy. In Part I of the Grocery Store Example from Becoming Your Own Banker , we break down why Infinite Banking isn't about the rate of return—it's about turning inventory, velocity of money, and running your policy like a business . Using Nelson Nash's famous can-of-peas analogy, we explore how small margins become pow...

Infinite Banking is often explained as a math strategy — but Nelson Nash began somewhere else entirely. In this episode of Bankless by Design , Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan explore why imagination is essential to understanding the Infinite Banking Concept, and why logic and calculation alone aren't enough. Using the story of Carl Gauss, reflections from Becoming Your Own Banker , and real-li...

Do you have to be wealthy to become your own banker? That question stops more people than almost anything else. In this episode of the Becoming Your Own Banker series, Tricia walks through the true origin of the Infinite Banking Concept — and it didn't begin with wealth, comfort, or a perfectly organized financial life. It was born in crisis. By tracing Nelson Nash's journey, you'll discover why t...

Who really controls the money? In Episode 21 of the Becoming Your Own Banker series, we take a 30,000-foot view of money, banking, and control. Nelson Nash teaches that there is one pool of money in the world — constantly flowing through individuals, families, businesses, and banks — and the banking business exists to control that flow. Most people never stop to ask how much of the banking functio...

Banks don't chase returns — they control the flow of money. What if you did the same? In this episode of Bankless by Design , Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan continue the Becoming Your Own Banker® series by walking through the second half of the book's introduction. Together, they dismantle some of the most common misunderstandings about Infinite Banking — and reveal why thinking like a banker...

Most people hear about the Infinite Banking Concept™ and jump straight to the policies, the numbers, or the rate of return… but that's not where the concept begins. In fact, the most important part of Becoming Your Own Banker is the chapter almost everyone skips: the I ntroduction . In this episode, Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan walk line-by-line through the introduction of Nelson Nash's clas...

In today's episode, Jonathan and I unpack one of the most important — and rarely questioned — financial topics: Are 401(k)s and other tax-qualified plans actually helping you, or holding you back? Using page 85 of Becoming Your Own Banker , we explore: Why tax-qualified plans were created The hidden trade-offs behind "tax breaks" How inflation and taxation impact long-term savings The dangers of h...

In this opening episode of our Becoming Your Own Banker series, Jonathan and I explore what it means to rethink money in a world where most families feel trapped in the rat race. We talk through the first "Points to Consider" from page 85 of Nelson Nash's book and discuss: The difference between people at work and money at work Why most modern families feel overwhelmed and financially stretched Ho...

In this special episode, I sit down with my youngest son, Jonathan Miller , for an honest conversation about money, growing up as the youngest of seven, and how his understanding of money has changed over the years. Jonathan shares: What money felt like from a youngest-child perspective How our family's financial challenges  shaped his early beliefs Why he decided to start his own Infinite Banking...

In this special episode, Tricia joins the Infinite Banking Initiative Podcast—hosted by Nelson Nash's son-in-law, David Stearns, and his granddaughter, Leigh Barganier—for a powerful conversation on control, stewardship, and the truth behind the Infinite Banking Concept. ------------------------------ ------------   Follow Thrivewell   Facebook   Instagram   Linkedin     TikTok Get In Touch:  tric...

Are you really becoming your own banker… or did you just buy a policy? 👀 In this episode, Tricia Miller breaks down one of the most common mistakes people make after starting their Infinite Banking journey — paying the first premium, then stopping short. She reveals why skipping your PUAs (Paid-Up Additions) can stall your growth, interrupt compounding, and keep your money working for someone els...

In this episode of Bankless by Design, Tricia sits down with Becca Wilhite—Nelson Nash Institute Authorized Practitioner and author of Beaver Bankers—to unpack Infinite Banking in real life. Becca shares how she went from a Dave-Ramsey-style skeptic to a confident practitioner after discovering that most families aren't "investing the difference"…they're spending it. You'll learn how IBC helps you...

Is Infinite Banking (IBC) just another "investment"… or a smarter way to finance life with control and liquidity? In this episode of Bankless by Design, Tricia Miller reframes the debate and walks through numbers that actually matter—cash value access, opportunity cost, velocity of money, guaranteed growth, and how policy design impacts real-life results. What you'll learn Why IBC with dividend-pa...

"Whole life is a scam." You've heard the line—usually followed by "just buy term and invest the difference." In this episode, Tricia Miller breaks down why that advice can leave families underinsured, overexposed to market volatility, and taxed more than they expect—and how dividend-paying whole life with the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) reframes the goal from chasing returns to financing life w...

When the system shuts down… how do you keep your family standing? In this special bonus episode, Tricia Miller, founder of Thrivewell: Bankless By Design, shares a personal story of how the recent government shutdown affected her own family — with multiple children and spouses furloughed or working without pay. This isn't just about politics — it's about preparation. Tricia reveals how the Infinit...

Uncovering the faith-filled origins of a misunderstood financial tool You've heard it before — "Whole Life Insurance is a scam." It's a phrase repeated by financial entertainers and echoed by well-meaning friends. But what if that familiar advice is built on misunderstanding... and the truth tells a very different story? In this episode of the Bankless by Design Podcast, Tricia Miller explores the...

Most people's first question about Infinite Banking is:  "Why would I pay interest to borrow my own money?" In this episode, we dig into that question and break down how policy loans really work—and why they're nothing like bank loans. You'll learn how uninterrupted compounding gives you an edge, why life insurance company terms are so flexible, and how you can save and spend at the same time. By...

In this episode, Tricia Miller answers one of the most common beginner questions:  How much premium do you really need to get started with Infinite Banking? Drawing from Nelson Nash's golden rules, real-life examples, and her own experience, Tricia explains why paying premium isn't a burden but an opportunity to build lasting wealth. You'll learn the importance of capitalizing boldly, thinking lon...

In this episode, Tricia Miller answers one of the most common beginner questions:  How much premium do you really need to get started with Infinite Banking? Drawing from Nelson Nash's golden rules, real-life examples, and her own experience, Tricia explains why paying premium isn't a burden but an opportunity to build lasting wealth. You'll learn the importance of capitalizing boldly, thinking lon...

In this episode, Tricia discusses how to get started with the Infinite Banking Concept and emphasizes the importance of adopting the right mindset in relation to money. Drawing on Nelson Nash's critical book 'Becoming Your Own Banker', she draws parallels between a story from the Gospels and the financial paradigm shift required for IBC. Join in as Tricia underscores the need to thoroughly study t...

Explore the three core problems the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) solves: losing interest to banks, the hidden cost of paying cash, and a lack of control over savings. Learn how IBC helps you recapture interest, eliminate lost opportunity costs, and gain liquidity, access, and financial control. Perfect for anyone tired of leaking dollars to mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and banks ,  this e...