Wealth Talks

Politics have a BIG impact on what we do with our money. Laws, rules, and regulations restrict and penalize us depending on where we store and how we use our money, and taxes cut a chunk right off the top regardless. But there is a financial tool left to us which is still, comparatively, free from restrictions and penalties. Find out more on Wealth Talks.

It isn't often one spends $50,000 in a single day without previously intending to, but sometimes it happens. Todays on Wealth Talks you'll hear the story and find out what "happened".   Resources: Building a Secure Financial Foundation :https://www.life-benefits.com/videos/how-to-build-a-secure-financial-foundation/ @brothersfabshop - Instagram

The new year is almost here. Starting January 1st we often see more people outside, walking, jogging or running working on their "resolutions". This usually lasts for a couple of weeks after which the people, as well as their resolutions perhaps, fade into obscurity. Are these resolutions not merely confessions? On today's episode with special guest Ben McFie, you will learn how to make New Year's...

As excited as everyone seems around Christmas, a lot of people report experiencing "post-holiday blues". Interestingly, over 40% of Americans go into debt to buy Christmas gifts. Might this new debt contribute to their post-holiday blues? We thought s

If you've been "around" in the insurance world, you've probably heard about a term rider. It is quite common to see an insurance policy with a term rider attached, but this doesn't mean it's a good idea. In fact, many times, putting a term rider on a policy makes no sense at all. Today on Wealth Talks, Tom and John discuss term riders and why they don't often like them.   Resources: Policy Class:...

Taxes have been around for a very long time indeed. If we look at the history of taxes in the United States, we notice a curious phenomenon... taxes rarely decrease over time. For some reason, taxes tend to go up! Guess what? They could be going up again! As cheerful as this may be to DC'ers, a few of us American citizens find this upsetting. So, what should we do to ensure we don't pay more in ta...

With college tuition increasing and student loans becoming a real problem, the question presents itself: Is college still worth it? Many college students graduate and work jobs completely unrelated to their degree. But at least they are thousands of dollars in debt. That always makes the future seem bright! Today on Wealth Talks, Tom and John take a hard look at college education. Is it necessary?...

There is a new rule pending approval which could dramatically change 401(k)s. If the ruling is approved, 401k plan managers, while choosing investments, will have to consider the ESG criteria (Environmental, Social and Governance factors) of investments for the plan. Generally speaking, fees on ESG funds are higher and there is some research which shows the ESG market may have already peaked.   De...

Ever heard that? It seems to be a prevailing theme nowadays. Look to the experts. Don't ask questions. Do what you're told. Looking to the experts is fine but relying solely on them can be catastrophic. We have to exercise discretion and make our own decisions. Today on Wealth Talks, Tom and John discuss some of the core thought processes we need to have to be financially savvy.

We live in a world of lies. This isn't anything new or unique to this time in history. We've been living in a world of lies for a long time. So, who should we trust? The government? Yeah, not us either. On today's episode, Tom and John share what we need to know to survive in our "world of lies". Resources: Relative Truth is No Truth - Podcast Understanding Different World Views - Interview with K...

Taxing the rich is a topic many elected officials harp on with a religious zeal. Despite their moral high tone, taxes on the rich seem to do more damage to the middle and lower classes. The income tax, supposedly to penalize rich tycoons, ended up being paid mostly by people other than the rich. Whoops! Guess it's time for a new tax. Any suggestions for a name? On today's episode, Tom and John dis...

Warning signs are supposed to offer us some degree of protection from the described danger. Yet a recent study shows they many have the opposite effect. Trivial warnings abound everywhere... especially in California where even a cup of coffee has been found to cause cancer. Of course, just because there is a "warning" doesn't mean it's really dangerous. The same holds true in the finance industry....

Taking a loan from a policy is easy, but there are questions that can arise. Will taking a loan decrease my death benefit? Why does the insurance company charge interest?  When should I pay off my policy loan? This week, Tom and John answer all these questions and many more. Listen Now on Wealth Talks. Resources How to Build Sustainable Wealth : https://www.life-benefits.com/store/

Lots of people seem to be gung-ho on investing in the market. Whether they're trying to make a lot or make a little, build their dream home or supplement social security. Sometimes these folks only know enough to be dangerous. This episode is a chilling reminder as to how rough and unpredictable a road the market can be in reality. And talking of social security. What's might happen to this progra...

America has been the face of benevolence for years. Has this benevolence contributed to the deterioration of America today? It is good to be compassionate and sharing, but we need to make sure we are not giving away what we need to take care of our own responsibilities. Listen in as Tom and John address the problem of benevolence and possible side-effects in your personal finances as well as at a...

September 17-18th marked our first LIVE event since early 2020. It was wonderful! Seeing people in person, face to face, is something no Zoom conference can replace. Today on Wealth Talks, Tom and John are joined by Michele. Together, they give you a brief synopsis of the event. Resources: https://www.life-benefits.com/ store-detail/#sw-seminar

Taxes are unpleasant, yet it is important to plan for them if one wants to pay as little as possible. Sadly, many people are planning in a way that will cost them in the long run. Today, Tom and John are joined by special guest Martha Baker-Starr, a Certified Tax Coach ™. Together, they talk about the importance of planning for taxes over the long term. Listen now on WealthTalks. Contact: Martha@P...

We put fences around our homes and locks on our doors to protect our physical property. But do we do anything to protect our intellectual property? Coca-Cola, MacDonald's and Nike sure have, but what about us? Intellectual property is extremely important and should be properly protected, but it's tough to know how to do so. Should you file for a Copyright? Trademark? Patent? Even if you know which...

Average returns don't mean actual returns. On the surface this doesn't sound like it would be a huge issue. But it is.    In addition, the benefit of a 401(k) tax deferral used to be estimated about 9%, but not anymore. And fees continue taking a steady told each year which erodes your compounding base.    These factors, as well as liquidity issues and insufficient accumulation of funds in most pl...

Many of those who speak about the evils of making money are the ones who aren't making any. Today on WealthTalks, Tom and John talk about why Earning money, as well as Keeping and Giving money, are so important to building and sustaining a strong society. Make sure your children learn about the flow of money and value in meaningful ways as they grow up, so they can become more productive and creat...

Interest is often seen as a negative thing, but is it? Many people confuse interest with usury, but the two are distinctly different. Today on Wealth Talks, you will learn the difference between interest and usury, and how to use interest to your advantage. Also, Tom and John share the next big thing they see coming in the financial world and what you can do to prepare. Ready to take control of yo...

Was your question answered? A few weeks ago, Tom and John devoted an episode to answering questions from you, our listeners. But they didn't get to all of them . This week, Tom and John are back to answer those questions. Also, check out the details for our upcoming LIVE event. Sustainable Wealth Seminar Sept 17-18th

Many people want to know… should they pay extra interest to their policies? This is not a simple yes or no question. The answer will vary based on few different factors, including how the policy was designed. On this episode Tom and John dig into policy design and whether or not paying extra in interest make sense. Sustainable Wealth Seminar Sept 17-18th: https://www.life-benefits.com/sustainable-...

Tom and John are joined on Wealth Talks by Dr. Steve Hryszczuk. Dr. Hryszczuk, a Life Benefits client for many years, has carefully managed his policies to successfully invest in real estate as well as financing other things in his life. Today, he shares the different ways he has been able to use his policies, as well as sharing some sound thinking for investing in real estate. He sends 2 pictures...