Wealth strategies

Some strategies need a specialist. I'll connect you with the right one.

Indexed Universal Life (IUL), Debt Free Life, and Infinite Banking are real strategies that fit specific situations — and they're three of the most mis-sold products in the insurance industry. Here's what each one is, and why, if one fits your situation, I'd rather connect you with a specialist than try to do this work part-time myself.

Talk through what fits or read on first
Why I refer these out

I do my work well. So do they.

The protection side of insurance — term life, mortgage protection, final expense, disability and critical illness, policy reviews — is the work I'm in every day. I shop the carriers, walk people through underwriting, sort out the medical questions, and stay in your corner years later when something in your life changes.

IUL, Debt Free Life, and Infinite Banking are a different kind of work. They live or die on policy design, illustration analysis, and tax-aware structuring — and the difference between one done right and one done poorly is the difference between a strategy that holds up for thirty years and one you wish you'd never started.

So I built relationships with people who do that work the way I do mine. If something on this page fits your situation, I'd rather hand you to someone whose whole practice is built around it than place one myself and hope it holds up.

And if you don't yet know whether one of these fits, that's the conversation to have first. We'll talk it through honestly — sometimes the answer is "yes, let me introduce you," and sometimes it's "not yet, here's what I'd do first."

The three strategies

What each one is, in plain English.

Strategy one

Indexed Universal Life (IUL)

What it is
A more permanent form of life insurance with cash value tied to a market index (commonly the S&P 500). Downside is protected by a 0% floor; upside is limited by a cap.
The appeal
Tax-deferred growth, tax-free loans against cash value, lifelong death benefit, downside protection during market crashes.
The reality
Highly dependent on policy design and assumed return rates. Often mis-sold with overly optimistic illustrations that don't pan out 15+ years later.
Who it might fit
People who are already maxing out their employer match 401(k), with stable income for 15+ years of premiums, who want a tax-diversified retirement bucket.
Strategy two

Debt Free Life

What it is
A strategy that uses a permanent life insurance policy's cash value to systematically pay down debts faster while building wealth alongside the payoff.
The appeal
Pay off debts in years rather than decades; build cash value during the same period instead of just paying interest to lenders.
The reality
Requires positive cash flow, disciplined execution, and proper policy design. The math has to work for your specific debt mix and income.
Who it might fit
Stable-income earners with manageable debt who could realistically execute a disciplined long-term plan.
Strategy three

Infinite Banking

What it is
A concept (popularized by Nelson Nash) that uses high-cash-value whole life insurance as a personal "banking" system — borrow against the policy for major purchases, repay yourself with interest.
The appeal
"Be your own bank," control over your capital, tax-advantaged borrowing, multi-generational wealth transfer.
The reality
Requires high premium commitment, takes years to build meaningful cash value, and a long-term mindset. The "concept" is a strategy, not a product — execution varies widely between practitioners.
Who it might fit
High-earning households with 15+ year time horizons, strong cash flow, and an interest in long-term wealth strategies.
What's real and what's overhyped

The honest version, across all three.

What's real

  • These can be useful tools when matched to the right situation
  • Tax advantages are real (when policies are designed correctly)
  • Cash value mechanics work as advertised, with caveats around fees and time
  • For high earners with long horizons, they can complement other accounts well
  • Permanent insurance does provide real lifelong coverage
  • Used properly, these strategies can build meaningful long-term wealth

What's overhyped

  • "Tax-free retirement plan" framing — neither IUL nor DFL is a retirement account
  • "7702 plan" / "rich man's Roth" — sales jargon, not technical product names
  • Specific income projections in illustrations — these depend on assumptions that may not happen
  • "Replace your 401(k)" — most people should max their employer match first
  • "What advisors don't want you to know" framing — usually a red flag from the agent
Who I refer to

A small network I trust to do this honestly.

I have working relationships with a small number of advisors who specialize in these strategies. They design policies daily — not occasionally. They run conservative illustrations rather than aggressive ones. Their books are built on long-term execution and client retention rather than first-year commissions and quick exits.

It's a warm transfer, not a hand-off. I introduce you on the call, share what we've already talked through so you don't have to repeat yourself, and stay on as your sounding board. They lead the conversation about the strategy itself; I'm there to make sure you're comfortable and that the right questions get asked.

If you talk things through and decide it isn't a fit, that's a useful answer too. You won't owe anyone anything for the conversation, and we keep working together on your other coverage without it being awkward.

How the referral works

Three steps, and you're in good hands.

01

We talk first

About your situation, what's drawing you to one of these strategies, what you're trying to accomplish, and what your overall picture looks like. Sometimes the answer is "yes, let me bring in the right person." Sometimes it's "not yet — here's what I'd line up first."

02

I bring in the specialist

When a referral makes sense, we book a call on the expert's calendar. I share the context of our conversation so you don't have to start from scratch — they show up already knowing who you are and what you're considering.

03

I stay on as your support

It's a warm transfer, not a hand-off. The specialist leads on policy design, illustrations, the application, and the long-term service of that strategy. I'm there to make sure the right questions get asked, you stay comfortable, and your full coverage picture stays joined up.

Common questions

About referrals and these strategies.

Why don't you just sell these yourself?
Because doing them well takes specialization I haven't built. The protection work I do every day is its own discipline; designing and managing IUL, Debt Free Life, or Infinite Banking is another. I'd rather hand you to someone whose whole practice is built around it than place one for you and hope it holds up over the next thirty years.
Can I come back to you for other insurance needs?
Of course. Most of my clients have me handle their protection coverage — term life, mortgage protection, final expense, disability — and consider these strategies separately. Referring you out for IUL or Debt Free Life doesn't end our relationship; it's part of how I work.
Is there a fee for the conversation with you?
No. Talking through whether one of these strategies might fit your situation is free. So is the introduction to a specialist if it makes sense. The specialist's first conversation is also typically free, though that's their policy not mine — confirm with them.
What if I want to learn more before deciding?
That's the right instinct with these products. Read independently — not just material from agents who sell them. Look for sources that include the trade-offs and failure modes, not just the benefits. When you're ready to talk through what you've learned, I'm happy to be a sounding board.
If you're considering one of these

Let's talk through what fits — and who fits you.

Tell me what you're considering, what's drawing you to it, and what your overall financial picture looks like. We'll talk through whether one of these strategies actually fits, and if so, I'll connect you with the right specialist.

Licensed in 7 states · NPN 22066980 · Verify my licenses