Podcast appearances and mentions of david mcknight

David McKnight looks at why many people wait until the fourth quarter to do a Roth conversion, the potential penalties, and what can be done to avoid having to pay underpayment penalties to the IRS. David begins the episode by highlighting the fact that a lot of investors wait until Q4 before they do a Roth conversion – and they prefer to pay taxes on it in cash instead of simply having the taxes withheld by the IRS. From a mathematical standpoint, it's the correct thing to do because it allows you to get 100% of the converted dollars into your tax-free account. However, if you didn't pay quarterly taxes on that income evenly throughout the year, the IRS can charge you an underpayment penalty! The IRS' safe harbor rules can spare you from any underpayment penalty for a Q4 Roth conversion, if certain requirements are met… David goes over two scenarios in which you wouldn't have to pay an  underpayment penalty, as well as when, and why, you may need to file Form 2210 A1. Make sure to familiarize yourself with Form 2210 A1 because, as David puts it, it will “become your best friend if you're hoping to avoid underpayment penalties on a fourth quarter Roth conversion.”     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Form 2210

Are you ready to rewrite your money story and unlock financial freedom without sacrificing your deepest values? I'm thrilled to introduce you to Dawn Santoriello, a certified financial planner with a unique approach to wealth building for women entrepreneurs. Dawn shares her incredible journey from scarcity to success, revealing how she overcame profound money blocks to create a thriving financial practice. We often carry generational beliefs about money, and Dawn emphasizes the importance of clearing those untrue messages to truly experience financial harmony. She's not just talking about numbers; she's talking about a holistic approach to financial wellness for women that integrates your aspirations with actionable strategies. This episode will help you understand that a financial strategy isn't just about investing; it's about shifting your money mindset to one of abundance and possibility. ☑️ Discover why some common financial beliefs might be holding you back from your desired retirement planning and wealth management. ☑️ Learn about the powerful concept of a tax roadmap and how to prepare for a tax-efficient retirement, ensuring your hard-earned money works for you. ☑️ Get a sneak peek into the foundational steps of investing for women that go beyond surface-level advice, creating a solid path to financial success mindset. If you're a driven woman ready to create massive forward momentum in your business and your personal finances, this episode is a must-listen. Dawn's insights, combined with her book, "Manifest and Invest," offer a fresh approach to transforming your financial future.  More About Dawn: Dawn Santoriello, CFP®, is the founder and CEO of DS Financial Strategies, a fee-based financial planning firm dedicated to helping women, couples, and entrepreneurs across the U.S. achieve their financial goals. Based near Philadelphia, Dawn specializes in comprehensive, tax-efficient strategies that empower clients to maximize their wealth and minimize their tax burden. With over 20 years of experience, she focuses on not only growing wealth but also protecting it by reducing unnecessary tax liabilities. A best-selling author of "Manifest and Invest: Live Your Best Life, Get Your Money Right," named 2024 Best Financial Book by Best Holistic Life Magazine, Dawn is also a member of prestigious groups like Ed Slott's Master Elite IRA Advisor Group and David McKnight's Power of Zero Advisory Group. Her unique "Releasing the 5 Biggest Money Blocks Holding You Back" methodology connects financial strategies with personal wellness, addressing both practical and emotional barriers to success. Dawn's expertise has been featured in major publications like Forbes, ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX, reflecting her commitment to helping clients build long-term wealth with clarity and peace of mind. Business Profit Blueprint https://go.dsfinancialstrategies.com/launch Website www.dsfinancialstrategies.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DSfinancialstrategies/ https://www.facebook.com/dawnsantoriello Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dsfinancialstrategies/ https://www.instagram.com/dawnsantoriello/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnsantoriello/ HOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU

In today's episode, David McKnight focuses on whether you should do a Roth conversion, how much you should convert per year, and whether it's possible to over-convert to Roth. David explains that an effective tax rate is the actual percentage of your income that you pay in taxes after accounting for deductions, exemptions, and credits. For David, the only reason you should do a Roth conversion is if you believe that your effective tax rate in retirement will be higher than your marginal tax rate today. David touches upon a couple of reasons why your effective tax rate in retirement could be higher than your marginal tax rate today. Remember: the national debt is projected to be $57 trillion by 2035. If Trump extends his tax cuts, you can layer another $5 trillion right on top of that… According to a recent Penn Wharton study, if the U.S. doesn't right its fiscal ship of state by 2040, no combination of raising taxes or reducing spending will arrest the nation's financial collapse. Before undertaking your Roth conversion strategy, you have to remember that in retirement, absent any other deduction, the IRS will give you a deduction called standard deduction. The standard deduction is $30,000 if you retired today as a married couple and $15,000 as a single filer. David illustrates a scenario that can lead you to fall into the Roth IRA over-conversion trap. Your goal should be to keep your balance in your IRA or 401(k) low enough that required minimum distributions in retirement are equal to or less than your standard deduction, but also low enough that they don't cause Social Security taxation. David has done the math: if you don't have a pension or other residual taxable income, you want to keep between $300,00 and $400,000 in your 401(k) or IRA in retirement. Got a sizable pension or another significant source of taxable income? Then, your ideal balance would be much closer to zero. It's crucial that, when converting your money, you do it slowly enough that you don't rise into a tax bracket that gives you heartburn, but quickly enough that you get all the heavy lifting done before tax rates go up for good. If Trump ends up extending his tax cuts, they'll expire at the end of 2033. That means that somewhere between 2034 and 2040 tax rates will likely rise in dramatic fashion. By including the 2025 tax year, that gives you nine full years during which you can execute your Roth conversion strategy.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Donald Trump Penn Wharton

David McKnight looks at Target Date Funds (TDFs) and why their set-it-and-forget-it approach to investing is NOT something you should rely on. David kicks things off by explaining how TDFs work, including why they tend to be a popular option for novice investors. While it sounds like an excellent approach, David points out two major flaws. “A lot of the problems with TDFs come down to sustainable withdrawal rates in retirement,” says David. The 4% Rule consists of you being able to withdraw 4% of your day one balance in retirement, adjusted every year thereafter for inflation. Unfortunately, a TDF is fundamentally incompatible with the 4% Rule. Since the 4% Rule is the most expensive way to ensure that you don't run out of money in retirement, David suggests doing something else.  He recommends figuring out what your retirement shortfall is and then buying a Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity to help bridge your income gap.  While being on a glide path or relying on a set-it-and-forget-it approach may sound like a good idea, it actually isn't conducive to evaluating the strategies that will help you reap the most efficiency from your retirement savings.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com

In this episode of the Power of Zero Show, host David McKnight discusses the scenario in which you have maxed out your 401(k) and are wondering where you should invest the rest of your money. The episode kicks off with David addressing the type of 401(k)s you should be investing in first. There are two types of 401(k)s: the traditional pre-tax 401(k) and the Roth 401(k). Should you go for a traditional 401(k) or a Roth 401(k)? It all depends on whether you think your tax bracket is likely to be lower or higher in retirement… With the national debt set to hit $62 trillion by the year 2035, David believes that, “There isn't any way the Federal Government can service that type of debt without increasing taxes.”  Planning on retiring past 2035 and you're currently in the 24% tax bracket? Then, David recommends opting for a Roth 401(k). This year, you can put $23,500 into your Roth 401(k) if you're younger than 50, and $31,000 if you're over the age of 50. David talks about what to do if you're married and have maxed out your Roth 401(k), as well as what you can do if your modified adjusted gross income is less than $246,000 as a married couple, or $161,000 as a single filer. David illustrates the scenario in which relying on a LIRP (Life Insurance Retirement Plan) would make sense. According to a recent Ernst & Young study, if you can save between 3 and 5 years worth of living expenses in your LIRP by day 1 of retirement, you can increase the sustainable withdrawal rate of your stock portfolio from 4% to as high as 8%. David points out that there's no limit on how much you can put into your LIRP and, unlike with what happens with Roth contributions, you are not constrained by your modified adjusted gross income level. Another point in favor of opting for a LIRP is the fact that it grows safely and productively – the growth of the money in your LIRP is linked to the upward movement of a stock market index. Whatever that index does in any given year, you get to keep up to a cap that's typically between 10% and 12%. Index going down? Then, you're simply credited a zero.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Ernst & Young

In this episode of the Power of Zero Show, host David McKnight addresses the claim that sees Paul Atkins owning 54 life insurance policies for an astounding 10% of his $327 million net worth. Someone may ask themselves why someone with such a massive net worth would own so many life insurance policies…and even why someone who has equity in Chinese tech giant Alibaba, holdings in cryptocurrency, and stakes in venture capital firms would also want their wealth growing in cash value life insurance policies. Looking at Atkins, who's President Trump's nominee to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission, can help understand how the ultra-wealthy view taxes and wealth accumulation. One possibility could be that Paul Atkins may have exhausted all of the usual sources of tax-deferred and tax-free growth available to him through government-sponsored retirement plans.  Something worth remembering: Cash Value Life Insurance policies don't have any income threshold, and they have no contribution limits at all. A second potential scenario that has led Atkins to have over 50 life insurance policies is that he might be looking for a way to diversify his holdings. David points out to the fact that owning shares in single stocks like Alibaba – like Atkins does – can be a fairly risky proposition. Cash value and life insurance policies like whole life or IULs, on the other hand, aren't exposed to market risk. There's yet another possibility: Atkins may not be the insured on all the policies. According to the ethics filings, the cash value of the policies in question ranges from as low as $1,000 to well over $1 million. For some experts, that may be a sign that Atkins is investing in life settlements. The final potential scenario is the one in which Atkins owns all the policies for the purpose of estate planning. David points out that there are many more efficient ways to purchase life insurance policies than buying 54 separate contracts David shares that he understands the concept of wanting to spread your risk out among multiple carriers, but feels that doing so through the purchase of 54 different policies is a bit extreme. David points out that diversifying away from the stock market with some of your portfolio is, typically, a good idea. Want safe and productive growth without the risks associated with traditional bond allocations? Look at cash value life insurance policies, says David. Remember: cash value life insurance can also be beneficial because many carriers allow you to receive your death benefit in advance of your death. While it's true that cash value life insurance isn't for everyone, Paul Atkins ethics disclosure shows that it can play a critical role in someone's long-term wealth-building strategy.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Paul Atkins Alibaba

In this episode of the Power of Zero Show, host David McKnight looks at every possible tax or cost that may result from a Roth conversion. The first tax you'll have to pay when executing a Roth conversion is federal income tax.  Whatever portion of your IRA you convert to Roth is realized as ordinary income and piled right on top of all your other income. David is an advocate for not converting to Roth unless you think your federal tax rate in retirement is likely to be higher than it is today. The second tax you could end up paying when doing a Roth conversion is state tax. The situation will vary depending on where you live – in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, you don't have to pay state tax, including on Roth conversion. Do you live in Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, or Pennsylvania? Then, you'll have to pay state tax, but Roth conversions are exempted. If you're thinking about moving to one of these states to avoid paying these taxes, just know that, while they may not charge income tax on Roth conversions, they do make up for it in other ways (sales and property tax, for example). IRMAA – the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – is the third cost you could end up paying when doing a Roth conversion. IRMAA represents an additional charge you could be required to pay on your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. The next potential tax you could pay as a result of doing a Roth conversion is Social Security taxation. The fifth cost you could incur because of a Roth conversion is NIIT (Net Investment Income Tax) – also known as the Obamacare surtax. NIIT is a 3.8% surtax on the lesser of your net investment income or the amount of your modified adjusted gross income that exceeds the threshold of $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married filing jointly. The sixth tax you could potentially pay as a result of doing a Roth conversion is an indirect one and results from the phase out of certain credits or deductions. The list of credits and deductions includes child tax credits, student loan interest deductions, the saver's credit, and education credits. Underpayment penalties is the seventh tax you could potentially pay by doing a Roth conversion. David explains that many people opt to pay taxes on their Roth conversion in the fourth quarter. The problem, however, lies in the fact that when you pay the taxes on your Roth conversion out of cash in the fourth quarter, the IRS expects you to have paid taxes on that Roth conversion evenly throughout the year. The eighth and final tax you could end up paying as a result of doing a Roth conversion applies to those who are getting health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Does your Roth conversion push you above the subsidy threshold? If so, know that you could have a partial or total loss of subsidies or may have to repay subsidies at tax time. “Think of all of these additional taxes or costs as tradeoffs, not problems or unintended consequences,” says David. For example, you may pay increased Social Security taxation during your Roth conversion period, but will then eliminate Social Security taxation altogether by the time your conversion is complete. If President Trump extends his tax cuts, then the national debt will grow to $62 trillion by 2035. Most experts believe that the only way we can service this massive debt load is to dramatically increase income tax rates. According to a recent Penn Wharton study, if the U.S. doesn't right its fiscal ship by 2040, no combination of raising taxes or reducing spending will prevent the nation's financial collapse. Remember: while it's true that Roth conversions do cause you to pay additional taxes and expenses in the short term, they do dramatically reduce those costs over the balance of your life, once your conversion is complete. Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Penn Wharton

If you're like many Americans, the bulk of your retirement savings likely sits in tax-deferred accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. But when tax rates rise—as many experts predict they will—how much of your hard-earned money will you actually get to keep? With the national debt growing at an unsustainable pace and entitlement programs placing increasing pressure on the federal budget, significant tax increases appear inevitable. In this episode, we're honored to welcome David McKnight—nationally renowned tax expert and bestselling author of The Power of Zero, Tax-Free Income for Life, and The Guru Gap. David draws from years of experience and collaboration with leading tax authorities, including insights from his documentary film The Power of Zero: The Tax Train Is Coming. America has made financial promises it simply can't keep. With the national debt projected to hit $62 trillion by 2034, no combination of tax hikes or spending cuts appears capable of reversing the course. The “tax train” is coming—and retirement savers must prepare. One of the most powerful tools for protecting your retirement income is converting tax-deferred accounts to Roth IRAs. Doing so—particularly within favorable brackets like the 24%—can dramatically reduce your long-term tax exposure. But it must be done strategically to avoid unnecessary tax consequences. In this episode, we explore: Rising Taxes as a Retirement Risk Strategic Tax Planning for Retirement Strategic Roth Conversions Why Timing – especially before 2034 – is critical As an independent & full-service financial planning firm, Wise Wealth gives truly objective advice. If you want a retirement plan tailored to your goals and your future, we're here to help.

In this episode of The Power of Zero Show, host David McKnight looks at Doug Andrew's recent video in which he implored his audience to never use a Roth IRA or a Roth 401(k) again. Andrew sees Indexed Universal Life insurance (IUL) as far superior and believes it should be the source of the vast majority of your distributions in retirement. While David likes IUL in certain circumstances, he isn't a fan of sales strategies that debase every other viable tax-free alternative in an effort to exalt IULs. For David, the video is riffed with errors, exaggerations and omissions. Moreover, Andrew's video appears to have an obvious pre-commitment to persuading you to reposition the lion's share of your retirement savings into an IUL. In the video, Doug Andrew's liking for IUL as the top investment vehicle is evident. At the beginning of his video, Andrew says that he will explain why the IUL is far superior to the Roth IRA. David believes that the choice should never be between a Roth IRA and an IUL or between a Roth 401(k) and an IUL. Remember: your tax-free strategy can incorporate as many as SIX DIFFERENT STREAMS of tax-free income, not just the IUL… And every one of these tax-free income strategies has unique qualities that set them apart from all the others. Don't forget about what your #1 goal should be: to take advantage of every tax-free nook and cranny in the IRS tax code. David lists the qualities that tools such as Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s and Roth conversions have and that IULs do not have. One of the unique things about IULs is that they give you a death benefit that doubles as long-term care and helps grow your money safely and productively. David touches upon what he considers “wild claims” featured in Doug Andrew's video. An example of inaccurate or untrue information shared by Andrew is that the IUL's expenses will be paid out of the money that would have otherwise gone to pay a tax… which is wrong! Contributions to Roth IRAs and IULs are both made with after-tax dollars. “If anyone ever debases a Roth IRA or a Roth 401(k) in an attempt to sell you an IUL, you should run – not walk – the other way,” concludes David.   Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Doug Andrew Doug's video - Why You Should Never Use a Roth IRA Again (6 Reasons Why)

David McKnight goes through his five cardinal rules for doing a Roth conversion. The first principle is simple: don't do a Roth conversion that bumps you into a tax bracket that gives you heartburn. Not sure about what a heartburn-inducing tax bracket looks like? David shares a simple “rule of thumb” you can follow. In your zeal to get your Roth conversion done before tax rates go up for good, don't bump into the 32% tax bracket along the way. The second cardinal rule ties into the almost certainty that Congress will extend the Trump tax cuts through 2033 – make sure to stretch your tax liability out between now and then! There's a strong likelihood that, once Trump's second round of tax cuts expire, taxes will rise dramatically in 2034. The reason for that? The trajectory of the national debt and over $200 trillion in unfunded obligations for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The third principle is “Don't lose your sleep over IRMAA (Income Related Monthly Adjusted Amount) during your Roth conversion period.” Many people are reluctant to do Roth conversions because they don't want their Medicare premiums to increase. Remember: your premiums would only go up over the period in which you're executing your Roth conversion strategy – that's nine years or less…  David recommends having a “rip the band-aid off” approach when it comes to both IRMAA and Roth conversions. Cardinal principle #4: whenever possible, pay the tax on your Roth conversion out of your taxable investments like a brokerage account or cash. David sees six months of basic living expenses as the ideal balance in your taxable bucket. The fifth and final cardinal rule is “know your ideal balance in your tax-deferred bucket before executing your Roth conversion strategy”. David shares a good mathematical reason for not converting 100% of your IRA to Roth even if you think that your tax rate down the road is likely to be higher than it is today. A cheat code to help you establish the ideal balance in your tax-deferred accounts: if you're married, it's about $400,000 (if you don't have a pension or other sources of residual income). Are you single? Then, it's about half that amount.  Keep in mind that a lot will depend on how much Social Security you're planning on receiving in retirement. Over at DavidMcKnight.com you can find a calculator to help you with all of this. Following these five principles will help insulate your money from higher taxes, pay less taxes along the way, and increase the likelihood that your money will last as long as you do.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com

Wondering when you should start thinking about a Roth conversion? That's exactly what David McKnight dives into in this episode of The Power of Zero Show. The retirement valley is that dip in taxable income that happens after you retire but before RMDs kick in – at age 73 or 75, depending on your birth year. David walks through an example: you've got $2 million in your IRA and want to convert all of it to Roth. If you take action during that valley, you can convert more while staying in the 24% tax bracket the whole time. Not taking action now? Think of 2035 as the year tax rates are set to jump! Why? Because interest on unfunded promises like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid has to be paid somehow. Intrigued by the idea of a Roth conversion? Just make sure you move your money slowly enough to avoid jumping into a painful tax bracket. A Roth conversion helps protect you from tax rate risk – the chance that future taxes will be much higher than today's. Worried about a financial collapse? A recent Penn Wharton study points to 2040 as a year to watch. Even raising taxes or cutting spending may not be enough to stop what's coming… David says 2035 will be a turning point. He predicts tax rates then could look like they did in the 1960s, when the top rate hit a jaw-dropping 89%. There are two big reasons to take advantage of the retirement income valley while you can. David shares two smart strategies to help you boost your tax-free retirement plan, and make your savings last longer.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Penn Wharton

David McKnight addresses the most efficient order in which to spend your assets in retirement. Online programs and algorithms that forecast and run calculations related to your retirement assets suggest starting with your tax-deferred assets like 401(k)s or IRAs. Such tools recommend spending down your tax-deferred assets now, when tax rates are low, and your tax-free assets later – when tax rates are likely to be higher than they are today. Reminder: regardless of the distribution strategy you choose, it should aim to maximize the likelihood that your money lasts as long as you do. David's recommended strategy involves spending small slivers of each of your assets all in the same year. In other words, instead of mowing through one asset class all at once and then moving on to the next, you spend a little from each asset over time. There's a scenario in which you could receive your Social Security 100% tax-free – this could extend the life of all your other resources by five to seven years. David explains why you shouldn't aim to spend down all your tax-deferred assets in the early years. David touches upon using a Roth conversion as a strategy. Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s, and tax-free Social Security (when you can keep your provisional income low enough) are other sources of tax-free income you may accumulate along the way. David discusses why it may be better to take a more nuanced approach, rather than simply spending down your tax-deferred assets first and your tax-free assets later.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com

It's an exciting day on The Retirement Inside Out Podcast! Guest host Shawn Sigler, Executive VP at FIG, is taking over the mic today for a special conversation with David McKnight- best-selling author, speaker, and financial strategist. With over two decades of experience in the financial industry, David has helped countless advisors transform their approach to retirement planning through his Power of Zero program. David will share some powerful insights from his book, The Power of Zero, and discuss the inspiration behind his latest bestseller The Guru Gap. Shawn and David also dive into why financial advisors are seeing massive success with the Power of Zero marketing program. If you're tired of cold calls, dinner seminars, or unpredictable prospecting, this system might be what you've been searching for! Here's some of what we discuss in this episode: David's background, the Power of Zero message, and partnership with FIG Why David wrote his new book, The Guru Gap The benefits of starting a YouTube channel for financial advisors The success advisors are having inside the Power of Zero program Next steps if you're interested in learning more about the Power of Zero Resources for this episode: Learn more about The Power of Zero: https://www.powerofzero.com/ David's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxUwL7NvZUyLfgO18h3e2g Learn About FIG: https://www.figmarketing.com  800-527-1155

Some years ago I interviewed David McKnight about a collection of Canadian “little magazines” he'd hunted down and later donated to the University of Alberta's Bruce Peel Library. It was very easy to get caught up in David's enthusiasm, and I was really impressed by the catalogue he'd produced. Shortly after our conversation I learned that he didn't just collect Canadian poetry, he was also a serious Beatles collector. We stayed in touch. I drove down to Philadelphia where David hosted me at his home for a weekend. We got a lot done. Took the train into New York for the opening of a film about a bookseller; went on a tour of the rare book and manuscript library at the University of Pennsylvania where David worked at the time as director; attended the Allentown Paper Fair where I picked up some old Fortune and New York Times magazines. It was great. A non-stop exchanging of excited thoughts about books, collecting, and cool periodicals. Share I've been wanting to interview David about The Fab Four ever since I learned of his passion. He's a real expert on the band. I was particularly keen to find out about his personal relationship to the music, and of course, about his experience collecting and documenting its impact on print culture, internationally, high and low. Finally, after years of talking about it, we got down to business. The albums, the books - from limited editions to paperbacks - the magazines, the fan zines, the ephemera, the scrap-books, the puzzles. Liverpool. It's all here.

Today's episode of The Power of Zero Show looks at a recent podcast episode in which Suze Orman recommended having three to five years of living expenses in cash during retirement. Experts have long debated the rate at which retirees can draw down their assets while maintaining a high likelihood of not running out of money before they die. Since the early ‘90s, the gold standard for sustainable distributions has been the 4% Rule. According to the 4% Rule, whether the market goes up or down, you can reliably withdraw 4% each year with high confidence that you won't outlive your money. David McKnight points out that Orman's advice – keeping money in a volatility buffer account – is at odds with her stance on sustainable withdrawal rates. For Suze Orman, you shouldn't be taking 4% withdrawals from your retirement portfolio. Instead, she recommends a 3% distribution rate. Studies show that if you withdraw only 3%, regardless of market conditions, you have a near 100% chance of never running out of money. David believes that by promoting the 3% rule AND encouraging people to keep 3-5 years of living expenses in a savings account, Suze Orman is doing a disservice to her listeners. The first problem with Orman's advice is that, while she got the volatility buffer concept right, she failed to adjust her sustainable withdrawal rate accordingly. Following Orman's approach could result in massive loss of purchasing power by keeping a significant portion of your net worth in a low-yielding savings account over an extended period. David explores whether there's a “safe and productive” way to grow your money during retirement. Cash value life insurance, specifically in the form of Indexed Universal Life (IUL), is a financial vehicle that protects against market loss and grows at a rate of 5-7% (net of fees) over time – within a tax-free environment. David wraps up with some final words of advice for Suze Orman.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Suze Orman's Podcast

In this special episode recorded live at The College's Horizons 2025 conference, Professor of Practice Steve Parrish, JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP® speaks with author David McKnight about the ubiquitous nature of financial planning “gurus” in the media today and how their advice, while it may give your clients comfort, may not always be in their best interest. They talk about how to differentiate sound advice from sound bites, and why financial professionals should keep open dialogues with clients about things they hear and what's backed up by the facts. Any views or opinions expressed in this podcast are the hosts' and guests' own and do not necessarily represent those of The American College of Financial Services. For more episodes, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

This episode of The Power of Zero Show is part of David McKnight's podcast interview with Caleb Guilliams and Tom Wall, PhD. David touches upon a recent Ernst & Young study where whole life insurance was used as a buffer-type strategy. When it comes to the “risk continuum”, David sees IUL as slightly on the right side of whole life insurance. IUL is something worth doing only if you think that risk premium can get you a slightly higher rate of return over time. David recognizes that IUL has risks but that, in exchange for those risks, you can get somewhat of a higher rate of return.  Whole life policies aren't something David sees as designed to build money up and then take money out permanently. One of the reasons why David likes the IUL is because you can find a carrier that gives you a guaranteed 0% loan. Some may argue that Wade Pfau, who wrote the foreword for David's latest book, The Guru Gap, prefers whole life instead of IUL. David's stated objective is to build up your net worth as effectively as you can. His suggestion for the accumulation period is to save as well as you can and to mostly invest in stocks. David explains his preference for IUL over whole life policies.   Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Ernst & Young Dave Ramsey Wade Pfau

Today's episode of The Power of Zero Show features part of David McKnight's conversation with Caleb Guilliams and Tom Wall, PhD. David kicks things off by addressing the liquidity issue. Handing a chunk of your retirement savings over to an insurance company in exchange for a stream of income that's guaranteed to last as long as you do sounds great in principle, but people often have consternation about it… The thought of losing liquidity on a significant portion of their net worth is what prevents some Americans from opting for SPEAs and DIAAs. David explains why a fixed index annuity can be a valuable resource to leverage. David discusses what the annuity industry tends to do.  In his book, Tax-Free Income for Life, David illustrates the so-called “piecemeal” internal Roth conversion. An internal Roth conversion allows you to convert your annuity into a Roth IRA – with an amount of your choosing and over a timeframe your financial plan calls for. Tom Wall discusses the two phases of an annuity, the accumulation and distribution phases, as well as the repercussions of the perceived loss of liquidity.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com

This episode of The Power of Zero Show is part of David McKnight's conversation with Caleb Guilliams and Tom Wall, PhD. David touches upon the “dangerous partnership” between the American people and the IRS. David is an advocate for a balanced, comprehensive, approach to tax-free retirement – he explains why that's the case. One of the things David likes about IULs is the fact that they can perform specific applications that no other stream of income, such as Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s, can do. David goes over the unique trait of each of the streams of tax-free income he sees as key components of “the Holy Grail of financial planning”. A Roth IRA, for example, gives you immediate liquidity, while a Roth 401(k) gives you a match. A Roth Conversion allows you to convert an unlimited amount of assets to tax-free. Taking money out of your IRA up to your standard deduction allows you to get a deduction on the front end, grow your money tax-deferred, and take your money out tax-free. An IUL, on the other hand, enables you to get a death benefit in advance, for the purpose of paying for long-term care. A balanced, comprehensive, approach to tax-free retirement capitalizes on all the nooks and crannies in the IRS tax code. David is in agreement with a recent Ernst & Young study inviting people to have 30% of their retirement savings go towards cash-value life insurance. Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com TikTok Ernst & Young

In this episode of The Power of Zero Show, David McKnight addresses different strategies for tax-free retirement planning in 2025. Most Americans are a little nervous when it comes to the fiscal trajectory of the U.S.. According to expert forecasts, the likely extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts would take the current $36 trillion of national debt beyond the estimated $54 trillion by 2034 – taking it all the way to $59 trillion. A recent Penn Wharton study predicts that if the U.S. doesn't right its fiscal ship of state by 2034, no combination of raising taxes or cutting spending will arrest the financial collapse of the nation. “Former Comptroller General of the Federal Government David Walker says that we may have to double tax rates within the next 10 years in order to keep our country solvent”, says David McKnight. Something important to consider is how to best shield your retirement savings from the potential tsunami of higher taxes down the road. David recommends creating a balanced, comprehensive strategy that takes advantage of all the “nooks and crannies” in the IRS tax code. The cost of getting money into tax-free vehicles is that you have to be willing to pay a tax. The next nine years represent a historical opportunity to pay those taxes while they're on sale. The approach David suggests thinking about can incorporate as many as six different streams of tax-free income – none of which shows up on the IRS' radar but all of which contribute to you being in the 0% tax bracket. A tax-free investment means no taxes at all: no federal income tax, no state income tax, or no capital gains tax. When taking distributions, tax-free investments should not count as provisional incomes – meaning that they don't count against the thresholds which cause Social Security taxation. The Roth IRA is the first truly-tax free retirement account David believes you should be contributing to in 2025. The second truly tax-free account worth considering in 2025 is the Roth 401(k). The potential for a company match is the one thing that makes Roth 401(k) impossible to ignore – and turns it into an instant return on your investment. After a Roth IRA and a Roth 401(k), the third tax-free alternative you should think about this year is a Roth conversion. David discusses the ideal scenario in which you should opt for a Roth conversion. Your IRA or 401(k) is the fourth stream of tax-free income David touches upon. Tax-free distributions from your IRA or 401(k) are what David refers to as “the Holy Grail of financial planning” – since they do something no other strategy can do. The life insurance retirement plan and tax-free Social Security are two additional strategies David dives into. Tax-free Social Security is unique because it shields you from several risks, including tax rate risk, inflation risk, long-term care risk, sequence of returns, and longevity risks.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Donald Trump David Walker Mitt Romney

Explosions, low-level martial arts, and 50 gallons of bouillabaisse.  Yes, it's time to hit the high seas and take on some baddies, for 1992's UNDER SIEGE.Warning: the end of the episode features Steven Seagal singing a rather offensive song.END CREDITS- Presented by Robert Johnson and Christopher Webb- Produced/edited by Christopher Webb- "Still Any Good?" logo designed by Graham Wood & Robert Johnson- Crap poster mock-up by Christopher Webb- Theme music ("The Slide Of Time") by The Sonic Jewels, used with kind permission(c) 2025 Tiger Feet ProductionsFind us:Twitter @stillanygoodpodInstagram @stillanygoodpodBluesky @stillanygood.bsky.socialEmail stillanygood@gmail.comSupport the show

David McKnight discusses a couple of really good reasons for doing a Roth conversion when you're expecting a pension in retirement.  David sees the American tax system functioning in a similar way as a graduated cylinder. Your income goes in and flows all the way down to the bottom. Some of your money gets taxed at 10%, at 12%, 22%, some at 24%, 32%, at 35%, and some at 37%. Jeff Bezos, too, has some of his earned income taxed at 10% (only for about 3 seconds, though!).  If you're planning on receiving a pension in retirement, understanding how this “tax cylinder” works will be crucial for maximizing your after-tax spendable income. David shares an example showing that your pension and the taxable portion of your Social Security will consume all of your 10% bracket, and most of your 12% bracket – and that's before you draw $1 from your IRA or 401(k). When you take money out of your IRA or 401(k) in retirement, those dollars will flow into your cylinder and land right on top of all your other income and get taxed at 22%. David explains that after the expiration of Trump tax cuts, the 22% will become 25% and, over the next 10 to 15 years, your personal tax bracket could be even higher! If that scenario were to play out, the portion of your IRA or 401(k) that you get to keep could get smaller and smaller… In case the Trump tax cuts extension does go through, then you could convert your IRA or 401(k) to Roth over nine years of historically low tax rates. David likes to refer to the Trump tax cuts as the “tax sale of a lifetime” – he shares an example that illustrates why. David touches upon what you can do, until 2034, to maximize your after-tax spendable income. Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Jeff Bezos

David McKnight @DavidMcKnight the bestselling author of, The Power of Zero & Tom Wall, PhD in retirement income and the author of, Permission to Spend dialogue on indexed universal life (IUL) vs whole life insurance in retirement. Which is the right option for you and why do these two giants in the retirement industry prefer one product over the other.Sign Up for the Whole Life Insurance Summit: https://thewholelifesummit.com/Want FREE Whole Life Insurance Resources & Education? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/yt-bw-vaultWant a Life Insurance Policy? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/bw-yt-aa-clarity ______________________________________________ ✉️ Email BetterWealth: https://bttr.ly/infoWEBSITE: https://betterwealth.com====================DISCLAIMER: https://bttr.ly/aapolicy*This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.Financial Advice Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education, discussion, and illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice or recommendation. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of the information on this channel. Neither host nor guests can be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered.

This episode of the Power of Zero Show sees host David McKnight address Dave Ramsey's advice – inviting a member of his audience to fire his tax advisor for recommending a 401(k). The problem with “financial gurus” like Dave Ramsey and the call-in shows they host is that they provide one-size-fits-all prescriptions that are delivered in very stark black and white terms. While David is an advocate for accumulating money in tax-free retirement vehicles, he also recognizes the importance of nuance with these types of recommendations.  David explains that contributing to a Roth 401(k) is a good avenue to explore if you believe that your tax bracket in retirement is going to be higher than it is today. David believes that taxes will rise dramatically over the next 10 years. Following one-size-fits-all advice shared by financial gurus puts you at risk of running out of money faster because you may pay a tax along the way that you didn't necessarily have to pay… David discusses when you should go for a traditional 401(k) and when it would be wiser to opt for a Roth 401(k) instead. According to a recent Penn Wharton study, if the U.S. doesn't right its fiscal ship of state by 2040, no combination of raising taxes or reducing spending will arrest the financial collapse of the country. David goes over a couple of strategies that could help your money last five to seven years longer. The fact that there are huge benefits to investing in tax-free accounts shouldn't necessarily translate into you reflexively pouring all your retirement contributions into your Roth 401(k), says David. David shares his thoughts on when it may be a good idea to listen to Dave Ramsey and when it isn't a clever move to follow his advice.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Dave Ramsey David Walker Penn Wharton USA Today

Today's episode is a podcast guest interview David McKnight did for Josh Jalinski's The Financial Quarterback Podcast. David gives Josh's audience a quick bio that spans from his early days in the financial services space in 1997 all the way to his latest book The Guru Gap. The premise of The Guru Gap is the difference between the 1990s when people had very few options to vet out financial planning advice and today, where they have plenty of ways to vet out. Nowadays, whenever David makes a financial recommendation, 90% of his clients take to the internet to vet that recommendation. In The Guru Gap, David focuses on financial gurus Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, Ken Fisher, Clark Howard, and Ramit Sethi – and their advice. Since financial gurus aim at taking important and complex financial principles and distilling them down into 10-second sound bites, they tend to give short shrift to a lot of details David's clients would need to protect and grow their retirement savings. The #1 goal most Americans have is to have their money last as long as they do. Financial gurus have had an adversarial stance toward financial planners like David and Josh Jalinski. Some of David's clients who seem to put more stock into what these gurus have to say tend to forget that their advice typically isn't undergirded by math and actuarial science… Josh Jalinski shares a couple of stories that really tick him off when it comes to financial gurus and the consequences of their advice. David believes that America is better off with people like Dave Ramseys and the like in it than without them. “If you're making $50,000 and spending $60,000 Dave Ramsey is precisely the person you should be talking to,” says David McKnight. David sees people like Dave Ramsey be “good for bad investors, and bad for good investors”. Wade Pfau thinks that following Ramsey's advice of taking 8% withdrawal rates on your assets in retirement and putting 100% of your allocation in stocks, you'll run out of money in advance of life expectancy 63% of the time. David touches upon the so-called Dave Ramsey circle of poverty: he gets you out of debt on the road to financial success, and then he promptly bankrupts you by taking an 8% withdrawal rate. Josh shares his thoughts on Dave Ramsey and explains that some people never save. Citing former Comptroller General David Walker and Penn Wharton David talks about what could be waiting for the U.S. in the near future. David gives out a couple of reasons why you should think about doing a Roth conversion. David and Josh talk about saving future taxes when someone passes away.  A key question to ask yourself: Why not pay the tax today at 22% or 24%, so that your kids can inherit that money tax-free regardless of when they liquidate it? David reveals that, because of The Guru Gap, he has received a cease and desist from one of the financial gurus mentioned in the book. Josh and David dissect “the Ken Fisher approach” – including its key flaws and shortcomings. In Josh's opinion, one of the negative traits of financial gurus is their lack of availability for debate. For David, the least expensive way to purge the longevity risk from your portfolio is an annuity. Josh and David bring up financial advisors dispensing advice on TikTok into the conversation. The overwhelming amount of tips shared by gurus leads to people making bad decisions or not making a decision at all.  Of the five financial gurus mentioned in The Guru Gap, Suze Orman (the only CFP of that group) is the one David McKnight likes the most, also because her advice is most in line with the mainstream financial planning consensus. Ramit Sethi is the financial guru that seems to have the most adversarial approach toward financial planners. David used to be a fan of Clark Howard who now has a strong opinion about cash-value life insurance and fixed-income annuities. David lists steps people should be taking with their money from a tax and retirement perspective. According to David, if ever there were a time in the history of our country to be undertaking a Roth conversion, it's over the course of the next nine years. Josh and David discuss a balanced financial plan that includes annuities to counter longevity risks, insurance to protect one's family, money as a volatility buffer, equities to beat inflation, some Bitcoin, a little gold, and cash for emergencies.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Josh Jalinski, The Financial Quarterback Al Gore Dave Ramsey Suze Orman Ken Fisher Clark Howard Ramit Sethi How to Get Rich (Ramit's Netflix special) I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works by Ramit Sethi  Tony Robbins Financial Peace University Wade Pfau How to Spot a False Prophet in the World of Finance (episode of The Financial Quarterback) David Walker Penn Wharton DOGE – Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk Vivek Ramaswamy Tom Hegna American Equity Investment Life Insurance (AEL) Chris Hogan Bill Gross MSCI World Index Michael Finke David Blanchett The White Coat Investor Grant Cardone Humphrey Yang Tori Dunlap Jeremy Schneider Tiffany Aliche Anthony O'Neal Dasha Kennedy Graham Stephan Delyanne Barros ChatGPT Ernst & Young's study on life insurance and annuities Dalbar QAIB Donald Trump Maya MacGuineas Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Buckley Broadcasting iHeartMedia

David McKnight and Mike Joiner are our guest for the topic "Leading Your Group Outside the Walls: Serving Together and Individually". This was one of our breakouts at the Fall 2024 Small Group Leader Gathering and we went to bring everyone the content from that session. Visit GreatGroups.org to listen, or better yet, subscribe to The Great Groups Podcast on your favorite podcast app. That way you'll never miss an episode.Send us a textThanks for listening to the Great Groups Podcast. Please visit GreatGroups.org for a list of all our episodes.We'd love to hear from you! Click here for our contact form. Jay Gordon is the Small Groups Minister at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Chris Amaro is an IT professional and serves as a Small Group Leader and Elder at Brook Hills.

David McKnight takes a closer look at Suze Orman's take on annuities – and at why she recommends her audience avoid them at all costs. Suze Orman labels the 5.4% compounded annual rate of growth one of her audience members (Janet) has had over the last six years as “horrific in today's market.” David believes that the main issue with Suze Orman's approach is that it engages in a classic case of apples to oranges comparison. According to David, index annuities are a bond alternative and were never meant to be a stock market replacement. David makes the case for index annuities performing far better than bonds – with a lot less risk. The average return on corporate bonds is between 4% and 5%, the one for treasury return is 3-4%, while the average return on municipal bonds is 2.12%. In David's opinion, Janet should only feel bad about her 5.4% return over the 6 year time frame if the advisor who sold it to her sold it as a stock market alternative. Suze Orman's audience member Janet purchased a so-called non-qualified indexed annuity, which tends to get a “last in, first out” treatment for tax purposes. David isn't big on non-qualified annuities for the fact that a person purchasing them will have to pay tax on the growth before they're able to access the principal tax-free. Another flaw in Orman's assessment: she doesn't tell you that you can hold an annuity in an IRA and pay ordinary income, or you can hold an annuity in your Roth IRA and pay no taxes at all… Something financial gurus like Suze Orman have in common: they DON'T have the luxury of nuance. Dollars earmarked to retirement accounts generally have a 10% penalty when you access them pre-59 and a half. David points out how Suze has wittingly demonized all forms of annuities – even the IRA and the Roth variety. While Suze is right saying that most annuities have surrender charges, she misses the entire point of why people usually get annuities: to get a guaranteed stream of income they can never outlive. 401(k) has a surrender charge that's far more punitive than any annuity David has ever seen.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Suze Orman Standard & Poor's 500 Index USA Today

Let's talk about a fundamental difference in the way traditional investors think versus those of us who invest in alternative assets. The traditional investor sees the stock market, bonds, and mutual funds as the safe and stable way to grow wealth over time. And look, stability is not a bad thing. But here's the problem: […] The post 490: Investing Tips with David McKnight appeared first on Wealth Formula.

When I think of Dave Ramsey, the elimination of debt and whole life insurance policies quickly spring to mind. In addition to his demonization of universal policies, were you aware of his 8-12 rule for retirement?David McKnight joins the show to discuss the 4 percent rule for retirement, annuities, and cash-basis insurance plans based on math, pragmatism, and wisdom.These topics are key themes in David's newest book, The Guru Gap. He has also written other best-selling books, including The Power of Zero, which has sold over 400,000 copies.David C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMBI discuss buying, selling, financing and managing small and medium sized businesses...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

In this episode, host David McKnight tackles a question about the tax bracket at which you should stop contributing to the Roth IRA and start contributing to the traditional IRA. The inspiration for this episode was a recent episode of The Money Guy Show. David believes that advice such as that shared on The Money Guy Show doesn't consider most of the people asking questions like the one addressed in the episode. Those are people whose combined marginal tax rates fall between 25% and 30%. Generally, David likes the idea of having a rule of thumb tax bracket that helps you determine whether or not you should go Roth or traditional. However, he warns against providing advice that ends up confusing a huge swath of investors.  In fact, David sees the particular rule of thumb like the one shared on The Money Guy Show as something that isn't going to be all that helpful to many Americans. David breaks down the power of zero rule of thumb when it comes to deciding between Roth or traditional. Your state tax in retirement is likely to be very similar to what your state tax is now. David's rule of thumb: if you're in the 24% federal tax bracket or lower, then go Roth all day. That's because your current 24% bracket is still lower than the future version of the 22%, which is 25%... Remember: if you're in the 24% or lower in the federal marginal tax bracket, go Roth. If you're in the 32% bracket or higher, then go tax deferred. Generally, David DOESN'T recommend filling up your entire tax-free bucket and ignoring tax deferred altogether if you decide to go Roth. Simply allocating your match to the tax deferred portion of your 401(k) is a great way to accumulate the required amount in your tax deferred bucket.  David tends to like the Money Guy Show, but he feels that, in this instance, they should simply ignore state taxes in the Roth vs. traditional calculus and draw a red line at the 24% tax bracket.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Brian Preston Bo Hanson The Money Guy Show

What's the real cost of following mainstream financial gurus? Josh brings back bestselling author David McKnight to unpack his latest book, The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track. They dissect "advice" from popular figures like Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman, highlighting why their broad strategies might not work for everyone—and what you can do instead. Josh and David dig into nuanced financial strategies, including Roth conversions, annuities, and life insurance, explaining how these tools can help mitigate longevity risk and take advantage of current tax laws. They also discuss how Trump-era tax cuts impact Roth planning and why personalized advice beats generic rules of thumb every time. Plus, the two bond over the joys and challenges of raising seven kids each. Can't get enough of The Financial Quarterback? Click ‘Subscribe' to never miss a play. New episodes touchdown right here! Loving the playbook? Drop us a 5-star rating and share your thoughts in a review. Your feedback fuels the game plan!

David McKnight looks at a recent study on retirees that seems to tell a different story compared to what many people in the U.S. tend to believe.  Americans often view guaranteed lifetime income annuities skeptically – they're perceived as a drag on the growth of their stock market portfolio. According to the study by retirement researchers David Blanchett and Michael Finke, retirees with guaranteed lifetime income spend about twice as much as their counterparts who rely on stocks and bonds alone for income in retirement. Those who rely purely on investments alone in retirement end up spending less because they fear running out of money in advance of life expectancy. David explains that “retirees with annuities spend more, not because they are wealthier, but because they have a form of wealth – a guaranteed income – that encourages them to spend.” Comparing two couples, a risk-averse couple with a risk-tolerant couple, Blanchett and Finke's study found a 1.1% difference in them taking an annual withdrawal rate from their portfolio. David couldn't have been any clearer: “If you want to spend more in retirement, taking an investment-only approach is usually the worst way of going about it.”     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com David Blanchett Michael Finke

The episode explores whether the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will move the needle when it comes to the U.S. debt crisis. Some people see DOGE as the bold move America needs to solve its looming debt crisis. Elon Musk believes that DOGE can rip out at least $2 trillion out of the $6.5 trillion Biden-Harris budget – however, David McKnight disagrees. David gives a breakdown of the federal budget, including the so-called non-discretionary spending. Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker shares his thoughts on what he sees as the potential impact of DOGE on the federal deficit. David explains that, unless actions are taken right away, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will eventually bankrupt America. Moreover, the more time passes with the Federal Government failing to dramatically scale back such programs, the more onerous and draconian the fix will be on the back end. Does David see DOGE as being able to move the needle on solving the national debt crisis? “Probably not,” he says.     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com DOGE Donald Trump Elon Musk Vivek Ramaswamy David M. Walker Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

The episode kicks off with David McKnight sharing his view of the guru's approach: “to go about half an inch deep and ten miles wide.” David discusses a sort of clash that financial planning gurus are creating by trying to attract — or even 'steal' — clients from financial planners who already have them. The goal of financial planners should be to provide a bridge between the advice clients get from financial gurus and their ultimate objective of ensuring that their money lasts as long as they do. David categorizes Dave Ramsey's advice as “good for bad investors but bad for good investors.” David explains the so-called “Dave Ramsey's circle of poverty.” According to Wade Pfau, who wrote the foreword for David's new book The Guru Gap, adopting Ramsey's approach will lead people to run out of money in advance of actuarial life expectancy 63% of the time.” David shares that nobody he has ever talked to actually agrees with Dave Ramsey's retirement advice.  Running out of money before running out of life is the #1 fear most Americans have. David sees instilling hope as the main reason why Dave Ramsey's approach tends to exacerbate the #1 fear Americans have — instead of removing that fear.   Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Dave Ramsey Wade Pfau

This episode is based on David McKnight's interview with Lane Martinsen on Financial Fast Lane. David shares how he started in the financial planning industry, as well as the backstory of his new book, The Guru Gap. The Guru Gap focuses on several financial gurus such as Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, Clark Howard, and Ramit Sethi. David finds it interesting to see financial gurus demonizing the types of recommendations him and his peers share – recommendations based on math and actuarial science. For David, America is better off for financial gurus being in the picture than out of the picture. The main issue is the fact that they aren't trying to cultivate an adversarial relationship with mainstream financial advisors, says David. David brings up a real-life example of bad advice shared on the Dave Ramsey Show. The ideal reader of The Guru Gap is the sophisticated, disciplined, investor. Most Americans strive for their money to last until they die. David sees Dave Ramsey as an expert who is “good for bad investors, and bad for good investors”. There are lots of stories of people who, following Ramsey's advice, have run out of money much sooner than they predicted. David believes that it's time for disciplined investors to adopt an entirely different paradigm when it comes to maximizing their retirement savings. David goes over three challenges he faced when writing The Guru Gap. Hope is something Dave Ramsey seems focused on. However, in the context of financial planning, David sees hope as something that can be the opposite of math. David and Lane Martinsen discuss the chapters David is most excited about. David's ultimate goal with The Guru Gap is to engender a massive dialogue between Americans and financial gurus. David hints at a future book that will focus on Millennials – a generation that is saving less and is less educated on investing than their Gen X and Baby Boomer forebears at the same stage in their life.   Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.comLane Martinsen Financial Fast Lane Al Gore Dave Ramsey Suze Orman Clark Howard Ramit Sethi Wade Pfau Ken Fisher Tom Hegna Ernst & Young  David Walker

This episode is based on David McKnight's recent interview for Stephen Gallo's podcast. David explains how the advice shared by gurus tends to work – and the role financial advisors play. David touches upon his concept of “Dave Ramsey's circle of poverty.” According to Wade Pfau, adopting the approach shared by Dave Ramsey will lead to you running out of money in advance of actuarial life expectancy 63% of the time. To avoid falling in league with financial gurus, financial advisors should stay away from dispensing one-size-fits-all financial planning. David analyzes Dave Ramsey's approach – including why, instead of addressing America's #1 fear when it comes to money, he exacerbates it. David shares a couple of anecdotes about his new book The Guru Gap. In researching financial gurus for The Guru Gap, David realized that they are even more wrong on key topics than what he had previously believed. David discusses how you can discern good advice from bad advice when consuming content such as podcasts and YouTube channels. Cash value life insurance is something that's sort of universally panned by financial gurus, but it's easy to make a mathematical justification for it.     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Stephen Gallo Dave Ramsey Suze Orman Wade Pfau Ken Fisher Tom Hegna Ernst & Young

This episode is part of David McKnight's guest interview with Kyle Solon. David talks about the importance of math when it comes to decisions related to using cash value, life insurance, and annuities. A recent Ernst & Young study showed a surprising stat about who had the highest income in retirement and passed the most money on to the next generation. David illustrates the concept of the volatility shield, also known as volatility buffer. The #1 concern of Americans all across the country is running out of money before they run out of life. David shares a key question people should ask themselves when listening to gurus such as Dave Ramsey: “Is there a mathematical justification to what I'm being told?”. David is a strong believer of leaning on the strategies that historically give you a much higher mathematical likelihood of increasing the life expectancy of your money. Dave Ramsey is someone who David really likes for some things, while he isn't a big fan of him for other matters. He sees Ramsey as good for getting people out of debt but not good at helping people have their money last through life expectancy. David gives a breakdown of a couple of sections of his new book – The Guru Gap – and what people should do to educate themselves about the financial industry.     Mentioned in this episode: David's new book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Dave Ramsey Ernst & Young  Ken Fisher Suze Orman

David McKnight describes the Trump tax cuts situation before Trump's victory at the 2024 presidential elections. There's likely going to be changes under a new Trump administration – something that David sees as great news. When it comes to Roth conversion strategy, David is a believer in two things. The first is to convert your money slowly to avoid rising into a tax bracket that gives you heartburn. The second is to convert your money quickly enough to get all the heavy lifting done before tax rates go up for good. While the posting of the end of the Trump tax cuts to 2032 would be good for American citizens, there's a big downside for the country as a whole. Several experts have predicted a need for a tax rate increase to prevent the U.S. from going broke as a country. Eight more years with historically low tax rates would be especially critical for pre-retirees and retirees looking to shield their retirement savings from a predicted spike in tax rates in the future. David shares something he believes can dramatically increase the likelihood of retirees having their money last as long as they will.     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Donald Trump Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget David M. Walker Larry Kotlikoff Ray Dalio Stanley Druckenmiller

This episode is a critique of a recent video by George Kamel on the supposed benefits of paying off your house in 10 years. David McKnight examines Kamel's viewpoint on early mortgage payoff and whether it's truly beneficial – do you really come out ahead by eliminating your mortgage as fast as possible? A major point David sees as a disadvantage is the fact that by paying off your mortgage early, you may lose access to the equity in your home. David highlights the opportunity cost of using funds to pay off a low-interest mortgage (as low as 3%) instead of investing them in the stock market for potentially higher returns. Kamel believes that the longer you take to pay off your loan, the more interest you pay. According to Kamel, how much interest you pay depends on three things: the loan amount, the interest rate, and the time it takes you to repay the loan. David shares an example that illustrates why following the advice of George Kamel's video isn't a good idea – and why it could cost you (a lot!) of money. “Dave Ramsey is so fixated on getting people out of debt that he hasn't bothered to calculate the opportunity costs associated with doing so,” says David.   Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Dave Ramsey George Kamel George Kamel's Video How to Pay Off Your House in 10 Years or Less

David McKnight explains how a lack of knowledge about Roth 401(k) distribution rules can lead to unexpected taxes and penalties. This episode dives into practical insights to help you steer clear of unwelcome surprises from the IRS. David illustrates what happens if you withdraw from your Roth 401(k) before age 59½, and how these rules differ from those of a traditional Roth IRA. He subsequently tackles the question of when post-59½ withdrawals of Roth 401(k) growth can be completely tax-free.  Roth 401(k) distributions can be confusing – especially if you're planning to take funds before age 59½. And there's an alternative you should consider. Planning to use your Roth 401(k) as an emergency fund? “Think again!,” says David. He goes over why this may not be the best choice (and what to do instead).      Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com

In the past, David McKnight has been critical of gurus like Dave Ramsey. However, this episode looks at a video in which Ramsey seems to have slightly changed his views. Ramsey emphasizes that one key benefit of a Roth IRA is the potential to drastically reduce or even eliminate Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). David explains that the decision to pursue a Roth conversion typically depends on whether you expect your future tax rate to be higher than it is today. David discusses a missed opportunity in Ramsey's advice to a caller, highlighting a critical point Ramsey seems to have overlooked. While David acknowledges a solid point made by Ramsey, he also identifies what he describes as "a huge blind spot in Ramsey's worldview." David highlights a "right move" by Ramsey – whether it's a deliberate policy shift or Ramsey unintentionally cornering himself remains to be seen… David praises Ramsey's advocacy for Roth accounts, a sentiment he wholeheartedly agrees with.     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Dave Ramsey David M. Walker Ed Slott Tom Hegna Dr. Laurence Kotlikoff Brian Bolan Wade Pfau

In a recent video, real estate influencer Grant Cardone made some bold claims, advising against attending college, owning a home, and he even suggested that people should cash out their 401(k)s to invest in real estate. David McKnight calls this advice irresponsible, dangerous, and lawsuit-worthy. Far more Americans achieve millionaire status through consistent stock market investing than through real estate. David shares a more sustainable approach to building wealth through homeownership that directly counters Cardone's anti-homeownership stance. Cardone claims that 401(k) plans are designed to "imprison" people financially.  David digs deeper into the true purpose of retirement accounts and the importance of having an emergency fund. There is one point where both David and Cardone align: the likelihood that future tax rates will be higher than they are today. Finally, David touches upon the steep tax penalties of withdrawing from your 401(k) before age 59½ – an important consideration Cardone seems to overlook. Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Grant Cardone

This episode explores the easiest and most hassle-free way to achieve millionaire status. According to Fidelity, the number of 401(k) millionaire accounts they manage has skyrocketed from 100,000 in 2017 to nearly 500,000 in 2024. “The slow and steady approach to building wealth is the best way to become a millionaire today,” says David McKnight. David explains why this method often outperforms owning real estate or running your own business when it comes to low-stress wealth accumulation.  He also delves into the stock market and the single greatest engine of wealth creation  Plus, David discusses one of the huge ways that makes 401(k)s a powerful wealth accumulation. There are different ways to build wealth – each with its own “hassle factor”. Directing your contributions to the Roth portion of your 401k is the best way to shield your 401k from the impact of taxes down the road.     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Fidelity

In this episode, Ben Shapiro shares his insights on the growing national debt and its potential trajectory under a Kamala Harris administration. Shapiro provides a historical overview of U.S. interest payments, starting from the 1960s. He highlights the alarming rise in the national debt, which has doubled in the last decade, and examines Harris' proposed solutions to address it. According to Shapiro, there are only two viable paths to resolve the debt crisis: significant economic growth or substantial cuts in government spending. The primary drivers of the national debt, Shapiro explains, are interest payments, along with Medicare and Social Security obligations. A Wall Street Journal article by Phil Graham and Jodey Arrington is referenced, citing welfare programs as a major contributor to the federal budget strain. Shapiro argues that the U.S. economy would stagnate under a Kamala Harris presidency. David McKnight offers a different perspective, arguing that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are not the root causes of the debt crisis. He outlines the true factors behind the ballooning debt. A recent study by Penn Wharton Business School challenges Shapiro's views, suggesting that neither raising taxes nor cutting spending alone will prevent a financial collapse if the U.S. reaches 200% debt-to-GDP. David also shares strategies to protect your retirement savings from potential tax increases.   Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Ben Shapiro Kamala Harris CNBC Federal Reserve Joe Biden Welfare Is What's Eating the Budget (Wall Street Journal Article) by Phil Graham and Jodey Arrington David Walker Penn Wharton Business School

This episode is part of David McKnight's interview with Mark Byelich, founder and owner of Attleboro Wealth Management. David and Mark discuss why the money inside a Life Insurance Retirement Plan (LIRP) "bucket" is treated differently for tax purposes and benefits from low fees. When it comes to life insurance, David recommends "having as little of it as the IRS requires, and stuffing as much money into it as the IRS allows." Remember: not all Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policies are created equal. Starting an IUL is like getting married – it only works if it's 'til death do you part. Mark and David touch on the so-called IUL deal-breakers. David is firm in his view: for LIRPs and IULs, you must ensure a 0% loan is guaranteed in the contract. David also shares one of the biggest reasons his clients tend to favor an IUL. Mark Byelich highlights a significant risk that he and his team monitor closely. David and Mark discuss participating and variable loans, as well as interest in arrears – and David explains why he's recently taken a step back from a particular approach. David is a fan of the COMDEX rating, and he explains why, along with one of the Achilles' heels of life insurance policies. Mark recommends reviewing your financial plan annually. David shares why they only do business with companies that conduct daily or weekly sweeps.     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Mark Byelich Genworth Cost of Long-Term Care  Dave Ramsey Suze Orman Moody's S&P COMDEX rating

Would you like to sell more life insurance? This episode is for you! Van Mueller and David McKnight break down effective strategies to sell policies for your clients. They dive into the best policy options that can leverage your client's money and potentially reduce their income tax liability. Plus, they're sharing the pros and cons of various permanent life insurance options, such as Index Universal Life (IUL) and Variable Universal Life (VUL), and how they can be utilized as a "volatility shield" in retirement planning. Tune in to learn how to provide your clients with tailored solutions that address their unique financial goals and concerns.HIGHLIGHTS00:00 What should you do to help clients choose the right permanent life insurance product?02:45 The benefits of IUL that can provide your clients added financial security.05:45 The strategies to minimize income tax liability through life insurance.08:30 How do you use life insurance to combat economic challenges like taxes and inflation?RESOURCES + LINKSWatch the full episode on YouTube: HEREJoin Thousands of Insurance Agency Owners and Build Your Business - With our Proven System Responsible for over 200 million in Insurance Sales! FREE 7-Day Demo TRY NOW  Learn to Become a 6 Figure Life Insurance Producer HERETrain Your New Hire in Just 10 Days HERE"Game Changer: Taking Your Insurance Agency To The Next Level" by Michael Weaver: Unlock the secrets to success in the insurance industry. ORDER NOWConnect Directly with Us:Text "BUZZ" to (816) 727-7610 to chat directly with MichaelFOLLOWWebsite: https://www.weaversa.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelweaverwsa/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themichaelweaverInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_michaelweaver_/Youtube handle: @michaelweavertraining https://www.youtube.com/@michaelweavertrainingJoin Thousands of Insurance Agency Owners and Build Your Business - With our Proven System Responsible for over 200 million in Insurance Sales! FREE 7-Day Demo TRY NOW

Are your clients prepared for the impending tax hike that could DOUBLE in the next decade? Don't let your clients get blindsided by this financial tsunami and help them strategize NOW to minimize their tax burden in retirement! I am excited to share my top 10 takeaways from the recent Heroes of Zero conference, where I got to hear from David McKnight, Ed Slott, Tom Hegna, and Van Mueller. Get ready to crush those retirement goals! Start implementing these strategies TODAY to secure a brighter future for your clients. #RetirementPlanning #CashValueLifeInsurance #FinancialSecurityHIGHLIGHTS00:00 The strategies to help clients minimize taxes in retirement.03:45 What is the concept of IRA as an "IOU to the IRS"?05:30 The importance of guaranteed income in retirement.08:00 Why you should leave life insurance over a lump sum for your children?10:00 The reason why you need a comprehensive retirement plan.11:45 Why you should ALWAYS choose appreciating assets.13:00 The importance of mastering your craft and becoming invaluable to your clients.14:15 Why is it recommended to have life insurance coverage of 20x the client's income?15:45 What is the role of cash value life insurance and annuities in an optimal retirement plan?18:00 What are the benefits of investing in tax-free vehicles and cash-value life insurance?RESOURCES + LINKSWatch the full episode on YouTube: HEREJoin Thousands of Insurance Agency Owners and Build Your Business - With our Proven System Responsible for over 200 million in Insurance Sales! FREE 7-Day Demo TRY NOW  Learn to Become a 6 Figure Life Insurance Producer HERETrain Your New Hire in Just 10 Days HERE   "Game Changer: Taking Your Insurance Agency To The Next Level" by Michael Weaver: Unlock the secrets to success in the insurance industry. ORDER NOWConnect Directly with Us:Text "BUZZ" to (816) 727-7610 to chat directly with MichaelFOLLOWWebsite: https://www.weaversa.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelweaverwsa/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themichaelweaverInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_michaelweaver_/Youtube handle: @michaelweavertraining https://www.youtube.com/@michaelweavertrainingJoin Thousands of Insurance Agency Owners and Build Your Business - With our Proven System Responsible for over 200 million in Insurance Sales! FREE 7-Day Demo TRY NOW

In this BetterWealth Podcast, I speak with author, David McKnight, of the bestselling book, The Power of Zero. In this episode, David presents the case of how some of the biggest financial gurus like, Dave Ramsey, Ramit Sethi, Suze Orman, Ken Fisher, and Clark Howard, are leading you astray with harmful financial, retirement, and insurance advice.First Interview with David about The Power of Zero: https://youtu.be/UaFNUOL4mlQ?si=XrviPnUsFRjL-nF4 Connect with David McKnight: https://davidmcknight.comWant a Life Insurance Policy? Go Here: https://www.betterwealth.com/clickhere-life-insuranceWant FREE Whole Life Insurance Education? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/vault ______________________________________________ ✉️ Email BetterWealth: https://bttr.ly/infoWEBSITE: https://betterwealth.com====================DISCLAIMER: https://bttr.ly/aapolicy*This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.Financial Advice Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education, discussion, and illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice or recommendation. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of the information on this channel. Neither host nor guests can be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered.

David McKnight graduated from Brigham Young University with Honors in 1997. Over the past 20 years David has helped put thousands of Americans on the road to the zero percent tax bracket. He has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, The New York Times, Fox Business, Bloomberg Radio, MarketWatch, CBS Radio, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq.com, Reuters, Investor's Business Daily and numerous other national publications. David was a Focus Speaker at the worldwide annual meeting of MDRT in Toronto, Canada and is a multiple Top of the Table qualifier. His bestselling book The Power of Zero has sold over 200,000 copies and the updated and revised version was published by Penguin Random House. When it was launched in September of 2018, it finished the week as the #2 most-sold business book in the world. In 2019 The Power of Zero was ranked as the #9 best financial resource in the country by Forbes Magazine. This book was recently made into a full-length documentary film, also entitled The Power of Zero. As the President of David McKnight & Company, he mentors hundreds of financial advisors from across the country who specialize in The Power of Zero retirement approach. He and his wife Felice have seven children. Listen to this insightful RIA episode with David McKnight about how to get your clients to the 0% tax bracket. Here is what to expect on this week's show: - How Americans need to shift their retirement saving strategies because of the potential increase in tax rates. - Why the conventional wisdom of saving in tax-deferred vehicles such IRAs might not be the best move. - How it can be difficult to convince your clients to pay taxes now instead of waiting to pay in the future when the tax rate might be higher. - Why Americans need to educate themselves about the future of tax rates. - How there are many benefits to tax-free retirement planning and what they are. Connect with David: Links Mentioned: powerofzero.com X @mcknightandco Facebook facebook.com/davidmcknightandcompany LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/thepowerofzero Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to actually have peace of mind for you and your client's futures? Don't let a year go by where you aren't funding tax-free accounts to protect your future. Retirement expert David McKnight is breaking down all the must-know information to minimize taxes in your future retirement and give you the knowledge you need when helping clients prepare for their future too! David breaks down what you should be investing in at your current age, the benefits of IULs, and what we can expect (and should be preparing for NOW) with the coming tax change in 2026. We also learned how tools like cash value life insurance and Roth conversions can help shield savings from higher future taxes. This episode is a wealth of information that will literally protect your wealth and your future!HIGHLIGHTS03:15 The power of the 0% tax bracket.05:30 What can I do to shield myself from taxes and prepare for retirement?07:30 What can we invest in to lower our tax burden other than Roth IRAs, Roth 401K's, and life insurance?11:15 How to calculate how much money you need for retirement (and strategic planning for what accounts to pull from.)16:00 How today's financial gurus are leading you astray. 17:00 What should I be recommending for my clients to help them with their life insurance plan?22:15 What can insurance agents expect in 2026 with the tax law changing?26:00 The Hero's of Zero and what you can expect next.RESOURCES + LINKSAttend David's upcoming Event - Heroes of Zero, May 16th + 17th in Nashville, TNWatch the full episode on YouTube: HEREJoin Thousands of Insurance Agency Owners and Build Your Business - With our Proven System Responsible for over 200 million in Insurance Sales! FREE 7-Day Demo TRY NOW  Learn to Become a 6 Figure Life Insurance Producer HERETrain Your New Hire in Just 10 Days HERE"Game Changer: Taking Your Insurance Agency To The Next Level" by Michael Weaver: Unlock the secrets to success in the insurance industry. ORDER NOW  Connect Directly with Us:Text "BUZZ" to (816) 727-7610 to chat directly with Michael & Courtney    Share Your Feedback:Let us know what you loved about today's episode - leave us a google review! FOLLOWMichael + Courtney: @mandcweaverMichael Weaver: @_michealweaverCourtney Weaver: @courtneyvieYouTube: Michael and Courtney WeaverFollow DavidInstagram @davidcmcknightFacebook Facebook @davidmcknightLinkedIn @davidmcknightYoutube The Power of ZeroTw