For David, financial gurus seem to hold a deep hatred for permanent life insurance – be it whole life, universal life, index universal life, or variable life.
A key question to ask: with so many financial gurus against life insurance, how can we conclude that it should be integrated into a balanced, comprehensive approach to tax-free retirement?
David believes that such an approach stems from the fact that these gurus address a huge homogenous audience, who’s generally drawing in debt, and that they don’t have the luxury of nuanced explanation. Everything they discuss should either be good or bad.
Ed Slott, who the Wall Street Journal called ‘the best source for IRA advice’, is an expert whose approach differs from the ones mentioned above.
Slott sees life insurance as an investment that’s better than your typical investment accounts for the fact that it’s tax-free.
Slott goes so far as to say, “Roth IRAs and life insurance can single-handedly remove most of the taxes you or your beneficiaries will ever have to pay.”
The difference in approach between Ed Slott and other financial gurus has to do with Slott’s 30 years of experience working with actual clients that has allowed him to observe the impact that cash value life insurance has on the lives of retirees and their beneficiaries.
Ed Slott is not a financial guru using a one-size-fits-all strategy for the masses. He’s an educator who understands the IRS tax code and who clearly knows that tax planning and retirement require nuance, especially if you have substantial assets.
Mentioned in this episode:
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
I’ll Teach You to Be Rich (book)
How to Get Rich (Netflix series)
Dave Ramsey
Suze Orman
The Total Money Makeover
Ed Slott
The Fatal Flaw in Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey's Retirement Planning Advice
Here’s What Happens When You Put 30% of Your Retirement Savings into Cash Value Life Insurance
What Dave Ramsey DOESN’T Want You to Know About Indexed Universal Life
First Glimpse at Your Tax Bracket in 2026 (And What It Will Cost You)
How Gen Z Should Save for Retirement
Why Ken Fisher Does NOT Want You to Do a Roth Conversion
How Much of Your Social Security is REALLY Getting Taxed? (and At What Rate?)
Why Don't More Financial Advisors Recommend Indexed Universal Life?
Your Roth Conversion Roadmap for the Next 10 Years and Beyond
Clark Howard Says Fixed Indexed Annuities Stink! (My Response)
Is IUL the Dream Investment that Doug Andrew Claims?
The Two 5-Year Roth Rules Explained
Warren Buffet Says AVOID Financial Advisors Like the Plague (Is He Right?)
George Kamel Swings and Misses on Indexed Universal Life
Is Ken Fisher's Anti-Annuity Stance Illegal?
Suze Orman vs. Dave Ramsey on Sustainable Withdrawal Rates in Retirement
Is a 100% Tax-Free Retirement Really Possible?
A Recent Penn Wharton Study Says that the U.S. has 20 Years to Fix Debt or Face Cataclysm
How to Figure Out How Much Money to Save for Retirement
The Best Way to Make Sure Your Money Lasts as Long as You Do
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