by Elizabeth4TC | Mar 12, 2021 | 2 Comments
Is it possible to reduce taxes by lowering the tax rate? Let’s talk about the Laffer Curve. This theory, posited by Alfred Laffer during the Reagan Era of tax reduction, may hold more water than you’d think. This is a great exercise for webinars where you’re helping clients understand taxes better (and why they should seek to save on that tax bill as much as possible). What is the Laffer Curve? The Laffer Curve theory, as Investopedia explains, is the theory that as tax rates increase, people become dis-incentivized to
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by Elizabeth4TC | Feb 26, 2021 | 0 Comment
Since the IUL (Indexed Universal Life insurance) came onto the scene, it’s been sold as a way to get stock market returns without taking any of the risk. In this case, the risk in question is losses in the stock market. Companies often have a guaranteed minimum interest rate. In theory, this should make you rich, right? So how come so many IUL policies collapse? Flexible premiums are not solely to blame. In reality, guaranteed minimum interest rates have to be tempered somehow. For whole life insurance, minimums can be
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by Elizabeth4TC | Feb 12, 2021 | 0 Comment
In the financial industry, and in Truth Training specifically, there are two concepts with similar names that we often discuss. The first is the “License to Buy” idea, and the second is “Permission to Spend.” Both are important topics, both result from whole life insurance strategies, and we must understand both so that we can help our clients. What is a “License to Buy”? Whole life insurance, as a savings vehicle, provides benefits beyond that of your typical savings account. Not only is the cash value account liquid—it provides growth
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by Elizabeth4TC | Jan 29, 2021 | 2 Comments
As we wrap up the first Truth Training of 2021, and the last one in the current Paradigm Life building (they’re moving locations), it feels fitting to add another round of quotes. We’re fortunate to work with some of the brightest minds in the business, and we love sharing nuggets for those minds who could not attend. Or those who could and want to review! Unless otherwise noted, quotes are from Todd. Quotes on Truth “We all want to be right. If you’re really seeking Truth, you have to be willing
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by Elizabeth4TC | Jan 14, 2021 | 1 Comment
Whether you’ve been to a dozen Truth Trainings, or you’re gearing up for your first, it’s tricky to know just what you’ll need to be prepared. As with any business trip, you can forget some of the small things. Sometimes, there may be “hacks” you had never even considered. Today, we’re giving you an insider’s look at how to best prepare for a Truth Training. With these tips and tricks, you’ll leave nothing up to chance. Tips to Prepare for Truth Training in Salt Lake City 1. Choose Your Hotel
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by Elizabeth4TC | Jan 1, 2021 | 0 Comment
We’ve shared before the benefits of using two (or more) screens when you’re working. In fact, Todd himself uses more than three screens. Yet without the technological know-how, setting up dual screens can be daunting. Fortunately, it’s easier than it seems. We want to help you be as productive as you can be, so we created this post to help you get set-up on more than one screen with as little hassle as possible. Why You Should Have Dual Screens Dual screens help boost productivity primarily because they increase the
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by Elizabeth4TC | Dec 18, 2020 | 0 Comment
Importing illustrations into Life Insurance Values properly is essential to getting the most from the Truth Concepts software. The importing process will look different from carrier to carrier. Some insurance carriers will export illustrations into a PDF, some will export into an Excel spreadsheet. No matter how the insurance company operates, there’s a way to import your illustrations. Supported Companies for Importing Illustrations Currently, only certain file-types of illustrations are supported. It’s important to note which is which, so you can import illustrations with ease. Here are the carriers and
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by Elizabeth4TC | Dec 4, 2020 | 0 Comment
If you use the Loan Analysis calculator, you’re likely familiar with the “Loan View” provision. This enables you to do a side-by-side comparison of two loans, or view each loan individually. In the latest update of the Truth Concepts software, you’ll now see a third button: “Opportunity Cost.” The function of this button is to more clearly show what Todd has demonstrated in his comparison of a 15-year vs. 30-year mortgage. That is, you cannot separate the analysis from the time value of money. In previous demonstrations, Todd has used
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by Elizabeth4TC | Nov 13, 2020 | 0 Comment
Are you getting the most out of your Truth Concepts tools? Let’s take a tour of the tools, and how to use them to optimize the effectiveness of your illustrations. Income Tax Chart The income tax chart can be useful for several reasons. The first and most obvious use of this tool is to know which tax bracket to use for your clients. The second use is to help discuss taxes with your clients. For many, taxes are more abstract than they should be–after all, taxes aren’t in school curriculums.
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by Elizabeth4TC | Oct 30, 2020 | 0 Comment
The Truth Concepts suite is designed to be versatile, and some demonstrations can be done on multiple calculators. One of the primary reasons is because sometimes the work you do behind the scenes isn’t the best way for a client to visualize. For starters, you want to avoid overwhelming clients when you’re building a Prosperity Economics foundation. After all, typical financial planning is a much different approach. Secondly, some clients are more analytical than others. While a number-heavy chart may be ideal for one client, another client might find the
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by Elizabeth4TC | Oct 9, 2020 | 0 Comment
How much do you really know about retirement? It’s commonly practiced throughout the world that, at a certain age, it’s time to leave the workforce. Yet do you know why it exists, or how it came to be? And does retirement as we perceive it even work anymore? The Beginning of Retirement as We Know It The roots of modern retirement can be traced back to 1881, and Otto Von Bismarck. The Prussian prime minister posited an idea—government-backed support for the older members of society. This was a radical idea
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by Elizabeth4TC | Sep 25, 2020 | 0 Comment
Bill Ackman, chairman of Pershing Square Capital Management, recently proposed an idea to “save” capitalism. Framed as a panacea for growing disillusionment with capitalism, he recommends that every child have a sum of money invested on their behalf. The idea is that an 8% annual return should make them millionaires by retirement. So is this idea viable? Can socialism save capitalism? And is it really the best way to “encourage greater financial literacy”? Probably not. Financial literacy is an admirable goal, yet there are a multitude of ways to reach that end.
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by Elizabeth4TC | Sep 5, 2020 | 0 Comment
Whether you’re an amateur or long-time veteran, a smart real estate deal always starts with research. So how do you properly analyze a real estate deal? Whether you’re looking at a residential property, or an investment, don’t go in without doing your due diligence. That’s where the Real Estate Analysis calculator comes in. Let’s start with a real world example. A couple, after making some wise decisions about their financial strategy, had some available capital to do with what they liked. And when you’re in a position of cash, opportunity
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by Elizabeth4TC | Aug 21, 2020 | 0 Comment
How do you calculate the remaining number of months on a loan? This Loan Analysis “hack” makes it simple to determine, all you need is the remaining loan balance, the rate, and the monthly payment. For example, let’s say your client had a remaining loan balance of $50,000 and they’re paying 5% interest on that loan. Their payment is $1000, and neither of you know the exact time frame remaining on that loan. In Loan Analysis, once you fill in the loan balance and the interest rate, right click on
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by Elizabeth4TC | Aug 21, 2020 | 0 Comment
When filling out social security income, there’s a “trick” to doing it correctly. First, you’ll go under the “earned income/ss” tab. If you’re including social security income for someone who has been taking the income, you should do the COL adjustment (if needed) manually. Let’s say you have a 70 year old, and he began taking his social security benefits at age 66. Input the amount he was initially taking, at age 67, so that Asset Flow calculates everything correctly. Then you can choose to include a COLA if you
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by Elizabeth4TC | Jul 24, 2020 | 0 Comment
Before you can use the suite of Truth Concepts calculators, you’ll want to make sure you’ve imported your life insurance data in the Life Insurance Values, under the “Tools” drop-down menu. With recent updates to both Truth Concepts and Lafayette Life, the process for importing life insurance data from this particular life insurance company has changed. Read on for a step-by-step walkthrough of the new process. 1.Open your Lafayette Life Online Illustration Application. Proceed as you would normally by inputting all pertinent information into the software. 2. Export. Press the
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by Elizabeth4TC | Jul 3, 2020 | 0 Comment
It’s critical that, as advisors, we maintain the integrity of the trade by representing our products acurately. Let’s analyze the myth of the policy loan.
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by Elizabeth4TC | Jun 19, 2020 | 0 Comment
When analyzing deals, you must pay attention to more than the interest rates alone. In the past few weeks, GM published an offer for a 2020 Escalade. The offer was either for 2.99% APR, or a $9,500 rebate. Is the offer all it’s cracked up to be? Let’s find out. The MSRP, or sticker price, of the Escalade is $76,490. The Dealer was offering it at a $1,500 discount. So $74,934. In order to get a full understanding of the difference between these two deals, we’ll use the Loan Analysis
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by Elizabeth4TC | May 22, 2020 | 0 Comment
Many advisors focus on the internal rate of return when analyzing a policy, but it neglects the whole truth. So what’s the difference between IRR and ROR, and why does it matter?
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by Todd Langford | Apr 24, 2020 | 0 Comment
Comparison of Accounts – After Tax Contribution with Annually Taxable Growth (Savings Account, Money Market, etc.) vs After Tax Contribution With Tax Deferred Growth (After Tax-Tax Deferred IRA, Permanent Life Insurance, etc.) vs After Tax Contribution with Tax Free Growth (Roth, Municipal Bond, etc.) vs. Tax Deductible (Pre-Tax) Contributions with Tax deferred Growth (401K, Tax Deductible IRA, etc.). This can be a difficult topic to understand and, unfortunately, this confusion has led to incorrect information being spread to the consumer by the media and the financial industry. The ultimate result
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by Elizabeth4TC | Apr 24, 2020 | 0 Comment
Where are you storing your cash? What are the implications of that choice? Because when it comes to liquidity, growth, and certainty—banks might not be your best bet. We suggest adding cash value insurance to your financial strategy. The Importance of Cash You’ve heard the phrase, “Cash is King.” What it suggests is that cash, and cash flow, are more valuable than any other investment tools. The phrase itself is widely used in the world of finance, but we think that it applies a little differently. When it comes to your money,
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by Elizabeth4TC | Apr 7, 2020 | 0 Comment
The Accumulation calculator has always been particularly useful in depicting how the stock market can affect your assets, but now it’s even better. A few updates ago, Todd introduced a feature that can reverse or randomize the S&P rates, so that you can more effectively show “Monte Carlo” scenarios. If you haven’t tried it yet, I’ll show you how. The benefits? Not only can you back up your knowledge with how the market has performed in the past—you can demonstrate how slippery it can be to rely on chance. Because
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by Elizabeth4TC | Mar 18, 2020 | 0 Comment
There’s a lot going on this season that can feel overwhelming—not only is there fear and anxiety surrounding COVID-19, but we’re seeing a tumultuous stock market. AND it’s tax season. With fear on the minds of many, it’s important to assuage that fear wherever possible. We’ll use tax season as an example since it hits close to home: The home office deduction. To this day, there are still accountants that will encourage entrepreneurs not to take the home office deduction—usually because they’re worried that it will raise red flags. The
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by Elizabeth4TC | Feb 14, 2020 | 0 Comment
As a prosperity-minded financial advisor, it’s important to guide your clients toward a prosperous retirement. Using the Cash Flow Bridge strategy, learn how to help your client optimize their retirement income. This method is good for clients at any stage in the game and bridges different income sources for a desirable retirement. In this exclusive report, we’ll show you the benefits of a diversified retirement income, and how life insurance bridges the gap. Whether your client is 35 or 70, this strategy could work for them. For the full report, visit
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by Elizabeth4TC | Feb 14, 2020 | 0 Comment
Charitable Remainder Trusts are misunderstood, but can be a powerful retirement planning tool…with the right strategy. Help your clients in real estate learn how to maximize the effectiveness of a CRT, and how to use it for retirement strategies. Using principles rooted in the Prosperity Economics, a CRT can be a great choice without fear of disinheriting heirs. For the full report, click here. To follow along with the report, download a free trial of the full Truth Concepts suite today.
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