Personal Finance Blog for Retirement and Investment Advice

Fire Your Banker Video Contest Results

August 10th, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | 3 Comments

Wow! We received more than 150 terrific entries when we invited readers to tell us what you think about our unusual new video on “How to Fire Your Banker and Become Your Own Source of Financing”.

We want to thank everyone who took the time to give us such detailed and honest feedback, which is exactly what we need to be able to communicate the benefits of Bank On Yourself more effectively.

Five people on the Bank On Yourself team – myself included – poured through every single response, not just to pick the contest winners, but to also learn what questions and concerns you have about the Bank On Yourself concept.

At $1,000 per finished minute to film this kind of video, I was really glad no one said what they liked most about it was when it ended! Most people really liked the unusual video style and felt that it helped them better understand one of the most intriguing advantages of the Bank On Yourself method: How it lets you bypass banks, credit cards and finance companies and become your own source of financing.

If you haven’t watched the video yet, I encourage you to do that now…

There were many terrific insights and questions in the contest entries. It was tough to pick just five winning entries (we actually picked six), but you’ll find the winners listed below.
[Read more…] “Fire Your Banker Video Contest Results”

Video: How to fire your banker!

August 1st, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | 164 Comments

We’re always looking for entertaining, easy-to-understand ways to explain key concepts of the Bank On Yourself method. So we just completed a new – and very unusual – video that explains one of the most powerful features of Bank On Yourself – how it lets you bypass banks, finance and credit card companies altogether and become your own source of financing.

This video also addresses how purchasing things like cars, vacations, business equipment, or a college education through a Bank On Yourself plan beats financing, leasing and even directly paying cash for them.

Click the play button on the video below, then scroll down to the comments box and give us your feedback…

HOW MUCH MONEY COULD YOU HAVE BY BECOMING YOUR OWN FINANCING SOURCE?

To find out how much more money you could have when you fire your banker and become your own financing source, request a FREE, no-obligation Analysis.

We’d really love to get your feedback on this new video and video “style”. (You’ve probably never seen a video like this before.)

Here are questions we’d love to get your feedback on in the comments box below…

1. Do you currently use Bank On Yourself?

2. What was the best part of the video?

3. What is still unclear about the Bank On Yourself concept?

4. What topics could we address that you think would give people more confidence to consider Bank On Yourself?

5. If you do not currently use Bank On Yourself, did this video make you more likely or less likely to request a free Analysis and get a referral to one of the Bank On Yourself Professionals?

6. If you are currently using Bank On Yourself, do you feel that this type of video is something you could share with family, friends and colleagues to help them understand this method of managing your finances? Why or why not?

7. Is there any other feedback you’d like to give us?

Singer Karyn White Seizes the Day with Bank On Yourself

July 25th, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | Leave a Comment

I just recorded an inspiring interview with Grammy-nominated contemporary/pop and rhythm and blues recording star – and Bank On Yourself client – Karyn White.

Grammy-Nominated Singer Karyn White Seizes the Day with Bank On Yourself

Karyn was in her early 20’s when she became the first female artist to have her first three solo releases hit #1 on the R&B charts. She collaborated with industry legends including Babyface and L.A. Reid, before devoting herself full-time to raising a family.

After an 18-year hiatus, and a fan base that never forgot her, Karyn decided to record again. Only this time she decided to produce her new CD album, Carpe Diem, herself – and pocket the profits the record companies used to make off of her.

In this interview, Karyn reveals:

How she used her Bank On Yourself plan to finance her new CD herself (and why she probably wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise)
How making the right choices about money puts you in the position of being able to take advantage of opportunities that will inevitably come your way

A Better Way to Save and Pay for College

July 20th, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | 9 Comments

Paying for college without spending your life’s savings is one of the biggest challenges faced by families today.

The traditional ways of paying for college, such as 529 college savings plans, UGMAs, UTMAs, and student loans all have serious drawbacks. So we put together a video that reveals:

Seven important questions to ask yourself when choosing between college saving methods plus a chart that compares them side-by-side
A better way to save and pay for a college education for your kids or grandkids – or for yourself – one you probably aren’t hearing about
How the Bank On Yourself method can double as a safe college savings plan AND a way to provide you a guaranteed income in retirement that can last as long as you do

This video is a little longer than others we’ve done (it’s 10 minutes) because this is a critical topic and making the wrong decisions can drag down your financial picture for decades. A full transcript of the video can be found below as well. Enjoy and let us know what you think in the comments box below!

Bank on Yourself: A Better Way to Save and Pay for College

Watch this video to learn how a specially designed dividend-paying whole life insurance policy from a Bank on Yourself Professional may be the safest and best way to save for college tuition to meet the rising costs of education.

Here’s the full text of the video…

The Boomerang Generation”

That’s what many experts are calling today’s crop of young adults.

All too often they go off to college, they graduate, then they return home, sometimes for years. Blame it on the cost of college.
[Read more…] “A Better Way to Save and Pay for College”

They’re lying to you, again..

June 22nd, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | 4 Comments

A widely publicized new report from the Federal Reserve shows Americans’ wealth plunged by nearly 40% between 2007 and 2010, due to the collapse in home values and the stock market.

There’s one big problem with the Report, which reveals that the net worth of U.S.families has been reduced to a level not seen since 1992 – it’s one of the biggest lies ever perpetrated on the American public!

Here’s why: You can’t eat a number on paper!

Those statistics about how much Americans’ wealth had ballooned prior to the financial crash were pure fiction. Unless and until you sell your assets and (hopefully) lock in your gains, you have nothing more than a bunch of eye-popping numbers on paper that have lured most Americans into believing they have real wealth and financial security, when they do not.

At least that’s the case for Americans who save and invest the way the conventional wisdom tells us to. But it’s not true for people who use the Bank On Yourself method.
[Read more…] “They’re lying to you, again..”

7 Recession Recovery Tips

June 7th, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | Leave a Comment

Most financial analysts claim our country’s economy is on the mend, but many people haven’t felt that yet. Maybe you’re one of these folks. If so, there are a few basic steps you can take to speed up your personal recovery.

1. Make (and stick to) a budget

A budget isn’t a straight jacket for your wallet. It’s a plan for your mind, to help you be sure the things you spend your money on are the things you want or need most. Small amounts pile up. A daily coffee shop visit adds up to $100+ a month. Then there’s eating out, movies, alcohol, cigarettes, lotto tickets – you get the idea. When you spend money, write it down. Review your spending weekly, so you know where your money is going. Look for things you can cut.

For example, buy your meals the old fashioned way – at the grocery store, not the drive-thru. And do most of your shopping around the perimeter of the market – near the outside walls. This is where you’ll find the fresh produce, dairy, and meats/poultry. Cut your food bill in half by avoiding pre-cooked or ready-to-eat stuff.

2. Consider ways to downsize

7 Reasons Why Banking On Yourself Makes Sense

May 30th, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | Leave a Comment

Investing money is a difficult and confusing process for most. While you want to earn the highest return possible, you worry that too much risk could result in a big loss. There are Bank On Yourself growing coinage thousands of financial “experts” in the world, eager to impart advice and consultation, but how are you supposed to select the right one?

One option is Dividend-Paying Whole Life Insurance. While not as publicized as a 401(k) or investing in the market, Whole Life Insurance is a viable, safe method for growing wealth while providing a safety net for your loved ones.

Please take a look at the answers to the FAQs below and consider if Dividend-Paying Whole Life Insurance through Bank On Yourself is an option for you.

FAQs:

1. What is it Dividend Paying Whole Life Insurance?

Retired Navy Commander: Bank On Yourself Makes Financial Independence Easy

May 2nd, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | Leave a Comment

Retired Navy Commander, Robert Chambers

Retired Navy Commander, Robert Chambers, first came to our attention when we invited Bank On Yourself policy owners to share their stories with us.

Retired Navy Commander, Robert Chambers

Commander Bob wrote, “I can’t tell you enough how this has changed my life, but also the lives of every generation to follow.” Bob, who fully retired before he turned 50, notes that…

Retirement isn’t only about money; it’s about gaining financial independence, living a comfortable lifestyle and leaving a legacy for future generations.”

Bob also sent me a 20-page booklet he wrote titled, “Financial Independence Made Easy,” which details his insights into why the conventional wisdom about saving and investing has failed so many, and what his research and study have revealed about the best ways to achieve financial independence. [Read more…] “Retired Navy Commander: Bank On Yourself Makes Financial Independence Easy”

Busting the Bank On Yourself high commission myth

April 18th, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | 3 Comments

There is no shortage of myths or misconceptions about Bank On Yourself or the specially designed whole life insurance policies used for this safe and proven wealth-building method.

Spilling_the_beans — Spilling the beans on the myth that financial advisors sell whole life policies for the large commissions

One of the most commonly repeated myths is that financial advisors only sell whole life policies because they receive large commissions for doing so.

Often, that accusation comes from financial planners, investment advisors and money managers who want you to invest in the stock market, instead.

When you watch the video below, you’re going to be shocked to discover that the advisor who manages your money in the stock market is making at least TEN TIMES MORE than the Bank On Yourself Professional, if the same amount of money is contributed each year! (And Bank On Yourself Professionals receive 50-70% less commission than advisors who structure policies the traditional way.)

Maybe that’s the kind of thing Mark Twain had in mind when he said…

A lie can circle the globe in the time it takes truth to put on its shoes”

And for pocketing TEN TIMES MORE of your hard-earned savings, what guarantees does your financial planner or money manager give you? Do they guarantee you that you’ll have a certain amount of money when you’re ready to start taking income from your savings? No! In fact, if you ask them that question, they’ll laugh you out of their office!
[Read more…] “Busting the Bank On Yourself high commission myth”

Five Tax Advantages of a Bank On Yourself Policy for 2020

April 11th, 2012 by Pamela Yellen | 6 Comments

UPDATED JANUARY 2020

You’ve probably heard the old joke about the guy who hears a knock on his door, opens it, and there’s a man who says…

I’m from the IRS and I’m here to help you!”

Well, there are times when the IRS is trying to help you… and when it comes to the Bank On Yourself method, there are at least five ways they do that.

With the caveat that I’m not a CPA or accountant, nor have I ever played one on TV, here are five ways Bank On Yourself could save you thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes over your lifetime…