David talks about the Power of Zero “philosophy,” as well as a recent Penn Wharton study saying that, if all we do is continue on this same course, by 2043 there will be no arrest in the financial collapse of our country. 95% of Americans have the lion’s share of their retirement savings sitting in what we call tax-deferred vehicles like 401(k)s and IRAs. A big problem most Americans face: every year the IRS gets a vote on what percentage of your profits they get to keep. David shares the...

Today’s video is from David’s conversation with financial advisor Bruce Hosler. They discuss why financial advisors like Ken Fisher don't want you to do Roth conversions. David reveals why there is a lot of incoming resistance from financial "Gurus" about moving to tax-free and using the tools necessary to get to the 0% tax bracket. David talks about his new book, Guru, and all of the interference he’s facing in trying to get the Power of Zero message out to the American people. Most of...

How much of your social security is getting taxed, at what rate, and is there anything you can do about it? Unfortunately, the IRS doesn't make it easy for people to understand how much of their social security is taxable and at what rate. David explains that the best way to understand social security taxation is to first know about provisional income--this is the income the IRS tracks to determine how much of your social security will be taxable. As you continue to increase your IRA...

This episode addresses whether the mainstream financial planning community is justified in avoiding Indexed Universal Life. Lately, social media has been filled with videos praising the virtues of a financial tool known as Indexed Universal Life (IUL). David explains why the IUL has been taking such a beating from traditional financial planners. David discusses three different viewpoints against the IUL – including that of scammy salesmen on TikTok who often describe the IUL as “a stock...

David discusses how much of your IRA you should convert, in what amounts and over what time frame. If you’re not convinced by the possible dramatic increase in tax rates in 2031 to bump you into the 32% bracket, you’re not alone… A whole battery of experts predict that tax rates will have to rise dramatically to help service the national debt and with the $200 trillion in shortfalls in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. In Comeback America, former Comptroller General David Walker...

David addresses Clark Howard’s viewpoint that seems to want to invite people to never consider a fixed index annuity.  Despite interacting with thousands of financial advisors who offer fixed index annuities every year, David has never heard one of them describe them the same way as Clark Howard. Since financial gurus have to get their points across in short three-minute segments, they don’t have the luxury of nuance, says David. David explains how fixed index annuities actually work, and...

Doug Andrew called the IUL a dream investment, but is it the silver bullet retirement account he claims it to be?  David goes through Doug Andrew’s controversial remarks about IULs, and explains why he politely disagrees with his one-size-fits-all approach to index universal life. David explains why the 4% rule is a very expensive way to pay for retirement.  He reveals why it's much more economical to guarantee your living expenses with a lifetime income annuity.  If you only utilize the...

This episode explores the two different five-year rules for Roth IRAs instituted by the IRS to prevent people from abusing them. The first five-year rule applies to earnings on Roth contributions and determines whether those distributions can be taken tax-free. The second rule concerns Roth conversions and lets you know whether conversion principles can be accessed penalty-free. David explains that, for the purposes of the five-year rule, the clock starts the first time any money is...

At a recent Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting, Warren Buffett shared his thoughts on why he sees financial advisors as the worst people to trust with your money. Buffett believes that financial professionals in aggregate can’t do better than the aggregate of the people who just sit tight. David agrees with Buffett’s view on active versus passive investing. According to David, Buffett’s point of view and approach don’t account for the high cost of investor behavior. The fact...

George Kamel recently released a video on index universal life. On the surface, it looks like a ruthless exposé of a financial scam that millions of Americans are falling for.  But when you scratch just below the surface, his critique of IUL is a steaming cesspool of half-truths and outright lies that are designed to sell you a term insurance policy through a Dave Ramsey-sponsored term insurance broker. According to Kamel, the IUL is a financial scam marketed as a secret wealth hack, yet in...

According to David, Ken Fisher’s hate toward annuities is visible in what can be considered “one of the most successful attacks on any financial product in history”. David discusses why, in his opinion, Ken Fisher sees annuities as the perfect marketing tool to build his own asset management firm. There are two things annuities can do that no other financial product can – David explains what they are. Academic studies that go back to the early 1960s seem to suggest that annuities are the...

Financial expert and author Ric Edelman has stated that, in his opinion, anyone following Dave Ramsey’s 8% retirement withdrawal strategy is…doomed! The 4% rule has been the distribution rates’ gold standard for over 30 years. However, Suze Orman said that she wouldn’t use the 4% rule on any level.  David touches upon what he considers a “massive unintended consequence” of adopting Suze Orman’s 3% withdrawal rate in retirement. According to David, there isn’t a winner between a 3%, a 4%,...

A recent Penn Wharton study found that the federal government will have to dramatically raise taxes within the next 20 years to avoid sliding into a debt spiral of high interest rates and debt payments. Former comptroller General David Walker has stated several times that taxes would have to double by 2030 or the U.S. will go broke as a nation. When it comes to retirement savings accounts, the federal government typically gives people a choice between paying taxes at the time of...

Former comptroller general of the federal government, David Walker, believes that tax rates will have to double, in order to avoid a financial collapse. The U.S. Government should be helped in preventing their growth. David McKnight points out a potential course of action that should be followed to avoid a possible financial collapse. Permanent solutions to stabilize the debt outlook are needed now…not 20 years from now when the crisis is already upon us. David touches upon the role that...

Today’s episode is part 4 of David’s interview for Jesse Wright’s podcast, and it addresses the best way to figure out how much money you’ll need to be able to retire. David explains how to be able to identify what your retirement shortfall is going to be.  There are different approaches and each one comes with its unique traits – David discusses his favorite. Citing Suze Orman, David shares his thoughts on what the new retirement age should be. Jesse and David touch upon living abroad...

Today’s episode is part three of David’s interview on Jesse Wright’s podcast. They discuss the best way to ensure your savings last as long as you do.  Jesse shares a shocking stat: 65-year-old married couples have an 18% chance that at least one person in the relationship will live to be 95 years old. This means that there is a very real chance that at least one of them will outlive their savings.  For David, most Americans outlive their savings because they don’t save or invest enough to...

Today’s episode is the second part of David’s interview for Jesse Wright’s podcast. Beware of what you see on social media, says David. A lot of that content is by wayward life insurance agents employing pretty despicable tactics. David shares an example of bad advice and highlights why this is advice you should stay away from. For David, 99% of TikTok videos misrepresent what the IUL can do and the role it should play in your retirement. David explains why an IUL is sort of like getting...

Today’s episode is part 1 of David’s appearance on Jesse Wright’s podcast. Jesse asks David where one should start from when thinking about retirement. David points out that the types of accounts which one saves money for retirement really matter. According to David, there’s essentially two ways to save money for retirement. The first is to get a tax deduction today. The second is to pay the tax today and invest your money so that, in the future, you’ll be able to take that money out...

David and Khalen Dwyer discuss HonestMath.com's research proposing a conservative 4% annual withdrawal for a 30-year retirement--contradicting Ramsey's long-standing advice of an 8% withdrawal rate. Khalen explains how Ramsey's assumptions defy both mathematical principles and historical data.  He also reveals the financial instability retirees may face when following Ramsey's controversial 8% withdrawal rate. Khalen and David agree that the primary job of an advisor is to help investors...

David makes a clear preface: “If anyone ever tells you to cash out your 401k and put it all into an IUL, you’re to turn around and run the other way!” This episode addresses what David refers to as “the worst IUL TikTok video I’ve ever seen; a video that’s so replete with manipulative sales tactics and lawsuit-worthy financial advice.” David points out one of the manipulative sales strategies included in the video: making the prospect feel as if she needs help by making her feel confused...

One of the things Dave Ramsey is famous for is telling his audience that they can take sustainable 8% distributions from their stock market portfolios in retirement. David has two issues with this recommendation: it ignores reams of academic data on sustainable withdrawal rates, as well as the concept of sequence of return. David points out the potential repercussions of following Ramsey’s approach. According to the mainstream financial community, 4% is the actual “golden rule” for...

David talks to Tom Hegna, an economist, author, and popular industry speaker considered by many to be the retirement income expert. David reveals how he learned about the unstable fiscal trajectory of the U.S. and why he wrote the book, "The Power of Zero." The book emphasizes the importance of preparing for higher tax rates. It offers strategies to help you protect your retirement savings against the impact of potentially higher tax rates in the future. David talks about teaching...

David talks to Jay Disberger, the caller on Dave Ramsey's viral 4% rule meltdown. They start the discussion by describing why the clip went viral and how people can get their questions answered live on the Dave Ramsey Show. Jay's motivation for the call: To get clarity on how best to withdraw your money in retirement and get Dave to take a stand on sustainable withdrawal in retirement.  Jay shares his journey to finance coaching and saving for retirement.  David and Jay discuss why George...

Dave Ramsey recently eviscerated his co-host George Kamel for preaching the 4% rule. According to George, withdrawing only 4% of your savings is the easiest way to guarantee your money lasts throughout retirement. George further adds that the 4% rule is a math-based approach to sustainable withdrawals in retirement. For Dave Ramsey, the 4% is senseless and only geared toward stealing people’s hope for a brighter retirement. He believes an 8% withdrawal rate is more sustainable since your...