Not Your Average Financial Podcast

Episode 430: Guest Host Episode with Frank Herbik | Why Whole Life Insurance Is the Ultimate with Marvin Bulas

November 28, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

Who is Frank Herbik?
How did Marvin Bulas get started with Tim Austin?
What does the concept of Bank on Yourself® focus upon?
Do you rely on other outside financial sources?
What requires self-discipline?
How can you achieve your financial milestones without taking unnecessary risks?
What about discipline and freedom?
Have you read Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink?
How about a lifetime of tax-advantaged income?
What is hard?
How does the Bank on Yourself® strategy differ from a typical market-driven approach like a mutual fund, an ETF, an IRA, etc.?
How about some examples?
Are we completely against the market?
What is the barbell strategy?
What about a better “desk drawer”?
How can you harness compound growth?
What about cash, that’s available to you, whenever you need it?
Could everyone benefit from this?
How does the insurance carrier manage and carry the risk?
What is the non-guaranteed component?
Are the companies in the insurance industry well regulated?
What are the living benefits?
What’s the difference between a typical life insurance agent and an active Bank on Yourself® Professional?
What’s the CFP® designation?
Does a typical CFP® (or CLU®) understand how to correctly structure and design a Bank on Yourself® type whole-life insurance policy?
What does Marvin enjoy?
What can smooth out a lot of things?
How about a case study?
What is the approval process to get a loan from an insurance carrier?
How much do you want, and when do you want it?
Who sets the terms of the loan?
What resonates with Frank?
Do carriers have apps?
Who would these concepts benefit?
How does age affect the growth of a whole life insurance policy?
What is a “sprinter” policy?
What is a “marathon” policy?
How many ways could an advisor design a policy?
Would you like to search on bankonyourself.com?
Would you like to talk with Frank at 630-330-1799 about your specific situation?

Episode 429: Guest Host Episode with Frank Herbik | How Financial Stress Impacts Mental Health and What You Can Do About It with Randi Paris

November 21, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

How does financial stress impact mental health?
Who is Frank Herbik?
Who is Randi Paris?
How does money affect married couples, partnered couples and individuals throughout life?
How is a relationship a joint effort?
What about a weekly check-in?
What happens if there is a divorce or death?
What about showing up together?
Why is education and communication important?
What have we learned, and how can we apply this?
Can they receive what I am saying?
Can you hear what they are saying?
Who is the spender, and who is the saver?
What about listening without judgement?
Are we confirming that we are on the same page?
What are some stories of financial stresses?
What happens with job loss and no savings?
How about recovering in a dual income family where there is a job loss?
What are our goals?
How do we get there? Who do we need to contact?
What drew Randi to the Bank on Yourself® concept?
How does one go about developing a legacy and generational wealth?
What about just starting?
How much money will go through our hands?
Do you have an open dialogue with your spouse?
Would you like to contact Randi’s Indianapolis-area team at pariscounselingllc.org?
Would you like to reach out to Frank at 630-330-1799 to discuss your specific situation?

Episode 428: Choose Wisely! A Chance to Be Rich or the Guarantee You’ll Never Be Poor

November 14, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

How does one grow, protect and exit a business with confidence?
Would you like to read and review our new book, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business?
What about a higher rate of return?
Can you get a higher rate of return in the stock market?
Why doesn’t my whole life insurance cash value equal what I’ve put into the policy until year 7 or 10?
If your cash value life insurance made zero gains for 10–15 years, would it still be worth adding to your portfolio?
Are tools like whole life insurance and fixed index annuities just backups, or are they essential drivers of your financial plan?
What are the three pillars of financial and retirement success Americans need?
What about guaranteed lifetime income?
What about the magic of mortality credits?
What about smart leverage?
Are these get-rich-quick schemes?
Are these get-rich-for-sure strategies?
So what would you prefer?
What is a contract with your future?
Why do strategies, like Bank on Yourself® type whole life insurance policies, really shine?
Who has paid dividends for over a century, without fail?
What about pairing a Bank on Yourself® type whole life insurance policy with fixed indexed annuities (FIAs)?
What can outperform bonds?
What about protection and yield?
How do fixed index annuities provide lifetime income?
Can annuities outperform bonds in retirement planning?
Why are retirees with guaranteed income happier and less anxious?
What does the 4% rule (or 3% rule) require?
What are mortality credits?
What amplifies growth, safely?
Why do these policies thrive, regardless of market conditions?
What about leverage?
How does cash value life insurance offer leverage?
Can you borrow against your policy and still earn uninterrupted growth?
What is a non-direct recognition loan?
How about an example?
Is there any other asset that can bundle all these benefits together?
What about privacy?
What about structured payouts?
Is there anything else that can do all of this?
How might you outpace most people with a Bank on Yourself® type whole life insurance policy and fixed indexed annuities?
What are the challenges of low rates?
What are the takeaways?
Who should you share this episode with?
Would you like to meet with Mark or an associate to discuss your specific situation?

Episode 427: Unmasking Crypto Scams – A True Crime of Digital Deception

November 7, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

What is the shadowy-underworld of crypto scams?
What about the right applied knowledge?
Have you seen web3isgoinggreat.com?
How much crypto-related fraud is happening?
Who has thought they cracked the code with crypto?
How about a case study?
What is the pig butchering scam?
What about bogus trading platforms?
Who is actually buying crypto?
How much real money has vanished to these schemes?
What is crypto’s siren song?
What do they promise?
What about FTX?
What about Sam Bankman-Fried?
Why is crypto’s anonymity a scammer’s dream?
Why is the blockchain at a loss for tracking crypto?
What did the 2023 report say?
What is Mark’s experience with clients losing money on scams?
What are some signs it’s not a good website?
What about celebrity endorsements?
What did the FTC shut down in 2024?
How does AI affect this?
What does Warren Buffet say about crypto?
What about Virtual Ponzi Schemes?
Is any of this new?
Is it even worse?
What are the red flags?
How might you protect yourself and your loved ones?
What about slowing down?
Is it too good to be true?
How do real investments actually work?
How about typos?
What about the https:// protocol on websites?
Have you checked the whoisdata?
What about psychological manipulation, using FOMO (the fear of missing out)?
What about seduction and romance?
What about pressure tactics or blackmail?
Do real opportunities vanish overnight?
Do you feel so special?
What about elder fraud?
Do the scams exploit your emotions?
Do you need to report a scam or fraud?
Do you need to speak with a financial advisor?
What is your shield in the Digital Wild West?
Would you like to join us in the FREE Not Your Average Financial Community?

Episode 426: The Monster of Variable Universal Life (VUL)

October 31, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

Would you like a practical guide to building a resilient business?
Would you like to read and review our new book, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business?
What was so scary about Frankenstein’s monster?
What is Variable Universal Life (VUL)?
What is the nightmare twist?
What are the risks of VUL policies?
Why did VUL policies decline in popularity after the 1990s?
How many VUL policies lapse each year?
What are the hidden costs inside a VUL policy?
What happens when a VUL policy lapses?
What is a sub-account in a VUL policy?
What is an expense ratio?
Why is 2-4% so bad?
Why are VUL sub-accounts more expensive than regular ETFs?
What about capital gains tax?
Why do advisors push VUL policies to high-income earners?
What about the 7702 section of the tax code?
Is VUL a good tax-advantaged investment?
What happened to the S&P in 2002?
What happens to VUL policies during a market downturn?
What is the net amount at risk?
What happens when the markets dip?
How does market volatility affect VUL insurance policies?
What is a death spiral in VUL insurance?
Can VUL costs increase during retirement?
What about the total annual fees in a VUL policy?
How do VUL fees compare to whole life insurance?
What is the total drag on a VUL policy?
What is a Bank On Yourself® whole life policy?
What are the benefits of whole life insurance vs. VUL?
What happened to VUL policies during the .com crash?
How did VUL policies perform during the 2008 financial crisis?
What about class action lawsuits?
What are the risks of borrowing from a VUL policy?
What is negative arbitrage?
Why do VUL loans often result in poor returns?
Why do insurance companies discourage fixed account use in VULs?
What are the downsides of VUL fixed accounts?
What does the SEC say alerts say about VUL illustrations?
Why is a Bank On Yourself® whole life policies far superior?
Have you seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
What is a fixed index annuity (FIA)?
What did the 2002 Morning Star report say?
Can fixed index annuities replace VUL for retirement planning?
Do you own a VUL? Would you like to know how to audit your VUL policy?
How about a case study?
What should you look for in a VUL in-force illustration?
What happens when VUL cash value drops significantly?
Can VUL policies collapse due to market losses?
Why are VUL loans problematic during market downturns?
What are the loan interest rates in VUL policies?
Why is VUL unsuitable for retirees?
What are the risks of managing a VUL policy with age?
What are the benefits of whole life policies for long-term care?
Can whole life insurance help with medical expenses?
How does a fixed index annuity provide retirement income?
What are the top alternatives to VUL policies?
Can you transfer a VUL policy to whole life insurance?
Why does the SEC say that VUL policies are unsuitable for nearly everyone?
What is SWAN money?
What are low-risk retirement strategies?
What are the takeaways?
Who needs to hear about this?

Episode 425: How Connections Compound Like Financial Interest with Steve Ramona

October 24, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

Would you like to read and review our new book, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business?
Why is serving others a wealth accelerator?
Who is Steve Ramona?
What is Steve’s story?
How might we remember names?
What do people care about?
Would you like to read The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton?
What is the value of networking?
What business are you in?
How do we bring value?
How might I serve you?
What do people do when they give gifts?
What is abundance mentality vs. victim mentality or mindset?
What is the ASLA principal?
What about listening?
What are you passionate about?
How does one get over fear?
What about giving back?
What does “slow is smooth and smooth is fast” mean for your finances, relationships and business?
Would you like to watch Steve’s show, Together We Serve?
What are the takeaways?
Would you like to join the FREE Not Your Average Financial Community?

Steve Ramona discovered his calling at a young age and is now on a mission to share his secret sauce for success. He thrives on forging meaningful connections, sharing referrals, and watching people flourish. His contagious passion for the Law of Increase makes his podcast Doing Business with a Servant’s Heart so successful. This show is chock-full of inspiring stories about overcoming challenges and serving others.

Episode 424: I’ll take a LOWER Rate of Return AND Get BETTER RESULTS?!

October 17, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

Would you like to read and review our new book, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business?
What does a CFP® and a Bank on Yourself® Professional think about?
What’s really going on here?
What’s the difference?
Why does it matter?
What about the aggressive portfolio?
What about the growth portfolio?
What about the conservative portfolio?
Who is vaporizing their future capacity to recover?
Have you ever been shocked at your financial statement?
What will outperform?
How much would you have to make this year if you lost 18% last year?
What is the math of compounding losses?
What is the hidden cost of chasing higher rates of return?
How about a thought exercise?
How much would you need after fees and taxes?
How might one lock in gains?
What is underwhelming?
What is absolutely guaranteed in the stock market?
What does the average stock market investor net?
Based on Morningstar’s reports, how on earth is it only 1.4%?
What can reduce the likelihood of outliving your money?
What’s the worst thing that can happen?
What’s the most crucial?
Why does timing matter so much?
Is 10% with a 30% drop still 10%?
How often is the market going to give you 43% gains?
What about a client’s case study?
Is a linear path better than a volatile path?
Have you learned this lesson, after it’s too late?
Does high risk lead to high reward?
What’s wrong with settling for 6%?
What about the opportunity cost?
Is volatility the same thing as risk?
What about human behavior and human instincts?
Are we more predictable than we realize?
Is it all about gambling?
How might one overcome the volatility?
What about no big losses?
What about steady growth?
What about a death benefit?
How could a boring whole life insurance policy beat chasing the market?
How much can you pull out annually in retirement?
What about the 4% rule?
What adds significant risk?
What is perfect for stability?
Who is thinking differently about their money?
What are the takeaways?
Are your returns just myths?

Episode 423: Save on Taxes through Strategic MYGA Laddering with Evan Greathouse

October 10, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

Would you like to hear from Evan Greathouse on how to work with the ticking tax time bomb?
Would you like to read and review our new book, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business?
What about avoiding MEC status (modified endowment contract status)?
Who is Evan Greathouse?
What happened to Evan’s client who lives in a high tax state?
What is qualified money?
Who has a tax problem?
What are the options?
What about the required minimum distribution?
What is the age 59 1/2 rule?
What is the tax plus penalty zone?
What happens if you wait too long?
Who gets penalized 50%?
What happens if you pass away with a 401(k) or IRA?
What are the non-spousal beneficiaries forced to do?
How do inheriting adult children pay the tax on the inherited qualified account benefit?
Why does the lion share of the inheritance go to I.R.S.?
What would be more tax efficient?
What would offer more accessibility?
What is MYGA laddering?
What is a multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA)?
What is laddering?
What continues earning interest?
How does a MYGA compare to a CD?
Would you like to hear Episode 280?
Did the MYGA kill the CD?
What’s the structural idea?
What are the logistics?
Is this overly complicated?
Why ladder? Why not do one big solution?
How does this ease the tax burden?
What is a modified endowment contract (MEC)?
Would you like to hear Episode 121?
Who is a good fit for this strategy?
Who is NOT a good fit for this strategy?
Is the plan contractually guaranteed to work?
What about the importance of liquidity?
How did Evan come up with this genius move?
What is Evan’s process with clients?
Would you like to reach out to Evan? Email at evan@greathousefs.com
Would you like to schedule a 15-minute introductory call with Evan?
What are the takeaways?

Evan Greathouse is a trusted Bank On Yourself® Professional who empowers individuals nationwide to achieve lasting financial independence. He specializes in the Bank On Yourself® strategy, helping clients build wealth with uninterrupted growth, liquidity, and tax-free, penalty-free access to cash whenever they need it. With a strong foundation in business management and real estate, Evan combines practical experience with a passion for financial wisdom. He is dedicated to guiding clients through their financial journeys with clarity, purpose, and integrity. Rooted in faith, Evan believes that a strong ‘why’ can conquer any ‘how’ and strives to help others align their financial decisions with their greater purpose. Above all, he values his relationship with God, his wife, and their three children.

Episode 422: The Bank World’s Final Boss: How to Actually End the Fed

October 3, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

Would you like to read and review our new book, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business?
Would you like to give us feedback on the FREE! Not Your Average Financial Community?
How could the system be fixed?
When was the Federal Reserve started?
What happened in 1913?
What has happened since?
What happened in 2008?
What happened to the money supply during COVID from 2020-2022?
What about inflation?
What about compound interest?
Why have young couple delayed buying homes and having kids?
What about the booms and busts?
What are the mental and physical health issues tied to these issues?
Is this a rigged game?
Is this a matter of life and death?
How do we peg the dollar back to market rates and gold?
Can anyone swap dollars for gold?
Can we reduce electronic liabilities?
What about blockchain?
What about the FDIC?
What about bailouts?
What about better scrutiny?
What are the bank’s financials?
Who is holding true reserves?
What is fractional reserve banking?
What do most people NOT realize?
Is stable money ahead?
What are other economists saying?
What about Ludvig von Mises?
What do the bank’s panics look like now?
What did America use before 1913?
Why did they call it the Gilded Age?
What is self regulating?
What has gone up 50x?
How does this apply to personal action?
How do Bank on Yourself® type life insurance policies fit into this?
How about some case studies?
What about the distortion?
What about the dot com and the housing bubbles?
What did the later audits reveal?
Does a gold standard eliminate this?
Does arbitrage correct it?
What would keep prices stable?
What is a hidden tax on the poorest among us?
What about the Fed’s role in 1929?
What happened in 1971?
What happened to the currency in Turkey?
What could work?
What happens as the treasuries mature?
What’s the cultural impact?
What are the takeaways?

Episode 421: Economic Overheating from the Fed

September 26, 2025 by Not Your Average Financial Podcast

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In this episode, we ask:

Are you a small or mid-sized business owner?
Would you like to read and review our new book, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business?
What is the big storm brewing?
What about the U.S.’s addiction to short term debt?
What about money printing?
What about rising bond yields?
What about a ballooning national debt?
What’s coming next?
How can you put yourself in the driver’s seat?
What happened in 2008?
What is quantitative easing (QE)?
How much did they print?!
What about QE infinity and beyond?
What about the generational impact?
Who won?
Who lost?
Is the system rigged?
How much is the U.S. National Debt?
When will social security run out?
What about Medicare costs?
What about interest on the national debt?
What about the six-month treasury bills?
Is the government running out of lenders?
Who is the last one standing?
What happens when they print money?
What about foreign buyers?
What about retail inflation?
What about real estate?
Do you have time to spot the signals and act in advance?
How do whole life insurance policy loans act as a hedge against inflation?
Could the dollar strengthen?
What would happen to whole life insurance policy holders?
Who is qualified to structure your plan appropriately and correctly?
What are the takeaways?
Who needs to hear this episode?

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