Not Your Average Financial Podcast™

Think different about your money, your economy and your future. Be curious. Be stable. Be sane.

Episode 433: NEW BOOK! Part 1 – Bank On Yourself® Origins and Why Now? with Pamela Yellen, Brian Kay and Tim Austin

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In this episode, we ask:

  • How can you build wealth safely and predictably?
  • Who is Pamela Yellen?
  • Who is Brian Kay?
  • Who is Tim Austin?
  • Would you like to go to bankonyourselfbook.com to get the new book?
  • What’s Pamela’s story?
  • How did Pamela meet Brian and Tim?
  • What’s Brian’s story?
  • Should you turn over your financial independence to other parties?
  • Should you become your own source of financing?
  • Should you recapture the interest you have paid to other sources?
  • Should you be careful with borrowing and debt?
  • How did Brian meet Tim?
  • Can paying for college be an affordable reality without taking unnecessary risks?
  • What’s Tim’s story?
  • What was happening in the 1980s?
  • What are the strategies that worked in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s?
  • How is risk finicky?
  • Do you have to have debt to get where you want to go?
  • Do you have to be in the market to be successful?
  • What about uncertainty?
  • What about anticipation and preparation?
  • How might we crisis-proof our finances?
  • What is the average household debt?
  • How many people are behind on paying their debt?
  • What percent of retirees, age 66-71 have debt?
  • What about medical emergencies?
  • How many would be able to cover their expenses if they had a one-week delay on their paycheck?
  • Why is this book necessary?
  • What are the action items?
  • Will you join us next week for Part 2?

Episode 432: Why Does the SEC Chair Paul Atkins Have 54 Life Insurance Policies?

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In this episode, we ask:

  • What does he know, that we don’t?
  • What is his net worth?
  • What does the SEC chair do?
  • What is the cornerstone of his wealth?
  • Is this a quiet vote of confidence in life insurance over volatile securities?
  • What protections does life insurance offer that stocks don’t?
  • What is a state insurance department?
  • What are consumer protections?
  • What reserves are the insurance companies required to hold?
  • What about reinsurance companies?
  • What is a state guarantee association?
  • Why 54 policies? Is this overkill?
  • Is he diversifying?
  • What is a life settlement?
  • What’s the importance of having multiple policies?
  • What are the benefits?
  • What gives you tax-free access to cash?
  • Did you know you are forced to take money out of qualified government accounts by a certain age?
  • Do required minimum distributions (RMDs) exist in life insurance?
  • What do retirement researchers like Roger Ibbotson, David Blanchett, and Wade Pfau say about life insurance?
  • What is the efficient market frontier?
  • What about the volatility buffer?
  • What about taking distributions from the life insurance cash value during crashing stock values?
  • How can a policy be “overfunded”?
  • How many policies will be enough to buffer volatility?
  • How about an example?
  • If one policy is good, are 54 policies better?
  • What is a modern tool for building resilience?
  • What is the purpose of each policy?
  • What about policies with various carriers?
  • What about different terms on paid up additions (PUAs)?
  • What about guarantees?
  • Do you want to meet one-on-one?
  • What about policy loan rates?
  • How do the rates vary by company?
  • What is a 1035 exchange?
  • Would you like to subscribe to this podcast?
  • Who needs to hear this?
  • Would you like to meet with Mark or one of Mark’s associates?

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

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

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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 418: Why Bank On Yourself® is Essential at Every Age

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In this episode, we ask:

  • Are you a small or mid-sized business owner?
  • Would you like to read the Business Fortress book?
  • Is napping the unsung hero of the universe?
  • What about the seasons of life?
  • How do financial tools and strategies work over the seasons of life?
  • Is there a tool that meets every application with every stage of life?
  • Wouldn’t that change everything?
  • Is whole life insurance a one-size fits all tool?
  • What about children?
  • What about guaranteed insurability?
  • What about building cash value?
  • What about intergenerational wealth?
  • What about singles?
  • What about lower premiums (when you’re young and healthy)?
  • What about borrowing against cash value for life needs?
  • What about debt protection?
  • What about a small term policy?
  • What about newlyweds without kids?
  • What about building a life together?
  • What about the debt SnowBank™ method?
  • What about mortgage pay down acceleration?
  • What about paying off your entire house with your policy?
  • What about lifestyle preservation?
  • What will happen to the surviving spouse?
  • How about parents who are married with children?
  • What about income needs?
  • What about education funding and college costs?
  • What about lifestyle protection?
  • What about an emergency fund?
  • How about empty nesters?
  • Should I drop my life insurance?
  • What is a myth?
  • What about pension maximization?
  • What about a joint life pension?
  • What about single life pension?
  • How do we fix that problem?
  • What can be tax free?
  • Is it just about the kids?
  • What is a safety net and a wealth building tool?
  • What about legacy planning or equalizing an inheritance?
  • What about children in the family business?
  • What about leaving the estate to the children?
  • What about replacing your group insurance?
  • Does your life insurance go away when you leave your employer?
  • What about retirement income supplementation?
  • What about seniors?
  • What about final expenses?
  • What about social security replacement?
  • Will you leave gifts?
  • Will you leave a legacy?
  • What is the ADBR (accelerated death benefit rider)?
  • Can you age in your home?
  • What about federal and state taxes?
  • What about estate tax?
  • How fast will the estate tax be due?
  • What about business owners and life insurance?
  • What is the secret weapon?
  • What are the takeaways?
  • Would you like to see the chart PDF at our FREE Not Your Average Financial Community?

Episode 416: Buried in Work? Here’s How to Transform Your Estate Plan with Adam Zuckerman

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In this episode, we ask:

  • Are you a small to mid-size business owner?
  • Would you like to read Mark’s new book, co-authored with David Barnett, The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect and Exit Your Business with Confidence?
  • Who is Adam Zuckerman?
  • Do you have a will?
  • Do you have a trust?
  • Do you have an attorney?
  • Do you have a financial planner?
  • Do you have a CPA?
  • What is the story behind the words Buried in Work?
  • What is the reality when someone passes away?
  • Does everyone already have an estate plan?
  • Who is in control of that plan?
  • Do you have funeral plans in place?
  • What are the frameworks found on Buried in Work?
  • What is the estate planning pyramid?
  • What’s Adam’s story with life insurance?
  • What is the CLEAR kit?
  • What should your family do?
  • Is there a checklist?
  • What or who needs to be paid?
  • What are your succession plans for the business?
  • What happens next?
  • What are the information hubs?
  • How might I find the words to have this challenging conversation?
  • Do you have advanced directives in place?
  • What happened in the hospital?
  • What about the card deck?
  • Do you need an attorney?
  • What situations don’t require an attorney?
  • Do you have a trust?
  • Is the trust funded?
  • Where does one start?
  • Would you like to visit buriedinwork.com?
  • What are the takeaways?

Adam Zuckerman (JD/MBA) is the founder of Buried in Work, a leading resource that helps individuals, families, and businesses simplify estate planning and end-of-life tasks.

Buried in Work’s resources include more than 150+ information hubs, 2,000+ articles, 100+ checklists and guides, service provider directories, a podcast, and innovative tools like the Executor’s Summary Report, CLEAR Kits, and card games that facilitate meaningful conversations about legacy and preparation.

Adam’s mission is simple yet powerful: to make life’s hardest moments a little easier by helping families get organized, communicate openly, and prepare comprehensively for the unexpected.

Learn more at www.BuriedInWork.com.

Episode 411: Be Aware! Navigating Fraud, Scams and Elder Financial Protection with Terri Lea Gardner

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In this episode, we ask:

  • Have you come out unscathed?
  • Is it real?
  • Is it a scam?
  • Who is Terri Lea Gardner?
  • What has Terri learned?
  • What are the top frauds and scams today?
  • What do the scammers target?
  • How much is lost on phone calls, social media and email scams?
  • What about the toll road scam?
  • What about the warrant scam?
  • What about the posts on social media?
  • What about the email PayPal scam?
  • What about malware or viruses?
  • What about the QR codes?
  • How many fall victim to the scams?
  • What generations are more likely to get caught in these scams?
  • What is the issue?
  • What is on the other end of the link?
  • What should you do with a suspicious email or text?
  • When should you change your passwords?
  • What about password managers?
  • What about staying educated?
  • What about AI fake video technology?
  • What about talking with elder parents?
  • What was Terri’s first fraud case?
  • What about the fake “family member in jail” call?
  • What about retaliation?
  • What are the tips and tricks to lock down one’s identifying information?
  • What about reporting it to the police and the IRS?
  • What are the action items?

Terri Lea Gardner is a seasoned law enforcement professional with 35 years of experience in investigative work, specializing in waste, fraud, and abuse investigations. She holds a Master Peace Officer License and has dedicated 17 years to the Office of Inspector General (OIG), focusing on high-stakes fraud detection and prevention.
Terri earned both her Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership (2019) and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice & Forensic Science (2016) from Sam Houston State University. As a Certified Fraud Examiner for over 12 years, she has been at the forefront of fraud investigations, uncovering complex financial crimes and helping organizations mitigate risks.

Her passion lies in educating others on fraud prevention, equipping individuals and businesses with the knowledge to protect themselves from financial deception. Through her expertise, Terri empowers others to recognize, report, and prevent fraudulent activity, ensuring a more secure and ethical financial landscape.

Episode 389: Why Your Spouse Absolutely Needs To Be Here

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In this episode, we ask:

  • What’s the history?
  • What’s the opportunity?
  • What am I talking about?
  • What are the implications of your financial plan when you try to go it alone?
  • What about economies of scale?
  • What about the tax advantages of joint filing?
  • What are the other benefits?
  • What about net worth?
  • What did the Federal Reserve survey of consumer finances say?
  • What happens in divorce?
  • What patterns has Mark observed?
  • How about a case study?
  • What is the best gift?
  • What does the relationship help you become?
  • What offers guaranteed growth and protection?
  • What about funding life’s milestones?
  • What about legacy building for future generations?
  • What about tax advantages?
  • Who wants to send a valentine to the I.R.S.?
  • What about dreams and goals?
  • What about gifts?
  • What does everyone want this year?

Episode 383: The 9 Steps to Secure Your Family’s Future

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In this episode, we ask:

  • Are you ready?
  • What are the risks you take, just to live your life?
  • What am I interested in now?
  • How do you reach your financial milestones without taking unnecessary risks?
  • What happens when risk goes up?
  • What about outcomes?
  • Who is determined to fail?
  • What about speculating?
  • Who is Tim Austin?
  • What are the 9 steps?
    • Where are you today?
    • Did you know you can reach your financial milestones?
    • Will you take an inventory of what’s working and what’s not working?
    • Are you ready to review the inventory? What are some proposed solutions?
    • Can you forgive yourself for all past and future financial missteps?
    • What will you decide?
    • What solutions will you implement?
    • What needs review and what adjustments are needed?
    • Who else needs help?
  • How about listening?
  • What’s working? What’s not working?
  • What are the biggest aha moments?
  • What might happen if….?
  • Do you believe you have a bigger future within you?
  • What is the After Action Review?
  • What’s helping? What’s hurting?
  • How might a third-party perspective bring value?
  • What’s possible?
  • What about self-doubt and self-forgiveness?
  • What about implementation?
  • Who are we grateful for?
  • What about solutions and ongoing adjustments?
  • Is there such a thing as a permanent financial plan?
  • What if you lose your job?
  • What if you move across the country?
  • Humbly, what adjustments are needed?
  • Who do you know who you want to feel the same way?
  • What’s it like to send a simple email introduction?
  • What did William Arthur Ward say?
  • Would you like to meet with Mark?

Episode 380:[Client Spotlight] Mastering Real Estate and Bank On Yourself® with Brian Claus

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In this episode, we ask:

  • How about balancing family life, ministry and real estate?
  • Who is Brian Claus?
  • Have you heard about UnBound Now?
  • What’s Brian’s earliest memory with money?
  • What did Brian’s Dad do to incentivize saving?
  • What’s Brian’s story?
  • What happened in 2018?
  • What are the benefits of running real estate through policies instead of banks?
  • What about Dave Ramsey’s thinking?
  • What about due diligence?
  • What about selling the house?
  • What was the benefit of putting the proceeds into a policy?
  • What about the down payment for the new house?
  • What about the pool?
  • What happened with the land deal?
  • What about the other deals?
  • How did Brian access the money?
  • Would you like to view Brian’s financial map?
  • How else does Brian use these policies?
  • What about paying taxes?
  • What about the ministry through Brian’s church?
  • Would you like to visit UnBound Now?
  • Would you like to email or message Brian on the FREE Not Your Average Financial Community?
  • What are the takeaways?

Brian Claus balances family life with a career in diverse real estate ventures, from long-term rentals to Airbnbs and land sales. For over a decade, he’s worked with Unbound Now, a dedicated anti-human trafficking organization, where he’s made a meaningful impact.