Posts by Rachel Marshall
How Much Do I Need to Retire? Rethinking the Number, the Risk, and the Cash Flow
The Couple With $8.5 Million… and One Salad “Bruce, I’m afraid we’re going to run out of money.” He had over $8.5 million across different accounts. They were in their early 70s. On paper, they were far ahead of where most people ever get. But his fear was so real that when they went out…
Read MoreHow to Teach Kids About Money: Habits, Mindsets, and Conversations That Last a Lifetime
The Day a Cookie Business Changed How My Daughter Saw Money After watching a kid biz launch challenge our eight-year-old decided she wanted to start a cookie business. She figured out recipes, canvased the neighborhood, and delivered her first batch of cookie dough. By the end of the day, she had a stack of cash…
Read MoreEmergency Fund Alternatives: Liquidity That Protects Your Family—Without Sacrificing Growth
The Day the “Emergency Fund” Met Real Life Rachel here. Many tell us the same story: “I saved the emergency fund, but I’m worried I’m losing ground to inflation and missed opportunities.” Because for most people, the “emergency fund” is a lonely pile of cash—stuck in a corner doing next to nothing. It feels safe,…
Read MoreOvercoming Financial Fear: Shift From Scarcity To Abundance With Traditional Planning
Many people make more money and somehow feel more afraid. Afraid to decide. Afraid to lose. Afraid to look foolish. Afraid to miss out. This isn’t a fringe problem. It’s everywhere.And it’s solvable. Bruce and I recorded this episode to hand you a simple tool you can use to reframe fear and build the kind…
Read MoreTaxes and Wealth Creation: The Truth Most Families Never Hear
A few weeks ago our 14-year-old daughter ordered a $30 item online with her own hard-earned cash. She was proud of herself—until a notice popped up: the product was coming from overseas and a tariff of roughly $30 would be due at delivery. She looked at me, stunned. “Wait… I have to pay double to…
Read MoreRetirement Plan Reality Check: Build Income, Reduce Risk, and Stay in Control
We went live, the chat exploded, and a listener voiced what so many feel but rarely say out loud: “I’ve followed the rules—so why doesn’t my Retirement Plan feel safe?” Bruce gave me the look that says, “Let’s tell the truth.” Because we’ve seen it over and over: neat projections, tidy averages, and a plan…
Read MoreIndexed Universal Life Lawsuit: Kyle Busch vs Pacific Life—and the Lessons Every Family Needs
Why the Indexed Universal Life lawsuit is a wake-up call The headlines about the Kyle Busch vs Pacific Life indexed universal life lawsuit sparked the same question I hear from thoughtful families: is my policy designed to serve me, or to serve a sales incentive? This isn’t tabloid noise. It’s a real-world reminder that choices…
Read MoreInfinite Banking Mistakes: The Human Problems That Derail IBC
“It’s not the math. It’s the mindset.” When Bruce recorded this episode solo, he opened with something we’ve learned after thousands of client conversations: the biggest Infinite Banking mistakes aren’t about policy illustrations or carrier choice. They’re about us—our habits, our thinking, and the quiet patterns we bring to money. I remember Nelson Nash repeating,…
Read MoreIncrease Your Savings Without Reducing Your Lifestyle
If you want to increase your savings, don’t start with your budget—start with your lifestyle.Your lifestyle isn’t about how much you spend.It’s about what you prioritize.It’s the visible result of invisible decisions—what you say yes to, what you say no to, and what you’re building quietly behind the scenes. Too many people let lifestyle be…
Read MorePremium Financing Life Insurance: Could Be Right, Sometimes Smart
Premium financing life insurance for estate planning is one of those strategies that sounds impressive—and sometimes is. But for most families, it introduces more complexity and risk than benefit. At The Money Advantage, we don’t lead with premium financing, and we rarely recommend it. But in a recent conversation with a client facing an eight-figure…
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