Posts by Rachel Marshall
Short-Pay vs Long-Pay Life Insurance: How to Build a Powerful Infinite Banking System That Lasts Generations
What’s Really at Stake When it comes to short-pay vs long-pay life insurance, the question isn’t just about convenience—it’s about control, options, and legacy. In this article, you’ll learn: Let’s pull back the curtain on what really creates a robust, long-term infinite banking system. The Iceberg We’ve All Missed We’ve heard it so many times—”I…
Read MoreSLAT vs ILIT for High Net Worth Estate Planning: Which One Protects Your Legacy Best?
SLAT vs ILIT for High Net Worth Estate Planning isn’t just a legal distinction—it’s a strategic decision that could determine how well your wealth serves your family, both now and for generations to come. We were deep into a conversation with Andrew Howell, one of the foremost estate planning attorneys in the country, when he…
Read MoreHow One Family Mastered Legacy Planning for Families Without Sacrificing Unity or Values
The Power of a Love Letter When Shannon sat down to write her love letters to her children, she didn’t expect just how meaningful the process would be. What began as a simple act of putting words on paper quickly became one of the most profound steps in her family’s legacy journey. The letters reflected…
Read MoreQuestions a Good Financial Advisor Should Ask (But Most Don’t)
I’ll never forget Bruce’s story about his car—check engine light on, a mechanic insisted it needed a $1,500 catalytic converter. Bruce knew better and fixed it by simply tightening the gas cap. That story isn’t just about auto repair; it perfectly illustrates why questions a good financial advisor should ask matter. Without probing, you might…
Read MoreSpouse Financial Preparedness: Ensure Your Partner Can Flourish—Not Fumble
I’ll never forget the moment my co‑host Bruce Wehner shared a powerful story: Nelson told his wife, Mary, “I need to teach you how to be a widow.” That striking phrase stopped us in our tracks. It wasn’t morbid—it was strategic. Nelson recognized that spouse financial preparedness is the cornerstone of true legacy planning. If…
Read MoreHow Much Life Insurance Do I Need? Ask This Instead
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need? Why That’s the Wrong Question If you’ve ever asked, “How much life insurance do I need?”—you’re not alone. It’s a common starting point. But in this article, Bruce and I (Rachel) want to challenge that question and offer something better. Because “need” is often based on a survival…
Read MoreMutual Holding Companies: What Whole Life Policyholders Need to Know
Lately, we’ve seen a troubling trend online. People—some well-meaning, some not—are sharing misinformation about mutual holding companies, claiming these companies are no longer mutually owned or that they’ve quietly abandoned their policyholders. That couldn’t be further from the truth. So Joe, Bruce, and I decided it was time to clear the air. Because when it…
Read MoreThe Truth About Single Premium Paid-Up Additions (SPUA): How to Design Infinite Banking Policies With Wisdom, Not Hype
A few weeks ago, something special happened as we kicked off a podcast recording—Joe DeFazio held up a first edition copy of Becoming Your Own Banker by Nelson Nash. It had just arrived in his hands, passed down like a sacred trust. We weren’t in the same room, so Bruce and I couldn’t flip through…
Read MoreHow Whole Life and Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance Support Legacy, Wealth Transfer, and Tax Efficiency
In today’s post, Bruce and I (Rachel Marshall) want to bring you behind the scenes of a candid and educational conversation we had with Matt Ewald, Vice President of Life Insurance at Advisors Excel. If you’ve ever wondered when and why to use guaranteed universal life insurance (GUL) —especially in the context of estate planning—this…
Read MoreAlign Wealth With Values Through Faith-Based Legacy Planning
There’s a story Buffy Ruthardt shared that still gives me chills. She and her husband Darren were on a drive, just processing life and legacy—wondering aloud what it might look like for their children to live in their inheritance while they were still alive. Not just financially, but spiritually, relationally, and generationally. It was a…
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