Not Your Average Financial Podcast™

In this episode, we ask: What was the comment that caught my attention? What is public information? What is the real difference? How does behavior factor in? What is the mindset? What is the mood of the overall malaise? What sounds more like an explanation? What is easier than doing your homework? What does that slogan do? Is the tax code special? How about a case study? What about a 162A bonus contract? What are the statistics for the top 1% club? What is the state of American household wealth? What can we do about that? Do you have a disability policy? Who cares about efficiency, control and safety? What are the two stories being told at once? How do those stories produce very different households? What do we have control over? What is out of our control? What can be a shock absorber? What about a thought experiment? What about forced equality? What about freedom? Is the money locked? What is the tax code 162A all about? What happens with households? What is the status of the American dream? Is the unfamiliar also immoral? Do the 1% tend to stay in the 1%? What beats the starting balance? What about default plans? What are the action items?

In this episode, we ask: What happens with speed? What happens with sequence? Who is pricing this in? Would you like to hear the results of some recent studies? What happened in May of this year? What is happening with inflation? What is happening with the federal debt? Are stocks the answer? Are bonds the answer? What do two-thirds of Americans fear? What is the magic number for retirement Who is going to outlive their savings? What will you do when you’re 82? Would you like to hear our episode with Les Himel? When do the scheduled benefits end? Who lives in “average return” land? Who lives in “sequence” land? What is going on behind the brochure language of your annual report? Who is buying stocks on sale? What happens in the accumulation phase? What happens when you start taking money out of your 401(k)? What about expenses during a market downturn? What is the window of the 5 years before retirement day and the 5 years after retirement day called? What about simulated failure cases? What happens when the money runs out? What’s the difference? How much is that gap? How about a case study? What looks like a fat hot dog eater? What looks like Usain Bolt? What happens with a Bank on Yourself® type whole life insurance policy during a market downturn? What is a fragile decade? What is the Not Your Average approach? Who is going to beat the market? What does the conventional thought say? Will your average return outrun that damage? What are the three things you can do this week? Do you have a personal sequence map? Is the cash value accessible without breaking compound growth? Do you have a sequence plan or a brochure? Who needs to hear this? Would you like to meet with Mark or one of Mark’s associates?

In this episode, we ask: What is Phil’s history in financial services? What’s happening with Lake Growth Financial Services? How is Phil enjoying the Bank On Yourself® strategies? Inside the credit union, how did the member-owned structure show up? How does the publicly-traded bank ownership show up? What about stock-owned life insurance companies? What about mutually-owned life insurance companies? What concrete behaviors show up each quarter? What did banks pull back from in 2020? What did credit unions continue to offer in 2020? How is this like a mutually-owned life insurance company? Where do the models diverge? What do I want? What about dividends? How much money do I want in somebody else’s bank? What about 175 years? What about the best of both worlds? What is guaranteed to grow, uninterrupted? What about buying a car? What about paying off the mortgage? What can grow every single year, guaranteed? What about working with kids? What other tool can offer guarantees? What other tool can offer uninterrupted compounding? What happened to the rates that caused many companies to de-mutualized? Why are credit unions always under threat? What’s nice about the mutual life insurance companies? What about the contracts that get grandfathered in? What happens when legislation strikes a credit union? When is the time to lock in the contract? What are the most important takeaways? How can I take more control over my financial future? How many strings are attached to the money? Do you have the control, the access and the liquidity? Would you like to meet with Phil? Phil Smith is a Financial Planning Associate at Lake Growth Financial Services, bringing more than 17 years of banking and credit‑union experience to the firm. A Bank On Yourself® client since 2013, Phil has personally used the strategy to navigate major life transitions, eliminate debt, fund investments, and build long‑term financial resilience—giving him a rare dual perspective as both a seasoned practitioner and a long‑term policyholder. Known for his disciplined, thoughtful approach, Phil draws inspiration from his journey in traditional kung fu, where he is a fourth‑degree black belt soon testing for master level. He applies the art’s core principle—time and effort—to helping clients build stable, flexible, and future‑focused financial strategies. Phil serves clients nationwide and can be reached at [email protected].

In this episode, we ask: How many questions do you have? Am I making a money mistake? What were Evan’s first questions? What happens if the dollar fails? What is the contract? What about inconsistent and fluctuating income? What sort of flexibility is there when there is a delay in a windfall? Is this a subscription? Are you forced to make a payment every month? What is a regular savings strategy? How do you plow more money into your assets? What is optional? What happens in tough times? Will I lose my policy if I can’t pay premiums? Can I just pay the base? How is the rider “fee” calculated? Where are the fees in life insurance? What are you buying? Are you purchasing a death benefit? What insurance costs coming out on an annual basis? What is the load cost of the paid-up additions rider? How does this compare to a stock account? How are the fees charged annually in a stock market account? What compounds and grows? What happens to a market based dollar? Has a life insurance company ever failed? What are the chances of the life insurance company going out of business? What are the characteristics of the kind of companies we work with? Who has crazy resilience and skill? Who thrives in downturns? What happens to the cash value when I die? How does that work? What is one pile of money? What happens when you’re alive? What happens when you’re dead? Why doesn’t the stock market consistently produce a 10% return, on average? What makes Evan’s stomach turn? What about the DALBAR QAIB study showing the real returns? What is the 30-year real return? Are you all in on stocks? Do you have a blend of stocks and bonds? How are they able to write higher numbers on the statements? What is the real dollar amount in the account? How does volatility destroy compounding? Can you compound money when volatility is present? What can truly compound? What tools can grow on a guaranteed and predictable basis? What vehicles in the financial universe facilitate compound growth? What protects against potential loss? Is there a better place? Where will your cash stay safe and liquid? Do you have control over your finances? Would you like to schedule a 15-minute introductory call with Evan? 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. www.greathousefs.com

In this episode, we ask: Would you like to listen in on two Certified Financial Planners®? What is the difference between kind and nice? Did you love Mary Poppins? What kind of feedback would you like for improvement? What is best for the person I’m talking with? What can help the person in the long run? What about speaking truth with love? What did Amanda’s attorney say? How does this apply to financial advisors? What about Profit First? Would you like to hear the ninja belt series? How does one ask their financial advisor for kindness instead of niceness? What about retirement readiness? Should you give “nice deposits” or a compliment sandwich? What is the vision of a better future? How about an example? How do you ask permission to be kind? What happens if…? What is phantom income? How is the kind thing to check in? What is the most expensive phrase in financial planning? Is there a cliff on the other side of this? What is the exit? What will come back to bite you? What is more important than growth? Would you like to read Amanda’s Substack? Amanda Neely is a CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®) professional and CEO of Wealth Wisdom Financial. She makes financial planning more accessible through podcasting and through developing personalized financial strategies for individuals and couples, as well as profitability strategies for small businesses. She works virtually to help everyday Americans all over the United States to create smart, stable financial futures.