In their monthly publication the Lara-Murphy Report, Carlos and Bob have each started a series investigating the history of certain groups operating behind the scenes to influence social and political trends.
Mentioned in this episode and other links of interest:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
In the wake of the coronavirus, the Federal Reserve has engaged in unprecedented actions, pumping $2.5 trillion into the financial system in just two months. Many readers ask: Does this make IBC a bad idea? After all, it relies on a dollar-denominated asset (life insurance). Bob and Carlos discuss the economic outlook and this particular issue.
Mentioned in this episode and other links of interest:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Carlos and Bob critically assess the Fed’s $1.5 trillion repo operations, allegedly designed to stem market panic over the coronavirus. Bob observes that even Walter Bagehot’s famous dictum said central banks should lend freely at a high rate of discount.
Mentioned in this episode and other links of interest:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Carlos and Bob end their hiatus and return to the airwaves, fresh from the 2020 IBC Think Tank in Birmingham. They summarize the talks they gave at the event, including some exciting news about the Nelson Nash Institute’s forthcoming project.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Bob and Carlos discuss the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act’s impact–especially because of the boost in the standard deduction–on incentives to make charitable contributions. Then they discuss Beto O’Rourke’s pledge to remove the tax exempt status of churches and other organizations that don’t endorse gay marriage.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
As the U.S. authorities once again pivot to begin another round of cheap credit, Carlos and Bob reflect on the deception–both deliberate and unwitting–involved. Part of the problem is that younger investors haven’t lived through a crash, but even the old timers are caught flat-footed if they think past crashes were an “act of God.” This is why it’s so important to learn Austrian economics.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Bob and Carlos return from their summer hiatus to bring listeners up to speed. Carlos had a medical issue that occurred in June, which he explains in the episode. After describing what happened, Carlos ties his experience to the broader condition of medical care in the United States: it’s top-notch, but very expensive.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
While this was an interview Murphy conducted on his own podcast, it is relevant to Lara-Murphy Show listeners. Keith Smith is an anesthesiologist and founder of the Oklahoma Surgery Center and the Free Market Medical Association. His group is doing for health care what the Nelson Nash Institute is doing for the financial sector.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Bob asks Carlos to elaborate on the changing estate tax laws and how that could affect long-term planning, even with the excellent tax advantages of IBC.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Bob asks Carlos to discuss his April 2019 article for the Lara-Murphy Report. Carlos explains how “shadow banking” has become the dominant source of mortgage lending in the United States. He explains this trend and its implications for real estate investors.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Carlos and Bob finish their 3-part series explaining Austrian economics and IBC specifically for the business owner. The series is tied to the upcoming IBC Business Owner Seminar to be held on May 10, 2019, in Nashville, TN. In this episode, they discuss Carlos’ typical approach to helping a business in distress. They also discuss Carlos’ research on the Dodd-Frank Act and whether the revisions under the Trump Administration affect Carlos’ warnings about a “bail-in” during the next crash.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Carlos and Bob continue with their 3-part series explaining Austrian economics and IBC specifically for the business owner. The series is tied to the upcoming IBC Business Owner Seminar to be held on May 10, 2019, in Nashville, TN. In this episode, Bob explains the significance of the inverted yield curve, and ties it to standard Austrian business cycle theory. Carlos explains why the business owner would typically want to own an IBC policy in his or her own name, rather than being owned by the company.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Carlos and Bob begin a 3-part series explaining Austrian economics and IBC specifically for the business owner. The series is tied to the upcoming IBC Business Owner Seminar to be held on May 10, 2019, in Nashville, TN. In this episode, Bob and Carlos discuss the Fed’s recent guidance on its bond roll off schedule. They also explain entrepreneurship in the Austrian vision (with reference to Bob’s recent interview of Peter Klein), and Carlos relays statistics on business ownership in the US.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Carlos and Bob discuss the economic outlook for 2019, from the perspective of Austrian business cycle theory. The yield curve is close to inverting, and if it continues we should expect a recession by the end of 2019 or, failing that, almost certainly in 2020. There are two types of Fed tightening during this recovery, namely interest rate hikes and a rolloff of the Fed’s bonds. Powell can’t indefinitely postpone the bond rolloff because as interest rates rise, the Fed is paying ever more billions in interest to the commercial banks.
Mentioned in this episode:
The audio production for this episode was provided by Podsworth Media.
Carlos and Bob discuss the Fed’s actions with interest rates and its balance sheet, and how they are behind the recent stock market volatility. They also use media reports to get inside the minds of Bernanke, Yellen, and Powell.
Mentioned in this episode:
Carlos and Bob tackle a friendly bet that two listeners submitted. The controversy concerns two apparently conflicting goals: On the one hand, Nelson Nash says in BYOB that you should pay more against your policy loans than the insurance company requires, effectively buying more paid-up life insurance. But on the other hand, shouldn’t you aggressively fund your IBC policy up to the MEC limit right away, meaning there wouldn’t be any room left to pay more on a loan?
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob reiterate their longstanding critique of Fed policy to help frame the recent plunges in the stock market. They explain that the Fed has painted itself into a corner and will have no choice but to continue with rate hikes.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob explain to the average listener why it’s important to learn at least the basics of Austrian economics. It’s not the same as other free-market schools, and it’s not the boring curves you remember from college.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob tackle a question from Twitter: Why is using IBC preferable to just “paying cash” for large purchases? This seemingly simple question actually raises many issues.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob discuss some of the misconceptions or difficulties they had early on, which made them reluctant to embrace IBC.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Nelson Nash joins Bob and Carlos to explain why he encourages IBC users to establish a system of policies (rather than just one). The discussion covers several nuances of policy design.
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
This is the talk Bob gave at the “Mises Caucus” event held on June 30, 2018, to coincide with the kickoff of the Libertarian Party’s national convention, held in New Orleans this time.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob review the status of the three leading central banks and rely on a report from the Treasury Secretary to help interpret and anticipate Trump Administration actions on bank regulation.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob explain the mechanics of policy loans and then emphasize the importance of keeping track of them. Yes, you have the FREEDOM to never pay your loans back, but that might not be a WISE thing to do. Nelson Nash always stressed that you “play honest banker” when practicing IBC.
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob finish their series, summarizing some of the material in Chapter 7 of their new book (co-authored with Nelson Nash). In this episode, they address a hypothetical business owner who loves IBC but thinks he doesn’t have the cashflow to make it work. By cleverly using an already existing payment, the business owner can effectively build up the infrastructure of a large IBC policy while waiting for the future, irregular burst of revenue to come in. (NOTE that the point of this demonstration is merely to illustrate the power of IBC. The illustration in Table 4 of the book is intended to prove a point, not to serve as a model for business owners.)
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob continue their series, summarizing some of the material in Chapter 6 of their new book (co-authored with Nelson Nash). In this episode, they explain why Whole Life used to be a staple of the average American’s financial plan, but then fell out of favor. They also describe how Congress had to put on the brakes in the 1980s since too many rich people realized the benefits of this approach.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob continue their series, summarizing some of the material in Chapter 5 of their new book (co-authored with Nelson Nash). In this episode, they address typical questions such as, “If you guys are worried about a dollar crash, why would I put my money in life insurance?”
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob continue their series, summarizing some of the material in Chapter 5 of their new book (co-authored with Nelson Nash). However, because Chapter 5 contains so much material, they are breaking the treatment up into two separate episodes. In this Part I, they address questions such as, “Can only certain people practice IBC?” and, “Shouldn’t I buy term and invest the difference?”
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
In this special episode, Nelson Nash himself joins Carlos and Bob, to discuss the chapter from their jointly-authored book–The Case for IBC–that draws directly on the material that Nash used in his live presentations to the public. Even for those who are quite familiar with Nash’s work, you’ll glean juicy nuggets from this interview.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob continue the series covering their new book (co-authored with Nelson Nash). This chapter explains how the process of Infinite Banking rests on the platform of a dividend-paying Whole Life insurance policy. They also mention the standard features of a WL policy that make IBC possible.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
On February 27, 2018, Bob was the guest at the student-led Yale Political Union, debating the resolution, “The free market can solve climate change.” A member of the audience captured the audio on his phone; we are presenting here Bob’s opening statement, his Q&A, and his summary statement. (We are editing out the brief speeches given by the students in the middle of the event.) Below is a timeline of some highlights, and then links to further reading on Bob’s work on this topic.
7:52 — Bob explains that higher temperatures mean fewer elderly deaths in the winter. When his opponents hiss, Bob jokes that they don’t care about the elderly.
25:55 — Q&A session begins.
30:30 — Student critic asks if Bob believes in any role for government to provide public goods or utilities. (His answer gets a big cheer.)
31:30 — Bob contrasts government-regulated utility service in the summer with Budweiser.
33:19 — A student critic argues that the American public doesn’t care about climate change, and therefore free market won’t solve the problem. Bob turns this critique on its head.
37:50 — Bob gives summary remarks (after the other students have spoken, though their remarks are not included in this audio).
For further reading:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob continue the series covering their new book (co-authored with Nelson Nash). This chapter lists the attributes of a hypothetical “perfect investment,” and explains how various assets fare.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob begin their series of going through their new book (with Nelson Nash), chapter by chapter.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob discuss their presentations at the recent IBC Think Tank. Plus they have a big announcement!
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Description: In this episode, Bob flies solo to explain the controversy over solving the congestion problem in Bitcoin.
Mentioned in this episode:
The sound engineer for this episode was Chris Williams. Learn more about his work at ChrisWilliamsAudio.com.
Carlos and Bob discuss the basic logic of “tax reform,” and then critically analyze the GOP proposals. They cover some important differences between the House and Senate bills, and point out that Democrats railing against “tax giveaways to the rich” might have a point.
Carlos and Bob extend their warnings about “loose” monetary policy to the real estate market. Remember, the Austrians warned about the last housing bubble in real-time. There are several reasons to think that the “hot” market right now is in trouble.
Carlos and Bob reiterate the advantages of “becoming your own banker” through the use of policy loans, but they also point out the importance of paying back the loans (in most circumstances). In particular, they warn about the potential tax implications that occur if you surrender a policy.
Mentioned in this episode:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7702 * IRS treatment of life insurance death benefits.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/101
Bob talks to Carlos about his research on the Federal Reserve’s plans to shrink its balance sheet, and the possible connection to proposed regulatory changes that would encourage financial institutions to take on Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities.
Mentioned in this episode:
Bob talks to Carlos about his research on “positive thinking,” motivational speakers, self-help gurus, and other related themes. There is much truth and value in this movement, but there’s also a potential dark side.
Information on the July Nashville Events:
Bob asks Carlos to discuss his findings regarding the new Department of Labor regulations on financial professionals that kick in on June 9, which concern those who act as a “fiduciary” for clients.
In the previous episode, Carlos and Bob talked with Nelson about his life before IBC. In this episode they focus more on his discovery of how to become your own banker.
Mentioned in this episode:
Carlos and Bob ask the founder of IBC about his background, including his faith, marriage, career in forestry, and meeting Leonard Read.
Mentioned in this episode:
In this episode, Bob and Carlos round out the discussion of the GOP’s proposed tax reform. Bob reminds listeners of the material he covered in Parts 1 and 2, and then our dynamic duo discuss the real world implications of major tax reform. Carlos recalls what happened after the 1986 Tax Reform Act, and how it destroyed the real estate market.
In this episode, Bob once again flies solo in order to show listeners how to think about “tax reform” the way mainstream economists think about it.
Mentioned in this episode:
In this episode, Bob flies solo in order to show readers how to start thinking about the border tax adjustment plan that the GOP has proposed, as a way to boost the economy and reduce the trade deficit.
Mentioned in this episode:
http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2017/02/how_to_think_ab.html
Although it’s too early to say anything definitively, Carlos and Bob offer their reflections on what we’ve seen so far.
Carlos and Bob read the declassified version of the 25-page report issued by the US intelligence community on the alleged intentions and interventions of the Russian government in the US election. As it turns out, there’s not much there. Cynics still have every right to be skeptical of this whole enterprise to convince Americans that “Putin picked our president.”
Mentioned in this episode:
You may notice a familiar voice reading the Introduction to the book by Lara and Murphy. To order a physical copy, scroll down at:
https://lara-murphy.com/resources/
Carlos and Bob use a Bloomberg chart to discuss the major financial events of 2016, and how investors should interpret movements in the stock and bond markets.
Mentioned in this episode:
IBC Seminar for the general public on February 11, 2017 in Birmingham, AL.
FOR 50% OFF, USE DISCOUNT CODE: LMSHOW
For details and registration click here.
Here’s something you won’t read on CNBC. Bob asks Carlos to explain the book he’s been reading–Augustine’s “City of God” from the 5th century–and how it relates to our current political and economic environment.
In response to a listener request, Carlos and Bob define and discuss some common financial terms, such as “yield curve,” “money market fund,” and “liquidity.”
Mentioned in this episode:
The second half of the video presentation that Carlos and Bob released in late September 2016.
Mentioned in this episode:
The first half of the video presentation that Carlos and Bob released in late September 2016.
Mentioned in this episode:
Carlos and Bob summarize some of the key points from the latest Lara-Murphy Report: European banks failed their “stress tests” and the US federal debt is worse than you may realize.
Carlos and Bob discuss a NYT article detailing the problems some insurance policyholders are having, and why Nelson Nash says to do IBC only with a dividend-paying Whole Life policy.
Mentioned in this episode:
Carlos and Bob tackle a recent “note” from a brokerage firm making just that case. Among other problems, the analysis misunderstands the role of the stock market.
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Carlos and Bob relate two points each that they made during their recent presentation (along with Nelson Nash) to the general public in Nashville. Gives a quick introduction to why IBC is important in the current environment, and why it works.
Mentioned in this episode:
Carlos and Bob discuss the alarming situation outlined in the latest Lara-Murphy Report.
Mentioned in this episode:
http://threeccorp.com/Portals/threeccorp/Archives_PDF/NASH-SEMINAR-BROCHURE.pdf
Carlos and Bob discuss the divergence between stocks and bonds, which has puzzled some analysts.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Carlos and Bob challenge the media’s narrative on the British referendum to leave the EU.
Carlos and Bob explain the basics of policy loans, and what Nelson Nash means by “playing honest banker” with your system.
In the previous episode, Carlos and Bob outlined the background reading necessary to begin IBC. Now, they explain how to prepare before the first meeting with an authorized Practitioner.
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Carlos and Bob start from scratch, and tell listeners how to begin their study of the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC), including finding an authorized IBC Practitioner. (Episode 18 discusses the preparation before the first meeting.)
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Carlos and Bob now explain how Caesar’s trick – of debasing the money in order to cover a budget shortfall – is accomplished through the Federal Reserve’s purchases of Treasury debt.
Carlos and Bob discuss the classical method of inflation: literally debasing the coins.
Carlos and Bob discuss the implications and the ulterior motives of the recent DOL ruling on fiduciaries.
Mentioned in this episode:
Bob “interviews” Carlos about his decades of experience with distressed businesses.
CORRECTION: Around the 24:03 mark, Carlos says “Chapter 7” but he should have said “Chapter 11.”
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Carlos and Bob discuss both the theory and practice of why taxes hurt businesses and distort investment.
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Carlos and Bob explain this sordid topic in terms anyone can follow.
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With Carlos traveling, we offer a speech Bob gave February 27 at the International Students for Liberty Conference in Washington, DC.
Carlos explains his findings when he explored bank-owned life insurance. If these policies are such bad investments, why are major banks gobbling them up?
Carlos and Bob discuss the typical options available for tax-advantaged retirement vehicles, helping listeners make an informed decision. Simply deferring a tax is not necessarily the best route.
Mentioned in this podcast: https://lara-murphy.com/pay-tax-now-later/
Carlos and Bob discuss the unprecedented phenomenon of negative interest rates, and the related war on cash.
Mentioned in this podcast: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/16/its-time-to-kill-the-100-bill/
Carlos and Bob wrap up their response to this common objection to Whole Life insurance.
Website mentioned in the podcast: http://dowtheoryletters.com/Content_Free/2494.aspx
Carlos and Bob continue with their unpacking of this common objection to Whole Life insurance.
In this episode, Bob and Carlos tackle a familiar objection to IBC, showing that the critics typically compare apples to oranges.
An examination of Carlos’ research into the Dodd-Frank Act and its provisions regarding contingent capital and statutory bail-ins.
In this second half of the origins, Carlos and Bob explain the creation of the IBC Practitioner Program, and they explain the big picture of IBC.
In this inaugural episode of the Lara-Murphy Show, Carlos and Bob explain how they met, and why they decided to write a book on Austrian economics and IBC. They also explain their motto, “Building the 10%.”