Discovering Wisdom, over Coffee with Mark Bertrang: Recent Episodes
Mark Bertrang
Welcome to “Discovering Wisdom, over Coffee with Mark Bertrang”, author in “Investments Don’t Hug; Embracing the Life Insurance Asset”. During each podcast, Mark visits with a guest who shares life experiences, career knowledge and the gift of their personal wisdom. Knowledge may be acquired quickly; but, wisdom often takes a lifetime. Each of these audio podcasts are like sitting at a table with Mark and a guest, sharing important lessons of wisdom over a cup of coffee. Discussions may be mild, while some conversations may be of a bold, dark roast variety; but the goal for each is to provide new information from an expert in their field to help make your life more fulfilling.
What if the sweetest donut in Nashville, a brutal 5-hour Civil War slaughter, and raw conversations about dying alone revealed the same urgent truth? In this unfiltered hour with Tammi Brannan, let's open up about life, real life — the kind that doesn't come from spreadsheets. From devouring Five Daughters Bakery donuts and scorching hot chicken, to standing on hallowed Franklin battlefields where 9,000 souls fell, to late-night talks with a Canadian friend exposing the myth of "free" healthcare... this episode is packed with stories that hit the gut and the heart. I share why I'm racing to finish my next book Investments Don't Hug: Engaging the Covenant Conversation, why old-school family stability beats modern helter-skelter chaos, how whole life insurance becomes a true covenant across decades, and the one question every person should ask themselves before it's too late: "Am I using my empty squares wisely?" If you're tired of generic financial advice and crave wisdom on legacy, family, faith, money that actually lasts, and living in the "wonderful world of being okay," this one's for you. Chapters: · 00:00 – Welcome to Purpose with Mark Bertrang · 00:43 – Gene Wilder, Tom Hanks & Artists Who Truly Embody Their Roles · 04:37 – Nashville Adventures Begin: Biscuits, Five Daughters Donuts & Hot Chicken · 08:33 – Civil War Battlefields & the Forgotten Franklin Slaughter (9,000 Dead in 5 Hours) · 10:51 – Great Food, Thai Restaurants & the 4.9-Rated Asian Fusion Spot · 12:40 – Life Insurance Summit Takeaways: Worship, Young Families & Team Culture · 16:41 – Canadian Healthcare Reality Check & the "Free Oil Changes Every 10 Years" Analogy · 22:36 – Old-School Family Values & Why Stability Still Matters · 27:12 – Life Insurance as a 40-Year Covenant: What Clients Discover Decades Later · 32:38 – "All Tax Law Is Written in Pencil" + Social Security Truths · 38:25 – The Book I'm Racing to Finish: Investments Don't Hug & My Grandparents' Bench · 46:27 – Caleb's Life Squares, Mortality Awareness & Making an Impact · 49:49 – The Summit Vibe: Giving People, Shared Values & Signing Up Again · 53:22 – Time Is Wasting: My Daily Prayer & the Domino Effect of Small Acts · 58:45 – Closing Thoughts & See You Next Week Drop a comment: How will your "empty square" be used better this year? Subscribe for more real-talk on purpose, legacy, and living with clarity. Financialoscopy® – A thorough discovery for your unique life.
In today's episode of "Purpose with Mark Bertrang," Mark interviews a Groovy Entrepreneur, Carley Green-Easterday, the owner of Groovy Coffee Company, from Galesville, Wisconsin with additional locations in Onalaska, Wisconsin and La Crescent, Minnesota . We discuss leadership, running a small business, community, values, and coffee.
In this episode of "Purpose with Mark Bertrang", Mark engages leadership expert Sarah Fecht, founder of Best Self Leadership, in a deep dive into what truly defines effective leadership. They discuss leading with empathy, heart, and emotional intelligence over fear and intimidation, the importance of building genuine relationships, appropriate transparency, and fostering self-awareness among teams. Sarah reflects on her HR background, the risks of starting her own business, and personal values like faith, finding blessings in challenges, believing in people's goodness, and embracing fun. Whether you're a business owner, aspiring leader, or team member, this conversation offers actionable insights on creating high-performing teams and leaving a lasting legacy. Tune in for inspiring stories and practical advice on leading purposefully. #Leadership #SelfAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence #EmpathyInLeadership #Influence #BestSelf #PurposePodcast #BusinessGrowth #TeamBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #HeartCenteredLeadership #MarkBertrang #SarahFecht
In this episode of "Purpose with Mark Bertrang," host Mark Bertrang sits down with insurance expert Michael Otomo from Hougom Insurance Agency to demystify the world of homeowners insurance. Michael breaks down the top claims—wind/hail damage, water backups, and service line failures—and reveals essential policy types and exclusions, as well as how to choose the right deductible for your risk. Learn tips on the impact of credit scores on rates, catastrophic coverage for explosions or fires, and why reviewing your policy every two to three years is crucial to avoid gaps. Whether you're a first-time buyer or longtime homeowner, don't let volatility catch you off guard—tune in and take control of your homeowners insurance policy.
The tables have been turned. Usually Mark Bertrang, the author of "Investments Don't Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset" is interviewing guests during these podcast episodes. Instead, today Mark is on the otherside of the table, being interviewed by Tammi Brannan, the creator of The Blueprint Process about his God-given skills, passions and values. Tammi Brannan created "The Blueprint Process" to help professionals uncover their unique skills, passions, and values to ignite their career momentum and achieve greater success. This process, developed in 2008, guides individuals to identify their purpose and align their career goals with their unique strengths. Here's a more detailed look: Purpose Identification: The Blueprint Process helps individuals discover their natural strengths, passions, and values. Career Alignment: It guides professionals to integrate their unique purpose into their careers, leading to greater fulfillment and success. Confidence Building: Tammi Brannan works with clients to instill confidence and empower them to pursue their goals. Entrepreneurial Focus: The process is particularly helpful for entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them to infuse their purpose into their ventures. Beyond Imposter Syndrome: Tammi Brannan helps clients overcome imposter syndrome and view it as a strength. Deep Conversations: The Blueprint Process often involves one-on-one sessions to explore an individual's core skills, passions, priorities, and purpose. Personal Revolution: Tammi Brannan helps clients find their own "personal revolution" by living intentionally and integrating their purpose into their lives. Example Applications: Tammi Brannan has helped numerous professionals level up their career goals through the Blueprint Process.
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. Here’s the link for the Conclusion of Mark’s book.
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. Here’s the link for Chapter Nineteen – “The reason for thanksgiving”
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. Here’s the link for Chapter Eighteen – “Keeping your dignity.”
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. Here’s the link for Chapter Seventeen – “What does an illustration really show?”
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Sixteen: "What's left?"
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Fifteen: "The Colonel".
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Fourteen: "Understanding Cash Values".
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Thirteen: "A nearly perfect day".
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. Here’s the link for Chapter Twelve – “May I take your picture?”
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Eleven - Whole Life: Built to last
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Ten: "I thought it was stupid for them to do it."
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Nine - "If they say you're disabled, you're no good to me."
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Eight: Term Insurance
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Seven: “Remember how she was.”
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Five: Human Life Value
FREE DOWNLOAD “Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author.
FREE DOWNLOAD “Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author.
FREE DOWNLOAD “Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author.
FREE DOWNLOAD “Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author.
“Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author. This is Chapter Six: “We thought we were invincible.”
FREE DOWNLOAD “Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” – A weekly audio book segment, a gift from Financialoscopy® creator - Mark Bertrang, as read by the author.
Who Was I Before Retirement? Who Am I Now After Retirement? These are the questions many people ask as they enter the "retirement zone." They’re not fully retired yet, but their financial concerns are settled. Health insurance is arranged, and the formalities of their financial life are in place. But what about who they are now—their passions, their purpose, and their soul? What is their identity after retirement? Mark Bertrang, author of "Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset," sits down for an hour-long conversation with Lee Rasch, past president of Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Together, they discuss Lee's new journey of discovery. Lee shares how, six months before his retirement, he started researching by speaking with 50 retirees about their own transitions from pre-retirement to post-retirement life.
The Medicare conversation should be easy. It isn’t. There are multiple decisions to be made and these decisions are not only for the first time you qualify for Medicare at the age of sixty-five. The decisions you make that first year could potentially lock you into a plan that you could embrace or regret for the rest of your life. There may also be annual decisions you may need to continue to make, as well. Our guest, Tina Johnson, an Elder Benefit Specialist & State Health Insurance Counselor from the Aging and Disability Resource Center in La Crosse County Wisconsin walks us through the Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D elements of Medicare. We’ll discuss original Medicare and Advantage programs, along with a visit about Medicare Supplement policies and more. Stay tune. Your health depends on it.
Laurie Finn is our guest from Finnottes. Laurie lives a life of Mission, Nuts and Chocolates. She makes a lasting impact on everyone she meets. Finnottes was established in 1986 by the husband-and-wife team Frank Finn and Laurie (Otte). Merging their lives and their last names, they have grown their business over the years to become Finnottes Nut & Chocolate Shop. This episode may be considered a course in business, but also of caring and realizing the impact that can be made from behind a retail counter; but more importantly, by coming around from behind the counter and embracing those around you as a personal mission to impact your neighborhood, your community and the world around you. 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Laurie’s Background 05:06 Caring for Customers 06:37 Faith & the Chocolate Ministry 11:21 Growing in Wisdom 18:26 Driven by Gratitude 22:53 Doug & Debbie Downers 26:33 More than just a Job 40:07 World Outlook 43:11 What if you didn’t have the store? 44:09 The History of how Finnottes started 44:43 Mark Bertrang’s Book – Investments Don’t Hug 52:10 Seasonal Candy Inventory 55:02 Online Sales & Local Deliveries 57:13 Where did ‘Finnottes’ name come from? 59:00 The Finnottes Family 01:01:42 Creating Special Moments 01:05:25 Conclusion
Mark Bertrang interviews Sarah Gebo, the Program Director of ”The Exchange” the La Crosse Area Furniture Bank. The Exchange provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. It is driven by volunteers and donations of basic household goods and gently used furniture from the community. The team of volunteers carefully inspect the donations when they enter the warehouse so that they meet our quality standard. 00:00 Introduction 1:47 Sarah Gebo’s First Donation 4:50 Philosophy, Vision, Goals of ‘The Exchange’ 6:02 The Team 7:37 Clients and The Exchange Network 10:30 What items we are looking for? 14:16 Why the donations are important 16:48 Volunteer Backgrounds 18:07 How did The Exchange start? (18:30 Podcast Pause) 23:10 Client Referrals 27:20 Community Support 29:05 Do Not Donate List (29:31 Investment’s Don’t Hug Book) 32:28 How to Volunteer 35:37 Funding ‘The Exchange’ 38:22 How to Donate 42:08 Conclusion The Exchange partners with social service/community advocates to identify and accompany recipients in need. Recipients must have a confirmed residence before they come to ‘shop’ at The Exchange. Once an appointment is made, the recipient and advocate are invited to select essential household items, free of charge, to furnish their home. At The Exchange, it is very important that each clients’ experience is dignified from the moment they arrive at the warehouse to the moment their home is furnished. If needed, The Exchange even delivers furniture to the recipient. The Exchange was founded and coordinated by 4 women. In the first 5 years they grew their regular volunteer base to over 65. Here's their website - You may also watch the video here -
You haven't gain real wisdom until you have walked through the pasture of life and unexpectedly step into a fresh cowpie, feeling the warm manure squish between your toes. Life can sometimes playout like a checkerboard of bovine bingo, a unique community activity which oftentimes plays-out on hot summer days in town squares, as townspeople celebrate their local festivals in small gatherings, throughout the Midwest. In this game, you might be the winner, but when it happens in real life, how do you clean-up after the mess?
How much has changed during your life? Will it keep on changing? Do those changes concern you? How can you add certainty to your life? It's like knowing you have a winning lottery ticket. If you owned that ticket and you knew it was going to payout in the future, how might that change how you live your life today?
Have you ever found yourself needing to clear space but having no idea where to even begin? Perhaps you were named in a departed loved one's will to clear the estate, or you need some guidance preparing for a home renovation, or maybe you're just overwhelmed by clutter. Mark speaks with Sara Washburn of Peace by Piece Professional Organizing to discuss the purpose of her organization and what services are offered. 0:00 Intro 2:41 How "Peace by Piece" Came to Be 8:00 DIY Action Plans and Coaching 12:05 Home Decluttering and Organization 18:25 A Kind Request 19:24 Estate Clearing 24:24 Renovation Preparation 26:40 What Motivates Sara? 29:26 Cause for Tears 32:50 Hoarding 38:40 Investments Don't Hug 39:12 Hoarding (cont'd) 46:19 Sara's Army Lesson 48:17 The One Thing 52:55 Conclusion To contact Sara, or for more info on her services, please visit: https://peacebypiecewi.com/
When I told the social media world that I would be dropping a video and podcast soon with Chris Lezpona as my guest, I was surprised by the huge reaction I received. Chris has weathered many storms in his life, the biggest being a brain tumor and the following surgery to remove it over a decade ago and then the resulting handicaps he has overcome since. To know Chris is to know someone who causes you to see not his handicaps, but instead the handicaps in yourself, the handicaps that we all have, those that can't be seen with the naked eye. Chris may share with you what he may believe are his personal limitations, but you won't see them. Instead, you may wonder instead, what your own limitations are, that you have set upon yourself. If I ever need a positive boost in my life, I know where to find it. Its embodied in a man who works at a busy Kwik Trip convenience store down the street from our office. This spectacular young man's name is Chris Lezpona. 0:00 Introduction 1:32 Who is Chris Lezpona? 5:42 Life Changing Diagnosis 9:10 A Kind Request 10:08 Navigating Life with a New Perspective 18:22 Life is Hard 19:50 The Good You See and Try to Be 23:49 Investments Don't Hug 24:20 God Bless Moms 26:21 Chris's Tattoo 29:02 Rules to Live By 31:53 Kwik Trip 33:03 Conclusion
We are all bombarded with so much “stuff” that fills our basket of ‘to-dos’ each day. How is an overwhelmed person supposed to conquer the pile of life’s stuff that blocks our path to success and happiness. Mark Bertrang revisits Gary Keller’s book – The One Thing. He explains how he prioritizes what needs to be accomplished first, from each list of to-dos in his life. 0:00 Intro 1:10 A Day in the Life of Mark 3:49 What is "The One Thing"? 5:44 Conclusion
How do you begin your day? Upbeat or downtrodden? We're told that you can choose your outlook. If that's true, how should you begin your day? Mark Bertrang, author of "Investments Don't Hug" provides his simple formula to beginning and staying positive each day. 00:00 Intro 00:35 Why beginning your day with the News is a bad idea 02:33 Mark Bertrang’s morning routine 05:41 Stay Informed on world events, but tread carefully 06:46 How to change and maintain your ‘default’ attitude 09:11 What do you owe yourself and others? 10:55 Your Future Self - Who do you want to be? 14:01 Conclusion
0:00 – Intro 3:10 – Why “Truth Concepts”? 6:42 – Sensationalized News and Number Panic 19:00 – Overcoming the Fear of Utilizing Your Own Money 21:27 – Todd’s Passion for Financial Services 25:18 – Using Strategy to Uncover Truths 32:49 – Investments Don’t Hug 33:24 – Insuring Your Most Valuable Asset: You! 41:08 – Finding Peace of Mind 44:52 – The Safety in Whole Life Insurance 50:46 – Benefits of Truth Concepts Financial Software 57:52 – Conclusion Purpose with Mark Bertrang, Ep. #143 "Math tells the truth" Guest: Todd Langford, Truth Concepts Todd Langford is a believer in the truth. Many financial products sold in today's world revolve around gimmicks or hide behind words that seem less than the total truth. As the creator of the Truth Concepts™ software platform, Todd Langford spends his waking hours questioning the numbers and concepts used by the financial industry in communicating the reality of math. We don't live in a world where all of our decisions are made purely by math, but we do live in a world where math can determine our destiny. Forget “conventional wisdom” or what the latest financial magazine or infomercial might be pushing. Truth Concepts™ pulls back the curtain and shows us the reality of the math. It can compare financial strategies, to consult and answer specific financial questions, or to educate your about financial principles such as opportunity costs and the impact of taxes and fees. Truth Concepts™ is desktop software program that analyzes the impact of various financial choices. It includes over 20 multi-faceted functions – a suite of 16 calculators and additional tools and tables of historical information (such as tax rates). It lets you evaluate the effectiveness of limitless financial options.
Yesterday, I was at our local Office Depot. I needed to pick up some more spiral binders. I write each and every morning, and I believe that journaling is an important way to focus your thoughts for the day. If that is not something that you are doing now, I would highly recommend it. If you want to center yourself and have clarity, I suggest that you don’t turn on the news or listen to podcasts. Instead, enjoy some silence in your day. During that silence, grab a pen, some sheets of paper, and begin writing. I had somebody recently ask me at a national conference how it is that I do my journaling. He wanted to know specifically how I start writing about something. I told him I usually begin with one sentence or sometimes just one word. If I’m upset about something, I will just write “I had a crappy day yesterday”. Then, I just write what went on yesterday. Usually, by the time I get to the end of my journaling, I solve the problem that was irritating me, and I come out on the other side of my brooding into sunshine and positivity. I might also write down something like “I am so thankful today because…”. Then I write about that. The goal is not just to fill the page with words. You may find that it is actually pretty easy to fill a page or 2 or 3. For me, journaling oftentimes becomes a prayer., and at the very end, I simply write “amen”. So, while I was at Office Depot picking up some more journaling supplies, I took a stroll around the rows of merchandise to see if there was anything that intrigued me, and I came across sheets of emoji stickers. I thought these were really cool. I can use these little dimples of emojis and put them on thank you notes that I write. I write thank you notes every single day because I believe that gratitude is an important part of what our life needs. How many times during the course of the day do you say thank you? If you don’t say it often, why not? Are there no people in your life? Even with people that you come across each and every day like the checkout person at your local grocery store, when was the last time that you paused, looked into their eyes, and said “thank you” instead of just inserting your card and walking away? When our children were young, we repeated again and again to our children. We would ask “What do you say?” They would know that the correct response was either “please”, or “thank you”. Reignite that voice in your mind. If you can remember that voice from your mother and father, make today the day that you begin to say “please” and “thank you” again. If I was writing a thank you note to you today for doing this, I would take one of these little emojis stickers and place it on that note to show my appreciation for what you have decided to do today for others.
What are the odds that as you are driving the roadways of Wisconsin that your life will end this year? Maybe the better question is: how many people are negatively Affected by accidents in the state of Wisconsin? I was discussing this with the team one morning. There are often signs with blinking lights placed next to highways that will say how many people have been killed on Wisconsin roadways during the course of the year. The most recent data from Wisconsin’s DOT website was from 2020, and the total number of people that were killed was 593, which is actually a lower number than usual because people were not traveling as much during the pandemic, but it was still 593 people that died that year. That’s just the people that didn’t walk away from an accident. Instead, they were taken away by hearse. What about the people that were taken away by ambulance? How many people were injured? These numbers are scarier. In 2020, 32,373 people were injured in automobile accidents in Wisconsin. The number of serious injuries, these are people whose lives have been forever changed, was 3,186. The total number of crashes in our state back in 2020 was 115,694. The reason I’m discussing this is because life is risky no matter what we do, and I am always very cautious when I’m out on the roadway. I drive very, very cautiously, making sure that I look both ways, and that I stay with-in the speed limit. However, there are people out there that just appear crazy to me (in all the decisions they make), and just because you are playing it safe, it does not mean that they are. Nobody gets into a car thinking that this may be the day that they die. Nobody thinks today’s the day they might get a serious injury that will leave them disabled. They don’t think that this year might not turn out how they expected. They don’t expect to become disabled for the long run or permanently. They don’t expect to maybe lose their job because of it. Have you taken steps to ensure that 100% of your income is fully guaranteed, no matter what happens in your life? No matter your age, it is the ability to produce an income source that allows us to live the life that we want to live. I realize that even if you do have that 100% coverage you might still say that if that were to happen, what’s the point, your life would be crap. Personally, I would rather have a crappy life and money than having a crappy life and not have money. Are you 100% able to say today that no matter what happens in your life medically: an accident, a disability, and/or death, that you are covered? Are you sure? It's kind of a sick joke you hear that “every single day, people are just dying to get into the obituary column of their local paper”. Make sure you are 100% covered today. There is no reason to wait on any of this. It’s a gift to yourself to make sure this is all setup now. Additionally, it's a gift to your family, to your loved ones. If I'm making a point to you today, then act on it. Feelings will not get you anywhere; hope only gets you so far. It’s taking action today that will actually make a difference in your life. Do not become a statistic.
In my first career, decades ago, I worked as an announcer at a radio station in a small, rural town. One of my jobs included doing the emergency broadcast testing on a monthly basis. I can still remember what I needed to say during the test: “The attention signal that you just heard, had it been an actual emergency, would have been followed by official news or instructions. Remember, this is only a test.” Let’s talk about the test of income. Someone recently asked us: “What is an immediate annuity?” You will often hear financial professionals talk about annuities. The annuities that they are usually referring to are called an accumulation annuity. Those are annuities where you are accumulating money inside the annuities. That could be an equity index or index annuity, a fixed-interest annuity, or a variable annuity. There are many different options available when a person is putting money into an annuity. What I am referring to is not the accumulation of money within an annuity. What I’m talking about is the payout of an annuity. I actually went to my bookcase today and looked in The American Heritage Dictionary. It gave a pretty good definition of what an annuity is: “1. The annual payment of an allowance or income.” Think of it as your kids receiving an allowance; you are receiving an allowance of income. “2. The right to receive this payment or the obligation to make this payment.” Typically, a person or a company (usually an insurance company) is obligated to pay you on a regular basis. “3. An investment on which a person receives fixed payments for a lifetime or a specified number of years.” You should be very familiar with that structure of an immediate annuity. If you are a lottery winner, you receive a choice of receiving either a lump sum or payments throughout a certain period of time. That is an immediate annuity. If you have a pension program with our local brewery in town, Trane, or with the Wisconsin Trust Fund because you were a teacher or a municipal employee, that is nothing more than an immediate annuity. In fact, you can basically say an immediate annuity is often analogous or the same thing as a pension. Payments from immediate annuities are quite unique. It can be based on the rate of return the annuity can receive from the investments put inside the annuity. It can be based on if you are a man or a woman. Men typically have shorter lives than women. Annuity payments to a woman are usually smaller because she is expected to live for a longer period of time or have a guaranteed payment for a longer period of time as compared to most men. Age also can play into it as well. Here is a great example: Social Security. We know the longer that we wait to receive the payout from the government for Social Security, the higher the payment will be. Some people elect to retire early thinking they’ll get more money than if they take the money later. However, everything else being equal, it is exactly the same amount of money as the person who waits and receives a higher payment. If they have the same life expectancy as someone who is younger and takes the lesser payment, it mathematically works out to be exactly the same. You should make a decision based on things like what your health is like at that time. The longer you live with any pension, Social Security, or immediate annuity, the better off you would be. Then, based on the issuing company and the stability of the company, you should be able to have a payment with a lifetime immediate annuity that you cannot outlive. What you will typically find is a person in their 60s or 70s will begin having conversations around immediate annuities. The older a person is the more money they would receive on a monthly basis. The important thing to realize is that everyone’s situation is unique. Everyone’s health is unique to them. The amount of money that they have is unique to them. When you are trying to decide if you should use an immediate annuity, you must remember that you are giving up the accessibility of money. You are trading that accessibility and purchasing an income, potentially guaranteed, for your entire lifetime. If you have some specific questions about annuities or in this case immediate annuities, it’s important that you go slow. Take your time and see all the possible formulas that can affect your financial situation. If you have some additional questions regarding this or anything else, please reach out to our team. “Annuity.” The American Heritage Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA, 1991, p. 112.
What does it mean to be a CEO, a Chief Executive Officer? Most people think about a business CEO, but what does it mean to be the CEO of your family’s financial future? I got to thinking about this last week: it was the end of the quarter and I picked up a report of our corporation for the first three months of this year from my accountant. This gives me information that I need to figure out how we are doing as a company, and many of the same expenses that we take care of here at our office are the same expenses that you might take care of on the home front. First item on my report is revenue. If we’re talking about the home front, that is income. Then there are expenses. Business expenses could be things like utilities, telephone, freight and postage, bank charges, advertising and promotions, repairs and maintenance, educational expenses, Social Security taxes, state taxes, federal taxes, depreciation, rent or mortgage, legal and accounting expenses, licenses, dues, subscriptions, and travel expenses. Every, single quarter, I get a breakdown on the money that is going in (revenue), and the money going out (expenses). Businesses use these reports or something similar to determine if they are a profitable business. That same reasoning should go hand-in-hand when you are your family’s CEO. A lot of people get frustrated being in this position because they feel like they are not keeping up with their expenses. One of the reasons that they aren’t keeping up is because they are not getting a quarterly report like I do. They are not tracking what goes and what goes out. You have to take responsibility when you are the family CEO. We do this at the office by going through the checkbook on a monthly basis. Most of our expenses are put through a company credit card because it’s more cost efficient. We get some additional points that we can accumulate along the way. Instead of writing out many, many checks, we just write out one check for the list of multiple expenses to the credit card company at the end of the month. We keep track of all of the receipts, and then we share those expenses with our accountant. We make sure to keep track of everything and pay off that credit card monthly, just like you should if you have a personal credit card. When my spouse and I first got married, we realized that we really did not have our budget under control. We knew what our income was, but we really didn’t have an understanding of our outgoing expenses. Starting back in 1981, we started to fill out a Dome home budget book, which you can still get at Home Depot or online. A lot of people can do all this on a phone app or excel sheet now. However, if you get the book and have to physically write everything out, it really makes the expenses that much more painful. This may be a bit old-school, but a home budget book will have many of the same things: food, clothing, laundry, rent, mortgage, electricity, gas, telephone, heating, auto, insurance, loans, education, entertainment, personal care, gifts, contributions, interest, taxes, childcare, and additional miscellaneous items. What I like about this particular booklet is that you complete each one of these areas, and then you also fill everything out on a day-to-day basis so you can see exactly where the money is going. You can see what it looks like at the end of the month. This is the recommendation that I make to people who have never done a budget before: they always think they need to come up with a budget to figure out what they should be spending, I actually believe that it’s best to do several months of what I referred to as “reverse budgeting”. You just keep track of what your expenses actually are for at least a few months and write it all down. Back in the 1980s, we had a particular goal that we wanted to accomplish, and it required us having an understanding of our budget. By doing reverse budgeting, we kept track of what our expenses were as they occurred, day-to-day. It only took a month or two for us to look back into the budget book and realize a problem. We realized we were spending way too much money on going out to eat, then what our income would really allow. Until we actually saw the number, we couldn’t make the adjustment in our lives because we couldn’t see how big of a problem it was. Treat your family as if it were a business because it is a business. Let's say your last name is Smith. Your family is now the Smith Corporation, and you are the CEO. Run it like a corporation. Look at the income. Look at the expenses going out. If your business is not making or saving between 15-20% of your income that means that there needs to be some adjustments in your lifestyle. It’s just like going to my accountant on a quarterly basis and reviewing my business checkbook every month. It’s something that you need to do on a monthly basis as well. You need to know and understand your numbers.
People often have a difficult time when it comes to accomplishing their goals and focusing in on their needs and wants, and the aspirations in their life. Sometimes, it comes down to just one question. In my office, I will often look up at my bookshelf and just look at one book in particular. The book is titled, The One Thing. I should probably have the back of the book facing me because it shows a big question mark that reminds me of the question that I need to ask when I’m distracted by a problem. This is the problem with many people, they get distracted by all the noise. They get distracted by all the traffic that is going by on their roadway of life. During the noon hour today, I was on a zoom call and for much of the hour, people were dealing with the problem of squirrel syndrome. You probably remember the movie “Up.” One of the main characters of the movie was a dog named Doug that was very focused, unless it heard or saw a squirrel. Then, it would turn its head and yell “Squirrel” and everyone would have to wait for him to focus again. No matter what was happening, the possibility of a squirrel seemed to be the most important thing to that character. That is sometimes the way it is with us; we have “squirrel syndrome” or sometimes people will refer to it as “shiny object syndrome.” Often, the newest or shiniest object will be the thing that we become most focused on. I had read this book, The One Thing, several years ago. In the book, there is one question a person needs to ask themselves: “What is the one thing I can do that such by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” Isn’t that the truth. Often, if you would just get this one thing or piece done, you wouldn’t have to worry about a whole host of other things that revolve around it. It’s like our life is the earth with thousands of satellites orbiting around us. We chase around wondering if we should keep on looking at all the satellites, look at this or that shiny thing, or that squirrel over there. The one thing that you need to do is get a piece of paper, put a question mark on it, placing it in front of you, and ask the question, “What is the one thing I can do that such by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” What is the one thing in your life, in that moment, that you need to focus on? What is the one thing you need to do today?
People often have a difficult time when it comes to accomplishing their goals and focusing in on their needs and wants, and the aspirations in their life. Sometimes, it comes down to just one question. In my office, I will often look up at my bookshelf and just look at one book in particular. The book is titled, The One Thing. I should probably have the back of the book facing me because it shows a big question mark that reminds me of the question that I need to ask when I’m distracted by a problem. This is the problem with many people, they get distracted by all the noise. They get distracted by all the traffic that is going by on their roadway of life. During the noon hour today, I was on a zoom call and for much of the hour, people were dealing with the problem of squirrel syndrome. You probably remember the movie “Up.” One of the main characters of the movie was a dog named Doug that was very focused, unless it heard or saw a squirrel. Then, it would turn its head and yell “Squirrel” and everyone would have to wait for him to focus again. No matter what was happening, the possibility of a squirrel seemed to be the most important thing to that character. That is sometimes the way it is with us; we have “squirrel syndrome” or sometimes people will refer to it as “shiny object syndrome.” Often, the newest or shiniest object will be the thing that we become most focused on. I had read this book, The One Thing, several years ago. In the book, there is one question a person needs to ask themselves: “What is the one thing I can do that such by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” Isn’t that the truth. Often, if you would just get this one thing or piece done, you wouldn’t have to worry about a whole host of other things that revolve around it. It’s like our life is the earth with thousands of satellites orbiting around us. We chase around wondering if we should keep on looking at all the satellites, look at this or that shiny thing, or that squirrel over there. The one thing that you need to do is get a piece of paper, put a question mark on it, placing it in front of you, and ask the question, “What is the one thing I can do that such by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?” What is the one thing in your life, in that moment, that you need to focus on? What is the one thing you need to do today?
Imagine, you can't speak. Your eyes watch as the doctors and your family discuss your medical treatment. Your love ones don't know what to do. They don't even have the legal permission to provide the hospital staff with recommendations for your care. Worse yet, if they had the legal right, they're fighting among themselves as to what care you would even want to have. If they only knew. If they only had something from you to help direct them to all the answers, to all their questions. If they simply had the power to act on your behalf, as you lie there unable to let them know. Before we discuss this emergency event, please download this fillable PDF from the following link: Mark Bertrang's guest for this episode is Denise Nicholson, BSN, RN - The Advance Care Planning Program Manager with the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Our step-by-step discussion will assist you in creating your very own legal Advance Directive, including the Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Time Stamps 00:00 – Intro 04:57 – Power of Attorney for Healthcare vs Advance Directive 16:00– The Five D’s 25:55 – Where to Store Copies 32:40 – Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Healthcare Agents 39:15 – Authority of Healthcare Agents 51:40 – Statement of Desires 1:00:05 – Being Clear and Specific with your Wishes 1:09:43 – Leaving Personal Messages 1:11:37 – What Do You Want Your Death to Look Like? 1:20:50 – Making it Legal 1:25:00 - Conclusion
A question I asked recently of a medical professional. The answer shocked and emotionally moved me.
Life Insurance is a difficult industry. Statistics have shown that about five percent of life insurance agents survive just five years in this career. Why is that, especially since improving the lives of families can be so rewarding? This conversation might draw the curtain away from the industry, so the layperson can see what this profession actually entails. This is an opportunity for a life insurance agent to understand how to become more proficient at their calling. Janet Sims, the caregiver of the Prosperity Economics Movement shares her story of what this industry has meant to her, while providing insights on how to overcome the day-to-day hardships of becoming a better advocate for families which this profession provides in helping others. 00:00 – Introduction – Janet’s Background 03:10 – Listening and Being Authentic 15:00 – Moral Responsibility of a Life Insurance Agent 20:10 – Importance of Community 27:30 – “Aha” Moments – Staying Engaged 36:20 – Being “Prospect” Focused vs Engaging People at All Times 40:50 – The effect of the Pandemic and Technology on Communication 44:00 – Develop a Passion and Urgency 46:00 – Leaving a Legacy 50:45 – Conclusion Other resources: prosperityeconomicsadvisors.com prosperityeconomics.org truthconcepts.com
Have you ever made a promise? Was it for a short-term promise or was it a forever promise? There's a difference, isn't there? Forever promises typically aren't flashy. They're thoughtful and serious. This morning, I saw a promise through, which was made thirty years ago. So, as I pause and take in the scenery of this new fallen snow, let me share with you a story of a watch, a wake and a promise.
Have you ever found yourself needing to tighten a screw, but you couldn’t find a screwdriver? Admit it. You went to a kitchen drawer and pulled out a butterknife, didn’t you? Once the project was complete, you probably returned the knife to the drawer slightly bent at its tip, because a butter knife isn’t a screwdriver. Would you have consider buttering a piece of bread with a screwdriver? Let’s hope not. Here’s the thing – Use the correct tool for the correct purpose. I see this time and time again with people who tell me that their 401k or their IRA is a retirement plan. Neither is a plan. They’re both accounts, a place to accumulate money. In fact, there are many advisors who spend countless hours working with these products to try and create a retirement plan and I’ve met many attorneys who try to coordinate ways of alleviating the problems associated with these retirement accounts to correct estate planning problems or mistakes. You may believe that your account is a plan. You may also believe that a butter knife is a screwdriver. Neither is.
Before you discuss will-planning with an attorney, prepare your hard data collection. Mark’s guest – Katelyn Doyle, attorney with Johns, Flaherty & Collins, SC discusses those items you may wish to outline prior to your first meeting with a lawyer. Our discussion includes a conversation of your dependents, special needs individual who maybe in your life, life insurance, debt, retirement account balances, non-retirement balance, second homes, business assets, real estate investments, personal representatives, executors, guardians, trustees, trust distributions & payouts for your children, guardian gifting, default estate planning, charitable giving and having a financial power of attorney. If you would like to request a copy of our fillable will preparation form used during this podcast, please email us at and include “Will Prep Form Request” in the subject line. Here is an additional resource you may wish to listen to: Advanced Healthcare Directives
At some point in our lives, things become real. In fact, sometimes things become ‘really’ real. Years ago Mark Bertrang had a client who worked in the silk screening industry. This specialization creates the display printing on the front of your kitchen appliances and the imprinted dials and woodgrain dashboard finishes of your automobile. Mark had always been impressed with some of the beautiful finishes he would see on the dashboard detailing of premium automobiles. He was disappointed to learn that the ‘wood’ finishing was barely wood at all, which he admired so much. Instead, it was a simply a sheet of paper (so, it was actually wood) incased inside epoxy or plastic. So, was it real or was it not real? The discussion of life insurance can be the same, as Mark shares the story of how this young design engineer’s life ended abruptly. How might term insurance play out as compared to permanent whole life insurance? Was one real and the another not real?
As an employer, how do you show up for your team? As a team member, how do you show up for your co-workers? How do you show up for any audience, whoever that audience may be? monthly I engage in a half-hour Zoom personal critique with my good friend Michael Baker, a wealth advisor from Alberta, Canada. When we’re sharing our international Zoom Room, we debate the steps we use to make the lives better for our families, our clients, our communities and lastly - ourselves. As believers in servant leadership mindsets, we question ourselves in the service and guidance we provide others. A question we asked during a most recent visit was “How do you show up for others?” For the last 35+ years of my career, this meant to ‘dress’ for the occasion; to ‘dress’ out of the respect for my clients – which means a dress shirt, a tie and a suitcoat. What does this mean to my clients and what does this mean to me? What’s correct? Is there a standard I should consider? Is there a right or wrong way to approach this question? What does “How do you show up for others” mean to you? How do you show up for those around you? Are you making choices based upon what you want or what the expectations are from others. There may not be an absolute correct answer, except for the correct answer for you, specifically. What is your answer?
It is seldom that I am able to provide a conversation that will be needed by nearly every family at some point in their lives. I am blessed to have had this intimate end-of-life conversation with two medical providers who have answered the very important calling of working in hospice care. My guests are: Dr. Larry Skendzel - Medical Director, Gundersen Hospice and Dr. Jasmine Hudnall - Department Chair: Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Medical Director: Advance Care Planning department, Gundersen Health System. Following this audio outline, resource links are provided. 02:50 – Hospice: As a noun is it a person, a place or a thing? 07:00 – Young age hospice compared to elderly end-of-life care. 09:00 – Letting go, on our own schedule – Individual mysteries. 12:30 – Rewards of working as a medical caregiver. 14:45 – Bettering the quality of life. 18:00 – What improvements can be made? 20:00 – Death at home or in a facility. 21:00 – Four levels of Hospice care. 23:15 – Who makes-up the team? 26:15 – Religious faith and personal spirituality. 28:15 – Volunteers. 30:15 – Covid’s effect on Hospice. 32:35 – Fear of Hospice. 36:30 – Who pays the costs? 40:30 – Initiating the hospice conversation. 43:00 – How are Doctors trained? 46:25 – Has medical training changed? 49:45 – What do you wish your patients knew? 51:45 – Hospice verses Palliative medicine. 55:40 – Where do I find more information? 57:00 – Additional online Resources. 57:30 – A typical day as a hospice doctor. Additional Resources:
There are three questions you need to ask yourself. Mark Bertrang read these questions from Joe Polish's new book "What's in it for them?" this morning as he engaged his team, as he does each day at 9:00am sharp! These questions are: #1. Where are you? #2. Where do you want to go? and #3. How are you going to get there? These three questions might be the only ones you need to ask yourself in determining your present, your future and your journey. During this video Mark Bertrang also explores the additional three roadblocks that might be preventing you from succeeding in your personal goals.
This is the time of the year that we begin focusing upon taxes. Jason Steinhoff, CPA and Partner at Hancock & Robinson is our guest. We’ll discuss the selection of a tax preparer, your own preparation prior to that first meeting, how are audits conducted and what happens during that audit; how does your return move through the IRS and what are the pitfalls you should lookout for.
This is the time of the year that we begin focusing upon taxes. Jason Steinhoff, CPA and Partner at Hancock & Robinson is our guest. We’ll discuss the selection of a tax preparer, your own preparation prior to that first meeting, how are audits conducted and what happens during that audit; how does your return move through the IRS and what are the pitfalls you should lookout for.
At the end of the year, it’s a perfect time to listen-in on a conversation on life’s reflections, with guest – Michael Baker during this episode of “Purpose with Mark Bertrang”. Guest: Michael Baker, Baker Wealth of Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada 00:00 – Insight comes from others, not yourself. 01:30 – Family Christmas Traditions 06:30 – Why we close our office for a full week at the end of December 10:30 – Asking questions, adjusting for conversations and being connected 14:15 – Resolutions and living with integrity 19:45 – Focusing, letting go and striving for a better work/life balance 22:30 – Don’t wait for perfection 24:15 – Getting a Two-fer or a Three-fer out of everything you do 25:50 – Get “Negative First Responders” out of your life
When winter arrives, become much more cautious. While having my morning coffee at breakfast this morning, I received a text from a team member notifying me that they would be arriving late into the office due to his young and still somewhat inexperienced winter teenage driver sliding into the ditch on the way to school. He was waiting for a tow truck along the side of the road. This incident only damaged the driver’s feelings; but it provided important future wisdom, that can only be learn through the experience. We can’t all know all things or expectance all things. That’s when we look toward the wisdom of others, who have gained that wisdom through their own years of experience.
What does the package say for throat lozenges? How about this - "Has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration." Yet, we buy them. I did in fact, for a sore throat and cold I'm working through right now. When you need to make life decisions more important than a sore throat lozenge, the small print becomes much more important. I will oftentimes see people enter into contracts without reading them. Think of when you purchased a house for the first time and you sat at the bank conference table to sign a thirty-year mortgage. The loan officer perhaps simply said - "Sign here, and here, and here and there". Did you wonder what you were really signing. The same should be the case when you enter into a life insurance contract. It may be called a policy, but it's actually a contract between you and the life insurance company. What does it really say? What are the guarantees. Do you know?
Do you have a parent or other family member, you’re concerned for their next stage of life? Jodi Kay Benusa, a Certified Social Worker works with caring families through Midwest Geriatric Consulting Services, LLC to help handle the overwhelming decisions of caring for the aging loved one in your life with a strategized plan of action. Experienced in the complexities of the many systems and choices that are ahead, Jodi provides the strategies to allow your loved one to ‘age by design’, their design, for the fullness of life you wish for them to live.
03:40 Self Development & Purpose 12:45 Thought & Effort - Be the best you can 25:40 Long Term Logical Thinking – Being “All In” 31:57 Inflation & The Fiduciary Standard 35:15 Life Insurance – The “Turbo Charger” 40:58 Retirement vs Re-wire-ment 44:40 Continuing Education – “Know Your Stuff” 49:55 Who’s Pocket Would You Like Your Money to Go Into? 59:23 Putting a “Down Payment” on your Whole Life Insurance
How do you rent your money? That quick question answers the definition of borrowing. Taking a loan out whether its from a bank or a credit union or any number of financial institutions simply means that you’re renting money. The real question is, at what cost? What is the cost to you to rent someone else’s money to get what you want? What is the amount you can borrow? What are the terms – the interest charged or the length of the loan? What is the collateral you have to put up to obtain the loan; your house, your business? What happens if you want to delay or skip a payment? Is there another way? Author-Mark Bertrang discusses another option based upon his book “Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset.
When you travel down the road and break at a stop sign with a "T" in the road, you have to make a decision to either go left or right. A round-a-bout on the other hand may have multiple options which are neither left, right, forward or back from where you began your journey. As with politics, as we just witnessed with our recent national and state elections, many folks believe there is only a left or right decision; but when determining a future decision for yourself it may not necessarily be one or another. Sometimes, whether the decision may be right or wrong, we simply need to get ourselves out of the round-a-bout where we tend to find ourselves stuck going around and around.
When you travel down the road and break at a stop sign with a "T" in the road, you have to make a decision to either go left or right. A round-a-bout on the other hand may have multiple options which are neither left, right, forward or back from where you began your journey. As with politics, as we just witnessed with our recent national and state elections, many folks believe there is only a left or right decision; but when determining a future decision for yourself it may not necessarily be one or another. Sometimes, whether the decision may be right or wrong, we simply need to get ourselves out of the round-a-bout where we tend to find ourselves stuck going around and around.
When you travel down the road and break at a stop sign with a "T" in the road, you have to make a decision to either go left or right. A round-a-bout on the other hand may have multiple options which are neither left, right, forward or back from where you began your journey. As with politics, as we just witnessed with our recent national and state elections, many folks believe there is only a left or right decision; but when determining a future decision for yourself it may not necessarily be one or another. Sometimes, whether the decision may be right or wrong, we simply need to get ourselves out of the round-a-bout where we tend to find ourselves stuck going around and around.
When you travel down the road and break at a stop sign with a "T" in the road, you have to make a decision to either go left or right. A round-a-bout on the other hand may have multiple options which are neither left, right, forward or back from where you began your journey. As with politics, as we just witnessed with our recent national and state elections, many folks believe there is only a left or right decision; but when determining a future decision for yourself it may not necessarily be one or another. Sometimes, whether the decision may be right or wrong, we simply need to get ourselves out of the round-a-bout where we tend to find ourselves stuck going around and around.
When you travel down the road and break at a stop sign with a "T" in the road, you have to make a decision to either go left or right. A round-a-bout on the other hand may have multiple options which are neither left, right, forward or back from where you began your journey. As with politics, as we just witnessed with our recent national and state elections, many folks believe there is only a left or right decision; but when determining a future decision for yourself it may not necessarily be one or another. Sometimes, whether the decision may be right or wrong, we simply need to get ourselves out of the round-a-bout where we tend to find ourselves stuck going around and around.
We have a Ginkgo tree outside our office. A Ginkgo is a species of tree native to China. Fossils show that they’ve been around since the dinosaurs. A unique characteristic of the Ginkgo tree unlike all other trees is that once the temperature drops below freezing; the very next day, a Ginkgo drops all if its leaves in just one day. Whereas, most trees may drop their leaves over days or even weeks. Term Life Insurance works very much the same way. You might enjoy the original purchase you’ve made. Yet, all-at-once, the foliage drops and its season of life is over unlike an evergreen which remains green no matter the season of life. Do you own Ginkgo Term Life Insurance? Is that your best ‘forever’ choice?
We have a Ginkgo tree outside our office. A Ginkgo is a species of tree native to China. Fossils show that they’ve been around since the dinosaurs. A unique characteristic of the Ginkgo tree unlike all other trees is that once the temperature drops below freezing; the very next day, a Ginkgo drops all if its leaves in just one day. Whereas, most trees may drop their leaves over days or even weeks. Term Life Insurance works very much the same way. You might enjoy the original purchase you’ve made. Yet, all-at-once, the foliage drops and its season of life is over unlike an evergreen which remains green no matter the season of life. Do you own Ginkgo Term Life Insurance? Is that your best ‘forever’ choice?
We have a Ginkgo tree outside our office. A Ginkgo is a species of tree native to China. Fossils show that they’ve been around since the dinosaurs. A unique characteristic of the Ginkgo tree unlike all other trees is that once the temperature drops below freezing; the very next day, a Ginkgo drops all if its leaves in just one day. Whereas, most trees may drop their leaves over days or even weeks. Term Life Insurance works very much the same way. You might enjoy the original purchase you’ve made. Yet, all-at-once, the foliage drops and its season of life is over unlike an evergreen which remains green no matter the season of life. Do you own Ginkgo Term Life Insurance? Is that your best ‘forever’ choice?
We have a Ginkgo tree outside our office. A Ginkgo is a species of tree native to China. Fossils show that they’ve been around since the dinosaurs. A unique characteristic of the Ginkgo tree unlike all other trees is that once the temperature drops below freezing; the very next day, a Ginkgo drops all if its leaves in just one day. Whereas, most trees may drop their leaves over days or even weeks. Term Life Insurance works very much the same way. You might enjoy the original purchase you’ve made. Yet, all-at-once, the foliage drops and its season of life is over unlike an evergreen which remains green no matter the season of life. Do you own Ginkgo Term Life Insurance? Is that your best ‘forever’ choice?
People simply wish to barrel their way through life without taking the time to come to a complete stop to protect themselves from the dangers and liabilities of life. During the YouTube version of this podcast, Mark Bertrang is literally standing at parking lot exit with a Stop sign to his right and one to his left. As he is speaking you can literally count one vehicle after another simply sliding through into the street without stopping. That is how most people behave in building their wealth too. They’re concern about building wealth, yet give little or no consideration to the protection of their wealth. Mark Bertrang suggests coming to a complete stop to protect your assets for the expected and for the unexpected that life may throw your way.
People simply wish to barrel their way through life without taking the time to come to a complete stop to protect themselves from the dangers and liabilities of life. During the YouTube version of this podcast, Mark Bertrang is literally standing at parking lot exit with a Stop sign to his right and one to his left. As he is speaking you can literally count one vehicle after another simply sliding through into the street without stopping. That is how most people behave in building their wealth too. They’re concern about building wealth, yet give little or no consideration to the protection of their wealth. Mark Bertrang suggests coming to a complete stop to protect your assets for the expected and for the unexpected that life may throw your way.
If you're like Mark Bertrang, you might spend more time watching professional golf than playing anything that looks like 'professional' golf. Mark is lucky if he hits a few buckets of balls annually at a local driving range in his community. Unfortunately, he feels the pressure when he actually plays golf, which leaves him frustrated with his swing.....and his score. During this video Mark describes the importance of 'the swing' as opposed to 'the clubs' when playing golf. This example could also be used in describing baseball - The 'bat' verses the 'swing'. Are you in a constant search for the best, the cheapest, the newest life insurance product? Mark Bertrang has been swinging the 'life insurance club' for over thirty-five years. He knows how to drive, chip and putt expertly. Get ready for an explanation of using the life insurance asset when you tee-up on the greens of life.
If you're like Mark Bertrang, you might spend more time watching professional golf than playing anything that looks like 'professional' golf. Mark is lucky if he hits a few buckets of balls annually at a local driving range in his community. Unfortunately, he feels the pressure when he actually plays golf, which leaves him frustrated with his swing.....and his score. During this video Mark describes the importance of 'the swing' as opposed to 'the clubs' when playing golf. This example could also be used in describing baseball - The 'bat' verses the 'swing'. Are you in a constant search for the best, the cheapest, the newest life insurance product? Mark Bertrang has been swinging the 'life insurance club' for over thirty-five years. He knows how to drive, chip and putt expertly. Get ready for an explanation of using the life insurance asset when you tee-up on the greens of life.
Fog burns off with the rising of the morning sun. That’s how weather works; but, it’s not quite how life works. It seems as if people worry more and more about the market, their job, emergencies, opportunities, hopes and dreams or worries and regrets. Financially are you in a fog or in the sunshine and what happens when heavy dark clouds approach your life and they open up and rain on your life’s parade? Mark Bertrang walks you through one creative way to create financial certainty for your life based upon his book – Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset.
"The Boom for Life Insurance Policies Fades" according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. Now that fear of Covid-19 appears to be waning, the fear of death is waning, as well. Here's the deal though; there is still a 100% chance of death for everyone - You and I are included in that calculation. If you knew when you would die, wouldn't you want the maximum amount of life insurance coverage in force on that day....and if you didn't know the actual day, wouldn't you still wish to have the most available life insurance in place to be deposited income-tax-free into the bank accounts of all those people you loved in your life? It's just a question of how.
"The Boom for Life Insurance Policies Fades" according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. Now that fear of Covid-19 appears to be waning, the fear of death is waning, as well. Here's the deal though; there is still a 100% chance of death for everyone - You and I are included in that calculation. If you knew when you would die, wouldn't you want the maximum amount of life insurance coverage in force on that day....and if you didn't know the actual day, wouldn't you still wish to have the most available life insurance in place to be deposited income-tax-free into the bank accounts of all those people you loved in your life? It's just a question of how.
There is psychology in everything we want in life. Are we basing our wants and needs on the past, as Sigmond Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis would have suggested or can we be what we project into the future as Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and holocaust survivor would presume? Are you a frustrated backwards-thinker or a positive forward-thinker. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar referred to backward-thinking as “stinkin-thinkin”. How does this kind of thinking project itself into the Life Insurance Asset?
There is psychology in everything we want in life. Are we basing our wants and needs on the past, as Sigmond Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis would have suggested or can we be what we project into the future as Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and holocaust survivor would presume? Are you a frustrated backwards-thinker or a positive forward-thinker. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar referred to backward-thinking as “stinkin-thinkin”. How does this kind of thinking project itself into the Life Insurance Asset?
Do you judge too quickly? Thirty-five years prior to entering the financial services industry, Mark Bertrang began his career as a broadcaster. This meant working on-air for five years. Realizing that job would never 'pay-the-bills' long-term, it was suggested that he climb the ladder of broadcast advertising sales. No one ever told him that his very first client, on his very first day, of his newly acquired job would yell at him to "leave my store or I'll call the police!" Here's the story of that very first day and of another client which Mark still reminisces about a generation later, that forever touched his heart and soul.
I am often amazed when I enter a brand-new building. I love looking at the architecture. The walls, the ceiling, the floor, the furniture. Everything that has made the new building, the wonderful structure it is. Yet, below it all lies the foundation of that building. The foundation is where you begin. The foundation is what holds it together. The foundation is what allows the building to be built and hold true. The same thing goes with your financial life. It's the foundation that begins the process of building your future security and holds true for all of your future possibilities.
Other than your home, your single largest asset may be your retirement account. Many older folks want to leave their 401K, IRA or other retirement account to their kids or grandkids. They believe they're doing to wonderful thing; but, are they? Instead are they setting themselves up to providing a big, fat 'gift' to the government in the form of a huge check in the form of taxes due? Is there another way?
Other than your home, your single largest asset may be your retirement account. Many older folks want to leave their 401K, IRA or other retirement account to their kids or grandkids. They believe they're doing to wonderful thing; but, are they? Instead are they setting themselves up to providing a big, fat 'gift' to the government in the form of a huge check in the form of taxes due? Is there another way?
The road ahead might be one less traveled; but what if it's a road that's been closed to you? Then it doesn't matter, because it now becomes a road you could never experience. We're told that we can do anything we wish, we only need to dream it. That's a great saying, but it's not true. We need to plan, execute and put forth the effort to make things happen in our lives. Yet most important, we need to move forward while the road is still open, available to travel upon. Time is our enemy. Uncertainty is our enemy. Procrastination is our enemy. There's a song that goes - "This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Today IS the day for you to sing and rejoice in it. Make today the starting point of choosing your road and taking that first step now before potentially being blocked by a future 'road closure'.
We would all like to think that our life's projects can simply be ‘one and done’. Last year, the street in front of our home was torn up during the entire summer as sewer pipes, water pipes, wiring and electrical hidden underneath the pavement of our street was replaced. We literally lived with a mud bog in the front of our house for three months. Once this project was completed, we were told our street wouldn't need any work done on it for the next 100 years. Yet, here I am today and our street boulevard is being torn up anew to install new high speed optical fibers. That's the way it is with life. Let's have a discussion of your life and thoughts about the concept of ‘one and done’.
Grapevines have been plagued by pests that can leave a vineyard void of fruit. Olive trees has been dying in many countries due to pests and disease that has killed off entire hillsides. Have you felt that same frustration with your 401(k), IRA or other retirement account? Specialized grafting has saved many vineyards and olive groves. Could a graft of a whole life insurance policy into your plan help your retirement account sustain itself, to not only survive but to thrive? Mark Bertrang, the author of Investments Don't Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset discusses the grafting of a whole life insurance policy to your overall retirement planning to counter the financial pests and disease that your retirement maybe suffering from.
Words can be confusing. Why? Sometimes we simply don’t speak the same language. During a recent trip to southern Italy, this became very clear to me. Sometimes just holding up the wrong fingers during a simple conversation can confuse one another. So, why is it that when both speakers are speaking English, there can still be confusion? They’re both speaking the same language, yet there’s a misunderstanding of their communication. We can all suffer from language misunderstandings.
You've heard of the story about the Achilles Heel or a Glass Jaw. Today, Mark Bertrang shares the story about The Glass Bull. Decades ago, Mark purchased this bull in the village of Murano on an outlying island of Venice, Italy. A small group of world class glass factories are located there, where handblown works of art are produced. Mark carried this bull throughout Italy fearful it would break. It didn't. Yet as it was then, it is still a fragile piece that helps to tell a story of beauty and venerability today.
There are those folks who sit in the stands or armchair quarterback from their mancave. Yet, to win you actually have to get off your duff and get into the game. Playing is oftentimes difficult. It takes training, practicing and endurance. That’s why most of us simply sit in our overstuffed Lazy-boys and yell at our big screen televisions after each play of the game. For some, money is also a game. Are you watching or are you ‘in the game’? Are you waiting for an outcome or are you working toward your outcome?
You may live in a world of scarcity or a world of abundance. Often, we choose the world in which we live, because of our own upbringing. We bring our own circumstances to the world that we live in. Many believe that their world is out of their control and sometimes it is; but maybe our mind limits us more than our own individual circumstances. Mark Bertrang uses a simple story about dryer sheets when you do your laundry to explore the possibilities of prosperity-thinking in your life.
People talk about 'averages' as if they actually live in an average world, where everything plays out in average-ways. Is that really how life works? Do you want to be average or are you an Outlier, who wants to live in a non-average world, a world full of possibilities which aren't average, but are unique? Let's discuss averages, outliers, your life and the options to live a more impactful life using the Life Insurance Asset in a non-average way.
I was scrolling through my Facebook feed recently and saw this post from a client and friend of mine, lamenting on how his four-year-old refrigerator died. It was brand new in 2018 at a cost of $1,900. He and his family had to move all of it contents to a nearly thirty-year-old refrigerator in their basement that has now outlasted two modern refrigerators. He went on to say - "The new stuff just sucks when it comes to reliability." Do you ever feel that way.? I know I do. This is a perfect example of what I have seen for the past thirty-five plus years in the life insurance industry. The advertisements are always trying to sell you the new and the improved, when all you really want is something that simply lasts the test of time. Here's my take on what lasts.
In the mid-1960s Michael Caine starred in a British comedy/drama title: Alfie. It might be better known by the question which was also part of its title and a song which became famous by Dionne Warwick - "What's it all about?". Today is Mark Bertrang's birthday and it is not unusually for each of us to ask this same question of ourselves. Mark shares an intimate story of what he believes his calling is all about.
: If you research down through the ages, you can actually see how your simple cup of morning Joe has been maligned. Coffee was thought to make you weak, lazy and of questionable value. Coffee? This simply tells of a then popular opinion before people actually knew the facts. Some of these researched opinions were still considered valid as little as thirty years ago. Think how your days would be different without your morning brew. The same might be said regarding owning a portfolio of quality mutual insurance company whole life insurance. It’s unfortunate that most consumers have not had the benefits and the actual uses of this time-tested product. Businesses know how it works. Banks know how it works. Individuals need to understand and make the decision for themselves on how to maximize their own 'living' with this unique asset which can provide safety and liquidity for emergencies and opportunities.
What does the upcoming acquisition of insurer Alleghany Corp. for $11.6 billion dollars by Berkshire Hathaway have to do with Pampered Chef parties? It’s all about having the cash to take advantage of opportunities. You probably think you have to be Warren Buffett to have ‘cash-on-hand’ to build your future. You can also make a difference in your financial future with a simple loan against a mutually-owned whole life insurance policy. That’s what Doris Christopher did. She was the founder of The Pampered Chef.
People gamble. They love to gamble. Unfortunately, there is always someone willing to help us depart from our hard earned money. It doesn't come as a surprise that during 2021 casinos took in more money than ever before, even during a time of limited public contact with one another due to Covid-19. What once was taboo is now embraced by the states, by national sports leagues and your local convenience store. Gambling has become big business to separate you from your money; because with most gaming, all the supporting characters along the way take their share of the prize money without putting any of their own money at risk. Those characters are the states, the national sports leagues and your local convenience store.
We have experienced little or no inflation for decades in the United States. Now inflation is hitting people where they live - groceries, cars, gasoline, auto, homeowner and health insurance premiums. There is still an asset that you can buy for pennies on the dollar and that can provide you with a place to store your safe money for emergencies and future opportunities. Mark Bertrang discusses the costs of inflation and options available with the Life Insurance Asset.
This is a free chapter from Mark Bertrang's book - Investments Don't Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset, taken from Chapter six, titled "We thought we invincible". Enjoy this gift as read by the author and consider your purchase through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or listen to the audio through Audible or iTunes.
A recent article from the Wall Street Journal outlines exactly how an employer can take away a retirement benefit its employees’ thought was untouchable. At the end of 2021, as many as 220,000 AT&T retirees had their life insurance benefits drastically reduced. After working for this company; many for their entire careers were affected. Could this happen to you? What can you do? Where do you begin?
The government regulates the safety features in every car that drives off the production line of America. Last year the safety features of each automobile were approximately four percent of its total price, not including the cost of the title, licensing and taxes. What can we learn about this four percent average and how the same four percent can safely protect our dignity and future incoming earning potential regarding on incomes, which is the single most important asset which we own?
It’s time to talk year-end taxes. This is not a boring conversation. This is an extremely interesting visit with my guest is Mary Jo Werner, Attorney, Certified public account and Certified in Financial Forensic who is a partner with Wiplfi, who ranks among the top 20 accounting and business consulting firms in the nation. Mary Jo Werner specializes in litigation support for law firms and assists in fraud and forensic investigations.
What can you learn about an 80-year-old woman who needed three things to happen with her safe money? Number one – A better return than the bank. Number two - No taxes due on her gains, and Number three - an immediate increased estate for her children; Plus, the availability and liquidly of her money, if needed. Here’s a real-life story using the Life Insurance Asset.
News anchors usually ask the questions. In a role reversal, Amy DuPont-News Anchor at WKBT-News 8 is asked questions about her decades-long career in reporting and delivering the news; a journey of serving multiple diverse communities. You will feel like you are visiting an old friend, who shares the heart of the ups and downs of television news, concerns for local news outlets and poignant stories from her own personal life.
Walt Disney partially financed Disneyland with a loan against his Whole Life Insurance Policy. The Bushes Baked Bean Company was partially financed with a Whole Life Insurance Policy. The Pampered Chef Company was entirely financed through a loan against a Whole Life Insurance Policy. A Whole Life insurance policy provides a place to store your safe money. Learn what Milly did with the cash value of her life insurance policy. It changed all of our lives forever.
At the headwaters of the Mississippi River, you can literally dip your cup and take a drink of water; but, by the end of the same river - 2,350 miles later at the Gulf of Mexico, you probably wouldn't even want to eat a fish from it. Money works the same way. In the beginning it's pure. Yet, once it's flowed through government constructed retirement programs like 401(k)s and IRAs, taxes, fees and inflation; it becomes polluted. Here's Author-Mark Bertrang's latest video describing exactly how that happens. How do you purify your money?
At the headwaters of the Mississippi River, you can literally dip your cup and take a drink of water; but, by the end of the same river - 2,350 miles later at the Gulf of Mexico, you probably wouldn't even want to eat a fish from it. Money works the same way. In the beginning it's pure. Yet, once it's flowed through government constructed retirement programs like 401(k)s and IRAs, taxes, fees and inflation; it becomes polluted. Here's Author-Mark Bertrang's latest video describing exactly how that happens. How do you purify your money?
How do you love a population of offenders? Can God create something good out of people who are not seen as worthy due to incarceration? Ann Wales is the chaplain of the La Crosse Jail Ministry. Ann’s story begins in northern Minnesota, serving as a missionary in Lebanon and losing her husband to cancer on Christmas Day. We have all experienced pain in our lives; but, it’s what we do with that pain that can define our lives. Ann shares her love and understanding of God’s children who are imprisoned.
Herbert Freudenberger coined the term “burnout” forty years ago as he described a state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by one’s professional life. Our guest, Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. Together, we discuss job burnout, work/life balance and the stress and unhappiness many people struggle with daily in their jobs.
Vicki Markussen takes us into her deep-dive by engaging us into a greater La Crosse, Wisconsin. Local media outlets may provide a few short column inches of print or perhaps ninety seconds of airtime on the radio or tv. Vicki uses her unique skill as a journalist with a servant leader heart to cut through the social media clutter creating a hub for those who are passionate about their community, whether it’s jobs and promotions, business health, housing, development, education, government or entertainment and leisure. You will find this to be a very engaging conversation about the community of the greater La Crosse area.
This is visit number two with Chris Crye, executive director of Next Chapter/La Crosse about its mission of building lasting relationships with people who have been impacted by crime, restoring them to God, family, and their community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Next Chapter provides safe, secure and stable housing - Transitional housing (Discipleship Home) integrated with Christian living programs for men recently released from incarceration providing holistic support; a healthy community - rebuilding family relationships, discovering their gifts, getting rooted in a church community and learning to mentor others; and worthy work - Providing basic skills training in a supportive environment that equips participants to gain employment.
A visit with Chris Crye, executive director of Next Chapter/La Crosse about its mission of building lasting relationships with people who have been impacted by crime, restoring them to God, family, and their community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Next Chapter provides safe, secure and stable housing - Transitional housing (Discipleship Home) integrated with Christian living programs for men recently released from incarceration providing holistic support; a healthy community - rebuilding family relationships, discovering their gifts, getting rooted in a church community and learning to mentor others; and worthy work - Providing basic skills training in a supportive environment that equips participants to gain employment.
Mark Bertrang visits with Kim D.H. Butler about her eighth book – “Perpetual Wealth: How to use ‘Family Financing’ to build Prosperity and Leave a Legacy for Generations”. Making the list of one of American’s most influential financial advisors by Investopedia, Kim learned through the hard work of growing-up as a farm girl with her own dairy cow. She chose to make an impact by taking a non-typical journey. Kim is also a leader of the Prosperity Economics Movement.
Here’s the complaint: “Life Insurance only works when I die” or “How will Life Insurance benefit me?” or “When I’ve built up my wealth, why would I want or need Life Insurance?” If maximized to it fullest, a Whole Life Insurance Policy can provide multiple uses while you’re living. It can become the Swiss Army Knife of your financial castle with great flexibility, liquidity and safety. It allows you to play defense and offense in the financial game of life. Buy Mark's book here:
Permanent Life Insurance Policies come with an assortment of levers, which are controlled by the insurance companies. New and improved policies or “levers” sold to the public may actually give insurance companies even more control over you. These levers may control future internal costs, charges and fees based upon need for company shareholder profitability. By comparison, a whole life policy, issued by a mutual life insurance company has just one lever; a lever to declare an annual dividend to increase the profitability of your contract, in excess of its already built-in guarantees - one ‘profit’ lever verses many ‘expense’ levers. Which do you own?
What is the rate of return of a whole life insurance policy? There are actually three different rates of return to consider – Internal, External and Eternal rate of return. People often fixate upon the internal rate of return and do so incorrectly. To properly make a side-by-side comparison, you need to strip away the multiple benefits a whole life insurance policy, issued by a mutual life insurance company may provide. This is similar to comparing a single-blade knife to a Swiss Army knife. One has a single function. The other provides many combinations of useful benefits.
Experience has taught me, that the more money people have, the more they are motivated in the ‘return of that money’ and less on the ‘rate of return’ of that money. This is why a portfolio of mutual insurance issued whole life policies fit so well into the foundation of one’s financial life. The guarantees of regulated reserve requirements and not the potential future values are what provides certainty in our very uncertain world.
No one wants to think about their own funeral. If you don’t plan ahead, someone will need to make the decisions for you quickly during a difficult and emotional time. They will wonder if they were following your actual wishes, because there wasn’t a plan in place to help with the guidance, they so desperately wish they had. Jake Kramar of Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services provides insight to a conversation that’s very difficult to discuss with parents, spouses and ourselves.
Many “opportunities” require financing, whether it’s a new business, a commercial property, investment real estate or perhaps for a quality-of-life change like a second home. Opportunities often require money or the access to money. The terms of that money are usually arranged and determined by a large lending institution such as a bank, a savings and loan or a credit union. Wouldn’t you love to be your own banker and bank on yourself, instead of a faceless bank?
You deserve to feel good about your finances after your divorce. Beth Kraszewski, CFP®, CDFA®, CLU® assists those going through a divorce to protect themselves. Beth is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst who has studied in the field of pre-divorce financial planning and is an expert in personal vs. marital property, valuing and dividing property, retirement assets and pensions, spousal and child support, splitting your house, along with the tax problems and solutions facing those in the process of a divorce.
A recent visit to a Farm & Fleet Store reminds us all of how easily life can end. This should be a story of newborn baby chicks and ducklings. At a time around Easter, when life is new and precious a story told like this by an employee of the store recently visited reminded me of the simply fragility of life and how all the planning, we do can be undermined by something as simple as a lost package in the mail.
Planning for the lifetime needs of a special needs child is a great undertaking. Grady Jennings of the Dignity Group shares the work he does to assist families navigating the planning for their special needs children. Dignity Group empowers families through seminars, workshops, support groups, community gatherings, and free online learning materials. This second part of Grady’s story helps to explain how to journey through the system.
Planning for the lifetime needs of a special needs child is a great undertaking. Grady Jennings of the Dignity Group shares his personal story of the unexpected birth of his son James, who was a downs syndrome child. James changed Grady’s life and his career practice. Dignity Group empowers families through seminars, workshops, support groups, community gatherings, and free online learning materials. The first part of this episode sets the story of how this journey began to assist those families with special needs children.
Mark Bertrang shares a story of a client who approached him at the beginning of his career, asking him to complete an application for life insurance. After finishing the questionnaire, ordering the medical tests and receiving approval from the insurance company, Mark was ready to deliver the policy only to be told the client had changed their mind about the purchase. What happened next forever made an impression and an unsettling realization – You’re not guaranteed Life Insurance.
Through a year of the Covid-19 pandemic, racial unrest, of Black Lives Matter comes a message of individual responsibility. What choices do we make each and every day? We are all the role models – either good role models or poor role models; other people have their eyes on us to see how we handle choices in our own lives. We can either live our lives to be uplifting or downgrading. It’s our choice. Financial advisor Sheldon Singleton shares his story of being a positive influencer in today’s uncertain world.
Amplitude Modulation and Frequency Modulation are the scientific terms for AM or FM radio. What can we learn from the modulation of radio waves in the comparison of the waves that can ripple through our lives and the lives of our loved-ones through the use of life insurance portfolio? Are we planning for the “line of sight” like FM radio waves travel or can we bend the impact from our lives, similar to how AM radio waves can travel over countries and to the four corners of the world? AM radio, like solid whole life insurance can expand our horizon beyond what we can see with our eyes.
Each spring we spring ahead and each fall we fall back. We adjust our clocks for the change of daylight savings time. Wouldn’t it be great if we could make the same adjustments with the planning of our lives? If we could only spring ahead of unforeseen problems or fall back to correct previous mistakes we have made in our lives. Isn’t it time to set our personal values clock today to endure no matter what potentially happens in our lives?
Many times, people become distracted by what a product is called and forget the need to focus upon what it might accomplish for them. Some may deny themselves the benefits of liquid safe accumulation of cash along with the protection of their families because of the regulatory names of products. The questions to ask is ‘what are the benefits to you and your family?” or “how will this product sing in your life?” It’s not what in its name. It’s what it can do for you.
Whole Life insurance has existed for well over a century; yet to many there is confusion as to how the accumulation of its Cash Values work. There’s a Guaranteed-side to Whole Life insurance that’s built-in contractually and there’s a side which can accumulate through the use of dividends which may be declared by mutual insurance companies, which allows policyowners to participate in the profitability of the issuing life insurance company. This episode describes the simplicity of how the equity builds into a permanent whole life insurance policy.
Recently with wintery sub-zero temperatures outside, Mark found his house with a broken furnace. While the HVAC guys were tearing out the old and installing the new, Mark was calculating the actual ‘lost opportunity cost’ of a furnace, it’s yearly maintenance, the ongoing expense of natural gas, the impact of inflation and what would that money might have provided for his family’s future economy to determine of the real cost of heating one’s home over the next two decades.
Guests: Kevin & Jessica Schaler Adult & Teen Challenge of Western Wisconsin-La Crosse is a long-term faith-based drug and alcohol recovery center that serves women, age 18+. It’s a place of refuge for those who are stuck in the bonds of chemical addictions, as well as other life-controlling problems, taking a holistic approach to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of each person. They work to help address issues and assist our clients to heal on a heart level, so destructive patterns end and healthy ones are established. A Bible-based curriculum giving the necessary tools to help clients overcome hurts, habits and hang-ups, seeing God’s changes from the inside out with the goal of life transformation and total restoration.
Wealth isn’t measured by how much money you have; it’s measured by how much freedom you have. It’s easier to get ahead if you can follow a leader. Who is your leader? How do you become a member of their tribe? How do you create a tribe? It involves values, beliefs, ethics and a difference between your tribe and those standing from the outside looking in.
Careful consideration needs to be examined when a whole life insurance policy is used to accumulate cash for opportunities and cash for emergencies. Whole life insurance provides more than just a death benefit. It also provides potential liquidity for many different options that may require available cash. How does a MEC status affect your cash options?
Being an entrepreneur is a lonely, demanding road. We face decisions daily that a lot of people will be impacted by: team, clients and family. This heavy responsibility, along with memories of past failures causes our way forward to be murky with uncertainty. The result can become a business that we don't love anymore. We're working with people who don't feel like are "our people," and we drag ourselves in and out of bed each day, dreading what shoe will drop next. The Blueprint Process is designed to navigate the uncertainty and risk of business ownership and to help you see what is unclear to you: what your inherent value is and how to use that value to enhance your business for your team, your clients and your family...but first and foremost...for you.
When discussing the Life Insurance Asset, you need to consider how this asset could assist you in fighting the "Eroding Factors" of your financial life, which include inflation, taxes, planned obsolescent, technology changes, consumption, consumption of savings and lifestyle changes. Do you have a tool to combat these eroding factors in your life?
Do you view your life insurance as a snapshot in time? That's what we're told to do by the financial gurus, as seen on television, radio and the internet. Are they taking the short view, when we should be taking the long view on our life insurance planning? Instead of a snapshot, perhaps we need to be taking a panoramic lifetime view.
Melissa Schultz is a business coach, strategist, trainer and speaker equipping women to leverage their God-given gifts to maximize their business potential to boldly achieve their dreams. Melissa recently spoke during a “Women with Purpose” luncheon titled “Finding the Light in The Darkness”. Recent times have brought significant changes to our ability to socialize and be in community with one another, which has increased the incidence of depression. In addition to sharing her own story and her entrepreneurial spirit, Melissa shares ten tools to fight Seasonal Affective Disorder from creeping into our lives.
Erin Waldhart is the Executive Director of WAFER, the largest Food Pantry serving the La Crosse, Wisconsin region. What is WAFER and what are the services it provides; and what is Erin’s story and her role there; and what is your role in serving the hungry in need?
How do you center yourself through the cold, dark winter of the Covid-19 pandemic? How do you help yourself or a loved one who doesn’t want help and where are the resources to help?
Brother Matthew Kotek is in temporary vows with the Midwest Province of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. After teaching for five years in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee, he currently serves at the Fratelli Project, an educational center co-sponsored by the De La Salle Brothers and the Marist Brothers that serves Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Many of our podcasts center upon business or career success. This Episode centers on vocation and calling.
Mark Bertrang recalls a story of a trip taken to Winnipeg Canada in 1985. While there, he purchased a set of uncirculated coins from the Royal Canadian Mint, that have never been touched by human hands. What can be learned from this coinage in 2020?
Alexis Probst is a young business leader who began building her own business – “Elite Nutrition”, practically right out of college. As a business owner and wellness coach, Alexis discusses her journey, taking immediate control over her future and sharing the lessons which she has learned along the way.
How does your faith come into play during the separation many of us are feeling from our job, school, friends, family, faith communities and perhaps even God, during this pandemic? This conversation explores bringing focus to our lives, by focusing on what is greater than ourselves.
David Trapp’ s heart simply stopped. He died that very moment. As he laid on a church sanctuary floor, EMTs shocked his heart back from death, as the congregation looked on. As a career insurance expert, Dave discusses life insurance from a brand-new perspective; the viewpoint of his own death. What did he learn?
I first met Joseph Puzzo as he was barely entering his twenties working as an onsite counselor for a Christian summer program assisting those less fortunate in a small rural area of Tennessee. When we began our conversation, I had planned on discussing Joe’s recent experience of Covid-19 in his community, I soon realized that his story was so much more. The young man I met during the summer of 2014 had wisdom to share beyond his years, now in 2020.
Each life insurance application has a separate page in which the insurance agent needs to complete or “field underwrite” about the why you are applying for life insurance. What are they saying about you? Mark Bertrang discusses Executive Bonus Arrangements, Key Person Plans, Buy-Sell Provisions, Deferral and Creditor Plans, along with important personal uses of The Life Insurance Asset.
Most people have plenty of questions before they meet with a qualified attorney for the very first time to prepare a will or other estate planning documents. This is not a 'how-too' podcast; but, it's a how-do-I-prepare podcast. How-do-I-prepare to have a thoughtful conversation with a lawyer to draft one of the most important documents of my lifetime; what some would call the last 'love letter' to my family.
How should you prepare to have a Will Discussion with a qualified attorney? What should you consider? What should you know? What should you be asking? How does the Life Insurance Asset play into these plans?
The government’s small business Administration, your local bank and credit union focuses on your assets and liabilities when determining your creditworthiness for a loan. Mark Bertrang explains how your whole life insurance policy can plan a crucial role during this process.
How do you determine your financial economic worth? Why is it important? A "rule of thumb" does not work and cheats families out of the dreams and aspirations that were hoped and planned for. During this presentation, Mark Bertrang helps to walk you through the reasoning and arithmetic in helping to determine your own Human Life Value for Life Insurance purposes. These are the similar calculations used in wrongful death lawsuits that an attorney would consider when building a case to go to trial. This podcast is the audio portion of a recent YouTube upload recently presented by Mark Bertrang
Recently Mark Bertrang taught an online class on the Life Insurance strategies of Rich and Famous people you may have heard of, but never knew the untold stories of how they used life insurance to build their wealth without dying. This is the audio from that presentation which can be viewed on his YouTube channel.
Sharing her own story of depression and the journey to mental health wholeness, Judy Shoults, the 2013 Shining Star Award recipient during Mental Health Awareness month. Judy, a member of the La Crosse Area Suicide Prevention Initiative, community booster, and is a strong advocate on behalf of those affected by mental illness. That advocacy, she says, includes a focus on breaking the stigma associated with mental illness: “I live with major depression and I refuse to be ashamed of my disease.” In selecting Shoults as the 2013 Shining Star, Patti Jo Severson, chair of MHC indicated that many of the misconceptions associated with persons living with a mental illness are dispelled when people step forward to openly discuss it. “They may be our friends, neighbors, co-workers. One in four people will experience mental illness at some point in their lifetime. We are very proud of Judy in raising awareness and reducing stigma,” Severson said. Judy speaks to groups, sharing a message that she hopes will shape a better public understanding of mental illness while also reaching members of the community who need support.
A conversation and songs with John Smith – Singer/Songwriter, while we’re staying safely in place.
A recent trip to Sicily: Let's take a walk together through an Italian marketplace and discuss the CoronaVirus and unpredictable Black Swans; and how they may affect our lives.
Mark Bertrang never wanted to say "I'm sorry" when it came to making recommendations for a family's life insurance purchase. Today there are many slick presentations to help sway clients from one product to another product based on 'expected' returns and 'potentially' lower premiums. Mark Bertrang has learned over the past thirty years that the promises made through a Whole Life Insurance contract are promises that are kept. This is his conversation based on a recent supplement produced by an insurance company industry watchdog - AM Best.
If you’re green, you’re growing. If you’re ripe, you rot. What are you doing to improve yourself mentally? Mark Bertrang carves out some time to discuss his current reading list and recommendations.
Learn how a college project became a thriving moving business for Viterbo University graduate - Colin Luz.
There are moments when we should take pause, look around and determine how the plans of others don’t necessarily focus on our personal dreams; Mark’s personal perspective.
Wildwood Specialty Foods is a woman-owned and women-run business maker of soup, dip mixes, and signature spice products wholesale through several hundred specialty stores throughout the country; and to consumers through the firm’s website -
You've had a successful career, but you feel like there's still more to accomplish in your life. You feel a calling ebbing you towards a new direction. Today's guest felt this same pull, which required quitting one job, applying for another while attending college and completing a master's program.
Learn about Lisa’s family & values, her evolution of de-cluttering, re-purposing your stuff, goal making made simple, creating memories - not stuff, what is the F5 and planning for an organized move.
While traveling recently Mark Bertrang met a former executive from Starbucks, which always wanted to be consider the "third" place away from where people work and live. Listen to what Mark discovered about the importance of this third place.
A lively conversation revolving around elder law, eldercare, nursing homes, gifting, homeownership re-titling, the divestiture of assets and long-term care insurance. Mark Bertrang visits with Attorney Matthew Cromheecke of Moen, Sheehan & Meyers of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Hospice provides care for you and for those who care for you. It supports you as a whole person - mind, body and spirit. Hospice focuses on your needs and also the needs of your family. The goal of hospice is to help you feel fulfilled and dignified during the end of your life’s journey. Mark spends this hour visiting with a Hospice Intake nurse and her experiences. Please share this podcast with those you love.
Dan Kullman has been instrumental in translating behavioral investing theory into practical tools and processes for the advisory community. Dan helped to develop and oversee Toews Managing Investor Behavior™ Workshop and Coaching program and facilitates communications with advisors. This visit provides insight to how behavior affects investing. Mark & Dan also discuss personal values to integrate into our everyday lives.
Tony Szak visits about his career with Speedymason, owning and closing down a construction company, his personal values’ journey and the building up of other men through the mission of “Leading with Power”, assisting others to become better fathers, husbands and men.
Recently, while traveling Mark Bertrang experienced four gate changes and an hour delayed take-off at Chicago O’Hare. If the technology of twenty-first century air traffic can be this volatile, what does this say about your money plans for retirement, emergencies and opportunities? Here are Mark’s thoughts while waiting for his trip home from a business trip.
The Hispanic community work in our local factories and on our local farms. They touch each of our lives, yet we often don’t acknowledge the contribution this community makes. This conversation with Michelle Pinzl, Viterbo University Professor/Coordinator of the “Community Interpreting Certificate” program provides personal insight into the language barrier often experienced during times of medical emergencies or legal situations. This is not a border issue; but instead, probably a miscommunication issue. This episode doesn’t attempt to solve a problem, but it may help each of us to understand the problem more completely through another’s eyes.
Your automobile has a value. Your house has a value. What about you? Do you use a "general rule of thumb" to insure your "stuff"? Then, why would you use that process to insure your life? What is Human Life Value? What is a Human Life Value calculation
Our last episode was so informative, that our guest Rebecca Stetzer, a registered and certified dietician and I decided to continue our discussion at a nearby local grocery store. Here we were able to look at the layout of the store and discuss how to make better decisions with food shopping habits. Think of this episode as having your own personal tour with a registered dietitian as you shop for your weekly groceries.
Mark Bertrang wants everyone to live long and enduring lives. One way to live life large, is to live life well. In her nutrition counseling practice, Rebecca Stetzer, RD, CD utilizes Intuitive Eating and a Health-At-Every-Size approach, both of which are rooted in solid evidence, to help people make peace with food and their bodies, and help them feel their best, to be their best.
If the company making the guarantee has a solid track record, a guarantee is valuable! Guarantees give buyers confidence, reduce stress and provide assurance. They limit risk. And they help purchasers make decisions about who they can trust and where their money might be well spent. Oddly enough, people usually put their money in places with few if any guarantees. And without guarantees, even the most trusted places to store our cash can let us down.
This episode is a continuation of episode #16. How does a farm girl from a small mid-western town who attended a private school and went to church each Sunday find herself under the control of alcohol, drugs and then became a drug dealer? But more importantly, how did she turn that life around, stay sober and clean from drugs to become a successful business owner?
How does a farm girl from a small mid-western town who attended a private school and went to church each Sunday find herself under the control of alcohol, drugs and then became a drug dealer? But more importantly, how did she turn that life around, stay sober and clean from drugs to become a successful business owner?
Term life insurance is for a term of time. Whole life insurance last for your ‘whole life’. You want coverage forever, yet you can receive more coverage with term life insurance. Is there another option? Yes! The Third Option – The Convertible Term Insurance Solution.
Each state requires its licensed insurance agents to fulfill continuing education requirements for as long as they hold a license in that state. What’s involved in this process?
Have you ever felt you were meant for something more? What is your BHAG, your big Hairy Audacious Goal? Learn a system of discovery with Mark’s guest – Tammi Brannan, the Creator of "The Blueprint Process".
What happens when you have a three-hour flight delay? What happens when you have an unexpected retirement delay? Do you have retirement delay insurance?
As Mark Bertrang, Author of “Investments Don’t Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset” waits for his connecting flight at the Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport, he discusses where to place your ‘safe’ money for emergencies and opportunities.
After the Wedding Day, the day-to-day work begins to build and sustain a healthy marriage.
This document allows you to plan for your future financial decisions-making, even if you are unable to make your own decisions. It allows you to have a choice in the continued life that you wish to live. Today the choice is yours, but by waiting to address this important legal document it may place the responsibility and choices in the hands of someone who you may not have chosen or who would agree with your wishes would have been.
Automobile insurance seems like “have to” insurance, since most states require you to “have to have it” to operate a motor vehicle on its public roads; but legally required coverage maybe quite different from the coverage you might actually want or need. Agent Susan Hewines answers questions on what choices a driver should consider when purchasing automobile insurance.
Ever wanted to eavesdrop into a conversation? Mark Bertrang visits with Jennifer Schrader about making perhaps one of the single largest purchases of your lifetime. Mark and Jennifer discuss the ins and outs of mortgage loans, the qualification process and the types of loans you might choose from. Think of this visit as a class in “Home Mortgages 101”. Jennifer has a unique perspective. She has worked in banking and was also a longtime realtor, but her love is finding the right mortgage loan solution for her clients. This conversation provides great insight into the loan process, while dispensing some lifetime wisdom. Share this knowledge with others by forwarding it to those who are considering home ownership for themselves for the first time or a if there is a new home (and a new loan process) in their future.
Death is the last part of our lives that we often feel we have no control over; but there is a way to be in charge of the wishes of how your last days maybe lived. Mark visits with Denise Nicholson, RN in the healing garden of Gundersen Health System about this most important document. During this conversation, you can literally download an online form and follow along during our conversation to document the choices and the desires for your end of life care. Don’t let your family suffer through the unknown, without your stated directions being clearly stated. Mark and Denise share this intimate conversation together to help provide you and your family peace of mind during one of life’s most difficult moments.
Guest - Pastor Matt Toso, ELCA provides his career wisdom in this discussion, that few ever wish to discuss, until its at a family's doorstep.
A home purchase or the selling of a home may be the single largest asset transaction you might ever make during your lifetime. There is a lot to consider throughout such a transaction. During this episode Mark visits with Realtors - Betty Bertrang and Amy Hatlevig for their insight, expedience and wisdom.
Mark Bertrang visits with Kenn Tacchino, JD, LLM, professor of taxation and financial planning at Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania. Kenn shares his advice through three top-10 lists that may help you strive to achieve a comfortable retirement for yourself.
Wedding Planning - Whether you are the bride or the parents of the bride, there is a lot to decide way before the big day arrives. Where should you begin? Mark Bertrang visits with Nancy Flottmeyer, professional wedding planner, about the many decisions to consider when planning a wedding during this episode of Discovering Wisdom, over Coffee with Mark Bertrang.