The Financial Procast

With the economic landscape changing dramatically and a “new normal” taking shape in the fixed-interest marketplace, bonds are testing a long-held–but poorly vetted–theory about safety. Ask anyone with a minor interest/proficiency in personal finance about safe assets, and you'll likely hear something about bonds. They are the asset the investment industry offers up as a ... Keep Reading

In today's fast-paced and unpredictable financial landscape, managing risk and achieving consistent returns is more important than ever. Life insurance companies have emerged as experts in this field, utilizing their vast resources and expertise to create well-diversified investment portfolios that deliver long-term value to policyholders. In this article, we will explore the factors that contribute ... Keep Reading

Life Insurance used to generate retirement income is a slightly more advanced subject within the world of life insurance and financial planning. The stock jockeys hate it, and the life insurance agents love it. No surprise there. But is there something that life insurance brings to the table that is truly special? Or are you ... Keep Reading

When you read or hear the words tax shelter it probably doesn’t conjure images of using whole life insurance. But whether or not whole life is actually a tax shelter depends on how you define it more than anything. It’s not a tax shelter in any sort of the more shady ways that people discuss ... Keep Reading

Well, this is the end of the line. You have come to the very end of the Financial Procast. After a little over three years and 188 episodes we've decided to call it quits. Turns out the C-suite goons have decided to “go a different direction”. The irony is that we're the goons and…we think it's ... Keep Reading

  Well, this is the end of the line. You have come to the very end of the Financial Procast. After a little over three years and 188 episodes we've decided to call it quits. Turns out the C-suite goons have decided to “go a different direction”. The irony is that we're the goons and…we think it's time to move on. Not to worry though, we're not abandoning a weekly podcast, just changing the format and the name of the show. Starting next week we'll be releasing a weekly episode of the Insurance Pro Blog Podcast. Really creative huh? Seriously though, for a while we've been well aware that our most popular episodes have been those where we stay in our wheelhouse. Not that we don't enjoy providing fast and loose commentary on a variety of financial industry minutiae, just that we want to give more people more of what they really want. All 188 episodes will live here in perpetuity. Please be aware that if you can't imagine not hearing from us every week, you'll need to subscribe to our new show in iTunes by searching  for “Insurance Pro Blog Podcast”. It's not up yet, but it should be in the next few days. And of course we'll make it quite obvious here on the site exactly where and how to get our new episodes, they'll be published here every week just as the Financial Procast has been. Also, you can subscribe to our email updates to be sure you never miss anything new that comes out here on the Insurance Pro Blog (podcast, blog post, or other news we think would be important for you to have).

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.” Margaret Thatcher Not much that needs to be added to that quote. We are seeing what happens when the government devises plans that use flawed logic and a lack of mathematical fact. Is it really a big surprise that the health ... Keep Reading

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.” Margaret Thatcher Not much that needs to be added to that quote. We are seeing what happens when the government devises plans that use flawed logic and a lack of mathematical fact. Is it really a big surprise that the health care exchanges organized under the CO-OP program are failing? I'm pretty sure that every insurance expert or semi-expert in the known universe said it wouldn't work. Turns out that you can't put a bunch of sick people together in a plan and have it remain solvent. There have to be healthy people in there too (paying premiums) to balance the risk. This is insurance 101. But that's not the only thing we're discussing today, here's a complete rundown: Another Co-Op set to shutdown Brokercheck links get approved What's best way to get true financial planning services? A brief reminder…the Financial Procast will be on hiatus for the next two weeks. We plan to make an announcement about the future of the show when we come back in a few weeks. In the meantime, you can go back and listen to some shows in the archives if you just can't imagine life without listening to us. Here are some of the most popular episodes: Episode 40: Why Whole Life Insurance Sucks Episode 157: What it Takes to Become a 401k Millionaire Episode 25: An Equal Opportunity Delusion Episode 174: Predictions with Exactitude And if you'd like to speak with us directly, use the contact form. We're always happy to help.

Newsflash: someone has finally exposed the real problem with student loan defaults. Turns out that half a degree doesn't get you a decent return on investment for money you borrowed. And we all know why Vanguard can provide really low expenses for their mutual funds. You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out ... Keep Reading

  Newsflash: someone has finally exposed the real problem with student loan defaults. Turns out that half a degree doesn't get you a decent return on investment for money you borrowed. And we all know why Vanguard can provide really low expenses for their mutual funds. You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out more about that. Here's the full lineup for today's episode: Whistleblower's expert says Vanguard owes billions in back taxes Paying CEOs fat bonuses for stock performance doesn't work Who really defaults on student loans The real unemployment rate As always, we appreciate your comments and suggestions for things you'd like to hear us talk about (or complain about) in future episodes. You can always reach us here.

Well, today may be the shortest full-length podcast we've ever recorded. You're welcome for that little gift. Here's what we discussed in episode 185: New research shows that 401k's haven't hurt retirement benefits A well-known market pontificator sounds an alarm The tax code gets “Trumped” (pdf download) As always, we appreciate your comments and suggestions for ... Keep Reading

Well, today may be the shortest full-length podcast we've ever recorded. You're welcome for that little gift. Here's what we discussed in episode 185: New research shows that 401k's haven't hurt retirement benefits A well-known market pontificator sounds an alarm The tax code gets “Trumped” (pdf download) As always, we appreciate your comments and suggestions for things you'd like to hear us talk about (or complain about) in future episodes. You can always reach us here.  

We're back after taking a week off and wouldn't you know it…Gen Y still doesn't like being forced to talk to insurance agents at their kitchen tables? (sarcasm light on) This is a story that never gets old to us. It seems like financial services industry just discovered that the internet is here to stay. ... Keep Reading

We're back after taking a week off and wouldn't you know it…Gen Y still doesn't like being forced to talk to insurance agents at their kitchen tables? (sarcasm light on) This is a story that never gets old to us. It seems like financial services industry just discovered that the internet is here to stay. Turns out no one is interested in going back to the “good old days”. Also, today we get into a new proposal that's been floated by a Clinton campaign adviser. I don't want to give it away, you can read about it below and listen to us discuss it in the episode. Hint: Social Security isn't working out all that well (neither are 401ks), so let's start another government program to save retirement. And we'll make employers contribute money to it. Here are the links to today's show topics: Millennials Don't Buy the Old-Fashioned Way A Good Retirement Plan Is Still Impossible Dispatch from Retirement (one year in) As always, we appreciate your comments and suggestions for things you'd like to hear us talk about (or complain about) in future episodes.

Today we're back to your regular format. A veritable hodge-podge of news from the world of finance. Yes, we could've spent another whole episode discussing the volatility of the markets, but we figured there are plenty of other places you can go to hear all about that. And no one really has any answers when ... Keep Reading