I Sell Certainty – November 2023

I haven’t written a newsletter since June 8th, when I wrote my “best newsletter ever,” having just closed on a dreamy cottage on a mountain in Tennessee that also happened to have a turnkey, 5-star BNB on it.

While that was a message full of cheer, much has changed globally since then.

Israel is engaged in a war for its survival, the conflict in Ukraine rages on, and Iran and other psychopathic religious fascists threaten our way of life, from the Mideast to our own shores and even our own cities and college campuses. Many people I hear from speak about not if China invades Taiwan, but when.

So, unfortunately, this newsletter is not celebratory. At least I’ll attempt to keep it brief.

There are two messages here. The first is not financial. As great as we have it as United States citizens, as much as we love to focus on football or our kids’ activities, our finances, or whatever it is we love, it doesn’t have to last. Anything can happen, whether it’s an illness or an act of violence, or a loss of world dominance and power. We should celebrate our lives, hug our kids, but also, be willing to stand for something and heaven forbid, do something uncomfortable or inconvenient.

If we don’t stand for principles, and we just allow angry youth, fringe minority groups or the useful idiots in academia or the media control the conversation, then what’s left to defend? I’ve heard it time and time again: “I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t say or do anything, because it didn’t seem to affect me.” By the time it does, it’s too late. Apathy just might kill our democracy.

The second message is financial. Has there ever been more evidence that none of us have any idea what is really going to happen? The market could go up 30% in 2024, or it might crash. We might be in a World War by the time I write another newsletter. Covid-19 version 2 or 25 might be be out with cities trying to force lock-downs (resist!). We don’t even know if our current president up for reelection will run next year or even be alive, for that matter. His greatest opponent may be in prison. I can't believe I'm talking about the U.S.

There is more uncertainty than ever. The traditional 401(k), 403(b) and 457 model for funding retirement is fatally flawed and people know it or sense it.

I just spoke with a friend the other day who gave me three different retirement scenarios he’s planning around; one with a 3% average annual portfolio return, one with 8%, and one with 10%. That’s a heck of a range! That’s like saying Plan A is to be rich, Plan B is to be middle class, and Plan C is to be poor, with no idea which plan is going to be your plan. It’s all up to the Government and fate.

I sell certainty. Cash value life insurance and annuities provide you with guarantees, long-term care coverage, inflation protection, tax-free growth and distribution is structured and used correctly, and FLEXIBILITY – to handle whatever it is that comes your way! It is not a model based on hope. Even so, it doesn’t preclude you from dabbling or even going big (at the right time) in that other system. You can do both!