All Forum Posts by: Matt Ruttenberg

Completely agree!  I was once targeted to be recruited and they have Super Bowl sized rings with their income level on there.  I laughed and walked away.  Very commission centric company.

I wouldn't call IUL's a scam.  There are a few companies that work off of the multi-level marketing business model (World Financial Group for one), but scam wouldn't be the definition.  If it is properly designed, it's a great tool and "piece of the pie".  

I wouldn't use this if you simply need life insurance because you'd want to prioritize other financial needs first.  But again, a piece of the pie.

There are many groups out there that have the opinion it's a scam, but that comes down to the agent and how it's sold to you.  Discuss with multiple agents, planners, and advisors before making a decision.

@Gina Stern

Cape Coral. It was years ago… just adding it to my portfolio.

Investment Info:

Single-family residence other investment.

Purchase price: $113,500
Cash invested: $40,000
Sale price: $275,000

Purchased foreclosure as a live in flip. Sold at substantial profit.

Investment Info:

Condo buy & hold investment near Kent State University for college students. Rented by the room.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

I purchased it while I was in college and held onto it.

How did you finance this deal?

Conventional. Had leases in hand to help with DTI.

@David Smith

Yes, this is common these days in business transactions and buy/sell agreements.  I've done this a few times for clients.  Usually I've seen it when a business is being purchased, and not just the property though.

@Zackary Thomas

Thats great you're looking into it early and focused on growth wealth! Using a WL policy is a long term strategy for sure, and best if you can start with $500 or more monthly in my opinion for the policy to make sense to fund REI.

When just starting out, there are other priorities in my opinion to focus on to build up a base, like emergency fund, payoff debt, budgeting, etc.  Also making sure that you have enough cash flow coming in is vital.

Once those are "checked off", I would start with funding a Roth IRA or other retirement accounts before doing a WL policy. It's a piece of the pie, but shouldn't be the first piece IMO.

@Luis Sosa

I think you have a pretty good concept in your mind.  Start with a term policy with a company that has good conversion options, and then convert as you build your wealth.  

However, the concept of using WL or IUL is that isn't the "money maker" when you mentioned the passive dividends.  The investment outside of the policy is where you'll build your wealth.  

Basically, use the policy to buy other assets, then you can use the policy (if designed properly) to supplement retirement when you're done obtaining assets.  And as others have already stated, I wouldn't focus on the policy as the investment, just a means to grow and obtain other assets.

They are longer term strategies, but can be a good "piece of the pie".

@Yuri Shamsin

I’ve done this with clients who have bought businesses or commercial RE transactions. It seems to be something the banks are moving towards over the last 10 years or so.

If you want to move to WL from your term, you might want to do it as a supplement of the term because the concept of “infinite banking” is to keep the death benefit as low as possible to promote cash value growth.

At the same time, since you’re “squashing” the death benefit in the WL, you may still need a certain amount of coverage for your family if you pass.

I look at the death benefit in the “infinite banking” scenario as an ancillary bonus because the growth of the cash is the primary goal. But you can still layer it with term.

Let me know if you’d like to see how the numbers turn out.

@Magdaleno Garcia

These can be great tools, but more of a long term play.  You're not tied to using Whole Life, you can also use an Indexed Universal Life policy, which gives you a little more flexibility, but also a little uncertainty since it's tied to the markets.  But, the idea is that the real money maker is outside of the policy in what you invest in.

The concept is, when designed properly, is to get the death benefit as low as possible in order to lower in the internal costs.  This will allow for better cash value growth.

As it grows, you're able to take loans against the policy and use for basically anything you like. The concept with REI is to use it for the down payment in the early years, and grow to full purchases as it builds value.

The best technique is to use it similar to a "fix and flip" loan and then refi into a long term loan and pay off the loan inside the policy.  Wash, rinse, repeat.

I've seen many policies designed improperly, so be careful who you end up speaking with.