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Why this blog?
"A lie can be told in one sentence. The truth requires an entire chapter."
A lie fits in one sentence:
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“You’ll be fine.”
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“This is a great return.”
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“Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Simple. Clean. Comfortable.
But the truth?
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The truth takes work.
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The truth needs math.
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It needs time.
It needs someone willing to slow down long enough to actually prove what’s happening.
Because real financial truth isn’t a slogan—it’s something you can see, test, and walk through step by step.
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A Higher Level of Thinking and Advice: Let's Talk About Biases
One of the most common questions consumers are encouraged to ask financial advisors is: "Are you a fiduciary?" It is not a bad question. But it is not enough. In recent years, the word fiduciary has become one of the most powerful marketing terms in financial services. Consumers are often led to believe that if an advisor claims fiduciary status, they are somehow free from conflicts, preferences, philosophies, or personal biases. That simply is not true. In my opinion, there
David H. Kinder
Jun 208 min read
PSA for Financial Advisors: The Unauthorized Practice of Law Is Closer Than You Think
Where “Helping the Client” Can Turn Into a Legal Problem There’s a growing push in our industry: Advisors are being encouraged to “add estate planning” using software platforms, turnkey systems, and white-labeled solutions. It sounds like a natural evolution: Serve clients more holistically Strengthen relationships Add a new revenue stream And to be clear— estate planning absolutely belongs in the advisor’s world. But here’s the problem: Estate planning and drafting legal doc
David H. Kinder
Mar 228 min read
Myth #1: "The Life Insurance Company Keeps My Cash Values When I Die"
First, I’m going to start with a rant and then show some understanding. The training in the life insurance profession is severely lacking, and I don’t just mean selling skills to help agents be successful. In my first agency, we had product training every Monday morning from 9am to 11am. However, this was not GOOD product training. We learned WHAT we could do with the company’s products, but not WHY someone would want to do it. Why would someone WANT to spend $10,000 a
David H. Kinder
Sep 22, 20187 min read
The Economic Value of a Stay-at-Home Parent: What Is the Household Really Worth?
When we measure a family's financial well-being, income is only part of the equation. The work performed without a paycheck deserves consideration, too. When discussing the financial contributions of a household, we naturally focus on the people who earn an income. We consider salaries, benefits, retirement savings, and other financial resources. But what about the person who manages the household, raises the children, prepares meals, coordinates appointments, and handles cou
David H. Kinder
Oct 204 min read
Competing Opinions vs. Professional Collaboration: They Are Not the Same Thing
Clients should make informed financial decisions. That often means involving more than one professional. A business owner or family may have an insurance professional, CPA, attorney, banker, benefits consultant, investment professional, and other specialists involved in different parts of their financial life. I welcome that kind of professional collaboration. But professional collaboration is very different from seeking a competing opinion from someone who would rather repla
David H. Kinder
Sep 117 min read
Why Second Opinions Are Practically Worthless
We are frequently told to “get a second opinion.” It sounds prudent. Before making an important financial decision, have another professional look at it. Before buying a significant insurance policy, ask someone else what they think. Before implementing an estate, retirement, tax, investment, or business planning strategy, get another set of eyes on it. There is only one problem. A second opinion is practically worthless unless the person giving it has sufficient knowledge an
David H. Kinder
Aug 209 min read
Can an Annuity Be a Good Investment Inside an IRA? Yes—but Not for the Tax Deferral
Search the internet for information about annuities inside IRAs, and you are likely to encounter some version of this warning: “Never put an annuity inside an IRA because the IRA is already tax-deferred.” There is an important truth buried in that statement. There is also an important misunderstanding. An annuity purchased inside an IRA, 401(k), or other tax-qualified retirement plan generally provides no additional income-tax deferral beyond what the retirement account alrea
David H. Kinder
Aug 185 min read
What IS An Investment?
Just because you spend money on something valuable doesn’t mean you’ve made an investment. We hear the word investment everywhere. A home is an investment. A car is an investment. A college education is an investment. A wedding is an investment. A new kitchen is an investment. Even an advertisement for wedding liability insurance recently began with the statement: “Your wedding is one of life’s biggest investments.” But is it? A wedding may be one of the most important events
David H. Kinder
Aug 107 min read
Five Life Insurance Warnings Every Consumer Should Understand
The purpose of this article is not to discourage anyone from purchasing life insurance. In fact, I believe permanent life insurance can be one of the most powerful financial tools available when it is properly designed, properly funded, properly managed, and most importantly properly understood with proper assumptions. One of the most important jobs financial professionals (should) have is managing expectations. I'm always on the conservative side of how I explain things. I w
David H. Kinder
Jul 15 min read
Fill the Box or Pay the Curve: Five Stories Every Life Insurance Owner Should Understand
A recent television news story caught my attention. An 82-year-old woman discovered that after paying premiums on her life insurance policy for more than twenty years, her coverage had lapsed. According to the report, the premium requirement had increased, a notice was allegedly mailed, the family says they never received it, and the policy ultimately terminated. The story was emotional. It was frustrating. And unfortunately, it wasn't unique. At nearly the same time, I was r
David H. Kinder
Jun 176 min read
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