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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
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
Industry Designations: What Are They? Do They Matter? Do Some Matter More?
The financial services and insurance industries are filled with initials: CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CFA®, CPA, RFC®, CIC, LUTCF, and many others. To consumers, the alphabet soup can sometimes feel confusing or even overwhelming. So what are industry designations? Do they matter? And do some matter more than others? The answer is nuanced. Designations vs. Licenses First, it is important to understand the difference between a professional license and a professional designation. A lice
David H. Kinder
May 288 min read
Life Insurance Is Like Baking Soda: More Uses Than You Think
When most people hear the phrase “life insurance,” they think of death benefits. Likewise, when they think of baking soda, they picture cookies. But both life insurance and baking soda are far more versatile than most people realize. From kitchens to boardrooms, from recipes to retirement, these two humble tools have an uncanny resemblance in their range of unexpected and powerful uses. 1. The Obvious Purpose: What Everyone Knows Baking Soda: It Makes Things Rise It’s a leave
David H. Kinder
May 243 min read
The Kyle Busch Pacific Life Case: A Painful Reminder About What Life Insurance Is Really For
The recent lawsuit involving NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and Pacific Life has become one of the most discussed life insurance stories in the country. According to public reports, Kyle and Samantha Busch alleged that they were sold Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policies using projections and expectations that ultimately did not perform as they believed had been represented. The lawsuit reportedly involved substantial premiums, aggressive policy illustrations, and concerns surrou
David H. Kinder
May 215 min read
What Building a Business Owner Consulting Program Taught Me About Professional Education
Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to study under some exceptional educational programs, learn from outstanding professionals, and spend nearly two decades refining how I communicate complex planning concepts to clients and other advisors. What I never expected was to eventually be asked by an established professional industry association to help develop and evolve a business-owner consulting designation program of its own. What began as a curriculum
David H. Kinder
May 1110 min read
Myth #19: “Borrowing Your Own Money” — And the Strategic Truth Business Owners Need to Understand
One of the most common—and misleading—statements about cash value life insurance is this: “Why would you borrow your own money and pay interest on it?” It sounds logical. It feels intuitive.And it’s completely wrong. If you misunderstand this concept, you’ll dismiss a strategy that—when used properly—can be one of the most efficient ways to access capital without disrupting long-term planning. Let’s clarify what’s actually happening. You Are Not Borrowing Your Own Money When
David H. Kinder
Apr 24 min read
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