The Money Advantage Podcast

The Money Advantage Podcast


Becoming Your Own Banker, Part 19: The Retirement Trap

December 26, 2023

Prepare to see retirement in a new light as we dissect the traditional financial paradigm and question the perceived desirability of retirement. We promise to challenge your current beliefs and open your eyes to the pitfalls of relying solely on government plans for a secure financial future, and why we call it the retirement trap. Join us as we scrutinize Nelson Nash's Infinite Banking Concept as we continue reviewing Becoming Your Own Banker, a game-changing perspective on personal finance control.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeYJuNTZBuU

We'll unpack Nash's audacious prediction - the demise of social security, and its potential propping up using reserves like private pension plans. Exploring the history and evolution of social security since 1935, we'll reveal how this system has been a crutch for failing social programs. Uncover the importance of being in charge of your own finances, countering the fear of running out of money. 

Embrace a fresh perspective on retirement, replacing it with the concept of ownership. Listen in as we encourage continuous work and service to others, all while honing your skills. Learn how to break free from the government's influence on your income and escape the retirement trap it creates. We'll show you how to transform your life and business into something you love, by seizing control of your finances. Tune in, and let's together model successful people, reflecting on the difference between being controlled and being in control.

Join us as we continue the series through Nelson Nash's work, Becoming Your Own Banker, to discuss the pitfalls of social security, pensions, retirement, and why you are better off without them.

Rethinking Retirement as a Financial GoalWhat is the Retirement Trap?Government-Sponsored Retirement Traps AccountsHow Can You Avoid the Retirement Trap?The Value of OwnershipBook a Strategy Call

Rethinking Retirement as a Financial Goal

[06:50] “[Nelson] talks about how the American people are programmed both willingly and unwillingly.”

What we mean by this is that we are constantly being bombarded with information, advertisements, and opinions that influence our worldview, both intentionally and unintentionally. We absorb so much about every conceivable topic, and the way most people view retirement is no different. Narratives are being fed to us about the “right” way to retire. The question is, are these ideas really helpful? And do they actually serve your personal goals for your money? 

We want to urge you to rethink your worldview, even if your ultimate conclusion stays the same. Because without that examination, how can you know that you have all the information you need to make the best possible decision for you? 

So today, we’re looking at the typical worldview of retirement, and asking the question: Is retirement what you should be striving for? 

What is the Retirement Trap?

Retirement, and the concept of Social Security, is a socialist idea. It requires you to give up some financial control now by paying into the system so that in the future the government can supply what you need. This is the very zoomed-out perspective of the situation, but it begs the question: How much can you rely on the government to take care of me, and why should you?

The earliest and simplest form of retirement was created as a way to take care of people who lived well beyond the life expectancy of the time because people generally worked their entire lives. In essence, this system was only meant to take care of those outliers that lived beyond life expectancy and perhaps couldn’t work. Now, life expectancy far exceeds age 65 or 70, and it’s a system we still implement. 

The problem is that when you relinquish control of your future earnings to the government, you have to trust them to provide. They’re in control, and your income is at their mercy unless you can otherwise supplement it. It’s not a reliable or sustainable way to live.

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