What if the system everyone told you to trust — including banks and corporations — all quietly relied on Whole Life Insurance behind the scenes?

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden Zubal addresses the critics head-on and breaks down what banks know that most people don’t.

He reveals why Whole Life Insurance isn’t a scam, isn’t an investment — and why the wealthy, institutions, and corporations have used it for generations as the foundation of long-term financial control.

You’ll learn:
 ✅ The real purpose of Whole Life and why Family Banking is about control, not returns
✅ The top four criticisms — and what people are missing when they make them
✅ How banks and corporations quietly use this same strategy
✅ The truth about cash value growth, policy loans, and liquidity

If you’ve ever wondered why Whole Life gets such a bad rap — or whether it could actually fit into your plan — this episode brings the clarity you’ve been looking for.

💬 Key Quote:

“The people criticizing Whole Life usually don’t understand it — and the people using it don’t need to defend it.”

🎙️ Next Week:
Jaden breaks down how to actually design your own Family Bank — what to include, what to avoid, and how to make sure it fits your goals.

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Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Most people never realize they’re paying rent on their own money.

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden Zubal explains how the modern banking system actually works — why banks can lend out nearly ten times what you deposit, and how that means your money is working hard… just not for you.

You’ll learn how fractional-reserve banking creates money through credit, why banks always win inside their own system, and how you can start thinking like a bank — using structure, control, and flow to move from renting your financial life to owning it.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How the Federal Reserve and fractional-reserve banking really work
• Why banks can lend out $1,000 for every $100 you deposit
• What it truly means to “rent” your financial life
• How the wealthy mirror bank systems to build lasting control
• The Four Pillars of Wealth — structure, control, cash flow, and movement
• How to start shifting from renter → owner of your own financial system

🔑 Key takeaways:

“Your money is working hard — just not for you.”
 “The moment you start asking permission to use your own money, you’ve stopped owning it.”
 “You don’t have to fight the banks — you just have to stop playing their game.”

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Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

In this bonus episode of Before the Returns, I share a raw story about a recent failure — one that cost me thousands of dollars but taught me some powerful lessons about humility, responsibility, and focus.

I walk through a real estate rehab project gone wrong, what I did that caused the problem, how I fixed it, and why it became a reminder to “do what you’re good at and hire the right people for the rest.”

This isn’t a polished success story — it’s a moment between the roots, where lessons are still unfolding.

🎧 Short, real, and honest — because building wealth isn’t always clean or linear.

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

The treadmill gets more done than your bank account — and here’s why.

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden Zubal explores the difference between money that moves and money that works. Because just like running on a treadmill, constant motion doesn’t always mean progress.

You’ll learn how to identify when your money is simply cycling in and out — giving the illusion of activity — versus when it’s truly building momentum toward freedom.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The “Treadmill Effect” — why activity isn’t the same as progress
• The difference between motion and momentum
• How to give every dollar a job — turning income into working capital
• Why investing in yourself often outperforms outside investments
• How the Four Pillars of Wealth (structure, control, cash flow, and movement) help you measure true progress

🔑 Key takeaway:

“Working money serves you. Busy money owns you.”
 “Busy money keeps you tired. Working money keeps you free.”

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Most people think about money in a straight line: earn it, spend it, save what’s left.
 Wealthy families think differently — they think in circles.

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden Zubal reveals one of the biggest secrets behind how the wealthy build wealth faster: they never let their money rest.

You’ll hear how Elon Musk used leverage to buy Twitter without selling Tesla stock — a perfect example of keeping money in motion. And you’ll see how average families are already using a similar concept through home equity loans, margin lines, and credit — just in a way that benefits the bank instead of them.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “still money” quietly loses power
• How velocity — not just growth — accelerates wealth
• Why even everyday borrowing mirrors what the wealthy do
• The difference between using leverage and losing control
• How structure, control, cash flow, and movement tie together to create lasting wealth

🔑 Key takeaway:

“You don’t need more money — you need more movement.”
 “Wealthy families don’t chase returns — they build velocity and control.”

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

We love to track net worth — but here’s the problem: you can’t spend it.

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden Zubal breaks down why cash flow is the real measure of financial freedom, and how targeting net worth can keep you stuck chasing numbers instead of living your purpose.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why growing net worth doesn’t always lead to more freedom
• The mindset shift from “owning more” to “accessing more”
• How cash flow creates purpose and flexibility
• The dangers of lifestyle creep — and how to stop it
• Why renting can sometimes be the smarter move for your goals
• The role of systems and structure in building lasting wealth

Jaden also shares a real client example that reveals how focusing on income and flow — not just assets — can accelerate your ability to live the life you actually want.

🔑 Key takeaway:
Wealth isn’t about how much you have — it’s about how much you can control and use.
Cash flow is what keeps money alive and working for you.

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Is buying a home always the ultimate financial milestone—or does renting sometimes make more sense?

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden Zubal breaks down the numbers and the emotions behind one of the most common money debates: renting versus buying. Using a real Utah example, we compare a 10-year renting scenario with buying the same home—and then add a third option: renting while investing the difference.

Episode Supporting Materials - https://bit.ly/4pLcoUB

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why the “American Dream” of homeownership became so ingrained in our culture
• The real 10-year costs of renting vs. buying a $750,000 home
• How equity growth changes the math for buyers
• Why a disciplined renter who invests the difference can actually come out ahead
• The broader lesson: success isn’t about rent or buy—it’s about the structure around your money

🔑 Quick takeaway: The house itself won’t make you wealthy. The structure you build around your money will.

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Two of America’s wealthiest men died with fortunes worth billions in today’s dollars. Yet within just a few generations, one family’s money was gone—while the other’s wealth still supports over 200 heirs a century later.

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden Zubal unpacks the stories of Cornelius Vanderbilt and John D. Rockefeller to reveal why structure matters more than returns. You’ll learn:

• How the Vanderbilt fortune evaporated in less than 100 years
• The systems Rockefeller created that still impact families and philanthropy today
• Simple steps you can take to ensure your own wealth lasts beyond you

Wealth without structure fails. Wealth with structure lasts.

📌 Subscribe and review the show to help us share this message of building lasting legacy!

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Money isn’t the goal—it’s the tool. Before the Returns is a short, impactful podcast about building wealth with purpose, creating legacy, and aligning your financial decisions with your values.

In this trailer, host Jaden Zubal shares what you can expect from the show: real stories, timeless lessons, and practical steps you can apply right now to secure your financial future.

🔔 Subscribe today so you don’t miss the weekly episodes on how to build wealth that lasts.

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Most people start their wealth journey asking, “How much can I earn? How fast can I grow my money?” But those questions can trap you in short-sighted decisions that keep you broke instead of building lasting wealth.

In this kickoff episode of Before the Returns, Wealth Strategist Jaden Zubal explains why chasing returns alone won’t get you where you want to go. Instead, you’ll learn how to build financial “roots” first—creating the security, freedom, and alignment with your values and legacy that make wealth truly meaningful.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “all the right things” but still not building the financial life you want, this episode is your reset.

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: [email protected]

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.