You know about the underwriting process for life insurance, but you might be wondering exactly how it works and how long it should take.

In this episode I’ll explain what happens as soon as you sign the application, what an underwriter is looking for, and why honesty is absolutely your best policy throughout the process.

I’ll also share why underwriting can take longer than expected, but it’s nothing to be afraid of.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• How bloated medical facilities can set back underwriting for weeks. (1:54)
• Accelerated vs. Full Underwriting: How they actually differ, and why either method will be thorough. (3:15)
• What to do if you can’t remember essential details of your medical history. (5:19)
• Surprising volume of information your underwriter can see about you. (6:14)
• Why the insurance company cares about your speeding tickets. (7:07)
• Little-known company, started in 1902, and how it exerts a big impact on your insurance premium. (7:37)
• Do you have to be in perfect health to get life insurance? The answer might surprise you. (9:26)
• Why honesty is the ONLY policy if you want to be approved for life insurance. (10:34) 

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

We’ve talked about how a Whole Life policy can “MEC,” but the language around what makes this possible can be confusing.

So I’m here to help with more information about the biggest risk to existing policies later becoming Modified Endowment Contracts. I’ll also explain how knowing the way these policies can go wrong helps me build strong policies from the start.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• What a “material change in policy benefits” really means, and how it triggers re-testing for MEC. (0:58)
• Why dropping a term rider sooner than you planned can be a costly mistake. (1:43)
• “Overwhelm” reason to carefully watch your policy, even if you trust your agent. (5:23) 
• How the “10/90” structure became popular with agents, and why I avoid it like the plague. (6:38)
• Counterintuitive reason you should want a higher base premium. (9:38)
• Nelson Nash’s “anti-fancy” way to build policies. (10:29)
• The case for minimal term riders. (14:20)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

You’ve heard that a Whole Life policy can “MEC.” But what does that even mean? And what are the real-life consequences if your policy becomes a Modified Endowment Contract?

The consequences are real and undesirable. So in this episode I’ll explain what a MEC is: where it came from, how it happens, and what you can do to avoid it.

I’ll also help put your mind at ease about what to do if it ever happens to you. Because even though it isn’t ideal, it doesn’t have to ruin you. 

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• How TAMRA, an innocent-sounding act of congress, changed the landscape of Whole Life insurance. (0:49)
• What the “Seven Pay Test” is, and how it shapes the early years of your policy. (1:38)
• Little-known way your policy could MEC even if you’ve had it more than seven years. (2:45)
• MEC Demystified: What actually happens if your policy becomes a MEC. (3:12)
• Why Paid Up Additions riders exist, and the trouble they can cause you if they aren’t carefully monitored. (3:42)
• Surprising reason to keep your policy if it becomes a MEC. (9:36)
• How overzealous agents could set you up for tax headaches. (10:23)
• Safeguards some companies use to rescue you from accidentally making your policy a MEC. (11:59)
• Why transferring your account value from a MEC policy to start a new policy is a terrible idea. (13:05) 

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

You know you’ll need to go through the underwriting process for Whole Life insurance so you can set up your Infinite Banking system, and you’re wondering: “How long will this take?”

In this episode I’ll explain how long it usually takes, and why it sometimes takes longer. I’ll also tell you what to expect in underwriting and share a real-world example of a case that took longer than usual, and the harmless reasons why.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• How long underwriting typically takes. (1:04)
• Two common things that prompt additional requirements for underwriting, and makes the process longer. (1:51)
• Why it’s best to schedule a morning appointment with the exam company. (2:07)
• Chilling effect on your policy if you’re dishonest when answering medical questions. (3:53)
• Surprising way nicotine can “gum” up your rate. (4:34)
• Why an occasional cigar doesn’t automatically send your health rating up in smoke. (5:14)
• What underwriters are really looking for when they order medical records. (7:48)
• How medications can affect your application for better or worse. (13:32)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

You’re ready to start Infinite Banking and you want to replace or cancel existing life insurance contracts so your resources can go toward your new policy. Be careful! Some contracts have a provision that will leave you with just a fraction of the money you’ve put into the policy if you walk away.

I’m talking about surrender charges. And in this episode I’ll explain what they are, how they work, and how to navigate if your policy has one.

I’ll also explain which policies are most likely and least likely to have these charges.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• What to consider before canceling a policy so you don’t make a costly mistake you can’t fix. (1:04)
• Canceled a Whole Life policy and didn’t get back every penny you put in? It’s not a surrender charge: here’s what happened. (3:47)
• Sneaky way IULs mask their unsuitability for Infinite Banking. (6:46)
• Want to get out of an IUL? Where to find the surrender charge schedule so you know what to expect. (9:21)
• Surprising real-life time when replacing a Whole Life policy made sense. (10:24)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

You already know IBC can help you have a predictable income stream in retirement, but you might be wondering if there’s even more you could do to brace for the uncertainty of your golden years.

This episode is for you because I’ll explain how to set up a product that works like a personal pension, how it works, and why now could be the absolute best time to consider this type of vehicle.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• Overlooked certainty (as sure as death and taxes) that will crush your standard of living if you’re unprepared. (1:30)
• How the government’s refusal to tackle the deficit threatens your freedom and wealth. (2:09) 
• “Inevitable” reason the government will lower interest rates, and what it means for financial and insurance products when they do. (4:03)
• Why now might be the best opportunity for the rest of your life to acquire this financial vehicle. (6:14)
• How to create a “DIY pension.” (9:50)
• Unprecedented way–not offered by most companies–to prepare yourself for long term care needs. (10:39)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

A key benefit of Infinite Banking is the ability to borrow against the cash value in a Whole Life insurance policy. So you might be wondering: “Does it have to be specially built, or will any Whole Life policy work?”

This is a great question because it helps us appreciate the difference between something that technically works and something that works for you the best it possibly can.

In this episode, I’ll explain why it’s best to start with a Whole Life insurance policy specifically structured for IBC, when your interest is in creating a family banking system. I’ll also share when it makes sense to use your existing Whole Life policy, even though you started it before you knew what Infinite Banking was.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• Essential provision your Whole Life policy must have if you’re using it for IBC. (1:34)
• Why the actions you take matter more than compound interest. (2:19)
• Counterintuitive reason to repay yourself with more interest than the insurance company charges. (2:59)
• 3 ways your life insurance company can accept funds, and how it affects the extra interest you pay yourself on your loans. (4:28)
• Should you replace your traditional whole life policy? Here’s when it makes sense to keep it. (11:07)
• Ideal way to start IBC, so you can have cash value available sooner. (11:32)
• Why you shouldn’t use an IUL for Infinite Banking. (13:30)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

It’s time to bust another myth about Infinite Banking.

This time I’m tackling the mistaken idea that borrowing against your life insurance policy makes you lose money. I’ll explain where the confusion comes from, and the truth about IBC and borrowing.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• Surprising source of IBC confusion. (1:15)
• IBC loans “de-mystified.” What actually happens when you take a policy loan. (1:45)
• Unique advantages to borrowing against your policy cash value, instead of from a bank. (2:04)
• Why life insurance loans are the most efficient type of loan. (3:59)
• 3 concerns that fuel confusion about life insurance loans. (5:00)
• Beware! Risks that actually could wreck your policy. (8:54)
• Bank Loans and Credit vs. Policy loans. The clear-cut winner. (12:27)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

Some people think Infinite Banking is only for retirement planning. But while IBC is wonderful in retirement, it’s a mistake to think it can only help you later in life.

In this episode, I’ll explain the multitude of ways IBC can help you plan in all stages, not just retirement.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• Key features of IBC and common pitfalls to avoid. (2:41)
• Unbelievable flexibility of IBC policy loans. (3:16)
• How IBC benefits entrepreneurs without making them debt slaves to banks. (5:28)
• Why you shouldn’t borrow against your policy too often, even though you can. (6:24)
• How to make your emergency fund work harder, without losing access to funds when you need them most. (7:26)
• Distinguished way to help your kids or grandchildren with college expenses, and it doesn’t hurt their FAFSA. (8:03)
• The simple move that smashes high-interest debt with low-stress rate and payment terms you choose. (9:00)
• IBC’s “Carpe Diem” secret to capture time-sensitive opportunities — even in real estate. (10:12)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)

I’ve shared several details before about how I discovered IBC and started advising other people. But if you’ve ever wanted to know more, then you’ll love this episode.

That’s because I’m sharing my recent appearance on the Infinite Banking Initiative podcast from the Nelson Nash Institute. And it is all about how I found IBC, and the impact it has on me and my clients.

This is the most-detailed account I’ve shared about my journey from entrepreneur to IBC, and the bumps and detours I took along the way.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• The shocking job offer (right after I bombed an interview) that changed my life. (8:56)
• How 2008 shattered my perceptions and nearly forced me out of advising for good. (10:30)
• Random way I met my mentor, and the mindblowing 1-hour meeting that sold me on IBC. (14:18)
• My Raw reaction to Becoming Your Own Banker — and the “forbidden” word it embraced, but Wall Street couldn’t handle. (19:49)
• What going “all in” on IBC really means — and how 9 policies power my financial life. (21:24)
• Real-life examples of how far IBC’s flexibility can take you. (27:19)
• The one thing I’d change about my IBC journey, if I could. (29:31)
• Why it matters whether your advisor has a mentor. (31:16)
• The biggest myth about IBC — and why it melts under scrutiny. (33:52)

Reach out to me:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-laroque-lacp-b569509

Infinite Banking Mastery (infinitebankingnorthwest.com)