2025

Principal Storyteller and Analyst:

Paul Grant Truesdell, J.D., AIF, CLU, ChFC, RFC
Founder & CEO of The Truesdell Companies
The Truesdell Professional Building
200 NW 52nd Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34482
352-612-1000 - Local
212-433-2525 - New York

Truesdell Wealth, Inc. 
https://truesdellwealth.com

The Truesdell Companies
https://truesdell.net

The Truesdell Companies was a proud sponsor of the Eirinn Abu benefit concert for Tunnel to Towers, on February 28th at the Circle Square arena in Ocala, Florida. For more information, visit: https://eirinnabu.com or https://eirinnabu.com/event/5760795/695871447/eirinn-abu-and-tunnel-to-towers-foundation-concert

Events

Essential Florida Estate Documents
Casual Conversations
Stonewater – Stone Creek - Ocala 
April 25 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text:  352-612-1000

Retirement Income: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
Casual Conversations
Stonewater – Stone Creek - Ocala 
March 9 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text:  352-612-1000

Single or With Dependent Spouse
Casual Conversations
May 16 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text:  352-612-1000

The Truesdell Military Procurement Portfolio
Casual Conversations
May 23 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text:  352-612-1000

June & July – A Financial Series in Oak Run – Ocala, Florida

Disclaimer

You are listening to the Paul Truesdell Podcast, sponsored by Truesdell Wealth and the other Truesdell Companies. Note. Due to our extensive holdings and our clients, always assume that we have a position in all companies discussed and that a conflict of interest exists. The information presented is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Truesdell Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor.

Rough Show Notes
Alright, I’m going to begin calmly. You’ve got nothing to worry about—for now. I’m going to use my indoor voice. I’m going to speak clearly, rationally, and maybe even gently. We’re going to ease into this together like a warm bath. Because what I’m about to talk about deserves your full attention. It deserves respect. It deserves clarity.
But I want you to hear me now—and hear me real good: by the time we’re done, things are gonna get a little… heated.
Because this isn’t just another polite conversation. This isn’t fluff. This is real life, real truth, and real damage being done—quietly, daily, and systematically.
So stay with me. Hold on tight. Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle.
Because I promise—this ride may start slow…
…but it’s going to end with a boom.
And when that boom hits, you’ll either wake up, stand up, or step aside.
Are you ready? Let’s rock and roll.
What Is a Statin?
A statin is a class of medication used primarily to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. More specifically:

1. It inhibits an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a key role in the body’s production of cholesterol.
2. Statins reduce LDL (low-density lipoprotein)—often called “bad cholesterol.”
3. They also modestly raise HDL (high-density lipoprotein)—the “good cholesterol.”
4. They reduce triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.
Popular statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pravastatin (Pravachol).
Statins have been heralded as wonder drugs by many in the medical community—particularly for patients with a history of heart attack, stroke, or diagnosed cardiovascular disease. That’s called “secondary prevention,” and in those cases, the evidence of benefit is strong.
But Here’s the Rub: Overprescription and Risk in Retirees
Now we shift gears. This is where I get fired up with you.
1. Primary prevention is the slippery slope. Many retirees are being placed on statins not because they had a heart attack or stroke, but because their cholesterol is a bit high or they have a family history. The problem? The evidence supporting statin use for primary prevention—especially in people over 75—is weak to mixed at best.
2. Side effects are real. These aren’t sugar pills. Common issues include:
   - Muscle pain or weakness
   - Fatigue
   - Brain fog or memory issues
   - Liver enzyme elevations
   - Blood sugar spikes (they can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes)
   Some patients don’t even realize the statin is causing their sluggishness or aches until they stop taking it.
3. Polypharmacy in retirement is out of control. Many older adults are already taking five or more medications. Throwing in a statin “just in case” often reflects protocol-based medicine, not individualized care. It’s CYA medicine—cover your anatomy—not because it’s necessarily the best course.
4. Cholesterol isn’t the only metric that matters. In fact, recent studies have shown that high LDL cholesterol in older adults is not clearly associated with increased mortality. What is strongly associated? Inflammation, insulin resistance, poor diet, stress, and lack of mobility.
What’s Driving This?
Let’s be blunt.
- Medical Guidelines Are Conservative by Nature. They’re built for averages, not individuals. The American College of Cardiology recommends statins for people with certain risk scores, but those scores don’t consider real-world nuance—like whether someone is 78 and walks five miles a day, eats a Mediterranean diet, and has perfect blood sugar.
- Pharmaceutical Marketing Is Powerful. Drug reps love statins. They’re a long-term revenue stream. Doctors are incentivized—whether consciously or not—to keep prescribing them. It’s the default setting.
- Liability Medicine. It’s “safe” to prescribe a statin. If something happens and a patient wasn’t on one, there could be litigation. That’s part of the dark reality behind overprescription.
What Should Retirees Ask Their Doctors?
Here’s how I advise people to take back control:
1. Ask: “Am I taking this for primary or secondary prevention?” If it’s primary, challenge the necessity.
2. Request a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. This test gives a more accurate picture of actual heart disease risk than cholesterol numbers alone.
3. Ask about lifestyle-based alternatives. Sometimes a change in diet and movement patterns can lower cholesterol naturally.
4. Don’t accept fear-based pressure. You’re not a statistic. You’re an individual with unique variables.
My Bottom Line
Statins have their place. But too many retirees are being treated based on outdated, generalized metrics rather than personal, data-driven analysis. The decision to take a statin should never be automatic. It should be strategic, based on real benefit—not fear.
And I’ll add this: If you’re going to treat something as nuanced as cardiovascular health with a pill, you better be just as serious about testing your inflammation markers (CRP), glucose control (A1C), and nutrient levels (like magnesium and CoQ10, which statins deplete).
The real risk isn’t always in your bloodstream. It’s in how you’re being treated like a billing code rather than a person.
You ever notice how doctors don’t practice medicine anymore? Nope. Now they practice protocol. Because heaven forbid a doctor actually thinks—oh no, can't have that! Gotta follow the flowchart. If it’s on page 37 of the insurance company’s pre-authorization manual, well then by God, that’s your treatment. Doesn’t matter if you’re a 95-year-old nun or a 42-year-old linebacker—everyone gets the same script.
Insurance companies love protocols. Why? Because they sound scientific, authoritative, and most importantly—cheap. It’s medicine by spreadsheet. Got high cholesterol? Statin. Cough? Z-Pak. A hangnail and a headache? MRI and may...