Most people read to check off a list. Mary Jo reads to implement — and The Noticer by Andy Andrews is one of the books that changed how she connects with clients, leads her team, and shows up in every relationship she has.

In this episode, Mary Jo breaks down The Noticer and why every business owner should read it. The core idea is simple but powerful: people show you exactly how they want to be treated — through what they do, what they give, and what they value. Are you paying attention?

In this episode:

• Why reading 52 books a year is worthless if you implement nothing
• How to apply love languages to your client relationships (and why it works)
• The art of noticing what your employees, clients, and family truly value
• Real-life examples: a baking friend, a Christmas party, and a broken septic pipe
• The book about difficult people that frustrated Mary Jo — and why she doesn't recommend it
• Why you're allowed to quit a book that's not serving you

Books mentioned: The Noticer — Andy Andrews The Noticer Returns — Andy Andrews The Traveler's Gift — Andy Andrews

📩 Questions? Ideas for the show? Reach out: [email protected] 📘 Grab the Life Without the Bank book and your BYOB book → http://www.withoutthebank.com 🎙️ Know someone Mary Jo should interview? Send it her way!

Chapters: 00:00 Read to Apply 00:41 Podcast Intro 01:16 Why I Review Books 02:08 Why The Noticer Rocks 03:18 Notice People Better 04:26 Gifts and Gratitude 06:49 Business and Employees 10:23 Respect in Marriage 11:51 Matching Client Style 14:10 Bad Books and Quitting 16:48 Reading Without Racing 17:55 Wrap Up and Requests

Got questions about the Infinite Banking Concept? Tarisa breaks down the most frequently asked questions about IBC — straight answers, no fluff.

In this episode of the Without the Bank Podcast, Tarisa covers everything from insuring your kids first and legacy coverage, to what happens if you miss premiums, how cash value actually grows uninterrupted even while your money is out on a loan, and how to read your policy illustrations like a pro. Whether you're brand new to infinite banking or have been sitting on questions for months — this is the episode for you.

Topics covered include: uninsurable family members, age limits for coverage, the truth behind policy loans, and why so many people think infinite banking sounds "too good to be true" — and what the real answer is.

📖 Get Becoming Your Own Banker & Life Without the Bank: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

#InfiniteBanking #InfiniteBankingConcept #WithoutTheBank #InfiniteBankingExplained

Mary Jo Irmen and Tarisa Shelton break down the top 5 money beliefs that silently hold people back from building real wealth — and share the wealth mindset shifts that will actually change your financial future.

Whether you're focused on personal finance, retirement planning, or developing a true wealth mindset, how you think about money determines everything. This isn't mainstream financial advice — it's the financial education most people never get, challenging everything you've been told about money management, cash flow, and wealth creation.

If you're struggling with money mindset, wondering why your income never feels like enough, or questioning whether debt is really "normal," this episode is for you.

🔑 Topics include: personal finance tips, wealth building, financial planning, how to use cash flow strategically, why your business or 401k alone isn't a retirement plan, and how to develop a success mindset around money — not just earn more of it.

Chapters: 00:00 Wealth Mindset Shift 00:32 Podcast Kickoff 01:11 Number One - "More Income Will Solve My Money Problems" 08:52 Number Two - "Debt is Just a Normal Part of Life" 10:26 Number Three - "My Business is My Retirement Plan" 16:21 Number Four - "Cash is a Waste If Not Invested" 20:15 Number Five - "Money is The Goal, Instead of a Tool to Create Freedom and Security" 22:56 Reading Beyond Mainstream 27:18 Implementation Over Knowledge 28:02 Caffeine Ban Outro

What if your family stopped sending money to the bank — and started building your OWN banking system instead?

In this episode, Tarisa walks through a REAL 3-generation infinite banking case study: a Tennessee farming family where grandpa, son, and grandson all have policies working for them simultaneously.

Here's what the numbers actually show: 📌 Grandpa (started in his 50s): Paid $533K → $774K in cash value + $979K death benefit 📌 Son (started in his mid-20s): Paid $357K → $1.17M in cash value + $1.4M death benefit 📌 Grandson (policy started before age 2): Paid ~$100K → $582K in cash value + $703K death benefit

TOTAL: ~$991K paid in premiums → $2.5M+ in accessible cash value

This is what the infinite banking concept looks like across generations — a self-sustaining family ecosystem of tax-advantaged, contractually-guaranteed, compounding wealth.

In this episode: ✅ Real numbers from a real family (no fluff) ✅ Why it's NOT too late to start in your 50s ✅ The power of starting a policy on your child before age 2 ✅ How inherited death benefits get recycled into the NEXT generation's policies ✅ Why storing money in a properly structured whole life policy beats a bank account

👉 Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYvzroUouEMsTGKFw5nJHQ 👉 Get the book: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

0:00 The Numbers That Started It All 0:31 Welcome to Without the Bank 0:47 How Banks Get Rich Off Your Family 2:27 Meet the Tennessee Farming Family 4:46 Setting Up a 3-Generation Banking System 7:19 How Infinite Banking Policies Actually Work 8:35 Generation 1: Grandpa (Starting in His 50s) 10:00 Generation 2: The Son (Starting in His 20s) 11:07 Generation 3: The Grandson (Before Age 2) 12:06 The Legacy Transfer: What Happens When Grandpa Passes 13:14 Total Numbers: $991K Paid → $2.5M in Cash Value 14:40 How to Get Started (Any Budget) 15:49 Building a Family Cash Ecosystem 18:00 Guaranteed Growth & What Happens at Age 121 18:48 Final Thoughts & How to Reach Tarisa

Is Infinite Banking too good to be true? We're answering the hardest IBC questions every entrepreneur asks.

In this episode of Without the Bank, Tarisa takes over the mic to tackle the most common (and controversial) questions about the Infinite Banking Concept. From "What's the rate of return?" to "Why is whole life so expensive?" and "Is my money actually safe?" — she breaks down what every business owner needs to know before starting IBC.

If you've ever wondered whether whole life insurance is worth it, how quickly you can access your cash value, or how IBC compares to keeping money in a bank, this episode has your answers.

⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 — Intro & A Word from 80-Year-Old Tarisa 1:12 — What's the Rate of Return? It's a Formula, Not a Number 3:13 — Death Benefit vs. Cash Value Explained 4:08 — Why Is Whole Life So "Expensive"? (Term vs. Whole Life vs. IUL) 7:49 — How Long Do I Have to Pay Premiums? 8:45 — How Soon Can I Access My Cash Value? 9:43 — Is My Money Safe? Banks vs. Life Insurance Companies 13:51 — Mary Jo's Historic Milestone & Final Thoughts

📖 Get Becoming Your Own Banker & Life Without the Bank: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

The expertise of your financial advisor is paramount. A truly effective advisor asks insightful questions about your entire financial management journey, including your generational wealth planning. They should act as a coach, guiding you on how to create consistent cash flow and implement sound wealth building strategies for the long term. This personalized financial planning approach is key to securing your family's future.

Stop worrying about policy splits and company brands. Your agent is what actually matters. Mary Jo and Trissa break down why these debates are a distraction — and why the single most important decision you'll make is who you choose as your agent.

In this episode, we cover: • Why policy structure debates are missing the point • Whole life vs universal life: what actually matters • The Toyota/Honda analogy — and why how you drive beats what you drive • Why One America works for farmers and blue collar families • The widow story that proves why proper coverage matters • How to spot an agent who will actually coach you

👉 Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryJoIrmen?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Get the book: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

⏱ Chapters 00:00 — Intro: What really matters in infinite banking 01:13 — Why policy splits (10/90, 60/40) don't matter 04:14 — The best policy is the one you get started 06:03 — Whole life vs universal life explained 08:24 — Toyota vs Honda: why company brand isn't everything 10:50 — Why One America fits farmers & blue collar 14:28 — How you drive matters more than what you drive 16:30 — The widow story: why proper coverage matters 18:35 — Stop shopping for insurance — shop for the agent 21:10 — Don't just read — implement 22:42 — Final takeaway: find your coach

Link Mentioned: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

Is your 401k employer match really free money? We break down how the match actually works and what nobody tells you.

We're diving into the critical topic of retirement planning, specifically addressing the volatility of investments like 401ks. If you're concerned about market dips impacting your retirement savings, we explore alternative strategies. It's about ensuring your financial planning prioritizes accessibility and security for your future and your family, considering options beyond traditional investing.

👉 Find more Without the Bank here: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryJoIrmen?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Get the book: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

Welcome to the fifth and final installment in our 401k Half-Truths series. Today we're pulling back the curtain on the employer match — how it really works, what you're actually getting, and whether that "free money" is worth locking up your cash until age 59½ (or 73 for RMDs).

We cover: • How automatic 401k enrollment quietly traps employees • The real math behind employer matching (100% up to 6% isn't what you think) • What to ask your employer instead of the 401k match • The "bucket with holes" analogy — why your finances keep leaking • The 4 bases of financial flow (home base = your policy) • Why the match often gets eaten by management fees anyway • Memory dividends vs. delayed life — the Die With Zero mindset

Chapters 0:00 — A 401k Is Not Guaranteed 0:50 — Automatic Enrollment: My Husband's Story 3:00 — Ask for the Match as a Bonus Instead 4:15 — How Employer Matching Actually Works (The Math) 5:45 — The Bucket With Holes Analogy 7:30 — Becoming an Honest Banker 10:14 — The 4 Bases of Financial Flow 13:30 — Die With Zero & Memory Dividends 15:15 — Make a Strategy Appointment

📖 Mentioned in this episode: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins Becoming Your Own Banker by Nelson Nash

📞 Ready to take control? Read the book & schedule a strategy appointment and let's find out if a policy makes sense for you. 👉 https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on living without the bank, infinite banking, and financial freedom.

Your 401k says 25% average return — but your actual return could be zero. Here's the math.

👉 Find more Without the Bank here: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryJoIrmen?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Get the book: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

Part 4 of the 401k Half-Truths series breaks down the biggest illusion in retirement planning: average vs actual returns. You've probably heard your 401k grows "5-10% on average" — but that number hides a painful truth. Tarisa walks through a real math example that shows how a 25% average return can equal a 0% actual return, shares her own mom's experience of having less in her 401k than she contributed, and poses a simple question: would you take a deal where someone tells you how much to give them, charges you fees even when they lose your money, locks your money away, and penalizes you for needing it early? That's essentially what a 401k is. If you're contributing the max to your 401k, you need to understand the difference between inputs and outputs — how much you've actually put in versus what you can actually access. There are alternatives that aren't subject to market risk. This episode is about empowering you with information to make better decisions for your future.

⏱️ Chapters 0:00 - The Problem with 401k "Average Returns" 0:42 - 401k Half-Truths Part 4: Average vs Actual 1:30 - The 25% Average, 0% Actual Math Example 3:47 - My Mom's 401k Story 5:15 - How Losses Destroy Growth 6:30 - Global Economy Risk: Tariffs & Inflation 7:47 - Why Actual Return Matters More Than Average 8:50 - The 401k Deal Nobody Would Take 10:14 - Inputs vs Outputs: Audit Your 401k 11:35 - Seed vs Harvest: The Tax Trap 12:03 - Simulate Your Portfolio's Past Performance 12:34 - Guaranteed Alternatives & Final Thoughts

#personalfinance #retirementplanning #retirement #compoundinterest #401k

📘 Books Mentioned: → Life Without the Bank → Becoming Your Own Banker by Nelson Nash 👉 Get them here: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

📧 Questions? Reach us at [email protected] or [email protected] 🌐 Learn more at http://www.withoutthebank.com

What happens to your family the day you're gone — not financially, but humanly?

👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYvzroUouEMsTGKFw5nJHQ 👉 Get the book: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

In this episode, I share what I learned after delivering my first death claim, and after seeing what widows are saying on social media about the reality of losing a spouse. "Widow brain" is real — the brain fog, the inability to concentrate, the struggle to return to work. FMLA may only give you 3 days to grieve. And that $100,000 life insurance policy? It might not even cover two years of bills. So, how much life insurance do you need?

Whether you can afford whole life or only term right now — get enough life insurance to give your family at least two years of cash flow. Two years to grieve. Two years to figure it out. Two years without having to sell the house or go back to work before they're ready.This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who's been putting off life insurance or lowballing their death benefit. Don't wait until it's too late.

0:30 – The "TikTok Algorithm of Widows" — what I learned 1:30 – FMLA and the 3-day grieving reality 3:00 – "Widow Brain" — why surviving spouses can't just go back to work 4:00 – How adequate life insurance lets widows quit and mourn 5:00 – My first death claim changed my perspective 7:00 – "She doesn't need much coverage" — why that's dead wrong 8:30 – FMLA limitations and employer compassion gaps 10:00 – How a parent's death affects children's grieving 11:00 – Why $100K isn't enough — you need 2 years of cash flow 12:00 – Only 2 out of 75 widows mentioned life insurance 13:00 – It's about priorities, not affordability 13:30 – A friend's tragic story: widowed at 31 16:00 – Why spouses need to be involved in the finances 17:00 – Final call: the death benefit matters as much as cash value

📘 Books Mentioned: → Life Without the Bank → Becoming Your Own Banker by Nelson Nash 👉 Get them here: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

📧 Questions? Reach us at [email protected] 🌐 Learn more at http://www.withoutthebank.com

Paul Atkins owns 54 life insurance policies — and it reveals everything financial gurus miss.

👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYvzroUouEMsTGKFw5nJHQ

The SEC Chairman's financial disclosure shocked professors at Florida State, Illinois State, and the University of Georgia. But for anyone who understands permanent life insurance, it made perfect sense.

In Episode 269 of Without the Bank, we break down exactly what the "experts" got wrong — and what Paul Atkins, the Rockefellers, and high-net-worth families have known for generations.

💡 Key Takeaways ✅ Why permanent life insurance is NOT just a death benefit ✅ How cash value grows tax-deferred and is accessed income-tax-free through loans ✅ How to use your policy as collateral while keeping your compound interest uninterrupted ✅ How life insurance is used for estate planning and generational wealth transfer ✅ Why the Infinite Banking Concept works — and why most financial media ignores it ✅ Why this strategy isn't just for the ultra-wealthy — it works for everyday people too

Paul Atkins holds $32.7 million in life insurance — roughly 10% of his $327 million net worth. When financial professors call that "confusing," it tells you everything about the gap between credentialed advice and real wealth strategy.

🔖 Chapters 0:00 – Paul Atkins' 54 Life Insurance Policies 1:00 – Who Is Paul Atkins? 3:00 – What Financial Professors Got Wrong 5:00 – The Truth About Cash Value vs. Death Benefit 7:00 – Is Life Insurance Only for the Wealthy? 9:30 – Estate Planning & Advanced Strategies 12:00 – Life Insurance as a Liquidity Tool 14:00 – The Rockefeller Wealth Strategy 16:30 – Why the Media Gets It Wrong 18:00 – Why Nobody Teaches This 20:30 – What You Should Do Next

📘 Books Mentioned: → Life Without the Bank → Becoming Your Own Banker by Nelson Nash 👉 Get them here: https://www.withoutthebank.com/book

📧 Questions? Reach us at [email protected] 🌐 Learn more at http://www.withoutthebank.com