Life Insurance Loans Are Not Income: Shootin’ It Straight With Stan
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
Release Date: 12/24/2025
“Fun With Annuities” The Annuity Man Podcast
In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Giving while you’re alive to create a meaningful impact Letting background inform legacy decisions Balancing support with personal responsibility Building a living legacy through intentional planning Key Takeaways: Providing financial support earlier in life can influence long-term stability and opportunity. Assistance during early adulthood often carries greater practical value than delayed inheritance. Financial philosophies are shaped by upbringing and lived experience. Recognizing these influences can help...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Questioning the fiduciary label Recognizing bad advice despite credentials Performing personal due diligence Choosing advisors carefully and staying informed Key Takeaways: “Fiduciary” is often misused by advisors as a marketing badge rather than a guarantee of acting in the client’s best interest. Consumers should not assume a plaque or certification automatically equals sound advice. Even certified fiduciaries can make improper or risky recommendations, as illustrated by a reverse mortgage case leading to...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man and Terry Savage discuss: What is “chicken money”? Considering future crises in your financial plan Seeking trusted advisors Building an income floor Key Takeaways: Your “chicken money” is money that you can’t afford to lose. CDs, treasury bills, money markets, AAA municipal bonds, and MYGAs are suitable options. MYGAs and CDs are great for principal protection and tax deferral benefits. Focus on having an income floor and principal protection in retirement plans. It’s important to consider...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Understanding why life insurance loans are not income Questioning glossy tax-free income pitches Keeping life insurance simple and purpose-driven Testing illustrations and setting clear expectations Key Takeaways: Loans from a life insurance policy are not income, just as bank loans are not income. They are tax-free only because they must be repaid, not because they create earnings. Calling them “tax-free income” is a misleading sales framing. Many life insurance illustrations rely on optimistic assumptions...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Seeing through product-driven Roth pitches Recognizing political risk in long-term tax planning Keeping conversions separate from annuity products Avoiding shiny-object sales tactics Key Takeaways: Treat Roth conversions as tax decisions rather than annuity strategies. Rely on math and tax guidance instead of sales-driven framing. Understand that tax-free structures like Roths can face future policy shifts. Plan with awareness that political changes may affect long-term assumptions. Run conversion numbers...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man and Michael Finke discuss: Annuities are more attractive today Protecting your future lifestyle Cutting little slices from the birthday cake There’s no perfect product to solve for inflation Key Takeaways: At the time of this episode’s taping, near-retirees can lock in 5.2% on five-year MYGAs for the next five years; however, it may go up or down. When buying an annuity, you're buying yourself a minimum standard of living forever, no matter how long you live. You have to choose if you want to shoulder the...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Designing dependable inheritances Structuring income for generations Choosing tools for guaranteed legacy streams Partnering wisely with trusted professionals Key Takeaways: Integrating annuities into estate plans allows individuals to pass on structured, reliable income rather than lump-sum inheritances, protecting beneficiaries from mismanagement or market risk. Estate plans can specify lifetime payments, joint-income arrangements, or funds designated for annuities, giving families long-term financial stability...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Prioritizing safety and guarantees Selling only contractual commitments Using PILL to guide purpose Key Takeaways: Annuities should focus on protecting principal and providing a reliable income. Strong insurance carrier backing ensures certainty and reduces risk. Avoiding speculative products maintains financial security for clients. Only offer annuities with contractual guarantees, not hypothetical promises. Market-based growth claims are often unrealistic and misleading. Contractual commitments provide clarity and...
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In case you missed it, I have decided to circle back to one of my Fun With Annuities episodes that just cannot be missed. This one has annuity gold, and it is definitely a must-listen. In this episode, The Annuity Man and Moshe Milevsky discuss: The problem with annuities What’s a tontine? How income increases with tontines The gap between healthspan and lifespan Key Takeaways: The point of annuities is to generate a predictable income even when you can no longer make decisions yourself due to cognitive decline. That’s why...
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In this episode, The Annuity Man discussed: Distinguishing annuity types Applying the PILL strategy Interpreting annuity yields Securing contractual understanding Key Takeaways: Understanding the purpose of different annuities is crucial: MYGAs provide guaranteed interest on principal like a CD, while SPIAs deliver a lifetime income stream tailored to longevity. Each serves a distinct financial goal. The "PILL" framework—Principal protection, Income for life, Legacy, Long-term care—helps determine whether an annuity aligns with your needs and long-term...
info_outlineIn this episode, The Annuity Man discussed:
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Understanding why life insurance loans are not income
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Questioning glossy tax-free income pitches
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Keeping life insurance simple and purpose-driven
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Testing illustrations and setting clear expectations
Key Takeaways:
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Loans from a life insurance policy are not income, just as bank loans are not income. They are tax-free only because they must be repaid, not because they create earnings. Calling them “tax-free income” is a misleading sales framing.
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Many life insurance illustrations rely on optimistic assumptions and attractive projections. High internal fees and commissions often benefit the agent more than the client. If a pitch sounds too good to be true, it usually deserves deeper scrutiny.
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Life insurance works best when focused on its core purpose: a tax-free death benefit. Level term coverage maximizes protection while minimizing cost and complexity. Avoid products with indexes, market ties, or unnecessary moving parts.
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Running illustrations at 0% growth reveals the true impact of fees and loan costs. This stress test shows whether a policy can sustain itself over time. Life insurance should be positioned as protection, not a tax-free income strategy.
"With life insurance, you buy the most death benefit you can for the least amount of money. It's that simple." — Stan The Annuity Man
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