Without the Bank Podcast

The archaic system of giving up money today, taking on risk, and hoping to retire is B.S. This podcast seeks to help make you responsible for your money and your future. You are the one who cares more about it than anyone else. I am here to help you and provide the honesty you need. No sugar coating. No false claims. Just straight up truth.

Why Your Policy Fails: The Grocery Store Money Lesson (Ep. 244) 11/20/2025

Why Your Policy Fails: The Grocery Store Money Lesson (Ep. 244) Most infinite banking policies don’t fail because of the insurance company… they fail because of human behavior. Are you quietly stealing the peas from your own grocery store? 👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: 👉 Get the book: In this episode, we continue through Nelson Nash’s Becoming Your Own Banker and dive into the Imagination chapter and the famous grocery store analogy. We break down why imagination matters more than information, how to treat your policy like a real business, and why charging your own kids interest can actually build more wealth for them. If you’ve ever wondered: “What can I really use my policy for?” “How much should I put in before I start using it?” “Is it wrong to charge family interest?” …this conversation will clear up a lot of mental roadblocks. 💡 Key Takeaways ◦ Imagination over information: Infinite banking is an exercise in imagination, reason, logic, and prophecy. If you can’t imagine new uses for your capital, you’ll never unlock its full potential. ◦ Your policy is a business: The grocery store analogy shows why you must capitalize, stock the shelves, and keep restocking (paying back loans) if you want long-term success. ◦ Stealing the peas kills policies: Not repaying policy loans (or interest) is the fastest way to destroy your system, not the insurance company going under. ◦ Use your policy or it’s underfunded: If you’re still using your bank account for major purchases, you’re probably not putting enough premium into your policy. ◦ Charging family interest is not “mean”: When structured correctly, charging your kids interest can grow your system and ultimately send more wealth back to them via the death benefit. ◦ Terminology trips people up: “Loan repayment” inside a policy is functionally similar to a deposit, but the language makes people fear the process. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – How “stealing the peas” destroys policies faster than insurers 01:27 – Imagination vs knowledge: why people ask for permission to use their policy 07:58 – Nelson’s grocery store analogy and what it really means 11:50 – Stocking the shelves: funding, using, and refilling your policy 17:05 – Human nature, discipline, and the danger of the “back door” 19:38 – Charging your kids 9% interest & why family discounts can hurt wealth 22:41 – Wrap-up, next chapter preview, and what to do next (Timestamps are from the video version. Audio-only edits are always shorter since they have had more fluff removed, so the timestamps are not accurate to this version.) If this episode helped you see your policy differently: 👍 Like this video 💬 Comment: Let us know how you have been "Stealing The Peas" in your system. 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into infinite banking and Nelson’s book 📖 Grab the book and follow along with us chapter by chapter 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned 📘 Becoming Your Own Banker by R. Nelson Nash (paperback & Audible) 📗 Mary Jo’s book, Life Without The Bank 🎧 Audiobook option – great for listening while you study the concept /episode/index/show/withoutthebank/id/39102350

How One Family Lost $1.2M to College Tuition (Ep. 243) 11/13/2025

Kyle Busch Lost $8.5M... But It's Not What You Think (Ep. 242) 11/06/2025

Kyle Busch Lost $8.5M... But It's Not What You Think (Ep. 242) Kyle Busch just sued Pacific Life Insurance for $8.58 million, claiming he was misled by an Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policy. But what if this high-profile case proves everything Infinite Banking practitioners have warned about for years? 👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: 👉 Get the book: In this episode of Without the Bank, Mary Jo breaks down the Kyle Busch life insurance lawsuit, exposing how IULs are often mis-sold and why dividend-paying whole life insurance is still the gold standard for Infinite Banking. She dives into: ◦ Why IULs, VULs, and ULs collapse faster than you think ◦ The truth behind “guaranteed” returns and hidden policy fees ◦ What Nelson Nash really meant by “dividend-paying whole life” ◦ How to read your own in-force illustration and spot red flags If you own an Indexed Universal Life policy, or are thinking of buying one, this episode could save you thousands. Key Takeaways ◦ Kyle Busch’s lawsuit highlights systemic problems in how IULs are sold. ◦ Whole life and IUL are not the same thing. ◦ Infinite Banking only works with dividend-paying whole life, not market-tied policies. ◦ Always request an in-force illustration at 4% to test your policy’s strength. ◦ Education beats marketing. Understand what you’re buying before you sign. Chapters: 00:00 – The Problem with Bad Insurance Sales 01:21 – Kyle Busch’s $8.5M IUL Lawsuit Explained 03:34 – IUL vs Whole Life: What Agents Don’t Tell You 06:03 – Hidden Fees, Failing Policies, and False Promises 08:26 – Why This Case Proves Infinite Banking Works 12:19 – The Real Lesson from Becoming Your Own Banker 17:16 – How to Check (and Fix) Your Own Life Insurance 👉 Have an IUL or UL policy? Send your in-force illustration to Mary Jo for a review. Email: maryjo@withoutthebank.com 👉 Subscribe for more episodes breaking down Infinite Banking truths and exposing insurance myths. 👍 Like, comment, and share this video if you believe in consumer protection and financial education! 🔗 Links Mentioned 📘 Books: 📅 Schedule an appointment: /episode/index/show/withoutthebank/id/38931765

Hard Times Built Infinite Banking — Here's the Lesson You're Missing (Ep. 241) 10/30/2025

Hard Times Built Infinite Banking — Here's the Lesson You're Missing (Ep. 241) Starting an IBC policy when everything feels worst? That’s exactly how Nelson Nash discovered Infinite Banking, when bank rates hit 23% and leverage turned on him. Here’s what he did, why it worked, and how to avoid the same traps. 👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: 👉 Get the book: We continue our study of Becoming Your Own Banker and unpack how the Infinite Banking Concept started. Using Nelson’s forestry analogy, we break down uninterrupted compounding, the dangers of overleveraging, why policy design matters (don’t chase fast cash value if it weakens the system), and the flexibility of policy loans, especially in bad times. We also address the costly mistake of canceling in Year 5, when policies typically begin to truly cash flow. Key Takeaways: ◦ Plant the tree early: Compounding takes time; interrupting it sets you back years. ◦ Uninterrupted over interrupted compounding: Stop resetting the curve. ◦ Leverage cuts both ways: Gurus rarely explain when the lever flips. ◦ Policy loans = control: Flexible amortization; you set the payback schedule. ◦ Rates context: Banks at ~23% (early ’80s) vs policy loans at ~5–8% in Nelson’s story. ◦ Design matters: Don’t chase extreme 10/90 if it risks MEC and weakens the base. ◦ Discipline wins: You’re the banker—operate your system soundly. ◦ Don’t quit in Year 5: Many cancel right before policies begin to outperform. Chapters 00:00 Start when times aren’t perfect (cold open) 00:50 Intro & setup—studying “How IBC Got Started” 01:11 Forestry analogy & (un)interrupted compounding 03:33 What interruption really costs you 04:28 Policy design tradeoffs (10/90, MEC risk, strong base) 05:07 The compounding curve: the most efficient year is the last 06:01 “Leverage your way to wealth”? What gurus don’t say 06:57 Nelson’s story: 8–9.5% to 23% prime shock (’81–’82) 08:46 Low-rate era behavior: overbuying & false confidence 10:19 Overpaying for homes/vehicles and today’s price hangover 12:10 Leverage risk, HELOC callable, and bad timing 12:57 Risk mitigation vs assuming good times continue 13:25 “Find a fool?” Why selling in bad times fails 14:45 4 a.m. prayer & the realization: the money is in your policies 15:10 Policy loans at ~5–8% vs banks at 23%: why control matters 16:57 You set the amortization—flexibility in downturns 18:03 “How big a check?” = How much have you put in (premiums) 18:51 Revising spending: fund policies first, then attack debt 19:54 Start IBC in bad times, so you’re skilled in good times 20:53 The Year 5 mistake: canceling right before cash flow 22:09 End of Life benefit = family protection while you bank 22:28 Discipline: be the banker or break your own bank 23:18 Wrap-up & next chapter invite 👍 Like this if you want more real-talk on IBC beyond the hype. 🔔 Subscribe & hit the bell to follow our chapter-by-chapter study. 💬 Questions about policy design, MEC, or using loans? Drop them in the comments. 📚 Studying along? Bring your copy of Becoming Your Own Banker to the next episode. Link Mentioned: Becoming Your Own Banker — R. Nelson Nash /episode/index/show/withoutthebank/id/38839590

Are You Saving Money the Wrong Way? (Ep. 240) 10/23/2025

Are You Saving Money the Wrong Way? (Ep. 240) Feel “broke” even though you’ve got money in savings and retirement? You might be trapped by compartmentalized thinking, paying 25–30% on credit cards while your “retirement money” sits idle. In this episode, we show you how to see your finances as one pool of money, become your own banker, and pay yourself back, without making money more complicated. 👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: 👉 Get the book: We break down Nelson Nash’s Becoming Your Own Banker and the “97/3” insight: wealth is a skill, not a windfall. You’ll see how banking is a process you already participate in, and how to start controlling more of it. From braces and car payments to IRAs and credit cards, we show how small shifts (and an honest repayment plan to yourself) can transform cash flow. Key Takeaways: ◦ Money is one pool, no matter how many accounts you split it into. ◦ Don’t earn 5% in an IRA while paying 25–30% on credit cards—that math loses. ◦ Becoming your own banker = borrow from your pool and pay yourself back (with interest). ◦ Wealth is a skill: discipline, tracking, and continuous learning beat lucky breaks. ◦ Control cash flow first; assets and compound growth follow. Chapters 00:00 Why you feel “broke”: the compartmentalization trap 01:27 Becoming Your Own Banker (Intro to the first chapter) 01:58 The 97/3 rule: wealth as a skill, not a windfall 03:18 Can’t manage $1? You can’t manage $1M (cash flow vs income) 04:13 Spending leaks: Starbucks, dining out, and “must be nice” 06:16 Lottery winners & why sudden money rarely lasts 08:14 “You don’t have to change anything”… actually, you do (habits) 09:36 Continuous learning vs arrival syndrome 11:11 Banking is the most important business; money must flow 12:31 There’s only one pool of money 14:09 Using IRAs vs bank loans: the real cost of capital 15:45 We’ve been trained to think money is “complicated” 16:06 Retirement balances vs 30% cards: pay yourself back instead 18:27 Braces example: cash discount, banker hat, repayment plan 19:12 It’s not complicated—use an amortization schedule 20:23 Control the banking function in your life 21:12 Overwhelm? Start with baby steps + an advisor 22:29 Choose your hard: money stress vs money discipline 23:35 Why money problems strain everything (even marriages) 24:28 Keep learning the language of money 25:14 What’s next & how to get the books 👉 If this helped, like & subscribe for more real-talk money strategy. 💬 Drop a comment: What’s one bill you could start “paying back to yourself” this month? 📩 Questions? Email us. Mary Jo: maryjo@withoutthebank.com Tarisa: tarisa@withoutthebank.com 🧮 Need a plan? Use the amortization calculator mentioned to set your personal “pay-yourself-back” schedule. 📚 Get the books: Life Without the Bank and Nelson Nash’s Becoming Your Own Banker. Links Mentioned: Life Without The Bank and Becoming Your Own Banker 🔗 Amortization Schedule 🔗 /episode/index/show/withoutthebank/id/38752575

The Secret to Using the Same Dollar Twice (Legally) (Ep. 239) 10/16/2025

The Secret to Using the Same Dollar Twice (Legally) (Ep. 239) What if you could use the same dollar twice, to buy your dream car today and still have it grow for your retirement tomorrow? In this episode, we uncover the 7 Points to Consider from Nelson Nash’s legendary book Becoming Your Own Banker and why understanding where your money lives could change your financial future forever. 👉 Follow Mary Jo Here: 👉 Get the book: In this episode #239 of the Without The Bank Podcast, we dive deep into how to make your money work harder through the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC). Mary Jo and Tarisa explore why traditional retirement plans like 401(k)s and IRAs limit your control, how to leverage life insurance cash value for financing major purchases, and what it really means to have your money at work. They challenge common beliefs about debt, discuss the dangers of government-controlled retirement systems, and show real-life examples of how cash value policies grow wealth over time. Whether you’re new to Infinite Banking or already building your own private banking system, this episode gives you practical wisdom straight from Nelson Nash’s timeless principles. 💡 Key Takeaways: ◦ There are only two sources of income: people at work and money at work. ◦ You can use the same money multiple times through proper leverage. ◦ The government controls 401(k)s and IRAs more than you realize — and profits from it. ◦ Wealth must reside somewhere — make sure it’s under your control. ◦ You finance everything you buy, whether you realize it or not. ◦ Compound interest is powerful when it’s uninterrupted. ◦ Start small — even a $5,000 policy can grow into hundreds of thousands in value. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 – Using the same money twice 01:22 – Fun studio intro & casual chat 02:10 – Point #1: People at work vs. money at work 04:16 – Point #2: Passive income and long-term thinking 05:06 – Point #3: Stop giving your money to someone else’s bank 07:01 – Point #4: Government manipulation & retirement plan control 13:02 – Point #5: Where does your wealth reside? 16:59 – Point #6: You finance everything you buy 22:02 – Point #7: Your need for financing exceeds your need for insurance 23:44 – Real policy example & long-term results 25:44 – Final thoughts & call to action If you’re ready to learn how to take control of your money, start your own banking system, and grow wealth the smart way: ⓵ Subscribe now ⓶ Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway ⓷ Share this episode with a friend who needs financial freedom! 📚 Resources Mentioned: Becoming Your Own Banker by R. Nelson Nash 🔗 Warehouse of Wealth by Nelson Nash 🔗 Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt 🔗 /episode/index/show/withoutthebank/id/38612780

How the Wealthy Make Their Money Work Twice as Hard (Ep. 238) 10/09/2025

How the Wealthy Make Their Money Work Twice as Hard (Ep. 238) Most people obsess over “rate of return”, but they miss the banking process that controls every dollar in their life and how to leverage that same dollar to make more. Book: Life Without The Bank by Mary Jo Irmen 📌 In this episode, we unpack the Introduction & Points to Consider from Nelson Nash’s Becoming Your Own Banker and show how dividend-paying whole life can be an AND asset: fund your policy and still deploy capital into investments. Mary Jo and Tarisa break down why Infinite Banking (IBC) is education, not a sales tool, why your need for financing is greater than your need for protection, and how the end-of-life benefit, privacy, control, and long-range planning all fit together. We clarify common myths (like “recapturing interest”), compare AND vs OR assets, discuss HELOC call risk, and explain why IBC is about where wealth resides, not chasing returns. Key Takeaways: ◦ IBC is a financing process, not an investment. Use whole life to control capital flows, then invest. ◦ Your need for financing outweighs your need for protection. Solve financing correctly, and you end up with a bigger financial legacy for your loved ones. ◦ It’s an AND asset. Fund the policy, borrow, and still invest (real estate, brokerage, IRA contributions, etc.). ◦ Clarifying “recapture interest.” You’re redirecting the spread by paying yourself more than the policy loan rate, which requires discipline. ◦ Major items only. Think of cars, equipment, appliances, education, business capital expenditures, not coffee and fries. ◦ Control & privacy matter. Policy loans aren’t reported to bureaus; contracts are private. ◦ HELOCs can be called. Don’t build your “bank” on someone else’s terms. ◦ Long-range planning wins. Power compounds in later years; this is a get-rich-slow, multi-generational approach. 🔗 Links Mentioned Book: Becoming Your Own Banker (5th Edition) by R. Nelson Nash 📌 Book: Life Without The Bank by Mary Jo Irmen 📌 /episode/index/show/withoutthebank/id/38518330

Lessons Learned in the IBC Journey (Ep. 237) 09/26/2025

Lessons Learned in the IBC Journey (Ep. 237) “You don’t make money by taking loans, you make money by paying premiums.” In this candid episode, we unpack the biggest lessons from our Infinite Banking (IBC) journey; what we got right, what we’d do differently, and the costly myths we had to unlearn. From early nerves (Is this even legal?) to 15 years of using dividend-paying whole life policies, we share our most honest takeaways: how to think about premiums vs. loans, why the right mentor matters, using policies as a throughput system (not a piggy bank), the danger of “extra interest” hype, tracking growth, and building community so you’re not learning IBC alone. Plus: a quick warm-up on guinea pigs in Switzerland 🐹 and the tipping culture rant you didn’t know you needed. Key Takeaways: ◦ Legality check: Policy loans are legit (state insurance departments literally describe them). ◦ Core truth: You don’t “profit” from taking loans; you build wealth by funding premiums and letting cash value compound. ◦ Throughput mindset: Run money through your policy, then deploy it—don’t starve premiums to pay expenses. ◦ “Extra interest” clarity: Paying extra only helps when it’s added as an additional premium (not just loan interest). ◦ Mentorship matters: A good advisor prevents expensive missteps and helps sequence debt, premium, and cash flow. ◦ Start smart: Begin conservatively; learn by doing (without gimmicks like funding with 0% cards—don’t). ◦ Track & compare: Log monthly growth and save your original illustration to compare real vs. projected. ◦ Community wins: Surround yourself with active policy users (Think Tank vibes, client meetups, Q&As). Chapters: I wouldn’t change it: timing, trust, and going all-in How we dove in: think tanks, reading, sleepless curiosity Welcome back + today’s topic setup Fun fact: Switzerland bans owning a single guinea pig 🐹 Rant time: tipping culture, service, and expectations “Harmony” the waitress & tipping for great service Coffee costs, tipping prompts, and value Topic begins: Lessons learned on the IBC journey Looking back with experience vs. starting out Were we nervous? (Stock market vs. IBC peace of mind) “Is this legal?” and how we verified it Guarantees & risk-averse comfort with IBC Skepticism after a bad experience; finding IBC What we’d tell our younger selves (client & agent) Premium vs. cash value—using policy as a pass-through Premium is an “environment” for money to flow through Advisor sequencing: debt, cash flow, and policy loans Agent lessons: mentorship, brand, and language Big myth: you don’t make money on the loan Why cash value still grows when you borrow Nelson’s “extra interest” = more premium (not loan profit) Simplifying repayment (and avoiding hype) “Just start”—conservative, consistent funding A cautionary start (0% card) and why not to do that Why guidance matters (your life dictates the sequence) Surround yourself with IBC users & Think Tank energy Community: Coffee with MJ, client summits Track monthly growth; watch it season over time 2010 policy: 15-year reflection Keep your original illustration—compare later No regrets; right timing vs hindsight Going full force: learning, events, immersion Think Tank excitement & new-agent energy Client events cadence & getting people to show up 😄 How to connect + next steps 👉 Get the book, learn the fundamentals, and avoid the common pitfalls. 👉 Read the book and ready to design your first (or next) policy? Schedule an appointment with Tarisa or Mary Jo. 👉 Clients: join Coffee with MJ and keep compounding your knowledge. Links & Contacts Mentioned: Book & resources: Emails: Tarisa@WithoutTheBank.com | (Clients) For Coffee with MJ & summit details: check your client portal/email invites /episode/index/show/withoutthebank/id/38359480