Wade Borth - Sage Wealth Strategy

Hosted by Wade Borth

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204

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Aug 2026

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Ready to take control of your financial future? Using properly structured whole life insurance, Wade Borth is dedicated to teaching how to establish the right strategy to create generational wealth. In this podcast, Wade shares the tools for understanding and the clarity of how to to do this for your family. This show is all about sharing that sage wisdom to help others build strong financial futures.

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August 25, 2026Episode 20042 min

200 Episodes In: The Money Lessons, Growth, and What Comes Next (With Mike Brevik

Wade Borth marks the 200th episode of the podcast by bringing on Mike Brevik of Cyberdogz Marketing, the guest who first pushed him to hit record. Together they look back at what actually changed since episode one and look ahead to the next 100 episodes, where liquidity, preparedness, and adapting fast take center stage. Key Takeaways Stop waiting for the perfect version of anything. The episodes, and the decisions, you're most tempted to redo are often the ones that connect the most. Build consistency before you build an audience. Showing up week after week is what earns people's trust to hear the harder truths. Treat liquidity as preparation, not idle cash. As AI accelerates change, the families and businesses with accessible capital are the ones who can pivot instead of panic. Measure your own success against your own purpose, not against the biggest name in your industry. Get your financial sequence right before you add more tools. A solid liquidity foundation has to come before infinite banking or any other strategy. Links and Resources Sage Wealth Strategy: sagewealthstrategy.com Contact Wade: wade@sagewealthstrategy.com Factum Financial: wade@factumfinancial.com Mike Brevik / Cyberdogz Marketing: cyberdogzmarketing.com Cyberdogz on Instagram: instagram.com/cyberdogzmarketing Mike Brevik on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelbrevik Keywords 200th episode, Wade Borth podcast, podcast milestone, infinite banking concept, be your own banker, generational wealth, financial liquidity, liquidity bucket, whole life insurance, cash value life insurance, Nelson Nash, financial preparedness, AI and personal finance, family legacy planning, Sage Wealth Strategy, Mike Brevik, Cyberdogz Marketing, financial sequence, dry powder, guaranteed asset Episode Highlights [00:01:00 - 00:03:00] Mike explains why almost everyone resists starting a podcast, and the moment it clicks that you already have plenty to say. [00:03:00 - 00:06:00] Wade reflects on the discomfort of listening to his earliest episodes and how podcasting forced him to bring clarity to his own thinking. [00:06:00 - 00:09:00] Why assuming your audience already knows what you know is the biggest mistake new podcasters, and new advisors, make. [00:09:00 - 00:11:00] Wade and Mike agree that chasing a perfect episode is the wrong goal. Push through and learn from the raw ones. [00:11:00 - 00:16:00] After 200 episodes, there are no surprises left. Wade explains why that vulnerability is actually a relief. [00:16:00 - 00:19:00] Wade's advice to his younger self: start sooner, be more consistent, and stop treating progress as a straight line. [00:21:00 - 00:22:00] Success doesn't mean becoming the next Joe Rogan. It means fulfilling the purpose you set out with. [00:22:00 - 00:25:00] Wade previews the next 100 episodes, shaped by the advice he'd give his own son heading into an AI-driven world. [00:25:00 - 00:30:00] Why the speed of change from AI makes liquidity and cash reserves more important than ever before. [00:34:00 - 00:38:00] Wade lays out the sequence he wants listeners to follow through the rest of 2026: savings first, then infinite banking. [00:43:00 - 00:51:00] Wade and Mike revisit five of the podcast's most requested episodes, from Cash Is King to Legacy Building.

August 18, 2026Episode 19912 min

The 4% Rule Is a Guess: Withdrawal Rates, the 401(k), and Becoming Your Own Fiduciary

Executive Summary An article pitting Bill Bengen's revised 4.7% withdrawal rate against Suze Orman's 3% rule sent Wade Borth down a different road this episode. Rather than picking a side, he asks why anyone would build a retirement plan on a rule that only claims a 90% chance of success. His answer starts with rejecting scarcity thinking and becoming your own fiduciary. Key Takeaways Bill Bengen's updated 4.7% rule and Suze Orman's 3% rule are both opinions, not guarantees, and neither promises a 100% positive outcome. Withdrawal rate rules ask how little you can spend without running out of money. That's a scarcity mindset, and it produces a cycle of sacrifice and fear. Pension plans once gave retirees certainty. The 401(k) that replaced them shifted that risk from the employer to the employee. Locking money away for 30 years is like freezing the best steak you own and never eating it. Becoming your own fiduciary starts with financial education, not with outsourcing the decision to someone else's opinion. Links and Resources http://sagewealthstrategy.com/ Keywords 4% rule, safe withdrawal rate, retirement withdrawal rate, 401(k) alternatives, pension plans, infinite banking concept, be your own banker, become your own fiduciary, guaranteed asset, whole life insurance, cash value, liquidity bucket, family banking, generational wealth, Bill Bengen, Suze Orman, retirement income planning, financial education, Sage Wealth Strategy, Wade Borth Episode Highlights [00:01:00 - 00:02:00] Wade explains why money should be treated as our second most valuable asset after time. [00:02:00 - 00:03:00] Bill Bengen, creator of the 4% rule, now says retirees can safely pull 4.7%. [00:03:00 - 00:04:00] Suze Orman counters with a 3% rule, and Wade explains his skepticism of financial entertainers. [00:04:00 - 00:05:00] Wade argues both withdrawal rate camps set retirees up to either underspend or run out. [00:05:00 - 00:06:00] The scarcity mindset behind every withdrawal rate rule, and why it produces sacrifice and fear. [00:06:00 - 00:07:00] Pension plans once gave retirees guaranteed income. Most have disappeared. [00:07:00 - 00:08:00] How the 401(k) quietly shifted investment risk from employers to employees. [00:08:00 - 00:09:00] Why Wade treats every financial opinion, including his own, as an opinion and not a fact. [00:09:00 - 00:10:00] The frozen steak analogy: why locking money away for 30 years doesn't make sense. [00:11:00 - 00:12:00] Wade closes on what it means to become your own fiduciary.

August 11, 2026Episode 19816 min

Replace the Banker With Yourself: Rethinking Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrant

Executive Summary Wade Borth revisits Robert Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrants and picks up a thread the book never finishes: every quadrant, employee, self-employed, business owner, or investor, still depends on a bank. Wade argues the real shift isn't earning more new money, it's taking permanent control of the old money already flowing through your life. He lays out how a properly structured whole life policy lets you step into the banking function yourself. Key Takeaways Every side of Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrant, employee, self-employed, business owner, or investor, still runs through a bank somewhere. Most people chase new money instead of gaining control of the old money already passing through their hands. Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker hinges on one word: becoming. It's a shift in thinking before it's a shift in dollars. A properly structured whole life policy lets you use the insurance company's money, not your own, while your cash value keeps compounding. Wade's exercise: of every dollar that will ever flow through your life, how much do you want permanent control over? Links and Resources Sage Wealth Strategy: sagewealthstrategy.com Keywords Cashflow Quadrant, infinite banking concept, be your own banker, whole life insurance, cash value, policy loans, permanent control of money, family banking, guaranteed asset, generational wealth, financial liquidity, liquidity bucket, Nelson Nash, Robert Kiyosaki, Sage Wealth Strategy, Wade Borth podcast, old money vs new money, banking function, mutual carrier, dry powder Episode Highlights [00:02:00 - 00:03:00] Wade unpacks Nelson Nash's core lesson: the real challenge in Becoming Your Own Banker is who you need to become. [00:04:00 - 00:05:00] Wade breaks down why Kiyosaki never fully explains where whole life insurance fits inside the Cashflow Quadrant. [00:06:00 - 00:07:00] Wade explains why banks sit in the middle of every transaction, profiting whether you're a saver or a borrower. [00:07:00 - 00:08:00] The distinction between chasing new money and controlling the old money already in your hands. [00:08:00 - 00:09:00] Wade lays out the shift: replace the banker in your life with yourself. [00:11:00 - 00:12:00] Why policy loans let you use the insurance company's money instead of your own, while your cash value keeps growing. [00:16:00 - 00:17:00] The $100,000 exercise: how much of the money that flows through your life should you actually control?

August 4, 2026Episode 19717 min

Why You Need a Destination Before You Can Build Generational Wealth

Summary Recorded from the lake, Wade Borth uses a fishing analogy to talk about goal-setting and purpose: you won't catch fish by dropping the boat in the water and drifting, you have to start the motor and steer toward a specific spot. The same is true for financial and professional success. Wade explains why so many agents and clients have never been asked to define success, encourages listeners to set specific, time-bound goals, and reminds them the path will shift along the way. He frames his own role as a "problem identifier" who empowers people once they know what they're aiming for, and closes with a caution against FOMO thinking, chasing the same crowded goals everyone else is chasing instead of finding your own unfair advantage. Key Takeaways Success starts with a destination. Drop the boat in the water without a direction and you drift, you don't arrive. Most agents and clients have never once been asked to define what success actually looks like for them. Set specific, time-bound goals, then revisit them every week or two. The plan will shift, and that's expected. Wade sees his role as a "problem identifier" who empowers people with clarity and the right tools, not someone who hands them answers. Avoid the crowded fishing spot. Chasing the same goal as everyone else (like the standard 401k) rarely produces an uncommon result. Links and Resources Sage Wealth Strategy: sagewealthstrategy.com Keywords define success, goal setting, financial goals, purpose driven, infinite banking concept, be your own banker, generational wealth, family legacy, Wade Borth, Sage Wealth Strategy, financial liquidity, guaranteed asset, whole life insurance, wealth strategist, business owner goals, insurance agent coaching, financial purpose, intentional decisions, problem identifier, unfair advantage Episode Highlights [00:02:00 - 00:03:00] Wade asks a group of agents what their goal is, and most say they don't have one. [00:03:00 - 00:04:00] The fishing spot analogy: you don't drift to a desired location, you steer to it. [00:04:00 - 00:05:00] A client wants to turn a lifetime of built assets into income instead of growth. [00:05:00 - 00:06:00] Wade defines his role as a problem identifier, not a problem solver by force. [00:08:00 - 00:09:00] Why so many agents and clients have simply never been asked to define success. [00:10:00 - 00:11:00] An example goal: a $30 million net worth in five years, and why naming it changes your brain. [00:11:00 - 00:12:00] The tools and thinking that got you here won't get you to the next stage. [00:13:00 - 00:14:00] Parkinson's Law applied to goals: without one set, everything counts as success. [00:16:00 - 00:17:00] The crowded fishing spot: why chasing what everyone else is doing rarely pays off.

July 28, 2026Episode 19612 min

Is Your Money Sheltered or Exposed to the Weather?

Summary Wade Borth is recording from the lake this week, and it gets him thinking about purpose, patience, and where people store their money. He shares a story about fishing with his son Josh and compares the pressure to fish once you've made the trip to the pressure people feel to invest cash the moment it's sitting in a bank account. Wade introduces the "boat lift" analogy: money in a properly funded whole life policy is sheltered, growing, and protected, so you're never forced to deploy it before the timing is right. He walks through the guaranteed death benefit, tax advantages, and liquidity that come with a properly structured policy, and challenges the idea that "cash is trash." Key Takeaways Money sitting in a properly funded whole life policy is like a boat on a lift: safe, protected, and ready to go the moment conditions are right. Feeling obligated to "put cash to work" the moment it's available often leads to bad financial decisions, the same way fishing in bad weather rarely pays off. "Cash is trash" ignores the difference between money with nowhere to go and money parked in a guaranteed asset that's already compounding. A guaranteed asset gives you liquidity, tax advantages, and a death benefit at the same time, so your family has a paycheck even if you're not there. Building a financial war chest means you can deploy capital fast when the opportunity is real, instead of forcing a decision because the money is just sitting there. Links and Resources Sage Wealth Strategy: sagewealthstrategy.com Keywords infinite banking concept, be your own banker, whole life insurance, cash value, liquidity bucket, dry powder, guaranteed asset, family bank, financial war chest, policy loans, death benefit, mutual carrier, generational wealth, external rate of return, financial liquidity, Wade Borth, Sage Wealth Strategy, intentional investing, financial discipline, protected capital Episode Highlights [00:02:00 - 00:03:00] Wade shares a fishing story with his son Josh about seizing opportunity when conditions are right. [00:03:00 - 00:04:00] Wade compares feeling obligated to deploy money to feeling obligated to fish once you've made the trip. [00:04:00 - 00:05:00] Wade introduces the boat lift analogy for money sitting safely in a properly funded whole life policy. [00:05:00 - 00:06:00] Wade challenges the phrase "cash is trash" using Warren Buffett's cash reserves as a counterpoint. [00:07:00 - 00:08:00] Wade lists the benefits of a properly funded policy: guaranteed death benefit, compounding growth, tax advantages, and liquidity. [00:10:00 - 00:11:00] Wade asks listeners how many days their family would have a paycheck if something happened to them. [00:12:00 - 00:13:00] Wade closes with the Devil's Lake story and a challenge to build smarter financial fishing habits.

July 7, 2026Episode 19522 min

The Fifth Quadrant: How Providing Liquidity Puts You in Control of the Money Game

SUMMARY Robert Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrant maps out four types of people in the money game: employees, self-employed workers, business owners, and investors. It's a powerful framework, but Wade Borth argues it's missing one critical player: the banker. In this episode, Wade breaks down who actually controls the money game. No matter which quadrant someone occupies, they all need access to liquidity. The person providing that liquidity, whether it's Wells Fargo or a private individual with a pool of capital, holds the real power. Wade explains how anyone can begin building their own banking function, step into that role, and make their money work for them. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Cashflow Quadrant maps four roles (employee, self-employed, business owner, investor) but overlooks the most powerful player: the person providing liquidity. Every quadrant depends on access to capital. The person supplying that capital controls the money game. You don't need to be Wells Fargo to act as a banker. A private pool of capital, lent at a cost, creates genuine passive income. Real wealth isn't about earning more money. It's about making existing money work harder through the banking function. Breaking old money habits is the hardest part. Most people were conditioned by scarcity-era habits formed before they had any net worth to protect. LINKS AND RESOURCES Sage Wealth Strategy: sagewealthstrategy.com KEYWORDS Cashflow Quadrant, Robert Kiyosaki, be your own banker, banking function, infinite banking concept, IBC, passive income, liquidity, financial freedom, family bank, whole life insurance, cash value, private lending, generational wealth, Sage Wealth Strategy, Wade Borth, pool of capital, financial control, business owner, investor EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:06:08 - 00:07:34] Wade reveals the overlooked player in the Cashflow Quadrant: the banker, the person who provides liquidity to all four roles. [00:08:21 - 00:09:23] Wade explains how General Electric uses everyday investors as their banker by floating bonds on the open market. [00:11:13 - 00:12:27] Wade breaks down how anyone can step into the banking function and create true passive income, regardless of which quadrant they occupy. [00:16:17 - 00:17:52] Wade shares the story of a house flipper in his mid-30s who shifted one profit into a pool of capital and now earns 15% interest lending to other investors. [00:19:42 - 00:20:12] Wade introduces the yellow Jeep syndrome: once you start thinking about who needs capital, those opportunities will appear everywhere.

June 30, 2026Episode 19421 min

Inaction Has a Price: The Sequence and Habits Separating Wealth Builders from Everyone Else

Summary Wade Borth takes listeners inside a recent Tough Money live event, using real data to show what financial life actually looks like for a top 10% household earning $150,000 per year. The numbers may surprise you, starting with the size of the average family's liquidity bucket. The episode builds to a direct challenge: if you are already aware of the problem, if you have been educated on solutions, what is holding you back from taking action? Wade argues that inaction is not neutral. It carries a real cost, one that your family, your business, and your legacy will ultimately pay. Key Takeaways Habits inherited from parents define a financial ceiling most people never examine, let alone break through. Most top 10% earners carry far less liquid capital than their income suggests, and that gap creates real exposure. Wealth at every level demands different habits. Clinging to what worked before is what prevents progress to what comes next. The proper sequence of financial decisions matters as much as the decisions themselves. Out-of-sequence choices create setbacks that compound. Inaction has a measurable cost, one your family, your business, and your legacy will ultimately pay. Links and Resources Sage Wealth Strategy: sagewealthstrategy.com Factum Financial: factumfinancial.com Factum Financial YouTube Page (Tough Money live event, 45 min): Factum Financial on YouTube Contact Wade: wade@sagewealthstrategy.com wade@factumfinancial.com Keywords financial inaction, cost of not taking action, wealth building habits, liquidity strategy, infinite banking concept, whole life insurance, family legacy planning, be your own banker, generational wealth, cash value life insurance, proper financial sequence, financial fear, family banking, business succession planning, Nelson Nash, financial independence, Sage Wealth Strategy, IBC practitioner, liquidity bucket, Wade Borth podcast Episode Highlights [00:01:22 - 00:02:05] Wade explains how habits inherited from parents define the financial ceiling most people never break through. [00:02:05 - 00:03:21] The awareness-education-action pyramid, and why action is the hardest step for even the most educated listeners. [00:03:21 - 00:05:16] Wade walks through what a typical top 10% household looks like financially, and why the liquidity number is smaller than people expect. [00:07:27 - 00:09:27] The climbing rope analogy: every level of wealth requires letting go of the habits that carried you to the last level. [00:09:27 - 00:12:07] The financial junk drawer. Too many choices with no clear sequence creates paralysis, not progress. [00:12:07 - 00:14:46] If you're aware, if you're educated, and you still don't act, what are the real consequences to your family and business? [00:16:30 - 00:19:02] Solving the problem costs pennies. Not solving it costs dollars. Wade shows why the math always favors taking action.

June 16, 2026Episode 19325 min

The Hidden Medicare Cost That Could Drain $350,000 From Your Retirement (IRMAA Explained)

Summary Most people know Medicare costs money in retirement, but few understand how much their income level affects what they actually pay. In this episode, Wade Borth unpacks IRMAA, the income-related surcharge that can quietly add $162 to $650 or more per month to your Medicare premiums, depending on what you earn. Wade walks through who gets hit, what counts as income in the calculation (including surprises like municipal bond interest and Social Security), and how a single dollar over the threshold can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over time. He also explains how properly structured whole life insurance creates an income stream that falls outside the IRMAA calculation, giving retirees a meaningful planning advantage. Key Takeaways IRMAA can add hundreds of dollars per month to Medicare premiums, and a single dollar over the income threshold triggers the full surcharge with no gradual phase-in. Every dollar of the surcharge has a compounding cost. That extra $162 per month, grown at 4% over 20 years, is worth nearly $60,000 in real wealth. Income sources many people overlook in the IRMAA calculation include capital gains, Social Security income, municipal bond interest, rental income, and Roth conversions. IRMAA looks back two years, so a one-time income spike follows you into retirement longer than most people expect. Properly structured whole life insurance, when funded correctly, provides an income stream through policy loans that does not count toward the IRMAA calculation, giving retirees real choices when managing retirement income. Links and Resources Sage Wealth Strategy: sagewealthstrategy.com Keywords IRMAA, Medicare premiums, income-related monthly adjustment amount, retirement planning, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, retirement income, whole life insurance, infinite banking concept, IBC, policy loans, capital gains in retirement, Roth IRA withdrawals, 401k withdrawals, Medicare surcharge, retirement mistakes, Wade Borth, Sage Wealth Strategy, wealth erosion retirement, family banking Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:01:32] Wade opens with a lunch conversation where a friend approaching retirement had no idea how IRMAA would affect his Medicare costs. [00:05:15 - 00:08:17] Wade explains the $218,000 joint income threshold and how IRMAA brackets step up in full increments, not gradually. [00:08:18 - 00:09:21] One dollar over the threshold adds $162 per month to a couple's Medicare premium, a 40 percent increase with no phase-in. [00:09:22 - 00:12:24] At a 4 percent growth rate, that extra $162 per month is worth $60,000 over 20 years. At the top bracket, the 20-year cost reaches $238,000. [00:12:25 - 00:17:03] Wade walks through every income source factored into the IRMAA calculation, including capital gains, Social Security, municipal bond interest, and Roth conversions. [00:17:04 - 00:19:35] HSA distributions and Roth IRA withdrawals do not count toward IRMAA, creating real planning flexibility for retirees who hold these assets. [00:19:36 - 00:23:46] Properly structured whole life insurance policy loans fall outside the IRMAA calculation, giving retirees an income source they can draw from without triggering the surcharge.

June 9, 2026Episode 19222 min

The Business Owner's Pension Blueprint

Summary This is part 3 of our series. What if your quarterly tax bill could become a retirement engine? In this episode, Wade sits down with Rohit Punyani, founder of The Owner's Asset, to unpack the pension strategy most business owners and their advisors overlook. The conversation covers the sequence of financial planning, the psychology of guaranteed income, and how to combine IBC with a defined benefit pension to fund whole life insurance and annuities at wholesale pricing through tax deductions. Ro and Wade also break down who qualifies, what the first conversation looks like, and how a $1.8 million deduction can create an $11 million estate planning shield. The message is clear: structure your capital in the right order, and the numbers take care of themselves. In our previous episodes, we dive in into lots of other topics: In part 1 Wade Borth and Rohit Punyani explore how small business owners can use a cash balance plan to capture six-figure tax deductions while building a seven-figure guaranteed retirement. Rohit walks through the two schools of retirement thought, the mechanics of a pension compared to a 401(k), and the compelling opportunity to purchase whole life insurance inside a pension using pre-tax dollars. If you have been writing painful tax checks without a clear strategy, this conversation shows you where that money could go instead. Check part 1 of this conversation in here In Part 2 of this conversation, Wade and Rohit Punyani go deep on who a cash balance plan actually works for, why older business owners carry the biggest advantage, and how a seasoned whole life policy can transform required minimum distributions from a tax event into a source of non-taxable cash flow. Rohit explains how the IRS has written a secondary retirement system specifically for the business owner who took risk, and how that system can help make up for every year spent building a company instead of a retirement account. If your business has been funding the IRS for years, this episode shows you how to redirect that money. Check part 2 of this conversation in here Key Takeaways Sequence matters more than the total amount of capital. IBC is the foundation, a pension adds whole life and annuities with pre-tax dollars, and markets or real estate come after. Guaranteed income removes the scarcity mindset in retirement. People with income live abundantly; people drawing down assets tend to pull back every time the market dips. If your liquidity does not scale with your wealth and income, your financial plan is fragile. Business owners paying $20,000 to $30,000 or more in quarterly estimated taxes may qualify for a defined benefit pension that turns a tax liability into a retirement asset. Life insurance and estate planning can be layered inside a pension structure, allowing business owners to manufacture significant liquidity at a fraction of the out-of-pocket cost. Links and Resources sagewealthstrategy.com Part 1: Six Figures Off, Seven Figures Built Part 2: Your Business Owes You a Pension Keywords pension strategy for business owners, defined benefit pension, tax arbitrage, infinite banking concept, IBC, whole life insurance, annuities, guaranteed income retirement, cash value life insurance, Wade Borth, Rohit Punyani, The Owner's Asset, business owner retirement planning, 1099 retirement strategy, self-employed pension, estate planning life insurance, family banking, financial liquidity, cash flow retirement, scarcity mindset retirement Episode Highlights [00:01:45 - 00:02:25] Ro explains why capital structure matters as much as total capital, and how starting a $40,000 annual policy in your forties generates six-figure cash flow by your seventies. [00:03:05 - 00:04:06] Wade and Ro align on the need for a process that wins every time, and Wade introduces the sequence framework: how you pack your bags going up the hill determines how you come back down. [00:05:27 - 00:06:24] The 2016 LIMRA annual report and the 2005 Wall Street Journal article 'Friends, Neighbors, and Annuities' show that people with annuities live longer and carry less financial stress. [00:06:25 - 00:07:10] Wade references Tom Hegna's principle: people with income are happy, people with assets are miserable. A real client story about a market dip derailing a boat purchase brings it to life. [00:10:25 - 00:11:25] Ro shares his epiphany as a former chief investment officer and credits Wade with the principle: if your liquidity does not scale with your wealth, your plan is fragile. [00:13:26 - 00:15:02] Ro walks through who qualifies for a pension, what the first conversation looks like, and why roughly 30 percent of inquiries are not yet in the model's sweet spot. [00:17:28 - 00:18:15] Ro describes how a pension structure enabled estate planning for a 70 and 68-year-old couple: $1.8 million in deductions created an $11 million estate planning shield. [00:18:34 - 00:19:23] Wade and Ro clarify who should reach out: self-employed individuals on 1099, K-1, or W-2 from their own S corp, making quarterly estimated tax payments of $20,000 or more.

June 2, 2026Episode 19127 min

Your Business Owes You a Pension

Summary In part 1 Wade Borth and Rohit Punyani, founder of The Owner's Asset, explore how small business owners can use a cash balance plan to capture six-figure tax deductions while building a seven-figure guaranteed retirement. Rohit walks through the two schools of retirement thought, the mechanics of a pension compared to a 401(k), and the compelling opportunity to purchase whole life insurance inside a pension using pre-tax dollars. If you have been writing painful tax checks without a clear strategy, this conversation shows you where that money could go instead. Check part 1 of this conversation in here We continue this episode in part 2, as most business owners know they should be saving for retirement. What they don't know is how much the tax code has stacked the deck in their favor. In this episode, Wade and Rohit Punyani of The Owner's Asset dig into who a cash balance plan actually works for, why older business owners have the biggest advantage, and how to run a pension and a 401(k) together for maximum effect. Rohit also breaks down one of the most underused strategies in retirement planning: depositing required minimum distributions into a seasoned whole life policy to convert taxable income into accessible, non-taxable cash flow. If your business has been funding the IRS instead of your future, this conversation is for you. Part 3 ends up with Wade and Rohit, going deep in conversation to explore a strategy most advisors never mention. Together they walk through how sequence, guaranteed income, and a pension structure can reduce tax bills, fund whole life insurance at wholesale, and build a retirement income that removes the scarcity mindset. The conversation ties IBC, annuities, and pension design into a single framework built around clarity, perspective, and guidance. Check part 3 of this conversation in here Key Takeaways The ideal candidate: a stable business with consistent taxable income, quarterly estimated payments above $20,000 to $30,000 per quarter, and at least some active K-1, S-corp, or 1099 income. After age 52 or 53, the IRS tables allow deductions that can exceed your active income. A 60-year-old with $100,000 in side income may be able to deduct $250,000. A pension and a 401(k) can and should coexist. The 401(k) stays in the market for growth. The pension funds your guaranteed safety-first income. The pension contribution is a top-line deduction. A $200,000 contribution on $1 million in revenue means the IRS taxes you on $800,000, and it can drop you into a lower marginal bracket. Required minimum distributions should never be spent directly. Depositing an RMD into a seasoned whole life policy and drawing on the policy's cash value can convert a $40,000 taxable distribution into $100,000 or more of accessible, non-taxable cash flow. Links and Resources sagewealthstrategy.com Part 1: Six Figures Off, Seven Figures Built Keywords cash balance plan for business owners, who qualifies for a pension, K-1 income retirement, 1099 pension plan, self-employed retirement planning, age advantage cash balance plan, RMD strategy whole life insurance, infinite banking RMD, required minimum distributions whole life, pension and 401k together, business owner tax deduction, Wade Borth, Rohit Punyani, The Owner's Asset, Sage Wealth Strategy, solopreneur retirement, cash flow vs income IRS, top-line deduction, talent retention pension, small business pension plan Episode Highlights [00:04:35 - 00:05:46] Rohit defines the ideal candidate in human terms: a stable business writing quarterly estimated tax payments above $20,000 to $30,000 that could instead be flowing into a pension. [00:07:20 - 00:08:36] The age advantage: after 52 or 53, you can deduct more than your active income. A 60-year-old with $100,000 in side income can potentially deduct $250,000 and erase a tax bill entirely. [00:11:05 - 00:11:28] The 401(k) and pension should coexist. Stay in the markets with the 401(k). Use the pension to buy your safety-first guaranteed income. [00:13:48 - 00:14:53] Top-line deduction explained: a $200,000 contribution on $1,000,000 in revenue means the IRS taxes you on $800,000, and it can push you into a lower marginal tax bracket. [00:17:56 - 00:19:20] The catch-up concept: after years of building a business without contributing to retirement, a cash balance plan lets you redirect $200,000 to $300,000 a year and rebuild what was missed. [00:21:29 - 00:25:43] The RMD strategy: take a $40,000 distribution, deposit it into a seasoned whole life policy, use the policy's 3x to 4x release to pay taxes and keep the rest, turning $22,000 of after-tax income into $102,000 of cash flow.