The Retirement Miracle

By Patrick Kelly

The Retirement Miracle illustrates the safest or best way to save for retirement. Patrick Kelly argues that traditional retirement plans only delay taxes, leaving retirees vulnerable to future tax increases and forced withdrawals (like required minimum distributions) that can reduce income in retirement. Instead, he promotes Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance as a way to grow money with market-linked upside, protect against market losses, access funds tax-free, and pass wealth on to beneficiaries without income tax. The core message is that a properly structured IUL policy can provide safer, tax-efficient retirement income – what he calls the “miracle.”

Kelly, Patrick. The Retirement Miracle. Wealth Builders Press, 2019.

The Power of Zero

by David McKnight

The Power of Zero focuses on reducing or eliminating taxes in retirement by planning ahead, with the goal of reaching a “0% tax bracket” in retirement. David McKnight explains that retirement savings generally fall into three tax categories: the tax-deferred bucket, where contributions are made pre-tax but withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and subject to required minimum distributions; the tax-free bucket, such as Roth IRAs, where taxes are paid upfront and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free with no required minimum distributions; and the taxable bucket, which offers flexibility but requires paying taxes annually on interest, dividends, or gains and is less tax-efficient.

A key strategy discussed in the book is the Roth conversion, which involves moving funds from tax-deferred accounts into a Roth IRA, paying taxes at today’s rates so future growth and withdrawals can be tax-free. Ultimately, the power of zero is about structuring retirement income so taxable income is minimized or eliminated, emphasizing that long-term security is not just about how much you save, but how much you keep.

McKnight, David. The Power of Zero: How to Get to the 0% Tax Bracket and Transform Your Retirement. Crown Publishing Group, 2018.

Jake Thompson’s Money. Wealth. Life Insurance. explains how many high-net-worth individuals use cash value life insurance as more than just a death benefit for their families. Instead, when structured properly, these policies can build cash value over time and function like a “personal bank” you own and control—allowing you to borrow against the policy’s value rather than relying on a traditional lender.

The book also argues that this approach has been used for decades by wealthy families and businesses to help fund investments or business opportunities while maintaining flexibility. Thompson contrasts this strategy with traditional retirement plans like 401(k)s, which may create higher tax burdens later, and highlights life insurance’s potential tax advantages, including tax-free benefits and greater control over how and when money is accessed.