However, it’s regular folks who’re 70% of my clientele. They’re making, for the most part, $45-150,000 per household - not ‘rich’ people.

If more of us would pay attention to what got our parents and grandparents in the fix many of them are in today, they’d begin to ask questions about paying taxes on meager retirement incomes - whether those taxes are low or not.

An example would be a middle class couple who can refinance their modest home - netting out enough to buy one inexpensive rental, and have an equally modest cash reserve.

If we use your 20 year period, these folks will, more likely than not, end up owning real estate with a net equity of over $1Million. At a 6.5-8.5% yield, their cash flow would be $65-85,000 yearly - while owning an appreciating asset. Also, they wouldn’t have the government telling them how much to take out, while forcing them to bite into their principal. As you’re well aware, that happens all the time with qualified plans.

I have a couple who’re currently visiting the second home we squeezed in for them several years ago while doing an exchange. (New England area - you know watching the leaves turn.) They’re not 60 yet, and they’re retired with a minimum of $5,000/mo. totally tax sheltered income. By 2010 at the latest? That income will be twice that - and yes, still sheltered. In fact their income will remain 100% tax sheltered until they’re well into their 80’s.

This doesn’t take into account their (here it comes Michael) FIUL, which will, in about seven years, begin generating an additional $4-5,000/mo. - tax free for life.

The day has passed, in my opinion anyway, when regular folk must settle for what Grandpa had in retirement.

Their menu is wide open.

Of course, they must figure out there are questions they simply don’t know to ask - and give me a call to find out what they are.

You always get my juices flowing Michael - thanks for that.

I think your tax story needs some work. People should be investing both pretax and after tax. While pretax dollars will certainly be taxed when they are withdrawn, most people will be making less money when they retire. Rich people should go your way, no question. But working class people (the majority of people out their) should be doing both. Investing today pretax, at a rate of 10% is the same as investing 6.5% after tax. If I pay taxes later, so be it because I have had 20 years of additional interest on my 3.5% additional funding. If I drop to a lower tax bracket, all the better.