Earn it? Let’s make sure you keep it.
A high income doesn’t build wealth by itself. We help you keep more of what you earn with one plan for your taxes, your protection, your home and your family.
- No cost for the meetings, the plan or our help
- You’re always free to say no
- We walk through what each option costs first
Taxes, gaps in protection and money sitting in the wrong place quietly take back a lot of what a high earner makes. Most people in your position have a 401(k), a savings account and a CPA who files every April, and they’ve hit the limits of all 3. These are the areas we plan with you, so more of what you earn stays with you and your family. You don’t need all of them. The first Financial Strategy Session is where we find the few that matter most for you.
Tax Planning: The 3 Tax Buckets
Where your money sits decides how much of it you keep.
What it is
Every dollar you save lands in one of 3 tax buckets. “Taxed now” is money you’ve already paid tax on and pay tax on again as it grows, like a regular savings or brokerage account. “Taxed later” is pre-tax money, like a traditional 401(k), where every dollar you take out in retirement is taxed at whatever rates apply then. “Tax-advantaged” is money that can grow and come out without income tax when the rules are followed, such as a Roth or a Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy. Most high earners have almost everything in “taxed later.”
Example
A high earner has saved for 20 years, almost all in her company 401(k). At retirement, every dollar she withdraws is taxable income, and she has no way to control her tax bill in a year she needs extra money. A high earner in the same spot who also built savings in the “taxed now” and “tax-advantaged” buckets can choose where each year’s income comes from and keep her taxable income where she wants it.
Hypothetical example. Results depend on tax law, your income and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- High earners with most of their savings in a 401(k) or other pre-tax account
- People who expect their income, or tax rates, to be high in retirement
- Anyone who wants to choose which bucket to draw from each year
- People who’ve never had someone map their savings by tax treatment
How it works
- 1We list every account you have and sort it into the 3 buckets.
- 2We project what your retirement income looks like after taxes.
- 3We decide with you and your CPA how much should go into each bucket going forward.
- 4We set up the strategies that fill the gaps.
- 5We revisit the mix every year as your income and the tax rules change.
What we do
- We map your savings by tax bucket and show you the gaps.
- We coordinate with your CPA, who gives the tax advice.
- We build the strategies that add balance to your buckets.
Tax-Advantaged Retirement Income
Income outside the 401(k), with protection for your family built in.
What it is
A Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy builds cash value that grows tax-deferred and can be drawn on later through withdrawals and policy loans, generally free of income tax when the rules are followed. It also includes a death benefit, so your family is protected from day one. It’s subject to its rules, charges and loans, and it works best when it’s funded well and given time.
Tax-Advantaged Growth vs. a Managed Account2:45
The same $100,000 a year saved 2 ways, and how long the income lasts in each, in a hypothetical illustration.
Example
Ethan, 45: $100,000 a year for 10 years
| Managed account | Tax-Advantaged Growth | |
|---|---|---|
| Assumed | 6.00%, a 25% combined tax rate and a 1% yearly fee | Illustrated at 5.97% |
| By year 20 | $1,701,034 | $2,489,306 |
| Income | $203,952 a year for 9 years, $125,559 in year 10, then it runs out | $203,952 a year for 20 years |
| Left for family | Nothing | $814,338 |
| Costs over 40 years | $707,979 in taxes and fees | $212,149 in policy charges |
Ethan, 45, is highly paid and maxes out his 401(k). He compares putting $100,000 a year for 10 years into his managed account against a Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy. The managed account, at an assumed 6.00% with a 25% combined tax rate and a 1% yearly fee, grows to $1,701,034 by year 20. It then pays him $203,952 a year for 9 years, $125,559 in year 10, and runs out, with nothing left for his family. The strategy, illustrated at 5.97%, reaches $2,489,306 in cash value by year 20. It then pays the same $203,952 a year for 20 years and still leaves an $814,338 death benefit. Total costs over 40 years: $212,149 in policy charges versus $707,979 in taxes and fees.
Hypothetical example. Results are not guaranteed and depend on rates, policy performance and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- High earners who already max out their 401(k)
- People who want future income from the “tax-advantaged” bucket
- Parents who want protection for their family and growth in the same plan
- People willing to commit for 10 years or more
How it works
- 1We look at how much you can set aside each year and for how long.
- 2We design the strategy for the most growth within the tax rules.
- 3You fund it, and the cash value grows with index-linked crediting and protection from index losses.
- 4In retirement, you draw income through withdrawals and policy loans.
- 5Whatever isn’t used passes to your family as a death benefit.
What we do
- We design and compare the strategy against what you already have.
- We coordinate the tax side with your CPA.
- We review performance and loans with you every year.
Real Estate in the Plan
Your home and your properties are part of your plan, not separate from it.
What it is
For most high earners, real estate is one of their largest assets. It affects your net worth, your debt order and your estate plan. We look at how your home and any investment properties fit the whole picture: how you pay them off, how you fund the next purchase, and how they pass to your family. Trusted partners handle the transactions, and we make sure the property fits the plan.
Example
A family owns their home and 2 rental properties, each bought with a separate plan and none of it tied to their retirement or estate. We bring it together. Their home payoff uses the Old vs New strategy below, their next rental is funded through Infinite Banking, and their attorney sets up how the properties pass to their children. The same properties now work as one plan.
Hypothetical example. Results depend on the properties, the market and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- Homeowners planning to pay off their mortgage early
- First-time buyers deciding how much to put down
- Investors buying rental properties
- Families who want properties to pass to the next generation
How it works
- 1We add your properties and mortgages to your net worth and debt plan.
- 2We decide how each property fits your goals.
- 3We plan how to fund purchases and payoffs, including the strategies below.
- 4We connect you with trusted real estate and lending partners.
- 5We include your properties in your estate plan.
What we do
- We fit your real estate into your net worth, debt and estate plan.
- We connect you with trusted real estate, lending and legal partners.
- We design the funding strategies for purchases and payoffs.
Infinite Banking for Investors
Keep your money growing, even while you use it to invest.
What it is
Most investors save in a savings account, then pull the money out to buy property. The moment it leaves, it stops earning. Infinite Banking puts a Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy between your savings and your investments. You fund the strategy, then borrow against it to invest. Because it’s a policy loan, your account value stays in place and keeps being credited, while the loan carries its own interest. It’s subject to its rules, charges and loans.
Infinite Banking for Investors6:09
How an investor can borrow against a policy's cash value for the next deal while the policy keeps growing, and what the loans cost.
Example
- $40,000up front, plus $10,000 a month
- $100,000borrowed each year for 10 years to buy a property
- $120,000a year in planned retirement income from the account
- $2.4 millionabout this much goes in over about 20 years
- $4 millionabout what the account grows to, on top of the properties
Say an investor puts $10,000 a month into a savings account and pulls out $100,000 each year to buy a property, for 10 years. The money stops earning the moment it leaves. Instead, they start an Infinite Banking strategy with $40,000 up front plus $10,000 a month, and each year they borrow $100,000 from it to buy a property. After 10 years they keep adding rental income for a while, then plan to retire on $120,000 a year from the account while living on their rents. In this illustration, about $2.4 million goes in over about 20 years, and the account value grows to about $4 million, on top of the properties.
Hypothetical example. Results are not guaranteed and depend on rates, policy performance and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- Real estate investors who buy with cash or large down payments
- Business owners who fund their own growth
- High earners who save heavily and invest on a schedule
- People who want to “be their own bank” instead of borrowing from one
How it works
- 1You fund the strategy, often with a lump sum plus monthly deposits.
- 2When you’re ready to invest, you take a policy loan.
- 3You invest the loan in property or your business.
- 4Your account value keeps being credited the whole time.
- 5You repay the loan on your schedule, or let rental income refill the account.
What we do
- We design the strategy for early access to your cash value.
- We plan each loan and repayment with you.
- We review loan balances and performance with you every year.
Old vs New Home Payoff Strategy
Same income, same house, 2 very different results.
What it is
The old way to pay off a home early is to send extra money to the mortgage every month. It works, but that money is locked in the house until you sell or borrow against it. The new way is to put money down, pay only the minimum, and send the extra to a Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy with Index-Linked Growth. When the strategy has grown enough, you pay off the home in one lump sum and keep the account for the next goal. It works with VA loans and conventional loans.
Example
The same $350,000 home with a VA loan, after saving $1,000 a month for 5 years
| Old: Jane | New: Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Saves in | A bank account | A Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy (assumed at 6%), $72,000 after 5 years |
| Down payment | $0 | $50,000 borrowed from the strategy |
| Each month | $3,415 against a $2,566 minimum | His $2,242 minimum, $1,175 into the strategy and $150 into savings |
| Payoff | Paid off in 15 years | About $571,000 in the account by year 15, then $215,000 borrowed to pay it off in one lump sum |
| Equity | $373,000 | $373,000 |
| At the end | $90,000 in savings | A growing account |
Jane and Jordan each save $1,000 a month for 5 years and buy the same $350,000 home with a VA loan. Jane saves in a bank account, puts $0 down, and pays $3,415 a month against a $2,566 minimum to pay it off in 15 years. She ends with $90,000 in savings. Jordan saves in a Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy (assumed at 6%, an estimate) and has $72,000 after 5 years. He borrows $50,000 from it for his down payment, pays only his $2,242 minimum, and puts $1,175 a month into the strategy and $150 into savings. By year 15, his account holds about $571,000. He borrows $215,000 to pay off his home in one lump sum. Both own the home, and both have $373,000 in equity, but Jordan still has a growing account.
Hypothetical example. Results are not guaranteed and depend on rates, policy performance and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- Future homebuyers with a few years to save
- Veterans and service members using a VA loan
- Homeowners paying extra on their mortgage today
- Anyone who wants to pay off a home early and still have savings
How it works
- 1Save for the home in the strategy instead of a savings account.
- 2Borrow your down payment from your own account.
- 3Pay only the minimum mortgage payment.
- 4Put the difference into the strategy every month.
- 5Pay off the home in a lump sum, then keep the account growing.
What we do
- We run both strategies with your real numbers.
- We connect you with trusted lending and real estate partners.
- We design the strategy and plan the payoff with you.
Premium Financing for High Earners
Fund a large protection plan without pulling money out of your investments.
What it is
Premium financing means a third-party lender pays the premiums on a large protection policy, and you pay only the loan interest each year. The policy, owned by you or often by an irrevocable trust (an ILIT), is pledged as collateral along with other assets if needed. The loan is repaid later from policy values or other assets, or from the death benefit. It can keep your capital invested while you build a large estate plan, but it carries real risks.
Premium Financing: Large Protection Without Tying Up Capital3:46
How a large policy can be funded with a bank loan instead of your own cash, shown with a hypothetical example.
Example
- $716,101premium a year for 7 years
- $42,823loan interest paid in year 1
- $5,012,707loan repaid from the policy in year 16
Our Business Owners page walks through John’s case in full. In short, his premium was $716,101 a year for 7 years, but in year 1 he paid only $42,823 in loan interest, and the policy’s values were illustrated to repay the $5,012,707 loan in year 16. Lenders set their own minimums for net worth, premium and liquid assets, and they change, so we confirm them for your case.
Hypothetical example. Results are not guaranteed and depend on rates, policy performance and your situation. Rising rates or weak policy performance can require more collateral.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- High-net-worth earners who need a large death benefit for estate planning
- People who don’t want to sell investments to pay premiums
- People with enough liquid assets to pledge as collateral
- Families who want to reduce gift taxes through a trust
How it works
- 1We confirm the protection need and whether you qualify with a lender.
- 2You apply for the policy, and the trust or you apply for the loan.
- 3The lender pays the premiums, and the policy is pledged as collateral.
- 4You gift the yearly interest to the trust, which pays the lender.
- 5At repayment or at death, the loan is paid off and the rest goes to your family.
What we do
- We work with specialist partners who arrange the lender and the trust.
- We stress-test the plan for higher rates before you sign.
- We coordinate the trust with your attorney and the taxes with your CPA.
Lifetime Income
Income built to last as long as you do.
What it is
Lifetime Income turns part of your savings into a paycheck you can’t outlive. During the growth years, your money can use Index-Linked Growth, which credits interest based on a market index while giving you protection from index losses. When you’re ready, that value becomes a steady income stream for life, for you alone or for you and your spouse. It’s built for the part of retirement income you need to count on no matter what the market does.
Example
A couple plans to retire in 10 years. Social Security will cover part of their spending, and their 401(k) will cover the rest, but a bad market in their first years of retirement could force them to sell low. They put part of their savings into Lifetime Income with Index-Linked Growth. When they retire, it pays a set income for as long as either of them lives, so their basic bills are covered and the rest of their savings can stay invested.
Hypothetical example. Results depend on the strategy, rates and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- People within 10 to 15 years of retirement
- Retirees worried about running out of money
- Couples who want income that continues for the surviving spouse
- People who want some of their savings off the market’s roller coaster
How it works
- 1We figure out how much of your retirement spending must be covered no matter what.
- 2We decide how much of your savings to put toward Lifetime Income.
- 3Your money grows with Index-Linked Growth until you need it.
- 4You turn on income at the age you choose.
- 5We coordinate it with Social Security and your other accounts.
What we do
- We find the income gap your plan needs to cover.
- We compare Lifetime Income options across carriers.
- We coordinate the timing with your other retirement income.
Protecting the Income
Your whole plan runs on your paycheck. Protect it.
What it is
Your income is your biggest asset. If a health event stops it, every savings goal stops with it. Protecting the income means 2 things. Disability coverage replaces part of your pay if you can’t work. Living benefits let you draw on part of your protection policy’s death benefit while you’re alive if you have a qualifying serious illness. Disability benefits are generally free of federal income tax when the premiums are paid with after-tax dollars, and living benefits are generally income-tax-free too.
Example
A surgeon has disability coverage through her hospital, but it only covers a fraction of her pay. A hand injury keeps her out of the operating room for months. Without her own coverage, her family dips into savings and stops funding retirement. A surgeon in the same spot with individual disability coverage and living benefits keeps most of her income coming in, and her plan stays on track.
Hypothetical example. Results depend on the coverage you choose and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- High earners whose family depends on 1 or 2 incomes
- Professionals whose income depends on their health and skill
- People with group disability coverage that caps out well below their pay
- Business owners with no plan to keep their salary going during a disability
How it works
- 1We look at how long your family could live without your paycheck.
- 2We review any coverage you have through work.
- 3We fill the gap with individual disability coverage.
- 4We add living benefits to your protection strategy.
- 5We review the coverage as your income grows.
What we do
- We find the gap between your income and your current coverage.
- We compare disability and living benefit options for your situation.
- We keep your coverage in step with your income.
Liquidity and Debt Order
Build the foundation before you build on top of it.
What it is
A high income can hide a shaky foundation. Liquidity means having cash you can reach in an emergency without selling investments or running up credit cards. Debt order means paying down debt in the right sequence, starting with the most expensive, before putting extra money toward long-term goals. Getting these 2 right first makes every other strategy on this page work better.
Example
A couple earns well but carries credit card balances, 2 car loans and almost no savings. Every surprise expense goes on a card, and the balances keep growing. We build a small cash reserve first so new surprises stop landing on the cards, then pay off the highest-rate debt and roll each freed-up payment into the next one. Once the debt is gone, the payments they were making become money for their long-term plan.
Hypothetical example. Results depend on your income, debts and situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- High earners with little cash on hand despite a big income
- People carrying credit card, auto or student loan debt
- People who’ve had to sell investments to cover a surprise expense
- Anyone unsure whether to pay off debt or invest first
How it works
- 1We list every debt with its balance, rate and payment.
- 2We set a cash reserve target based on your monthly expenses.
- 3We put your debts in payoff order, usually highest rate first.
- 4We free up cash flow and point it at the reserve, then the debt.
- 5Once the foundation is set, we move the freed-up money into growth.
What we do
- We build a clear liquidity and debt plan with you.
- We help you find cash flow you didn’t know you had.
- We move the freed-up money into the right next strategy.
Estate Planning and Wealth Transfer
Make sure what you’ve built goes where you choose.
What it is
Estate planning decides who receives your assets, who cares for your children, and who makes decisions if you can’t. It includes wills, trusts and beneficiary reviews, done with our estate partner. It also includes the protection that passes to your family generally income-tax-free. When a policy is owned by a properly drafted irrevocable trust set up to hold it (an ILIT), the death benefit can also generally stay out of your taxable estate.
Example
A high earner set up his 401(k) years ago and never updated the beneficiary. He has since married and had 2 children. If he died today, his savings could go to someone he no longer intends, and his children would have no named guardian. A beneficiary review, a will with a guardian, and a trust to manage money for his children until they’re older fix all 3 problems.
Hypothetical example. Your attorney decides the documents that fit your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- Parents with young children and no will or guardian named
- People whose beneficiary designations haven’t been checked in years
- High earners building an estate that may face estate taxes later
- Anyone who wants to leave a legacy without leaving a mess
How it works
- 1We review your current will, trusts and every beneficiary designation.
- 2We map what passes to whom, and how.
- 3Our estate partner drafts or updates your documents.
- 4We line up protection so your family has cash when they need it most.
- 5We review everything after a marriage, birth, move or big change in wealth.
What we do
- We lead the planning with our estate partner or your attorney.
- We review every beneficiary designation with you.
- We design protection, including trust-owned protection, to support the plan.
Long-Term Care Planning
Plan for care now, so it doesn’t drain your retirement later.
What it is
Many people will need help with daily living at some point, at home or in a facility. That care is expensive, and it usually isn’t covered by health plans. Care planning builds long-term care benefits into your protection strategy, so the same plan that protects your family can pay for your care if you need it. If you never need care, the protection still passes to your family.
Example
A couple in their 50s watched a parent’s care use up a lifetime of savings, and they don’t want that for their own children. Instead of buying separate care coverage they might never use, they add care planning to their protection strategy. If one of them needs care, the plan pays toward it, so their retirement savings stay intact for the other spouse. If neither needs care, the benefit passes to their children.
Hypothetical example. Benefits, costs and eligibility depend on the strategy and your health.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- People in their 40s, 50s and 60s planning for retirement
- Couples worried one spouse’s care could use up the other’s savings
- Adult children who’ve watched a parent’s care drain the family’s money
- People who don’t want to pay for coverage they may never use
How it works
- 1We talk through what care you’d want and where.
- 2We look at what care could cost and how long your savings would last.
- 3We build care benefits into your protection strategy.
- 4We coordinate the plan with your retirement income.
- 5We review it as your health and goals change.
What we do
- We help you plan for care before it’s needed.
- We compare care planning options across carriers.
- We coordinate care planning with your retirement and estate plan.
Charitable Giving
Give in a way that fits your tax plan and your legacy.
What it is
Charitable giving works best when it’s planned, not just written as a check at year end. There are several ways to give. You can name a charity as a beneficiary on a policy or account, add a charitable benefit to a protection strategy, or work with your attorney and CPA on structures such as a charitable remainder trust. The right choice depends on what you want to give, when, and how it fits your taxes.
Example
- $1 millionof protection that goes to the family
- $10,000gift to a qualified charity, on top of the $1 million
- $100,000the cap on the gift
Some protection strategies offer a charitable giving benefit. On one we use, a policy with a $1 million death benefit can name a qualified charity to receive a gift of 1% of the base death benefit, or $10,000, on top of the $1 million that goes to the family. The gift is capped at $100,000, the policy must be at least $100,000, and you can change the charity while the policy is in force. That carrier offers it at no additional cost.
Hypothetical example. Availability and terms vary by carrier and state.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- High earners who give regularly and want it to fit their tax plan
- People who want a cause they care about to be part of their legacy
- Families who want to give without taking anything from their heirs
- People thinking about larger gifts or a family foundation
How it works
- 1We talk about the causes you care about and how much you want to give.
- 2We look at your options, from beneficiary designations to trusts.
- 3Your CPA and attorney weigh in on the tax and legal side.
- 4We set up the giving strategy you choose.
- 5You can change the charity you’ve named as your life changes.
What we do
- We help you build giving into your overall plan.
- We bring in your CPA and attorney for trusts and tax questions.
- We set up beneficiary and charitable features on your strategies.
Education Funding
Plan for your children’s education without shortchanging your retirement.
What it is
Education costs can compete with retirement for the same dollars. Planning ahead lets you fund school in a way that fits your tax plan. One option we often use is drawing on the cash value of a Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy, which can serve as education money if it’s needed and keep growing for retirement if it isn’t. It’s subject to its rules, charges and loans, so it works best when it’s started early.
Example
Parents start a Tax-Advantaged Growth strategy when their daughter is born. By the time she starts college, the cash value can be accessed through policy loans to help pay tuition. If she earns a scholarship or chooses a trade instead, the money doesn’t have to be spent on school. It keeps growing and becomes part of her parents’ retirement income, and the death benefit protects the family the whole time.
Hypothetical example. Results are not guaranteed and depend on rates, policy performance and your situation.
See who it fits and how it works
Who it fits
- Parents and grandparents of young children
- High earners who want flexibility if a child chooses a different path
- Families who don’t want education savings tied to one use
- Parents who want to protect their retirement while funding school
How it works
- 1We estimate what school could cost and when.
- 2We look at your options side by side, including education accounts and Tax-Advantaged Growth.
- 3We choose a mix that fits your taxes and your retirement plan.
- 4You fund it monthly or yearly.
- 5When school arrives, we plan withdrawals or policy loans in the right order.
What we do
- We compare education funding options for your family.
- We design the strategy so it fits your retirement plan.
- We coordinate the tax side with your CPA.
One team, led for you.
RFF works with established Centers of Influence and coordinates services and strategies between the CPAs, attorneys and other professionals you choose, as the leader of your family’s wealth management team. Wealthy families build a family office so their CPA, attorney and advisors work in one room toward one plan. We give you that same kind of coordination without needing a family office of your own. Every meeting is with our team.
- Your CPA
- Your attorney
- Other professionals you choose
Let’s make your income work as hard as you do.
Bring a recent pay stub or tax return if you have it handy, plus a list of your accounts and debts. In one Financial Strategy Session, we’ll show you where your money is leaking, which areas matter most for you, and what each one would take.
- No cost for the meetings, the plan or our help
- You’re always free to say no
The examples on this page are hypothetical and for education only. They aren’t a promise of results. Index-Linked Growth credits interest based on an index but doesn’t invest in the market directly. Policy loans and withdrawals reduce cash value and death benefit, may cause a policy to lapse, and may be taxable. Tax treatment depends on your situation and current law. Neither WFG nor its agents provide tax or legal advice, so talk with your CPA and attorney before you act.