Podcast
Bankless by Design
Hosted by Tricia Miller · EN
The Bankless by Design Podcast with Tricia Miller.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Owning the Policy Isn't Enough | Use It or Lose It, BYOB Series #27
1w ago00:37:14Tap to summarizeOwning a whole life policy is not the same thing as becoming your own banker. In the final episode of Nelson Nash's section on the five human problems, Tricia and Jonathan explore what he meant by "Use It or Lose It." They address some of the most common questions surrounding the Infinite Banking Concept: Does borrowing against a policy make it grow? Why repay your own banking system with interest? And what are you really in danger of losing if you never put the concept into practice? They also discuss Mark 4:25, opportunity cost, the cost of using your own capital, and the common mistakes that can cause people to fall back into their old financial habits. The policy is an important tool—but the policy alone is not the point. IBC is a process that requires continued learning, capitalization, financing, repayment, patience, and practice. The real question is not simply whether you own a policy. It is whether you are actively becoming your own banker. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thrivewell/61578207568360/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankless_by_design/ 👉 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107769593 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrivewell_bbd Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The content shared is not intended to be a substitute for consultation with the appropriate professional. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Tricia Miller, unless otherwise specifically cited. The data that is presented is believed to be from reliable sources, and no representations are made by Tricia Miller, Thrivewell, and Bankless By Design as to another party's informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with your Adviser, Financial Planner, Tax Consultant, Attorney, Investment Adviser or the appropriate professional prior to taking any action.
Transcribe →The Most Dangerous Human Problem: The Arrival Syndrome
2w ago00:32:41Tap to summarizeWhat if the greatest obstacle to growth is not ignorance—but the belief that we already know? In this episode, Tricia and Jonathan explore what Nelson Nash calls The Arrival Syndrome: the prideful tendency to stop listening, stop learning, and assume we have already figured everything out. Through the story of W. Edwards Deming, the transformation of Japanese manufacturing, and Nelson's teaching on properly understanding the financial world, they discuss the importance of humility, discipline, and continuous improvement. They also examine how financial products can be misclassified, why the cost of capital matters, and how pride can appear at both ends of success—first by keeping us from learning and later by tempting us to believe we accomplished everything on our own. Nelson closes this section with a powerful prayer and a reminder from Deuteronomy that even our ability to produce wealth comes from God. Be curious. Ask better questions. Stay humble. And never assume there is nothing left to learn. Learn more at banklessbydesign.com. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thrivewell/61578207568360/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankless_by_design/ 👉 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107769593 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrivewell_bbd Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The content shared is not intended to be a substitute for consultation with the appropriate professional. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Tricia Miller, unless otherwise specifically cited. The data that is presented is believed to be from reliable sources, and no representations are made by Tricia Miller, Thrivewell, and Bankless By Design as to another party's informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with your Adviser, Financial Planner, Tax Consultant, Attorney, Investment Adviser or the appropriate professional prior to taking any action.
Transcribe →Why We Give Up Control | The Golden Rule, Part 2 | BYOB Series #25
3w ago00:37:01Tap to summarizeThey had escaped slavery. Then they handed over their gold—and celebrated the thought of going back. Why would free people surrender their freedom? And why do we so often give up control of our financial lives, only to complain when someone else makes the rules? In Part 2 of our Golden Rule conversation, Tricia and Jonathan explore the surprising connections Nelson Nash makes between the Constitution, Shakespeare's "all the world's a stage," and the Israelites giving their gold to Aaron. At the center of it all is a profound role reversal. The Constitution was meant to help the people govern and restrain their government. In much the same way, Nelson argues that we have surrendered the banking function in our lives and accepted dependency on institutions that now control the capital and set the terms. In this episode: • Why people give up control even when they say they want freedom • How the servant quietly becomes the master • The difference between living as an owner and living as a dependent • Why the Israelites gave up their gold after escaping Egypt • Why freedom requires responsibility, discipline, and delayed gratification • Why becoming your own banker is about character—not merely policy mechanics The Golden Rule still holds: He who has the gold makes the rules. The question is: Why did we give it away? Learn more at banklessbydesign.com. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thrivewell/61578207568360/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankless_by_design/ 👉 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107769593 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrivewell_bbd Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The content shared is not intended to be a substitute for consultation with the appropriate professional. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Tricia Miller, unless otherwise specifically cited. The data that is presented is believed to be from reliable sources, and no representations are made by Tricia Miller, Thrivewell, and Bankless By Design as to another party's informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with your Adviser, Financial Planner, Tax Consultant, Attorney, Investment Adviser or the appropriate professional prior to taking any action.
Transcribe →He Who Has the Gold Makes the Rules | The Golden Rule, Part 1
4w ago00:33:09Tap to summarizeWho really makes the rules in your financial life? In Part 1 of The Golden Rule, Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan continue walking through the Human Problems section of Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker. Nelson's financial version of the Golden Rule is blunt: "He who has the gold makes the rules." But this episode is not about greed, domination, or simply having more money. It is about capital ownership, responsibility, and control. Tricia and Jonathan unpack the difference between money and capital, why someone else must provide the capital if we fail to build our own, and how that keeps families dependent on banks, lenders, government rules, and outside systems. They also explore Nelson's Panasonic example, the long-range mindset required to build capital, and why premium in a properly designed whole life policy should be understood not merely as a bill, but as seed capital being put to work. This episode asks one simple but powerful question: Am I only making money, or am I building capital? ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thrivewell/61578207568360/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankless_by_design/ 👉 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107769593 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrivewell_bbd Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The content shared is not intended to be a substitute for consultation with the appropriate professional. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Tricia Miller, unless otherwise specifically cited. The data that is presented is believed to be from reliable sources, and no representations are made by Tricia Miller, Thrivewell, and Bankless By Design as to another party's informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with your Adviser, Financial Planner, Tax Consultant, Attorney, Investment Adviser or the appropriate professional prior to taking any action.
Transcribe →Willie Sutton's Law Part 2: When the Thief Offers You a Deal
Jun 2500:55:12Tap to summarizeIn Willie Sutton's Law Part 2, Tricia and Jonathan continue the Becoming Your Own Banker series with a bold and eye-opening conversation about the financial deals most people are taught to accept without question. Nelson Nash warned that wherever wealth accumulates, someone will try to get to it. In this episode, we look at qualified plans, employer matches, tax deferral, Wall Street, liquidity, and control — and ask whether the "responsible" path is always as safe and free as it sounds. This conversation is serious, but it is also practical, personal, and at times even funny. Tricia and Jonathan unpack the difference between saving and investing, the hidden cost of locked-up money, and why access to capital matters for the life right in front of you. This episode is not tax or investment advice. It is an invitation to think more clearly, ask better questions, and consider who really controls the banking function in your life. To learn more, visit banklessbydesign.com.
Transcribe →Willie Sutton's Law Part 1: When the Law Becomes a Thief | BYOB #22
Jun 1700:30:16Tap to summarizeLibsyn Caption / Description In this episode of Bankless by Design, Tricia continues through Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker with Willie Sutton's Law, Part 1: When the Law Becomes the Thief. This conversation explores the chapter's deeper themes of legal plunder, taxation, control, and the question of who really has a claim on your wealth once it begins to accumulate. Even for listeners who may not agree with all of Nash's political or economic views, the central principle is worth considering: where your money sits, who controls it, and who can change the rules around it matters. This is Part 1 of a 2-part discussion.
Transcribe →Ep. 42 - This Baby Has No Idea What His Dad Just Did
Jun 200:27:42Tap to summarizeWhy would anyone put whole life insurance on a baby? In this episode, Tricia walks through a real policy illustration for a brand-new baby boy and explains why this decision is not about death — it is about life, insurability, capital, family banking, and generational stewardship. Money will flow through your child's life either way. The real question is: who will control the banking function? This episode explores dividend-paying whole life insurance, guaranteed cash value, policy loans, teaching children to value family capital, and what it means to build a financial environment for the next generation. Learn more at banklessbydesign.com. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thrivewell/61578207568360/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankless_by_design/ 👉 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107769593 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrivewell_bbd Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The content shared is not intended to be a substitute for consultation with the appropriate professional. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Tricia Miller, unless otherwise specifically cited. The data that is presented is believed to be from reliable sources, and no representations are made by Tricia Miller, Thrivewell, and Bankless By Design as to another party's informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with your Adviser, Financial Planner, Tax Consultant, Attorney, Investment Adviser or the appropriate professional prior to taking any action.
Transcribe →Ep. 41 - Whipping Parkinson's Law: How to Create Margin When You're Paycheck to Paycheck | BYOB #21
May 2100:27:38Tap to summarizeThis episode feels a little like storytime — and honestly, it fits. Tricia and Jonathan continue their conversation on Parkinson's Law by turning to one of Tricia's favorite old financial classics: The Richest Man in Babylon. Nelson Nash shows us the problem: expenses tend to rise to meet income. But The Richest Man in Babylon gives us a practical place to begin. Tricia brings her love of old books and timeless wisdom into the conversation, reading from the story itself and connecting it to the discipline of creating margin. Together, they walk through the ideas of fattening the purse, paying yourself first, controlling expenditures, and learning to distinguish between true necessities and casual wishes. If you feel stuck living paycheck to paycheck and wonder how to begin building capital, this episode offers a simple and practical starting place.
Transcribe →Ep. 40 - Whipping Parkinson's Law: Why Making More Money Won't Fix Your Finances | BYOB #20
May 1400:18:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Tricia and Jonathan begin Part Two of Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker, where Nash turns from the technical side of Infinite Banking to the human problems. The focus today is Parkinson's Law — the reality that expenses tend to rise to meet income. More money will not fix our finances if our habits, appetites, and spending keep recreating the same problem. Tricia also explains why becoming your own banker is not magic. The policy is a tool, but the person using it must still practice discipline, stewardship, and self-government. Before we can govern our money, we have to be willing to govern ourselves. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thrivewell/61578207568360/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankless_by_design/ 👉 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107769593 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrivewell_bbd Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The content shared is not intended to be a substitute for consultation with the appropriate professional. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Tricia Miller, unless otherwise specifically cited. The data that is presented is believed to be from reliable sources, and no representations are made by Tricia Miller, Thrivewell, and Bankless By Design as to another party's informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with your Adviser, Financial Planner, Tax Consultant, Attorney, Investment Adviser or the appropriate professional prior to taking any action.
Transcribe →Ep. 39 - Why You Must Pay Yourself Back With Interest | BYOB Series #19
May 700:29:26Tap to summarizeWhat does it really mean to "pay yourself back"? In Part 2 of this conversation, Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan continue through Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker and unpack one of the most important principles of Infinite Banking: if you are going to become the banker, you have to act like the banker. They discuss repaying policy loans with discipline, paying interest back into the system, and why Nelson warns against stealing from your own banking system. This episode also explores how one policy can grow into a system of policies that can serve your family for generations. Learn more at banklessbydesign.com. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thrivewell/61578207568360/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankless_by_design/ 👉 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107769593 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thrivewell_bbd Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The content shared is not intended to be a substitute for consultation with the appropriate professional. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Tricia Miller, unless otherwise specifically cited. The data that is presented is believed to be from reliable sources, and no representations are made by Tricia Miller, Thrivewell, and Bankless By Design as to another party's informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with your Adviser, Financial Planner, Tax Consultant, Attorney, Investment Adviser or the appropriate professional prior to taking any action.
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