All Posts

Do you judge too quickly? Thirty-five years prior to entering the financial services industry, Mark Bertrang began his career as a broadcaster.  This meant working On Air for five years.  Realizing that job would never 'pay-the-bills' long-term, it was suggested that he climb the ladder of broadcast advertising sales.  No one ever told him that his very first client, on his very first day, of his newly acquired job would yell at him to "leave my store or I'll call the police!"  Here's the story of that very first day and of another client which Mark still reminisces about a generation later, that forever touched his heart and soul.   

Build on a safe, secure, sound foundation

People have been led astray, or at least that is my opinion when it comes to traditional IRAs, 401Ks, 403Bs, or any other retirement plans.

The road ahead might be the one less traveled; but what if it's a road that's been closed to you? Then it doesn't matter, because it now becomes a road you could never experience. We're told that we can do anything we wish, we only need to dream it. That's a great saying, but it's not true. We need to plan, execute and put forth the effort to make things happen in our lives. Yet most important, we need to move forward while the road is still open, available to travel upon. Time is our enemy. Uncertainty is our enemy. Procrastination is our enemy. There's a song that goes - "This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Today IS the day for you to sing and rejoice in it. Make today the starting point of choosing your road and taking that first step now before potentially being blocked by a future 'road closure'.

Do you feel your future plans have been derailed? Inflation, falling markets, pandemics, political turmoil at home and abroad. Every single day it's something new; yet it isn't. Thirty-five years has taught Mark Bertrang, that it's simply another day of uncertainty, which is a part of life. What do you do to provide certainty, especially for your 'safe' money that you don't want at risk, money you may wish to have access to during emergencies or for the possible opportunity that may come your way? As the author of "Investments Don't Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset", Mark Bertrang explores derailments and helping you get back on track.

We have a family tradition at our cabin in Northern Wisconsin; everyone who comes to visit our cabin, whether it's a family member or a friend is required to wear an ugly shirt and have their picture taken for our "refrigerator" photo gallery. This is a silly family tradition that has been going on for well over a decade. But there are also family traditions that can impact your life and your family's life - generation after generation. Listen for what that tradition is and how to begin yours.

We would all like to think that our life's projects can simply be one and done. Last year, the street in front of our home was torn up during the entire summer as sewer pipes, water pipes, wiring and electrical hidden underneath the pavement of our street was replaced. We literally lived with a mud bog in the front of our house for three months. Once this project was completed, we were told our street wouldn't need any work done on it for the next 100 years. Yet, here I am today and our street boulevard is being torn up anew to install new high-speed optical fibers. That's the way it is with life. Let's have a discussion of your life and thoughts about the concept of one and done.

Olive trees has been dying in many countries due to pests and disease that has killed off entire hillsides. Have you felt that same frustration with your 401(k), IRA or other retirement account? Specialized grafting has saved many vineyards and olive groves. Could a graft of a whole life insurance policy into your plan help your retirement account sustain itself, to not only survive but to thrive? Mark Bertrang, the author of Investments Don't Hug: Embracing the Life Insurance Asset, discusses the grafting of a whole life insurance policy to your overall retirement planning to counter the financial pests and disease that your retirement maybe suffering from.

Often we believe by looking at the past we can simply project out into the future. Is that really the case? Do yesterdays always predict our tomorrows? Mark Bertrang provides insight into the future our lives may become.

Words can be confusing. Why? Sometimes we simply don’t speak the same language. During a recent trip to southern Italy, this became very clear to me. Sometimes just holding up the wrong fingers during a simple conversation can confuse one another. So, why is it that when both speakers are speaking English, there can still be confusion? They’re both speaking the same language, yet there’s a misunderstanding of their communication. We can all suffer from language misunderstandings.