Is LIFT Right for You?
Honest Qualification Criteria
LIFT isn't for everyone. We mean that literally—not as a sales tactic. We'd rather tell you upfront that LIFT isn't right for you than watch you struggle with a strategy that doesn't fit.
LIFT Strategy is right for people with: $50K+ annual premium capacity (ideally $100K+), 10+ year time horizon (ideally 15-25 years), stable income, willingness to engage with quarterly reviews, and understanding that leverage amplifies both gains and risks. LIFT is NOT right for: those wanting 'set and forget', premium capacity under $50K, time horizon under 10 years, unstable income, or discomfort with complexity. Most people should use traditional IUL instead.
At a Glance
| Minimum Premium | $50K/year |
| Minimum Time Horizon | 10 years |
| Ideal Income | $300K+ |
| Required Engagement | Quarterly |
Quick Check
Quick Qualification Check
Answer honestly. If you answer 'No' to any of these, LIFT probably isn't right for you.
| Question | Required Answer |
|---|---|
| Can you commit $50,000+ annually in premiums? | Yes |
| Is your time horizon 10+ years before needing income? | Yes |
| Are you willing to engage with quarterly strategy reviews? | Yes |
| Is your income stable and likely to remain so? | Yes |
| Can you accept that leverage amplifies both gains AND risks? | Yes |
| Do you understand this isn't "set and forget"? | Yes |
If you answered "No" to any question, skip to theBetter Alternatives section below.
Financial
Financial Qualifications
Detailed assessment of your financial readiness
Annual Premium Capacity
| Level | Annual Premium | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal | $100,000+ | Strong LIFT candidate |
| Minimum | $50,000 | LIFT viable |
| Not Recommended | Under $50,000 | Consider traditional IUL |
How to Calculate Your Capacity
- Annual gross income
- - Taxes
- - Living expenses
- - Emergency fund contributions
- - Existing investment commitments
- - Retirement account contributions (401K, IRA max)
- = Available for LIFT premiums
Red flag: If funding LIFT would reduce your emergency fund or require lifestyle changes, it's not the right time.
Income Stability
Ideal
Stable W-2 income or established business with consistent cash flow
Acceptable
Variable income with 3+ year track record averaging qualification level
Not Recommended
New business, startup phase, commission-only with volatility
Questions to Ask Yourself
- • What's the realistic floor of my income in a bad year?
- • Have I experienced income disruption in the past 5 years?
- • Could my industry/profession face disruption in the next 10 years?
- • Do I have 6+ months of expenses in emergency funds separate from LIFT?
Existing Tax-Advantaged Utilization
Ideal
Already maxing 401K, IRA, HSA, and seeking additional tax-advantaged growth
Acceptable
Maxing some accounts, have room in LIFT budget after increasing others
Not Recommended
Not yet maxing basic tax-advantaged accounts
Order of Operations
- Get full 401K employer match
- Max HSA (if available)
- Max 401K/403b
- Max Roth IRA (if eligible)
- THEN consider LIFT with remaining capacity
Time
Time Horizon Qualifications
How long can you commit?
Minimum Commitment Period
| Level | Time to Income Need | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal | 20-30+ years | Excellent LIFT candidate |
| Minimum | 10 years | LIFT viable with monitoring |
| Not Recommended | Under 10 years | Consider traditional IUL |
Why it matters: LIFT's leverage benefits compound over time. Early years are "investment years"—you're building the engine. Taking income too early undermines the entire strategy.
Life Stage Considerations
Age 35-45
Ideal
(20-30 years)
Age 45-55
Good
(15-20 years)
Age 55-60
Borderline
(evaluate carefully)
Age 60+
Usually Not
Recommended
Expected Life Changes
Consider honestly:
- • Are you likely to have children in the next 5 years?
- • Are you planning a major career change?
- • Do you expect significant expenses (education, weddings, care for parents)?
- • Might you relocate internationally?
Why it matters: Major life changes often require financial flexibility. LIFT works best when you can commit without expecting to need the money back.
Behavioral
Behavioral Qualifications
Are you the right personality type for LIFT?
Complexity Tolerance
Ideal
Comfortable reading financial reports, asking questions, engaging with strategy
Acceptable
Willing to learn, committed to quarterly reviews, will ask for clarification
Not Recommended
Want "set and forget," don't want to think about it, find reports stressful
Honest truth: If you don't want to engage, LIFT will underperform or create problems. Traditional IUL is genuinely better for hands-off clients.
Risk Tolerance
Ideal
Understand that managed risk enables higher returns, comfortable with volatility in service of long-term goals
Acceptable
Some anxiety about risk but committed to trusting the process with proper management
Not Recommended
Lose sleep over market movements, check accounts daily, extreme loss aversion
The LIFT Risk Profile
- • Can't lose principal (0% floor protection)
- • CAN underperform expectations
- • CAN experience years where leverage works against you
- • REQUIRES faith in long-term recovery
Warning
Red Flags: LIFT Is NOT For You If...
Clear disqualifications and strong cautions
Automatic Disqualifications
- Premium capacity under $50K annually — The math doesn't work at smaller scale
- Need access to money within 5 years — Too early for leverage benefits
- Unstable income with no backup — Premium commitment can't be maintained
- Already stressed about finances — LIFT adds complexity, not simplicity
- Don't understand or accept leverage risk — Discomfort will lead to poor decisions
Strong Cautions
- Age 55+ — Time horizon may be too short for leverage benefits
- Highly variable income — Premium consistency is challenging
- Very risk-averse personality — Traditional IUL may be better fit
- Significant debt — Pay down high-interest debt first
- Not maxing basic retirement accounts — Start there first
Alternatives
Better Alternatives for You
If LIFT isn't right, consider these options
Traditional IUL
Best for: Moderate premium capacity, want simplicity, lower risk tolerance
- • 6-8% target returns
- • Minimal ongoing complexity
- • Same tax-free benefits
- • Lower engagement requirement
FlexVault Without Leverage
Best for: Want comprehensive system but not comfortable with leverage
- • Four-component integrated approach
- • 8-10% target returns
- • More guidance than traditional IUL
- • Less complexity than LIFT
Infinite Banking Concept
Best for: Want to become your own banker, prefer whole life stability
- • Whole life foundation (not IUL)
- • Focus on capital control
- • Lower returns, higher guarantees
- • Nelson Nash methodology
Traditional Retirement Accounts
Best for: Not yet maxing 401K, IRA, HSA
- • Get employer match first (free money)
- • Tax advantages are guaranteed
- • Simpler than any insurance strategy
- • Build foundation before adding complexity
Ideal Candidates
Ideal LIFT Candidates
You're an ideal LIFT candidate if you match this profile
Financial Profile
- ✓ $300K+ annual income
- ✓ $100K+ available for annual premiums
- ✓ Already maxing traditional retirement accounts
- ✓ Stable income with 3+ year history
- ✓ 6+ months emergency fund in place
Time Profile
- ✓ 15-25+ years until income needed
- ✓ No major financial obligations expected
- ✓ Committed to 10+ year strategy
Behavioral Profile
- ✓ Comfortable with managed complexity
- ✓ Will engage with quarterly reviews
- ✓ Ask questions when uncertain
- ✓ Trust professional management
- ✓ Understand leverage works both ways
Goal Profile
- ✓ Want accelerated tax-free wealth accumulation
- ✓ Willing to accept complexity for higher returns
- ✓ Value long-term optimization over short-term simplicity
- ✓ Building legacy wealth, not just retirement income
Case Studies
Sample LIFT Candidate Profiles
Real-world examples to help you assess your fit
Profile A: Commercial Airline Pilot
Strong CandidateAge: 42
Income: $350K W-2
Premium Capacity: $100K annually
Time Horizon: 23 years
Risk Tolerance: Moderate
Engagement Level: High
Assessment: Strong LIFT candidate. Stable income, long horizon, high capacity, comfortable with complexity.
Profile B: Physician (Surgeon)
Good CandidateAge: 48
Income: $650K W-2
Premium Capacity: $200K annually
Time Horizon: 15-17 years
Risk Tolerance: Moderate-High
Engagement Level: Limited time
Assessment: Good LIFT candidate. Shorter horizon offset by high capacity. May prefer FlexVault comprehensive management.
Profile C: Business Owner
Good with CaveatAge: 38
Income: $500K (variable)
Premium Capacity: $75K-150K
Time Horizon: 25+ years
Risk Tolerance: High
Engagement Level: Very high
Assessment: Good LIFT candidate with caveat. Income variability requires conservative premium commitment. Excellent otherwise.
Profile E: Near-Retiree
NOT RecommendedAge: 58
Income: $300K
Premium Capacity: $100K annually
Time Horizon: 7-10 years
Risk Tolerance: Low-Moderate
Engagement Level: Moderate
Assessment: NOT a LIFT candidate. Time horizon too short. Better: traditional IUL for immediate protection, or FlexVault without leverage for moderate acceleration.
Get a Personalized Assessment
Self-assessment is valuable, but it's not perfect. We're happy to have a no-pressure conversation about whether LIFT fits your situation. If LIFT isn't right for you, we'll tell you directly—and suggest what is.