In Episode 36 of the BYOB Series, Tricia Miller continues the walk through Nelson Nash's chapter on creating your own banking system through dividend-paying life insurance. This first half of the conversation focuses on dividends: what they are, how they are determined, and why dividend rate alone is not a sound way to compare policies or companies. Along the way, Tricia explains why policy illustrations are only snapshots in time, how owner behavior affects the outcome, why future dividend proj...
Apr 16, 2026•23 min•Ep. 36
In this episode of Bankless By Design , Tricia continues the Becoming Your Own Banker series by looking more closely at the product behind the process: whole life insurance. But this conversation goes beyond the mechanics of the policy itself. At the heart of this episode is a deeper idea: ownership matters. Tricia walks through Nelson Nash's explanation of how whole life insurance is engineered, why the owner of the policy holds a unique position, and what it really means to control capital wit...
Apr 09, 2026•30 min•Ep. 35
In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and fellow practitioner, Will Fullington, to talk about a topic most churches and nonprofits have probably never considered: how the Infinite Banking Concept can help them build, protect, and steward capital for the long term. We talk about stewardship, liquidity, long-range thinking, and why churches need more than a savings account if they want to be prepared for future needs and future opportunities. More than that, this conversation is really about wh...
Apr 02, 2026•29 min•Ep. 34
Most people believe paying cash is the safest and cheapest way to buy anything. But what if that belief is costing you more than you realize? In this episode, Tricia and Jonathan unpack a foundational principle from Becoming Your Own Banker : You finance everything you buy—either by paying interest to someone else or giving up interest you could have earned. Through simple examples and real-world application, this episode challenges conventional thinking and introduces a new way to value your ca...
Mar 26, 2026•36 min•Ep. 33
Are you actually being a good steward of your money… or does it just feel like you are? In this episode, we explore a foundational principle from Becoming Your Own Banker —that you finance everything you buy—and connect it to the Parable of the Talents. What we uncover is a powerful truth: 👉 It's not just about what you spend… it's about what your money could have been doing. We talk about: Why breaking even is considered a loss The role of opportunity cost in everyday financial decisions A bib...
Mar 19, 2026•18 min•Ep. 32
In this episode of the Bankless By Design Podcast, Triciaand Jonathan continue their Becoming Your Own Banker series with the chapter "Creating a Bank Like the Ones You Already Know About." Together, they explore what it would really take to start a traditional bank—from capital requirements and bank charters to deposits, lending, and the cost of establishing trust in the marketplace. They also discuss the deeper issue Nelson Nash is highlighting: most people have surrendered the banking functio...
Mar 12, 2026•39 min•Ep. 31
Most financial conversations revolve around rate of return. But Nelson Nash pointed out something very different: the average American may be losing over 34% of disposable income to interest flowing to banks, lenders, and financing companies. In this episode of Bankless By Design , Tricia and Jonathan explore Nash's famous airplane analogy — explaining why most people are unknowingly flying into a powerful financial headwind. Rather than focusing only on investment returns, Nash challenges us to...
Mar 05, 2026•31 min•Ep. 30
Most people believe the problem with their finances is that they aren't earning a high enough rate of return. But what if that's not the real issue? In Part 1 of our discussion on The Problem from Becoming Your Own Banker , Jonathan and I examine the quiet but powerful force draining wealth from most families: the volume of interest leaving their lives year after year. We talk about: – Why focusing on investment returns can distract from a bigger issue – The hidden headwind most people are flyin...
Feb 26, 2026•40 min•Ep. 29
Tricia Miller is joined by three fellow practitioners and friends—Jodi LaFrance, Nicole Gardner, and Becca Wilhite—to unpack their week at the 2026 Nelson Nash Institute Think Tank in Birmingham, Alabama (the 20th anniversary Think Tank). This conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at what Think Tank is, why the theme "thinking long range" matters, and what it really means to build a financial legacy that reaches beyond retirement—into children, grandchildren, and generations not yet born. You...
Feb 20, 2026•54 min•Ep. 28
In this episode of Bankless By Design , Tricia Miller continues her conversation with fellow Infinite Banking practitioner Nolan Johnsrud, focusing on one of the most misunderstood parts of the Infinite Banking Concept: capitalization. Why did Nelson Nash say "don't be afraid to capitalize" ? Why does paying high premium come first? And why are policy loans not something to fear? This conversation reframes how to think like a banker instead of a borrower. You'll hear why control matters more tha...
Feb 12, 2026•35 min•Ep. 27
Saving money shouldn't mean putting life on hold. In Episode 26 (Part 1) of Bankless By Design , Tricia Miller is joined by fellow practitioner Nolan Johnsrud for a grounded conversation about Infinite Banking for real people. Together, they explore how Infinite Banking helps families save and live at the same time—so they can ultimately thrive. This episode covers mindset shifts around saving, the role of life insurance as a living financial asset, and why long-range thinking creates peace inst...
Feb 06, 2026•36 min•Ep. 26
Tricia and Jonathan continue the Becoming Your Own Banker series with the second half of Nelson Nash's Grocery Store example (5th edition, page 16). They unpack the "back door" problem — why taking from your own system without paying it back is a quiet form of self-sabotage — and how scrupulous honesty, long-term thinking, and disciplined repayment are essential to building a thriving family banking system. They also discuss the IRS as a "silent partner" in business and why Nash challenges the u...
Jan 29, 2026•41 min•Ep. 25
If you understand the grocery store example, the rest of Infinite Banking gets easy. In Part I of the Grocery Store Example from Becoming Your Own Banker, we break down why Infinite Banking isn't about the rate of return—it's about turning inventory, velocity of money, and running your policy like a business. Using Nelson Nash's famous can-of-peas analogy, we explore how small margins become powerful when money keeps moving—and why most people miss this entirely. This is foundational thinking. P...
Jan 22, 2026•36 min•Ep. 24
Infinite Banking is often explained as a math strategy — but Nelson Nash began somewhere else entirely. In this episode of Bankless by Design , Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan explore why imagination is essential to understanding the Infinite Banking Concept, and why logic and calculation alone aren't enough. Using the story of Carl Gauss, reflections from Becoming Your Own Banker , and real-life insight into how discovery actually works, this conversation unpacks what it means to recognize f...
Jan 15, 2026•28 min•Ep. 23
Do you have to be wealthy to become your own banker? That question stops more people than almost anything else. In this episode of the Becoming Your Own Banker series, Tricia walks through the true origin of the Infinite Banking Concept — and it didn't begin with wealth, comfort, or a perfectly organized financial life. It was born in crisis. By tracing Nelson Nash's journey, you'll discover why the real breakthrough wasn't earning more money, but revising the spending pattern and redirecting ca...
Jan 08, 2026•23 min
Who really controls the money? In Episode 21 of the Becoming Your Own Banker series, we take a 30,000-foot view of money, banking, and control. Nelson Nash teaches that there is one pool of money in the world — constantly flowing through individuals, families, businesses, and banks — and the banking business exists to control that flow. Most people never stop to ask how much of the banking function they actually control as it relates to their own needs. In this episode, we explore cash flow, the...
Jan 01, 2026•25 min•Ep. 21
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-69363894-35d4-832e-a624-36d9c5ec2a4e-3" data-testid= "conversation-turn-26" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Banks don't chase returns — they control the flow of money. What if you did the same? In this episode of Bankless by Design , Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan continue the Becoming Your Own Banker® series by walking through the se...
Dec 18, 2025•43 min•Ep. 20
Most people hear about the Infinite Banking Concept™ and jump straight to the policies, the numbers, or the rate of return… but that's not where the concept begins. In fact, the most important part of Becoming Your Own Banker is the chapter almost everyone skips: the Introduction. In this episode, Tricia Miller and her son Jonathan walk line-by-line through the introduction of Nelson Nash's classic book so you can finally understand what Infinite Banking really is, what it is not, and why many p...
Dec 11, 2025•35 min•Ep. 19
In today's episode, Jonathan and I unpack one of the most important — and rarely questioned — financial topics: Are 401(k)s and other tax-qualified plans actually helping you, or holding you back? Using page 85 of Becoming Your Own Banker , we explore: Why tax-qualified plans were created The hidden trade-offs behind "tax breaks" How inflation and taxation impact long-term savings The dangers of having your money locked up until age 59½ Why you bear 100% of the risk while the government shares t...
Dec 04, 2025•44 min•Ep. 18
In this opening episode of our Becoming Your Own Banker series, Jonathan and I explore what it means to rethink money in a world where most families feel trapped in the rat race. We talk through the first "Points to Consider" from page 85 of Nelson Nash's book and discuss: The difference between people at work and money at work Why most modern families feel overwhelmed and financially stretched How inflation, the cost of living, and cultural expectations shape our financial choices What passive ...
Nov 27, 2025•45 min•Ep. 17
In this special episode, I sit down with my youngest son, Jonathan Miller, for an honest conversation about money, growing up as the youngest of seven, and how his understanding of money has changed over the years. Jonathan shares: What money felt like from a youngest-child perspective How our family's financial challenges shaped his early beliefs Why he decided to start his own Infinite Banking System The story behind his Lego side hustle and entrepreneurial spark His hopes for the future, what...
Nov 20, 2025•40 min
In this special episode, Tricia joins the Infinite Banking Initiative Podcast—hosted by Nelson Nash's son-in-law, David Stearns, and his granddaughter, Leigh Barganier—for a powerful conversation on control, stewardship, and the truth behind the Infinite Banking Concept. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell Facebook Instagram Linkedin TikTok Get In Touch: tricia@banklessbydesign.com Learn More: banklessbydesign.com Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational...
Nov 13, 2025•50 min•Ep. 15
Are you really becoming your own banker… or did you just buy a policy? 👀 In this episode, Tricia Miller breaks down one of the most common mistakes people make after starting their Infinite Banking journey — paying the first premium, then stopping short. She reveals why skipping your PUAs (Paid-Up Additions) can stall your growth, interrupt compounding, and keep your money working for someone else instead of you. You'll learn: 💡 The crucial difference between owning a policy and practicing the...
Nov 06, 2025•14 min
In this episode of Bankless by Design, Tricia sits down with Becca Wilhite—Nelson Nash Institute Authorized Practitioner and author of Beaver Bankers—to unpack Infinite Banking in real life. Becca shares how she went from a Dave-Ramsey-style skeptic to a confident practitioner after discovering that most families aren't "investing the difference"…they're spending it. You'll learn how IBC helps you capture the cash flow already moving through your life, access capital on demand while your cash va...
Oct 31, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 13
Is Infinite Banking (IBC) just another "investment"… or a smarter way to finance life with control and liquidity? In this episode of Bankless by Design, Tricia Miller reframes the debate and walks through numbers that actually matter—cash value access, opportunity cost, velocity of money, guaranteed growth, and how policy design impacts real-life results. What you'll learn Why IBC with dividend-paying whole life insurance is a financing system, not an investment How to calculate the lifetime vol...
Oct 23, 2025•30 min•Ep. 12
"Whole life is a scam." You've heard the line—usually followed by "just buy term and invest the difference." In this episode, Tricia Miller breaks down why that advice can leave families underinsured, overexposed to market volatility, and taxed more than they expect—and how dividend-paying whole life with the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) reframes the goal from chasing returns to financing life with guarantees. ------------------------------------------ Follow Thrivewell Facebook Instagram Link...
Oct 16, 2025•33 min•Ep. 11
When the system shuts down… how do you keep your family standing? In this special bonus episode, Tricia Miller, founder of Thrivewell: Bankless By Design, shares a personal story of how the recent government shutdown affected her own family — with multiple children and spouses furloughed or working without pay. This isn't just about politics — it's about preparation. Tricia reveals how the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) offers real solutions for financial independence, cash flow control, and cri...
Oct 13, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1
Uncovering the faith-filled origins of a misunderstood financial tool You've heard it before — "Whole Life Insurance is a scam." It's a phrase repeated by financial entertainers and echoed by well-meaning friends. But what if that familiar advice is built on misunderstanding... and the truth tells a very different story? In this episode of the Bankless by Design Podcast, Tricia Miller explores the deeper roots of Whole Life Insurance and the Infinite Banking Concept — revealing how these ideas a...
Oct 09, 2025•37 min•Ep. 10
Most people's first question about Infinite Banking is: "Why would I pay interest to borrow my own money?" In this episode, we dig into that question and break down how policy loans really work—and why they're nothing like bank loans. You'll learn how uninterrupted compounding gives you an edge, why life insurance company terms are so flexible, and how you can save and spend at the same time. By the end, you'll see how paying interest can actually create long-term financial growth and freedom. -...
Oct 02, 2025•16 min•Ep. 9
In this episode, Tricia Miller answers one of the most common beginner questions: How much premium do you really need to get started with Infinite Banking? Drawing from Nelson Nash's golden rules, real-life examples, and her own experience, Tricia explains why paying premium isn't a burden but an opportunity to build lasting wealth. You'll learn the importance of capitalizing boldly, thinking long-range, and why uninterrupted compounding can change everything. Whether you're just curious or read...
Sep 25, 2025•25 min•Ep. 8
