1. MAKE GROW LIVE
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Ben Silverman on his Stress-Testing Your Are safe rooms
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NBC and what the future investing approach fare Why wealthy kids
of television holds. during the recession? should work.
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THE EVOLUTION OF FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE
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VOLUME | EDITION
2. Phoenix—Scottsdale, AZ
RISK VS. REWARD, OR
THE GOLDFISH AND
Leading Wealth Advisor
Christenson Wealth Management LLC
THE SHARK
Jeff Christenson, President, and Ike Devji, JD, Executive
Vice President, The Wealthy 100
What is an alternative to my
current cash position that will
protect my money from litigation?
By Jeff Christenson and Ike Devji
In our current economic environment, transfer of the assets from the client’s
many clients want their money safe and checking account and into the plain-
liquid. When most people consider “safe” ti ’s pockets. This may sound like an
and “liquid,” they immediately think of their unlikely scenario, but we see it, and the Investors often evaluate invest-
bank. However, what most people do not threat of it, often. ment strategies on a risk vs.
know is that their checking or savings account • If the client dies, the named benefi- reward basis, so I wanted to
is unprotected from a very real threat: the ciaries will receive the $1 million create a simple and easy way
exposure to an increasingly hostile and minus the taxes due. to explain this very esoteric
predatory litigation system. Consider this: • If the client needs to use the money, concept. Consider the following:
There are tens of thousands of lawsuits filed he is able to take the amount needed. Pretend that you have two
each day in this country. The average legal swimming pools. Each has a
cost of defending a frivolous lawsuit is Creditor-Protected Cash Alternative: $100 casino chip at the bot-
$91,000, plus the settlement amount itself. The strategy our team has designed allows tom, but you can go after only
The number of lawsuits increases in tough the same client to place the $1 million into a one of the chips. However,
economic times as people look to your specially designed universal life insurance
there’s one important differ-
wealth as an additional source of income. policy and insurance trust structure by
ence between the pools:
Our team often takes commonly used tools paying a premium amount of $500,000 in
and redesigns them to provide protection of each of the first two years. The policy will • Pool A has a goldfish in it.
client assets, while allowing clients to retain provide the following benefits: • Pool B has a man-eating
control and liquidity. The situations below • The account will earn a net interest of shark in it.
demonstrate the benefits of a strategy we are about 1 percent annually invested in the Which pool would you
using in which we take a universal life insur- policy’s fixed account, and the gains are rather jump into for the same
ance policy and design it to provide 98 to 102 allowed to grow tax-deferred. possible reward?
percent cash surrender value in the first year. • If the client is sued for any reason and All investment opportunities
loses, the money in this account is 100
are not created equal, which is
Current Situation—Cash in the Bank: percent creditor-protected from day one.
why you might want to keep
A healthy 45-year-old male client has a • If the client dies, the named benefi-
this allegory in mind during
bank checking account with $1 million. ciaries will receive a death benefit of
your decision-making process.
He rarely uses this account, but he keeps $10,624,682, the face amount associated
his money there because he likes to have a with this specific example.
certain amount of funds liquid in case he • If the client needs to withdraw all or
needs to access it quickly. Here is how this part of the money in the account, he is
account works: able to do so at any time with no fees Securities offered through Multi-
• The account earns about 1 percent or surrender charges, and he will have Financial Securities Corporation,
Member FINRA/SIPC. Christenson
interest per year, with income taxable access to the money within a week. Wealth Management and Multi-
as ordinary income. Our strategy, needless to say, is a very Financial Securities Corporation are
• If the client is sued for any reason powerful tool that keeps a client’s money separate companies. Please consult
with a qualified tax advisor prior to
and loses, the judge can order the liquid and safe. implementing any tax-related strategy.
3. MY HOBBIES AR E…
MAKE
“Our clients don’t How to reach Je Christenson & Ike Devji
WHAT’S ON MY DESK…
come to us to make If you would like to discuss this strategy in greater detail, please call Jeff directly
at 602.808.5580. If you prefer, Jeff is available to discuss and implement this
them rich. They come
GROW
strategy with your financial or insurance advisors. Reach Ike at 602.343.2272.
to us to help keep
them rich.”
I NEVE R LEAVE HOME WITH OUT…
LIVE
– Jeff Christenson
CHRISTENSON WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC
Jeff: My beautiful children and
wife, travel and music. I play
several instruments and have
a band called the All-Star
Garage Band
Ike: Spending time with family
and friends, cooking, exploring
new cuisine, live music, shoot-
Jeff Christenson Ike Devji
ing sports and art Jeff: Oodles of family photos
and kids’ art, a custom
humidor, financial reports,
a couple dozen music CDs
to transfer to my iPod and
business magazines
Ike: Information on issues
Jeff: BlackBerry, iPod, a sense of humor
that threaten the wealth of
and, of course in Arizona, sunglasses
those I protect
Ike: iPhone 3GS, a plan, giving thanks,
Kimber Ultra CDP
About Jeff Christenson & Ike Devji
Jeff Christenson, president of Christenson Wealth Management LLC, has over 15 years experience as a financial
advisor. Mr. Christenson manages investments and life insurance planning for a wide range of affluent business
owners, executives, and entertainment clients nationwide. When not working with his own clients, he helps
provide advanced planning solutions to other advisors. Asset Protection Attorney Ike Devji, JD, is of-counsel
with the asset protection-only law firm of Lodmell & Lodmell P.C., which he formerly managed. Executive VP
of The Wealthy 100, Mr. Devji helps protect billions of dollars in assets for affluent families, business owners,
physicians and C-level executives across the U.S.
Confidential Asset-based fees and commissions (investment and insurance products)
Assets Under Management Compensation Method
None required Pershing LLC
Minimum Fee for Initial Meeting Primary Custodian for Investor Assets
Professional Services Provided Planning, investment advisory, money
$500,000 (for investments) management services and asset protection
Minimum Net Worth Requirement
$400 million FPA
Largest Client Net Worth Association Memberships
Email jeff@habitsofwealth.com
15 years www.habitsofwealth.com ID@thewealthy100.com
Financial Services Experience Website
Christenson Wealth Management LLC 2575 East Camelback Road, Suite 700, Phoenix, AZ 85016 602.808.5580
WORTH.COM OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2009 085
4. W
Jeff Christenson
President, Christenson Wealth Management
Ike Devji, J.D.
Executive Vice-President, The Wealthy 100
Christenson Wealth Management and The Wealthy 100
2575 E. Camelback Road
Suite 700
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Contact Jeff Christenson: Jeff@habitsofwealth.com or 602.808.5580
Contact Ike Devji: ID@thewealthy100.com or 602.343.2272
www.habitsofwealth.com | www.thewealthy100.com
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THE EVOLUTION OF FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE
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