Achieving financial stability is a common goal, yet the path to it remains elusive for many. In the current volatile economy, sustaining wealth requires careful guidance and planning. This is where John Michailidis steps in. As an attorney, entrepreneur, and the author of Strategic Planning and Investing for Individuals, Michailidis is committed to assisting individuals in safeguarding their finances and realizing their long-term goals. If you seek practical financial advice, his book stands as an unparalleled source. In this interview we sought to learn more about Michailidis and his financial wisdom, as well as his book!
Tell us about your book.
Well, it’s a book from the heart. It’s a book meant to actually help people in a deep and meaningful way. In a sense, it’s an attempt to wake people up. Let them see that the Wall Street “banksters” and their “shills in corporate media” are not their friends. In fact, they are out to strip them of as much of their hard-earned assets as they possibly can, all under the guise of “investment advice.” I hate to say it, but in my opinion, much of what Wall Street puts out is a sham.
Think of Strategic Planning and Investing for Individuals as an inoculation against bad financial advice. I think of it as the rules of the road for sensible wealth creation, wealth preservation, and strategic asset protection relevant to today’s turbulent economic times.
What is the PRIMARY benefit, above all others, that your potential reader will gain from reading this book?
Look, most people actually believe that putting the bulk of their retirement money into a company 401k plan is “investing.” If they really want to get “sophisticated” they buy a rental property and become a slave to it. I promise you that there is much, much more to having a strategic investing plan!
As a first step, you need to build a strong base. Whole life insurance, a “calamity reserve” of physical gold and silver, and a well-executed estate plan. Could you put money into a 401k? Yes, but why not have your money in a “401a” plan that you completely control?
What, you’ve never heard of a self-directed 401a plan that offers the exact same tax and asset protection benefits as 401k plans do, but wrests control of your assets from Wall Street and places it into your own hands? Gee, I wonder why your financial advisor never told you about that. Could it be that they’d rather you’d never heard of 401a plans?
I could go on and on, but to answer your question, my answer consists of these three things.
- Personal control of your assets.
- Higher returns on your assets.
- A plan to actually achieve financial freedom in your lifetime
If you had to compare this book to any other book out there, which book would it be?
I love this question! Readers of my book will find that its overarching philosophy tracks quite well with Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad, Tom Wheelwright’s The Win-Win Wealth Strategy, Bob Rice’s The Alternative Answer, and Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamine Hardy’s Who Not How. Throw in some Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The One Thing by Gary Keller, and Born to Win by Zig Ziglar (Tom Ziglar is a dear friend) and you get a good feel for the types of influences that went into my writing this book.
All of that said, one thing I want to make abundantly clear is that this is not a “woo-woo” book on “channeling your inner wealth creator.” It is a practical guide, with concrete examples and suggestions for creating a specific and detailed investment plan tailored to you, the reader. I talk about mindset, estate planning, tax planning, specific investment vehicles. You will walk away from this book knowing exactly what steps you need to take and why.
Hundreds of thousands of books come out every year. Why should someone buy THIS book?
Well, this is where I am probably going to get myself in trouble. You see, I’m just not interested in kowtowing to the establishment line. The person who buys this book is someone who really wants to understand how the investing world actually works. Someone should buy this book because they have been following the conventional wisdom without seeing all that great a result.
Someone who reads this book wants to learn how to get involved in sophisticated limited partnership and syndication investments. They want to learn how to create a “personal bank” using whole life insurance as a lever. To understand that precious metals are not an “investment” yet are still an essential part of a strategic investing portfolio. They want to understand how to minimize their tax burden to boost the returns on their investments. And they want to learn how to protect what they have from scammers, lawsuits, and family squabbles.
In short, someone should buy this book if they want to understand how truly sophisticated investors operate, and how they can join their ranks.
Who is your target audience?
Mid-level executives, entrepreneurs, nurses, small-business owners, doctors, dentists, attorneys, chiropractors, real estate agents, and other middle/upper-middle class earners. Those earning $150K-$300k+ annually, regardless of field or occupation. They can learn a better, safer, more lucrative way to invest that puts them in control of their capital and kicks the Wall Street “banksters” to the curb.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing, and did you use it to your advantage?
My dad owned restaurants and I was literally working since age five. So, I learned to value an honest day’s labor at a young age. My heart goes out to working people of all persuasions.
My time as an 82nd Airborne paratrooper taught me grit and the need to stand up for truth and the innocent.
Time as an economics undergrad under the tutelage of Professor Murray Rothbard, the then foremost scholar of the so called “Austrian School of Economics,” taught me the importance of truly free markets and sound money policies, and how to spot the “scam economics” being foisted on the world today.
My time at the Northwestern University School of Law opened my eyes to a world of elitist thought and perspective that prior to my attendance I had no idea existed. Having gained a firsthand understanding of the mindset, I am so much better prepared to see past the current false-narratives to what is really going on in the world and our society today.
And of course, 35+ years in the trenches as a businessman, investor, and educator all contributed to my writing of this book.
How would you describe your writing style?
Crisp, compact, easily accessible, logically organized, and brimming with truths that others fear to speak.
What do you hope to accomplish with your book other than selling it?
The gift of enlightenment to those trapped in darkness.
How can our readers get in touch with you?
connected@WealthLoop.com
Where can our readers purchase your book?
I also offer a personally signed copy at 10% off the cover price, plus free shipping through my website, WealthLoop.com. On my website you’ll also find a Strategic Investment Planning Quiz you can take to assess how good your current plan is, and to receive free personalized feedback and suggestions.
