The headlines seem louder every month. This time, it's official: the federal debt has surged past $37 trillion, with no signs of slowing down. The government’s insatiable appetite for spending continues — and the taxpayer is expected to foot the bill.
So let’s ask a hard but necessary question:
Do you honestly believe taxes are going down in the future?
If your answer is “no” — and it probably should be — then the next question matters even more:
Would you rather pay taxes on the seed… or the harvest?
The Trap of the 401(k)
Since the late 1970s, millions of Americans have been ushered into the world of qualified retirement plans — 401(k)s, 403(b)s, IRAs. And for decades, these vehicles have been praised as a smart, tax-deferred way to grow wealth.
But let’s revisit the origin story.
In 1975, the lowest federal tax bracket for a married couple filing jointly was 14%. The highest? A staggering 70%.
That’s the world in which 401(k)s were born — not for the everyday American, but for those sitting at the top of the income ladder. The idea was simple: defer taxes now, when you’re in a high bracket, and pay them later, when you retire and fall into a lower one.
And for a time, that strategy made sense — at least on paper.
But here’s the issue: the world changed. The math didn’t.
From Strategy to Snare
Back then, the U.S. national debt hovered under $700 billion.
Today, it’s over $37 trillion. And rising fast.
The original 401(k) model assumed future tax brackets would drop. Instead, they’re poised to increase — dramatically. Because when a nation owes $37 trillion and keeps borrowing to pay interest on the interest, there’s only one way out: raise revenue.
And in government language, “raise revenue” means tax the harvest.
That’s the retirement trap so many Americans are walking into:
- They worked 30+ years.
- Deferred their taxes.
- And now face withdrawal at what may become historically high tax rates.
They traded today's small tax on the seed for tomorrow’s heavy tax on the harvest.
Seeds, Harvests, and Stewardship
Scripture teaches us: "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children." (Proverbs 13:22)
Inheritance isn’t just about assets — it’s about foresight. It’s about planting wisely.
In agricultural terms, no wise farmer stores up grain for decades only to hand a portion to the government at the harvest gate. But that’s exactly what many stewards unknowingly do with traditional retirement vehicles.
They store. They wait. And then they surrender control — just when it matters most.
A Better Way Forward
At 1322 Legacy Strategies, we don’t believe in burying your blessings for decades and hoping the tax code will be kind. That’s not stewardship — that’s speculation.
Instead, we teach a different philosophy:
- Pay taxes on the seed.
- Control the harvest.
- Steward your capital with vision and intention.
This is where Infinite Banking principles shine. By capitalizing in environments that offer tax-advantaged growth, liquidity, control, and privacy, our clients aren’t left hoping the IRS is generous in 2055. They’re building a legacy that serves them now — and their children’s children later.
One Final Question
You’ve spent your life sowing seeds. You've worked, saved, sacrificed.
Now ask yourself:
Who do I want to harvest the fruit of all that effort — my family… or the IRS?
It’s not a question of product. It’s a question of philosophy. Of control. Of stewardship.
If you’re ready to build a strategy that honors your work, protects your capital, and blesses generations — we’d be honored to help.
Control your capital. Build your legacy.
— The 1322 Legacy Strategies Team
