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  • hero (11)
    Specializing in Kai-Zen:
    A Unique, Enhanced, Tax-Free Investment Strategy.

    "Kai-Zen is the most compelling option I have seen in my search for a solution to maintain my current lifestyle in retirement."Head of Private Bank Life Insurance Lending-Top 10 Largest US Bank

  • Pyramids of Giza
    Specializing in Kai-Zen: A Unique, Enhanced, Tax-Free Investment Strategy.

    “Kai-Zen changed the status quo by offering the one thing no one else was offering, leverage. Kai-Zen offered me the only real opportunity to get the extra cash I needed to fund a strategy sufficiently.”Independent Marketing Organization CEO


    Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
  • hero (7)
    Specializing in Kai-Zen: A Unique, Enhanced, Tax-Free Investment Strategy.

    “I'm an attorney so attention to detail is very important and risk mitigation and liability minimization are key to me. Literally this was the only solution I've ever seen anywhere in the United States to cover all of those needs, even starting it later in life. And my only commitment is 5 payments, and the rest is leveraged. That's the bottom line: It's just the perfect program at the perfect time.”Attorney


    Nile River, Egypt
  • hero (5)
    Specializing in Kai-Zen: A Unique, Enhanced, Tax-Free Investment Strategy.

    “After talking to a number of insurance professionals, accountants, attorneys, financial and tax advisors and asking them to challenge the structure and the strategy, I finally came around and enrolled. I view my participation in Kai-Zen as a safe and functional component of my portfolio.”Marketing Consulting Company CEO


    Nile River, Egypt
  • hero (13)
    Specializing in Kai-Zen: A Unique, Enhanced, Tax-Free Investment Strategy.

    “When I saw the Kai-Zen plan and the options it would give me when I’m ready to retire, I just thought it was an incredible option and was something that I couldn’t pass up… Get your investments going now, and if after 5 years you are loving it as much as I do, you’ll want to do a second go-around.”Technology Company CEO


    Sunrise, Sea of Galilee, Israel
Hello, I’m Jim Barlow of OakTree Premium Finance.

OakTree Premium Finance is a extremely unique company in that we specialize in Kai-Zen an enhanced, tax-free retirement program that specializes in delivering innovative estate, business, and retirement planning solutions tailored to the needs of high-net-worth professionals. With a unique blend of industry expertise and alternative thinking, our team and partners offer high-quality, durable, and cost-effective financial solutions.
Our strategies empower you to achieve multiple goals simultaneously. We provide a pathway to generating more retirement income from a smaller accumulated savings pool. Additionally, our solutions enable the seamless transfer of wealth to family members, aid in employee recruitment and retention, facilitate funding for buy-sell and succession agreements, and serve as valuable key person protection plans. We also offer effective alternatives to traditional bonds.
At OakTree Premium Finance, we are committed to helping you optimize your financial future through comprehensive and strategic planning. Experience the power of our innovative solutions as we navigate the complexities of wealth management together.

Services

Keep More For Retirement

For high-income earners who want protection and accumulation to last a lifetime.

Through hard work and determination, you are considered within the top 10% of all wage earners in the United States. Your income provides you a better lifestyle than most, but this has its disadvantages and restrictions from saving enough to maintain your lifestyle throughout your retirement.

Our Strategy have the potential to provide you…

Up to an additional three times more money added to your strategy. Tax advantages when you are ready to take distributions in retirement. Growth and protection, that will give you and your family options.

 

Kai-Zen®Everyone wants to maintain the same quality of life in retirement, congruent with a steady cash flow that allows you to continue living out your dreams and look after loved ones while maintaining a cushion of cash for extreme medical conditions, should anything happen.

This comes at high cost. People like yourself struggle to save the 30-35% of income needed.  Kai-Zen® gives you additional cash in the form of leverage, to help you bridge the funding gap.

What makes this strategy unique is you don’t have to qualify, be bound by a loan, pay interest or incur personal liability.

Is it right for you?

  • Highly compensated individuals below age 65.
  • Earning $100,000+ per year.
  • Standard or better health.
Learn More


The problem with fixed income today is that you don’t get any return and you don’t have protection when interest rates rise. Kai-Zen uses a life insurance product where costs are minimalized. It is over funded to the point where insurance costs become minimal, so you have a massive surplus of cash value. This grows tax deferred and can be accessed through policy loans, which are generally not taxable. It is incredibly tax efficient. However, what’s different is that your payments are just the seed capital. Kai-Zen then leverages up your contribution, up to three times! Because the policy is so safe, the lender does not need to underwrite you for the loan at all. No contracts, no interest payments no personal guarantees. It truly is a safer loan, in comparison to the one you probably used to mortgage your house. The combined premium is put into an Index Universal Life policy (IUL). IUL’s are used because, based on industry data, they have the potential to grow over time, on average 2% more than fixed income. This is not guaranteed, it is risk premium, but not as risky as a stocks. Because in any year the index is negative you record zero return not a loss. From an asset risk perspective, it is midway between a bond and a stock.

This 2% risk premium gives you extra yield, but what really makes the difference is the extra cash put in by the lender. Statistically you will get an additional +2.25% on the lender’s money. So, let’s look at a hypothetical math example… If the bond portfolio is yielding 2%, you would expect an IUL to average 4% over time (2%+2%). With Kai-Zen you have the potential for 60-100% more. Using this hypothetical example, you would achieve 6.4% to 8% given the assumptions stated. This cannot be guaranteed. This strategy is driven by standard industry economics that has been in place since 1930. In addition, the designs have been stress tested through Great Depression and high interest rate scenarios. It is critical to remember these are life insurance policies, and so include the protections associated with them. Such as, death benefit and living benefits. They also include substantial tax advantages. If your money is invested but you are looking for an alternative to medium to long term bonds then Kai-Zen it likely to be very attractive.

Value Provided

  • Potential for more accumulation
  • Maintain current lifestyle
  • More protection for you and your family
  • Diversify your assets

Required Qualifications

  • Your combined household income is at least 100k per year
  • You are between the ages of 18 – 70
  • You are in average or good health
  • You can contribute a minimum of $22k per year
Learn More


We have all used leverage to purchase a nicer house or to buy a better car. Kai-Zen® uses leverage for the potential to accumulate more growth & obtain more protection, while providing the ability to maintain your current standard of living. That’s the smart way to use leverage.

Value Provided

  • Potential for more accumulation
  • Maintain current lifestyle
  • protection for you and your family
  • Diversify your assets

Required Qualifications

  • Your combined household income is at least 100k per year
  • You are between the ages of 18 – 70
  • You are in average or good health
  • You can contribute a minimum of $22k per year
Learn More

The number one concern of CEO’s when surveyed in the U.S. is recruit / retain quality talent due to the loss ratio of new hires. Kai-Zen ®  is a great tool for recruiting and retaining employees by providing superior employee benefits from your competitors without a hit to your bottom line.

Value Provided

  • 60-100% more supplemental income for employees
  • Increased lifestyle protections for employees
  • More protection for employees and their family
  • Allow employees to diversify assets

Required Qualifications

  • Employees combined household income is at least 100k per year
  • Employee is between the ages of 18 – 70
  • Employee is in average or good health
  • Employee contribute a minimum of $22k per year
Learn More

An alternative to traditional term solutions used for Keyman plans, Kai-Zen ®  covers the risk of death but also creates a pool of cash to fund living scenarios as well.

Value Provided

  • Creates a pool of revenue for living keyman for when key persons leave, get sick, retire, or die
  • Potential for more accumulation for key employees
  • Employees can maintain current lifestyle
  • More protection for your key employees and their families
  • Employees can diversify their assets

Required Qualifications

  • Your combined household income is at least 100k per year
  • You are between the ages of 18 – 70
  • You are in average or good health
  • You can contribute a minimum of $22k per year
Learn More

Kai-Zen ®  is a great way to fund a succession plan and is unique because it is independent of the company and can provide the agreed funds independently of the business once the partner has left. The ex-partner is comfortable they will get their money and the remaining partners don’t have to worry about shackling the business with cost that is not producing revenue.

Value Provided

  • Buy outs that don’t rely on the remaining partner funding a buy out from operational revenue
  • Good for partners that don’t see eye to eye on a buy out plan
  • Doesn’t negatively affect the business costs

Required Qualifications

  • Partners household income is at least 100k per year
  • Partner is between the ages of 18 – 70
  • Partner is in average or good healthPartner can contribute a minimum of $22k per year
Learn More

Kai-Zen ®  in 5 payments can be used to fund future liabilities and most of the cashflow needed comes from leverage that does not require the business to be underwritten or responsible for the loan in anyway. There is no impact on the business balance sheet at all, and the result future capital needs are funded at approximately 50% of the cost.

Value Provided

  • Business is not required to be underwritten or responsible for the loan in anyway
  • Only requires 5 payments
  • No impact on the balance sheet
  • Future capital needs are funded at approximately 50% of the cost

Required Qualifications

  • Employees combined household income is at least 100k per year
  • Employees are between the ages of 18 – 70
  • Employees are in average or good health
  • Employees can contribute a minimum of $22k per year
Learn More

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Testimonials

Testimonial Archive

Jim taught the Introduction to Investments class for Weber State University from 1999 till 2012. Her are some of the students comment  about the class and Jim’s teachings

Jim is cool!  We like Barlow!  He actually has provided an educational experience which will be very practical to use in everyday life.  He doesn’t just teach theories and facts, but how to implement all of it into my future investing life.

student at Weber State University

I really think this course is great and has a very important subject.  I wish there were more investing classes.  Mr. Barlow is an excellent teacher with good credibility.  His knowledge and desire to learn more about this subject are excellent.  I have learned a lot from him.

student at Weber State University

I believe this to be a very effective class and more helpful than any General Studies class I have taken.  I believe professor Barlow’s expertise and those of his colleagues help influence the class to make informed decisions for our futures.

student at Weber State University

I enjoyed this class very much.  My enthusiasm for investing has been sparked by the reading and the teacher.  He has done a great job integrating technology, guest speaker, overheads, & the required reading.  My excitement is even catching on to my children.  I have now started saving for retirement.  I think this class is so valuable to all students should be required to take it.  The most valuable and surprising thing I have learned was reading the Wallstreet Journal.  Thank you.  You have improved and affected my life.  Thank you.

student at Weber State University

The instructor was easy to talk to and ask questions of about the material.  He seemed to be most concerned about whether or not the students learned the subject matter, more than that he appeared knowledgeable.  (He wasn’t here to show us how much he knew but rather to help us learn).  Although he was thoroughly knowledgeable on the subject.  I’ve learned a lot because of the way the class was presented.  I hate to see the class end because it has been so much fun learning about investments.  Mr. Barlow has a very good understanding of this subject.  I really enjoyed him and this class.

student at Weber State University

I feel like Mr. Barlow did a great job & I enjoyed the actual experience he has in the industry, not just out of a book!  A lot of the regular professors up here don’t have the passion for their subject like he does.

student at Weber State University
Weber State Archive

Jim is a seasoned investment advisor with a sound and practical strategy for investing. Having a seasoned investment advisor I believe is one of the strongest credentials for an investment advisor becuase they can help you remain consistent and on course with your investment strategy. Newer advisors often chase the newest strategy that is constantly entering the market which often has not been proven putting your hard earned money as the seed money to test new theories. I have trusted Jim by recomending several of my clients to him knowing that they will be given the industries best financial planning advice.

Brett Mills MBA, CMB, AMP,BLM,CML,CCA

Jim is a long-time trusted advisor to my family. We appreciate his kind humor, his friendly knowledge and his devoted attention to our best interests

Michael Cragun, Commissioner at Utah State Tax Commission
LinkedIn Archive

When I first learned about Kai-Zen, I struggled to overcome the too-good-to-be-true feeling. After talking to a number of insurance professionals, accountants, attorneys, financial and tax advisors and asking them to challenge the structure and the strategy, I finally came around and enrolled. I view my participation in Kai-Zen as a safe and functional component of my portfolio; one that gives me and my family important protections that were previously missing from my life plan.

CEO, Marketing Consulting Company

I am writing this letter to thank you for creating the Kai-Zen program. I am a cusp member of Generation X, having missed the Baby Boom by one year. I have grave concerns about how I can protect my family and myself in retirement. Typical to my generation – I have little faith in Social Security – I have maxed out my 401K year over year, and of course do not have a pension. The Kai-Zen program is the most compelling option I have seen in my search for a solution. Kai-Zen literally takes a strategy that has been used for years and makes it better. NIW has found a new way to bring new money to the table to improve a solution that has been used in the large corporate world for decades and make it relevant in the personal market.

Kai-Zen takes advantage of the equity option trade within a tax deferred growth wrapper that affords me upside opportunity with downside protection. Essentially, I have a trade that gives me asymmetric risk that inures to my personal benefit. All programs, strategies, investment come with risk – there would not be the opportunity for return without risk. The annual review and monitoring provides me with the tools I need to evaluate the strategy annually. I am writing this letter not from a professional perspective, but as a personal participant. Thank you for all that you have taught me.

Head of Private Banking Life Insurance Lending, Top 10 US Bank

Like most high-income earners, I understand that my social security benefits and 401(k) contributions will not be sufficient to fund my personal retirement needs.  I am also aware that 70% of my retirement income will need to come from what I am able to accumulate and save on my own. With two of my three kids in college, I have been advised by every financial planner that at a minimum I need protection that would replace my income if I became ill, needed long term care, or passed away prematurely. In addition, I would need to save 30% of what I earn to maintain my current lifestyle throughout retirement, and invest it in the market to keep up with inflation.  As if that wasn’t enough, I was told that I need to defer even more of my salary into pre-tax investments, and that I would need to pay for all of these benefits out of pocket at a time my expenses were the highest they had ever been.  In my search to find solutions, it was frustrating and disappointing to find that every financial advisor I reached out to for a solution was offering the same traditional plans that didn’t offer any cost efficiency.

I needed a way to change the status quo. Determined to solve this issue, my partners and I did our research, developed relationships, and created our own strategy we call Kai-Zen.  Kai-Zen changed they status quo by offering the one thing no one else was offering, leverage. Kai-Zen offered me the only real opportunity to get the extra cash I needed to fund a strategy sufficiently.  With the additional money added to my contributions, I was able to participate in a strategy that provided everything I needed.  It provides me with death benefit coverage, protections against critical illness, supplemental retirement income, the potential for upside market capture without market losses, growth compounding tax deferred, access to income tax free loans, and the leverage to add three times more money to my strategy. That’s tough to beat.

I admit I am biased, but I am also a cynic. I looked at my own situation, how much money I could afford to set aside, and what could go wrong.  I’ve run thousands of simulations and comparisons and I can’t find another strategy that comes close to providing what I can get with the Kai-Zen strategy.

Daen Wombwell CEO, NIW Companies
Kai-Zen Archive

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