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Congress Resurrects 'Most Favored Nation' Drug Pricing in a Battle for Economic Justice

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

For decades, American consumers have been footing the bill for the world’s medicine cabinet. While prescription drug prices in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany have remained strikingly low, U.S. patients, especially retirees and middle-class families, have been systematically overcharged. Now, Congress is taking a stand, aiming to dismantle what has become one of the most egregiously unfair economic arrangements in modern history.

At the heart of this legislative push is the resurrection of the “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) drug pricing policy—a seismic proposal that would force pharmaceutical companies to sell medications in the U.S. at prices no higher than those charged in lower-cost countries. It’s a radical shift from the status quo, and it’s long overdue.

Under the current system, Americans pay two, five, even ten times more for the exact same drugs sold in countries with centralized, government-run healthcare. Why? Because foreign governments negotiate aggressively or impose price controls, while U.S. purchasers—Medicare, insurance plans, and individuals—are left to pay the difference. In essence, Americans have been subsidizing socialist healthcare systems across the globe. Our high prices prop up their low ones.

The MFN policy intends to reverse this global price inversion. It proposes that U.S. prices be benchmarked to the lowest price among developed countries for any given drug. If a cholesterol medication costs $25 in France and $160 in the U.S., the manufacturer would be required to reduce the U.S. price to match.

The implications are staggering. For the first time, the American government would act not as a passive purchaser, but as a price enforcer, restoring equity to a market that has been rigged against its own citizens.

Pharmaceutical giants, unsurprisingly, are fighting back. They claim that higher U.S. prices are essential to funding innovation. But this claim rings hollow when profits soar while families ration insulin or skip cancer treatments. These companies have been dining out on America’s lack of price regulation for too long, using it as a blank check to extract billions in excess margins.

The data is damning. A 2023 study found that the average price for the top 20 most-prescribed brand-name drugs in the U.S. was nearly 300% higher than in other high-income countries. Americans spend over $1,200 per capita per year on prescription drugs—more than double the OECD average. Meanwhile, over 25% of Americans report skipping doses or not filling prescriptions due to cost. In Canada and the UK, that figure is below 5%.

And while Wall Street trembles at the thought of reduced pharma earnings, Main Street is cheering. The average American has had enough of being the world's piggy bank. Enough of watching life-saving therapies marketed in TV ads, only to discover their insurance won’t cover the $5,000-a-month price tag.

Opponents of MFN argue that it’s “price control,” but let’s call it what it really is: economic self-respect. This isn’t about punishing success—it’s about ending a parasitic arrangement where U.S. patients pay sky-high prices so other nations can enjoy the same medicines for pennies on the dollar.

Globally, the shockwaves will be real. If U.S. law ties prices to foreign benchmarks, companies may try to hike prices overseas or abandon low-margin markets. But that's a battle for other countries to fight. America's priority must be its own people, its own retirees, and its own sovereignty over healthcare costs.

The MFN policy is not just a pricing strategy—it’s a declaration of independence from a broken, predatory system. As Congress moves toward implementation, it’s clear: Americans are done being taken advantage of. Justice is coming to the drug aisle. And this time it's priced fairly.

Reach out to us for a complimentary, 10-minute consultation call. Let's explore strategies to protect your wealth and make your retirement everything you've dreamed of—secure, fulfilling, and worry-free. Schedule a free 10-minute consultation today by calling 614-943-2265. Your future deserves the best plan, and we're here to help make it happen.

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The $15 Million Estate Tax Exemption Congress Is Weighing—and Why It Matters More Than You Think

by Eric Seyboldt, MBA

Client: "Eric, I’ve been hearing that Congress is considering making the $15 million estate tax exemption permanent. That sounds like a big deal. What would that really mean—for families, the economy, and for financial planning strategy?"

Eric: “Let’s not sugarcoat it. If Congress locks in a permanent $15 million estate tax exemption, we’re looking at one of the most consequential wealth policy decisions in a generation.

Right now, the estate tax exemption—temporarily raised under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—is scheduled to fall sharply at the end of 2025, returning to around $7 million per individual. But this new proposal? It would more than double that permanently. That’s not a tax tweak. That’s a rewiring of how wealth is passed—and protected—in America.

The Financial Planning Fallout

For families with significant wealth, this move is a game-changer. A permanent $15 million exemption would wipe out estate tax concerns for nearly all but the billionaire class. Thousands of families currently spending millions on complex trusts, valuation discounts, and generational skipping strategies could suddenly find themselves with breathing room—and more flexibility.

And with that breathing room comes opportunity. Liquidity planning—life insurance trusts, installment sales, aggressive gifting—might take a backseat. Instead, we’ll likely see more focus on long-term control of assets: dynasty trusts, family foundations, donor-advised funds. Why? Because when taxes aren’t forcing urgency, control and values become the central strategy.

Case Study #1: The Hunter Family Legacy

Meet the Hunters—a family with a net worth of $26 million, composed mostly of real estate, marketable securities, and a closely held interest in an Ohio manufacturing firm. Before this proposal, they were on track to face a federal estate tax liability of nearly $7 million if both spouses died after 2026.

Under current planning, they were being advised to:

• Gift $13 million to irrevocable trusts now

• Purchase $6 million in second-to-die life insurance inside an ILIT

• Freeze the business value through a GRAT and recapitalization

That’s nearly $300,000 in legal fees and complexity—all to mitigate a potential tax.

Now imagine this new $15 million per-person exemption becomes law. Suddenly, with proper titling and portability, the couple could pass $30 million tax-free. That entire estate plan? It gets rewritten. No forced liquidation. No costly insurance. And most importantly, the manufacturing business stays in the family without a tax-induced fire sale.

Case Study #2: The Ward Family Farm

The Wards own 2,200 acres of farmland in Iowa—an operation that has been in the family for five generations. Their land, equipment, and cashflow-producing assets are worth just under $19 million, but the farm only throws off $400,000 in annual net income.

If the exemption dropped to $7 million each, their heirs would owe over $4 million in federal estate taxes—an impossible bill without selling off land.

The new exemption? It means the Wards can die with the business intact. No debt. No dismantling of the farm. No sacrifice of heritage. For them, this isn’t about wealth—it’s about continuity. This exemption, in their eyes, is the difference between legacy and liquidation.

The Bigger Picture: Winners, Losers, and National Consequences

Let’s zoom out. This policy wouldn’t just benefit wealthy families—it would reshape the government’s balance sheet. The estate tax, while politically controversial, raises tens of billions in federal revenue annually. If this exemption becomes permanent, that revenue shrinks substantially.

Supporters will argue that this promotes entrepreneurship, preserves family businesses and farms, and allows generational wealth to fuel private investment. They’ll say the money stays productive—hiring employees, expanding companies, funding charities.

Critics, however, see a very different story. A permanent $15 million exemption means the ultra-wealthy will pass on fortunes largely untouched. That exacerbates wealth inequality. It entrenches dynasties. It puts more pressure on income taxes and borrowing to make up the shortfall.

What This Means for Your Next Move

If this exemption is enacted—and it’s gaining steam—high-net-worth families will need to rethink everything. Not because they have to, but because the strategic map will change. For some, that means scaling back overly aggressive gifting. For others, it might unlock new multigenerational strategies without worrying about a sudden tax cliff.

But this is not a moment to get complacent. Markets move. Laws change. And if there’s one certainty in Washington, it’s that tax policy rarely stays quiet for long.

Final Thought

This isn’t just a tax story. It’s a story about what kind of country we want to be. Do we reward wealth preservation or prioritize redistribution? Do we tax capital at rest, or let it pass quietly through the generations?

No matter where you stand politically, know this: if the $15 million exemption becomes law, it won’t just impact spreadsheets. It’ll reshape the financial behavior of the wealthy, alter estate planning for decades, and deepen the national debate over fairness, freedom, and the future of wealth in America.

And that’s a conversation we can’t afford to ignore.

Contact us for a free, brief 10-minute consultation. Let's explore strategies to protect your wealth and make your retirement everything you've dreamed of—secure, fulfilling, and worry-free. Schedule a free 10-minute consultation today by calling 614-943-2265. Your future deserves the best plan, and we're here to help make it happen.

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Fixed annuities can be an essential component of a well-rounded retirement strategy, offering security, predictability, and efficiency in financial planning.

These are current fixed annuity rates and their durations from Top A-rated carriers (subject to change at any time, not FDIC insured):

Rates Held This Week! Don’t Wait To Lock These Fixed Annuity Rates In Today!

3-year: 5.25% (under $100k Deposited)

3-year: 5.35% (over $100k Deposited)

5-year: 5.45% (under $100k Deposited)

5-year: 5.60% (over $100k Deposited)

7-year: 5.65% (under $100k Deposited)

7-year: 5.95% (over $100k Deposited)

Please feel free to call Eric at 614-943-2265 if you’d like to ask any questions or request information on these fixed annuities or other retirement topics that are on your mind.

REAL ASSETS, Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy

Invest Like the Ultra-Wealthy: Why Smart Money Is Flocking to Real Assets Like Gold—and Even Bourbon

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the traditional retirement playbook is outdated—and dangerously so. Inflation keeps ticking up. The dollar’s buying power is slipping. Central banks are flooding the system with printed cash. And the markets? A minefield of volatility.

That’s why the sharpest investors aren’t standing still—they’re positioning themselves.

They’re shifting into real, tangible assets—investments that don’t flinch when the markets throw a tantrum. Think gold. Think bourbon barrels. Yes, bourbon—the under-the-radar asset that’s been quietly creating generational wealth in exclusive circles.

These aren’t just curiosities—they’re financial strongholds. Physical assets that stay solid when stocks tumble and digital wealth evaporates.

This isn’t merely a hedge—it’s a blueprint for resilience.

📌 Gold has withstood centuries of financial upheaval.
📌 Bourbon barrels are aging assets with built-in appreciation and rising global demand.
📌 Physical assets provide something no stock ever can: ownership you can see, touch, and trade on your terms.

During market chaos, real assets don’t flinch. They thrive. History proves it. While equities tumble, hard assets often surge—shielding portfolios and delivering asymmetric returns when they're needed most.

And even in calm times? They add powerful diversification. That’s why the ultra-wealthy use them as a cornerstone—not a sideshow—in their wealth strategy.

Ask yourself:

🧠 Are you truly diversified?
🧠 What happens to your retirement if inflation stays elevated?
🧠 If the dollar weakens, what asset in your portfolio gets stronger?

If you don’t have a good answer, it’s time for a new conversation.

Allocating funds into the asset class known as “Real Assets” may be a strategy that you should consider.

Ask us how to Rollover a portion of Your IRA or 401k To A BOURBON IRA (www.bourbon.fund/how-it-works/) or a GOLD IRA (see link below) and:

• Safeguard your assets from the collapsing dollar

• Incorporate the ‘REAL ASSET’ class into your portfolio like the ultra-wealthy

• Hedge against the current high-inflation conditions

• Protect your retirement assets against economic crises

Just get in touch. We make it easier than ever.

Feedback or Questions?

You’re invited to get in touch with us if you’d like to find out how the Novus Financial Group can help you on your journey to a happy, fulfilling life in Retirement. 

Office: 614-943-2265

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Investment advisory services are offered by duly registered individuals on behalf of CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser.

The content we provide here isn’t financial advice and cannot be taken as such. Please speak to your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Also, note that every investment comes with its risks and drawbacks. Lastly, we would like to remind you that past results cannot guarantee future returns.

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