The Great Retirement Betrayal

How I Turned 25 Million Mailed Magalogs Into $250,000 in Royalties—And Why the Secrets Behind My Masterpiece Can Make YOU a Direct Mail Legend

Dear Fellow Copywriter,

Back in 1992, I wrote a 20-page direct mail package called The Great Retirement Betrayal. It mailed 25 million copies over three years, stuffed my mailbox with over $250,000 in royalties, and knocked out a killer control by Jim Rutz in a head-to-head test.

Denny Hatch, the sharpest eye in direct mail and editor of Who’s Mailing What!, called it "the quintessential example of this splendid direct mail genre"—the magalog, a full-color, magazine-style masterpiece that’s as addictive as Time and as persuasive as a shotgun wedding.

I’ve kept this gem locked away, sharing its secrets only with deep-pocketed clients who begged me to crack its code.

Meanwhile, I’ve watched writers like you sweat over campaigns that barely break even—hooks that flop, offers that fizzle, and checks that never come. You’ve been fed half-baked advice—"keep it short," "be clever," "don’t scare ‘em"—while the real money sits in a formula so potent, it’s like having a printing press in your basement.

Today, that changes.

I’m offering you a chance to own a digital copy of The Great Retirement Betrayal—the exact package that turned Phillips Publishing into a cash cow and made me a name in this game. Why?

Because I’m done watching good writers stumble when they could be dominating. I’ve made my millions. I’ve cemented my legacy. Now, I want you to swipe the blueprint that mailed 25 million times and use it to write your own ticket to the top.

Why Denny Hatch Called It the "Quintessential Magalog"—And Why That’s Your Golden Ticket

Denny Hatch didn’t mess around with praise.

In Who’s Mailing What! (March 1992), he said when you get this piece, "drop everything and dive in." Why? Because it’s not just a sales letter—it’s the magalog perfected: an 8-1/2" x 11", 20-page self-mailer that reads like a magazine but sells like a street hustler. Hatch saw it as the evolution of Gary Bencivenga’s long-form letters, packed with info, questions, and solutions that don’t let you go.

Here’s what made him rave:

• It’s a Page-Turner: Hatch noted its "long lead article" on retirement traps and "powerful articles" on retiring smart. Like Gary Halbert’s storytelling, it hooks you emotionally and won’t let go.
• It Scares You Silly: I "deliberately set out to scare readers," Hatch said, testing it on my 74-year-old babysitter ‘til she flinched. John Carlton would grin at that gut-punch edge.
• It’s Trustworthy: Sidebars like "Retirement Whoppers" and lists (9 safest banks, anyone?) give Bencivenga-style credibility—no hype, just meat.
• It Promises and Delivers: John Caples’ proven headlines shine in "What They Never Tell You About Retirement." Hatch loved how I pointed to exact pages for answers, not vague teases.
• It’s Clear as Day: David Ogilvy’s rule—"Don’t make them think"—rules here. Hatch said it’s "informative, raises questions, gives solutions persuasively"—all without sounding pushy.

Hatch knew this wasn’t random luck. It’s a calculated masterpiece. And now, it’s your turn to crack it open.

What You’ll Learn by Studying This $250,000 Magalog Monster

When you grab The Great Retirement Betrayal, you’re not just getting a dusty old mailer—you’re sitting at the feet of me (Doug D’Anna) and the giants: Halbert, Carlton, Bencivenga, Caples, Ogilvy who i emulated.

Here’s what you’ll master:

1. How to Scare ‘Em Into Action: I’ll show you how I made retirees sweat over their nest eggs—then handed them the life raft. You’ll learn to tap fear like Halbert and turn it into gold.
2. The Magalog Flow That Sucks Readers In: It’s a 20-page rollercoaster—articles, sidebars, teasers—that keeps ‘em reading. You’ll swipe this rhythm to glue prospects to your copy.
3. Specificity That Shuts Down Doubt: "4 Stocks Virtually Guaranteed to Beat Inflation" wasn’t fluff—it was Bencivenga-level proof. You’ll wield precision to kill skepticism dead.
4. Value That Buries Objections: Free reports, a $49 steal, a no-risk guarantee—I stacked it ‘til they couldn’t say no. You’ll learn to pile on goodies like Carlton piles on swagger.
5. Long-Form That Outmuscles Short: Caples knew long copy sells when it’s gripping. I’ll prove 20 pages can outsell 2—every word earning its keep.
6. The "Us vs. Them" Hook: Banks, brokers, the government—I made ‘em villains, and readers loved it. You’ll rally prospects against a foe and win their loyalty.
7. Urgency That Forces the Sale: "What you MUST do now" lit a fire under ‘em. You’ll master subtle panic that gets checks in the mail fast.

Why I’m Letting This Go—And How You’ll Cash In

Why spill my best-kept secret?

I’ve got nothing left to prove.

I’ve written controls that mailed tens of millions, banked fat royalties, and outgunned A-listers. Now, I want to see you—yeah, you—stop spinning your wheels and start raking it in.

I’m tired of watching writers churn out lifeless dreck because they’ve never seen a magalog that moves mountains.

Owning The Great Retirement Betrayal isn’t just a trophy (though 25 million mailed makes it rare). It’s your cheat code:

• Skyrocketing Conversions: Use these tricks, and your next piece could double response—or more.
• Bigger Paydays: Clients shell out for controls that mail millions. This is your fast track.
• Unshakable Confidence: You’ll write like a pro who’s cracked the vault, not a newbie guessing in the dark.

It’s yours to steal from.

Get It Now—Before It’s Gone

I’ve got 25 digital copies of The Great Retirement Betrayal—straight from my 1992 archives, typos and all, just as they mailed. Regularly $199, but today only, yours for $97. Why the slash? I’m lighting a fire under you—24 hours to grab this $250,000 cash cow at half price, because I want warriors acting fast, not procrastinators.

That’s a steal for a magalog that banked me $250,000 and mailed 25 million times. Only 25 slots—once they’re gone, this deal’s dead.

Why so few? This is for serious players who’ll rip it apart and dominate—not dabblers. Here’s what you get:

• The Full 20-Page Magalog: Every article, sidebar, pitch—100% unredacted.
• My never offered before complete insider notes: Why it worked, straight from my brain.

Click the link to grab your copy. Only 25 seats at this table—9 are already gone. Move now, or miss out forever.

One Final Kick in the Pants

Gary Bencivenga once told me, "The most powerful thing you can do in your copy is demonstrate that something works." The Great Retirement Betrayal is my proof—20 pages of raw, tested, million-dollar magic that mailed 25 million times and banked me $250,000.

It works. And it’ll work for you. Don’t let it slip away. Grab your copy, tear it open, and write your way to the winner’s circle.

Yours for monster wins, Doug D’Anna