Money Ripples Podcast

It's time to start Infinite Banking: https://bit.ly/4nmv7UE IUL vs Whole Life for Infinite Banking: here's the truth agents won't show you. A sneaky insurance agent tried to switch my client from a properly designed Whole Life policy to Index Universal Life (IUL)—and it would've cost him tens of thousands over time. In this video, I break down the real differences between IUL and Whole Life for Infinite Banking (IBC), why Nelson Nash didn't design IBC for IUL, and how surrender charges, rising insurance costs, caps/floors, and wash loans quietly erode results. What you'll learn: Why UL charges increase with age while Whole Life front-loads costs and then backs off How surrender fees limit your early access in IUL vs clean, immediate access in properly structured Whole Life The truth about caps and floors (and who controls them) Why most IUL "make money in two places" claims rely on wash loans (0% net—not compounding) How Whole Life policy loans let your cash value keep compounding tax-free while you use the money Real illustrations: $18k/year IUL vs a Max ROI Infinite Banking Whole Life design (more cash value, higher death benefit, faster break-even) Why banks often prefer Whole Life over IUL for collateral (and may cap IUL LTV) If you're serious about Infinite Banking, you need certainty, liquidity, and true tax-free compounding—not marketing hype. Properly engineered Whole Life (not vanilla WL) is the backbone of IBC because it's designed for maximum cash value and flexibility, not sales commissions.

What if you could not only pay off your student debt but also become a millionaire in just seven years? That's exactly what today's guest, Rose Han, did—and now she's showing others how to do the same. In this episode of the Money Ripples Podcast, Chris Miles sits down with Rose Han, a former Wall Street trader turned financial educator, YouTuber, and author of the brand-new book Add a Zero. Rose shares her incredible journey from being six figures in student debt at age 23 to achieving millionaire status by 30. She opens up about the financial principles, mindset shifts, and bold life decisions that made it possible. You'll discover: How Rose went from living paycheck-to-paycheck on Wall Street to financial independence. The life-changing lessons she learned from quitting her six-figure job to pursue freedom. Why financial education is often "gate-kept" and what you actually need to know. The difference between linear income and exponential income (and why leverage is the key). The surprising "fun-first" philosophy Rose believes leads to wealth and fulfillment. Rose doesn't just talk about money—she talks about freedom, passion, and creating a life you love. Whether you're buried in debt or sitting on six figures wondering what's next, her story and framework will show you what's possible. Her new book, Add a Zero, is a step-by-step playbook that helps you go from debt to millionaire by mastering the phases of financial growth—getting to zero, building stability, and unlocking exponential wealth. Unlike many finance books, Rose includes the missing piece: how to dramatically increase your income, not just save harder. If you've been frustrated with traditional advice that tells you to "just keep saving" or sacrifice for 40 years, you'll love this conversation. Rose and Chris reveal how to create financial freedom sooner—without waiting until retirement. Resources & Links: Get Rose Han's new book Add a Zero: https://addazero.com Follow Rose Han on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok: @itsRoseHan Passive income starts here: https://bit.ly/4gaxBDa

Freedom awaits.... https://bit.ly/4lXGlxI Most financial gurus tell you to pay off your debt using either the highest interest first (debt avalanche) or the smallest balance first (debt snowball). But what if both of those methods are actually keeping you stuck in debt longer and draining your financial freedom? In this episode, Chris Miles — the Cashflow Expert and Anti-Financial Advisor — breaks down a powerful system he developed called the Cashflow Index. This strategy helped him personally eliminate over $1 million of debt and has since freed up thousands (and even hundreds of thousands) of dollars for his clients every year. Instead of focusing on just interest rates or balances, the Cashflow Index looks at one crucial factor: your monthly payment burden. Because let's be real — it's not the balance that stresses you out, it's the payment eating into your cashflow every month. By applying this system, you'll learn how to: Stop stressing about interest rates and focus on what really kills your financial freedom Use ROI thinking when deciding which loans to pay off first Identify which debts are sabotaging your monthly cashflow (and should be tackled first) Restructure debt to create options, freedom, and breathing room Avoid common debt payoff mistakes that actually slow down your progress Chris also shares real-life stories of clients who used the Cashflow Index to: Free up $3,800/month in hidden cashflow without making more money Qualify for a mortgage by strategically paying down just $4,100 instead of $7,600 Escape the cycle of negative cashflow and turn crushing debt into an organized, manageable plan Whether you're an entrepreneur, a W-2 employee, or someone simply looking for a better way to get out of debt, the Cashflow Index can transform the way you see your money.    

Want help creating a personalized plan to maximize your freedom? Visit https://bit.ly/4mExB0p. Have you ever been told that the smartest financial move is to pay off your mortgage as fast as possible? I believed that too—until I discovered the shocking truth: paying off your home early could actually COST you years of freedom and potentially millions of dollars. In this episode, I share my personal story, including how my own father and I both learned the hard way that being "mortgage debt free" doesn't equal financial freedom. I'll walk you through why banks want you to pay extra principal, how fractional reserve banking actually works against you, and why wealthy investors and even major companies like Apple keep debt while growing their cash. You'll see real examples of what happens when you compare paying off a $400,000 mortgage versus investing that same money—even at a lower rate. I'll also show you how this connects to passive income, infinite banking, and the Money Ripples philosophy of creating financial independence now, not decades from now. If you've ever wondered whether paying off your home is really the safest path, this episode will open your eyes. By the end, you'll know why equity and net worth mean nothing without cashflow—and what smarter moves you can make to truly become work optional.  

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4ozuSq1  What if you could access 0% funding from $50,000 up to $250,000 and strategically use it to grow your business, invest in real estate, and even stack rewards so the money effectively pays you? In this episode I sit down with Ari Page, owner of Fund&Grow, to unpack how 0% business credit cards and a smart card-stacking strategy can create real, usable liquidity when traditional banks say "no." Ari's story starts in 2007 inside a mortgage company as LTVs shrank overnight and deals collapsed. The workaround they found business credit cards that don't report to your personal credit and offer 0% introductory periods (six to as long as 22 months) became a scalable system for entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals who need fast, flexible capital. We break down why these products are treated more like micro-loans than mortgages, why they're less regulated, and how banks use 0% offers to attract high-quality business clients (so you can benefit from the teaser rates, points, and perks). We go deep on the card-stacking sequence: which issuers to start with, how merging limits works (e.g., opening a new 0% card and combining it with an existing line to make the larger line 0%), and why keeping utilization off personal cards preserves your FICO while you continue stacking on the EIN side. We also cover the DSCR-style thinking for small business owners why liquidity at 0% can be more valuable than chasing higher-cost lines and how to avoid the biggest mistakes (like using this for personal bills or speculative trading). If you're a dentist buying equipment, a contractor scaling crews, or a real estate investor funding marketing and light rehabs, this is built for you. One of my favorite tactical nuggets: using a business credit card for contractor payments. If workmanship isn't up to code or a project stalls, you have chargeback/dispute protection forcing the vendor to respond to the bank (not just you). That leverage can get the job finished, protect timelines, and preserve capital. Add in 2% cash-back options and the airline transfer sweet spots (move points from the card portal to the airline account for outsized value), and your effective cost of capital drops even further. Who is this not for? Folks with poor credit, people trying to make next month's mortgage payment, or anyone looking to punt into bonds/crypto directly with cards. Who is it for? Responsible entrepreneurs, professionals, and real estate investors who want low-cost working capital to buy equipment, fund marketing, bridge project timelines, and scale with discipline. Ari also shares a no-inquiry, soft-pull prequalification to see your potential total limits and a consult to map your sequence. If you've felt boxed out by today's tight lending, this episode shows a practical, compliant path to work-optional faster: build liquidity, protect your credit, and put other people's money to work at 0%. Ari Page's links: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aripageceo/  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aripage.fundandgrow/  - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aripage.fundandgrow/  - Website: https://funding.fundandgrow.com/f-g-organic-linkedin1724878205877 

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3Xdyhim  Everyone tells you mutual funds are the "safe" bet for retirement. But what if I told you they carry an almost 99% failure rate when it comes to actually creating financial freedom? In this solo episode, I separate risk from failure and break down what really works if you want your money working harder for you so you don't have to work so hard for that money. I start by defining terms most people mix up: risk is the chance of loss, while failure is the likelihood you'll hit your goals namely, sustainable income that makes you work optional. A savings account has near-zero risk, but it's also almost guaranteed to fail at creating freedom. Mutual funds and the S&P 500 might not go to zero and over long stretches they often recover but recovery isn't the same as success. If you arrive at retirement needing real income and your strategy only "works" on paper, that's a failure. I walk through the data most people ignore: industry headlines brag that over 1 million Fidelity clients now have seven-figure balances, yet Transamerica reports that 35% of savers still believe it would take a miracle to retire. Do the math: out of tens of millions of accounts, only a tiny fraction feel genuinely free. Add in taxes, low withdrawal rules (3–4%), and inflation, and you see why traditional accumulation falls short. Even Vanguard's forward return estimates are sobering yet Wall Street still sells the same set-and-forget plan. Then I contrast that with alternative investments designed to produce stable cash flow. I don't sugarcoat anything: certain real estate or syndication deals can go bad. Risk is real. But failure doesn't have to be. When you understand structures like debt vs. equity, collateral, and conservative underwriting and when you diversify intelligently your odds of success can drastically improve compared to relying on market appreciation and hoping sequence-of-returns risk doesn't hit you at the worst time. I also show three side-by-side scenarios using a $600,000 nest egg over 10 years: A mutual fund path (even granting a friendlier return and a 4% withdrawal) that still struggles to create meaningful income after taxes. A properly structured whole life insurance approach ("infinite banking") producing tax-free distributions with contractual guarantees and over a century of paid-out performance by the right carriers. And a diversified cash-flow investing path targeting ~10% that, even after accounting for setbacks, can deliver 2–3x+ the income of the Wall Street plan without selling off principal. Bottom line: don't confuse "lower chance of loss" with "higher chance of success." If you want freedom sooner not someday you need vehicles built for income, not just accumulation. My mission at Money Ripples is to help you reduce risk the right way while increasing the probability of success. If you're done gambling your future on hope and averages, and you want predictable cash flow, it's time to pivot from "set it and forget it" to a cash-flow first strategy that aligns with the life you actually want. Names & terms to help you find this episode later: Fidelity, Transamerica, Vanguard, S&P 500, mutual funds, 4% rule, infinite banking, whole life insurance, alternative investments, passive income, tax-free income, Central Lending, Money Ripples.

Hitting 1,000 episodes is wild, and I wanted to celebrate it the right way: by flipping the mic and letting you ask the questions. In this special, unscripted, zero-rehearsal episode, I bring two Money Ripples listeners, Jeff Holbrook, a physical therapist and father of five from Salt Lake City, and Jen, a Montana farmer and rancher, straight onto the show to ask the questions so many people quietly carry around. If you've ever wondered how to apply these strategies when you're living paycheck-to-paycheck, how Infinite Banking really compares to my Max ROI System, or how to mentor teens with their first $10,000 in savings, this one is for you. Jeff kicks us off with the most honest question there is: "How can an average Joe become financially free when there's no 'fat' left to cut?" I walk through the same process I used when I was more than a million dollars in debt. It starts with cash flow first: freeing up monthly money using the Cashflow Index, identifying tax inefficiencies, restructuring payments, negotiating when needed, and then relentlessly focusing on income creation instead of only cutting back. Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger both emphasized that the first $100,000 is the hardest, and I explain why that milestone should be the near-term target before worrying about investing. This is the entire philosophy behind the Work-Optional Blueprint and the Wealth Accelerator Academy. Jen brings the conversation into Infinite Banking and asks how my Max ROI design differs from Nelson Nash's original approach. I break down the key difference: the concept is solid, but the policy design is everything. Many traditional structures delay cash value for years. I show why I prioritize liquidity, investing utility, and reduced internal costs so clients often see significantly higher early cash value — which in real life can result in tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars of savings over time.  Jeff then asks about the part of my story I usually gloss over: how I climbed out of seven-figure debt without filing bankruptcy. I talk about selling off everything from toys to cars, turning in a Mercedes, facing foreclosures, slashing expenses to the bone, accepting help when needed, rebuilding income, and stacking passive income streams one at a time until I reached financial independence again in late 2016. It wasn't glamorous, but it was real, repeatable, and grounded in principles anyone can apply. Jen closes by asking how to guide teens who have saved their first $10,000. I share the playbook: keep the money safe in high-yield cash while they work toward their first major financial milestone, consider a properly structured parent-owned policy as a long-term growth tool, and let them co-invest in small slices of your deals so they learn through real numbers, real returns, and real responsibility. That's how you build wise stewards, not just savers. We wrap by talking about what's ahead: David Morgan's conversations about central banks, the concerns around CBDCs, and why I continue to favor real assets like real estate. Thank you for 1,000 episodes and 11½ years of ripple effects. My goal is simple: help at least 1,000 families reach financial independence by 2030.  Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4qPxvpu  The Work Optional Blueprint: https://a.co/d/fFzl9Zw  

👉 Pre-order your copy here: https://a.co/d/3DFRqXy  Ready to build your Money Habit? - Pre-order The Money Habit today and take the first step toward mastering your finances and creating lasting wealth. What if one simple change with a credit card could free up hundreds of dollars in cash flow every month? In this episode, I sit down with my friend and bestselling author Mike Michalowicz (Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan, All In, and now The Money Habit) to unpack a deceptively powerful tactic you can implement today and the money psychology behind why it works. We start with Mike's ultra-practical subscription audit move: open an additional credit card, write "SUBSCRIPTIONS" on it with a Sharpie, and route every subscription streaming, software, app trials, memberships, even that "smart" mattress plan onto that one card. When the monthly statement hits, you feel a productive dose of pain and clarity. That visibility exposes zombie charges you forgot about and forces better decisions. Mike's seen people reclaim hundreds to over a thousand dollars a month using this alone. I've felt that sting myself. Even when you think you're tracking everything, consolidation turns "invisible" expenses into obvious targets. From there, we zoom out. Mike shares the hard-won story behind Profit First how chasing revenue without true profitability led to a crash in 2008, a humbling reset, and the system that's helped entrepreneurs (me included) run healthier businesses and lives. We translate those principles to personal finance with his new book The Money Habit: don't try to become a different person; channel your existing habits to win with money. You'll hear two big frameworks that clicked for me: Optimal Foraging Theory (hunt → preserve → consume). Most of us "hunt" income and immediately consume, but the win is in preservation first automating how every incoming dollar gets stored and allocated before you ever spend. Then there's Parkinson's Law applied to money: expenses expand to the cash available. That's why "I just need to make more" rarely fixes anything. More control before more income is the unlock. We also hit the myth of lottery-winner doom. Mike's research shows winners with a money system become measurably happier; those without one spiral. Same income, different outcome because systems beat willpower. On a personal note, I share how adopting Profit First years ago helped me carve out real profit, invest, and ultimately become work optional with enough passive income to let me choose how I spend my time. If you're serious about building cash flow and living a rich life now (not someday), this conversation gives you a fast, implement-today tactic plus a durable framework to keep what you earn and multiply it. Mike Michalowicz's links: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemichalowicz/  - Website: https://mikemichalowicz.com/  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeMichalowiczFanPage/  - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikemichalowicz/    Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/43LgjY9  Buy our book: https://a.co/d/fFzl9Zw  

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3LkShNi  Buy our book: https://a.co/d/fFzl9Zw  Is investing in car wash businesses the best thing to add to your real estate portfolio right now? In this episode, I sit down with Chris Larsen of Next Level Income to unpack why "operating real estate" (assets with both land + business components) can boost returns if the operations are rock solid. Chris shares his journey from a Virginia Tech engineering grad and Category 1 cyclist to building financial independence through rentals, multifamily syndications, and now car wash roll-ups. A pivotal moment losing his best friend (also named Chris) on June 21, 1997 reframed his view of time, purpose, and the need to control capital to live life on his own terms. We talk candidly about where multifamily sits today: high prices, high rents, and high interest rates have compressed margins. So how do you still get attractive yields? Chris explains why he's still bullish on apartments (especially affordable housing with municipality partnerships and tax abatements), but also why he's allocating to operating real estate like car washes, senior housing, mobile home parks, and even private credit while banks are constrained. You'll hear a simple, tactical playbook for de-risking car washes: Memberships to stabilize cash flow against weather and seasonality (he added memberships at an in-bay automatic wash in Asheville, North Carolina, where his son even worked this summer). Operational excellence as the #1 driver of returns either run it well or partner with a proven operator. Technology & pricing: use modern software (dynamic pricing, ML/AI tools) to optimize revenue just like best-in-class STR operators do. Roll-ups: buy mom-and-pop sites from retiring baby boomers, improve operations, and package multiple washes to expand the EBITDA multiple from ~8x at purchase to potentially ~12x on exit creating value through scale, not speculation. We also cover why senior housing is poised for a powerful decade as boomers begin turning 80 at 10,000/day, how private lending/private credit can offer double-digit coupons in today's tighter banking environment, and why the quality of the operator has never mattered more. If you're earlier on the journey, we revisit house hacking, small rentals, and when to consider moving up the "Monopoly board" to larger, more efficient assets. Finally, Chris opens up about infinite banking a tool his family has used for 16 years as a core liquidity hub showing how properly structured cash value policies can store dry powder, protect families, and be redeployed into opportunities (from crises to car wash acquisitions). We close with ripple effect stories from disaster relief fuel runs after the Helene impact near Asheville to helping listeners build work-optional lives that free them to use their God-given talents at scale. If you want to think bigger than "one more door," understand where operations create alpha, and see exactly how a car wash + real estate hybrid can fit beside multifamily, affordable housing, and private credit, this conversation will give you a practical, step-by-step lens to act not just listen. Chris' links: - LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nextlevelincome/  - Website: https://nextlevelincome.com/  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.a.larsen/ 

Book a call here with our Infinite Banking Specialist: https://bit.ly/4qGvonC  Buy our book: https://a.co/d/fFzl9Zw  We're seeing cracks everywhere right now real estate pressures, stock market volatility, AI disruptions, tariff threats, and a whole lot of uncertainty. If you've been asking, "Is there anywhere I can put cash where it's truly safe, accessible, and still produces dependable passive income for life?" this episode is for you. I'm Chris Miles, your cashflow expert and anti-financial advisor, and today I break down exactly how I create guaranteed, tax-free income using my Max ROI Infinite Banking approach. This isn't theory. I walk through real scenarios I recently ran for clients including a dentist in his 30s and a 60-year-old high-earner so you can see how the numbers actually work and how soon you could turn on income. I start by addressing the natural temptation to "do nothing" when markets feel wobbly. Doing nothing is like balancing on a rocking boat you will eventually fall in. Real freedom comes from playing offense and defense at the same time: holding truly safe cash reserves while still investing for growth. Infinite banking, structured properly with a high-cash-value whole life design (not universal life), gives me a guaranteed foundation that grows, stays liquid, and can be tapped for opportunities then later converts to reliable, tax-free income. You'll hear me map out: A 30-something dentist funding $60k/yr for 15 years (total $900k) and then taking $75k/yr tax-free for 43 years, still leaving a seven-figure death benefit. A 60-year-old funding $60k/yr for 10 years (total $600k) and then drawing ~$52k/yr tax-free for 20 years. A lump-sum variation where $600k is earmarked once, automatically drafts premiums via a 5.5% side account, and later pays ~$65k/yr tax-free for 20 years—a payout many investors struggle to match even with a doubled brokerage balance (and that would usually be taxable). I also explain why the income you can sustainably pull matters more than an account's headline growth rate, how whole life dividends (historically around the 6% neighborhood in recent decades) translate to spendable, tax-free distributions, and why universal life is not the tool for this strategy. If you've ever worried about outliving your money, this episode shows a path to certainty without giving up flexibility. I keep my emergency/opportunity fund inside these policies, earn far more than a bank, maintain access for deals, and later flip the switch to lifetime income often coordinating with Social Security to boost results. Bottom line: turbulence happens. Winners prepare in advance. Build the defensive base that lets you stay calm, seize deals, and sleep at night. If you want to see how Max ROI Infinite Banking fits your plan or run your own numbers use the Work Optional Calculator on our site and click the Infinite Banking tab to book a call. The best time to create certainty is before the storm hits. Let's design your one-two punch and make work optional for life.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3WwjsXX  Buy our book: https://a.co/d/fFzl9Zw   Gold and silver have been on a tear this year but is the run finished or just getting started? In this episode, I bring back David McAlvany of the McAlvany family/McAlvany Group a team with roots in precious metals all the way back to the 1970s, when they helped push for U.S. gold ownership to be re-legalized on January 1, 1975. With more than 50 years across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium and experience managing hard-asset equity strategies David joins me to separate signal from noise so we can make smarter moves right now. We dig into the critical difference between owning physical metals as wealth insurance and owning miners for growth. David explains why miners can be a powerful accelerator during the right 10% of the cycle (and a headache the other 90%), why balance sheets and geography matter, and why technical "overbought" doesn't automatically mean "topping out" when an asset is still massively underowned. You'll hear how central banks have been setting the tone for gold's move while many investors are only just waking up despite mainstream voices starting to shift. David cites changing frameworks from big names on Wall Street, including calls for double-digit gold allocations alongside stocks and bonds, as a sign of a deeper regime change in how portfolios are being constructed. We also unpack silver's catch-up phase. You'll learn the key gold-to-silver ratio levels David watches (why ~80:1 suggests silver value, why sustained moves into the 40s–50s can mark overheating, and how 2011's ~31:1 print showcased silver's potential outperformance). If you've felt like you "missed it," we cover a practical path: using ratio and premium trading to compound ounces over time swapping between metals when the ratio stretches to grow your stash without trying to time every price wiggle. That can function like "synthetic cash flow" from a non-cash-flowing asset. Curious about the white metals? David walks through platinum and palladium's industrial ties, why multi-year supply deficits matter, how changing EV versus internal-combustion assumptions ripple through demand, and where these metals may fit for diversification. We also tackle the popular question: Is crypto the new gold? David lays out how bitcoin has behaved like a risk asset during equity selloffs while physical gold has held up as true portfolio insurance. Finally, we talk legacy. David's "ripple effect" centers on stewarding both tangible and intangible wealth character, values, and family culture alongside the ounces, shares, and properties. If you want metals to play the right role in your plan hedging inflation, dampening volatility, and giving you optionality this conversation gives you the frameworks and numbers to act with confidence. If you're serious about building passive income and becoming work-optional, understanding how to position precious metals in 2025 is essential. Tune in to learn when physical shines, when miners can add torque, how to read the ratio, and how to compound intelligently without betting the farm. David's links: Website: https://davidmcalvany.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMcalvany/  X: https://x.com/davidmcalvany 

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4quPe59  Everyone quotes the Dave Ramsey Millionaire Study like it's gospel but here's the problem: the numbers don't tell the whole truth. In this episode, I break down what that "largest study of millionaires" actually was, what it wasn't, and what real millionaire data suggests about paying off your mortgage, investing, and building wealth faster than the standard 30–40 year track. Before anyone grabs pitchforks, I'm not here to bash Dave. He's helped a lot of people get control of their budgets and get out of debt. But when it comes to creating wealth, there are cracks in the logic behind the study that's often cited to justify "always" paying off the home before investing more.  Words matter. In a viral clip, Dave says millionaires never invested instead of paying off the house then seconds later says almost never, then less than 10%. Which is it? That shift alone should make you ask better questions. So I did. I dug into the study. It wasn't an independent, randomized sample of American millionaires. It was a survey of Ramsey's own audience run over roughly six or seven weeks (late 2017–early 2018). If you survey your own followers people already primed to use 401(k)s, pay off mortgages, and avoid leverage you'll get exactly what you taught them to do. That's not "the nation's millionaires"; that's your community. What does broader data say? The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances shows a significant portion of millionaire households still carry mortgages. Many build wealth with a mix of assets not just a paid-off house plus a 401(k). Other sources that look at higher net worth households Spectrum Group, Capgemini, and even communities like Tiger 21 show meaningful allocations to real estate and alternative investments, along with business equity and cash. In other words, there isn't one narrow path. From nearly 25 years in the trenches first as a traditional advisor and since 2006 helping clients create passive income with alternative investments I've watched people accelerate their timelines by deploying capital into cash-flowing assets: rentals, real estate-backed funds, and businesses. I've seen clients go from a few hundred thousand in retirement accounts to million-plus net worth in a handful of years, without "swinging for the fences." Not get-rich-quick get-rich faster (and smarter). Do some millionaires end up with paid-off homes? Absolutely. Often after they've already built substantial cash flow and net worth. That's a phase decision, not a cause of wealth. Personally, I've got a low-rate mortgage and plenty of investable opportunities. If one day I'm long on cash and short on compelling deals, sure I might kill the mortgage. Until then, capital works harder elsewhere. Bottom line: don't accept "always" and "never" in finance. Understand sequence, strategy, and stage. If you want work-optional freedom sooner, you need assets that pay you now not just someday. Run the numbers. Question the narrative. And build a plan that matches your goals, risk, and timeline. If you're ready to explore alternatives to the one-size-fits-all approach, let's talk at MoneyRipples.com. And if you found additional studies on millionaires and asset allocation, drop them in the comments I read them.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4o3SRgN  Fidelity just hit a record number of 401(k) millionaires, but before you celebrate, let's take a hard look at what's really happening. In this episode, I dig deep into the latest Fidelity retirement report and reveal why this "milestone" might actually be a warning sign for anyone planning to retire on Wall Street's promises. If you've been diligently saving in your 401(k), this episode is for you. Fidelity's numbers show that more Americans than ever have crossed the million-dollar mark in their retirement accounts over 1.1 million people between 401(k)s and IRAs. Sounds impressive, right? But as I break down these statistics, I'll show you the hidden risks behind this so-called success story. The truth is, these new 401(k) millionaires didn't necessarily earn their way there through strategy or skill. The majority are benefiting from a long, unprecedented bull market. Sixteen and a half years of rising markets have made average savers look like investing geniuses but what happens when the market finally turns? I'll unpack the real numbers behind the hype: the average millionaire in Fidelity's data is about 59 years old, has saved for 25 years, and contributes nearly 18% of their income (over 26% with employer matches). Yet, even with all that effort, they're sitting on just enough to generate about $30,000 a year in retirement income if everything goes perfectly. That's not financial freedom. That's barely financial survival. We'll also explore why most people don't make changes even when they're worried. Over half of Fidelity's investors say they're concerned about the economy, but only 5% have adjusted their portfolios. This is the danger of financial complacency believing the market will always go up. In this episode, I challenge you to think differently about wealth and retirement. Instead of relying on hope and the stock market rollercoaster, I share why it's time to start creating real passive income through alternative investments assets that work for you no matter what Wall Street does. If you've got significant savings but little to no passive income, you're not alone. I'll share stories of people who've reached out to me with millions in their accounts but only a few hundred dollars in monthly cash flow. The truth is, being a "401(k) millionaire" doesn't mean financial independence it means your money is trapped. It's time to get your cash working harder for you, not the other way around. I'll also share how you can start taking control with strategies like infinite banking, private lending, and other passive income investments that create predictable cash flow. And don't forget to check out my new book, The Work Optional Blueprint, available now on Kindle with the print version coming soon. If you're ready to stop hoping for retirement someday and start building freedom today, this episode will open your eyes and your options.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4hHpFdv  What if you could ethically influence people, and they thanked you for it? Learn how at cialdini.com/decevent - Use code MONEYRIPPLES for a special bonus. The economy has been shaking things up, and if you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or leader, you've probably felt it. Clients are hesitant. Marketing costs are up. Even some seven-figure earners are struggling. So how do you stand out and create real influence in a market full of uncertainty? Today, I'm joined again by Dr. Chris Phelps, the CEO of the Cialdini Institute, to uncover how you can use ethical persuasion and authority to gain the upper hand in any economy. If you've read Dr. Robert Cialdini's groundbreaking work on persuasion, you already know how powerful these principles are. Chris and I dive deep into how you can apply them today to rebuild trust, attract loyal clients, and lead your team effectively even when times are tough. We talk about what's really happening in the economy right now: from the rising costs of doing business to the erosion of consumer trust caused by AI-generated content, scams, and overwhelming noise in the marketplace. Chris explains why people are more skeptical than ever and how you can break through that wall with authentic authority, transparency, and trust. We explore the authority principle why customers instinctively look for credible experts, and how positioning yourself as one can make your business stand out. Chris shares proven examples from the corporate world like Avis and L'Oréal's "You're worth it" campaign that demonstrate how honesty and vulnerability can actually make your brand more persuasive. Then, we shift gears to leadership. Chris reveals how the consistency principle can transform team management and reduce micromanagement. He walks through how getting your team to make voluntary commitments leads to better results and a stronger sense of ownership because people don't want to be told what to do; they want to choose. You'll also hear the fascinating story of how Chris went from running struggling dental practices during the 2008 recession to turning them into million-dollar successes three years in a row by applying these very same principles. And he explains how his collaboration with Dr. Robert Cialdini came to life creating a movement that's now helping businesses worldwide understand the science of influence. We wrap up with practical insights you can use today to build authority, increase conversions, and inspire your team to take action even when the world feels unpredictable. If you want to stop competing on price, start leading with influence, and learn what truly drives human behavior, this episode is for you. Join us for this powerful conversation that will give you the tools to not only survive in this economy but to lead, thrive, and create ripples of success in your business and beyond. Dr. Chris Phelps; links: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christopher-phelps-2b48b718/  - Website: https://cialdini.com/  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Dr-Christopher-Phelps-DMD-CMCT-61557905079311/ 

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3IUR4M5  Am I actually financially prepared to create real financial freedom with my real estate portfolio or could I already be there and just not know it yet? In this episode, I sit down with repeat guest Marcus Crigler, CPA and founder of BEC CFO & CPA (becfo.com), to break down the practical math, systems, and mindset that separate investors who think they're winning from those who truly achieve work-optional freedom. Marcus' background is rare: at just 22, he was inside a CPA firm serving ultra-successful operators with tens of thousands of units the folks who don't flex on Instagram because they're too busy buying 26 multifamily properties in a single year. From that vantage point, he learned what most investors never see: the decisions made from the P&L, not the highlight reel. Today, his firm helps active investors wholesalers, flippers, property managers, and portfolio owners make money, save money, and build real wealth with bookkeeping, tax strategy, and CFO-level guidance. We dig into the one metric elite investors live and die by: Return on Equity (ROE). If an asset's ROE slips to 3–5% (or worse), sophisticated owners don't "set it and forget it" they improve or recycle the asset. Marcus shows how "recapitalizing the portfolio" (selling, 1031-exchanging, or redeploying equity) can ratchet cash flow and accelerate net-worth compounding because a 3% appreciation on a $15M asset adds $500k versus $300k on a $10M asset. Same market. Better capitalization. Bigger wealth effect. We also confront the biggest silent killer of freedom: ignoring your REO schedule. If you're not reviewing each property's current equity, cash flow, ROE, and next move, your portfolio is like milk you might not have opened it, but it still expires. I share a client story who sat on $700k of equity for $200/month of profit a 0.3% ROE until we moved the equity to stronger markets and turned it into $8,500/month. That's the power of measuring what matters. Then we tackle my three step framework Get Lean, Get Liquid, Get Out and Marcus goes deep on why liquidity is the #1 determinant of long-term success. Cash cushions buy time, confidence, and most importantly opportunity. He tells the story of a client who almost shut down in October 2023, but because he'd stacked ~$800k in reserves, he ran into the fire when others ran out and later hit $900k revenue in a single month with strong margins. Liquidity didn't cost him returns; it bought him the right returns. Finally, we get real about mindset. Most people don't stay in the rat race because they're broke; they stay because they're afraid of being broke again or of losing identity, status, or external validation. If that's you, the antidote is clarity: know your numbers, confront your gaps, and make the next high-leverage move. Freedom isn't theoretical it's math, method, and courage applied over time. If you're an active real estate entrepreneur (or an "accidentally active" landlord) who wants CFO-level clarity, follow Marcus Crigler and check out BEC CFO & CPA. And if you want your money to work harder than you do, start with your REO schedule and ROE then decide whether each asset gets improved or recycled. That's how you turn a portfolio into true financial freedom. Marcus' links:  - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7/  - Website: https://beccfo.com/marcus-crigler-ceo  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BECCFO 

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/42GzEt6  Everyone's been comparing Bitcoin to gold lately, calling it the new "digital safe haven." But is it really that stable? Is Bitcoin the hedge against the dollar everyone claims it to be or just another speculative bubble disguised as digital gold? My goal is simple: to help you make your money work harder for you so you can stop working so hard for it. Today, we're diving into one of the biggest myths circulating in the financial world "Bitcoin is the new gold." In this episode, I unpack real-time market data comparing Bitcoin's movement against gold and silver during recent tariff talks between Trump and China. You'll see how gold shot up nearly 5% as investors fled to safety while Bitcoin dropped over 7% in the same period. I'll show you what this means for your investments, why Bitcoin's behavior mirrors the S&P 500 more than gold, and what that tells us about its true nature. We'll also talk about what actually qualifies as a store of value and why gold and silver have maintained that status for thousands of years while crypto still hasn't earned it. You'll hear me share my own experiences with Bitcoin going all the way back to 2011, when I was introduced to it before it even hit a dollar, and why I decided to stay grounded in real, tangible assets. If you've been tempted to move your wealth into crypto because "everyone says it's safe," this episode will stop you in your tracks. I explain why digital currencies like Bitcoin are still speculative assets, not safe havens and what smarter investors and family offices do instead. We'll go deeper into how the wealthy think about risk allocation why they only keep 1–3% of their portfolio in speculative assets like crypto, while placing more of their wealth in real assets like gold, silver, real estate, and infinite banking strategies. You'll also learn how I categorize each asset class in my own portfolio and how to structure yours for true financial freedom and stability. Finally, I'll walk you through practical steps to protect your wealth from volatility how to combine real estate, commodities, and private lending to build a diversified plan that keeps you cashflowing no matter what happens in the economy. Whether you're new to crypto or already holding Bitcoin, this is the reality check you need to make informed, profitable decisions that align with your long-term financial goals.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3KP3uFM  What if everything you've been taught about money saving, investing, and "playing it safe" is exactly what keeps you from building real wealth? My guest today, Dave Wolcott, breaks down what the ultra-wealthy actually do with their money that most people never learn. Dave's story is incredible. A former Marine Corps Captain turned multimillionaire investor, Dave went from following the traditional "get a job and max your 401(k)" plan to realizing that strategy could never deliver true financial freedom. When his family suddenly grew from one child to four overnight thanks to triplets he knew he had to rethink everything. What followed was a deep dive into how the top 1% and 0.01% really build wealth. Dave discovered that the ultra-wealthy don't rely on Wall Street. They invest in private assets, they use tax incentives as wealth accelerators, and they stack strategies like infinite banking and alternative investments to create multiple layers of growth and protection. He reveals how groups like Tiger 21, whose average member net worth is $100 million, keep less than 25% of their wealth in the stock market while the rest is working for them through real estate, private equity, and alternative ventures. We unpack how you can adopt that same model whether you're earning six figures or running a business by shifting from accumulation theory (the "save, wait, and hope" retirement model) to cash-flow investing that pays you now. Dave explains how the wealthy use the tax code as a roadmap, not a penalty system, leveraging incentives in energy, real estate, and business ownership to legally reduce taxes and supercharge returns. We also dive into how Infinite Banking (IBC) fits into this bigger picture using your own capital as a warehouse to fund deals, create liquidity, and compound growth tax-efficiently. You'll see how the ultra-wealthy combine IBC, real estate, and private investments to multiply returns and achieve near-zero tax exposure all while maintaining control over their capital. If you've ever wondered why the rich keep getting richer while everyone else keeps "diversifying" into Wall Street mutual funds, this conversation will change the way you think about money forever. Get your free copy of Dave's book, "The Holistic Wealth Strategy," at holisticwealthstrategy.com and start building your own framework for lasting wealth beyond the markets. Dave's links: -Website: https://pantheoninvest.com/  - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-wolcott-863306/  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.wolcott.589  - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pantheoninvest/ 

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4h5jT4Q  The stock market isn't just hot, it's overheated. Everyone's greedy, valuations are inflated, and history tells us this is when the smart money takes profits. I've been warning you about this moment for a while, but now even Wall Street insiders and mainstream economists are starting to sound the alarm. In this episode, I'll break down exactly why this could be your last best chance to cash in before the correction hits and what smart investors are doing right now to protect and multiply their wealth. For over a decade on The Money Ripples Podcast, I've helped thousands of people build passive income, break free from financial stress, and live a life of purpose and abundance. Today, I'm showing you what's really going on behind the scenes of this so-called "bull market" that's being propped up by speculation, hype, and dangerous overconfidence. You'll hear about the wild truth behind the AI bubble, what the Citigroup Panic/Euphoria Index is revealing, and why current market valuations at 25 times earnings should have every smart investor on alert. I dive into what "call options" really mean and why the surge in speculative trading could be the biggest red flag since 2000. I also expose how companies like Oracle are skyrocketing in value despite reporting worse-than-expected earnings a clear sign that logic and fundamentals have left the building. This kind of frothy euphoria has always ended the same way: a painful correction. So what do you do about it? I share practical, actionable strategies on how to scale out of the market, take your profits, and diversify into real, cash-flowing assets that can protect your wealth. Whether it's infinite banking, alternative investments, or other private opportunities, I'll show you how to keep your money growing even while Wall Street burns. And here's the truth: doing nothing is still a decision. You can stay in, hope the market keeps rising, and risk losing the gains you've worked for. Or you can follow what the smartest investors like Warren Buffett are already doing: holding cash, staying patient, and positioning for opportunity. If you're ready to take control, this episode will show you how to think like the 1%, act before the herd, and make moves that protect your freedom, your family, and your future.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4h2bOOs   Can a YouTube channel actually help you raise more capital, attract better real estate deals, and scale your brand faster than cold calls and mailers?  That's exactly what I dig into with my friend Kyle Stanley an investor, former sports anchor turned entrepreneur, Airbnb operator, and creator behind @realKyleStanley. If you're an active investor who wants deal flow on autopilot or a passive investor who wants a smarter way to source and vet operators, this conversation will show you how long-form content becomes your best lead generator. We start with Kyle's backstory going from struggling entrepreneur to doing his first real estate deal six weeks after joining FortuneBuilders, then building and selling both an Airbnb management company and a mid–six-figure education business. The common thread? He built trust at scale through YouTube and podcasts. Instead of hoarding "secrets," he leaned into abundance, shared his playbook publicly, and almost by accident created inbound deal flow, private money conversations, and high-value partnerships. We unpack the three channel archetypes any investor can use: - Expert: teach frameworks and case studies when you have reps. - Reporter: interview credible experts (yes, even before you're one). Borrow authority while you build it. - Documentarian: film the journey property walkthroughs, underwrites, wins, and lessons.  Kyle explains the 7–11 rule (seven hours across at least 11 touches) and why YouTube's long-form format compounds trust faster than short-form social. We talk strategy for raising money without "pitching," how consistent content turns you into a magnet for agents, wholesalers, lenders, and limited partners, and why giving away the "what" and "why" inevitably creates paid demand for the "how." We also hit mindset objections "I'm not charismatic," "there's too much competition," "I don't have time" and show you how to publish simple, honest videos that attract the right people and quietly repel the wrong ones. If you're a passive investor, this is a cheat code: use a channel to interview and diligence operators in public. You'll expand your network, surface better opportunities, and gather insights you'd never get from a pitch deck.  For active operators, Kyle lays out a practical path to consistent posting, realistic expectations, and the compounding effects of showing up weeklyeven when the views are small. We compare celebrity launches (The Rock's tequila), why audience beats product on day one, and how a steady drip of value creates reciprocity and referrals you can't buy with ads. We wrap with resources to follow Kyle, how to book a consult if you want help building a channel that raises capital, and a reminder I learned the hard way over 11 years: imperfect action beats perfect planning. You don't need studio lights to start building trust. You need a phone, a point of view, and the discipline to hit publish. Kyle Stanley's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realkylestanley/  Website: https://realkylestanley.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RealKyleStanley  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-stanley-b0a4a487/ 

Ready to see how infinite banking could work for you? Book a free call here: https://bit.ly/42wZeAO  and let's make your money work harder, tax-free. Everyone talks about Roth IRAs and many of you ask me about infinite banking but almost no one shows you how to combine infinite banking with real estate, business, or even oil and gas to create what I call a potential "tax-never" outcome. In this episode, I break down exactly how I use properly structured whole life (max-ROI infinite banking) alongside tax-advantaged investments so my money can work in two places at once growing uninterrupted inside the policy while I put capital to work in cash-flowing deals. First, I level-set what a Roth IRA really is: a tax wrapper, not an investment. You can hold CDs, stocks, or even certain real estate inside it. Roth shines when the underlying investment has no tax advantages like simple lending or plain vanilla income funds because the wrapper gives you tax-free growth and withdrawals later. But when you're using investments that already come with write-offs or depreciation, the Roth can actually block benefits you could have taken elsewhere. That's where infinite banking is different. I fund a high-cash-value whole life policy with after-tax dollars; the cash value grows tax-advantaged and I can access it via a policy loan or line of credit to invest in whatever I choose without age restrictions. I can't "place" the investment inside the policy (this isn't an IRA), but I can leverage the cash value to fund opportunities and keep my dollars compounding. People always ask, "Can I write off my life insurance premiums?" Generally, no if you try to deduct them, you risk losing key tax benefits elsewhere. The smarter move is to let the policy grow and then deploy those dollars into activities that do create deductions. For example, as a business owner (S-Corp), legitimate expenses marketing, R&D, team, systems are deductible. If I borrow against my policy to fund those expenses, I'm still earning crediting inside the policy while capturing the tax write-off at the business level. The interest I pay on policy or bank lines used for bona fide business purposes can often be deductible, too. Same idea in real estate: if you or your spouse qualify as a Real Estate Professional, bonus depreciation and other write-offs can offset active income. I walk through how couples sometimes position the lower-W-2 spouse to achieve RE Pro status so depreciation can reduce the household's overall tax bill. We also talk about energy specifically oil & gas working interests where portions of your capital can be deductible in year one (depending on the deal structure). Imagine using policy cash value to fund that investment: you get potential deductions up front, income from the project, and your policy value continues compounding in the background—helping you reach work-optional status before age 59½, unlike Roth rules. I tie this into my "Wealth Wheel": Get Lean (increase cash flow, slash taxes), Get Liquid (store reserves in max-efficiency infinite banking, not in tax-prisons like 401(k)s), and Get Out (deploy into passive, tax-advantaged cash flow). I share how I personally hold emergency and opportunity cash in policies, then cycle it through business, real estate, and energy to accelerate wealth while keeping optionality and minimizing the drag of taxes. If you've been looking for a practical, real-world way to combine infinite banking with tax-smart investing and to build freedom without waiting decades this episode gives you the blueprint.