At 19, Anthony Englert thought he’d cracked the wealth code.

He was living in a million-dollar mansion, cashing checks from a hedge fund with 12% monthly returns, and feeling on top of the world…

…until his business partners accused him of not being willing to take enough risk, kicked him out of the company, and he lost everything — including his entire life savings and his closest friends.

It was a rock bottom moment.

But in a wild twist of fate… getting kicked out ended up saving him. 

Because just a few months later, he learned the truth:

He had unknowingly been part of a Ponzi scheme — and his partners’ betrayal became the thing that protected him from disaster.

But as crazy as that sounds — that near miss taught him the valuable lessons that eventually led Anthony to joining an elite team at Goldman Sachs managing $33 billion in assets.

Today, Anthony is on a mission to help entrepreneurs avoid the mistakes he’s seen made at the highest levels, and truly design holistic wealth… from the inside out.

We jammed on a LOT in this episode — but here are 3 things I especially loved:

• The “Lifestyle vs. Legacy” decision that will impact every other decision you make in your business
• Why increasing your profit isn’t the most effective way to unlock value in your company
• How to use F.A.S.T. thinking to make smarter business and financial decisions (without getting lost in tactics)

If you’re ready to start thinking like an investor — and design a life and business that outlives you — this one’s a must-listen.

ALSO...

I'd highly recommend taking Anthony’s curated financial assessment to reveal whether your current strategy supports long-term wealth or holds you back — and what to do next.

Select founders may be invited to a complimentary 90-minute session (no pitch, just value) with Anthony which is a HUGE value.

👉 Alfa Advisory Founders Financial Assessment

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Anthony Englert

Brandon Fong introduces his friend and financial strategist, Anthony Englert. He highlights Anthony’s journey from surviving a Ponzi scheme to leading a Goldman Sachs team managing $33 billion, and now advising entrepreneurs through Alfa Advisory.

00:44 - Anthony’s teenage entry into real estate and how a Ponzi scheme taught him his first major financial lesson

Anthony recounts his first big “investment” at 19, involving a sketchy hedge fund, fraudulent equity banking, and a $125,000 check—only to find out later it was all part of a Ponzi scheme. His early mistake became a catalyst for pursuing real financial literacy.

02:17 - Why Brandon isn’t a “finance guy” and how Anthony made wealth building accessible for entrepreneurs

Brandon shares his past struggles with understanding finances as a business owner and how Anthony’s clarity and holistic strategy transformed his approach to money and business.

04:07 - Lifestyle vs. Legacy: A framework that will shift how you view your business

Brandon previews Anthony’s “Lifestyle vs. Legacy” framework, explaining how the type of business you choose to build shapes every other financial and strategic decision you make.

05:42 - Brandon reads Anthony’s bio and explains why he trusts him with his financial future

From Goldman Sachs to climbing Kilimanjaro, Brandon reads Anthony’s impressive bio and gives listeners a glimpse into his character, brilliance, and values as both an advisor and adventurer.

08:12 - “The Wendy’s Moment”: How a 7-year-old optimized a fast food order and formed a belief that money = happiness

Anthony shares a vivid story from childhood when he realized his family couldn’t afford $20 at Wendy’s. That limiting experience created a core belief that money buys freedom—a belief he carried well into adulthood.

11:19 - The real estate fraud that led to a mansion, a Porsche, and a Ponzi scheme

Anthony continues his story of mortgage fraud, risky hedge fund investments, and how his early financial missteps—and being voted out of his own company—ironically protected him from ruin during the 2008 crash.

18:00 - From self-taught finance nerd to managing $33B at Goldman Sachs

Anthony explains how he reverse-engineered his path to Goldman Sachs to get mentorship and hands-on experience after realizing that reading finance books wasn’t enough.

18:42 - How asking one question impressed a Goldman executive and landed him on the firm’s top team

Anthony recounts a pivotal moment when he pushed back on a high-level executive's request. His tactful curiosity earned her respect and ultimately changed the course of his career.

23:07 - What ultra-wealthy clients taught Anthony: Money amplifies who you already are

Managing clients worth hundreds of millions, Anthony discovered that wealth doesn’t solve internal issues—it magnifies them. He shares how broken beliefs about money persist, even at the highest levels of wealth.

30:02 - Making $8M a year and still broke? A private school tuition story that shocked Anthony

Anthony shares the true story of a client earning $8M annually yet struggling to pay tuition. It illustrates how wealth can be mismanaged if not strategically aligned—even among the ultra-wealthy.

34:01 - Climbing Kilimanjaro led to clarity: Anthony’s three-part filter for life and career decisions

A two-week forced break from Goldman gave Anthony time to reflect while climbing Kilimanjaro. The result: clarity on becoming an advisor, staying in finance, and helping others make smart decisions around money.

43:02 - Car vs. Airplane: Are you building a lifestyle business or a legacy business?

Anthony explains the powerful metaphor between cars (lifestyle business) and airplanes (legacy business). This distinction is the foundation for how entrepreneurs should approach business design and wealth building.

49:57 - The F.A.S.T. Framework: Make smart financial decisions without getting lost in the noise

Anthony introduces his FAST framework:

• Filter – Define your vision and success criteria
• Alignment – Make sure your decisions match who you are and what you want
• Strategy – Create a strategic path to your goals
• Tactics – Only then pick the right tools and tactics

This flips the typical entrepreneur approach that starts with tactics and ends in overwhelm.

55:16 - Why chasing shiny tactics might only increase profit by 2%

Anthony gives an example of a client who spent 3 months implementing a trendy strategy that only moved the needle by 2%. Without the FAST framework, entrepreneurs risk wasting time on low-leverage moves.

01:00:02 - Stop waiting for the money to feel free—what if you could just ask for what you really want?

Brandon and Anthony riff on the danger of treating money as an end goal. They explore how getting clear on your deeper desires—like living in Italy—can shortcut years of unnecessary grinding.

01:01:34 - Why life’s detours might actually be the real plan

Anthony reflects on how his most unpredictable setbacks (like being scammed at 19) were actually the universe aligning his path. He encourages entrepreneurs to stay open to unexpected opportunities.

Links & Resources:

• 🔗 Alfa Advisory Founders Financial Assessment – Take Anthony’s curated assessment and potentially receive a 90-minute session (no pitch, just value)
• 📚 The E-Myth by Michael Gerber
• 📚 The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman
• 🎧 Beyond Curious Ep. 76: Todd Herman Interview – Brandon’s conversation with the author of Alter Ego Effect
• 📚 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Dan Sullivan
• 🧠 Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• 📘 Zone of Genius – The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks