Wealth Formula by Buck Joffrey

Renewable energy is often discussed in political terms, but here’s a straightforward look at the financial side. In the last decade, solar energy costs have fallen dramatically—by nearly 90% since 2010.  In top markets, solar panel costs dropped from about 29 cents per kilowatt-hour to under 3 cents. By contrast, new coal and gas plants still cost between 5 and 17 cents per kilowatt-hour, and these figures don’t include the unpredictable nature of fuel prices. According to firms like Lazard, solar and wind power now average around 2 cents per kilowatt-hour, while operating existing coal plants typically costs 4 to 8 cents. This clear cost advantage is encouraging a shift away from fossil fuels. Globally, the change is evident. Countries like China, Europe, the United States, and India are ramping up their renewable investments, with almost every new power plant built today relying on solar or wind.  Nuclear power is also seeing increased investment as a reliable, low-carbon option. As we have discussed on previous shows, that is my primary reason for being so bullish on uranium stocks. The bottom line is that even if you’re not interested in the conservationists’ approach to energy, renewables are replacing fossil fuels rapidly. This week’s guest on Wealth Formula Podcast will help you capitalize on that.

It’s been some time since we did an Ask Buck show, and I realized last week that I have some unanswered questions in the inbox. The first question I read ended up being kind of a broad one, but it made me really think about how it all started for me. I started this podcast over a decade ago after realizing that there were not a lot of good resources for high-paid professionals to learn about personal finance. Of course, there were the Suze Ormans of the world, but what I wanted to do was to share what I had learned in my attempts to mimic the wealthy when I first came out of surgical residency training. There were many painful lessons along the way on my own journey. But I did manage to put it all together better than most. With that, I feel comfortable providing perspective on how I would do it if I were starting over again today. That’s exactly the question I got from one of our listeners and the one question I will address on this week’s Wealth Formula Podcast.

In this engaging discussion, Larry Leppard, managing partner at Equity Management Associates with over $60 million in assets, shares his journey from gold to Bitcoin. He delves into Bitcoin's historical volatility and its enduring appeal, especially among younger investors. The rise of institutional interest and the shifting dynamics of investment priorities are highlighted. Leppard also explores the advantages of Bitcoin over traditional assets and its potential as a hedge against economic uncertainty, urging listeners to embrace the new financial paradigm.

To my credit, I was relatively early in my recognition that Bitcoin was for real and that it wasn’t going to zero. It was 2016, and, up to this point, I had the misfortune of hearing only one narrative about Bitcoin—that of Peter Schiff. Peter is a very smart guy and quite convincing if you listen to his podcast. At the time, I was an avid listener and my opinion on bitcoin was shaped only by his view. It wasn’t until I went to an entrepreneurs’ meeting in the Fall of 2016 that I heard the real narrative behind Bitcoin for the first time. Now’s not the time for me to explain it, but for those of you who are interested, I would suggest reading The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous. Inspired by this new perspective, I went home from that meeting and bought Bitcoin for the first time—at about $5K. In fact, with bitcoin fluctuating up and down I managed to acquire a decent “bag” of bitcoin by the time “crypto winter” arrived in 2017. Fast forward to today, and that bitcoin would be worth eight figures had I held it. But I did not. You see, in 2019, I had some bills to pay, and the Bitcoin price hadn’t moved in a couple of years. Selling my Bitcoin seemed like the easy solution. After all, I reasoned, I could always buy it back. Well, I never did buy it all back. My family acquired some through kids’ trust over the years, but nowhere near the amount that I initially had. This decision ended up being one of the most painful financial lessons I’ve learned over the years (and there has been plenty of pain!). And the lesson is not just about Bitcoin. The lesson is about following your convictions. If you go back to my podcasts on Bitcoin over the past 7-8 years, you can hear it in my voice. Throughout that time, I made predictions over and over—many of which have come to fruition already and others that we seem to be on the verge of. So why, given my convictions, don’t I own much Bitcoin? Because I didn’t follow through on those convictions. I thought I could get in right before things started taking off. Rather than accumulating bitcoin along the way, I waited for just the right price—which never seemed to be low enough. In hindsight, what difference would it have made if I bought at 3K, 5K, or even $20K at this point? If I believed, as I have predicted that bitcoin would hit $250K within the next 3 years, why would that matter? There’s another reason I didn’t buy Bitcoin: it provided no tax benefit. I put almost everything into real estate and other tax-efficient investments. That’s not a bad strategy in general, but not carving out an allocation for something I believed in so much was just stupid. The key lesson here is about being rational and following your convictions. Don’t get greedy and don’t always let the tax wag the dog. Now, you might be wondering what I think about Bitcoin today at nearly $100K. Well, my stance hasn’t changed. I still believe Bitcoin is going to hit at least $250K within the next 3 years. So, in that regard, it’s still something I would buy if I had the liquidity (as real estate investors often do not). The story for Bitcoin is getting better and better every day. And I think it’s very important for you to take it seriously if you are not. After all, Wall Street and Governments across the world have adopted it as a truly legitimate asset, and it may very well end up an asset stockpiled by the US treasury in short order. You may or may not decide to invest in it, but not knowing about it as an investor in this day and age, is ill-advised. To understand why, listen to this week’s episode of Wealth Formula Podcast. And, I am serious when I say, miss this episode at your own financial peril.

Hey everyone, On this week’s Wealth Formula Podcast, I’m talking with members of our very own community who are using Wealth Accelerator and Wealth Formula Banking as part of their personal financial plans. They’re going to share their individual journeys – why they chose Wealth Accelerator/WFB, what challenges they faced along the way, and, most importantly, what kind of results they’re seeing. These are real stories from your peers that you should find helpful. If you’ve been looking for strategies that are both safe and profitable in times of financial volatility, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Join me as we explore real-world examples of how sophisticated strategies, grounded in solid mathematics and reliable insurance products, can help you engineer a more secure financial future. Buck

In this conversation, Eric Pierre, a CPA and former professional basketball player, dives into the labyrinth of tax strategies for high-income earners. He dispels the myth that the tax code is solely about payments, highlighting the abundant opportunities for deductions. Eric emphasizes the need for competent tax professionals to navigate risks inherent to investments like conservation easements. He also shares insights on effective strategies such as investing in solar properties and self-storage, showcasing how proactive planning can significantly reduce tax liabilities.

When I started this podcast a decade ago, I was completely focused on real estate. I had some pretty dogmatic views back then and didn’t really consider other investment options. That mindset worked for me. I’ve been a real estate investor since 2010, and while the market’s in a tough spot right now, we did enjoy over a decade of a bull market. That’s just how investing goes—ups and downs, and you hope the good times outpace the bad. Regarding real estate, I believe we’re essentially back in 2010. The markets have taken a beating, and if you can stomach it, this is a prime time to buy. History shows that people who act when things look grim often reap big rewards down the line. That said, I’m more open to other types of investments these days. As this cycle eventually recovers, I want to share more than just real estate opportunities with you. There’s a whole world of potential out there, and it’s important for both of us to stay informed. Lately, I’ve been especially interested in tech. I did my surgical residency in San Francisco and knew plenty of Silicon Valley folks about 15 years ago, but I regret not digging deeper into that scene. Back then, I didn’t have the money to invest, so I never thought to learn more. Better late than never, right? Now I’m in a position where I can invite really smart people onto this podcast to chat about fascinating topics. Over the next few years, that’s what I plan to do. I want to make an effort to learn about new things with you that might also help us financially. This week’s podcast is a great example. It was a blast because I learned so much in such a short period of time, and it really sparked my curiosity about opportunities in tech—maybe through angel investing or venture capital. To do anything like that, you need to get educated. And talking to my guest this week was a right step in that direction. In less than one hour, I learned why tech investors panicked last week when China’s AI platform, DeapSeek, revealed its superiority and cost-effectiveness compared to leading American AI platforms. I finally understood what the big deal about quantum computing is. And I became further convinced that Ethereum will eventually get wrecked by Solana. That is a HUGE ROI on time spent! So, expect more episodes like this. I hope you’re up for it. For now, check out my conversation with Arun Krishnakumar—it’s the most interesting conversation I’ve had in a while!

Tom Wheelwright, a tax and wealth strategist and author of Tax-Free Wealth, shares his insights on optimizing tax strategies for wealth creation. He encourages listeners to view taxes as opportunities rather than obligations, explaining how proactive planning can enhance financial futures. Wheelwright discusses upcoming tax changes expected by 2025, emphasizing the differing philosophies of political parties. He also dives into the tax implications of cryptocurrency and innovative philanthropic strategies that maximize benefits for high-net-worth individuals.

David McKnight, a retirement planning expert and author, joins Rod Zabriskie to challenge traditional investing mindsets. They discuss why sticking to stocks and bonds rarely leads to true wealth and advocate for alternative investments that offer greater upside potential. The duo critiques popular retirement strategies, urging high earners to rethink their approaches while emphasizing sustainable cash flow streams. They also explore innovative financial strategies and highlight opportunities in self-storage and life insurance products.

As intelligent people, we often overcomplicate things? Whether it’s in business, health, or relationships, we’re constantly seeking advice, following trends, and trying to use complex strategies to optimize our results. As you may know, I am deeply entrenched in the longevity space. As a physician and science person, I am fascinated by this stuff. And while there are all sorts of drugs, supplements and tactics that could incrementally add to our lifespans, right now it is pretty clear that the most impactful principals to live a long healthy life are still pretty boring: Follow a good diet, get lots of exercise and make sure you do what you can to get a good night’s sleep. Of course I have plenty to say when we drill down on each one of those issues but the point is that, right now, focusing on eating, exercising and sleeping are far more impactful than any pill you could take or tactic you could could employ. As is the case for most things in life, the fundamentals are often what really matter and they are not often hard to see.  In personal finance, the principals are also pretty basic. For most of your investments, stay disciplined, rely on data, and avoid the allure of the “next big thing.”  This week, I talk to someone practices the art of sticking to fundamentals while challenging the status quo in investing.  Dan Rasmussen, the founder of Verdad, is a quantitative investor with a knack for cutting through the hype and finding real value.  Drawing on his experience at firms like Bridgewater Associates and his own billion-dollar fund, Dan’s approach is all about stripping away emotion, following the data, and learning from history.  While his expertise may focus on public markets, the lessons he shares apply to any investor—whether you’re buying rental properties or managing a stock portfolio. So, let’s dive into the conversation and see what we can all learn about investing with humility and discipline.