Money Ripples Podcast

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4otFJ3X If you're waiting for the economy, the market, or your confidence to all line up perfectly before you invest, you're going to be waiting forever. In this episode, I break down exactly how overcoming fear of investing really works, and why the people who win financially are the ones who move before they feel fully ready without gambling everything. I start by talking about a pattern I've been seeing everywhere: people are frozen. They're standing in a shaky boat, gripping the sides, hoping the waves calm down instead of simply stepping onto the dock, reassessing, and getting into a better boat. That same fear of doing anything different shows up in marriages, health, careers, and especially investing. If you do nothing and hope it all works out, it almost never does. I share one of my favorite quotes from Will Rogers: "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Then I dive into what I've learned from coach Bill Belichick in his book The Art of Winning. He makes a powerful point: you're not born confident, and you can't just talk yourself into confidence with affirmations and visualization. Real confidence is built through repetition and practice. He used that approach with the New England Patriots, leaning into what they repeatedly practiced the passing game with Tom Brady rather than overthinking and trying to be "tricky" when it mattered most. I connect that directly to money and investing. I tell my own story of going from a shy, introverted kid who hated speaking in front of even two people, to someone who now presents, records this podcast, and gets feedback from people like Shannon, who told me she was completely drawn into my story. That transformation didn't come from magically waking up confident it came from doing it again and again. Then I share a real conversation I had with a guy who had just been laid off. He had time, he had money freed up from his 401(k), he had a slow season in his new business coming up which made it one of the best times for him to make a strategic move. And yet he was completely paralyzed by uncertainty, waiting for a crystal ball to tell him exactly what to do. That's what analysis paralysis looks like in real time: wanting guidance, but refusing to act on it. I compare that mindset to sitting in your driveway waiting for every traffic light between you and your destination to turn green before you'll even start the car. Life and markets don't work that way. The lights change while you're on the road. The waves keep coming whether you're in a crappy boat or a better one. The investors who win don't ignore risk they take thoughtful, guided action with imperfect information. I also talk about how even someone like Warren Buffett doesn't sit on the sidelines doing nothing. He's cautious, he keeps cash ready, he's picky, but he still invests. He doesn't live on "hopium" and neither should you. The difference between people who create real passive income and those who just dream about it is simple: they take the first step, learn from mistakes, and keep moving. If you're tired of spinning in your head, scared of losing money, or waiting for the "perfect time," this episode is your wake-up call. I'll show you how successful investors build investing confidence through calculated action, how to avoid letting fear quietly drain your future, and why having the right mentors and community around you changes everything.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/49EJjEX If you've ever waited until the end of the year and then panicked about taxes, this episode is for you. I'm sitting down with CPA and founder of Better Books Accounting, Chris McCormack, to walk through last-minute, real, practical year-end tax planning moves you can still make before December 31. These aren't abstract theory ideas; these are tax strategies that can literally change how much you owe the IRS in a few weeks from now. Chris came out of the Big Four world at PwC, where he worked with some of the largest corporations, financial service companies, insurance firms, and real estate investment companies in the world. He saw firsthand how big players use the tax code to reduce taxes, preserve wealth, and reinvest more efficiently. Now he brings that same level of strategy down to real estate investors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who are chasing financial freedom, not just a refund. We talk about why December 31 is such a critical cutoff date and how just buying a rental property a few weeks earlier can unlock powerful depreciation and write-offs that disappear if you wait until January. We also discuss how accelerating expenses you already know you're going to incur in the new year can give you an immediate tax discount and more control over your cash flow. One of the biggest topics we unpack is the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. Chris explains how this 20 percent deduction on business profit really works, who qualifies, why entity structure matters, and why so many business owners are missing out simply because their CPA isn't being proactive. If you're anywhere near the QBI income thresholds, a single smart decision before year-end could mean tens of thousands of dollars in tax savings. We also hit some of the most overlooked areas: choosing between S corp and C corp status, understanding when a C corporation's flat 21 percent rate might actually help high earners, using employee benefits the right way, and documenting meals, travel, and other business expenses so they don't get thrown out in an audit. Chris explains why sloppy bookkeeping can completely undermine even the best tax strategy and why getting your books right is step one if you want to pay less in tax and build real wealth. On top of that, we touch on charitable giving as both a powerful tax deduction and a way to expand your impact when your tax bill shrinks. Chris shares how his faith motivates the way he serves clients and how saving people money in taxes often leads directly to more generosity, more peace, and more margin to live life on purpose. If you're serious about keeping more of what you make, creating passive income, and using the tax code the way the wealthy do, you don't have time to procrastinate. Listen in, take notes, and then take action before the clock strikes midnight on December 31. Chris' Links: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismccormackcpa/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrismccormackcpa/ - Wesbite: https://www.betterbooksaccounting.co/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismccormackcpa?igsh=YzJoM3R4OGZid29r

In this engaging discussion with Marc Gertz, a seasoned mortgage broker and founder of Reverse Your Thinking Mortgage, we delve into the world of reverse mortgages. Marc debunks common myths, clarifying that these do not require giving up home ownership. He explains the historical context of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program and outlines who qualifies. Listeners learn about cash access options and the tax advantages, plus strategies for setting it up proactively to safeguard retirement. This is a game-changing conversation for anyone looking to maximize their retirement income!

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4a5w0NL Can AI actually give you better financial advice than a real human who's been in the trenches? In this episode, I put that to the test. I sit down with ChatGPT and ask it to build a full retirement plan for me as if I were a typical disciplined saver: 35 years old, earning $150,000 a year, with $150,000 in a 401(k), a mortgage, a car payment, and a goal to retire at 62 with at least $100,000 a year in today's dollars. Then I start pressing the AI with the same tough questions I ask Wall Street–trained financial advisors. What you'll hear is how quickly AI financial advice starts sounding like the same old traditional playbook: max out your 401(k), open a Roth IRA, throw extra money into a taxable brokerage account, buy index funds and bonds, rebalance, hope the 4% rule works, and cross your fingers that inflation stays low and the markets cooperate. On the surface, it seems logical. But when I start pushing on the assumptions higher inflation, lower safe withdrawal rates, realistic market returns the numbers explode. Suddenly, you "need" $10–12 million saved and you're supposed to be putting away 25–30% of your income for decades. I walk you through how those tiny tweaks moving from 3% inflation to 4.5%, or from a 4% withdrawal rate down to 3–3.5% completely change the math and expose how fragile traditional retirement planning really is. I show how even advanced AI financial planning tools are still drinking from the same well as Google and mainstream financial media: they're optimizing the wrong game. Then I shift the conversation to what actually works in the real world. I press AI to talk about alternatives: real estate, private lending notes, cash-flowing businesses, syndications, and infinite banking using high cash value life insurance. I highlight where AI finally starts pointing to multiple streams of passive income, tax-efficient strategies, and becoming work optional in 10–15 years instead of waiting until your 60s. But even then, it can't tell you who to follow, how to vet deals, or how to integrate strategies like max ROI infinite banking the way I do with my clients. I also share why tools like ChatGPT are great for speed and research, but dangerous when you blindly trust them with your financial future. Algorithms haven't retired early. Algorithms don't invest their own money. Algorithms can't sit down with you, look at your situation, and design a custom game plan that gets you to freedom faster and with less risk. If your goal is to become work optional, retire earlier, and create real financial independence; not just hope your 401(k) lasts this episode will help you see the difference between theory and results. I explain how I've used passive real estate investments, private lending, and infinite banking together to create a more predictable path to financial freedom, and why my mission is to help 1,000 families become financially independent by 2030. If you're ready to stop getting the same old advice dressed up in AI clothing, and you want a plan that actually works in the real world, this episode is for you. And when you are serious about becoming one of those 1,000 families, you can connect with me at MoneyRipples.com and start building your own work optional blueprint.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4ppT7ax If you've been watching the markets lately, you know something is off. The stock market keeps climbing even though the fundamentals are wildly out of balance. And while everyday investors are being told to "buy and hold," Warren Buffett arguably the greatest investor alive is quietly doing the exact opposite. He's sitting on more cash than at any point in his 73-year investing career. Berkshire Hathaway is now holding $381.7 billion in cash. Not stocks. Not crypto. Cash. And he's been selling more than he buys for twelve straight quarters. In this episode, I break down exactly why Buffett is hoarding cash, what he's preparing for, and what that means for you if you actually want to keep your wealth intact and position yourself to profit when the tide finally goes out. Because make no mistake it will go out. And when it does, those who've been overleveraged, overconfident, and oversold on hype will be exposed. Buffett knows it. That's why he's holding more than thirty percent of his portfolio in cash-type instruments like T-bills. And he's still outperforming the market. I dig into the Buffett Indicator, which now sits at more than 220 percent, meaning the market is more than double the valuation of the actual economy. That's not sustainable. That's not normal. And that's not something a value investor ignores. While most people are chasing overpriced stocks, Buffett is bargain-hunting, just like he did during the Great Recession when he swooped in and made deals on Bank of America, Apple, and others. History may not repeat itself perfectly, but patterns absolutely do. So what does that mean for you? Do you dump your stocks? Do you wait for the crash? Do you sit on cash making nothing? Not necessarily. I walk through practical, real-world alternatives that give you the liquidity and safety Buffett seeks, but with better tax advantages and stronger growth than parking your money in a savings account or money market fund. That's why I show you how I personally use Max ROI Infinite Banking to store my cash, earn tax-free growth, stay liquid, and prepare for the next big buying opportunity whether that's in real estate, businesses, or discounted assets. I'm not predicting the market will crash tomorrow or even this year. But the math doesn't lie. We are in the late stages of an everything bubble, and leverage, speculation, and emotion are driving prices not fundamentals. If you want to be prepared, you need to think differently than the amateurs. You need to act like the pros do, not like they tell you to. You need liquidity, safety, and strategy. This episode gives you clarity on what Buffett is signaling, what I'm doing personally, and how you can position yourself so that when the correction comes whether that's 2025, 2026, or later you're not the one swimming naked. You're the one with cash, opportunity, and confidence.

In a compelling discussion, Eddie Speed, a seasoned note investing expert and founder of NoteSchool, highlights how real estate investors can pivot from traditional landlord headaches to the lucrative world of seller financing. He explains how rising expenses and compressed cap rates have crippled rental cash flow. Eddie shares insights on becoming the bank, utilizing simple analogies for clarity. He walks through the stark profitability differences between rentals and notes, illustrating how seller-financed strategies can yield higher monthly income without the hassle of tenants or repairs.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3XldkSV Middle America is drowning and not because people are careless with their money. It's because the cost of simply staying alive keeps climbing while wages can't keep up. In this episode, I break down what's really happening beneath the surface, why it's more dangerous than most people realize, and how it threatens not just lower-income families but every American… including the wealthy. Today I'm exposing the uncomfortable truth behind the affordability crisis in America. We're watching inflation quietly erode purchasing power, credit card debt hit all-time highs, delinquencies climb, and homeowners tap into their equity out of desperation. And it's not because people are buying luxury items, it's because basic necessities have become unaffordable. Right now, 30% of low-income Americans cannot meet basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. Middle America is barely keeping their head above water. Even high-income earners are feeling the squeeze with rising insurance premiums, food costs, taxes, and still-increasing service expenses. This isn't just an "inflation problem." It's a systemic affordability issue that's creating cracks in the economy that can easily widen into something more dangerous. I dive into the explosive growth of credit card debt, skyrocketing auto loan delinquencies, and the shocking surge in cash-out refinances happening at higher interest rates. Why would anyone do that? Because people are out of options. They're using home equity as a lifeline while hoping the economy magically fixes itself. But hope is not a strategy. I also break down how the government's own spending behavior mirrors what's happening on Main Street, why the Fed fears deflation far more than inflation, and why deflation could crush the stock market harder than most investors realize. AI-driven job displacement, slowing rehiring trends, and seasonal employment band-aids only add more fuel to a growing economic fire. But this isn't a gloom-and-doom message. It's a wake-up call. I explain what you can do right now to protect yourself and your family how to get liquid, how to prepare for coming opportunities, and why waiting on "hopium" will put you in the danger zone. When the wealthy start holding record levels of cash, like Warren Buffett sitting on over 380 billion, it's not an accident. It's a signal. There are moves you should be making today. There are real assets that can protect you. There are ways to build cash flow even when the economy tightens. And there are decisions you must stop putting off if you want to stay ahead of what's coming. This episode might make you uncomfortable but it will also get you prepared. And right now, preparation is everything.

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4o2e5eo If you've ever wondered whether you really have the time, energy, or bandwidth to work a full-time job and build a real estate portfolio, this episode is for you. I'm talking with my friend Leon Barnes, Director of Membership at the Collective Genius mastermind, and someone who not only helps top-tier investors grow their businesses, but also quietly manages his own rental portfolio on the side. In this conversation, I pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to balance a demanding role with actively buying and holding real estate. Leon shares how he went from the traditional "go to college, get a good job" path into corporate sales, burned out on the rat race, and then pivoted into real estate by helping grow a high-volume flipping business. That journey eventually led him into Collective Genius, where he now serves as a true connector for some of the best operators in the country. We talk about what makes Collective Genius unique as a mastermind community: the culture of leaving your ego at the door, learning from investors doing hundreds of deals a year, and the power of being in a room where someone with "only" a handful of deals can still teach something valuable to the big players. Leon also explains how he personally scaled his own rental portfolio strategy not by doing everything himself, but by finding the right "who's" to partner with, including a long-time friend who now handles acquisitions and day-to-day operations. We dig into the hard truths around unit counts and cash flow. Leon talks openly about chasing the vanity metric of "100 doors," and how rising interest rates forced him to re-evaluate everything. Instead of focusing on door count, he now prioritizes cash flow vs equity, sanity over vanity, and the freedom that comes from fewer, better, and eventually free-and-clear rentals. His perspective lines up with what I've seen over and over: you don't win just by stacking properties, you win when those properties actually support your life. If you're new to real estate, still stuck in Wall Street-only investments, or nervous about your first step, Leon shares practical advice on how to start. We talk about finding trusted advisors and mentors, using turnkey options wisely, and learning to underwrite deals so you're not flying blind. Whether you want to stay passive or eventually build a more active investing business, there's a path that fits your season. We wrap up by talking about Leon's personal ripple effect using his role as a connector and community builder to help entrepreneurs grow businesses that change their families' financial futures for generations. If you've been questioning whether you can realistically build wealth in real estate while working full time, this episode will show you that it's not only possible, but doable with the right people, strategy, and mindset. Leon's Links: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-barnes-79a71652/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AcfVqEhHa/?mibextid=wwXIfr - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leongbarnes?igsh=YzhxNXRtNjlhN2k4

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/4ifBrvS Could your 401(k) or IRA actually be costing you more in taxes than it's saving you? In this episode, I dive into a powerful Roth conversion strategy the wealthy use for tax-free growth and how artificial intelligence is changing the game for tax planning and long-term wealth. I'm joined by Kenner French, founder of Vast Solutions Group and Vast Asset Defense, a pioneer who started using AI for tax planning back in 2010, long before it was trendy. He's been recognized by Kevin O'Leary (Mr. Wonderful from Shark Tank) for his innovative use of AI to help entrepreneurs save on taxes. Kenner's background runs from Harvard to Wall Street, to partnering with Sharon Lechter (co-author of Rich Dad Poor Dad) and now to using AI to help business owners and high earners make more, save more, and protect more. We break down what a Roth IRA really is, who it's best for, and how a Roth conversion works in plain English. If you've ever wondered whether you should convert part of your traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth, we walk through the scenarios where it can make a lot of sense especially in low-income or "down" years, after a layoff, during a bad business year, or when your tax bracket temporarily drops. Kenner explains why those "ugly" years can become golden opportunities for strategic Roth conversions and long-term tax-free growth. We also compare Roth strategies with properly structured life insurance (what I often use with my clients), and we talk about when life insurance can offer even more flexibility than a Roth especially for business owners, real estate investors, and people who care about asset protection. We dig into why I use life insurance as a tax-free safe storage place for cash that I can then deploy into real estate, private lending, and businesses while keeping the tax advantages and lawsuit protection that many people overlook. Kenner shares how his AI model "Einstein" works behind the scenes to analyze tax returns and identify strategies, and why AI alone isn't enough you still need experienced CPAs, tax attorneys, and advisors to review, guide, and interpret the recommendations. We also talk about my own journey from resisting AI to embracing it inside my business and how it's allowed me to be more effective, not more passive. If you're a W-2 earner at a place like Google, a successful entrepreneur, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you rethink where your money is growing, how it's being taxed, and what you can do starting this year to legally and intelligently reduce your tax bill. We tie it all back to the Money Ripples mission: helping you become work optional by building sustainable passive income and keeping more of what you make. By the end, you'll see why the wealthy are so intentional about Roth conversions, tax-free growth, AI-driven tax planning, and asset protection, and how you can start using the same tools in your own financial life. Kenner's links: - Website: https://vastsolutionsgroup.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-kenner-french-8138211a6/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/r.kenner.french - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r.kennerfrench?igsh=ZDBpZW92dDF0djhy

Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3M4gDv0 Everyone's talking about the new 50 year mortgage, and a lot of people are either hyping it as the key to homeownership or condemning it as a debt trap. In this episode, I break down the math, the myths, and the reality so you can decide if a 50 year mortgage actually moves you closer to financial freedom or quietly keeps you stuck. That's why I don't just react emotionally to headlines; I run the numbers. Today, I compare a 50 year mortgage to the traditional 30 year mortgage and even the 15 year mortgage that gurus like Dave Ramsey often push. We talk interest rates, amortization, total interest cost, and the impact on your monthly cashflow and long-term wealth. I walk through specific scenarios: a $500,000 home with 5% down, a 30 year mortgage at 6.25%, and a 50 year mortgage at 6.75%. On paper, the 50 year mortgage sounds like it should radically lower your payment and make homeownership more affordable. But when we actually do the math, we find the difference in monthly payment is surprisingly small around $150 per month not the life-changing savings many people are expecting. So if you're already far from qualifying for a home, stretching to 50 years probably won't magically fix that. We also tackle the biggest fear: "You'll pay a ton more interest and never build equity." I explain why mortgage interest is simple interest, not compounding, and what that means when you stretch out a loan over 50 years. Yes, you will pay more total interest if you keep the loan that long but the real question is: how long are you actually going to live in that house? For most people, the answer is closer to 7–10 years, not 50. From there, I dig into the real-world risks and opportunities. If you're a spender and you never save the difference, a 50 year mortgage will not save you. If you're a disciplined steward of your money and you use the lower payment (even if it's modestly lower) to build liquidity, emergency reserves, and investments, then the flexibility of a longer mortgage can actually protect you during job loss, business downturns, or medical surprises. I share why I'd rather see you keep cash in your hands than trap all your dollars as home equity you can't easily access in a downturn. We also look at appreciation and inflation. A longer-term loan lets you repay your mortgage with devalued future dollars, while your home value may be rising over time. I show what happens to a $500,000 home growing at just 3.5% annually and how that compares to the "extra" interest you pay on a 50 year mortgage. We also stress-test the idea of "investing the difference" what rate of return would you really need to offset the longer term? Finally, I give you my honest take: when I would consider a 50 year mortgage, when I'd avoid it, and why I personally still like a 30 year mortgage for most situations even though I'm absolutely not in a hurry to pay mine off early. If you've been wondering whether this new 50 year mortgage is a blessing, a scam, or just clever marketing, this episode will give you the clarity and context you're not getting from the headlines.