9 Money Truths I Wish I Had Known at 25 (from a 40-Year-Old Millionaire)

At 24, I was dead broke. My wife and I had no money despite working hard and trying to do everything right.That moment changed everything. I realized I didn't have a money problem. I had a money ignorance problem.So I decided to actually learn how money works. Fast forward to 40: I'm financially free with over a billion dollars in real estate and millions in net worth.But here's the truth: it didn't have to take this long. If someone had told me these 9 rules at 25, I would've hit financial freedom way faster.In this episode:Build an emergency fund before a lifestyleDon't finance what you can't pay off that monthBuy assets, not liabilitiesMaster a rare, valuable skillTrack every dollarSeparate time from moneyKeep your lifestyle below your incomeOnly take advice from people whose life you'd trade forResults come from what you repeatedly doNone of this is complicated. Follow these rules consistently and wealth becomes unavoidable.🧔‍♂️ WHO AM I?My name is Brandon Turner! I teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing!1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL?https://go.abetterlife.com/fd_yt_landing 📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO?https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_yt_landing 🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAMhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_instagram📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKShttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_storefront ❌ DISCLAIMERhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_disclaimer

👇 Watch the full keynote and grab the resources🎟️ REI Summit 2026: https://www.reisummit2026.com💲Save 10% on your tickets with code “POD10”🌐 More Better Life resources: https://betterliferef.comThis is the full keynote I gave at the 2025 REI Summit in Austin.It’s a story about the real journey most real estate investors go through.Getting stuck in a job.Trying to break free.Messing it up.Getting scared.Wanting to go back to safety.I walk through a story about ancient Egypt, the Red Sea, the wilderness, and the promised land, and how closely that mirrors the path from a 9-to-5 into real freedom.I also talk about:Why most people get trapped building someone else’s empireWhy early mistakes hurt so much and why they’re normalThe Red Sea moment every investor hits when quitting or scalingWhy so many people stop right before things actually workComfort, fear, and why growth always feels uncomfortableWhy you should climb the mountain simply because it’s thereIf you’re stuck in a job you can’t stand, or you’re already in real estate but feel like you've stalled out, you might like this one.🧔‍♂️ WHO AM I?My name is Brandon Turner! I teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing!1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL?https://go.abetterlife.com/fd_yt_landing 📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO?https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_yt_landing 🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAMhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_instagram📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKShttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_storefront ❌ DISCLAIMERhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_disclaimer

👇Get the tools we talked about in this episode🏠 First Deal: https://www.firstdeal.com🎟️ REI Summit 2026: https://www.reisummit2026.com🌐 More resources from BetterLife: https://betterliferef.comTwo entrepreneurs. Years of mistakes. A stack of wins. And a list of rules they wish someone had handed them long before things finally clicked.Brandon and Cam sit down after a marathon stretch of Thanksgiving, birthday parties, flights, and jet lag to strip business down to the essentials. This episode breaks down the eleven rules that keep real businesses alive. The rules that help you move faster, think clearer, and build something that holds up when the economy decides to wobble.Along the way, they pull back the curtain on the complexities of mobile home parks, co-living models, land development, Class A rentals, and conducting time audits. They explore the unexpected comfort found in defining your own challenges, the true hurdles behind seven-figure revenue, and the vital difference between high revenue and actual profit.These are the exact rules that powered the creation of their multiple companies—and the rules they rely on every single day.👇Books that came up in the conversation:📘 Traction by Gino Wickman - ⁠ https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71lELYG7IgL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg⁠📗 Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold - ⁠https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520122317i/38922562.jpg⁠📈 The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney⁠ - https://www.franklincovey.com/the-4-disciplines/🧔‍♂️ WHO AM I?My name is Brandon Turner! I teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing!1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL?https://go.abetterlife.com/fd_yt_landing 📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO?https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_yt_landing 🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAMhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_instagram📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKShttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_storefront ❌ DISCLAIMERhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_disclaimer

Is AI about to END real estate investing as we know it? Brandon and Cam explore how AI is already changing their day-to-day work—and why you have maybe 5 years left to build wealth the traditional way before the big boys like BlackRock and Blackstone take over.Then things get WILD.In this unfiltered episode, we dive into:- The Epstein files and what's actually happening- Candace Owens: Conspiracy theorist or truth-teller?- Big Pharma, the food pyramid lie, and why nicotine isn't what you think- Social media manipulation and who's really pulling the strings- Algorithms and why sensationalism wins (and how we're all guilty)Plus: Spencer Robbins crashes the recording to discuss social media addiction, spiritual warfare, and the George Soros agenda.⚠️ WARNING: This gets controversial. We discuss politics, religion, and conspiracies most people avoid. If you want safe real estate content, skip this one. But if you want RAW, unfiltered conversation… this is it.🙏SPONSORSTurboTenant: Market your rental, screen tenants, and collect rent… all in one place! Use the code BRANDON10 to get 10% off upon sign-up here:https://www.turbotenant.com/partners/better-life/?utm_source=betterlife&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=brandonturner-organic or check out all of their incredible FREE resources for landlords at https://www.turbotenant.com/Landlord-Toolbox/

👇Get the free tools mentioned in this episode:📲Cashflow Isn’t Dead E-Book: DM “FRINGE” to @beardybrandon on Instagram📨5-Day Deal Analysis Challenge: DM “5DC” to @beardybrandon on Instagram⚠️Join our annual Goal Setting Workshop and map out your best year yet: https://betterlifegoalsetting.com/ 🌐 BetterLife REF Lending: https://betterliferef.com/Ever look at real estate investors who hit financial freedom in a few years instead of 40 and wonder, "What did they know that I don't?"This episode is Brandon and Cam's answer to that. We're breaking down the exact 12-step blueprint that we would use to get to $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 a month or more in passive/rental income in just a few years, starting from scratch today. This is what works, and what Cam and I figured out has worked in our businesses.If you are sick of dabbling and just limping along on your journey towards financial freedom, and you want to actually build a rental portfolio that will change your life, this is that playbook. Stick around, this might be the roadmap you've been waiting for.🙏SPONSORSTurboTenant: Market your rental, screen tenants, and collect rent… all in one place! Use the code BRANDON10 to get 10% off upon sign-up https://www.turbotenant.com/partners/better-life/?utm_source=betterlife&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=brandonturner-organic or check out all of their incredible FREE resources for landlords at https://www.turbotenant.com/Landlord-Toolbox/🧔‍♂️ WHO AM I?My name is Brandon Turner! I teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing!1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL?https://go.abetterlife.com/fd_yt_landing 📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO?https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_yt_landing 🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAMhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_instagram📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKShttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_storefront ❌ DISCLAIMERhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_disclaimer

👇Get the free tools mentioned: ✅Leadership Assessment: http://abetterlife.com/Bizz✅Habit Tracker: ABetterLife.com/Tracker ✅Rental Property Calculator: https://behind-the-beard.kit.com/f11fb60abf💻 Our website: https://betterliferef.com/Most people never buy a rental property for one simple reason. They never decide. In this episode, Brandon and Cam walk through the exact six decisions that shape your entire investing journey. Once you lock these in, finding and closing your first deal becomes much more predictable.You’ll learn how to choose the right strategy, how to narrow your buy box, how to set up deal flow even with no experience, and which debt options actually help beginners build momentum. You’ll also hear the same accountability framework used inside the BetterLife Tribe that helps new investors get their first deal faster than they ever expected.If you want to buy your first rental in 2025, start here.🧔‍♂️ WHO ARE WE?Our names are Brandon Turner and Cam Cathcart! We teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing!1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL?https://www.firstdeal.com/📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO?https://join.abetterlife.com/vsl1725997298832?el=podcast🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon/DM me the word “FRINGE” to get the FREE “Cashflow Isn’t Dead” E-Book👋 CONNECT WITH CAM ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKShttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_storefront ☝️DISCLAIMERhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_disclaimer🙏SPONSORSTurboTenant: Market your rental, screen tenants, and collect rent… all in one place! Use the code BRANDON10 to get 10% off upon sign-up https://www.turbotenant.com/partners/better-life/?utm_source=betterlife&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=brandonturner-organic or check out all of their incredible FREE resources for landlords at https://www.turbotenant.com/Landlord-Toolbox/BOOKS MENTIONED​​The Book on Rental Property Investing — Brandon TurnerCashflow Quadrant — Robert KiyosakiRich Dad Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki

👇Get the free tools mentioned:✅Leadership Assessment: ABetterLife.com/Bizz ✅Habit Tracker: ABetterLife.com/Tracker✅Rental Property Calulatorhttps://behind-the-beard.kit.com/f11f...Real estate in 2025? It's rough. Brandon's dealing with plummeting rents and property values. Cam's flipping half the houses he used to. But hard times separate the winners from the quitters.Today, we're getting brutally honest about what's NOT working right now and exactly what we're doing to get through it. From moving 3,000 miles to solve problems, to pursuing a “fringe” cashflow strategy, to building systems that'll crush it when the market turns—we're sharing our 8-step playbook.Plus: the coming shift in 2027 that could change everything (really!).If you're struggling right now, feeling like giving up, or just want to know how to position yourself to build monster wealth on the next wave—this one's for you.🧔‍♂️ WHO ARE WE?Our names are Brandon Turner and Cam Cathcart! We teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing!1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL?https://www.firstdeal.com/📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO?https://join.abetterlife.com/vsl1725997298832?el=podcast🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon/DM me the word “FRINGE” to get the FREE “Cashflow Isn’t Dead” E-Book👋 CONNECT WITH CAM ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKShttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_stor... ☝️DISCLAIMERhttps://go.abetterlife.com/bb_yt_disc…🙏SPONSORSTurboTenant: Market your rental, screen tenants, and collect rent… all in one place! Use the code BRANDON10 to get 10% off upon sign-up https://www.turbotenant.com/partners/better-life/?utm_source=betterlife&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=brandonturner-organic or check out all of their incredible FREE resources for landlords at https://www.turbotenant.com/Landlord-Toolbox/

🏠 JOIN MY FREE 5-DAY DEAL ANALYSIS CHALLENGE https://behind-the-beard.kit.com/f11fb60abf🧔‍♂️ WHO ARE WE? Our names are Brandon Turner and Cam Cathcart! We teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing! 1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdeal.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_pod_landing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon/⁠⁠👋 CONNECT WITH CAM ON INSTAGRAM⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/⁠⁠🙌 CONNECT WITH GAGE ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/gageheward/📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/bb_pod_storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🙏 SPONSORS• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TurboTenant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Market your rental, screen tenants, and collect rent… all in one place! Use the code BRANDON10 to get 10% off upon sign-up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/tt_pod_landing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or check out all of their incredible FREE resources for landlords at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/toolbox_pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterLife Tribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: If you're an existing real estate investor and you want to scale but you don't know how to supercharge your journey, just know... I've been there! And if that's you, check out my personal mastermind for EXISTING INVESTORS ONLY called the BetterLife Tribe at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_pod_landing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎥 DESCRIPTIONOn this episode, I sit down with Gage Heward on the Proximity is Power podcast and break down one of the biggest principles that changed my life and business: proximity is power. I share how intentionally surrounding myself with mentors, peers, and communities of high achievers accelerated my growth from small-time investor to running a $80M+ portfolio. This is a candid look at why relationships, masterminds, and the right environments matter more than raw tactics when it comes to building wealth and a better life.❌ DISCLAIMER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/bb_pod_disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

🏠 JOIN MY FREE 5-DAY DEAL ANALYSIS CHALLENGE https://behind-the-beard.kit.com/f11fb60abf🧔‍♂️ WHO ARE WE? Our names are Brandon Turner and Cam Cathcart! We teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing! 1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdeal.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_pod_landing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM ⁠https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon/⁠🙌 CONNECT WITH CAM ON INSTAGRAM⁠https://www.instagram.com/cam.cathcart/⁠📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKS ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/bb_pod_storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠🙏 SPONSORS• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TurboTenant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Market your rental, screen tenants, and collect rent… all in one place! Use the code BRANDON10 to get 10% off upon sign-up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/tt_pod_landing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or check out all of their incredible FREE resources for landlords at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/toolbox_pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterLife Tribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: If you're an existing real estate investor and you want to scale but you don't know how to supercharge your journey, just know... I've been there! And if that's you, check out my personal mastermind for EXISTING INVESTORS ONLY called the BetterLife Tribe at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_pod_landing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎥 DESCRIPTIONOn this episode, I, share the 40 real lessons I’ve learned on my journey to becoming a millionaire before turning 40. These aren’t theories or fluff — they’re the principles, habits, and mindset shifts that actually worked for me and thousands of others. From setting a scary vision and house hacking my first property to avoiding lifestyle creep and building systems, this episode is a no-nonsense playbook for anyone serious about wealth, freedom, and living a better life.❌ DISCLAIMER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/bb_pod_disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

🏠 JOIN MY FREE 5-DAY DEAL ANALYSIS CHALLENGE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://behind-the-beard.kit.com/f11fb60abf🧔‍♂️ WHO ARE WE? My name is Brandon Turner! I teach people how to BUILD WEALTH WITHOUT LOSING THEIR SOUL through real estate investing!1️⃣ WANT TO GET YOUR FIRST DEAL? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstdeal.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📈 WANT TO SCALE YOUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_pod_landing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🤝 CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM ⁠https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon/⁠🙌 CONNECT WITH ICED COFFEE HOUR ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/icedcoffeehour/📚 READ ONE OF MY BOOKS ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/bb_pod_storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠🙏 SPONSORS• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TurboTenant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Market your rental, screen tenants, and collect rent… all in one place! Use the code BRANDON10 to get 10% off upon sign-up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/tt_pod_landing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or check out all of their incredible FREE resources for landlords at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/toolbox_pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterLife Tribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: If you're an existing real estate investor and you want to scale but you don't know how to supercharge your journey, just know... I've been there! And if that's you, check out my personal mastermind for EXISTING INVESTORS ONLY called the BetterLife Tribe at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/blt_pod_landing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎥 DESCRIPTIONToday, In this episode, I sit down with Graham and Jack from the Iced Coffee Hour podcast and share my biggest lessons from building wealth. From house hacking my first property, to house hacking my current $5M property, and scaling a multimillion dollar portfolio, we break down the real life truth behind real estate investing in 2025.Specifically, we talk about:• the importance of creating a vision first: reverse engineering your future• buying assets, not liabilities• house hacking to lower expenses and build wealth• focusing on systems, consistency, and cash flow• and so much more!❌ DISCLAIMER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.abetterlife.com/bb_pod_disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠