Profit First Saved Businesses + New Money Habit Book Will Change Your Personal Finances Forever with Mike Michalowicz

👉 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/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/ 

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.