First Responder Financial Freedom

pisode Title: From $100K to $1M: Ben Liebenow’s Return with Lessons in Revenue Growth

Hosts: Tyler and Mike Webb

Guest: Ben Liebenow, former firefighter and full-time business owner of Roof Max

Summary: In this episode, Tyler and Mike Webb welcome back Ben Liebenow, who left his firefighting career to pursue his business, Roof Max, full-time. Ben shares his journey from $100,000 to nearly $1 million in annual revenue, the decision to leave the fire service, and the challenges and rewards of scaling his business. From the importance of family time to managing growth pains and refining his leadership, Ben opens up about his transformation and the insights he's gained as a business owner.

Key Points:

Background on Ben's Transition:
- Ben discusses his journey from the fire service to running Roof Max, initially intended as a part-time venture, which he grew into a full-time commitment.
Growth of Roof Max:
- Ben highlights the rapid revenue growth of Roof Max, climbing from $100,000 to a projected $1 million.
- He explains the business model, his challenges with staffing and lead generation, and the evolving strategies he’s employed to handle increased demand.
Balancing Family and Business:
- Family time motivated Ben’s career shift, as he wanted to be more present for his children and support his wife, who faced challenges with his demanding firefighting schedule.
Delegation and Efficiency:
- Ben emphasizes the importance of delegating tasks and letting go of control to improve efficiency, a lesson he’s implemented by hiring a business coach and forming a reliable team.
Financial and Future Planning:
- Facing the uncertainties of a firefighter’s pension, Ben proactively planned his finances and investments. He shares how he’s adjusted his strategies since leaving the fire department.

Insights and Reflections:

Ben talks about the importance of finding a support network, including his mastermind group and business coach.
He reflects on his growth as a business owner, learning to balance family, business, and personal health.

Conclusion: Ben's story illustrates the challenges and rewards of leaving a stable career for entrepreneurship. His experience offers a powerful lesson on prioritizing family, pursuing growth, and creating a balanced life.

Call to Action:

Follow Ben's journey for updates and advice on entrepreneurship, or reach out if you’re navigating a similar career change.

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Episode Title: Real Estate Investing and Financial Freedom: Firefighter Turned Investor Brett Aller

Hosts: Tyler Thrush, Aaron Foster, and Mike Webb

Guest: Brett Aller, Real Estate Investor and Advanced EMT

Summary: In this episode, Tyler Thrush, Aaron Foster, and Mike Webb sit down with Brett Aller, a full-time firefighter and advanced EMT who pivoted into real estate investing to achieve financial independence. Brett shares his journey from his initial interest in side hustles to becoming an experienced flipper and wholesaler. They discuss the importance of networking, building a solid foundation, and diversifying strategies in smaller towns. Brett also emphasizes how his "why" drives him to succeed in real estate. This episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to balance a demanding career while building wealth.

Key Points:

Introduction to Brett Aller:
- Brett is an advanced EMT and full-time firefighter who began investing in real estate as a side hustle. Recently, he co-founded Lift REI, a real estate investment company focused on flipping and wholesaling.
Getting Started in Real Estate:
- Brett transitioned from being an agent to a flipper after reading "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and discovering BiggerPockets. His first flip netted a $75,000 profit, inspiring him to pursue more projects.
First Flip Story:
- Brett explains how he acquired and funded his first flip across the street from his home using a commercial loan, a HELOC, and 0% credit cards, underscoring the importance of funding creatively for new investors.
The Power of Networking and Mentorship:
- Joining Bill Allen’s Seven Figure Flipping group helped Brett find direction and hone his skills in wholesaling and flipping. He highlights the importance of investing in mentorship for fast-tracking success.
Growing a Business and Finding a Partner:
- Brett's shift to Lift REI stemmed from the need for a reliable partnership and clear roles. He discusses his focus on acquisitions and how he evaluates deals to flip, wholesale, or "whole-tail."
Challenges of Investing in Small Markets:
- Investing in smaller markets requires adaptability, accurate comps, and creativity with exit strategies. Brett shares his experience and tips for handling unique challenges in smaller towns.
Setting Goals and Defining His “Why”:
- Brett shares his motivation to create financial freedom for his family, allowing flexibility and control over his future.

Insights and Reflections:

Brett advises new investors to stay focused, choose a path, and avoid “shiny object syndrome.”
He highlights the value of surrounding yourself with positive influences and networking with people who are aligned with your goals.

Conclusion: Brett’s story underscores the power of real estate investing as a path to financial independence and career flexibility. His journey exemplifies taking action and leveraging the resources around him to create a better future for his family.

Call to Action:

Follow Brett on social media and connect with Lift REI to learn more about real estate investing and wholesaling strategies, especially in smaller markets.

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Ever wondered what it takes to transition from being a firefighter to a multimillionaire real estate investor? Ian Horowitz, a former Baltimore City firefighter, shares his fascinating journey into the real estate world, alongside his business partner Dan Mathe. Together, they navigated the turbulent waters of the global financial crisis to establish D&I Development in 2014, amassing a nearly nine-figure portfolio. Discover the strategic growth and integrative expertise that powered their success and learn how networking and community play vital roles in thriving in the real estate industry.

Masterminds are not just buzzwords—they're game-changers for many. We unpack the unique dynamics of these groups, sharing stories of individuals who have made significant life changes, like moving from firefighting to business success. Whether it's financial goals, personal growth, or both, finding the right group that matches your personality and experience level is key. We also discuss how personality tests can tailor your mastermind experience, propelling you toward success with the right balance of grounding or motivation.

In a world brimming with self-proclaimed experts, authenticity is crucial. We explore how to navigate the maze of real estate gurus, emphasizing the importance of vetting mentors and building trustworthy networks. Ian shares actionable steps for balancing professional duties with personal interests and stresses the importance of genuine connections in professional groups. As the conversation wraps up, we express gratitude for Ian's insights and look forward to more enlightening discussions in the future. Join us as we uncover strategies for real estate success and the power of community in achieving your dreams.

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In this compelling episode, Tyler and Mike Webb sit down with Marc Oshiro, a dedicated firefighter with 17 years of service in the Honolulu Fire Department, who also excels as a realtor with Remax Honolulu. Marc shares his unique journey of balancing two demanding careers, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of serving his community both as a firefighter and in real estate. Growing up in Honolulu, Marc discusses how his deep connection to the island fuels his passion for both professions and his commitment to helping others. From heartwarming stories on the frontlines to the intricacies of Hawaii's real estate market, this episode is a testament to resilience, community, and the aloha spirit.

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Summary: In this episode, Tyler and Mike Webb sit down with Brady McCartin, an entrepreneur from Maryland. Brady shares his journey from DJing to launching diverse business ventures alongside his brother, Jimmy. They discuss their early days in the music industry, their expansion into graphic design, and their latest venture, Chore Coat.

Key Points:

Introduction to Brady McCartin:
- Brady and his brother Jimmy's entrepreneurial beginnings in Maryland.
- Their various business ventures, from DJing to graphic design and Chore Coat.
DJ Ventures:
- How Brady and Jimmy started a successful DJ business in their teens.
- The impact of their DJing experiences on their entrepreneurial mindset.
Expanding into Graphic Design:
- Leveraging their creative skills to diversify their business interests.
Launching Chore Coat:
- The inspiration and development process behind Chore Coat.
- Overcoming challenges and bringing Chore Coat to market.
Managing Multiple Ventures:
- Balancing day jobs with multiple business projects.
- Importance of time management and leveraging strengths.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:
- Key lessons learned from their journey.
- Brady's advice on perseverance, adaptability, and continuous learning.

Conclusion: Brady McCartin's journey illustrates the power of passion and innovation in entrepreneurship. From DJing to creating Chore Coat, he and Jimmy have shown that dedication and creativity can turn dreams into reality.

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Episode Title:

Hosts: Tyler Thrush and Mike Webb

Guest: Chris Bauchle, Firefighter and Certified Financial Planner

Summary: In this episode, Tyler Thrush and Mike Webb sit down with Chris Bauchle, a firefighter in Indianapolis and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Chris combines his unique background in both firefighting and finance to provide specialized retirement planning for first responders. This episode explores changes in 457 plans for 2024 and offers valuable financial insights for firefighters and police officers.

Key Points:

Introduction to Chris Bauchle:
- Chris is a firefighter in Indianapolis with a decade of service, following ten years as an Air Force firefighter.
- He holds a master’s degree in finance and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing in retirement planning for first responders.
- Financial Planning Background:
- Chris shares his journey into financial planning, highlighting the lack of tailored financial advice for firefighters and police officers.
- He explains the importance of specialized financial planning for those in public safety roles.
- Changes in 457 Plans for 2024:
- The discussion includes an overview of the 457 plans and upcoming changes in 2024.
- Chris provides insights into how these changes will impact retirement planning for firefighters.
- Unique Financial Challenges for First Responders:
- Chris talks about the unique financial challenges faced by first responders.
- He emphasizes the need for comprehensive financial education and planning tailored to their specific needs.
- Insights and Reflections:
- Chris offers practical advice for first responders on managing their finances and planning for retirement.
- He reflects on his dual career and how it has equipped him to serve his community better.

Conclusion: Chris Bauchle’s dual expertise in firefighting and financial planning provides a valuable perspective on the unique financial needs of first responders. His insights into changes in 457 plans and tailored financial advice offer critical information for those in public safety roles.

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Episode Title: From Fire Captain to Entrepreneur: Brian Waters’ Multi-Faceted Career

Hosts: Tyler and Mike Webb

Guest: Brian Waters, Fire Captain, Real Estate Investor, and E-Bike Business Owner

Summary: In this episode, Tyler and Mike Webb sit down with Brian Waters, a fire captain with the L.A. County Fire Department who has also made significant strides as a real estate investor and entrepreneur. Brian shares his journey and insights into balancing a demanding career in public service with his ventures in real estate and the e-bike industry.

Key Points:

Introduction to Brian Waters:
- Brian lives in Huntington Beach and serves as a fire captain for the L.A. County Fire Department.
- He has a long-standing interest in real estate investment and has also ventured into the e-bike business.
- Real Estate Investment:
- Brian discusses his experience and strategies in real estate investment.
- He shares valuable tips and lessons learned from his investments.
- E-Bike Business:
- The inspiration for starting the e-bike business came from the rising popularity of e-bikes in Huntington Beach.
- Brian leveraged his logistics and shipping knowledge from a previous Amazon business to establish his e-bike company.
- The initial idea for the business emerged from casual conversations with colleagues at the fire station.
- Balancing Multiple Roles:
- Brian talks about how he manages his time and responsibilities between his firefighting duties, real estate investments, and running an e-bike business.
- He highlights the importance of community support and having a strong work ethic.
- Insights and Reflections:
- Brian provides insights into the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.
- He reflects on the skills and discipline from his firefighting career that have contributed to his success in business.

Conclusion: Brian's journey showcases the power of resilience, adaptability, and pursuing multiple passions. His ability to balance a demanding career in public service with successful entrepreneurial ventures offers valuable lessons for listeners about time management, seizing opportunities, and leveraging diverse skills.

Call to Action:

Listeners are encouraged to follow Brian’s journey and explore opportunities in both real estate investment and entrepreneurship. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and practical advice from professionals balancing multiple careers.

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Hosts: Tyler and Mike Webb

Guest: Nick Jones, retired firefighter and full-time construction company owner

Summary: In this episode, Tyler and Mike Webb sit down with Nick Jones, a retired firefighter from the Santa Monica Fire Department in Southern California. Nick retired about a year ago and has since dedicated his time to running his ground-up construction company. This episode delves into Nick's fascinating journey from high school through his time in the fire department to his current career in construction.

Key Points:

Introduction to Nick Jones:
- Nick grew up in Ventura County, Southern California.
- He was interested in firefighting from a young age but also had a background in construction through his father's trade connections.
- Balancing Act:
- Nick worked for general contractors during the day and took fire classes at night.
- He shares insights into the challenging balancing act between his construction job and his education.
- Career Transition:
- After getting hired by the fire department, Nick initially thought he’d left the construction world behind.
- However, he soon felt the urge to return to the trades, balancing both careers simultaneously.
- Retirement and New Ventures:
- Nick retired from the fire department about a year ago.
- He now focuses entirely on his construction company, undertaking ground-up construction projects.
- Insights and Reflections:
- Nick discusses the skills and lessons learned from his firefighting career that have benefited his construction business.
- He shares advice for others considering a career shift or balancing multiple career paths.

Conclusion: Nick's story is a testament to following one's passion and the value of diverse experiences. His transition from a stable career in firefighting to the uncertainties of running a construction business offers valuable lessons for listeners about resilience, adaptability, and pursuing one's true calling.

Call to Action:

Listeners are encouraged to follow Nick’s journey and stay tuned for more insights and stories from professionals who have successfully navigated significant career changes.

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This episode of "First Responder Financial Freedom" features an in-depth conversation with Dan Zitofsky, a former NYPD officer and Navy veteran, who shares his extensive experience in real estate and personal finance. Hosts Tyler Thrush and Mike Webb delve into Dan’s unique background and draw out lessons that are directly applicable to first responders looking to secure their financial future.

Introduction and Background: Dan begins the episode by thanking the hosts for the opportunity to speak to a cause close to his heart: supporting first responders and veterans. He recounts his journey from high school, through his time in the Navy as a hospital corpsman working with the Marines, to his early ventures into real estate. Despite starting young, Dan emphasizes his ongoing passion for learning and growth in the industry.

Transition from Military to Real Estate: Dan discusses how a football injury led him to join the Navy instead of pursuing sports, which serendipitously introduced him to real estate. He shares an anecdote about his first rental property, which provided him with more income than his Navy salary, sparking his interest in real estate investing as a long-term career path.

Financial Advice for First Responders: Throughout the episode, Dan focuses on how discipline learned in military and police service can be effectively translated into managing personal finances and investing. He advocates for real estate as a stable and lucrative investment avenue for first responders, who often have unique financial planning needs due to the demanding nature of their jobs.

Insights and Strategies: Dan offers practical advice on starting in real estate, including how to approach investments and manage properties to generate passive income. He stresses the importance of financial education, especially for individuals in high-risk professions, and shares insights into leveraging real estate to build wealth and security.

Conclusion: The episode wraps up with a Q&A session where Dan answers specific questions from Tyler and Mike, providing tailored advice that addresses the challenges and opportunities faced by first responders interested in real estate. The conversation highlights the potential for real estate to serve as a cornerstone for financial freedom and wealth building among first responders.

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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In this engaging episode of "First Responder Financial Freedom," we dive deep with Diana Kahn, a prominent lawyer from the Maryland Real Estate Investors Group. Diana brings her expertise to the table, discussing critical topics for any investor, including the importance of setting up wills, LLCs, and trusts for asset protection. The conversation is not only informative but also filled with light-hearted moments, making complex legal topics accessible and engaging. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, Diana’s insights will equip you with the knowledge to protect your investments and ensure your financial freedom. Tune in to discover how you can fortify your financial future against uncertainties.

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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In this episode Mike and Tyler Discuss Various Topics and catch up on where there investing and businesses currently stand

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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This episode is short and sweet! We discuss the possibility of holding a mastermind and would love to hear your thoughts on the matter!!

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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In this enlightening episode, hosts Mike and Tyler welcome Nate Mitchell, a retired sheriff's deputy from Ohio, who shares his transformative journey from law enforcement to the entrepreneurial world. Nate discusses his decade-long career in law enforcement, detailing the reasons that led him to retire and pursue business. He explains his venture into the commercial cleaning industry, a shift from the more commonly discussed topic of real estate on the show. Throughout the episode, Nate offers insights into the challenges and successes he has faced in his new career path, providing valuable advice for other first responders looking to explore entrepreneurship. The conversation also touches on financial freedom strategies and how skills from law enforcement can be leveraged in business. The episode aims to inspire and guide first responders interested in achieving financial independence through entrepreneurial efforts

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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In this engaging episode, we're thrilled to welcome back Travis Oglesby, a prominent figure known for his innovative projects and impactful insights within the industry. Travis discusses his exciting transition into bigger ventures, highlighting the mindset shifts and strategic approaches that have guided his journey. The conversation delves into the complexities of equity buyers and explores the intriguing concept of Black Acre. Focused on providing value and advancing in the industry, Travis shares invaluable advice for those looking to expand their horizons and make their mark. Whether you're a longtime follower of Travis or newly introduced to his work, this episode is packed with knowledge and inspiration for anyone aiming to grow and succeed.

Connect with Travis

Cell #: 618-292-1213 Youtube: @travisoglesby5322 Book a time to chat: Chat with Travis Facebook: Travis Oglesby (from Centralia IL) Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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In this compelling episode, we're joined by the innovators behind Rapid Response, a groundbreaking tool designed to enhance the effectiveness of firefighting efforts. Our guests from Rapid Response discuss how their technology is transforming the way first responders approach emergencies, providing them with crucial information before they even arrive on the scene. Learn about the inspiration behind Rapid Response, the challenges they've overcome, and the real-life impact of their technology on firefighting teams. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how technology is making a tangible difference in saving lives and supporting the heroes of our communities

visit their website at www.rapidresponse.co

help suport their charity work at https://hhfdny.org/

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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Join us in this insightful episode as we dive into the world of real estate investing with David Pere, the Military Millionaire. A Marine Corps veteran, David shares his journey from serving in the military to becoming a successful real estate investor. Discover his strategies, challenges, and triumphs in the real estate market. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiring stories for anyone interested in building wealth through real estate

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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Join us in this fascinating episode of "First Responder Financial Freedom" as we converse with Hank Henline, the entrepreneurial mind behind Hasty Fire Products. Hank shares his journey in developing innovative fire safety equipment, focusing on the crucial role of rescue straps in firefighting and emergency scenarios. We delve into the technical nuances, real-world applications, and the profound impact these lifesaving tools have in the field. This episode not only highlights the advancements in emergency response equipment but also showcases the entrepreneurial spirit driving these innovations. It's a compelling listen for industry professionals and those intrigued by fire safety technology and entrepreneurial ventures in critical safety sectors.

Transcript Excerpt:

Introduction to Hank Henline and Hasty Fire Products
- Overview of Hank's entrepreneurial background.
- Insight into the founding of Hasty Fire Products.
- The Innovation of Rescue Straps
- The development process and challenges.
- Technical aspects and design considerations.
- Real-World Impact and Applications
- Stories of rescue straps in action.
- Discussion on the evolution of firefighting tools.
- Entrepreneurship in the Fire Safety Industry
- Challenges and rewards of innovating in this sector.
- Hank's vision for the future of fire safety equipment.
- Q&A: Insights and Advice
- Audience questions about entrepreneurship and fire safety.
- Hank's advice for aspiring innovators in the field.
- Closing Thoughts
- Reflecting on the importance of continuous innovation.
- Appreciation for Hank's contributions and closing remarks.
- Connect With Hank
- https://www.instagram.com/hastyrescuestrap?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Discount Code FRFF5

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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Join us in this enlightening episode of 'Real Estate Roundtable' as we sit down with Shaun Magner, a seasoned real estate investor with over a decade of experience. Dive into the heart of real estate networking, learn the secrets of building lasting relationships, and discover how community meetups can revolutionize your investment strategies. Shaun shares his invaluable insights and personal stories from the Baltimore real estate scene, offering a unique perspective on the industry's interconnected nature. Whether you're a budding investor or a seasoned professional, this episode is packed with practical advice and insider knowledge that can't be missed!"

Show Notes:

Introduction [00:00.000 - 00:09.044]
- Welcome to the second podcast of the year, featuring an exclusive guest, Sean Magner.
- Shaun Magner: A Decade in Real Estate [00:09.864 - 00:22.429]
- Introduction to Shaun Magner and his ten-year journey in real estate.
- Networking: The Keystone of Real Estate Success [00:22.429 - 00:24.570]
- Brief exploration of how networking is critical in real estate.
- The Power of Real Estate Meetups [00:24.570 - 00:36.608]
- Discussion on the role of real estate meetups in community building
- Deep Dive with Shaun: Strategies and Stories [00:36.608 - End]
- Shaun shares his strategies, challenges, and success stories in the field.
- Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts
- Summarizing Shaun’s insights and concluding the episode.
- Connect with Shaun:
- https://linktr.ee/shaunmagner

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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Dive into an exciting episode of our podcast where we explore the remarkable journey of Kirby Schultz. A firefighter by profession, Kirby has ventured into the realm of unique investments, creating a niche in the world of tiny houseboats. With his roots in Maryland's Kent Island, Kirby intertwines his passion for the water with his entrepreneurial spirit. Listen in as we discuss the challenges and triumphs of developing houseboats, managing family-run marinas and restaurants, and juggling a career in emergency services. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in unconventional investments, the hospitality industry, or simply loves a good story of innovation and determination."

Show Notes:

Introduction to Kirby Schultz - A brief overview of Kirby's background as a firefighter and his unexpected journey into the world of investment, particularly in houseboats.
The Birth of the Houseboat Idea - How Kirby and his family recognized an opportunity in their marina and transformed it into a successful houseboat rental business.
Challenges and Rewards - Discussing the initial challenges faced, such as financial hurdles and logistical obstacles, and the rewards of seeing the project come to fruition.
A Day in the Life - Kirby shares a typical day balancing his duties as a firefighter with his entrepreneurial ventures.
Family Ties - Exploring the role of family in Kirby's business ventures, from marinas to restaurants, and how they work together to create a unique customer experience.
The Future of Houseboat Rentals - Kirby’s vision for the future of his business and the potential for expansion in the houseboat rental market.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs - Kirby offers insights and advice for others looking to break into unconventional investment areas or juggle multiple careers.
Closing Thoughts - Reflecting on the importance of innovation, community, and resilience in both entrepreneurship and public service.

This podcast episode not only highlights Kirby's unique business venture but also delves into the importance of community, innovation, and balancing multiple roles.

Proudly Sponsored by Maltese Mortgage:

Who They Are: Maltese Mortgage is dedicated to serving those who serve us. Specializing in mortgages for first responders, they understand the unique financial needs of our heroes.
What They Offer: Whether you're buying a new home, investing in property, or seeking hard money loans, Maltese Mortgage offers personalized mortgage solutions. Their services are designed to cater to the distinct needs of first responders, ensuring the best financial options for primary residences and investment properties.
Why Choose Them: With an empathetic approach and a deep commitment to hassle-free service, Maltese Mortgage is the go-to choice for first responders looking for reliable and supportive mortgage assistance.
Learn More: Ready to explore your mortgage options? Visit www.maltesemortgage.com for more information on how they can help secure your financial future.

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In this insightful episode of our podcast, we delve into the ever-evolving landscape of the real estate market as we transition from 2023 to 2024. Join our hosts – Mike, Tyler, and a slightly sleep-deprived Aaron – as they reflect on their personal experiences and strategies in real estate investing over the past year and lay out their plans for the upcoming year.

Mike shares his shift from wholesaling and flipping to investing in storage facilities, emphasizing the importance of systematizing operations for long-term success. He also discusses his venture into hard money loans, highlighting the balance of fewer but higher-margin transactions in 2023.

Tyler, facing a challenging year due to rising mortgage rates affecting refinancing activities, shares his tactical pause in flipping and wholesaling. Despite the slowdown, he reveals an optimistic outlook for 2024, predicting a favorable shift in interest rates and a rebound in the housing market.

Aaron, new to fatherhood and juggling personal commitments, discusses his selective approach to deals in 2023, focusing on high-equity flips and leveraging 1031 exchanges to maximize profits while navigating tax implications.

Throughout the episode, the trio explores various aspects of real estate investing, including leveraging relationships for off-market deals, the impact of interest rates on investment strategies, and the potential benefits of owning a business related to real estate. They also touch on tax deductions, the importance of building relationships with banks, and strategies for navigating the complexities of commercial loans.

This episode is a treasure trove of practical advice, real-world experiences, and strategic insights for anyone interested in real estate investing or looking to adapt their strategies to the changing market conditions. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting, this conversation is packed with valuable information to help you navigate the real estate landscape in 2023 and beyond.

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Discover the inspiring story of Sean Percy Travis, a former Los Angeles County firefighter who turned his decade-long public service experience into a flourishing entrepreneurial career. In this detailed biography, we delve into Sean's multifaceted life, from his beginnings as an ambulance technician, through his commendable tenure as a firefighter, to his current endeavors in coaching and e-commerce.

Learn about Sean's academic pursuit in pre-med studies, reflecting his deep-rooted passion for health and science, and his time as a university baseball player in Los Angeles, showcasing his athleticism and team spirit. Dive into the details of his post-retirement life, where Sean's entrepreneurial spirit shines through his involvement in various projects, including health and wellness advocacy for first responders, innovative business ideas in e-commerce, and real estate investing.

Sean's journey is not just about career transformation; it's a testament to his adaptability, innovation, and commitment to making a difference. Whether it's his visually appealing presence, contrasting his colleagues' self-proclaimed 'radio faces', or his creative ventures in developing a paramedic-led IV service, Sean's story is one of continual growth and inspiration.

Perfect for those interested in career evolution, entrepreneurial journeys, and the behind-the-scenes lives of public service heroes, this biography of Sean Percy Travis is a must-read. Join us as we explore the life of a man who gracefully transitioned from saving lives in the line of fire to igniting his path as a successful entrepreneur.

Check out what Sean is doing at www.digitaltavernmedia.com

Keywords: Sean Percy Travis, firefighter, entrepreneur, Los Angeles County, health and wellness, e-commerce, real estate investing, coaching, public service, career transformation, inspiration, innovation.

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The guys do a kitchen table talk and update the listeners as to whats been going on in their businesses.

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In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting Faisal Morsi, a real estate investor and entrepreneur, as our guest. Faisal generously shares his remarkable journey in the world of real estate, shedding light on how he transitioned from his previous role as a data analyst to becoming a successful investor.

Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of real estate investing and explore the invaluable tool of skip tracing. Faisal provides valuable insights into how skip tracing can be a game-changer for real estate investors, and he walks us through the exact steps to leverage this tool effectively to secure lucrative deals.

Discover the story of how Faisal Morsi recognized the potential of applying his existing skill set to his own real estate investments and, in doing so, found a way to provide a valuable service to his fellow investors. Whether you're an aspiring real estate investor or a seasoned pro, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and practical tips to enhance your investment journey.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the real estate market, learn about the power of skip tracing, and find inspiration in Faisal's entrepreneurial story of turning data analysis expertise into a thriving real estate venture. Don't miss this engaging conversation with Faisal Morsi, where real estate and entrepreneurship converge to unlock exciting possibilities.

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Karl Kulpak is on the show today to discuss commerical real esate, debt funds, and finacial literacy. In addition to being a PA state trooper Karl is the owner of Money Coach Group , Partner in Y2 Capital Group PML fund as well as a commerical real estate investor

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Join us in this captivating episode as we explore the multifaceted life of Miami native Alfredo Infante. Born to Cuban parents, Alfredo's journey is a compelling tale of passion, resilience, and innovation. Starting in the family landscaping business, he seamlessly transitioned to a career in firefighting, finding a unique brotherhood and a love for cooking within the firehouse. Alfredo's love for cooking led him to a groundbreaking invention - the MagneCHEF Gloves, revolutionizing kitchen safety and functionality. Dive into his entrepreneurial journey, overcoming challenges including the struggle to balance family life, the rigors of product development, and personal trials. Hear Alfredo's story of grit and perseverance in bringing their innovative product to the global market, earning accolades in the BBQ community and beyond. This episode is not just a story of success; it's a narrative of adapting, overcoming, and thriving against all odds. #Entrepreneurship #Firefighting #Innovation #Cooking #FamilyBusiness"

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Driven by his lifelong dream of flipping homes in his local community, Niel founded NK Developments in South Bend, Indiana back in 2006. What started small has grown into hundreds of home acquisitions and flips over the past 15 years. Now an expert house flipper and rental property mogul, Niel shares his journey and hard-won lessons. He discusses how NK Developments identifies undervalued properties, renovates them, and sells or rents them out for profit. Passionate about serving homeowners facing difficult situations, Niel also provides details on their home remodel services - especially kitchen and basement remodels where they add tremendous value. Tune in as Niel explains the systems and mindset that have fueled NK Developments' growth into a thriving real estate business making a difference locally. Discover how you can follow his model and start flipping houses in your own community.

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In this episode of the First Responder Financial Freedom podcast, Mike, Tyler, and Aaron interview Lee Marala, a firefighter and real estate investor. Lee shares his story of how he got started in real estate, the challenges he's faced, and the lessons he's learned along the way. He also discusses his plans for the future and how he's using real estate to achieve his financial goals.

Key Takeaways:

Lee got started in real estate by buying a duplex from a friend.
He's flipped several properties and currently owns a few rental units.
Lee is using real estate to achieve his goal of retiring from the fire department early.
He advises other first responders to start small and reinvest their profits.
He also recommends finding a mentor who can help you learn the ropes.

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Join us in this episode as we explore the captivating journey of Joel Brose, who seamlessly manages a firefighting career as well as the competitive realm of real estate investing. After a brief stint in the mortgage business when he was temporarily let go, Joel discovered his true passion lay in house flipping and property investments. His determination was further fueled when a fellow firefighter and now-business partner approached him with a game-changing opportunity to flip their first house. Beyond the bricks and mortar, Joel's story is also about work-life balance, family commitments, and personal growth. As a devoted father and husband, he exemplifies the value of being present in every facet of life. Dive into this conversation to uncover actionable real estate tips, investment strategies, and life lessons from Joel's inspiring journey. Ideal for aspiring real estate investors, this episode offers a blend of industry insights and heartfelt narratives

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Listen in as we explore the multifaceted career journey of our guest, Dustin, a firefighter Lieutenant from Baltimore who has skillfully maneuvered through various industries. With a start in the world of DJing, Dustin managed to build a successful business, primarily through word of mouth and personal drive. Discover how Dustin transitioned from the world of DJing into the firefighting service and eventually, into real estate. We also shed light on his work with former Baltimore city firefighters, Dan and Ian, and their creation of Brotherhood Buffs, a platform known for its iconic videos of people cheering on fire trucks. Our guest’s journey is a testament to the value of having a side hustle. Dustin, alongside his colleagues, faced the challenges of navigating their careers in challenging environments head-on. Learn about how he built a financial cushion through his side hustles, and how these ventures prepared him for times of hardship. As Dustin's story unfolds, we also examine the importance of diversifying income streams, overcoming failure, and surrounding oneself with the right support system. Dustin’s interest in managing land for homeowners led him to his current position as a land specialist. Unpack his insights on the world of land investment and mineral rights, and the opportunities it holds. We explore the complexities, the tax implications, the rules and regulations, and the potential benefits of owning land. Understand the differences between owning land for a home site versus an investment, and how land can increase in value exponentially over time. We also touch on Dustin's experience balancing work, family, and his entrepreneurial goals, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Tune in for a riveting discussion that spans across industries and ventures.

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Mike Aaron and Tyler Chop it Up... we discuss what is going on with our businesses

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In today's episode, we delve into the captivating story of Chris Miller, a remarkable individual who grew up in West Virginia and faced unique challenges early on in life. As the son of an army veteran and volunteer fireman, Chris assumed the role of a father figure at a young age, supporting his sister and mother while his own father was deployed.

Join us as we explore the inner workings of Chris's chimney sweep business and uncover the importance of annual chimney inspections. From protecting customers and companies from liability to identifying potential hazards that can lead to devastating fires, Chris's chimney maintenance expertise is informative and eye-opening. This is an episode you won't want to miss

Chris Miller - In high school, Chris's passion for firefighting led him to join the local fire department. Little did he know that this would be the catalyst for an entrepreneurial journey that would change his life forever. As Chris settled into his career, he noticed that many firefighters had their own side businesses. Inspired by their entrepreneurial spirit, he started his own chimney sweep business in 2015. Armed with the Chimney Safety Institute of America certification, Chris embarked on a journey of growth and success.

Why Do you have to listen to today’s episode?

Discover Chris's experience as a firefighter underscores the importance of prioritizing safety in the chimney inspection industry.
Understand why certification matters: While no governing body mandates specific qualifications for operating a chimney inspection business, certifications bring customers value and peace of mind.
Gain insight on Business Growth Opportunities: Chris discusses the potential for business growth by targeting specific service areas and demographics through strategic marketing efforts. customer

"While working at the fire department, I noticed that many firefighters had side businesses. It made me realize that starting my own business was a natural progression in my career. So, in 2015, I took the leap and started my own chimney sweep business.”

Chris Miller

Today’s topic:

1:07 - Firefighting career path and chimney sweep business. 9:43 - Firefighting career path and chimney sweep business. 12:46 - Chimney sweep services and industry standards. 23:36 - Business acquisition and adapting to change. 30:20 - Hiring and demographics in the chimney sweep industry. 42:35 - Hiring and demographics in the chimney sweep industry. 58:09- Financing options for small businesses.

Key Takeaways:

“Time is the most valuable thing in life. You come to you grow. You won't be 18 years old forever; you’ll have a family, get some kids, and realize how precious time is. Being a business owner allows you to set your schedule. You're going to work harder than most people that it's not becoming a business owner, you just automatically do whatever you want, you're going to be working twice as hard as most people, but it's on your dime, it's on your schedule. And that's the perk of it. - Chris Miller

“The key is just to keep your head on a swivel, be willing to kind of, not get stuck doing one thing and being able to pivot and adapt to the changes that are thrown at you” - Chris Miller

“Find a good mentor. Someone that's worthy, right? It's got to be somebody that's going to have value or things that you were interested in, or you look at them, and you see their lifestyle, and you're like, how can I get that way? - Chris Miller

Connect with Chris Miller:

Website: https://www.traditionschimneysweeps.com/ Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/TraditionsChimneySweeps

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groupsfirstfinancialfreedom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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In today’s episode, we dive deep into the world of money-making strategies, from flipping garage sale finds to renovating properties and even buying and selling storage units, as our guest introduces us to the world of resourcefulness and creative ways to make money.

First, we follow Alex’s journey, who partnered with a friend to tackle a property renovation project. They hired contractors for tasks like painting and flooring, but Alex also took on various tasks, from seal coating the driveway to repairing French doors. We explore the commercial mindset behind this approach, focusing on quickly generating revenue.

In addition to these fascinating stories, we talk about side jobs, such as laying sod and flipping items on eBay, and how these ways our guest was able to pay his mortgage payment. We learn about the small wins that can accumulate over time and lead to real estate investments. From attending storage unit auctions to selling valuable finds online, our guest shares their journey of making money incrementally and stacking those small wins.

So grab your headphones and prepare for an episode filled with inspiring stories, practical tips, and the unexplored world of property renovation and creative money-making strategies.

Why Do you have to listen to today’s episode?

Discover how to stack small wins: Don't be deterred by starting small. Stacking small wins can lead to significant gains over time.
Learn from experience: Whether it's helping with property demos, joining station projects, or honing your selling skills on eBay, hands-on experience is invaluable.
Find out how to surround yourself with supportive people: A supportive network is crucial for success. Surround yourself with people who uplift and inspire you.

"If you're trying to get into real estate, figure out how to make money without your W2... And just your brain, like if you have to spend a little bit of money to make money.” - Alec Marquette

Today’s topic:

05:05Side jobs in high school laid sod. Made money, discovered selling sod. Played sports, considered firefighting, and joined the military. Went to college after the military.19:28 Making money through storage unit auctions.

30:03 eBay feedback helps sell Pokemon cards.

44:15 House had water damage, which scared off buyers. Offered $135k. Comparable sold for $225k. The expected profit is around $32k.

57:05 FHA appraisal higher doesn't include a wholesale fee.

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:
Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groupsfirstfinancialfreedom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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In today's episode, we dive into the world of real estate investing, specifically land investing. Our guest speaker shares his journey and experiences in the land-flipping business, revealing their strategies and tactics to generate substantial profits.

But that's not all - we also discuss the advantages of storage facilities and the potential drawbacks that should be considered before investing. From analyzing costs and demand to understanding tax write-offs, we explore the ins and outs of this booming industry.

But that's not the only topic we tackle in this episode. He also shares his previous interest in house wholesaling and his struggles with analysis paralysis. We explore the factors that held him back from taking action and discuss the pivotal moment that propelled him into the world of land investing.

From his initial success in flipping land and generating profits to the systems they've built to scale his business, we uncover his journey toward financial freedom through real estate.

Additionally, we touch upon the topic of education and its relevance to career prospects. From the speaker's experience and perspective, we delve into the debate surrounding the value of higher education in today's world.

So, whether you're a seasoned investor looking for new ideas or someone considering dipping their toes into the real estate market, this episode is packed with valuable insights and perspectives.

Alec Maquette worked in the Milwaukee Fire Department for five years before becoming a land investor. After buying his first duplex in 2020, he spent much time and effort repairing it. Since he has always been fascinated by Real Estate, he now owns a small land brokerage based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All 50 states are covered by their land purchases. Getting undeveloped land repurposed and better utilized with investors, developers, and local governments.

Why you have to listen to today’s episode:

Learn how to identify undervalued properties and leverage your negotiation skills. Get a grip on acquiring land at a lower cost and selling it for a higher price.
Discover Expansion Possibilities: Another advantage of land investing is the potential for expansion. Land investments provide unique opportunities for development and entitlement, allowing you to maximize the value of your properties.
Understand Tax Benefits and Depreciation: Land ownership comes with its own set of tax advantages. Rental properties, for example, can offer tax benefits through deductions for mortgage interest, property taxes, and depreciation.

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In today's episode, we dive into the world of ID verification and its significance in our society. We'll explore the challenges and opportunities that arise from this crucial process and how it affects various industries, from law enforcement to public safety. From the evolution of technology to the impact of fake IDs, we'll uncover the complexities surrounding ID verification and examine the potential solutions that can improve its reliability and efficiency.

From starting as a reseller for law enforcement agencies, our guest takes us on his journey of discovery and growth. Along the way, he shares valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within this evolving industry. We also explore the importance of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies and the power of connecting with like-minded individuals.

Get ready to be inspired and motivated as we unveil his plans and potential solutions to a prevalent issue in law enforcement.

Mark Baxter is an experienced officer and investigator with a demonstrated federal and local law enforcement work history. He is an expert recognized by the Maryland Courts as a counterfeit document specialist. He is also an accomplished instructor with experience training federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and civilian organizations. He created the "Fake ID-Real Problem," which fights the use of fake IDs. To achieve maximum nationwide impact in combating this issue, he established SureScan, utilizing his years of experience. An entrepreneur on a mission to make a difference in the lives of others, driven by a strong sense of purpose and a strong desire to make a positive impact. Using Skills From His Job as an LEO to create a business. Mark Baxter took the knowledge gained on the job and parlayed it into success.

Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Discover how developing a comprehensive ID verification database or program could greatly support law enforcement agencies in combatting identity fraud.
Gain insights into the challenges of obtaining real IDs for testing purposes and the importance of constantly updating the program with the latest information.
Explore how our guest develops a breakthrough solution for enhancing ID verification for law enforcement officers, providing a more accurate and reliable approach.

"I always feel like there's a better way to do things that have been done the same way forever. So that's one thing that gets me wrapped up is trying to figure out a better way to do this and that."
- Mark Baxter

Today’s Topic:

6:34 - Using drones for law enforcement and firefighting.

Drones are useful for law enforcement in tracking missing people, missing persons, physically disabled people, and even children.
For the fire department, benefits include documenting the scene for first responders and identifying people inside a burning structure by their heat signatures.

15:43 - What is SureScan, and what is it all about?

The company's mission is to provide government agencies and retailers with the ability to combat fake identity cards. The purpose of using it can be varied, including underage drinking, fraud, and terrorism.
It should be noted, however, that the company is geared towards law enforcement in other states and not to that of Maryland, where marijuana is legal.

21:41 - How did Mark Baxter get involved in the ID industry?

Mark was always an opponent of ID jobs, and his friends knew that, but colleagues kept sending him new stories about the new ID app.
He then tested the ID app for 18 months and was amazed at how well it actually worked.

34:29 - Understand the different state identification versions.

Currently, there are over 100 different types of state IDs in circulation, and some states have more than one.
Knowing the ones you see most often is the key.

37:19 - How does Mark aim to improve ID verification?

The idea of partnering with SureScan and selling a separate app is one of the long-term potentials he sees.
To find out what's the next big thing in technology, he is seeking different perspectives.

47:43 - What are Mark's challenges regarding marketing to law enforcement?

The goal is to take ID scanning one step further since visual checks are not 100% technology, but a way should be found to meet halfway.
Being able to stay updated with the latest is a constant learning experience since things change all the time in different states.

Key Takeaways

“The issues with the fake IDs, obviously, everybody, the first thing they think of is going to be underage drinking, but there's a whole realm of other bad stuff that will happen” - Aaron Foster.

“AI has a lot of good uses and a lot of bad uses. But how can I implement AI into my mortgage and real estate business? So, I like learning new stuff and applying it without knowing it. And I don't think I'll ever stop doing that because I've always been that way. I've always wanted to see myself out on doing it.” - Tyler Thrush.

“The key is knowing that you have something to offer. And it's almost like, you'd be remiss not to just because I have this information, you should have it, whether you want to take it or not.” - Mark Baxter

Connect with Mark Baxter
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-baxter-0559727a/
Website: https://www.surescan.us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surescanID

Resources and People Mentioned:
Website: The State of Georgia: https://georgia.gov/uas

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It is becoming more common for first responders to retire early for personal reasons. And for whatever reason, it is for you if you do the same. Our only hope is that before ending the only source of income, you have, you already have something planned for the future. Investing early is one of the best decisions you can make, as we always emphasize on this show.

In the same way that our guest did. His goal was to focus on his family while also obtaining the financial freedom he had always dreamed of. He retired early and concentrated on his Real Estate business. According to him, he should have done it sooner. This is the topic we will be discussing today. How our guest did it and how you could do it the same way.

Peter McKenzie served as a fire captain of the Ventura fire department for many years. However, he decided to retire early and start a real estate company. In 2014, he established Rincon Property Management. By maintaining regular communication, fostering strong company values, and curating Ventura County's biggest landlord educational resource, they create an incredible owner and tenant experience. Furthermore, he hosts two podcasts: 'The accidental landlord,' which assists new home business owners along their accidental journey and connects them with the right resources. As well as a ‘Firehouse Roundtable’ where he and his cohost shares stories from their careers in the fire department and the impact it has on their lives.

Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Take a step back and realize that you will not be at your job forever. It is also important to understand that a pension will not be enough to support your needs as you age.
Find out why you should hire a virtual assistant even if you are just starting your business.
Get an understanding of multiples and their types. In order to sell the business one day for a better price.

“I had to learn how to re-enter back into my own family, which sounds absolutely insane. Because it's not like I didn't live there, like, I was just gone.”
- Peter McKenzie

Today’s Topic:

1:32 “I grew up in San Diego County. So California Fire Service, I don't know, the rest of the country is it's pretty competitive, pretty hard to get in. So went the EMT route and did some reserved volunteer fire time at a small department down there. We then went to paramedic school, worked on an ambulance for a few years, and then built relationships with the fire department, where I was a paramedic. And that's who hired me.”

What is the reason for Peter's decision to leave the fire department? Isn't he afraid of losing income by making this decision, or is it his best decision ever? How did he spend his time after leaving the service?

7:34 - “Focus on making money that's going to make money after you retire.”

It may not be enough to depend solely on your pension when you grow older, as Aaron pointed out. It is important to realize that you must make money before and after retirement.

9:35 - “So we didn't have a real estate license with nothing. So we started from scratch. I started the company with him for maybe two or three years, then our partnership kind of dissolved. I bought them out and then built the business the whole time. I was at the fire department for the rest of those 656 years, which was tough because running a business and being a fireman is not easy, because it's not like you can run your business while you're at the station running calls doing all the stuff you're doing at the station. So that was challenging.”

What made Peter switch from being a firefighter to becoming a sole proprietor

16:32 - “By using people and consultants and other people's knowledge, I was able to leverage what they had and apply it in my business. So that was my first hire.”

In this interview, Peter discusses how he handled his business while still in the fire department. He stated that hiring an executive VA helped offload some tasks. Listen to Tyler's suggestions for where to engage your VAs and what are the better strategies depending on the tasks you need to be accomplished.

31:07 - “Every industry has a like standard multiple, and it can be a multiple of revenue, it can be a multiple of EBITA, can be the people, people gauge different things. Like for example, in a property management business, the multiples like one and a half times one year's revenue, which is crazy. To me, that's like such a bargain.”

Peter briefly explains how multiples work. And how is he determining multiples when buying a business?

33:42 - “The way I sell it to my clients is this is a benefit and an asset to them. Because we control the process, we're accountable.”

Peter discusses his business management strategy. By controlling the business and not only owning it, he can gain his clients' trust.

41:37 “I'm very, like protectionist mindset like I don't want to go backward like I left my safety net, the fire department like if my business goes bankrupt, it's going to be a problem. So part of my strategy is to diversify into Amazon-proof businesses.”

Peter plans to diversify into Amazon-proof businesses.

45:50 “I felt like a stranger in my own house. I had no idea that stuff was happening at home. I just thought Dad's home. Normally, it's like coming home from the fire department. And if it's a weekend, it's party time, and we're going out, we're doing stuff, we're going to the beach. Well, that's not reality.”

As soon as you retire, there is this big adjustment, says Peter. It's important to learn how to adjust to your new situation and reintegrate into your family.

50:57 - “What we're trying to do is the guys that are still alive, go back and capture those guys and get them on the podcast and like okay, I've heard this story 100 times. Let's hear it and just document it for posterity.”

Peter hares the reason for starting his podcast and his goal. Listen to his two podcasts: The Accidental Landlord and Firehouse Roundtable.

1:07:48 - “I think it would be to take your shot quicker. Don't be shy about jumping in and going big.”

Peter’s advice to his younger self.

Key Takeaways:

Your bodies are shot like your knees are shot, your hips, your back, your shoulders, like just at some point do you realize what's the quality of your life like I get it. I really enjoy the fire department. I have a lot of fun there. But I don't want to die in the firehouse. I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor and enjoy my career after the fire service. - Aaron Foster

Focus on making money that's going to make money after you retire.” - Aaron Foster.

“For 20 years. It was a lot of stress. And it was way harder. So it puts strain on the relationship with my wife and my kids. So I had to learn how to like to re-enter back into my own family, which sounds absolutely insane. Because it's not like I didn't live there like I was just gone.” - Peter McKenzie

Connect with Peter McKenzie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rinconpm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinconpropertymanagement/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermckenzie/
Website: https://www.rinconmanagement.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rinconpropertymanagement/videos

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groupsfirstfinancialfreedom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

Resources and People Mentioned:
The Accidental Landlord: https://sites.libsyn.com/444105
Firehouse Roundtable:https://www.venturafirefoundation.org/firehouse-roundtable

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Couple Karen and Mike Brown run the Shred-All Company, a document management business previously owned by Karen’s mother and is known to be the premier provider of document shredding/destruction services in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As per their experience, the business’ resounding success has been built upon their belief that the customer always comes first, hence their practice to go above and beyond to create personal connections revolving around trust with their clients. Because through such relationships, they can better accommodate their customers’ needs and often provide security and peace of mind. From firefighters to having the Shred-All business, Karen and Mike were able to create an economic domino effect, advocating for the great cause of recycling, all while growing their shredding business. So if this resonates with you, join us today as we learn the secrets behind this success with Mike and Karen themselves.

Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Recognize the importance of creating personal connections with your clients;
Understand why people should and would want to invest in a shredding business; and
Find out how Mike and Karen could help you with your trash boxes/bins concerns

“That’s really helped us thrive as a family and as business owners—we rely on each other, but at the end of the day, we just do what we have to do.” – Karen & Mike Brown

Today’s Topic: 01:27 – “She approached Karen and said, ‘Hey, does Mike want to run this?’ And of course, I was like, ‘Yeah!’ I mean, I’ll be an instant millionaire; I’ll sit here and kick my feet up and just watch the money roll in….” How Mike and Karen got into the fire department and eventually met. They also share how Shred-All started through Karen’s mother before it was passed to them. 09:50 – “One of the nice features about our trucks that have distinguished us from our competition is the customer can just walk out the front door and watch the process from start to finish….” Their retirement plan, the expansion of the shredding business and their 100% transparent process, how they charge clients, and the worry about the transition of everything becoming electronic. 16:47 – “What really resonates with a lot of our customers is the three components/characteristics of our business—we’re family-owned and operated; we used to be small, we still are, and we’re local.”

Marketing with the three components of the business that resonate best with the customers, Karen’s and their employees’ fantastic skills, and the importance of having an actual live human being to talk to your customers over the phone. 24:21 – “What often happens is I email my employees at the beginning of the week with the schedule, and I think our employees’ biggest complaint is like, ‘You said they only had ten boxes, but when we got there, there were 400.’ And I’m like, ‘That’s what they told me.’” What networking looks like for a shredding business, and how they do billing so they won’t get taken advantage of? 27:26 – “I would do anything. It’s just a matter of is the customer willing to let us come back the number of times that we’re going to need to come back to do it.” What’s the biggest and smallest project that Mike and Karen are willing to take on? What’s the most challenging part of running the business?

32:46 – “Life is going to be so much easier with this thing…” Determining what equipment to buy for the business, their return on investment, and how colossal customer service is for them. 37:15 – “Karen deserves a lot of credit here. I think what makes our dynamic work very well is that we don’t have any predefined roles.” The benefits of not having predefined roles. 42:09 – “Most of our employees have come from the fire department….” How do Mike and Karen do the hiring/picking and choosing people they’re going to hire for the business, and how often do they hire somebody? 46:04 – “It doesn’t happen every day, but I do try to get back to them as soon as I can in those situations.” Karen’s problem with being a softy, along with the discussion about the difference between being responsive to customers vs. letting them run the business. 50:38 – “We’re definitely comfortable with where we’re at. We always want to grow, but at the same time, I don’t think we want to expand too much farther….” What is the status of Karen and Mike's business? Are they still growing? What’s their plan for the future like? 54:20 – “I’m proud of what we’ve built. It’s our baby; it’s our child….” What do they do with the remnants? What’s the importance of having personal connections with clients? What are they grateful for in this journey? 1:05:57 – “There’s a value—a non-monetary value—in work ethic. And sometimes, we have to sweat and curse and struggle….” Mike and Karen’s advice for their younger selves Key Takeaways: “It’s really hard to estimate, but that’s why I almost never give a total project completion price as a quote. I give them a per box price or per bin price.” – Karen Brown. “Before we make any purchase, we have a very, very clear understanding of how they operate and the mechanics involved, and we try to compare those mechanical processes over, in terms of longevity and reliability. For us, one of the most important aspects of the equipment we own is the ability to get help…” – Mike Brown. “I think what makes our dynamic work very well is that we don’t have any predefined roles. What makes the dynamic successful is that at no point in this relationship have we ever said, ‘Yeah, I’m not doing that.’” – Mike Brown. Connect with Karen and Mike: Website: http://www.shredallcompany.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shredallcompanyllc/ Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groupsfirstfinancialfreedom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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Nowadays, more and more people are starting to talk about wanting to do real estate, but more and more of those same people actually never do it. Is it because they don’t really want to do this in the first place? Or is it because they’re just not as committed as the industry needs them to be? Whatever that is, the real estate industry is truly a different kind of work, which can either and even both be fulfilling and/or overwhelming. Without a strong foundation of commitment towards what you really want to do, you can really find yourself getting lost in its wide space. At first, even today’s guest thought it would be easy, but then he was welcomed by the challenge it required on his mental capacity. But because he knew what he wanted, he changed his mindset and did what was needed for him to be able to achieve his dream. He just showed up, and now, here he is. Tune into this week’s episode to find out how you can also do the same! Aside from being the owner of BTB Speed & Agility, Tony Daniels—as his Instagram handle shows—is a full-time Firefighter in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a real estate investor. He’s been putting fires out since nine years ago and has been hitting real estate pretty hard as he overcame obstacles that tried to hinder his way. Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Understand the truth about how hard real estate is going to be and why the secret sauce lies in all the boring work in this industry;
Recognize the importance of having the right coach for the right thing of concern; and
Find out how real estate can serve as your golden ticket toward having more time to actually live your life with your loved ones

“Find a mentor from the beginning…Not everyone’s journey is the same. Know your journey; know your reason for wanting to get out…I think real estate is the golden ticket.”

– Tony Daniels.

Today’s Topic: 01:05 – “I’m just gonna give my take on things, and hopefully, it can help one person. That’s kind of my goal. I’ve always been a helper.” Tony shares how he got into personal training and the fire department. 06:45 – “I was more skeptical. Like, if this is that easy, why doesn’t everyone do it?” Tony talks about the journey he’s been through as he pursued real estate, explaining how Mike helped him midway. 12:10 – “I knew I needed to find that vehicle to give me the opportunity to be home more.” Love is spelled T-I-M-E: On finding a ‘vehicle’ so he can be home more and spend more time with his kids. Tyler also shares what he thinks when people give too much information. 19:54 – “What was super rewarding was the one thing, and that was like, okay, all this kind of what I call noise was just super distracting. I was able to break things down into smaller, tangible processes, which then kind of opened me up to kind of start to test the waters to actually go out and start to talk about what I wanted to do.” Tony shares what his steps into the real estate realm were like after working with Mike. 23:15 – “I tell Mike all the time—I wish you would have done a better job of telling me how hard it was going to be.” When did Tony start this endeavor with Mike? What does ‘boring work’ have to do with success in the industry? How important and crucial is one’s commitment to earning success? 32:35 – “I was kind of satisfied that the price he gave me was really good mentally for me, knowing that I had that to feel like I was invested in it.” The importance of being transparent and having the right coach for the right thing 39:53 – “My secret sauce is I’m very, very personal, and I’m intentional when I’m personal.” Tony shares the story behind the present state of his coaching platform. 42:30 – “I know I can’t be good at everything, but if I could just narrow down my focus, I could really be good at that niche.” How important is it for people to narrow down and focus on a niche? What has Tony been working on recently? Why should kids be given a chance to succeed? 54:41 – “It’s kind of an additional income for me and my wife. We’re kind of able to kind of do multiple things as one.” A 12-month runway: The price points and other details of work for the rental. Also, the discussion on financial literacy is not being taught anywhere. 1:03:38 – “You could walk in and immediately tell, do these people actually care about these people, or is it a business?”

The different types of group homes. 1:08:56 – “Find a mentor from the beginning.” Tony’s advice for his younger self. 1:10:17 – “Family…that’s super important.” What is Tony Daniels’ why? Key Takeaways: “To me, too much information is the same as no information.” – Tony Daniels. “What was super rewarding was the one thing, and that was like, okay, all this kind of what I call noise was just super distracting. I was able to break things down into smaller, tangible processes, which then kind of opened me up to kind of start to test the waters to actually go out and start to talk about what I wanted to do.” “It was just the process of continuing to do the boring work; that’s where I struggled because of my dyslexia. It’s the boring work, like sitting down at a computer for an hour or two hours, cold calling and sending texts; that’s where I struggle at. But obviously, that was the secret sauce; I had to do the boring work. None of it was gonna get done if I wasn’t willing to do the boring work.” Connect with Tony: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firemanflip/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btbspeed/ Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groupsfirstfinancialfreedom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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There is much talk about the dangers of social media, and most likely this has been discussed in your household as well. In fact, some people think that the internet is merely a fad. All of that has been proved false by our guest today, with the right strategies and values in place.

In this episode, Nick shares tips for earning money while doing the things you love. Through social media, he posted videos about his hobby, turning it into a money-making machine. He had no idea that he was attracting sponsors by doing so, and now he is partnered with one of them, making his business fun as well as profitable.

Nick Hammond is a firefighter whose career started in August 2006. He has transitioned from a dislike of social media to a full-blown business running on and through those platforms. Contrary to popular belief, he has turned it into something beneficial for his family. This is all while having a good time, enjoying and supporting his interests. Join us in this week’s episode to learn more about this guy! Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Recognize the importance of staying true to yourself, your personality, and your values as you start working with people to grow your brand;
Understand how social media can either be good and/or bad to anyone, depending on how it’s used and maximized; and
Find out how you can have a full-blown business running on social media without sacrificing your happiness and life outside the business world.

“Try not to necessarily stay with the trends. Be your own. I always say, be your own trend.”

– Nick Hammond.

Today’s Topic: 01:03 – “I just kept thinking, what do I want to do with my life? And I’m just like, I don’t need this…I threw my textbooks on the ground, literally just walked out of class, walked to my boss’ office, and said I quit.” Nick shares the story of how he got into the fire service, starting as a volunteer fireman. 03:53 – “The 2016 presidential election ruined social media; it did. Whichever side of the aisle you’re on, it just ruined it.” Nick shares why he didn't like social media until this podcast, how he decided to start posting again, and how he built up a huge following. 09:13 – “Eventually, I’ve lived by myself for a long time, and I’m like, okay, I really have to cook now. That was around the time when YouTube has really taken off as far as tutorials, cooking, and stuff like that.” Nick shares how he learned how to cook along with the experience of watching people on the food network and hunting. 13:50 – “We started doing it for a while, and there were no guidelines; I just wear this stuff. Well, it took off. And then he said, ‘Look, I don’t think it’s fair. I want to pay you a monthly stipend.’” Is social media good for the fire department or not? How did Nick transition to have a full-blown business run within and through social media? 21:41 – “I’m fishing and fishing for deals. I am my own agent. I am my own person. I don’t have nobody representing me.” Nick talks about his approach to connecting and widening your network as he collaborates with companies to grow his business while keeping his personality and interests. 29:49 – “Try to not necessarily stay with the trends. Be your own. I always say be your own trend.” Nick encourages people to be their own trends and shares how to deal effectively with criticism. 35:58 – “If they want to be on there, I’m happy to include them.” Does Nick partner up with other people on his podcast? Is his department supportive of his business? What’s this social media policy update in the fire service all about? 44:22 – “Food sets the tone and the morale for the company; good food.” Certain people don’t have to go to the kitchen; they can help by doing other things. Also discussed here are ways how firemen eat and pay for their food 59:52 – “If you’re going to make chicken, get a meat thermometer. Don’t be a hero.” Talking about The Cool Fireman Podcast 1:02:51 – The worst meal Tyler, Mike, Aaron, and Nick ever had in a firehouse

Key Takeaways: “The sky’s the limit. I’m going to keep cooking. I’m going to keep growing. Sometimes, it’s flustering, but everyone goes at their own pace.” – Nick Hammond. “Today’s society has changed; and the way they get their entertainment and information, it’s literally in the palm of their hand.” – Nick Hammond. Connect with Nick: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fireman1231 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fireman1231_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nicholas-Hammond/100091404541565 Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groupsfirstfinancialfreedom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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Are you struggling to get leads for your real estate business? Although you've tried so many different ways to reach out to clients and sellers, you still struggle to find the right match.

What if we told you that SEO is the best form of lead generation? As most people find SEO difficult, today's episode presents another excellent topic to discuss. That's why we invited Keith Sant to introduce us to SEO Marketing. Keith will explain SEO to us in an easy-to-understand way so that you guys can learn how it works. Join us as Keith answers questions such as: What is keyword stuffing? How does SEO work? How do single and keyword densities differ? How can you get free leads through Google my business? These are just a few of the points discussed.

Keith Sant specializes in Real Estate SEO. He majored in marketing during his college years. Using search engine optimization, he helps entrepreneurs market their businesses digitally. If you would like to know more about him, you can visit his Facebook group and join today.

Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Become familiar with digital marketing. What you need to know about marketing your business.
Learn how SEO can generate free, high-quality leads for your business
Discover SEO marketing strategies that work .

“ I'm telling you straight up and like with complete confidence SEO is the cheapest cost per deal, the cheapest cost per lead over time.” - Keith Sant

Today’s Topic:

00:35 - “I learned about marketing but not how to market. So I still had to teach myself, as no one taught me, how to run Facebook ads, how do SEO, or run a direct marketing direct mail campaign. Like no one taught me, that I said, to learn all that stuff on my own. But at the same time, it was very valuable because I met a guy that was actually a real estate investor in one of the groups in one of my classes, and he got me into real estate investing and taught me about wholesaling a little bit, I started working for him, like almost for free, like five hours a day, I get all my screen printing done by like, 11 am and then work with him for the rest of the day.”

An overview of Keith's life and how networking can help you.

24:01 - “I like the kind of started branching out on my own and but with everything and real estate investing and like everything really like you need leads, right like everyone On. Like, if you want to flip a house, there's no shortage of people that want want to flip houses as they have. They might have a million dollars in the bank or have a crew that will work for free. But like if you don't have a deal, if you don't have a house, you can get it at a cheap enough rate or discount low enough where you could still put the money into it, flip it, sell it, pay all your closing costs, expenses, taxes and still make a profit. Like you don't have anything, and so I'm, you know, I'm I wanted to get my phone ringing, and I just learned everything I could about marketing.”

When Keith started his own Real Estate business, how did he do it? What did he do to get leads?

28:36 - “A hot lead is somebody who is motivated to sell maybe it's, you know, death, divorce, tax delinquent, things like that, they're ready to go. What Keith is talking about is somebody who's not interested in the process of elimination through nurturing through follow-up phone calls, all these things, you can turn those cold leads into warm or hot leads, but it takes a ton of work.”

Tyler explains the difference between hot leads and cold leads. What are the differences between them? Is it possible to turn cold leads into hot prospects?

32:53 - “SEO is search engine optimization. It's, it's how to optimize your website or your web pages to show up for phrases related, you know, that you want to show up for right and not every phrase is, you know, the same like, sell my house fast, honestly, isn't all that great of a search term, Sell My House cash, the motivation is way higher. And so, like optimizing your page for these different things is like crazy, crazy important.”

Keith introduces search engine optimization

37:53 - “So you want to advance like you said, like a few years ago, you could just write someone else pass a bunch of times, and it would actually work. Now it doesn't work like that anymore. One of the best things you could do, but it still does work. It's just different. And what we found like single word densities matter if you have to sell if you have housing, you have cash at a high enough density which if I wanted to rent or sell my house fast in a market city, I'd probably kick up fast a little bit I always want sell and house above 2% And at the top of the page here and then for me cash because cash flow way better phrase as I said earlier, sell my house for cash is more motivation than sell my house fast. Everyone wants to sell their house fast. I don't care if you're gonna have an agent you want to sell back. No one Google Sell My House slowly, right? But it doesn't mean you want to cash an offer. They want to sell it to an investor, and if they put cash in their search phrase whatsoever, cash for my house, sell my house for cash home buyers near me.”

A partial overview of what SEO is, what it does, and how it can benefit your business.

44:31 - “Entities are really valuable. And an entity is basically something that Google associates with you or your parent topic. And so I've said earlier, Google's whole job is to get the best answer and the complete answer in front of a searcher as fast as possible. One of the best ways that they find the complete answer is through these things called entities. Like, we buy houses in Tacoma. So if you literally google anything at all, and then you click the Images tab, the top row here, these are entities.

According to Keith, an entity is something that Google associates with your topic. Listen to Keith as he explains how Google can fully understand information and give you the complete answer.

48:48 - “I don't use AI because AI can actually read other AI stuff. And Google doesn't want to put AI content on there. They don't want hundreds of 1000s of more pages being indexed in Google every day because it costs them a crapload of money. And so you want handwritten stuff. But this is something that I'll do like I literally put a whole content outline with, these are all the entities that with the suggested amount of usage, and I send this to a copywriter.”

You should not use artificial intelligence to produce your content, as Google might recognize scripts that are auto-generated.

1:02:12 - “I started down SEO like earlier I did. It took me five years to really figure it out. Like, really, really figure it out. I did a ton of things wrong, right? like human-like fiber dumb stuff, and if I could help people avoid the rookie mistakes that I made along the way. Like, if I weren't a smart man, I would have given up. One thing my mom taught me was not to quit. And I just kept going and kept learning. So if I can help people avoid those mistakes, I'm all about it.”

Keith’s why.

1:04:19 - “And I get so many leads for free from my Google My Business listing. And I have like 50 Google My Business Listings all over the place. I'm closing another deal in Fort Worth this month from one of them. Yeah, Google My Business.”

What's the best way to rank on Google for free? Keith recommends using Google My Business and optimizing your profile

1:08:01 - “Learn how to sell and learn marketing everywhere, like every single conversation you have is basically a sales negotiation if you look at it that way, and if you're good at it, you're gonna get your way in life.”

Keith’s advice to his younger self.

Key Takeaways

“A hot lead is somebody who is motivated to sell maybe it's, you know, death, divorce, tax delinquent, things like that, they're ready to go. What Keith is talking about is somebody who's not interested in the process of elimination through nurturing through follow-up phone calls, all these things, you can turn those cold leads into warm or hot leads, but it takes a ton of work. So when you're talking about cold calling, I've been there and done that 1000s and 1000s of calls. It's a great skill to learn, but as you said, it's probably not the best use of your time once you add this new skill. But yeah, cold lead is basically somebody that you're contacting that you have no prior relationship with. They have not reached out. There's really no interest there. You have to go through a sales process to see if there is any hidden motivation that you can uncover. Hot leads they're ready to roll, and hot leads are few and far between what most of us get. I would say are warm leads, which are in between the two. We have to use our sales skills in order to take that warm lead, turn them into a hot lead, and then convert them into a closed deal." Tyler Thrush

“Our SEO has progressed. Back in the day, a lot of people would just enter a keyword like Sell My House cash and just put it (this is an exaggeration) like 500 times on the page, and oh, hey, we're gonna rank, and it's so interesting now how all the algorithms are getting smarter and smarter to where it's, does this person actually provide value and an answer to the question that this purchase person is searching for? And they all speak here on calls, and that's why we have you on today's calls who are super informed. And people ask questions. And there are people that are actively trying to do this on their own, which, like in anything in life, when you have people actively trying to figure stuff out, the questions are going to be more pointed, the answers are going to be more helpful. And as you go along, I mean, I listened to it, I think I told you, or I didn't say it before I did it. My VA, who works for me, is on the calls. He listens to the calls every week. And he and I are talking, and we're implementing because SEO is so powerful. And it's a skill no matter what you decide to do, whether it's real estate, plumbing, or anything you want to do. I mean, you name it, it's going to be a skill that's extremely valuable to learn. And once you learn it, as you said, maybe you don't always do it on your own. Maybe you hire somebody like yourself to do it. But it's really powerful to understand what it actually entails and what it is.” - Tyler Thrush.

“It's all based on the number of words you have, right? So this tool, again, it's free. It's amazing. I can see a lot just by looking at this page. You have so many words, 16 108 98 words. The big thing is to look at your competitors. You want to look and see what they're doing. You look at the other SERPs as if you're trying to rank for somebody's house for cash. I would Google that use SEO Quake to see how many times, how many words they have, and try to see if the average is 2000. You probably want 20 to 2400 words, right? Slightly better. You don't have to have the best website out there. You just got to be better than the guy in front of you.” - Keith Sants

“Google My Business honestly, if you want to get to the top of Google for free, fast, create a Google My Business listing. And if you already have one, optimize it. Just optimize it. There are a ton of YouTube videos on optimization. It's not rocket science. So you're Google My Business listing, like if you Google like McDonald's, right? And you'll see three McDonald's on the map. And there's like three of them. That's a Google My Business listing or Google Business Listing. And it's trying to match local searches with local businesses. And it's free to create one of these listings and get up there. And you'll be able to shop for a lot more keywords. If you optimize it, so having products having services, having an appointments link, just really fill the thing out as best as possible.” - Keith Sants

Connect with Keith

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seomeetsrei LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-sant/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keith.sant/

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It was great to see Dillon Leonard back on the show from episode 9 last year. In this interview, he shares what's happening with his company. After flipping cars, houses, and candy machines, he now runs a booming storage unit business. They also started renting out some of their units on Airbnb to cover some expenses, and now his wife has her own business. He is still a first responder in Kentucky and has not retired. Having been a first responder and an entrepreneur at the same time, he is an excellent example of someone who can do both.

We invite you to learn from our guest today as he shares his strategies and methods. And listen to his advice if you want to start your storage rentals and grow them as he did.

Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Discover different ways to use the space you have on your property. Make sure they all generate income for you. Then, identify the tools you could use to ease the flow of your business and which would be most appropriate for you and your team.
Find out what the snowball method is in real estate investing. Here is how our guest applied it to his business.
Learn about the different rates involved in buying a property. In terms of costs and rates, what is the difference between commercial and residential?

“So all the properties I have, are off-market properties. We have a really heavy marketing kind of turn or presence that we try to keep up. I've identified about 330 storage facilities in the state that I call every three months. It's a lot.”

Dillon Leonard.

Topic Covered:

1:37 - “I'm a third-generation firefighter. My grandfather and father both retired from the city of Louisville. The last time we spoke, I was around 12,000 square feet, 96 doors. I had just transitioned from multifamily into self-storage. Actually, due to a fire in one of our apartment complexes, I decided I wasn't going to own anything people could live in anymore. And that's when we made the jump. And I had some gas for one of our crews also respond to that fire. So that was a really good time. But today, we're kind of setting around that 86,000 square foot. We got another contract or property under contract.”

In this episode, Dillon shares an update on his business since he last appeared on the show last year. A lot has improved for him and his company, which has been a giant leap forward.

10:07 - “So her boutique, she's from the medical field, but it's more just women's clothing is the boutique, but we have to separate LLCs. And I believe in simply stupid ideas, more or less. So what I mean by that is when I formed our LLCs, I formed what is literally named active income LLC and passive income LLC. And they're both single members of disregarded entities. All of our active income, or all of our active operations, pass through the active, which is where her physical boutique operates. Then I have passive income, which I'm the sole member of, and the passive income owns all of our real estate assets and will lease back that property to the active income LLC. So it's, you know, tax-wise as a Schedule A and Schedule C, we just try to keep it super basic. But that's the structure of how our business works on that same.

A brief description of how Dillon formed their LLCs. He described each and explained how they got started.

12:22 - “So kind of the way we always do that exact strategy is essentially like a commercial burr. With that being said, all of our debts we're locking in right now on 25 years, as far as a five-year term. The right we got on that we got in right before things got crazy. We locked it in the right around 4.95, which is really good money for a commercial. I'm getting quoted right now, by my banks, around 8%. And most of them are pulled-out development projects. They're tightening. Oh, yeah, I mean, the markets really shifted just in two months for us. I mean, we took them close on February 28. But the plan is to get it fixed and stabilized. And if market rates kind of come down, we might refinance in the future, and we typically try to snowball and pull that equity out and keep rolling as long as properties can cover themselves.”

The snowball debt strategy consists of rolling over debt over a period of time. Is this type of method right for you? Listen to Dillon explain.

17:11 - “I still think it's gonna go up by a quarter or half. And that's fine, too, because many people freak out. They say, Oh if it goes up a half a point for residential, my interest rates gonna go up? No, it's usually the opposite. if they adjust the Fed funds rate, which is separate from the prime rate that they adjust to adjust the Fed funds rate, and it's what everybody's expecting, then usually the rates will stay the same or go down like the last time it happened. Rates went down. I still think we're going to have a small rate increase. But I don't think it will get crazier after that because things are starting to show signs of softening.”

Tyler clarifies the differences between commercial and residential rates. What are the differences between them?

25:45 - “The way we do a cap rate or a capitalization rate, essentially, is the business revenues, based on what either market standard rate is or what you want to see as horse returns. So like the way that kind of looks for us, and most of the storage facilities in the last two years, for the size I focus on, which is 10 to 40,000 square foot, just underneath the Giants footprint, which would be your REITs, or real estate, Investment Trusts, such as public storage, extra space, all those guys, and they're dipping down into smaller sizes.”

A brief explanation of cap rates. Dillon shares a few examples.

29:10 - “The easiest way to do this and then God This was actually free tools that are pulled from government websites. I believe NASA actually has a map link that you can drop a pin in you can more or less pool a circumference off that pin in kilometers or miles, and it will tell you the population from a sense of study. So then what you do is you more or less take that, and then you identify the storages that are in the area, which can be hard, but I mean, when you're talking about a five-mile radius, you can Google Map and scan over a five-mile radius pretty quickly.”

To calculate the capita per square foot, how do you measure the area of the location? Dillon will tell us how.

36:52 “Google Voice, it's just a Google Voice number, more or less as what it is; it's the same number for all of our facilities. They text us and call us to leave us voicemails. The phone lines live from 10 to two. After that, they shoot straight to voicemail. The voicemail says that we're open between those hours. If you need anything outside of those hours, you can go online and do most things with your account, which would include paying bills and codes, that kind of thing. “

Using Google Voice is a very cost-effective method of communicating with your employees and customers.

1:16:35 - “Everything that you do, every kind of business, anything, needs to align with your goals. And I feel like for any new investor trying to get out there. You need to really define what that is before you jump in. And it's okay if you go down a different path. I did houses. I did multifamily. And then I jumped into this. I had small operational businesses before, but I knew I wanted to continue to scale. But just like anything else in life, I think you have to have a map of where you want to go and be able to adapt and overcome. I mean, that's just the reality of it. Storage. Sounds great. That sounds great to everybody. I would say, I mean, but I've given you all the highlights of the business.”

What Dillon advises anyone considering this type of business. What is your take on this?

Key Takeaways:

“So basically, if they look at your business, they don't want to see the pro forma data necessarily, or basically think about it, they don't want to see what you think going to happen in the future. They want to see what's happened for the last 12. Or they'll say, like, the trailing 12 months, like so basically, think about the last year's information, think about it. That's all it is. But you'll hear people say like t12, t24, all that kind of stuff. So, they can sit there and see month after month, like my income on this facility is just going up to where now it's like, okay, we're delivering on basically the business plan. Well, now this thing I have no control over basically met me head-on. And the downside for me is right now, basically, I've just had a conversation with my private lenders and said, hey, here's what's going on. What makes sense for you? What makes sense for the deal? And I just said, Hey, what if we switch you to a principal and interest type payment instead of interest only, and we keep your interest rate, like x? So until I can get a favorable interest rate to pay for the appraisals and the closing costs and whatnot, I'm basically sitting on higher interest money than I wanted. But to that point, what you were just saying is, so right now, it's like being stressed tested at these higher rates? Well, whenever we do go back down, it's like, well, we've basically built this thing now based off of, like, today's rate, if I can get it down to 5%, or whatever, over the next year or two, we're going to be in a good position. But those are just things like you can't control that I had no control over that, really. And maybe if I was a little bit smarter, I would have seen some of that stuff coming. - Mike Webb

“The way we do a cap rate or a capitalization rate, essentially, is the business revenues, based on what either market standard rate is or what you want to see as horse returns. So like the way that kind of looks for us, and most of the storage facilities in the last two years, for the size I focus on, which is 10 to 40,000 square feet, just underneath the Giants footprint, which would be your REITs, or real estate, Investment Trusts, such as public storage, extra space, all those guys, and they're dipping down into smaller sizes.” - Dillon Leonard.

“The easiest way to do this and then God This was actually free tools that are pulled from government websites. I believe NASA actually has a map link that you can drop a pin in you can more or less pool a circumference off that pin in kilometers or miles, and it will tell you the population from a sense of study. So then what you do is you more or less take that, and then you identify the storages that are in the area, which can be hard, but I mean, when you're talking about a five-mile radius, you can Google Map and scan over a five-mile radius pretty quickly. Now in Kentucky, there's gonna be a lot of chicken coops, but I've got a razor I had to be able to pick those out now. You know, I can see storage like a hawk, but then you can use like a Google Map tool to draw out the footprint of the building to give you the sizes so you can just do a spreadsheet piece Paper, you know, write it out, and then you can get a real quick market study, you know, based on that.” - Dillon Leonard.

“I'm at a point where I can focus more on the lifestyle side of my business, but now I'm at a point I can turn away deals, but it just gets your feet wet. I mean, try something, fail at something, you'll get to a point where you'll get enough nose that you crave them because it's closer to the next Yes, and, and sometimes no doesn't mean no, you just knew to follow up on it, you know? So, I mean, just try things out, be willing to learn, and grow to be a lifetime learner, just like anything else. Look for the bright side in everything. failures, not failure unless you don't learn anything from it.” Dillon Leonard

Connect with Dillon Leonard Website: https://simplistored.wixsite.com/simpli Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallbizky/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmallBizKY

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In today's show, we're discussing a 1031 exchange and short-term rental properties. We will also hear about our guest's business experience and how his company works. Is there any reason for him to hire a VA, and what kind of short-term rentals do he and his wife manage together? Moreover, take a quick look at what a 1031 exchange is and how it can be beneficial if you own a property.

Adam Forstner is a firefighter from Wisconsin. He started his business with his childhood friend Dylan a few years ago. Furthermore, he owns a short-term rental property that he manages with the help of his wife. The company he runs fixes uneven concrete and provides leveling solutions.

Why do you need to listen to today’s episode?

Explore how Va can help your business grow, how it works, and what they can do for you.
Get more information about concrete leveling. What kind of business is this? Can this be a good start-up business?
Understand the difference between long-term and short-term rentals. Profits differ—also, a brief discussion of the 1031 exchange. The benefit of this one is if you are planning your way out of paying taxes.

“Sometimes I have to remind myself of this, but it's sometimes just, it's better to get better before you get bigger. So, focus on what you already have and ensure you're maxing it out here as efficiently as possible.” - Mike Webb.

Today’s Topic: 3:09 “I'm a firefighter for the city Racine Extra today is eight years on the job full time. And then, I did four and a half years of part-time volunteer at a department. Prior to that. My wife and I own eight rental properties now, one short-term rental in Florida.”

An overview of Adam's current professional situation. What is his business like?

12:47 - “It saves us a lot of time for sure. And this so they went over with us they've got a nice system, I would guess six to eight different girls that work on our account. So I'm sure they've got lots of other accounts when they pick up the phone. They've got a nice long flowchart that they go through and ask the questions or their predetermined questions.”

Adam discusses how Va's aid him in the running of his business. What is their phone answering process, and how do they work?

25:12 - “I get a check from CRS, who is basically handling the housing for these folks. So, so I, but yeah, I don't have the vacancy or any of that stuff that I was having. And just the turnover. And this, these towels are missing, and these sheets got dirty and ripped. So I don't have a lot of that. And frankly, it just allows me to focus on other stuff. Because after I did the Airbnb model for just, say, a year, I quickly realized even though I have most of it systematized to where our VAs handle 95% of it, it's just. It's a lot of back and forth. And I just didn't want to build an entire business like that.”

As per Mike, instead of Airbnbing his property, he rented it out long-term with a company, which he shares is easier and less work.

34:05 - “If you do 1031, It differs the taxable gain on the money you would make when you sell the property. Those are such quick numbers. If you sell a house before a year, then you have to pay short-term capital gains, which is right around, we'll say, 40%. And if you keep it for a year and a day, you're paid closer to your earned income rate, which, as we'll say, is around 20%.”

Here is a short explanation of what the 1031 exchange is and what it does.

47:58 - “We are less than we found, which when we talked last summer with him as well, kind of lead generator. He's just walking and mudjacking. He does a lot of contractors around the entire country. He kind of advertises for walking mudjacking Twin Cities mudjacking. So if you're looking up, you're Googling mudjacking. Locally, he comes up first almost every time. He's revamped his website, though, so that our picture,s our stuff, and our information comes. It's awesome. I mean, you would think you're talking to us. And then if you fill out the form, it ends up going to calls on calls, or in which he charges us a $40 per lead fee, which we turn out a majority of our business from him, I would say definitely a Facebook marketing.”

Here is how Adam gets his leads.

Key Takeaways

“Some of that is important to realize, like you don't necessarily want 100% occupancy, like because obviously that would mean your pricing is too low. But you also have the wear and tear that goes with it. So if you can make all your money in five months, it still covers itself for the year. To me, that's almost better as far as the property goes. Now that would not sit well with me when it comes to like the worrying factor because I bet comments vacant, it's vacant, it's vacant. It's not. So as far as ours go. I pulled mine off Airbnb and put it with another corporate housing client because I have it filled for at least eight months. And they're paying above-market rent. And I don't have to like really worry about it. The other Airbnb s we have, they've all been 80 plus percent rented, but they're also more of like a contracted type worker, Airbnb.” - Mike Webb.

“If you do 1031, It differs the taxable gain on the money you would make when you sell the property. Those are such quick numbers. If you sell a house before a year, then you have to pay short-term capital gains, which is right around, we'll say, 40%. And if you keep it for a year and a day, you're paying closer to your earned income rate, which, as we'll say, is around 20%. So like Adam and me, I'm in the middle of flipping a house. Actually, I'm just finishing it up. Adam is going to finish his up, and we're looking at 40% going to Uncle Sam of profits, which is a big chunk of change. So for the property that I'm selling right now, it would be around a $32,000 tax hit that I have to pay taxes on, and it's a big chunk of numbers. If I don't want to pay that much money, I can put it into what's called a 1031 deferred transaction, and that's just taking the profits from it and rolling it into the next property. So for transparent numbers, I'm selling this house for 350,000, and the next house has to be $350,001, up to double the amount of $700,000. So if Adam sells him for, we'll say, 500,000, then the maximum, he can buy the next property and roll the money into a million. Or if he sells it for 750,000, the maximum he can buy is 1.5 million, whatever the numbers look like, but the maximum is 200%; he has to identify a house within 45 days and close on the house within 180 days.” - Aaron Foster.

“So it's a standard depreciation is 27 and a half years for residential and 37 for commercial, so they're going to take the value of the property divided by 27. And then that's what they're going to allow you to write off each year, a cost segregation study takes each portion of the house, assigns a value to it, and the rate at which it depreciates in the last few years with the tax codes. They've allowed for accelerated depreciation on a lot of these things. So like, let's say you're into a house, I think what my accountant told me, and we are not accountants, we are not giving financial advice. But he was saying basically 33% of anything that I was taking as far as a purchase price goes. That ended up being what I would be saving on my taxes, which was huge for me. So if Adams is able to do this, instead of just doing the standard 27 years, let's say he has 100 buys a $100,000 house, he can, in the case that I was given by my accountant, he could write off $33,000 in income, or if you look at that versus the 27 plunders. Yeah, I mean, it's a huge difference.” - Tyler Thrush.

Connect with Adam Forstner: Website: https://www.jackedupllc.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jackedup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackedUpLLC

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groupsfirstfinancialfreedom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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Being a first responder implies a certain level of risk. In fact, this has been the main reason why our guest for today left his job as a police officer due to the dangers he faces almost every day. A day comes when he realizes he has to change gears for his family. This show reminds everyone that you need alternative means of income to cover your retirement and that includes both your own and your family's. In order to prepare for the future, it is always best to have a sense of financial security. Listen to today’s episode as our guest and hosts tackle important issues about planning the future. We will discuss wraparound mortgages and the importance of investment knowledge.

Why you have to listen to today’s episode:

Learn what to do if a contractor does not work for you. What is the best strategy you can follow and do?
Understand the basic concept of wraparound mortgages. And;
Know how to locate and manage seller financing deals.

“The freedom that's involved I love that already. You know, just from having my needs met, I'd like to get my wife there too. It's it's ginormous. It really is.”

Thomas O'Brien

Topic Covered:

1:32 - “I clocked in about a little over 15 years with Philly PD. The last I'd say seven as a sergeant. And I got swapped around a few different districts. And long story short, a couple of years back, I guess is probably going on about three years ago, now. We had the riots in Philly, and I got bottles of pistols on me. And I came home and I told my wife, I was like, there's gotta be, there's gotta be a better way to live than this. So that's kind of why I started looking into real estate.”

What made Tom leave the police force and how he became a real estate investor

14:32 - “I would suggest that people are doing virtually. there are things that you can do to somewhat protect yourself, right? Go to the state Contractor's License Board. See if there are any types of complaints against them. Use Yelp to see if they're bonded. Ask for a current project they're on a walk, ask if you can go talk to the current homeowner there's a bunch of stuff you can do.”

Here are some techniques Tyler shares on how to deal with contractors who don't work out.

16:01 - “Depending on the terms that you get from the seller, it could be attractive to turn around and sell the property on a wrap. Means that you're wrapping there, the existing terms that you're getting at a higher interest rate for a greater purchase price.”

Here is an explanation of what a wraparound mortgage is, how it works, and what benefits it could offer.

31:57 - “If you commit to it for like three months and see how it goes. So I started with one VA, and then I was doing the lead management. And then after about two months, it already got overwhelming because I had like, X amount of leads in here. And I'd be on the phone all day either trying to get a hold of people or whatever, trying to find that needle in the haystack. And it got built out to the point where I had a business partner and we had two lead managers who were awesome. And two VAs and they were all cold calling and then we hit some bumps in the road where like, you know, I guess with anything else, like the cold calling, like, a lot of the numbers started getting blocked very quickly. And so we had a ton of leads coming in.”

What inspired Tom to start cold calling? Although it was hard at first, he explained that dedication and persistence could increase your leads.

43:17 - “It's hands down the most complicated transaction he's ever done. There are two people in the title so they're not related. The gentleman Clyde, so he, his brother who passed away was married to the other person on the title”

Tom explains how he dealt with a wraparound mortgage in one of his complicated deals.

50:44 “It's not hard, but it's not easy either. Like I think a lot of people whenever they don't taste success within the first 60 days, all of a sudden, the honeymoon effect is worn off. And they don't want to go through all the basically work. Because you'll go months and months without ever collecting anything. But like once you get over that hump. Next thing you know, you got this deal going and this deal goes on.

Mike explained that real estate is not an easy game, it can be tough at the beginning, but once you understand how it works, money will flow. Don't stop once you've reached your stride.

55:49 - “I know that that feeling of going to work and being like, dude, like, Are my something bad's gonna happen and my family is gonna get a knock on the door or something like that there was a temple officer that got assassinated the other day. And he was new. I think he had like a year on or something like that. They're posting pictures all over social media of him and his kids and family. It's, it's heartbreaking. That is the worst example of anything that could happen, but it's possible. So now I don't have to do that. I don't have to worry about that anymore. Like I could get struck by lightning more. Who knows. But at least I can wake up and be happy about what I do and know that you know, I don't have to worry about my kids gonna knock. I'm cool with that.”

Investing has given Tom the financial freedom that he wanted, enabling him to spend more time with his wife and children. Furthermore, he is no longer at risk because of his work, which is priceless. It now gives him the freedom to take care of his family without having to worry about his safety.

58:08 - “You need to set your expectations accordingly. I mean, if you're looking to leave the job, just know that you're taking on another one initially, just the amount of time and effort you're gonna have to put into learning. I mean, you have everything from marketing to sales to deal structuring, and then transaction coordination, everything that they're all individual jobs in and of itself. So it's a lot to learn.

Tom’s advice for those who are still trying to learn real estate.

Key Takeaways

“I would suggest that people are doing virtually, there are things that you can do to somewhat protect yourself, right? Go to the state Contractor's License Board. See if there are any types of complaints against them. Use Yelp to see if they're bonded. Ask for a current project they're on the walk, ask if you can go talk to the current homeowner there's a bunch of stuff you can do. But the big thing for me is I Always do skip tracing. The time it's for my contractors or my subs, it's like, where do they live? Are they bonded? Are they licensed? Do they have any complaints? Idaho's actually pretty good about listing all that. So I always go and look and if I don't find them, I call the contractor and say, Hey, I don't I don't see your license on the state board, and sometimes a senator or a different trade or whatever it is, but at least it lets them know, Hey, I'm looking you up before I spend my money with you.”. - Tyler Thrush

‘You just have to be willing to get punched in the face and it's going to continue to happen. For example. My lead sources have been almost 100% via PPC or SEO for the last year and a half But in the last six months, my lead costs have exponentially increased. And there's still that gap where a lot of people are looking online or for whatever reason, still thinking we're back in 2020, or 2021. So I'm spending a ton of money without really realizing, any deals at this point. And so for me, it's like, okay, well, how do I adapt? A lot of these wholesale numbers don't work. I can do one of two things I can quit, which I know I'm not going to ever do. Or I can figure out how do I turn these leads into deals that do work, and as you said, for that wrap, I think a lot of these deals would work on a wrap because you're gonna be able to play that middle game, and even if it's a smaller number, interest rates right now are so high, if I can secure low-interest debt, even though there's not a lot of equity, I may be able to make a play on some of these properties, whereas I didn't before. And that's why I even told you like three to six months of any type of marketing you have to commit because one month or two weeks is way too small of a sample size to understand if something works 3,6,9,12 months, you can understand, Okay, how much am I spending? How much am I receiving is this worthwhile? And is there anything else that generates a larger return? Are you still just doing the cold calling?” - Tyler Thrush

“If you're just only going to walk into the super easy deals, where there are just no problems with the house or the contract or the liens. There's not a lot of value. So like, you usually get rewarded directly proportional to the problem you solved.” - Mike Webb

“It's not hard, but it's not easy either. Like I think a lot of people whenever they don't taste success within the first 60 days, all of a sudden, the honeymoon effect is worn off. And they don't want to go through all the basically work. Because you'll go months and months without ever collecting anything. But like once you get over that hump. Next thing you know, you got this deal going and this deal goes on.” - Mike Webb

“Like my kids. We are Catholic. So they got mass on certain days of the week, I can go with them during the day and they get excited to see me, whatever my daughter's got a dance coming up next month or my son just anything that's involved with family now I can do it. Like, I don't have to answer it and that alone is just priceless. In my opinion. - Thomas O’Brien

“I know that feeling of going to work and being like, dude, something bad's gonna happen and my family is gonna get a knock on the door or something like that there was a temple officer that got assassinated the other day. And he was new. I think he had like a year on or something like that. They're posting pictures all over social media of him and his kids and family. It's heartbreaking. That is the worst example of anything that could happen, but it's possible. So now I don't have to do that. I don't have to worry about that anymore. Like I could get struck by lightning. Who knows. But at least I can wake up and be happy about what I do and know that I don't have to worry about my kids. I'm cool with that.” - Thomas O'Brien

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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Come join us today as we discuss a good topic that will be beneficial to not only first responders who wish to enter the real estate investing business, but also to all other people who have expressed interest in joining. In this episode, you'll get some great ideas on how you can start investing even if you only have a little money in your pocket. If you've ever wondered how you can start a real estate business and how to get your system started, this is for you.

Jay Gonzales is an Oklahoma firefighter. When he was in his early twenties, he didn't realize the importance of financial freedom, so he started his real estate business late. His wife, who is 8 months pregnant helped him realize the importance of financial stability when they started their family business together. His goal is to leave a legacy through this family business.

Why do you need to listen to today’s episode:

Discover how to buy your first house without millions of dollars in your bank account. Taking his first steps toward buying a home, how did our guest get started?
Explore how loans and amortization work as our guest describes his personal experience and how it might work for you.
Get a better understanding of how Virtual Assistants can help you manage your properties virtually. What were Mike and Tyler's recommendations on hiring one?

“You just got to run the numbers, every deal is different. And I don't want to leverage the bank, give me 8% 75% I don't want to leverage all of that, because my debt service would be too high.” - Jay Gonzales

Topics Covered:

00:59 - “I kept applying and applying in four years, it took me four years to get on and probably like 10 to 12 different departments applications. So that was in 2014 I got picked up. So I love the job. It's awesome. And allows me, we're only working 10 days. So 20 days off, we can do whatever we want, hang on hold, make money, create wealth for our family, and all that.”

Jay shares his story of how he became a firefighter. Although it wasn't really his passion at first, he now realizes he needs to take things seriously, which is why he waited four years to apply for it.

3:07 - “I'm eligible now for promotion and so I'm back on the chopping block, like oh my gosh, building my business or advancing my career, which one's kind of more important for the very moment right now. We have a second baby coming up in a couple of months. So I'm like, Oh my gosh, continue our business and create that legacy for our family or continue to study for my career advancement because I want to, it's challenging. I love to do that. Be an officer.

Jay admits that he is torn between pursuing his career and expanding his business at the moment. According to him, he's in line for a promotion, but he can't decide which one he'll focus on.

10:50 - “Our first one I found it off of Craigslist is a duplex. And so I got hooked up with that banker. And he's like, Yeah, I'll give you 8% was worth and so that wasn't a slammin' deal, but it was a duplex. And the best part about that was, right next door was another duplex that he also own. So I was like, hey, what about that one? He wants to list one. But what about that? Well, I got this duplex under contract and rented it out. So it was cash flow? Well, once I was rented out when I was paying for the mortgage, and the other half, it was just how to clean it up real quick for somebody in it. But I think I had to put down like six grand out of pocket, so that was my first deal.

With a little money in his pocket, he was able to purchase some properties from Craigslist. He found it through his network, which was referred to him. This illustrates the importance of networking within a community. He met the banker who helped him there.

20:09 - “I want to be in the room who are, making a million dollars a year in real estate, you want to be a millionaire surround yourself, with millionaires, I want to be in a room with those successful people who have the same goal, we want financial freedom, we want time, freedom, we want to trade legacy wealth for our family, and I didn't know anything.”

As Jay develops his calling, it is important that he connects with people like him who can provide him with knowledge. As an entrepreneur, he believes that connections and networks are essential for building and growing your market.

24:03 - “There's a banker willing to give us a little bit of money, he gave us a small line of credit at first, of course, you build relationships, and you get more and more money to lend out to. But we started finding other bankers and other lenders. So there are private lenders who will loan us money, and go in there, fix it up, and they will burn and we'll find the next banker at a cheaper rate, just the burst strategy, pay off the private lender.”

Jay cycles their money to buy more properties and pay off loans through strategy. Take a listen to how he gives the percentage that each banker charges and how they'd manage to cycle through it. Borrowing and paying these lenders.

26:48 - “I see what the cost is, I would want like 75% of ARV minus rehab and all that I still do. But I look at what I'm gonna get a loan on this on this property, what my mortgage payment would be, so I put in 20. Like, I know when banker number one, it's gonna give me 25 years of amortization. Right now he's at 7.38. It's pretty high, with no 7.38 interest. So I'm alright.”

In order to weigh whether or not the property is going to be a good rental, Jay uses a mortgage calculator. Using the financial statement, he can also keep track of every penny that comes in and goes out.

36:37 - “That's one of the things I see people make a mistake with rentals is not basically setting certain monies aside or budgeting for things like rehab or capital expenditures.”

Mike discusses the importance of saving some money for other emergency situations. He observes that real estate owners tend to forget such things. The savings should be used for emergency situations such as repairs.

42:51 - “I guess it's painful at this moment because we're growing so fast. And now I'm looking to art, how can I scale and take a lot of stuff off my plate, because I can't do it all from my phone at the station. Most of the part contractors text and you know, Home Depot texts to confirm, that's easy. But the other stuff like virtual assistants, I got a ton of mail that I need to sift through and open up and a lot of virtual mailboxes.

As Jay acknowledges, he can't do everything at once. Mike suggested hiring someone to assist him with some of his day-to-day tasks. Depending on the situation, virtual assistants may be one of the ways to manage this.

51:20 - “Start something about financial freedom. Before all that family time combs get set up now don't go out and party. Invest in those who do moderation. Don't do what I did. I wasted a lot of time I had fun. Pick up some self-help books, get in the right crowd, and maybe buy an asset in your 20s. “

Here’s Jay’s advice to his younger self.

Key Takeaways

I didn't realize the impact it was going to have on my business. So I didn't have systems, I didn't have people, I didn't have anything. So it basically messed up for lack of a better term for my business. Fast forward, a couple of years later, I get promoted to captain, and that's when I got voluntold, to say, Hey, you're leaving, this engine company, you're going to go work at the training academy Monday through Friday. Oh, by the way, we're going to pump through about 150 recruits while you're here. So the difference is the second time I had spent several years at that point building partnerships, building a business hiring an employee hiring VAs building systems. So when I was there, the second time, while my workload was ridiculous, my business still kept chugging along. And then whenever I got transferred back to operations, I don't want to say it was like nothing ever happened. But my business was still there. It was still running. And frankly, actually thriving. A lot of that was the market timing. But whatever. The first time, nothing, the second time, businesses still thriving. So what it's done in my mind is proof that you can build a business that can still operate and do all these things that we've talked about the legacy wealth, building the extra income, wow, I'm still present at my W two. - Mike Webb

“I got a family coming up and I gotta make up for the good pay and all that but I'm thinking like pacifier problem, so what I'm gonna leave behind for my children? A legacy like that sounds behind you, my legacy. So in real estate's where it's at, but it's not like watching YouTube videos, you make all this money, it's work. And, like you, I was wearing a lot of hats right now and I need to hire a team, like handyman starters because we're self-managing too.” - Jay Gonzales

“I want to be in the room who are, you know, making a million dollars a year in real estate, you know, you want to be millionaire surround yourself, we're millionaires, I want to be in a room with those successful people who all we all have the same goal, we want financial freedom, we want time, freedom, we want to trade legacy wealth for our family, you know, and I didn't know anything, I read a lot of books about it, podcasts. And finally, I took action and showed up stood in the back, or sat in the back, I didn't talk to anybody because I was so nervous. And you know, and then finally, I went again, and again, I just kind of got out of my comfort zone, and got out of my shell really, and started talking these people like I've heard, I added this guy on Facebook, I saw that he does a ton of flips.” -Jay Gonzales

“I think a lot of people hear the term debt and automatically think it's a bad thing. And while there are some circumstances where that is absolutely the case, like if you have $38,000 in credit card debt, that's what I would call bad debt. But if you have $38,000, with a debt on a house that's worth $90,000. That's that, and it's paying you $900 a month, right? That I would argue that that's good debt.” - Mike Webb

Connect with Jay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.gonzales.125?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstresponderfinancialfre3914

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This episode shifts gears a bit to a different type of business. If you are a first responder who enjoys cars, this kind of business may be of interest to you.

During our interview today, we will hear from our guest about how he made his hobby his business. He has been a car fanatic since he was a kid and has always dreamed of achieving his dream by owning a shop related to his passion. As we always say, it is better to have a side hustle than to rely solely on your day job because this will not be your sole source of income for the foreseeable future.

And hey, we support small businesses, and if you are a first responder interested in trying Scott's products, we have a discount code you can use.

Website is Shop - 911 Shine Discount Code: FRFF.

But if you are not a first responder but would love to buy car products, you could go shopping on - Element Armor®.

Scott Tenney works in the same department as Mike. From an early age, he was fascinated by auto detailing and has had his passion ever since. For this reason, he thought of selling his own car products. Today, he runs a small business and deals online and on Amazon.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Learn how you can enter the car product business if you are a car enthusiast who knows what you need.
Find out the different car wash product types and why labels are important. Learn how to start selling your products.
Discover how to sell even if you aren't familiar with marketing strategies.

I think people are afraid to take that leap of faith. And that's really where entrepreneurs differentiate. You got to take that risk. That risk has a reward.

Scott Tenney

Topics Covered:

1:14 - “I always caught an interest. As a kid, my dad said, when I started talking about 10 - 11 years old, just always sparked my interest. The only family member I have in the fire department is my uncle. He was the battalion chief in Baltimore City.”

This is Scott's story about how he found his interest in firefighting so early in his life.

2:25 “So I worked with some chemical blending companies and came out with my own couple of products just had four of them just to start out. And I was using them to detail the cars. And after details, people come up to, like, scrape. How can I maintain this? Do you guys sell the stuff? And it kind of spit bought off of that I would end up selling the products afterward, after the details and didn't have a label or anything on it. But I saw the potential in it that, hey, people could buy this just straight up and make some money off, you know, an upgrade or a just a side thing on top of it. And so that kind of split the boat into what it was what it became today.

As a kid, he'd always been interested in cars, prompting him to take it up as a side business. In recent years, he has developed his own line of carwash products.

12:05 “So the company I work with, they didn't require like any deposit or anything, per se. Once we got things rolling, I started out with four products, and we worked together with them. There were more basic products, like your basic carwashes, nothing too complex. But it was you pay. So the way that the company I work with does it, they pay for the add-ons that you want. So if you're fine with it being whatever color it comes out naturally, then you don't want any dye or anything specific. That's going to be less money.”

What was his initial investment in the business, and how did he start it?

18:05 “I have everything that I need to package and label and shelves to stock it up on, and then I also keep a shelf of all the products at my house just in case somebody calls me. Hey, can you bring this in tomorrow at work or whatever, just need to mail something small out, and it's convenient in that aspect too. But everything else, I get the labels, and I get made somewhere, the bottles I get from somewhere, the sprayers I get from somewhere, and I bring it all together and package it.”

DIY is how Scott makes his car wash products. Find out how you can do it yourself.

29:57 “So I'm terrible at that. That's one of my weaknesses, and I need to get better at it. Maybe hire somebody that does marketing or somebody that can help me with social media marketing and things like that. But as far as how I acquire sales, my number one best way to do it is as car shows like live car shows. I go to car shows. So some locally, some national set of a booth. And those do the best for me outside of word of mouth, then the website does second best, and Amazon and I have an eBay store.”

How can you make money if you are bad at marketing? You will learn how to do it as you go. If you still need to figure out marketing techniques, Scott gives you some tips on how to start selling.

38:17 “ I don't think I have all my products on there. At the moment, I just have some of my top sellers on there because they do charge. And if you do fulfill by Amazon, and they take an even bigger one, but obviously it gets it distributed a lot faster and a lot easier.”

Here's how Scott got started and put his products on Amazon.

49:41 - “I'd say keep going and be honest. Be honest with yourself. Keep your keep motivated. Do what you want to do in life, and get what you want out of life. And just keep your head up and keep going. Sometimes life sucks. Sometimes you come across hurdles, especially in our profession, but You know, just keep going, don't give up. Don't let anything discourage you or people discourage you. If you want to do something, make it happen, like, just follow through with it and find a way.”

His advice for the younger versions of himself and for those just starting out.

Key Takeaways

“All of those steps are like micro steps in the journey, like where do I go get the labels, how do I get the labels made? How do I get them formatted? Well, I need the lettering this way and the rest of it this way. You know, there's all these little things that nobody thinks about until you're actually doing it. Yeah. And you know, I've been on that journey right now with the storage. It sounds super simple, like you're running a box, right? But there are all these little micro steps in it that you don't think about until you come across them.” - Mike Webb

“most of the people that I know that are very successful are people who are just figuring it out as they go along. Right? Very rarely do I meet somebody, and they're like, hey, you know what, I perfected housekeeping before I ever flipped the house. Or, in Scott's case, I'm sure that the first product that you ever created, I'm sure was not your best product. But it got you to the next indicated step where you had to learn about bottling, labeling, marketing, sales, and all these things. And then you get better and better and better. And the hardest part is just getting people to trust enough to say, Hey, if you really want to do something, just jump. I mean, usually, failure is not fatal unless we're jumping out of a plane without a parachute, right? And I made plenty of mistakes. And as you said, Mike, everybody sees the big checks or things like that for real estate specifically, but nobody sees like when you get a call in the middle of the night because your contractor smashed your septic tank the day before the House is supposed to close escrow or all these different things. Whatever business I'm sure you can think of an example. But the biggest thing was Scott had an idea. He figured out a little bit and then kept going and going and going and then now you said okay, well I have my core brand. And then because I'm a fireman and I want to do something a little bit different.” - Tyler Thrush

“I think people are afraid to take that leap of faith. And that's really where entrepreneurs differentiate, I think you got to take that risk, that risk has a reward. So I think a lot of people just rather play it safe and be like, I'll just clock in nine to five and hopefully get a retirement whereas we're all building something better than that. I don't want to rely on my retirement solely because anything could happen, if you just gotta take that risk, though.” - Scotty Tenny

Resources:

911 Shine - Shop - 911 Shine

Element Armor: Shop - Element Armor®

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393 YouTube: First Responder Financial Freedom - YouTube

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House Hacking: Have you heard of it? Would you believe that this is one of the strategies our guest uses to pay his mortgage? Besides conventional loans, Ethan uses house hacks to pay off his mortgage. For him, this was like getting paid while living in his own home as it enabled him to pay off his mortgage loan. Moreover, he explained why real estate investing in this manner represents a great investment opportunity.

Why it's a good idea to start now before you retire. Aside from providing you with security for the future, investments in real estate also provide you with a number of other benefits. Join us as we examine why we made the investment and why we took the risk.

Why you need to check today’s episode: * Learn more about house hacks, and what you could do if you are having trouble paying your mortgage. What are the chances of this solution working for mortgage payments? * Find out how to renovate your home without spending too much with real-life hacks shared by our guest * Learn more about PMI. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this system and how does it work? Real estate investments: why should you consider them before you retire? Why you shouldn't depend on it when you grow old.

“If you could just buy a duplex or buy a rental property. I mean, if you do the numbers right and get a good deal like you're going to be set up, take, try to figure out something that can get rid of your biggest expense, your mortgage or your rent, whatever you're doing.”

Ethan Board

Topics Covered: 1:09 - “So I started firefighting in 2013 here in Western Kentucky here and I was bro. I've been doing it since then before that I volunteered a little bit. So and then I got invest started investing in 2019.”

An overview of Ethan's background

3:05 - “So house hacking for anybody that doesn't know, it's just a way to rent out part of your home. It could be if you just have a single-family home, it could be, renting out a room, it could even be renting out a bed or a couch, or an extra couch that you might have just to supplement your mortgage payment.

House hack - what does it mean?

10:38 - “So the house that we had built is brand new, so it was only a couple of years old. So just at the time, it just wasn't selling. But it was so pretty much immediately when we bought the duplex. And that allowed us to use the equity that we did have in it to put down for the duplex, we paid 100 and 524. And we put 20% down. So we did a conventional loan. 20% down, I put about probably 5000 $6,000 in renovations into it, and then we moved in.”

If a home isn't yet selling, can you finance it? Is financing your home a viable option for paying your mortgage?

12:42 - “So I just went to the Bahamas for a week. And I was able to pay for the entire hotel room for seven days with credit card points by basically doing stuff that you just talked about, like the windows and all that stuff. Like I pay all my property taxes with a credit card because I basically get two free airline tickets out of it.”

Mike shares the benefits of using your credit card to pay for renovations. Is there a benefit you can receive in return?

21:26 - “So it's just private mortgage insurance. And basically what it is, is somebody's going to insure against your property or loan, I'm sorry, for anything that's less than 20% down. And what they're doing is they're using this as a hedge for risk, right? The thought behind it is if you put 20% down, your default, something happens, the lenders gonna have enough of a cushion, to take the house back through foreclosure deed in lieu of foreclosure, and then have the ability to sell and still get their money back.”

The private mortgage insurance (PMI) concept is explained

36:56 “Our retirement in Kentucky is it's very like unfunded, I think it was, like 43% funded. So it's just like, I don't even know what it's gonna be. Like, I might make it to my retirement. But, I don't know if it's going to be there. If it's there. Great. It's a plus my retirement is my guaranteed real estate to me, real estate is going to be more guaranteed in the stock market, it's gonna be more guaranteed than even my pension that I'm supposed to have, but this is just a way that I can pretty much guarantee that I'm gonna have this monthly rental income. Worst case scenario, I go to retirement, and I have my rentals, my rental income from investing.”

Invest in your future instead of relying on your pension. Do not let retirement pass you by without investing in real estate. Ethan shares with us why.

“43:38 - “If you just took your overtime for one year and bought a rental you can be done with your overtime like that will that would allow you to just live more and do more with your own family and do more of what you want to do in life just by having one rent it'll pay off your mortgage, your biggest expense, if you could just buy a duplex or buy a rental property. I mean, if you do the numbers right and get a good deal, like you're going to be set up, take, try to figure out something that can get rid of your biggest expense, your mortgage or your rent, whatever you're doing.”

Spending more time with your family, maximizing your savings, and establishing a side hustle that pays off. Ethan's reasons for taking the risk on real estate investing.

46:29 - “So one of the things I wish I would have focused on early on in my investing career besides just I wish I would have scaled faster but is also don't always worry about making more worry about how you save more because I think that at least for me, it was like okay, how do you make more? And it's like, well, if I would have focused on how I could save more in taxes and stuff like that, maybe I wouldn't have had to Do all of the activity that I was doing, because I just would have kept more of what I was making.”

Discover how to invest like a pro by listening to these guys

59:50 - “My younger self I would definitely give is just learn more about financial literacy. The sooner the better. I started in 2019, and I was listening to podcasts and reading books.”

Ethan’s advice to his younger self.

Key Takeaways: “Front end ratio is just your house payment, that's all they're going to include in you, as a rule of thumb increases and decreases, but I always like to use 36% of your income. Right, and that's gross. So that's before any taxes or anything like that an email on the back end, depending on what type of loan product you can go, you can go anywhere from 43% for the conventional loan, 43 to 45 is probably the most common way to go and still get approved. And then for a VA or an FHA loan, you go, sometimes it's like 60 63%.” - Tyler Thrush

“Before we moved in all the way I basically renovated it and then moved in. So like I said, we clean and painted the walls, new flooring, basically, and then a new bathroom other than the tub and shower area. I did all that myself had to scrape the floors and had to you know, take a torch to get the glue off and it was just concrete. And then I just played vinyl plank. And then people were like, how did you learn how to do this? And I'm just like YouTube man, YouTube, YouTube, YouTube. And it worked out, it works. And it's good. So it's great for rental land. - Ethan Board

“I wouldn't necessarily advocate this strategy, but I've done it before is a 0% interest credit card, I sat there and use the whole, you know, like put $15,000 on it. And then just diligently paid it off every month because it was 0%. Again, you need to know yourself as a person if you're gonna go crazy and bet it all on the ponies and you know, not use it for smart stuff. I wouldn't advocate that. But like if you're disciplined with it, I think credit cards can be a useful tool.” - Mike Webb

“House hacking is like just one of those things that, if you could go back and give your younger self that advice, like just think about how far ahead you would have been if you would have done this when you were 22, just crazy. You can't go back in time, but you can start tomorrow. So employing these types of things in your everyday life. While it might be a little inconvenient for a year or two. Just look at how much further ahead.” - Mike Webb

Resources Mentioned:

People and Resources Mentioned:

Bigger Pockets: Create & Build Wealth With Real Estate Investing | BiggerPockets

Coach Carson: Invest in Real Estate. Do What Matters. - Coach Carson

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How does it feel to invest at a young age? That's what our guest Brendon Davis will share with us on today's episode. At an early age, this gentleman began his investment journey with a small amount of money in his pocket. Under the guidance of his mentor and after reading a number of investment books, he decided to take the plunge. While it wasn't an easy route for him since he encountered problems along the way, he views it as a learning experience. Following that, he decided to collaborate with his brother, and together their business built an impressive portfolio because their abilities blended well together.

Brendon Davis comes from a long line of first responders. His father and uncle have both been in this profession for generations, which influenced him to follow in their footsteps. But he did not stop there; investing in real estate has intrigued him since he was a child. Being driven by a mentor and reading a lot of investment books. At the age of 20, he bought his first apartment building. Together with his brother Austin and their friend Dominic, they built their own company.

Why you need to check today’s episode: * Learn about the ways you can invest if you do not have the money to do so. Which methods could you use to start? * Understand how FHA loans work and the requirements for getting one. If you had no idea that the house you bought was a bad investment for you, how would you handle it? * Discover what a Land Contract is and whether it's the right option for you as a buyer or seller.

“It's all about finding the right deals and making sure that you're getting into the right deals for the right reasons for sure.”

Brendon Davis

Topics Covered: 1:09 - “I started in the fire service when I was 22. My father, it's kind of been one of those things that just runs in the family. My father was a fireman, my uncle was a fireman, and my uncle's uncle was a fireman. So everybody kind of went in that direction.”

Brendon explains how he got into the service and why he decided to follow this path.

6:22 - “So I bought my first four units when I was 20. And I've utilized a mentor and my coach kind of help me through that path and, kind of get my foot in the door in real estate. So that's kind of how I started.”

Why did he decide to enter the real estate industry? Why did he think that this was a good investment?

10:21 - “I did it the old school way, there are so many different ways to do it now. And it's so nice to have the resources at your fingertips. But at the time, the strategy was to go around, write all the addresses down, and bring all the addresses down to the tax assessor. It's public information, you can find out who owns the property, and send them a letter.”

Despite only having a little money in his pocket, Brendon shares how he started his investment. At the time, what were his strategies?

13:36 - “Those not familiar, could you explain why the FHA loan is a benefit, I'm sure Tyler could touch on that also, and going with a multifamily property, using an FHA loan, kinda like what the benefits were, what that looked like for you financially because I would imagine you were living for either next to nothing or actually making a profit by living there.”

Tyler, Mike, and Brendon discuss the benefits of an FHA loan

17:04 - “So that building I did end up giving back to him because it was a complete nightmare. It was bad from the get-go. There were bad tenants. There was one main tenant that was kind of scaring some other tenants out. It was not a great neighborhood. Basically, the straw that broke the camel's back was somebody thought I shut their water off. It was a duplex that had the units all split up. And there was a water pipe that went outside they thought that I shut the water off. But in actuality, it froze. Because they weren't paying their rent they thought to shut it off. And they went down and turn every spigot in the basement and the steam radiators. It was water everywhere. It was bad.”

Every bad experience teaches you a lesson. Buying a bargain does not always mean getting a good deal. It is inevitable that you will face problems from time to time. But experience is your best lesson in life.

22:56 - “The land contract just says that it's a contract between a buyer and a seller, nothing really changes hands. As far as the mortgage, the deed doesn't change hands. So everything kind of stays in the seller's hands.”

Here's what Brendon explains about a land contract. In what way does the transaction work between the buyer and the seller?

28:56 “Creative to me is just so impressive because it literally opens your bucket. I mean you're casting a much wider net. And it's interesting to me, as far as that goes. And it's weird cuz like I said, California until recently, I haven't really heard it. And now it's definitely becoming a buzzword with interest rates going back up and I know in the 70s and 80s It was huge too. So I'm sure it will be cut and become much more commonplace. So people can that are listening. If they can educate themselves on any type of creative finance, whether it's owner financing or anything of the sort, I think it'd be a huge benefit in the next couple of years.

As Tyler points out, creative financing offers investors a number of advantages.

31:26 - “My brother and I kind of partnered and I realized he's very mechanically inclined, we have a really good partnership, we can walk through a building and obviously, through the fire department, I have a pretty good grasp of construction as well. But I utilize him or we utilize each other for each other skills. And my skill set is more towards the deal, finding the marketing, leasing, and stuff like that he is more geared towards the construction. And so we really kind of found a good partnership with that we did a couple of burrs, and we did another house hack.

The partnership Brendon had with his brother succeeded because they blended well together. Their portfolio looks good and their collaboration is working well.

33:57 - “So that's one aspect of the value add that we use, the coin app was already there. That's a nice feature for some tenants, especially in a rural area where that is so that way, they're not having to go far if there's no unit laundry. And then as far as the development, my brother and I, have a separate project on one of the first eight units that we bought, which has some land that is buildable that we're working on right now. But this but we look through it.”

There is an opportunity to generate additional revenue by offering a coin-operated laundry on-site.

48:20 - “I think if you're gonna raise funds with just people in your direct ecosystem, keeping it simple not to insult their intelligence, obviously, but just explaining on a very elementary scale, like what it looks like.”

How to raise funds with just people in your ecosystem.

55:39 - “Focus, I've done a lot of stuff between doing the fire department and trying to have your regular day job. And then we created a framing company at one point, we let some of our apartments go to have a lot of people and rent collections because we didn't have the time to go over and fix the apartments once they were the tenants vacated because we were spread too thin between doing contracting and framing.”

A piece of advice Brendon would give to himself when he was younger

Key Takeaways: “There wasn't a lot of capital outlay at first, but I believe I spoke to him last week, I believe they ended up selling it too. And I was like, to your point, my thought was man, just rip the band-aid off right now that is sometimes a bad property is a bad property no matter what you do. It's just not going to pencil out. And I said, Just rip it off. Now. Move, we'll move along and just, hey, it's a mistake, right? Or not a mistake. It's a good learning experience.” - Tyler Thrush

“Part of being creative, too, sometimes is like, what we've always found is like, you got to be a problem solver. And a lot of times some solutions can come up through problem-solving that can kind of benefit both parties. And creative financing is a big one. Because a lot of times now, with the bigger properties that we're looking at there, you gotta go off the market, you're going direct to the seller a lot of times, and not everybody's looking to sell right away. So we've always taken to the idea of like, then if you have a problem, we'll figure out how to solve it.” - Brendon Davis

“If I own a property and say, my mortgage payment is $1,000. I could sit there and add the taxes, I could add up the insurance. So let's just say that's $1,200 I could then go sell it to Brendon, for an agreed-upon price. So let's just say I owe 100,000, I might sell it to him for 150. And then I can roll that mortgage payment of 1000 plus the taxes and insurance that are escrowed into that so he would pay me 1200 bucks a month. I would pay my mortgage payment and then whenever he paid his last payment, the deed would transfer legally to him. So it's a creative structure. It's a way that basically you can buy the property with maybe a little out of pocket, or maybe somebody that's ready to just retire, whatever the case may be. Again, and it's largely state-specific, there are certain languages and contracts that are used in different parts of the country. So I would encourage you if that's something that's interesting, like just dive into your state-specific laws, because it's, it's not easy to paint with a broad brush on a lot of that stuff. But that stuff blew my mind. I didn't know that was an option when I got into real estate.” - Mike Webb

“If you listen to the news right now it's like oh, the markets are terrible all these things. Yet, Blackstone chases all these multi-billion dollar companies that are all raising and deploying funds into real estate. So it's just it's so funny how I think it's a distraction for us. But man, there's a lot of money to be made right now. “ - Tyler Thrush

Resources Mentioned:

Rich dad poor dad: Rich Dad Poor Dad: The #1 Best-Selling Personal Finance Book Ever

The Art of the Deal: Trump: The Art of the Deal by Donald J. Trump | Goodreads

Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get a Life: Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-ButtApproach to a Better Life-Second Edition, Revised& Updated: Winget, Larry: 9781118024515: Amazon.com: Books

Traction: Traction by Gino Wickman | Goodreads

Psychology of Money: The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness: Housel, Morgan: 9780857197689: Amazon.com: Books

Connect with Brendon Davis Linkedin: DAB3 Group, LLC: About | LinkedIn

Facebook: DAB 3 Group, LLC | Facebook

Website: Our Story – D.A.B 3 Group (dab3group.com)

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393 YouTube: First Responder Financial Freedom - YouTube

Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-ButtApproach to a Better Life-Second Edition, Revised& Updated

The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness

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As a service industry professional, whether in the military or as a first responder. Accidents are inevitable, and you never know when they will occur. When you reach the point of no longer being able to serve, you might feel down or useless. This may be because you believe there are no opportunities for you outside. But, our guest for today will break through those false instincts that others tend to believe.

Consider and realize a few things. Being of service to others is important, but so is being of service to yourself. You might be suffering from PSTD without realizing it. This condition was also discussed in today’s episode. If you feel alone and want to speak to someone about the feelings you are experiencing, listen up. The topic for today might be helpful to you.

Donald Ross has retired from the United States Marine Corps and worked as a contracting officer for many years. A sudden, unforeseen event led to his early retirement. It was then that he realized he needed to open his own business. Because he has experience in contracting, he and his wife started PAD Home Buyers LLC together, and they now run an Easy Button REI program using automation. Using Customer Relationship Management (CRM), they simplify the lives of Real Estate Entrepreneurs. As part of his work, he also established a Facebook group aimed at helping veterans and first responders. As well as having a YouTube channel, he posts videos about how he's helping others and his community.

Why you need to check today’s episode: * Get to know what a real estate business is all about and what the term lease option means. * Get a better understanding of the importance of real estate in your life. What you will learn about this business and how it can give you financial freedom without sacrificing your family time. Plus; * Discover what your options are after leaving the service. What lies ahead for you after you leave? What is PSTD, and how can it affect your well-being and others? And why you must be aware of the importance of taking care of yourself before serving others.

“Part of life is getting knocked down and, quote-unquote, failing. I'm not gonna say that you necessarily fail if you keep going, but failing and understanding give you something small, and each time, you get slightly better at something. That's really to me. That's been the key.”

Donald Ross

Topics Covered: 00:35 “As a 21-year-old man, boy, whatever you want to call it, I found out I was having a kid. And I had to make some stuff happen and have insurance and do some things. And so I literally signed up for the Marine Corps.”

A brief introduction to Donald Ross

6:02 - “When I got out? For me, I was lucky in the sense that I had got a four-year bachelor's degree. I have some certificates in logistics and contracting. And I was able to land a good job with Northrop Grumman on the F 18 Super Hornet program. So I started with them literally two weeks after I got medically retired from the Marine Corps”

During the conversation, Donald recounts his activities after he left the Marine Corps.

10:43 - "There's a couple of differences in there. And these were all really good-paying jobs. And I was getting to a point where I was like, Dude, what the hell is wrong with me? Like, something's wrong with me because I'm getting nice jobs that people would kill for. But this ain't fun to me. And with that, I kept pushing on the real estate and did the first remote lease option. I think it was roughly $4500 bucks that I made from California in Wisconsin.”

This is Donald's story about how he became a real estate investor.

14:08 - “ I had a separate piece of paperwork that was an option to buy. And they have then put down money for that option to buy. They didn't have to buy it, but they had the option to buy it, and I will tell you, I know because I was contacted by them later. They did not buy. So for me, I got to keep that money that I made because it was just the option to buy. There was no return policy, refund policy, none of that”

Real estate businesses use a term called a lease option. What does it mean?

16:31 - “So essentially, somewhere where you're storing your data and working your sales process, and your customers' information. And so I tried using those that worked. I need to have some way of automating this process and having it where I can have it on the go.”

In this episode, Donald explains how to manage your time effectively. For example, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can help you with your business to make things easier for you, especially regarding sales.

21:41 - “I was being groomed to be a higher-up manager, actually, within the first year. But I also saw that that high level was at the time a lady that was in her 60s had a child that was younger, and she was literally answering emails on Sundays at 10 pm. And I already had a young daughter that just got born; I had a daughter that was about six or seven at that time. And it was like. This is not what I want from my life,”

Despite a huge opportunity coming into his life, Donald remained true to his values. As a person who values family above all else, he realizes it is the most meaningful aspect of his life. More than anything, he wants to spend time with his family.

25:05 - “I'm now putting out different videos on resources for first responders and veterans. What different programs are out there, everything from PTSD, depression, how to buy a house, different things that I've been through in life, finding your identity, your why, and how you set goals? I mean, these are things that not everyone understands really well.”

In what ways does he help veterans and first responders find their purpose and identity? The veteran acknowledges that not all veterans and first responders achieve their life goals.

43:05 - “So we've been reaching out to our members to see what we can do to help. How can we help them kind of figure out some of the numbers, maybe, and what other people are saying is working or not working? How are people adjusting to the current market and where it's kind of headed? So there's that focus on the CRM side of things. Obviously, the first responder - veteran side of things is putting out content and things that are available out there for our community.”

A discussion of what Donald's group is doing and how they are helping their subscribers.

47:29 - “We got nailed with an IRS audit. I was not aware I have a fancy CPA that we pay. They did all the paperwork, and we filed for the tax credit that we got. And we thought it was the property and both buildings, and we have a large garage pole barn on the property. And they let us no, no, no, that is not the case. So you know, learning to learn as we go.”

An interesting bit of information about taxes is shared by Donald.

59:31 - “Understand that part of life is getting knocked down and quote unquote, failing. I'm not gonna say that you necessarily fail if you keep going, but failing and understanding that gives you something small, and each time gets slightly better at something. That's really to me. That's been the key.”

This a piece of advice he would give himself when he was younger

Key Takeaways: “A lot of the PTSD issues. So if your testosterone levels drop down to 200, and you never get a check, you actually have some of the same symptoms as PTSD guys would. So this is one of the things that I really want to hammer home in this podcast is that ‘your health is very important. Whether it be mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, it actually doesn't matter. So you need to pay attention to yourself inwardly first, don't ignore yourself to help other people. Because the long term, it's not going to benefit the people around you if you are beaten up, torn up broken down. So focus on yourself first, and you go out and reach out and help other people. Don't ignore yourself and use yourself as a stepping stone for somebody else until you're comfortable and confident and your abilities and who you are.” - Mike Foster

“Now figure out, figure out what is your ideal day, week, month, year. And how do you get there? And maybe you don't have the full answer. You just have bits and pieces. And as long as you're making slight adjustments towards that each day. That's all I can really ask for. I think that the biggest thing is I was not happy with where I was at. And rather than bitching, moaning, complaining, and Tyler telling the world how unfair it was, I figured out a way.” - Donald Ross

“I'm now putting out different videos on resources for first responders and veterans, what different programs are out there everything from PTSD, depression, how to buy a house, different things that I've been through in life, finding your identity, your why, how do you set goals, I mean, these are things that not everyone understands really well. And especially if they're younger, when they get out of the military, it can be super hard to figure out what they want to do and how to do it. And so life after serving is the group that I put together and the channel for a YouTube, and that's really what the purpose is, at this point, is how do I help other people that are part of our community and give them some different outlets and channels, and if they ever need help, who they can reach out to.” - Donald Ross

Connect with Donald Ross: Instagram: REI Automation Squad (@reiautomationsquad) • Instagram photos and videos

Website: REI Automation Squad

YouTube: REI Automation Squad - YouTube

LinkedIn: Donald Ross | LinkedIn

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393 YouTube: First Responder Financial Freedom - YouTube

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A key benefit of Real Investing is the freedom to pursue your interests in life, the ability to visit places that interest you, and the ability to spend more time with your family. If you master the process of investing, you will reap the benefits of your early years of diligent work. While it is not an easy road, being eager and aggressive in your early years will help. It's what our guest did when he was just starting out in his career. In his view, once you put in the effort, you will reap the benefits in due course.

Today’s episode is filled with strategies, tricks, and advice that will help those aiming for or already working in the same niche as our guest today. Tune in as they discuss each on today's podcast

David Dean spent almost five years as a paramedic, first responder, and 911 director. Real estate investing eventually convinced him to quit emergency services and focus on his business. Currently, he deals with flips, purchases, lease options, owner financing, and rentals, both short-term and long-term.

Why you need to check today’s episode: * Get an understanding of sub-two and lease options. Discover how they work * Learn how to overcome the obstacles you will face when dealing with prospective buyers. As well as some things you need to know before renting out your property, including ways to protect yourself from renters who leave without notice. Plus; * Find out what are the pros and cons of starting your own car wash business. While the income is high, there are also downsides, so what are these, and how should you prepare for them?

“I'm a firm believer. You bloom where you're planted. And, you know, there's enough business here for everybody.”

- David Dean

Topics Covered: 00:35 - “Well, to get into real estate investing, I started out in emergency services, you know, after college and was paramedic and fireman and was the normal one director in our local county. So I have kind of done that for a while. And my family, my mother, and father, now opened a real estate brokerage. So I was an agent already, and I got my real estate license in college. And we know one thing led to another. So we opened up a real estate brokerage.”

The story of David's journey into real estate investing.

4:55 - “There was a group called a website called CRE Online CR E Online. And so I happened upon that website and started reading, started learning, started buying courses about creative finance, you know, you know, whatever it was, I bought it, you know, land Trust's any kind of owner finance, subject to, and so that kind of started, you know, the journey from there.”

In what capacity was David Dean known? Prior to the Investor Fuel Mastermind, what was the coach like?

9:28 - "Basically, we kind of come in, and we take over the mortgage payments, and we relieve the customer of all the expenses, maintenance utilities, we'd get them on the road wherever they want to go for trying to move out of town or if we're trying to do something else. And then we take it over. We professionally manage it. We put tenant-buyers in it. And our end goal is to get them financed out and pay the mortgage off and relieve the people with the underlying mortgage.”

Sub-two explained.

12:41 - “Basically, lease options are you do a standard lease with a customer, and then you give them the option to purchase, and usually take 1000 2000 down for the option. And it gives them the option to purchase at a specified time on or before the specified time. And traditionally, when I do lease options, you know, sometimes we do credit on the lease payments, sometimes I don't, you know, it just depends on what we're doing.”

Lease options: what are they? How does a lease option work?

18:22 - “Lots of times, just do a promissory note and deed of trust and play bank. To me, that's the most passive form of real estate investing that there is out there. I mean, people have this idea of passive investing how I want to be, you know, won't get into real estate because it's passive, and I'm like, well, real estate's anything other than passive full contact sport; actually, it's full contact. I mean, it's, it's, it can be a tough business.”

In dealing with prospective buyers, what is the best course of action? During the interview, David offered advice on what you can do to protect your finances

23:13 - “Well, what I do is, is when I start, send them notifications that they haven't paid, you know, and I usually start with just a standard notice to cure like a, like a residential eviction. And then, you know, I sent him a notice of what to do. And then I usually get my attorney involved. And he'll, he'll send a few notices and stuff. But traditionally, when you go to the property, they're gone.”

The steps to take if the renters don't pay. Here are some things you need to know and have before renting out your property. By following these strategies, you will be able to protect yourself from unnoticed renters who will leave your property before you know it.

25:44 - “The trick with it with sub two and owner finance and stuff like that is I build in taxes and insurance. And when you get someone that keeps on over a long period of time, rest assured that the taxes and insurance eat into that profit margin that you have built. So, you know, you need to build about every three years a 10% increase, you know, into that, note that you're doing taxes and insurance have never gone down.”

Here's how sub-two and owner-occupied properties work.

29:19 - “The biggest thing with me, I think, is just family. You know, my daughter's in college. I want to see her play college softball. I want to go watch her play. My son's older he's playing sports or middle school, high school, you know, and, so those are the things that you want to do. So you inherently kind of slow down a little bit. I haven't noticed as many drops in income, but I've noticed, you know, I don't do as much, so maybe I'll get And most smarter, you know, I don't know, but I use. I have more people around me that do things for me. So it's freedom on myself.”

What factors determine David's long-term goals?

36:00 - “I do I coach travel softball, I've coached my daughter's teams, we've traveled all of them down the east coast, midwest, Colorado, we, you know, we've been everywhere. And real estate has designed my lifestyle to where I can do those things.”

Real estate must serve a purpose. David already discovered what is his. Have you discovered yours yet?

46:16 - “ I did enjoy the carwash business, had good returns. I mean, you know, it's a 25-30 % return lots of times, and I enjoyed it, and it's a real estate play. Sure. So the main thing is if I could give investors, if you're in a real estate business, when you do stuff, make it a real estate play”

David shares his story about how he got into the car wash business. In addition, he discusses the pros and cons of managing this industry.

51:35 - “The absolute best deals and some of the best things have always come from softball fields, baseball fields, football fields, so it'd be well worthwhile for you to put banners up. I have them up, and you know about everywhere.”

Getting the most out of your marketing efforts.

56:15 - “Be more aggressive, take more chances. Do what you do. What's on your mind? What's in your heart? What you think is right. Go do it."

The advice David Dean would give his younger self.

Key Takeaways: “I do a quitclaim deed up front. When I get this thing signed, I have them. I have my attorney do a quick claim deed, and I have them sign it at closing. But at the file, keep it with the attorney's office in the event that they default, then I have a quitclaim deed that I can go record and get my property back. So that's one of the biggest hacks that you can do to protect yourself and get your property back.” - David Dean

"Well, what I do is when I start, send them notifications that they haven't paid, you know, and I usually start with just a standard notice to cure like a, like, a residential eviction. And then, you know, I sent him a notice of what to do. And then I usually get my attorney involved. And he'll, he'll send a few notices and stuff. But traditionally, when you go to the property, they're gone." - David Dean

“Real estate, this, this whole thing has to serve a purpose. And so many people miss the purpose. And the purpose is to kind of design your lifestyle around it. And it serves your lifestyle, and many people forget that.” - David Dean

“One of the big things that if people were to do banners is keeping it simple. And don't put a bunch of stuff on the banner. Flagman says coach buys homes with my character. That's it. Because you're out on a fancier distance, you know, make these things simple, straight to the point.” - David Dean

Resources Mentioned: Rich Dad Poor Dad: Rich Dad Poor Dad: The #1 Best-Selling Personal Finance Book Ever

CRE Online: Real Estate Investing That Works! - CRE Online

Rob Dyrdek: THE ED MYLETT SHOW: How To Respect & Protect Your Time w/ Rob Dyrdek on Apple Podcasts

Connect with David Dean: Facebook: Coach Buys Homes (facebook.com)

Instagram: David Dean (@coachbuyswv) • Instagram photos and videos

Website: Contact Us | Sell Your House To Coach (coachbuyshomes.com)

YouTube: Coachbuyshomes - YouTube

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393 YouTube: First Responder Financial Freedom - YouTube

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Our guest has always been committed to serving the community. His career in the marines has spanned several years, and he has served the community as a firefighter and lieutenant for 12 years. His calling eventually turned to housing development and helping others build homes. Through his military and firefighting experience, he has developed strong leadership skills. Using real estate to improve his community is his mission and focus.

We invite you to join us today to learn more about the difference between small and large contracts. Learn some techniques from Josue on how he acquired his 230 projects and plans to add more. If you are a real estate developer, what can you learn from this guy who has rapidly expanded his business? Getting the necessary answers and strategies is just a few clicks away, so start listening now.

Josue Velney is the founder and CEO of Velney Development, LLC. He served in the Marine Corps for five years. His service in his community as a firefighter and lieutenant spanned twelve years after he returned home. Currently, Josue works full-time as a real estate developer, where he is an expert at assessing the level of rehab needed to bring a project up to market value and develop large projects from scratch.

Why you need to check today’s episode: * Learn about VA loans and how to get them. Why should you take advantage of this? * Find out the difference between working on a small project and a big one? What are the important factors to consider? And; * Get some tips from our guest on how you look at properties. The methods used. Find out how you can determine whether a deal will succeed or not.

“At the end of the day, as a team leader and as a developer, if the project is successful or not, it's your fault. So you better educate yourself.”

Josue Velney

Topics Covered: 1:36 - “And it just so happened that I took a makeup exam when I was home on leave on Christmas leave. And from there, I was selected. I was number four on the list, but its own fire department. So basically, it was a kind of smooth transition. The Marine Corps actually allowed me to leave a month early just so I could start training for the fire department.”

In this story, Josue describes what it is like to be a member of the navy's first responder unit. How did he go from being a marine to becoming a firefighter?

3:24 - “I took the real estate course. I didn't get my license at the time. A few years later, I did. And I just kept asking everybody that owns one house or two houses, how did you do it? What do I need to know started going to first-time homebuyer courses and just really diving in deep and started realizing that a lot of the skill sets that I learned in the military could apply to real estate.”

What made him realize that real estate is something he wants to do in life, and how he got into it?

5:22 - “VA loan is one of the two options that government options offer for 100% financing, the other one being the USDA, which is more rural. And so a lot of the military guys don't use strategy to buy their first home with a VA, which is smart.

Comparison of a VA loan versus a conventional or an FHA loan.

11:47 - “Don't go to somebody you don't know and just say, hey, what can you do for me? It should be the other way around, like, what can I do for you?”

The importance of mentorship cannot be overstated. Investing in relationships is the most effective way to succeed.

15:56 - “I have used seller financing, where the seller literally helped me get enough capital to close on that deal. So basically, what that looked like was the bank would lend 80% of the deal. I had 10% in, and the seller had 10% Hold back in.”

He describes how he acquired his 230 units; what was it like to work all those hours?

21:08 - “So just making that decision, it was when I decided, I don't have enough time to really put into the real estate as much as and I acquire too much real estate, it needs my time, I might get a call about having to coordinate with a plumber, and I'm on a, I'm doing CPR, like, two hours later, the basements flooded, or whatever made, like make might happen, you really can't deal with that. So I think that was a big defining factor.”

In the long run, what made him decide to become a real estate developer instead of serving his country? It was when he realized he was born to be a developer that he realized he was destined for it.

23:46 - “I think it's a combination of a few things like we already talked about. It is when you put your head down and you're working very, very hard. It seems like more people are going to help you, and they want to kind of guide you and show you how to do it. And sometimes, those come in the form of partners.”

Here's how Josue transitioned from searching for a place to live to developing 230 units. In what ways was he able to expand his project?

30:05 “I prefer to do ground up, because one reason I prefer to do ground up, most people are afraid of it, because of the education and the risks, to really have a strong understanding of it, it just makes the markets that much smaller.”

Josue describes his methods for searching for houses. Is there a particular way he looks at properties, and what are some of his strategies?

35:51 - “Like, Mike was talking about that sweet spot of, you know, 3040 units, that is good as an area where you're gonna get a better contractor, but you're not one of these big, big super big development companies that have to keep feeding the machine, right? They're super competitive, and they have more capital, and 40 units are not worth their capital raising.”

What makes a contract for a small project different from one for a large project?

44:44 - “ So I do have a joint venture partner that has more experience than I do that has been doing this a lot longer than I have, but we're all going to be raising capital, friends, and family. It's no different. It's really no different if you're trying to raise capital for a fund."

Josue discusses where his fund comes from, and his exit strategy is.

51:36 - "So like, I calculate it out, there's not just one metric you use to pencil these things out. It's your square foot, what's your bed and bathrooms going to get, what you buy, your land from, and what you have to give to the government to make them happy. There are a lot of moving metrics in this. But once you learn it, it's a skill for life. As long as you change the goalposts and move the goalposts, you're good.”

Is there a way for you to know if the deal will work? Take the time to listen to the techniques discussed

53:38 - “Honestly, I think I would. I would do it all the same. I think it has gone great. It's not as gone perfect. But I mean, my company was, or I was, you know, 40 under 40 Boston Business Journal I got a citation from the governor's office.”

Josue was asked if he had any advice for himself, and here's what he said.

Key Takeaways: “I believe the money is secondary if you're willing to just sit there and educate yourself. The money is literally endless when you have the right knowledge and the right mindset.” - Josue Velney

“In some cases, I would argue it probably takes less effort to do a little bit bigger than the smaller stuff. But you get a disproportionate amount of return.” - Mike Webb

“My why it's always changing. But the real focus is just community. If you look at my military career, what I have been able to do is serve my country. When I was a single firefighter, I was able to serve my community right. And now I still continue to serve my community by providing housing, you know, it's really, in what I found is when I take care of my community, my community takes care of me.” - Josue Velney

Resources Mentioned: Your First 100 Million:Your First 100 Million by Daniel S. Peña | Goodreads

The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field: Amazon.com: The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field: 9781591844884: Michalowicz, Mike: Books Joe Asamoah, MBA, PHD: Dr. Joe Asamoah | Real Estate Investing Connect with Josue Velney: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100060571653411

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josue_velney/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/velneydev

Website: https://www.velneydevelopment.com/

LinkedIn: Velney Development: Overview | LinkedIn

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field

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Successful real estate investors go through many difficulties during their first five years in the industry before reaching their peak. If you want to overcome hardships, you must never stop learning and be patient in the process. While the learning curve may be painful, everything will become straightforward once you systematically organize your strategy. Our guest experienced this during his first five years in business. In the early years, he struggled to manage everything; he faced failures and hardships; however, as the years passed, he was able to get help from others and grow his business. This week in First Responder Financial Freedom Podcast, Bill shares his story of growing his business in five years by learning continuously, acquiring advice from mentors, and adapting strategies within his network and his business partner Mike. Our guest speaker today will indeed teach you a lot. Tune in to learn more. Bill Kenny is Mike's business partner, and they have been doing business together for quite some time. They currently do wholesale, private lending, and own self-storage rentals. In addition to owning multiple properties and storage spaces, he is licensed as a real estate agent in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Why you need to check today’s episode: * Get a better understanding of why and how wholesale is important. * Discover the best strategies from our guest expert. Hear why you must not stop lead generation and learn its importance for your business. And; * Find out why you should seek a mentor when starting a business. And why it is important to have an assistant to help you run your business.

“Businesses are a difficult journey because there are a million ways to do it. And there are a million ways to be successful. But it does take consistency in those small activities every day to grow that business. - Bill Kenny Topics Covered: 1:09 - “Mike's been a fireman, as everybody knows, I've been a full-time realtor, and our business has been our second full-time thing going on since we joined up in like 2014 and put our business together in 2018.“ An overview of Bill's background and how he came to work in real estate. Bill describes how he and Mike met and how they became business partners. He also shared a brief introduction about himself. 7:09: “I was listening to the Dave Ramsey show, and he talked about the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. But he talked about that as a different philosophy from what he taught, and I thought that was pretty interesting. And then within, I would say within eight months, I just started talking to a bunch of people and found a rental property, went out and bought a rental property, had no idea what I was doing.” He shares how reading Rich Dad and Poor Dad gave him the impetus to invest in Real Estate as soon as he finished reading it. 9:33 - “So what I did was I bought a course. I think it was like $500, and I don't remember anything about the course other than it said the first thing to do is go out and join your local REIA, Real Estate Investor Association.“ Getting a good foundation in real estate requires much more than reading books and listening to podcasts. It is for this reason he encourages himself to enroll in a course where he will have the opportunity to learn from and meet others with the same interest. 10:58 - “What wholesaling does is it teaches you how to evaluate deals, and it makes you understand the markets that you're in.” Bill explains what wholesale is and how it works. Also, Mike mentioned the advantages of buying wholesale. In his explanation, buying wholesale allows you to get a house under contract and then sell it without buying it. 22:23 - “The effort that you need to put into that business and consistently do the right things. You have to do that nonstop, every day, for four to five years if you want to grow that business if you want to see any success in it. That's where you have to take that. That effort and consistency have to be there.” In Real Estate Investing, as in any other business, there are no shortcuts. Hitting your numbers requires dedication, courage, and a lot of effort. Before you hit your stride, it may take a while. But once you achieve that breakthrough, your business becomes solid. 25:44 - “The minute you stop lead generating, that's when your pipeline starts to soften up and slow up.” According to Bill, your business will fall apart 90% of the time if you cease lead generation. Real estate investment leads should not be stopped. Bill explains why. 30:42 - “One of the things that really helped me was getting a real estate coach, somebody that's done it before, and someone that can mentor you through that process.” Bill admits that it was a roller coaster ride during his first five years in business. Fortunately, he found a coach and an assistant who helped him manage his business. 38:52 - “You know, like, hiring somebody to do QuickBooks data entry. It's just like, there are people that like that, and that is much, much better at it than you are. Yes. So it's just like, wow, instead of sitting there stressing out how to figure out how to market and put this stuff on social media and do all this thing. Guess what? There are people that, for a fair rate, will do an amazing job and do it for you.” Mike stresses the importance of having someone help you with your business. Instead of thinking that it is a waste of money, think of it as a way to alleviate stress and burden. 46:30 - “Underwriting deals as underwriting deals. Do the variables change the more zeros on the end of different people involved? Yes. But there's still a skill set to do that. And you can do it once you've once you figured it out. So underwriting a hard money deal is the same as underwriting a wholesale deal, right?” Why is wholesale so important? Mike and Bill figure out why. Listen to them as they explain the reasons why. 53:26 - “I would say finding some account of accountability partner, a mentor, you know, someone that that's been down that road, a coach, whatever you want to call it, that stuff, like even if you got to pay for it that is valuable.” This a piece of advice Bill would give to his younger self, and it is also valid for anyone just getting started in the field. Key Takeaways: “Wholesaling is a good way to get started. If you're a new investor because you don't really have to own anything.” - Bill Kenny “What it takes is the effort, like we were saying, the effort that you need to put into that business and consistently do the right things. You have to do that nonstop, every day for, you know, four to five years if you want to grow that business if you want to see any success in it. That's where you have to take that. That effort and consistency have to be there.” - Bill Kenny "In real estate investing and in being a realtor, if lead generation is not at the very top, then your business is probably going to start to fall apart." - Bill Kenny “You become a realtor, and they're like, Oh, I gotta get my business card, I gotta get my business card. They spent a whole day designing the business card. Nobody gives a shit about your business card, pick up the phone and start calling somebody. Do the things that matter.” - Bill Kenny Resources Mentioned: Dave Ramsey Show: The Ramsey Show on Apple Podcasts Rich Dad, Poor Dad: Rich Dad Poor Dad: The #1 Best-Selling Personal Finance Book Ever Real Estate Reserve Podcast: Real Estate Reserve Podcast on Apple Podcasts Who Not How: Amazon.com: Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork: 9781401960582: Sullivan, Dan, Hardy, Dr. Benjamin: Books Connect with Bill Kenny Facebook: Bill Kenny - Real Estate Agent | Facebook Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bill_kenny_rei/?hl=en YouTube: Bill Kenny - Real Estate Agent - YouTube LinkedIn:(2) Bill Kenny | LinkedIn Website: Top Real Estate Agents Martinsburg or Hagerstown (billkennyrei.com) Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom: Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork

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Tyler Thrush giving you a quick update on the mortgage market and other things mortgage related!!!

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Mike and Tyler chop it up about another topic you will enjoy. It will mainly focus on the benefits of a storage space business and a few tidbits about Jump Capital and how it will benefit investors and consumers. Furthermore, Mike shares what it was like to attend LFG's mastermind group, which happens only twice a year. Whether you are a real estate investor or not, he will explain why you should join this group. How does it work, and is it worth spending money on?

Join Mike and Tyler as they discuss these topics on today's episode

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Find out how moving to storage space and making it a business will suit you, regardless of the economic climate we face right now.
Find out how Jump Capital can benefit you if you become an investor. Or is it your intention to borrow money? If so, what should you know? Plus,
Listen as Mike explains what LFG Mastermind is and how that organization can help improve your business and personal life.

"Progress, instead of perfection over time, is going to always serve you well." - Mike Webb

Topics Covered:

2:02 - “We purchased three facilities this year. Our goal was to purchase one or have it under contract. We made that decision in May. And after committing to that, we ended up buying one, and then two other smaller ones that have room for development fell into our lap.”

Mike shares how he and his partner Bill purchased three facilities this year, one after another. He deemed this to be the right decision since everything seemed to be going well.

5:45 - “Making sure everything's full, but if everything's full, and nobody's paying, well, then that doesn't matter. So we've just been working through that business. And we've been building it out like we've set some goals.”

Using occupancy to compare to economic occupancy, Mike explains the difference between the two. Additionally, he outlines his goal for how many facilities he wants to buy this year in order to make the company profitable.

9:15 - “Couple years of banging my head against the wall, figuring out what does and does not work. And I don't think we're where we want to be yet because I don't know if you ever kind of get to where you want to be. Right?”

Even now, Mike is still learning the most effective way to run his business; it takes years to achieve perfection. As you go along, you will be able to deal with the practical aspects of running a business.

18:08 “We basically do make a small spread on the money. So if we borrow it at 10, and we loan it at 12, we make 2%. So the investor makes 10, we make two, the buyer gets what they need, and you get to sit back and collect your check. And we basically still utilize our network and our knowledge of the local area.”

Mike explains Jump Capital's investment strategy, how it works, and how it can be a win-win situation for investors and consumers.

24:38 - “It doesn't have to be just for business, it could be about marriage, it could be about fitness, it could be about real estate, or could kind of be comprehensive to where it kind of touches on all of those, which, to some extent, I feel like the group in, and he had somebody help him out this year, we should definitely get on here.”

The LFG Mastermind group is more than just business talk. It's about improving people's lives. When crises arise, its members are able to help one another and relieve some emotional burdens.

27:08 - “So the takeaway I got was like, right now is a really good time to just focus on controlling the controllable, which in our line of work like is something I always preach like, Hey, you don't know when or where that emergency is going to happen.”

After attending the LFG Mastermind session, Mike shares what he learned. There are a few examples of how the speaker shared insights into this year's market slump.

34:46 - “Because there are people that are not necessarily in real estate there, there was a commercial contractor there.”

Are you interested in becoming a member but are not a real estate investor? It's no problem. All are welcome to participate in this program.

39:01 - “If you spent $2,000. But you can go take some of the information and make $20,000. Is it worth it? I think so.”

As Mike pointed out, spending money on the LFG mastermind will benefit you and your business. As he explained, this is not a group that will just take your money and squanders it. It's something you can invest in and benefit from.

40:50 - “You're never going to be criticized by somebody doing more than you. Those guys are in those rooms.”

Take part in mastermind meetings without hesitation. They are not there to criticize you but to assist you.

51:00 - “We really want to keep this show going. But at the end of the day, if we're not getting people in the door, and people aren't consuming it, we probably aren't going to continue. However, I don't want that. I know Tyler doesn't want that. I'll speak for Aaron. I don't think he wants that either. So throw your name in the hat. If you're brand new, you got some questions, I bet other people have that questions. So, if there's a topic that you want us to talk about, let us know.”

We'd love to hear from you if you have a topic you want Aaron, Mike, and Tyler to cover for their show. Please feel free to contact them. No matter who you are, you are welcome. If there is anything you would like to discuss or ask. We invite you to join First Responder's Facebook group and message them. You can find all the links below.

Key Takeaways:

"Let's take the mastermind principle, where is your and Bill's time best spent and invest in that? Because that's where you're gonna get the greatest return. That's what you're focused on. And nothing wrong with fuel. Nothing wrong with this." - Tyler Thrush

"The first couple really opened my eyes to Hey, like I need to learn how to run a business. And these guys are willing to help." - Tyler Thrush

"You're gonna be a much better investor when you come out of it on the other side because you've gone through that little bit of turbulence." - Mike Webb

Resources Mentioned:

LFG Mastermind : Groups | Passive Investing Mastermind

Connect with:

Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-thrush-1216398/

Aaron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfoster5/

Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-webb-b933ab82/

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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Which milestones have you reached in your business so far, and which ones are you hoping to accomplish next?

It's no secret that there are a lot of people who find real estate risky; from their point of view, flipping houses can be just as risky as putting their future in the hands of state officials. This is just one example of the things we do that harm our loved ones without even considering how many people have accomplished great things through these actions!

Combined with interest, dedication, and passion, we can all live our best lives. Taking this information and putting it into practice is the best thing you can do! Scale your business with security, don't compare, and just keep going.

On today's episode, Tyler, Aaron, and Mike discuss all this and more. This episode features Tyler, Aaron, and Mike discussing their recent projects, sharing advice, and discussing their future plans with respect to each.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Take a cue from Mike, Aaron, and Tyler on how they find people to trust with their money;
An understanding of debt service coverage ratios (DSCR) and second lien positions;
Consider flipping houses and doing real estate instead of putting your family's life and money into politicians in your state.

“Just one foot in front of the other. No matter how bad it sucks, just keep doing it.”

– Tyler Thrush

Topics Covered:

01:22– “If I can just buy a junk one to dick around with then sell it, I’ll probably just do that when it gets here. Just use it for a year and then turn around, sell it for probably a profit.”

Aaron shares some of his stories on importing stuff as he explains the whole point of trying to import.

08:05 – “We always say ‘fire, aim, ready, but I was thinking there are certain things that you have to know when you’re getting into certain types of businesses.”

Tyler talks about his interest in Airbnb and his activities doing broker private loans.

13:17 – “What you do with that information is more important than where you get it.”

How Mike determines occupancy on his short-term portfolio.

15:34 – “1:1 ratio is the easiest way to explain it, and as long as you have that, you’re golden.”

Discussion around the debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loan and its numbers’ meaning.

20:45 – “Most people are not going to want to go into the second position; however, if they look at the deal…theoretically, you still have plenty of protection, you’re going to charge a larger, higher interest rate.”

What is a second lien position? How does it differ from the first lien position?

25:09 – “I’m a real big on character. It’s one of those people that even if that deal went south, they would find a way to make you whole, even if that meant selling another asset or doing whatever.”

Winning the game through a couple of introductions and connections: How do you find people you trust with your money?

36:12 – “I have nothing but good things to say with it. I just felt like it was time for a little bit of change of scenery if you will, and just kind of stuff that aligned a little bit more with where we’re going with our business.”

Talking about the direction Mike’s going in with his business.

41:12 – “People always say real estate is risky, flipping houses is risky, and don’t get me wrong—there is a definite risky way to do it. However, I am a firm believer that it is way riskier to put all of your financial and just your family’s wellbeing in the hands of politicians who are going to use you as nothing more than a pawn in their political game.”

What are Mike’s biggest takeaways as he keeps going with his business journey? What piece of advice could they give to the listeners?

51:52 – “I’m setting myself up now, so I have the knowledge for later on to do.”

What are Tyler, Mike, and Aaron’s mission/s for the remainder of 2022?

Key Takeaways:

“If I can just buy a junk one to dick around with around then sell it, I’ll probably just do that when it gets here. Just use it for a year and then turn around, sell it for probably a profit.” – Aaron Foster

“1:1 ratio is the easiest way to explain it, and as long as you have that, you’re golden.” – Tyler Thrush

“Most people are not going to want to go into the second position; however, if they look at the deal…theoretically, you still have plenty of protection, you’re going to charge a larger, higher interest rate.” – Mike Webb

“People always say real estate is risky, flipping houses is risky, and don’t get me wrong—there is a definite risky way to do it. However, I am a firm believer that it is way riskier to put all of your financial and just your family’s wellbeing in the hands of politicians who are going to use you as nothing more than a pawn in their political game.” – Mike Webb

Connect with:

Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-thrush-1216398/

Aaron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfoster5/

Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-webb-b933ab82/

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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How do we not engage ourselves after going through a failed partnership? Why should we make an effort to create good company culture along with effective leadership?

Those who have lost everything they've invested their hearts into because of bad partnerships are often afraid to look for new partners, fearing that it will happen again. However, it wasn't the case with today's guest. It was instead a form of learning, as he finally realized who he should not do business with.

The lesson he learned along the way stayed with him. Now he has more than 70 people working with him, demonstrating his ability to scale. In his words, he had to go through the school of hard knocks and screw up things first, break them, fix them, rebuild them, then move on. Even though it wasn't an easy road, it is without a doubt that all that he’s gone through has made him a better, wiser entrepreneur. Please tune in to learn more from our guy, Bennett Grove

Bennett Grove II is the Founder and CEO of Fire Dawgs Junk Removal, an award-winning junk removal, and hauling company. He worked as a firefighter/EMT in the United States Department of Defense and served on active Air Force duty. Bennett's mission is to build leaders and pursue growth while providing award-winning service.

In this episode, Bennett shares his junk removal and home services journey as he stresses how important, influential leaders are in the success of a business, along with tips and advice on how he can reach great heights after the complete failure of a partnership.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Understand why you need to know the person you’re getting into a partnership with and why you should regularly engage in conversations with them
Recognize the importance of effective leadership, good morale, and good company culture concerning scaling a business
Find out where to look when you’re at that point of wanting to acquire a company or get into franchising.

“Pursue growth… One of the things that I always tell our team members in the company is whatever level you’re in, whatever business you’re in, master the level that you’re in, learn the level above, and then teach the level below.”

– Bennett Grove II

Topics Covered:

01:03 – “I always knew I wanted to do business. I always wanted to be that firefighter that had a side hustle.”

The activities that kept Bennett busy as soon as he finished high school

05:51 – “It was really a lesson in bad partnerships and not having a shared vision, not starting with why, not kind of planning out… None of those intelligent conversations were happening….”

Why Bennett decided to get out and sell his real estate portfolio

10:38 – “Those have come from honest conversations and just evaluating where the partnership is, the businesses, and where we’re looking to go, and just making sure that you’re still aligned because, very easily, it could get sideways.”

The history of Mike and Bill's partnership and why it worked so well compared to others; Tyler and his prior partnerships.

15:02 – “I learned a lot about who to partner with, and so I just chalked it up as a learning opportunity… If I’m going to partner with somebody, it’s going to be somebody who has shared goals, shared background, character….”

When Bennett sold all his properties in real estate, did he ever think he’ll never partner again?

18:12 – “The way I like to sum it up is we do those tough, dirty jobs that people either can’t do themselves or just don’t want to do themselves.”

Talking about his business, Fire Dawgs Junk Removal, along with the services they offer to clients

25:09 – “We only worked for high-end remodelers mainly for the most part because typically, there’s somebody that can come in at 10.99 that can do it a lot cheaper than us.”

Are they mainly doing jobs for homeowners or investors, or is it a little bit of a mix?

28:15 – “The way I’ve grown the business is by trying to think of it like in an Amazon Walmart type of world where customers want it today or the next day.”

Discussion around the way Bennett estimates the price and scope of work

31:04 – “Do we lose a lot of people that way? Yep. But if we get the job, it’s profitable… I learned as I went for sure.”

What determines how far they will go to get a job? Is the tax code also used to their advantage?

37:27 – “I always tell people to build your business, so it’s franchisable, but not necessarily that you should franchise….”

Has Bennett ever thought about franchising?

42:36 – “Yes, I want to have a location in every city in Indiana so that we can serve every customer with no trip charges.”

Bennett’s take on taking over the state of Indiana, having locations in each city, along with the importance of leadership when taking on franchises

46:14 – “The good news is when you own your own company, and you don’t have a franchise system, one of the pros is that you can pick and choose where you go based on your growth strategy.”

Expansion strategies: what to do and when to do it

48:23 – “I always call it the highlight reel… The crushing of the grapes in junk removal and home services is you’ve got to be an effective leader….”

Bennett talks about the downside to this type of business as he stresses what happens when you’re not an effective leader.

52:38 – “Just like in business; if you don’t have good company culture and morale is bad, you’re going to have quiet quitting left and right.”

What does an average ticket look like? How important are morale and good company culture in running a business?

58:00 – “The first thing I’m going to look at is what is the leadership on the ground of the business that we’re looking at… second is what’s the reputation?”

Discussion around how Bennett approaches owners of companies that he wants to acquire, along with the after-sale process they do to get a review

1:07:34 – “Pursue growth… One of the things that I always tell our team members in the company is whatever level you’re in, whatever business you’re in, master the level that you’re in, learn the level above, and then teach the level below.”

Advice Bennett would give his younger self

1:09:54 – “In our company, our core values are FIRE – family first, integrity driven, resilient, excellence in all we do.”

What is Bennett’s why?

Key Takeaways:

“The way I’ve grown the business is by trying to think of it like in an Amazon Walmart type of world where customers want it today or next day.” – Bennett Grove II.

“I always tell people to build your business so that it’s franchisable, but not necessarily that you should franchise. The meaning is that you want to build systems and processes so the things you do are repeatable and scalable, even if you never want to license or franchise the business because that just makes you a better operator; it just makes you have a more clean, organized business. And a more clean and organized business takes better care of the people that work inside of it.” – Bennett Grove II.

“The good news is when you own your own company, and you don’t have a franchise system, one of the pros is that you can pick and choose where you go based on your growth strategy.” – Bennett Grove II.

“The crushing of the grapes in junk removal and home services is you’ve got to be an effective leader. If you are not an effective leader, you are going to have turnover. You are going to have headaches. You’re going to be up to three days out worth the job. And if you’re not an effective leader, that team is going to leave you, and then you'll have four days worth of customers and nobody to do the jobs but you.” – Bennett Grove II

“Just like in business; if you don’t have good company culture and morale is bad, you’re going to have quiet quitting left and right.” – Bennett Grove II.

Resources Mentioned:

Firepreneurs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoy3gRqTwdizOrZDplX5GtA
Fire Dawgs Junk Removal: https://firedawgsjunkremoval.com/

Connect with Bennet Grove II:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennettjgrove2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennett.grove

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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When you are a parent, a partner, a friend, and a first responder, how do you balance all these responsibilities while expanding your business? In case you're concerned that you can't accomplish the goal, or if you're overwhelmed by all of the big names, today's episode is for you.

Matt Scarpuzzi has been a firefighter since 2006, but before joining the department, he worked as a lifeguard. Without knowing how to run a business, he started his own. Yet he managed to get through it; he took the time to learn everything he needed to know. Currently, he owns Savage UTV, an online store that sells high-quality off-road vehicle parts and accessories.

Tune in to learn more about his story as he shares how, as a firefighter, a father, and a partner, he managed to build and expand a business while keeping up with his family duties. Throughout this episode, you will see why mindset and relationships are so crucial to business success.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Keep that work-life balance, prioritizing family and friends while also striving for business success;
Discover how creating and maintaining good relationships is beneficial to running a business;
Find out how you can have a side job completely different from your business's industry and thrive in it at the same time

“Just stay with your priorities; stay balanced. Hustle, grind; don’t turn that off. But balance it out and make sure you’re also spending time on the other things that are just as valuable.”

– Matt Scarpuzzi

Topics Covered:

00:58 – “It’s kind of the cookie-cutter story of wanting to be a firefighter…”

Matt shares what kept him busy before he joined the fire department.

04:06 – “It’s such a different mind shift from what we’re all used to. When you’re wearing the yellow suit, it’s like fast, quick, decisive action…”

What was it like to join the San Diego bomb squad?

09:59 – “That’s the way I would rather get that income, in the beginning, to put the money back into the company to continue to expand and grow rather than just bringing in a partner.”

Talking about the start of Matt’s journey in the business world, along with his experience on Shark Tank.

16:34 – “A lot of people come to me, [asking] ‘what’s next?’ There is no book that gives you the right answer. It really depends on what product you’re designing.”

Who was his first set of customers? Were there a lot of firefighters and first responders? How did he design the first product he came up with?

23:50 – “Either the fire department’s gotta go, or the sprinkler tools’ gotta go…”

What’s the name of the product that Matt used to produce? Why did he sell that company?

26:45 – “When I was on Shark Tank, Mark Cuban looked at me and said, ‘You are an inventor; you’re not a businessman,’ and it stung because it was true.”

How did Matt find their end-buyers? How did they start with marketing? What’s the story behind Savage’s existence?

32:36 –“It’s really hard to do by yourself, so we partnered up with other companies…”

Matt shares how they made it possible to expand so much, now having almost everything in their offer list, stressing the importance of making relationships/friendships, all while knowing your worth.

38:22 – “The statement that I kept telling them is the one with the most information wins.”

Matt on the advantage of having the most information when it comes to doing business and getting along with people.

41:01 – “It’s very challenging. There’s plenty of times where I’ve been really overwhelmed, and I asked myself, ‘why am I doing this?’”

How does Matt effectively manage his time, attending to all his responsibilities in life?

48:00 – “I never would have thought it would get that big… But I still love going to work and being there, and so that’s why I do it…”

With all these going on, why has he stayed in the fire department?

50:32 – “I took a leave of absence in January of this year, the first time I actually took a leave of absence from the department because I was drowning…”

Talking about Matt’s schedule and retirement plans

54:05 – “Make sure that it is something that you absolutely love… If you can find a way to create revenue in that area, you’ll probably be successful.”

Matt’s piece of advice for firefighters who wants to have a side hustle.

1:02:59 – “Just stay with your priorities; stay balanced. Hustle, grind; don’t turn that off. But balance it out and make sure that you’re also spending time on the other things that are just as valuable.”

Matt’s advice for his younger self, and whether or not he considers himself a successful man.

Key Takeaways:

“A lot of people come to me, [asking] ‘what’s next?’ There is no book that gives you the right answer. It really depends on what product you’re designing.” – Matt Scarpuzzi

“I can do anything that I put my mind into. It doesn’t matter what industry I’m in; it doesn’t matter how big everybody else is. If I use my creative thinking, get out there, and if I’m aggressive and calculated, good things are gonna happen.” – Matt Scarpuzzi

“You got to know when to say no. Just because I’m in front of these billionaires doesn’t mean that I’ll give them the best deal. I need the best deal for me. As a business order, I learned to kind of stand up for those situations.” – Matt Scarpuzzi

“The one with the most information wins.” – Matt Scarpuzzi

“You have to learn what you’re good at and what you can basically hire someone to do. You can’t do everything, and so you need to do what you have to do and only you can do.” – Matt Scarpuzzi

“Make sure that it is something that you absolutely love… If you can find a way to create revenue in that area, you’ll probably be successful.” – Matt Scarpuzzi

Resources Mentioned:

Savage UTV: https://www.savageutv.com/
How Offroad Helps This Father Teach His Kids About Life, Work, and Business (AGM Products video with Matt): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvg3lBzYizc

Connect with Matt Scarpuzzi:

Website: https://www.savageutv.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savageutv/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savageUTV/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClYwbu4N-uJtzO2VOLN2ryg/videos?view=0

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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What makes a realtor career better than a real estate investor?

Growing up with a dad who owned multiple rental properties, today's guest was exposed to the industry early. Although he has already established his path, he still reflects on his early days and how his father managed properties. Listen in and discover how an old school succeeded in the market despite its complexity. The proof of his competence is in his own hands; for him, this business does not need to be complicated.

Jay Koestel is a former Louisville Fire Department investigator. He retired about five years ago and is now a realtor and owns a real estate business. He is also the host of the Real Estate Unfiltered podcast.

During this episode, Jay shares how his old-school thinking - which he got from his dad - has helped him do business without conflict.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Discover how simple and easy-to-understand systems can help landlords manage their properties;
When checking properties, understand why a safety and security inspection is necessary; and
Get the knowledge you need to make real estate as simple and as easy as possible rather than diving into complicated matters, but instead thriving on the market.

“People, they deserve to have a nice place to live.” – Jay Koestel

Topics Covered:

01:00 – “Continue that job, or things may change at home… So I took my time and decided; I could cut my losses, retire out, and move on to something else.”

Jay walks us back on the before, during, and after of his fire department journey

04:23 – “That kind of piqued my interest as well, and I thought, you know, now might be a good time to start doing my own thing.”

Did Jay learn anything about real estate from his family as he grew up?

08:13 – “I’m still a little old school from my dad’s way of thinking. I manage my own properties. I am big on checklists….”

Talking about the systems Mike, Tyler, Aaron, and Jay got in place as they manage their real estate properties

15:36 – “What they have told me is as you get more under your belt – more seasoned, as they call it – you’re able to negotiate some terms a little bit better with some of these lenders.”

When did Jay start buying properties? Is he using hard-money lenders to purchase properties? Why do some people get hung up on the 12% and 15%, and others don’t?

22:06 – “The numbers may be different for all of us, but if that number, that endgame, works for you, then it’s a good deal.”

How does Jay use hard money as a tool? What does he think is going on these days with people, investing, and rates?

31:07 – “There’s no real law in Kentucky that says that I have to charge you X amount of dollars. I’m a landlord; I can charge you what I want…”

Whether Jay believes secondary markets will be hit harder by stagnation based on demographics in the area he sells in

37:18 – “People, they deserve to have a nice place to live.”

Mike’s safety and security inspection on properties and how that helps, Jay’s thoughts on it, and why your vote on the next election matters

43:42 – “I keep reverting to my dad… He says, when you get out of bed and you don’t enjoy going to work, it’s time; you’re done…”

Why did Jay choose the path of becoming a realtor on top of being a real estate investor?

46:40 – “It seems to be one of those things that people can make a significant amount of money…”

Talking about Jay’s plan moving forward, exploring more things, accumulating more properties, especially educating people about Airbnb

59:35 – “I think it’s the best option… We’re not going to lose all of our money in real estate like we possibly could in the stock market.”

Is real estate investing still a good, viable option for people?

1:01:17 – “I would start a lot earlier…”

The advice Jay would give to his younger self + the podcast he co-hosts

Key Takeaways:

“What they have told me is as you get more under your belt – more seasoned, as they call it – you’re able to negotiate some terms a little bit better with some of these lenders.” – Jay Koestel

“The numbers may be different for all of us, but if that number, that endgame works for you, then it’s a good deal.” – Jay Koestel

“If you like the house, get the house. The rates are always going to stay where they’re at; you can refinance it down the road.” – Jay Koestel

“I think it’s the best option… We’re not going to lose all of our money in real estate like we possibly could in the stock market.” – Jay Koestel

Resources Mentioned:

Asana: https://asana.com/
Trello: https://trello.com/
Loom: https://www.loom.com/
KREIA: https://kreia.org/
Real Estate Unfiltered podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-unfiltered/id1593263738

Connect with Jay Koestel:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-koestel-927a637b/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-estate-unfiltered/id1593263738

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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Why should we use our credit cards to our advantage rather than let banks and credit card companies take advantage of us?

Even though most people avoid talking about credit cards and scores, we're going to dispel some myths today that we've long held. If you think you need to be flying first class for you to learn from this episode, then you are mistaken. Making your credit card work for you is a big life win, whether you're putting fuel in your car, buying groceries, or paying bills. Tune in as our friend Jamie McMahon educates us on credit card numbers. Discover how responsibility can lead to real success.

Jamie McMahon is a firefighter at the same station where Aaron works. After graduating college and spending his life in the Midwest, he moved to the East Coast. During the Great Recession of 2008, there was a downturn in the Midwest job market; cities were bankrupt, laying off people. He discovered credit cards' rewards system and point system while seeking a job in Washington, DC, in 2016. A total of 21 cards have been issued to him to date, each with a different score.

During this episode, Jamie explains how credit cards and credit scores work to make them work for the user's benefit, not the lender's.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Find out how to use your points in accordance with the 5/24 and 1/5 rules;
Understand how to get the most out of your credit card and your credit score; and
Understand that credit cards aren't only for people who fly first class, but for anyone spending money or consuming goods

“My option may not be the answer for everyone, and that’s okay. You may want to go down a different route. There are routes out there for everyone.”

– Jamie McMahon

Topics Covered:

1:08 – “This is how I reward myself and my family. Just doing a little bit of research and making your credit cards work for you, basically.”

The story of Jamie's foray into the points game for credit cards and using a credit card to maximize your rewards

09:30 – “It’s not a scam. It’s a real thing. People really do this.”

Talking about how hesitant people are regarding conversations about this kind of stuff. Discussion around credit card myths

10:21 – “Just because you create a hard inquiry on your credit report doesn’t mean it’s a very negative thing at all. It only lasts for a couple of months, and then your credit score goes up if you’re responsible.”

Myth #1: Checking your credit score will hurt your credit. What is a hard inquiry? What is a soft inquiry?

12:24 – “It just takes a little bit of effort on your part to look into what’s in the fine print…”

Myth #2: There’s only one single credit score. What are the three different credit bureaus? What is your FICO score?

17:14 – “You don’t want to close your credit card at all… The longer you have a credit history, the better.”

An overview of Chase Bank's engagement rules and why people should start with them. What factors determine your credit score?

25:41 – “They have a higher percentage fee in order to have their product in their store…”

American Express's 1/5 rule: what does it mean? How do American Express cards benefit you, and why should you own one?

35:21 – “All they want to know is which card/s you have, and then they apply it to what’s the best for your buck.”

CardPointers and Travel Freely apps make it easy to know which cards offer what benefits and how to keep track of them.

40:04 – “So by the time he’s responsible at the age of 16 or 18, he’s able to come out the gate with a decent credit score.”

Kids' credit cards and making them authorized users: Why should you give your family members credit cards so they can build their credit?

43:25 – “I stayed at the room using their Freenet certificate that was issued by that card which cost the retail price over $1,200. Look at the value I got out of that…”

Why should you pay attention to the annual fees?

45:12 – “If it were me just starting out, I’d most definitely go with the transferable points option…”

Answering Aaron’s question – do credit cards share points?

49:01 – “Using your points and miles for concert tickets and/or Amazon gift cards, stuff like that, is not a great option.…”

A quick recap on the points discussed today and where to best use your credit miles.

52:09 – “I use it as much as I could. I think the Platinum is one of my favorites.…”

How Mike and Tyler use their credit cards, as well as how Jamie double dips with his card

59:42 – “What the Fed is doing directly affects your credit history…”

Seeing low APR cars: All-time or just introductory rate low?

1:04:00 – “There are other ways out there to redeem or to get cash back and your miles…”

Which other websites or podcasts would Jamie recommend checking out?

1:11:32 – “My option may not be the answer for everyone, and that’s okay. You may want to go down a different route. There are routes out there for everyone.”

Words of wisdom from Jamie McMahon

1:12:34 – “Don’t use your points and miles for magazine subscriptions. Look at those transferable miles. If you’re going to start out with a credit card style, start out with Chase immediately. Always start with them if you’re looking at the 5/24 status…”

Here's some parting advice for this episode's listeners

Key Takeaways:

“Just because you create a hard inquiry on your credit report doesn’t mean it’s a very negative thing at all. It only lasts for a couple of months, and then your credit score goes up if you’re responsible.” – Jamie McMahon.

“If you have a score between 750 and 850, your rates are not going to be any different. Once you’re in that excellent range, the bank isn’t gonna look at you any different. They’re gonna give you the same, best rate possible. Kudos to those guys who have a score of 800, but once you reach about 750 or so, you’re good to go.” – Jamie McMahon

“Using your points and miles for concert tickets and/or Amazon gift cards, stuff like that is not a great option. It’s not the best use of your miles. You’re not getting the best bang for your points when you use it for that type of thing. They’re best used in transferring to all those different airlines and our hotel partners that we talked about earlier.” – Jamie McMahon.

“Don’t use your points and miles for magazine subscriptions. Look at those transferable miles. If you’re going to start out with a credit card style, start out with Chase immediately. Always start with them if you’re looking at the 5/24 status.” – Jamie McMahon.

Resources Mentioned:

TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/
Experian: https://www.experian.com/
Equifax: https://www.equifax.com/
Credit Karma: https://www.creditkarma.com/
Chase Bank: https://www.chase.com/
American Express: https://www.americanexpress.com/
CardPointers app: https://cardpointers.com/
Travel Freely app: https://travelfreely.net/
Google Flights: https://www.google.com/flights
Frequent Miler: https://frequentmiler.com/
Miles to Go podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miles-to-go-travel-tips-news-reviews-you-cant-afford-to-miss/id1357202594
Cashback Monitor: https://www.cashbackmonitor.com/

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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To truly scale towards the life you've always dreamed of, what would it take for your business to have positive consistency? This week's guest has a lot of valuable content to share, even though he's not a first responder. As a Dallas guy who moved to a small town with limited resources, he is not only providing a financial future for himself, his family, and his employees but also helping others in the community thrive! He once had nothing, but as he began to believe in himself, he is now achieving what he always wanted. So we invite you to join us today and hear what he says.

Stinson Bland has been investing for about 13 years now. His marketing business used to do really well, but it collided in 2008 when the market crashed. Being raised in a broken home with no role model or financial advisor, Stinson never had a chance to succeed. But then he discovered real estate. A good change has taken place in his life since then. He is now buying and flipping houses, mostly for rental income and to generate passive income.

Throughout this episode, Stinson discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people who have a good mindset as he shares how he reached the point in his business where he is now: real estate.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Understand how the people in your community/circle of friends play a crucial role in your growth as a person and an entrepreneur;
Discover why finding the right people to work with is essential as your business grows;
Embrace the beauty of giving back to your community and how that helps you succeed as an individual

“I don’t allow negativity in my life. That might be a bad thing, but for me, my energy comes from other people – I now know that – and I have to be around positive people, or I’ll get into a negative space really fast. I believe you are the sum of the five people you’re around the most.”

– Stinson Bland

Topics Covered:

01:01 – “When the market crashed in ’08, my business evaporated… I decided to move to Waco, Texas, to focus on buying rentals and creating passive income.”

Stinson introduces himself as he shares his work, going through his journey from being financially ruined to discovering the real estate world.

04:49 – “Moving here has made me realize that I value relationships and experiences more than ever.”

What was Stinson’s decision to leave Dallas, a vast market where lots of success awaits? What did he see in Waco, especially about the quality of life to live there?

11:55 – “I understand the technology and many different very advanced strategies, so I’m able to outpace the people here based solely on data and strategies.”

Stinson shares what it’s like, to invest in a small community like Waco as he talks about his company’s current state and what took him to build a business like that.

20:49 – “I’ve always had limiting beliefs… And as I start reading that book, I’m like, holy shit, this book is talking directly to me.”

How is Stinson designing and developing his business? How did he apply the concept of the book “Who Not How” to it?

30:13 – “I don’t allow negativity in my life. That might be a bad thing, but for me, my energy come from other people – I now know that – and I have to be around positive people, or I’ll get into a negative space really fast. I believe you are the sum of the five people you’re around the most.”

Stinson reiterates the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people and finding the right employees to work with you.

41:53 – “You have to take action and have accountability so that you feel truly obligated to take that action.”

Why should people, especially entrepreneurs in real estate, pay more attention to their mindset? What can people do to start moving towards the direction of true success?

46:10 – “These kids are already going through really crazy times in their life. If they’re coming into a fallen-apart, shitty school, how are they going to change their mindset so that their life can be better?”

The beauty of giving back to the community: How Stinson helps the community he’s in and how that help comes back to him, in line with the importance of believing in oneself

1:00:12 – “It’s so cliché, but it’s freedom; financial freedom.”

What’s Stinson’s motivation to move forward and keep pushing?

1:02:44 – “Go with my gut. I wish I’d given my gut instincts more credibility.”

What is Stinson’s advice to his 20 to 30-year-old self?

Key Takeaways:

“What was the appeal was the ability to buy properties at a discount, the lack of competition. I knew that I could bring my strategies and skill sets from Dallas that made me successful there, and I believe that could dominate here, and it’s proving to be somewhat true.” – Stinson Bland.

“You really do need to focus on the quality of life you live now or later on because it makes a huge difference in your lifestyle and your choices.” – Stinson Bland

“If you really focus on something and put it out there, it just comes to you.” – Stinson Bland.

“You have to take action and have accountability so that you feel like you’re truly obligated to take that action.” – Stinson Bland.

Resources Mentioned:

Who Not How: https://whonothow.com/
The Ed Mylett Show’s Unlocking Your Success Code: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ed-mylett-unlocking-your-success-code/id1181233130?i=1000380675439

Connect with Stinson Bland

Website: https://wacofirsthomebuyers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WacoFirstHomeBuyers/reviews

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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How can you plan your way towards a retirement rich in wealth?

Nobody gets into public service for the money; we do it for more profound reasons. But that also makes it easy to see ourselves in a positive where we think we need to overwork to earn more. If only we could be aware that what we’re building financially doesn’t have to be tied to our physical labor, imagine what a better world that would be!

So join us today as Chris educates us on financial planning, stressing the different programs you can check to have your retirement plan in line with wealth and the life you’ve always wanted to live.

Chris Bauchle helps people retire wealthy. He is an Indianapolis-based financial advisor and career firefighter working with firefighters and other public service professionals. After earning a Master of Science in Financial Services with a concentration in Retirement Planning, Chris joined TrustWealth Strategies to serve as a fiduciary in comprehensive financial planning. His determination to help others began in 2006 as an Air Force firefighter. Since then, his focus has remained unchanged.

In this episode, Chris explains the importance of financial planning as he enumerates the benefits of each investment, insurance, and retirement plan, wanting to help people retire wealthy.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Learn what’s the difference between the 457 plan and Roth, pre-tax and post-tax, and the benefits you can get from each;
Discover what the red flags on investments and financial planning as a whole are;
Understand the primary reason why people work longer than they want to; and
Find out how you can dramatically change your trajectory to retirement and welcome your post-career life with wealth

“I have this vision of just more firefighter families retiring wealthy. There’s a lot of just little tweaks that we can make that will dramatically change someone’s trajectory to retirement.”

– Chris Bauchle

Topics Covered:

04:35 – “My job is to optimize everything that can be optimized and put a plan in place to get you in retirement when you want to retire.”

Chris answers the questions a) What exactly does a financial advisor do? and b) What makes a better financial advisor?

07:24 – “There’s a lot that can be done to kind of structure things around the pension to optimize the income in retirement and reduce taxes in retirement… Your quality of life in retirement can vary dramatically based on what you do above and beyond the pension.”

The biggest difference between the general public trying to plan for retirement vs. somebody from the first responder community; and a simplified explanation/tip for someone who just graduated/doesn’t know much about the industry

12:50 – “There’s still a lot that we can do with a year until retirement, but somebody that puts things in place on day one is such a powerful thing over time.”

Explaining how the terms 457 and Roth IRA, pre-tax and post-tax, differ from one another; and the benefits of both 457 and Roth, pre-tax and post-tax

22:19 – “From a planning perspective, the term is a no-brainer for many firefighter families, especially when you’re young and healthy.”

The things people in the police and/or fire department are not doing / what they’re missing; and a comparison between the terms term life and permanent life in insurance

27:42 – “There’s no silver bullet when it comes to financial planning. There’s just all these tools to optimize your situation in line with your plan.”

What do financial advisors like Chris avoid talking about? What are the red flags?

30:16 – “The number one thing that keeps people working longer than they want to is they can’t afford the retirees’ health insurance premiums.”

What other programs are there that Chris would like to recommend? Where and when can you use your HSA?

37:56 – “The biggest thing a good financial planner is going to do is really get in the weeds of where your assets are located and how they should be positioned moving forward.”

Why people must reach out to a professional like Chris to take a look at their situation and the vast diversification value there is in real estate

43:27 – “Specific to a brokerage account, there’s a lot that can be done there to optimize your taxes with long-term capital gains, or you can offset gains with losses as well in the exact same way.”

Does Chris work with people who have a self-directed IRA set up? How to explain short-term vs. long-term capital gains for someone who has already started making money after investing?

49:08 – Connect with Chris Bauchle: Fill out the contact form on his website

50:25 – “Long-term care insurance is a way to protect your assets in retirement. Maybe it doesn’t pay for the full nursing home or the full amount of in-home care, but it prevents assets from being spent down too quickly.”

Does Chris sell long-term care insurance? Why is it most people’s greatest retirement to have their whole pension go to a nursing home? What is long-term disability insurance all about?

56:54 – Get to know more about the Good Neighbor Next Door Program by searching for it on www.hud.gov

59:41 – “I have this vision of just more firefighter families retiring wealthy. There’s a lot of just little tweaks that we can make that will dramatically change someone’s trajectory to retirement.”

Chris’ motivation to keep pushing forward, investing, and doing all this stuff

1:02:05 – “Start earlier. Challenge the employee mentality earlier.”

What is Chris’ advice for his younger self?

Key Takeaways:

“There’s a lot that can be done to kind of structure things around the pension to optimize the income in retirement and reduce taxes in retirement… Your quality of life in retirement can vary dramatically based on what you do above and beyond the pension.” – Chris Bauchle.

“There’s still a lot that we can do with a year until retirement, but somebody that puts things in place on day one is such a powerful thing over time.” – Chris Bauchle.

“There’s no silver bullet when it comes to financial planning. There’s just all these tools to optimize your situation in line with your plan.” – Chris Bauchle.

“The number one thing that keeps people working longer than they want to is they can’t afford the retirees’ health insurance premiums.” – Chris Bauchle.

“The biggest thing a good financial planner is going to do is really get in the weeds of where your assets are located and how they should be positioned moving forward.” – Chris Bauchle.

Resources Mentioned:

Fighterfighter Financial Advisor: https://www.firefighterfinancialadvisor.com/

Good Neighbor Next Door: search www.hud.gov

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: https://store.richdad.com/products/rich-dad-poor-dad-what-the-rich-teach-their-kids-about-money-that-the-poor-and-middle-class-do-not

Cashflow Quadrant: https://www.richdad.com/the-cashflow-quadrant

Connect with Chris Bauchle

Website: https://www.firefighterfinancialadvisor.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bauchle-msfs-ricp-26293712a/

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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Real estate has grown to be a wealth source for many people, but people give up along the way because they can't find and close a deal. Thanks to Dan's presence today, you can get encouragement from someone who has been there. The man knows what it's like to have nothing; however, he does not stop searching. Join us today as he shares how he became a successful real estate investor without debt, just bliss, wealth, and freedom.

Dan Smith started investing even before he became a firefighter in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Currently, he is involved in many real estate investments, including partnerships, storage units, and dozens of rentals and flips. Dan shares his real estate journey throughout this episode, from starting with nothing to creating wealth through real estate.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Get to listen and learn from a success story that’s almost 95% different from most people’s real estate journey;
Understand why you should keep looking and not give up once you reach a point where you feel like you can’t find a deal;
Find out how to achieve that financial and life freedom through a personal story and the strategies he implemented as he went on.

“Number one thing is just don’t give up. Don’t quit. You’re gonna fail; part of life is failing. You just have to keep going, and you have to know that this system works and that real estate creates wealth. You just have to keep doing it.”

– Dan Smith

Topics Covered:

01:26 – “I guess my story is a little different than 95% of people.”

Dan narrates the backstory of how he reached this far in real estate investing, sharing what he did throughout the journey.

05:46 – “I bought what nobody wanted… I went above and beyond, but it’s paid off in the end.”

How did Dan get his first deal? What did he buy when he was just starting?

15:30 – “For me, partnerships are so hard because I am so hands-on; getting a partner like me is almost impossible.”

The importance of finding a partner who is a good match for your personality.

20:10 – “I wouldn’t be where I’m at without it, for sure.”

In just 18 months, he went from single families to having ten storage facilities. Thanks to Storage Rebellion.

24:38 – “I do value-add. I have never bought a retail property, ever.”

Discuss the strategy Dan and his real estate partner put into use + talk about storage auctions.

35:39 – “It went fine. We just transitioned to the online auction; it’s so much easier.”

What is the value of hosting an auction for Dan? What steps are involved in the process, especially for legal reasons? How much does your network's net worth appear to be?

42:50 – “I’m here. I’m gonna make sure that he knows I’m interested in buying.”

How he found deals: Sharing a story about how he sent postcards each day to a house he wanted to buy.

44:36 – “Number one thing is just don’t give up. Don’t quit.”

Here are Dan's thoughts on people who keep saying they can't find deals to work on and/or start with, as well as words of encouragement for those who have lost hope.

46:11 – “You better underwrite it to where you can still be successful if you have to long-term it.”

Is there a reason why Dan does not like short-term rentals? Is there a reason why it didn't work for them? How does Mike feel about it?

57:56 – “It’s stabilization, looking at multifamily because it’s so scalable.”

Dan shares what’s next for him and his real estate journey.

1:01:39 – “Buy way more than I ever bought. Get more people. Don’t try to do it all myself.”

What advice would Dan give his younger self if he could return in time?

1:02:33 – “I have two teenage boys and a nine-year-old daughter. I want to create a future for them.”

Dan’s motivation – his why

Key Takeaways:

“I tell people this all the time when they say they can’t find deals. I’m like, ‘you are not looking.’ Go out there, talk to people, pound the pavement, drive around, find the house that’s got grass all up around it.” – Dan Smith

Resources Mentioned:

Rich Dad Poor Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194
Dave Ramsey: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/
Storage Rebellion: https://www.thestoragerebellion.com/
Boxwell: https://boxwell.co/
Auction.com: https://www.auction.com/
Realtor.com: https://www.realtor.com/
Who Not How: https://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork-ebook/dp/B0867ZJ151

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

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Is real estate investing something you've always been interested in?

Do you want to do business in that field, but for some reason, you haven’t taken a step towards that yet?

It took our guest just once to get sidetracked; he was just like you. Despite all the turmoil he's been through, he's here today to tell us what he did and show us that we can do it, too, just as he did. The importance of true wealth is what he explains in this episode.

Chad Weeden is a police officer turned Real Estate Investor, Real Estate Wholesaler, Finance Manager, and Entrepreneur. As he leads the Fusion Real Estate Investment Group, they buy, fix, and sell South Carolina and Colorado real estate to improve communities and help local investors participate in the real estate market alongside them.

Chad shares his backstory of transitioning from being a police officer to becoming a successful real estate investor.

Why you need to check today’s episode:

Find out how a police officer achieved the life he wants by being a real estate investor;
Discover the secret of how he does business in real estate and still has space to live life in the lifestyle he and his family want; and
Understand why it’s a game-changer to have people start in real estate investing at an early age.

“Just don’t lose sight. The true most valuable thing in this life is time and the people that you spend time with. So don’t spend time with people that you don’t want to spend time with. And if you’re one of those people who are worried about what other people think about you, take those people and be like Michael Jordan; just frickin’ hate everybody that talks any kind of shit about you and keep that in the back of your mind. Remember that they’re the crabs in the pot that will never get out of their own way.”

– Chad Weeden

Topics Covered:

02:17 – “I made really good money in the car business, but there was just nothing to chase there other than money; you could never chase time. My little man’s autistic, and I needed to be home. I just felt like real estate was that vehicle for me, so I just went for it.”

A look at Chad's life after high school: how he transitioned from working in law enforcement to performing sales through businesses until he started his journey in real estate.

06:53 – “Unfortunately, when you’re in your first business, and you love it so much, you make stupid decisions, and instead of getting your ass back in there, wait to try and get through it, you’re paying other people, and then you’re not paying your own damn bills.”

Looking Back: The lessons and realizations he and his wife have learned regarding running a business.

12:08 – “If I knew then what I know now, I would have actually kept that thing and owner-carried it.”

How did the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” lead Chad to real estate? Which area of investing piqued his interest the most?

16:13 – “Banks just don’t like that asset, but it’s a great asset, so we’re working through that.”

Chad discusses plans for expansion and the deduction on one of their contracts as he discusses his mobile home park deals.

23:29 – “All I wanted to do was replace my income… but I don’t want to do that all the time. When I left, I initially wanted just to flip, like five, six houses a year, and I could be home and be a dad.”

Everything’s by design: How Chad and his family live their life while doing business in real estate and building a team simultaneously.

32:09 – “At the end of the day, we keep our guys busy, and we treat them good and pay them well. I’ve never been one to go for the cheapest guy; I don’t want the most expensive guy. But I just want people who are going to do what they say they’re going to do and get it done, and we’ll come back to fix whatever they fuck up.”

The importance of keeping your team busy even when they aren’t the best men in the field, how numbers have gone back up these days, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to change strategies.

42:45 – “Email is not dead.”

What is PPC? What does Chad love about it that he’s incorporated it with his business? Why does Chad avoid buying deals from a wholesaler?

48:12 – “If I could get away from flips now and get into owner financing, I would.”

Chad explains what made him want to pick up more passive assets and passive income, why – if possible – he’d go towards owner financing, and why it’s good to use ADUs.

56:13 – “I learned that I can get in the way of things, and also learned that there are other things that I should have my team doing that I shouldn't be doing.”

The backstory on how it’s like, going on a trip and living somewhere for a month

1:01:02 – Q: If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what advice would that be?

A: “Don’t let yourself get sidetracked. You should’ve chased your real estate ambitions from the very start.”

1:02:59 – Q: Aside from your family and your love for them, what is your why and motivation?

A: “My why now is my son.”

1:04:24 – “Just don’t lose sight. The true most valuable thing in this life is time and people that you spend time with….”

Chad’s parting advice for the listeners.

Key Takeaways:

“None of us can be alive without sales. Sales are like the golden egg in all businesses.” – Chad Weeden.

“Unfortunately, when you’re in your first business, and you love it so much, you make stupid decisions, and instead of getting your ass back in there, wait to try and get through it, you’re paying other people, and then you’re not paying your own damn bills.” – Chad Weeden.

“If you can find two or three or four good finish guys, trim people, all the guys that can do the cabinets and the door handles and all that stuff, if you can fill that in with three or four people, you can actually really scale.” – Chad Weeden.

“Don’t be scared to change your strategy just because. If it doesn’t work in one realm, it might work somewhere else.” – Chad Weeden.

“Here’s a pro tip for anybody in the real estate business. If you can get linked up with a former school teacher, whether it’s a real estate agent or assistant or has something to do within your business, massive winning right there because they are so organized.” – Chad Weeden.

Resources Mentioned:

Rich Dad Poor Dad: https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194

Connect with Chad Weeden:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flippingchad/
Website: https://www.fusionrealestateinvestmentgroup.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealEstate4CashFast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-weeden-80143348/

Connect with First Responder Financial Freedom:

Website: https://firstresponderfinancialfreedom.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/First-Responder-Financial-Freedom-104285545708905
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516680892660393

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Aaron and Tyler do a quick update and chop it up. In this episode we discuss our individual investing businesses, Short Term Rentals, How Legislation Effects Investing, and More. Grab a Cup and Have a Listen.

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Real Estate Investing; large and small deals, lending , coaching, podcasting, van rentals , add value to existing storage

`yourmultifamilymentor.com

joecapitalgroup.com

https://www.facebook.com/ValleyVanRentals

podcast: investories

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Going from a startup to a 6 figure business flipping 1,000 couches in year

Cooper Couches named after Trevors best furrry friend.

https://www.facebook.com/tpozo

https://offerup.co/tP2f07PFXrb

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Tylers: "lazy flip" that will still be a win. Hydroseeding a lawn to accelerate growth.

Mike: Dealing with damage on a property and undesirable tenants

Aaron: Generator fell of a truck so Aaron bought it to power the house. Digital staging a house.

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https://www.launchcreativefinancing.com/

Want to pick his brain?

https://calendly.com/travis-oglesby/15min

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www.landsisters.com

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Most Active on YouTube & IG

https://www.facebook.com/thatADUguy

https://thataduguy.com/

https://youtube.com/c/ThatADUGuy

https://www.instagram.com/thataduguy/

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Firefighter and business owner of Jacked up! Poly Jacking is replacing the industry

www.jackedupllc.com/

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Pressure washing, window cleaning, gutter clearing , high angle dusting. Evolving and growing franchisee goes over his growth phases.

www.squeegeesquad.com/locations/naperville-il/

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This week we talk with Mike Flora. Links:

The Psychology of Money

@firstresponderff

@theinvestingfireman

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Welcome to the first episode of First Responder Financial Freedom. Join hosts Mike Webb, Tyler Thrush and Aaron Foster as they talk about their personal investment history and gives some tips and tricks along the way.

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First Responder Financial Freedom