How to Build Wealth Through Non-Food Franchising
The Richer Geek
Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast. Today we are joined by Jon Ostenson, one of the top 1% Franchise Consultants in the U.S., respected author, investor, and leading voice in the world of non-food franchising. Jon breaks down how everyday professionals, corporate leaders, and real estate investors can use franchising to build wealth, diversify income, and create long-term stability even without quitting their day job. In this episode, we chat about… Jon’s career path from corporate leadership to franchise president and top franchise consultant Why non-food...
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Bitcoin Meets AI: What’s Next?
The Richer Geek
Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast! This week, as we honor Veterans Day, today’s guest brings both service and purpose to the mic. Joshua Brooks, founder of Exponential Advisors and an Army Reserve Chaplain, combines military discipline, faith, and forward-thinking tech to help families and organizations build real financial freedom. Joshua shares how he’s blending AI, blockchain, and Bitcoin into modern financial planning, why he believes everyone should take a second look at Bitcoin, and how faith and integrity shape his work. From overcoming PTSD to leading with...
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How the Ultra-Wealthy Invest in 2025
The Richer Geek
Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast. Today we are joined by Richard Wilson, CEO of Family Office Club, the largest investor community for ultra-wealthy families with over 7,500+ members and 16+ in-person events every year. Richard has spent 18 years studying how the richest entrepreneurs protect and grow wealth, building a global social network of 17M+ followers and interviewing billionaires to decode what truly moves the needle. In this episode, we chat about… What the ultra-wealthy are actually investing in right now Why investors are moving away from “spray...
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Buying Castles in Spain: The Smart Way to Invest in Boutique Hotels
The Richer Geek
Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast! Today, Mike and Nichole break down how U.S. investors can tap into Spain’s booming tourism market, including opportunities to buy historic boutique hotels and castles at surprisingly accessible prices. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a cash-flowing property you can also vacation in… this one’s for you. In this episode, we chat about… Why Spain beats the U.S. in current hotel economics The hidden world of affordable castles and estates The challenges of buying overseas (and how to solve them) How the fund...
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Why Mobile Home Parks Are the Smartest Real Estate Play
The Richer Geek
Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast. Today we are joined by Brad Johnson, Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Vintage Capital. Brad shares how mobile home park investing is quietly outperforming traditional real estate. He breaks down why this niche is attracting serious investors, the powerful tax advantages that come with it, and how it helps solve America’s growing affordable housing problem all while delivering steady, long-term returns. In this episode, we chat about… Brad’s journey from small rental properties to managing $3B+ in real estate deals ...
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The Quiet Fortune in Timberland
The Richer Geek
Can trees really grow your wealth? In this episode, Mike talks with John Brenard, Founder and Managing Director of Southview Timberland Investments, about how timberland and farmland offer strong returns, steady cash flow, and natural inflation protection. John explains why this overlooked asset class is gaining traction with investors who want something real, stable, and sustainable. In this episode, we chat about… From Wealth Management to Timberland: How John turned a family land purchase into a thriving investment strategy. Why Timberland Works: A proven inflation hedge that’s...
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The Hotel We Almost Skipped — That Tripled Our Money
The Richer Geek
In this week’s episode of The Richer Geek Podcast, Mike and Nichole sit down for a quick but insightful chat about their first hotel investment, a deal they almost passed on. They share how a mismanaged Arizona property turned into a 3X return and what it taught them about timing, partnerships, and spotting value where others don’t look. In this episode, we chat about… How Mike transitioned from multifamily to hotels Meeting Vic and forming a strong investment partnership Finding opportunity in a mismanaged Arizona hotel Why location and local “drivers” matter more than...
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Preserving Legacies Through Storytelling
The Richer Geek
What if your family’s greatest stories could live on like a Netflix documentary? In this episode of The Richer Geek, today we are joined by filmmaker and storyteller Chance McClain, founder of Heritage Films. With over 800 documentaries produced, Chance has made it his mission to capture family histories, founders’ journeys, and life legacies in cinematic style. From Army veteran to Broadway musicals to award-nominated filmmaking, Chance shares how storytelling preserves values across generations and why every story, big or small, matters. In this episode, we chat about… How Chance...
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Smart Tax & Exit Strategies Every Entrepreneur Needs
The Richer Geek
Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast! Today our guest is David Flores Wilson, founder of Sincerus Advisory and named an Investopedia Top 100 Financial Advisor. He helps entrepreneurs, tech professionals, and business owners maximize wealth, optimize equity compensation, and exit businesses the smart way. In this episode, David breaks down tax-saving strategies, the power of donor-advised funds, how to use real estate for wealth building, and why exit planning should start on day one, not the day you’re ready to sell. If you want to keep more of what you earn and create...
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Recession-Proof Wealth with Alternative Investments
The Richer Geek
Patrick Grimes, CEO of Passive Investing Mastery and internationally bestselling author, shares how accredited investors can diversify like the ultra-wealthy. In this episode, Patrick explains why litigation funding, rare earth metals, and other alternative investments can protect your wealth, create passive income, and thrive during any economic cycle. In this episode, we chat about… Patrick’s shift from robotics engineering to building wealth through real estate and alternative assets Why litigation finance is a powerful, non-correlated investment strategy How accredited investors...
info_outlineThink pre-IPO investments are just for billionaires? Think again.
Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast! Today’s guest is Mike Ivancie, CMO at UpMarket, an alternative investment platform that’s opening the door for accredited investors to access private market opportunities once reserved for the ultra-wealthy.
Since 2019, UpMarket has helped individuals invest over $150 million into assets like pre-IPO shares in SpaceX, Neuralink, Stripe, and OpenAI, as well as hedge funds, private equity, and real estate. Mike’s mission is to break down barriers and grow the platform to over $1 billion in transactions. Before joining UpMarket, he led growth at CNote, an impact investment platform, where he helped raise over $100 million for underserved communities
In this episode, we’re discussing…
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Democratizing Alternative Investments: Upmarket provides accredited investors access to private market opportunities, including pre-IPO companies, private equity, and private debt.
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Accessing Pre-IPO Giants: Learn how you can potentially invest in high-growth companies like OpenAI, SpaceX, and Anthropic before they go public.
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Understanding the Investment Process: Mike explains the mechanics of investing through UpMarket, from minimum investment amounts to the process of potential liquidity events like IPOs.
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Weighing the Pros and Cons: Gain insights into the potential benefits (high growth potential) and risks (illiquidity, higher fees) associated with pre-IPO and alternative investments.
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The AI Investment Landscape: Explore the current skepticism and future potential of AI investments, including the significant energy demands and potential industry shifts.
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Impact Investing Explained: Understand the definition and real-world utility of impact investing, considering the trade-offs between financial returns and social good.
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The Intertwined Future of AI and Energy: Discover the staggering projected energy consumption of AI data centers and the potential role of nuclear energy in meeting these demands.
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Getting Started with UpMarket: Learn how to explore investment opportunities and educational resources on the UpMarket website (upmarket.co) and connect with Mike Ivancie directly.
Resources from Mike Ivancie
Resources from Mike and Nichole
Gateway Private Equity Group | Nic's guide | Franchise With Bob