509: What’s in the One Big Beautiful (Tax) Bill?
Wealth Formula Podcast
When I was a young surgeon just coming out of residency and finally started making some money, I had to do something I’d never done before: find someone to do my taxes. Naturally, I asked around. I went to the older, more experienced surgeons in my group and said, “Who do you guys use?” A few names came up, but one firm kept coming up over and over. So, I figured it was probably a good idea to go with them. One of the main things people said about this firm was that they were “conservative.” At the time, that sounded like a good thing. In hindsight, it absolutely wasn’t. You see,...
info_outline
508: The Road to 2030 - Are We Headed for Another Great Depression?
Wealth Formula Podcast
ITR Economics has been predicting a “Great Depression” beginning around 2030. Over the past seven years, I’ve had multiple representatives from their firm on the show, and they’ve never wavered from that forecast. That might not sound so alarming—until you realize that their long-term predictive track record is 94% accurate over the last 70 years. To understand why their conviction is so strong, tune into this week’s episode of Wealth Formula Podcast. Once you hear the reasoning, it’ll all make sense. The major drivers of this projected economic downturn are debt and...
info_outline
507: How to Sell Your Business or Practice
Wealth Formula Podcast
The Wealth Formula Community is filled with high-paid professionals and small business owners—I'm one of them. Most of us are so focused on making a living that we rarely think about the day we might want to sell our "jobs." Over the years, I've encountered many physicians and dentists who never even considered an exit strategy until private equity firms approached them. Some of these lucky professionals have become quite wealthy from these transactions. But here's the thing—they could have done even better if they'd planned their exit earlier. Even if your practice or business isn't huge,...
info_outline
506: Mortgages and Reverse Mortgages with Wade Pfau
Wealth Formula Podcast
, our online mastermind group, is where we dive into the financial questions that keep us up at night, and one debate that keeps coming up is whether to pay off your mortgage. It’s a complex question, but let’s unpack the math and the emotion so you can decide for yourself. First, think of your mortgage as a lever: with just 20% down, you control 100% of your home’s value. On a $500,000 property, that means your $100,000 down payment magnifies the impact of appreciation. If home values rise 4% in a year, your equity grows by $20,000—an effective 20% return on your original $100K. Had...
info_outline
505: Andy Tanner on Cash Flowing Stocks for Double Digit Returns
Wealth Formula Podcast
I used to scoff at Wall Street, believing the stock market was the last place to build real, life-changing wealth. I leaned exclusively on real estate, private businesses—even Bitcoin—to grow my net worth. But times change. I’ve softened my stance on equities and now see a place for stocks in my portfolio—just not the way most people do. I think of them as cash-flowing assets, much like real estate, following the approach of Andy Tanner, Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad” stock advisor. Over the past two weeks, I decided to put Andy’s strategy to the test by selling covered puts on...
info_outline
504: Maximizing Profits by Paying Less Tax: Deferred Sales Trusts
Wealth Formula Podcast
The last couple of weeks, we’ve been deep in the world of buying businesses. But what happens when it’s time to cash out? Maybe you’re ready to sell your business, that investment property you’ve managed for years, or another major asset you’ve poured your energy into. If you’re like most people, the thrill of a big sale is quickly followed by a less-exciting thought: “Wait, how much am I going to owe in taxes?” It’s the classic one-two punch—first the celebration, then the sinking feeling as you picture Uncle Sam’s hand reaching for a chunk of your hard-earned gains. But...
info_outline
503: How to Fund Your Commercial Real Estate or Business Acquisition
Wealth Formula Podcast
Last week on Wealth Formula Podcast, we dove deep with an expert who specializes in due diligence for small business acquisitions. To reiterate, what makes small business acquisitions especially enticing are the incredible financing opportunities available through the SBA. Imagine this: you only put down 10 percent on a $5 million business, and suddenly, you're in control of a business that throws off a million dollars per year in cash flow after paying monthly loan charges. That’s what these numbers look like. Now obviously, it’s a business, and it’s not going to be quite that easy....
info_outline
502: Should You Buy a Business?
Wealth Formula Podcast
Lately, I've been thinking about starting a new business. I know the market seems like it's crashing around us, and we're probably headed into a recession. But hey—I started my first business back in 2009, and it doesn’t get much worse than that, right? Well, maybe it can. And that's exactly why I've been considering buying a business instead of starting one from scratch, particularly because of the SBA loan options available right now. Here's how an SBA 7(a) loan breaks down for a $1,000,000 business purchase: Total Loan Amount: $1,000,000 Typical Down Payment (10%): $100,000 Amount...
info_outline
Time to Invest!
Wealth Formula Podcast
Now’s the time to move. Markets are down, fear is high—and that’s exactly when the smart money starts to deploy. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about the , this might be your moment. Learn how you can leverage market downturns with guardrails in place and amplify your upside while protecting the downside. Connect with Rod at
info_outline
501: Real Estate Postmortem - Lessons from the Crash and the Opportunity Ahead
Wealth Formula Podcast
Charlie Munger, the late sage of value investing and Warren Buffett’s right-hand man, once said there are only three ways a smart man can go broke: “liquor, ladies, and leverage.” Now, of the three, leverage is the sneakiest. It shows up dressed like opportunity, whispers promises of scale and speed, and before you know it—you’re in a capital call or margin call. But let’s be clear: leverage isn’t the enemy. In fact, if your goal is to become truly wealthy—if you want to build lasting, generational wealth—you’re going to need it. Unless you’re one of the lucky few who can...
info_outlineWhen it comes to building wealth, the allure of exotic investment products can be hard to resist.
From cryptocurrencies to rare collectibles, these options promise excitement, exclusivity, and the potential for big returns.
But are they truly superior to buying the market or some rental real estate? Let’s take a look at a few popular exotic investments.
1. Cryptocurrency: High Risk, High Reward?
The upside is real—early adopters have seen life-changing gains, and blockchain technology offers genuine innovation. However, the volatility is intense; prices can crash as fast as they soar, and risks like hacks or regulatory shifts loom large.
Compared to the stock market’s historical 7-10% average annual return (adjusted for inflation), crypto offers a wild ride that can pay off—but only if you time it right. In my opinion, if you want to jump on the ride, there is no better time than now.
2. Rare Collectibles: Passion Meets Profit
Investing in art, fine wine, or vintage cars blends enjoyment with potential gains. A well-chosen piece can appreciate significantly.
For enthusiasts, the emotional reward is a big draw. On the flip side, these markets are illiquid (selling takes time and effort), and costs like storage, insurance, and commissions add up.
Unlike real estate, which generates rental income, or stocks with dividends, collectibles don’t pay you while you hold them.
3. Private Notes: High Yields with a Catch
Private notes involve lending money directly to individuals or businesses—often real estate developers or small companies—in exchange for interest payments, typically offering yields above traditional bonds or savings accounts.
It’s a chance to earn solid returns, sometimes 8-12%, while supporting specific projects or borrowers. The appeal lies in the potential for steady income and the ability to negotiate terms.
However, defaults can spike during economic downturns, and your money is often locked in until the note matures.
Compared to real estate, which offers rental income and appreciation, or stocks with liquidity and diversification, private notes are a niche play that requires careful vetting of borrowers to make sense.
4. Private Equity: The Elite Investment That’s Not Always Golden
Speaking of niche plays, private equity (PE) often comes up as the ultimate exotic investment, especially for the wealthy.
It’s frequently billed as a special opportunity reserved for the elite, where funds pool big money to buy, revamp, and sell companies for hefty profits. The perception is that PE is a gold mine, delivering returns that leave the stock market in the dust.
But is it really the wealth-building powerhouse people think it is? This week’s guest on the Wealth Formula Podcast argues that private equity might not be the golden ticket it’s cracked up to be.