What if your most profitable investment is one you would never make again? In this episode, Russ and Joey revisit a short-term rental business that generated more than $288,000 in income over 74 months. Despite the financial success, they explain why the deal fell short of the standards they use today to evaluate investments. Their experience reveals the risks of rental arbitrage and shows why a strong return doesn't automatically make an investment opportunity a good fit. Russ and Joey introduce their “Golden Filter,” a three-part framework built around fit, risk, and outcome, explaining how investors can use it to assess opportunities. Tune in to learn how to evaluate investments with clarity and why a repeatable process matters more than past success. Top three things you will learn: Cash flow and passive income are not always the same How to assess an investment's fit and risk Identifying multiple ways to win August 2026 Income At-A-Glance: Gross Income for August: $49,402.00 Total Expenses for August: $18,384.00 Total Net Profit for August: $31,018.00 Difference b/t July & August: ($13,975) % of net profit to overall gross revenue: 63%
