Franchising for Freedom: Erik Van Horn’s Blueprint to Entrepreneurial Success

Are you thinking about franchising but unsure if it’s the right move? In this episode, Russ and Joey dive deep into franchising with Erik Van Horn, a seasoned franchisee with over 100 locations and multiple successful exits. Erik shares his journey from steady six-figure sales income to betting on himself by going all in on entrepreneurship through franchising. They also explore the essential traits of successful franchise owners, including the importance of being teachable, sales-driven, and well-capitalized. Erik reveals lessons learned from mistakes, including why “passive franchising” is often a myth.

Mindset shifts needed to succeed in franchising

How to identify strong franchise opportunities

Red flags to watch for

Erik Van Horn

Erik Van Horn is a seasoned entrepreneur who has acquired and scaled multiple franchises, as well as founded his own franchise brand. Today, as co-founder of Front Street Equity Partners, Erik helps franchise founders scale rapidly, create enterprise value, and generate sustainable passive income.

Round Table | Build Your Private Family Bank: Infinite Banking Strategies for Generational Wealth

Do you want to secure your family's financial future for generations to come? In this episode, Russ, Joey, and Mark discuss the concept of establishing a private family bank, a crucial strategy for building generational wealth. Joining them is Anthony Faso, a recognized expert in infinite banking. Together, they explain how a family bank unlocks endless opportunities, giving you control over your financial future, eliminating reliance on traditional banks, and creating a lasting legacy.

Using the infinite banking system to accelerate financial freedom

How to set up a private family bank to ensure wealth is passed down across generations

Practical steps to implement infinite banking in your family and business

Common Tax Mistakes High Earners Make and How to Fix Them with David Bull

Are you overpaying in taxes without even knowing it? Would you like to learn how to keep more of your hard-earned money? In this episode, David Bull rejoins Russ and Joey to discuss why 100% of the tax returns his team reviews each year require amendment. David explains the common mistakes entrepreneurs make with their taxes, why CPAs may not always have your best interest in mind when reducing tax liabilities, and how proactive tax planning can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Spotting tax errors and saving a significant amount of money

Reducing self-employment taxes with smart entity strategies

Mastering your tax return and aligning with your CPA

David Bull

David Bull is the Founder and CEO of Ark Financial, a firm redefining the family office model to serve the complex needs of entrepreneurs and business owners. Since founding Ark in 2013, he has helped hundreds of families optimize tax structures, scale their businesses, and build generational wealth.

Round Table | Tax Advantages of the Infinite Banking Concept

How can you build wealth and keep more of it? In today's conversation, Joey, Eric, and Ernie discuss the powerful tax advantages of the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC). They discuss why taxes are one of the most underestimated threats to wealth, and how properly structured whole life insurance policies can shield your income now and for generations to come. Whether you're a business owner, high earner, or legacy builder, this conversation offers a smarter path to financial freedom. If you're ready to take control of your financial future, tune in and discover the tax-free tools the wealthy have used for decades.

Tax-deferred vs. tax-free strategies

IBC vs. traditional retirement accounts

How to set up a policy that maximizes control and flexibility

Why Doctors Struggle to Leave Their Practice (And How to Fix It) with Dr. David Phelps

Would you walk away from a thriving career if it meant finally having time with your family? Dr. David Phelps did, and what he shares about time, freedom, and wealth might just change your life. In this powerful episode, Russ and Joey sit down with Dr. David Phelps, host of The Freedom Founders Podcast, to discuss the life-altering decision he made to sell his dental practice for the sake of time and family. After facing his daughter’s life-threatening health challenges, David discovered a new metric for success–time freedom, not just net worth. He shares how he built passive income through real estate long before it became popular and outlines the exact mindset and strategy professionals need to exit the rat race early. His honest insights will challenge listeners to stop delaying their freedom and redefine what success truly means.

Why time is the most undervalued KPI in life and business

How doctors and high-income earners can reverse engineer financial freedom

Steps to building passive income outside of traditional Wall Street investments

Dr. David Phelps

Dr. David Phelps is America’s leading authority on creating freedom in life and business. As a nationally recognized keynote speaker, David brings dynamic energy and rare insights into how to achieve financial freedom by building a real business that doesn’t take over your life.

Round Table | How to Buy an Online Business That Pays You Every Month (Even While You Sleep)

What if your next stream of passive income came from a faceless YouTube channel or a website you didn’t build? In today's conversation, the financial coaches reveal how online businesses can replace your paycheck and why now is the ideal time to invest in them. Joey shares his results from a $25K investment, and Ben outlines which models offer the fastest wins for hustlers. Mark explains how analytics and systems can optimize these ventures from the very start. Meanwhile, Russ emphasizes the value of digital businesses as a modern-day strategy for building passive income and avoiding traditional job traps.

How to match your investor DNA to the right type of online business

Why faceless YouTube channels can be a low-drama path to cash flow

The first three steps to take if you're ready to get started

Tracking the 4 KPIs That Grew Our Passive Income to $40K+ in April 2025

Are you chasing your first passive income dollar or scaling your portfolio? If you're looking for fresh strategies and powerful reminders about building lasting wealth, this episode proves that it's more than just numbers–it’s about the people, knowledge, and actions behind the scenes. Today, Russ and Joey share their latest insights, connections, and investments fueling their passive income journey. They discuss how building and nurturing relationships opens doors to exclusive investment opportunities and why tracking key performance indicators beyond just returns is vital. In addition, they dive into innovative ideas like fractionalized home ownership as a creative way to unlock liquidity in second homes, and the concept of premium funding for high-net-worth investors. Tune in for inspiration on how consistent action, learning, and relationship-building multiply your passive income streams. Top three things you will learn: How networking unlocks exclusive investment deals Why ongoing learning sharpens your investor mindset Updates on land sales, vehicle rentals, and digital assets April 2025 Income At-A-Glance: Gross Income for April: $56,934.29 Total Expenses for April: $16,462.04 Total Net Profit for April: $40,472.26 Difference b/t March & April: ($11,841.04) % of net profit to overall gross revenue: 71%

Round Table | Midterm Rentals: The Real Estate Cash Flow Hack No One Talks About

Is the short-term rental market too saturated? Are long-term tenants not cutting it anymore? In today's discussion, Russ and Joey are joined by real estate pros Jamie O’Brien and Jonathan Day to explore a high-demand, low-competition strategy: midterm rentals. From traveling nurses to remote workers, the demand is real, and the opportunities are wide open. Whether you’re scaling a portfolio or testing your first unit, this conversation breaks down exactly how to enter the midterm space smartly. Listen now to discover if this under-the-radar cash flow model fits your investor DNA.

Why midterm rentals are rising in demand and how to profit from them

The types of guests these rentals attract and why it matters

How to analyze markets, mitigate risk, and choose the right properties for sustainable income

Self-Storage vs. Real Estate: The Surprising Winner with Fernando Angelucci

Are you looking for a recession-proof investment? In this episode, Russ and Joey sit down with Fernando Angelucci, who shares how he transitioned from the traditional 9-5 grind to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the world of self-storage. Using innovative strategies like seller financing, Fernando explains how he scaled his self-storage portfolio to create consistent, passive income while minimizing risk. The conversation focuses on why self-storage is one of the most recession-resistant investments, especially compared to other real estate types. Fernando also shares practical tips on identifying undervalued properties and how to structure deals with investors to maximize returns.

Self-Storage as a recession-proof investment

Three ways to acquire self-storage facilities

Building passive income with self-storage

Fernando Angelucci

Fernando Angelucci worked at Dow Chemical, a Fortune 50 company. At 23, he left the 9-5 world and started investing in residential real estate, moving to multi-family rental and later focusing on self-storage. Fernando is currently the CEO of SSSE (Self-Storage Syndicated Equities). This company builds institutional-grade self-storage facilities and buys value-add self-storage facilities nationwide.

Round Table | Dual Executive Reward Plan: Use Infinite Banking to Attract & Keep Top Talent

What’s the true cost of employee turnover, and how can business owners reduce it? In today's conversation, the financial coaches dive into employee retention strategies, focusing on how A-players drive business success. They reveal how traditional methods like 401(k)s often fall short in keeping top talent engaged, and introduce the dual executive reward plan as a game-changing tool for fostering loyalty and growth. By using the dual executive reward plan, business owners can create a system that rewards top employees and helps secure long-term retention without relying on expensive traditional retirement plans. They discuss how this strategy aligns with infinite banking to create more sustainable cash flow while ensuring that your best talent remains committed to your business.

The true cost of employee turnover

Attracting and retaining A-Players

The power of dual executive reward plans

Build a Business in 1 Hour a Day with Chris Cooper

What does it take to build a successful business from the ground up? In this episode, Chris Cooper joins Russ and Joey to share his inspiring journey from a struggling gym owner to a thriving entrepreneur. Chris discusses the pivotal moments that turned his business around, from realizing he needed mentorship to creating a path that allowed him to focus on growing his business and creating passive income. He dives deep into the importance of building a solid foundation with mentorship and systems, and how he uses his story to mentor other gym owners.

The power of mentorship

The four stages of business growth

How to build passive income

Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper believes hard-working business owners are the heart and soul of the economy, and he’s dedicated his life to supporting them through mentorship. His goal: help 1 million entrepreneurs find success. After starting Two-Brain Business in 2016, Chris grew the company into the largest gym mentorship company in the world.

Round Table | Why Laundromats Might Be the Best-Kept Secret in Passive Income

Are you looking for a passive income stream that could provide consistent returns and build generational wealth? In today's conversation, the financial coaches and laundromat expert Jordan Berry explore why laundromats are among the most underrated yet profitable passive income opportunities. They discuss how laundromats fit perfectly into the Investor DNA model and why it’s a powerful asset class for those looking to diversify their income sources. From evaluating financials to choosing the right location, the coaches review the key steps for getting started and scaling up. If you’re looking for an income-generating asset that doesn’t demand constant attention, get ready to learn tips you can use to add laundromats to your investment portfolio.

How laundromats generate passive income

Why laundromats are an ideal asset for long-term wealth

Finding the perfect laundromat investment

Strategies for Thriving in a Changing Economy with Chris Larsen

How can you thrive in a constantly shifting economy? In this episode, Chris Larsen joins Russ and Joey to share his expert strategies for navigating economic turbulence and making wise investment decisions. As interest rates rise and market volatility increases, Chris explores the opportunities that still exist, particularly in real estate, and how to adjust your investment strategy to stay ahead of the curve. He discusses why infinite banking can provide a reliable buffer in times of financial uncertainty and how adjusting your mindset can help you not just survive but thrive in this economic climate.

Adapting to market volatility

Why real estate remains a solid investment option

How to use infinite banking for stability

Chris Larsen

Chris Larsen is the founder and Principal of Next-Level Income. After 18 years in the medical device industry, he dedicates his time to helping others achieve financial independence through education and investment opportunities. Chris has been investing in and managing real estate for over 20 years.

Round Table | What Changed in 2025: Re-Evaluating the Moves You Didn't Make Last Year

Looking back at the financial decisions you didn’t make in 2024, what could you do differently in 2025? In today's conversation, the financial coaches delve into the importance of reevaluating missed opportunities and refining your financial strategy for 2025. With shifting market conditions, it’s time to ask yourself the tough questions: Should you pull money out of retirement accounts? Is infinite banking the right move for your future? They discuss the investor mindset necessary to overcome hesitation and seize opportunities that can significantly impact your financial trajectory. If you're wondering how to make better financial choices this year or how to finally act on decisions you’ve been putting off, this episode is packed with insights to help you make impactful moves.

Reevaluating missed opportunities

Starting infinite banking in 2025

Retirement planning

College Isn’t the Only Path: Exploring Gap Year Success with Riley Simpson

Is the traditional path to college really the best choice for every student? What if college isn’t the best next step? In this episode, Riley Simpson joins Russ and Joey to share how taking a gap year led to clarity, career success, and personal growth. Riley discusses the growing trend of gap years as a viable alternative to college, offering students the opportunity to explore different careers, build skills, and gain self-awareness without the pressure of choosing a major. He also highlights the anxiety students face when forced to pick a direction too early and offers practical advice on how a gap year can be a purposeful and transformative journey, rather than just a break.

Breaking free from college pressure

Building clarity

Preparing for the future

Riley Simpson

Riley Simpson has had a fascinating trajectory. He took two gap years before going to college, during which he became a mediator, broke into the film industry, became a real estate broker, started and sold a business (Right Hand Media), and then entered the tech industry.

Round Table | The Exit Playbook: Turn Your Business Sale into Lifelong, Tax-Free Cash Flow

Planning to sell your business? You’ve spent years building it—now it’s time to think about the next chapter. In this episode, the financial coaches discuss how to turn the sale of your business into lifelong, tax-free cash flow. They dive into strategies for creating an exit strategy that not only maximizes the value of your business but also shields your sale proceeds from taxes. They share how using infinite banking and life insurance can provide a tax-free income stream after the sale, and why planning is key to success. Whether you're years away from selling or thinking about an exit soon, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you plan your exit strategy.

Building a successful exit strategy

Creating a tax-free cash flow

Maximizing the benefits of infinite banking

How We Made $52K in Passive Income Last Month (And $35K Was from This!)

What if you could generate $52,000 in passive income in a single month? In this episode, Russ and Joey break down how they made it happen, with roughly $35,000 coming from an unexpected but lucrative source—the land business. They share how buying raw land, turning it into seller-financed property, and flipping it for profit generated an impressive income stream, and how you can replicate this strategy. Learn how they leveraged note income and structured their cash flow in a way that lets them scale quickly. You'll also discover the significance of understanding your investor DNA to ensure that your strategies align with your financial goals. Top three things you will learn: How to make money with land Generating ongoing cash flow Understanding your investor DNA March 2025 Income At-A-Glance: Gross Income for March: $74,383.47 Total Expenses for March: $22,070.17 Total Net Profit for March: $52,313.30 Difference b/t February & March: $17,140.82 % of net profit to overall gross revenue: 70%

Round Table | How Self-Storage Can Thrive During a Recession

Is self-storage a recession-proof investment? In today's conversation, Russ, Joey, and Jamie dive into why self-storage is not just an under-the-radar investment opportunity but one that thrives during challenging economic times. From recession-proof demand to low operational overhead, this passive income strategy could be the key to diversifying your portfolio and securing long-term returns. The discussion touches on how self-storage fits well in today’s market, where people are downsizing, decluttering, and relocating to new areas. Learn how risk management plays a role in this strategy and why understanding your Investor DNA is crucial before diving in.

Why self-storage thrives in today's economy

How to get started with self-storage

Investor DNA fit

Why Financial Success Alone Won’t Make You Happy with JP Newman

What happens when you achieve financial success, but the journey isn’t as fulfilling as you imagined? In this episode, JP Newman joins Russ and Joey to share his transformation from hustling to financial success, only to discover that wealth-building is about much more than just accumulating money. JP opens up about his struggle with finding purpose after reaching financial milestones and how financial literacy and a shift in mindset became his game changers. He explains the importance of creating a community impact through business, the lessons learned from his personal and professional setbacks, and how entrepreneurship can be a tool for giving back.

Building wealth with purpose

How mindset influences financial success

Creating lasting impact

JP Newman

JP Newman is the founder and CEO of Thrive FP, a top-tier lender and investors’ real estate investment firm specializing in the multi-family sector with over 15,000 apartment units owned. With over $1.5+ billion in total transactions value since 2011, JP has driven a level of success far above his competitors as he leads his company.

Round Table | IBC Decoded: Direct vs. Non-Direct Recognition Explained

Are you confused by direct vs. non-direct recognition in life insurance policies? In today's conversation, Russ, Joey, and the financial coaches break down this critical distinction in infinite banking and what it means for your passive income strategy. They explore how these recognition types affect your life insurance policy’s dividends when you take a loan and why understanding the difference is key to maximizing your wealth-building potential. While it may seem like a small detail, the recognition type can influence your financial freedom journey, especially when interest rates and market conditions shift.

The difference between direct and non-direct recognition policies

How these policies play a role in building passive income

How market conditions and personal goals affect your policy choice