The Retirement Myth We’ve All Been Sold
The traditional retirement approach has a fatal flaw. If the market crashes the year you retire and you need to withdraw funds, those beautiful projections financial advisors showed you will collapse. I realized this truth as I faced my own existential crisis about aging and mortality. Seeing loved ones pass away opened my eyes to how finite our time truly is. This revelation forced me to question: Why am I deferring life until some future retirement date that might never come or might arrive when I’m too old to enjoy it? The shift in my thinking was profound. I stopped focusing on net worth and started prioritizing monthly cash flow. The question became simple:What do I need to do to have enough money coming in each month to cover my expenses without working?When you have enough passive income to meet or exceed your monthly expenses, you achieve true financial freedom. Not in some distant future, but now.
Finding My Path to Cash Flow
My journey to financial independence accelerated when I stopped trying to figure everything out alone. Despite being resistant to paying for coaching (thinking I could DIY my financial future), joining a community of like-minded investors changed everything. Here’s what transformed my financial reality:- Surrounding myself with people who knew more than I did
- Working with tax strategists who uncovered opportunities I’d missed
- Implementing cost segregation and other strategies that freed up capital
- Investing in cash-flowing real estate instead of market-dependent assets
The Fear Factor in Financial Growth
I won’t pretend the journey was fearless. When signing papers for my first major investment, I remember admitting, “I am really scared and I just really don’t want this to be a scam.” That fear is natural when you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. But here’s what I’ve learned: each successful investment makes the next one easier. The first asset is the hardest to buy. After that, momentum builds. Having someone who speaks your language and understands your fears makes all the difference. Sometimes you just need someone to spark ideas that get you thinking differently about money and wealth creation.Living Life on Your Terms
Today, I’m a full-time real estate investor and stay-at-home mom. I’ve scaled from zero to 30 single-family properties before transitioning to multifamily investments. I spend my time helping others start their own journey to financial freedom. I’ve reached a point of contentment but never complacency. The question has shifted from “How do I get what I want?” to “How do I maintain what I have and buy back more of my time?” The most powerful realization? When you have enough money coming in each month without trading your time for it, you become truly free. You become self-sufficient, independent, and powerful. You can confidently move forward knowing you and your family are taken care of. If you’re serious about reaching the next level financially, invest in coaching or mentoring. The longer you delay by trying to do everything yourself, the longer it will take to reach your goals. Step outside your comfort zone—in investing and in life—and watch magical things happen.Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is focusing on cash flow different from traditional retirement planning?
Traditional retirement planning focuses on accumulating a large nest egg that you hope will last through retirement. Cash flow investing creates income streams that pay you monthly regardless of market conditions. This approach provides immediate financial security rather than deferring it to some future retirement date, and protects you from market volatility that could devastate your savings right when you need them most.
Q: Isn’t real estate investing risky for beginners?
All investments carry risk, but real estate offers more control than market-based investments. The key is education and mentorship. Working with experienced investors can help you avoid costly mistakes and identify opportunities that match your risk tolerance. Many beginners start with turnkey properties or passive investments in larger deals before developing more advanced strategies.
Q: How much passive income do I need before I can consider myself financially free?
Financial freedom occurs when your passive income meets or exceeds your monthly expenses. Start by calculating your essential monthly costs, then work toward generating that amount through investments. As your passive income grows, you gain more choices about how you spend your time. Even covering just a portion of your expenses creates partial freedom and reduces financial stress.
Q: Why pay for financial coaching when there’s so much free information available?
Free information is abundant but often contradictory and not personalized to your situation. A good coach provides clarity, accountability, and strategies tailored to your goals. They help you avoid costly mistakes and accelerate your progress. When you’re dealing with five or six-figure investments, the cost of coaching is minimal compared to the potential losses from “learning the hard way” or the opportunity cost of delayed action.
