Wondering if real estate notes might be a smarter investment than managing rental properties?

In this interview, we dive deep with Kevin from Pine Financial Group, who's managed over $1 billion in real estate deals. He shares why some investors are choosing debt over property ownership, and how this strategy could protect your wealth in uncertain times.

Key Quote: "Real estate debt is the only true passive investment in real estate. Even if you hire a management company for rental properties, you have to manage the manager."

What You'll Learn:

• Why real estate notes remained stable during the 2008 crash while property values dropped
• How lenders really evaluate borrowers (it's not just about the down payment)
• Smart ways to use your existing assets to qualify for loans
• Why current economic policies might keep interest rates higher than many expect
• The surprising differences in tax benefits between owning properties vs notes

00:00 Welcome to Wealth Wisdom

00:17 Introducing Our Guest: Kevin

01:19 Diving into Financial Chaos

03:32 The Importance of Diversification

05:26 Real Estate Debt Stability

09:08 Owning vs. Lending in Real Estate

14:10 Short-Term Bridge Lending Explained

20:50 Smart Borrowing Practices

22:16 Hard Money Lending Strategies

23:57 Client-Focused Lending Approach

28:35 Economic Predictions and Real Estate

32:45 Inflation and Asset Ownership

37:18 Closing Thoughts and Resources

Want to learn more about market conditions? Get Kevin's free analysis report at www.ThePineReport.com

Ready to dive deeper? Check out Kevin's podcast "Real Estate Educators" for more investing insights and strategies.

Want to explore if real estate notes are right for you? Schedule a discovery call at: www.wealthwisdomfp.com/call

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1Nnzn3S7BX8

Do you think building a great company culture means having a massive budget for fancy perks? Think again!

This episode shatters the myth that meaningful company culture is only for big corporations. We explore how small businesses can create thriving workplace environments. These strategies attract and retain top talent—without breaking the bank.

Key Quote: "How we treat our team is how our team will treat our customers."

What You'll Learn:

• Why profitability is the foundation of a strong company culture
• Creative ways to share profits beyond traditional 401(k) plans
• Practical strategies for building a positive work environment on a budget
• How to create self-reinforcing cycles of success in your business

Ready to build a culture where your business and people can thrive? Listen now. Discover why small businesses often have an advantage when creating meaningful workplace cultures.

Want more resources for building a profitable business culture? Visit wealthwisdomfp.com/community to get our Profit-Sharing Strategy Guide. Join a community of business owners building sustainable, profitable cultures.

00:00 Introduction: Company Culture for Small Businesses

01:05 Welcome to Wealth Wisdom Financial Podcast

01:43 Debunking Myths About Company Culture

03:24 The Importance of Profitability in Company Culture

05:25 Creative Profit Sharing Strategies

07:26 Flexible Scheduling and Professional Development

12:28 Recap and Final Thoughts

14:03 Join the Wealth Wisdom Financial Community

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Um0T1LmzXGA

Thinking about hiring your first employee but worried whether your business can really afford it?

We've got you covered! In this episode, we talk about what really matters before you hire - getting your money in order. While lots of experts focus on finding the right person, we'll show you why having strong business finances is just as important as picking the perfect candidate.

Key Quote: "It's better to have an employee come into a profitable business and make it more profitable than to think your hire is the magic pill to make your business profitable."

What You'll Learn:

• What you need to set up financially before you start looking for employees

• How to do a simple "practice run" to make sure you're ready to hire

• When it's okay to move forward even if everything isn't perfect

• Smart ways to get help if you're not quite ready for a full-time employee

Want help building a great team? Check out Brian Alexander from Ready, Aim, Climb at readyaimclimb.com.

Ready to take the next step? Get our free Hire Readiness Checklist at

wealthwisdomfp.com/community. You'll also find a whole community of business owners who are working on the same challenges.

Don't wait until you're overwhelmed to start planning for your first hire. Listen now and learn how to make your first hiring experience a success!

00:00 Introduction: Hiring Your First or Hundredth Employee

00:54 Welcome to Wealth Wisdom Financial Podcast

01:32 Our First Hiring Experience

02:56 Financial Structure and Hiring

04:34 Profit First: Essential Financial Foundation

10:06 The Vault: Testing Payroll Capacity

15:04 Reality Check: When You Can't Wait

20:07 Audition Instead of Interview

22:09 Join the Wealth Wisdom Community

23:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Hiring #FinancialFoundation #TeamBuilding

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qKwtYe6OYUc

Ever feel like your business goals are more like wishful thinking than an actual plan? You're not alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle with conventional goal-setting approaches. Conventional goal-setting doesn't account for the dynamic nature of business.

In this episode, we share a revolutionary framework for setting business goals that actually work. Our MTO approach helps you stay motivated and growing. They do best when things don't go exactly as planned. You'll discover:

• How to set "minimum goals" that help you sleep at night

• The sweet spot for "target goals" that stretch you without breaking you

• Why "outrageous goals" matter (even if you never hit them)

• A practical way to break these down into actionable quarterly, monthly, and weekly metrics

Ready for a flexible framework for setting goals that drive real growth while maintaining your sanity? Jump into this episode now.

🔑 Key Quote: "Think of these goals like different zoom levels on a map. Your minimum goal is your current location. Your target goal is the next major city. Your outrageous goal is crossing the country. You might not make it across the country this year, but you'll certainly go farther than if you'd only planned to drive to the next town."

Ready to transform how you set business goals? Want the MTO spreadsheet we use with our clients? Get it in the Wealth Wisdom Financial Community: https://www.wealthwisdomfp.com/community

Remember: Goals aren't about predicting the future - they're about giving you meaningful reference points as you navigate it. Are your current goals serving this purpose?

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8qKIig1zmyY

Ever feel like success is draining your bank account? You're not alone. Many business owners discover that growing revenue doesn't automatically mean better cash flow.

In this episode, we reveal the 5 most common cash flow surprises that blindside business owners. More importantly, we share how to handle them like a pro. You'll learn:

• How to navigate seasonal ups and downs without stress
• Why growth can actually create cash flow problems (and what to do about it)
• Smart strategies for handling delayed payments
• How to prepare for unexpected opportunities
• The tech upgrade trap and how to avoid it

Struggling with seasonal swings or rapid growth? Practical systems can manage your cash flow challenges. Make those challenges into opportunities for sustainable business growth.

🔑 Key Quote: "It's not the expected that derails your business - it's the unexpected. But here's the good news: most 'unexpected' cash flow situations follow predictable patterns. Once you know these patterns, you can prepare for them."

Ready to stop reacting to cash flow surprises and start navigating them with confidence? Get our Pre-Decision Framework in the Wealth Wisdom Financial Community: https://www.wealthwisdomfp.com/community

Remember: The goal isn't to predict every possible cash flow challenge. The goal is to build systems that help you handle whatever comes your way. Turn your business's financial roller coaster into a steady journey toward growth.

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/JYPKHZ8D5tA

Ever feel like your business systems aren't keeping up with your growth? Many entrepreneurs hit a ceiling not because of their products or market. They plateau because their financial systems can't scale.

In this episode, we reveal 3 critical financial systems. These systems separate 6-figure businesses from 7-figure empires. You'll discover:

• How to structure powerful twice-monthly money meetings that actually save you time
• The exact framework for quarterly deep dives that keep you ahead of problems
• Why semi-annual strategy sessions are crucial for sustainable growth
• Simple ways to get your team aligned with your financial rhythm

🔑 Key Quote: "Even if all you do is become more aware of what's really happening in your business, that's a huge win. You've heard you need time to work ON the business, not just IN the business. What about time to think ABOUT the business?"

You may be starting out or further along. Regardless, this episode reveals financial systems to support your next level. Plus, these systems won't overwhelm you or your team.

Want the agendas we use for our financial meetings? Get them in the Wealth Wisdom Financial Community: https://www.wealthwisdomfp.com/community.

Remember: The financial systems that got you to now may hold you back from reaching the next level. Time to upgrade your approach?

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/tTicmdLhhMM

Do you keep making budgets that never work in real life? Like many business owners, you might find that old-school budgeting just doesn't fit how you run your business.

In this episode, we share simple ways to make your budget work better for you. You'll learn:

• How to think of your budget more like a GPS that helps you, not a strict diet that makes you feel bad
• Ways to make smart money choices without guilt when things change
• How to plan for big bills that don't come every month
• A new way to protect your profits using special accounts

Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your existing business budget, this episode will give you practical steps to create a financial system that works with your entrepreneurial spirit, not against it.

🔑 Key Quote: Consider it this way: When you get to December 2025, do you want to be proud of (a) sticking to numbers your January-self set up no matter what happened in the business? Or (b) adapting to fit circumstances as the year changed to be in a better spot than your January self thought possible?

Links mentioned in the show:

• Join the Wealth Wisdom Financial Community: https://www.wealthwisdomfp.com/community
• Implement Profit First in 12 Easy Steps: https://www.wealthwisdomfp.com/profit
• Set up YNAB to be Profit-First friendly (and more): https://www.wealthwisdomfp.com/ynab
• Unlock the power of Bank On Yourself: https://www.wealthwisdomfp.com/boy
• Not Your Average Financial Podcast Episode 368: A Better Way to Profit First with Mike Michalowicz: https://nyafinancialpodcast.com/episode-368-a-better-way-to-profit-first-with-mike-michalowicz/

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/51Fi0XIbxsQ

Ever feel overwhelmed by traditional New Year's resolutions? What if there was a simpler way to shape your 2025? Could you start by focusing on how you want to feel rather than just what you want to achieve?

This special New Year's episode explores a refreshing approach to planning your year. It's the perfect episode to listen to while reflecting on your hopes for 2025.

Key Quote: "Before you plan what you'll do, decide how you'll be."

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why choosing an emotional theme can be more powerful than traditional goal-setting
• How to identify your personal emotional "North Star" for 2025
• The connection between emotional well-being and financial success
• Simple practices to cultivate your chosen emotional state
• Why patient trust might be more valuable than aggressive action

Plus, learn a practical exercise for embodying your emotional theme throughout the year.

Set your intentions for 2025. Start your year with clarity and purpose.

Next steps: Ready to grow with intention in 2025? Join our Wealth Wisdom Financial Community for just $97/year. Access our complete library of resources, monthly group coaching sessions, and our success dashboard mini-course. Join at www.wealthwisdomfp.com/community

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XV5VyihfwVY