Why Most People Never Build REAL Wealth (and How to Change That) 💵 EP147
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
This special episode of The Money Mondays features three impactful conversations recorded at the Merritt Bank Arena after the Man in the Arena tour. Host Dan Fleyshman sits down first with Raul Villacis, founder of The Edge men's empowerment movement, who shares his journey from making millions in real estate to losing it all during market crashes. (02:06) The second segment features the Chapman Brothers - Aaron, a real estate finance veteran and author, and Eric, a professional artist who illustrated their collaborative book "Redden Economics." (15:30) The episode delivers raw insights on overcoming depression, building wealth through real estate, and creating lasting legacies.
• Main themes include finding your edge after setbacks, strategic real estate investing, the power of cold calling, understanding money as currency that must circulate, and building generational wealth through trust structures
Speakers
Dan Fleyshman
Dan Fleyshman is the host of The Money Mondays podcast, which ranks #40 in the world out of 5.4 million podcasts. He is the youngest founder of a publicly traded company in history and a serial entrepreneur who travels the country in an RV hosting this commercial-free podcast.
Raul Villacis
Raul Villacis is the founder and CEO of The EDGE Program, a men's empowerment movement helping high-performing businessmen find purpose, discipline, and clarity. Before leading thousands of men worldwide, he was a successful real estate entrepreneur who made millions before experiencing depression and financial setbacks, investing $500,000 in personal development to find his edge back.
Aaron Chapman
Aaron Chapman is a veteran of the real estate finance industry since 1997, published author, speaker, and grandfather. He recently collaborated with his brother Eric on the book "Redden Economics" with guidance from real estate mogul Robert Allen, who wrote the foreword.
Eric Chapman
Eric Chapman is a professional illustrator and fine art oil painter who specializes in portraiture and landscapes. He illustrated the book "Redden Economics" with 61 original illustrations, creating $47,000 worth of artwork for the project despite having limited book illustration experience previously.
Key Takeaways
Master Cold Calling to Build Wealth
Raul's mentor gave him the white pages phone book as the secret to becoming a millionaire, telling him to start cold calling everyone in his city. (02:59) Through persistent cold calling in real estate sales, Raul made millions within two years. This demonstrates that success often comes from doing the uncomfortable, unglamorous work that others avoid. The lesson extends beyond sales - whatever your field, direct outreach and relationship building through personal contact remains one of the most effective wealth-building strategies available.
Money Must Circulate Like Currency
Raul teaches that "money is not meant for you just to keep. Money is meant to circulate. That's why it's called currency." (06:54) He instilled this principle in his children from age 8-9, never giving allowances but creating opportunities for them to earn money while also teaching them to give back. This perspective shifts money from a hoarding mentality to viewing it as a tool for creating value and impact, leading to more sustainable wealth building.
Diversification Prevents Catastrophic Loss
Despite making millions in real estate, Raul lost everything when he got "too greedy" and moved from cash-flowing multifamily properties into development and commercial projects. (06:22) His mistake was putting everything into real estate development right before the market crashed. The key takeaway is to maintain cash-flowing assets as your foundation while taking calculated risks with only a portion of your wealth, never risking everything on timing-dependent investments.
Understand Inflation's Impact on Debt
Aaron demonstrates how a $20 gold coin from 1888 could buy a complete outfit then, while today's $20 bill can barely buy socks. (28:10) This illustrates why paying off mortgages early is often a mistake - you're paying back loans with increasingly devalued currency. When inflation runs higher than your mortgage rate, you're effectively getting paid to borrow money, making real estate leverage one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available.
Create Generational Wealth Through Trust Structures
Aaron structures his wealth through family trusts where family members live in trust-owned properties, pay rent to the trust, and serve as beneficiaries. (33:42) This ensures wealth perpetuates across generations with rules that family members must follow to maintain voting rights. Rather than leaving children cash that can be squandered, this approach teaches them to manage and grow family wealth while creating accountability systems that preserve the legacy.
Statistics & Facts
- The Money Mondays podcast ranks #40 in the world out of 5.4 million podcasts, with Dan spending $70,000 monthly to keep it commercial-free and maintaining a 93% listen-through rate. (00:25)
- A Taco Bell order that cost $1.99 in 1994 now costs $14, representing over an 800% swing in the buying power of the US dollar over 30 years. (26:54)
- An 1888 $20 gold coin is now worth $4,700-$5,000, while a $20 bill today has dramatically less purchasing power, illustrating massive currency devaluation over time. (28:18)
