Start making passive income here: https://bit.ly/3Nijzou

In today's episode, I sit down with Joe Ganella, a retired U.S. Army veteran with 23 years of service (19 in Special Forces), married for 35 years, and a dad of two. Joe's a powerful example of what it looks like to do many things "right" financially living within his means, staying out of debt, saving consistently and still recognize there's a higher level of wealth available: the kind that creates abundance, flexibility, and the ability to give freely without hesitation.

Joe shares how he reached a point where he became work optional meaning he doesn't have to work to pay his bills but still realized that's not the same as being financially free. Work optional can mean you're surviving and stable. Financially free means you're no longer limited by the "we can't afford that" mindset. It's the difference between being able to stop working and being able to live fully on your terms with margin, generosity, and real choice.

We also talk about something I wish more people focused on: teaching the next generation to win financially. Joe is candid about raising his kids with a "Dave Ramsey-style" mentality save, avoid debt, be conservative and how he's now working to "deprogram" that scarcity mindset and help his kids think bigger. He explains how he's coaching his youngest son (a former pro-level athlete) to shift from hustle and uncertainty into structure: income first, then budgeting, then clear goals, then execution.

A big part of this conversation is about identifying what you actually want. Joe shares how he spent years searching for a CPA who did real tax planning not just tax preparation and how hard it was to find trustworthy guidance in a world full of gurus. We talk about how to evaluate mentors and financial professionals, why you should never make impulse buys under pressure, and why the best advisors don't rely on hype, fear, or rushed decisions.

Joe also shares a practical framework that applies to anyone especially parents:

- Build an abundant mindset
- Track where every dollar goes
- Create measurable goals
- Take daily action to move toward them Because information alone won't change your life. Action will.

If you're trying to become work optional, build passive income, and create a legacy for your family, this episode will help you rethink what freedom really means and give you real-world ideas to teach your kids how to build it, too.

Start making a passive income here: https://bit.ly/3YsnCkG

What were the biggest financial surprises of 2025 and more importantly, what should we realistically expect heading into 2026?

In today's episode, I break down what truly caught investors, economists, and money managers off guard in 2025, and why many of the same warning signs are flashing even brighter as we move into 2026. A year ago, when I was asked what I expected for 2025, my honest answer was simple: who knows? Looking back now, that uncertainty turned out to be one of the most accurate forecasts anyone could make.

We saw several major surprises in 2025 that very few people anticipated. Massive tariff wars shook markets and rattled confidence. Gold and silver exploded to historic highs, with silver nearly doubling in a matter of months. Even more surprising, stocks continued pushing to new highs at the same time precious metals surged something that rarely happens and signals deeper issues beneath the surface.

I also address why inflation may not be as "under control" as headlines suggest, why crypto failed to act as digital gold, and why the AI-driven tech boom continues to inflate valuations despite growing similarities to past market bubbles like the 1920s and the dot-com era.

Most importantly, I explain what these trends mean going into 2026. We're now approaching nearly 17 years of an extended bull market with only one meaningful down year. Historically, markets don't behave this way without consequences. While some experts predict the market can keep rising for years, that would be unprecedented and if it happens, the eventual correction could be far more painful.

I walk through how money supply, credit availability, and government intervention are propping up the economy, and why liquidity not productivity is currently driving growth. I also explain why rising unemployment, tightening consumer spending, and growing household financial stress could create cracks that no amount of money printing can permanently fix.

I share my personal positioning as both an investor and saver why I'm staying cautious on stocks, prioritizing liquidity, building infinite banking policies, and focusing on real assets like real estate, precious metals, and asset-backed investments. This isn't about fear; it's about preparation.

If you're approaching retirement, building wealth, or simply trying to protect what you've already worked hard to earn, this episode is a critical listen. I'm not claiming to predict the future but I am urging you to stop relying on hope and start thinking defensively before the next major shift arrives.