Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.

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Neither Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. nor its representatives may provide tax or legal advice.  Anyone to whom this material is promoted, marketed, or recommended should consult with and rely on their own independent tax and legal professionals regarding their particular situation and the concepts presented herein.

Investment Advisor Representative

Qualia

- Made 50+ calls per day into existing account base based on marketing campaigns
- Generated quality intro calls between our prospects and Account Executives that drove additional revenue growth.
- Researched accounts, identified key contacts, built interest, and understood vendor approval processes
- Managed and maintained up to date contacts, opportunities, and account information within Salesforce.
- Leveraged Salesloft to run targeted cadences with proficiency.
- Consistently hit (and exceeded) quota month to month which led to being recognized as the top SDR for Q2 2022.

Sales Development Representative

University of Colorado Boulder

- Mentors students, conducts office hours and review sessions
- Attends multiple class lectures per week and communicating with students about computing questions pertaining to Excel and MATLAB.
- Providing Materials design, structure, and exam help to ~150 Junior chemical engineers
- Strong public speaking and leadership skills.

Teacher Assistant

- Investigate the assembly of nanostructured materials at length scales of 1nm to 1000nm using computational simulations.
- Develop, validate and apply atomistic potentials of oxides, metals and polymers to solve challenges in soft matter.

Nanomaterials Undergraduate Researcher

Saoradh Enterprise Partners

- Conduct market, technology and industry research, using Wellspring and Pitchbook, to support client projects, evaluate investment opportunities and support portfolio companies.
- Involved in finding, organizing and presenting data, using PowerPoint, gathered during the research process.
- One on one meetings and presentations with portfolio companies to develop interpersonal and trustworthy relationships.

Business Analyst Intern

National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

- Utilizing Python and/or MATLAB for efficient data transfer from enormous satellite data into simple and useful spreadsheets.
- Utilizing SQL for efficient database analysis.
- Record Videos and utilize Camtasia to edit videos and audios for scientist ti upload onto Coursera for educational purposes.
- Implementing a ticket system using Jira and Confluence to streamline and smoothen tasks for management.
 - Worked with internal users to understand grant requirements and implement processes that meet those needs by writing technical documentation, providing on-site help and developing different methodologies for collecting samples.

Data Analysis Intern

- Performed quantum chemical calculations to examine the catalytic cycle of cobalt cyclam-catalyzed reductions of CO2.
 - Examined the stability of spin states of various cobalt complexes, computed their proton association constants and reduction potentials and their effect on CO2 emissions. 
 - Examined various papers from JACS (Journal of American Chemical Society) to study the viability of the catalytic cycle previously proposed by researchers.

Carbon Dioxide Reduction Researcher

I create efficient tax and investment strategies for tenured Sales and Software Pros | Financial Advisor & Fractional CFO | Guiding you to a better and abundant financial life |

TFA’s mission is to enhance the present and future economic well-being of its clients and representatives. 

Baby Boomers are retiring every day.

The average baby boomer believes $300,000 is sufficient enough to retire on.

Do you think that's enough money? But before I answer that, here's my story:

I was on track to be a Chemical Engineer till 2020. But when I graduated, I was distraught with what the job requirements were. Putting myself first, I completely decided to quit the track.

No plan, no job in sight. I started to panic.
 
That's when my mom sat me down and told me to list the things I'm passionate about. Turns out personal finance and education were the top two on my list. Not shocking, considering I always had a passion for how money works. 
 
So, I started doing research for jobs in financial services. My goal was to implement my passion for financial education for everyone. 

Since then I've helped countless individuals, families, and business owners make easier financial decisions for their future.
 
Services I provide:

1. Portfolio Planning
2. Budget Creation
3. College Funding
4. Debt Reduction 
5. Retirement Planning 
6. Proper Protection
7. Tax Efficiency
8. Investment Allocation



What makes me different:
- Keeping you accountable to your goals
- Creating simple yet effective strategies
- Establishing a personal relationship
- Yearly reviews accounting for changes in goals and income

So to answer the question above, $300,000 is not enough money to retire on, in my opinion. But that's where I come in. 

If you want to learn more about how my clients are pursuing their financial goals, let's have a quick chat :)

Omkar Shinde

The Trump administration is proposing 50-year mortgages.
Most people think 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 the problem. 
It’s actually much deeper.

In my opinion: a 50-year mortgage isn’t good or bad.
It just exposes how financially unprepared most of you are.

Yes, logically, there are real benefits:

→ Lower monthly payments.
→ More cash flow month-to-month.
→ Easier approval for first-time buyers.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch:

→ You build equity painfully slow.
→ You pay interest for 20 extra years.
→ Total interest could potentially double.

As an Advisor and Real Estate investor myself, the mortgage isn’t the issue.

Financial illiteracy is.

Because if you're financially literate can use a 50-year mortgage to:

→ Free up cash flow.
→ Invest the difference.
→ Build wealth faster than they pay interest.

But if you've never made good money decisions:

I'm willing to bet you'll still buy a home you can’t afford.

So a 50-year mortgage alone isn’t dangerous.
Using it blindly is.

In the right hands, it’s leverage.
In the wrong hands, it’s a trap.

And that’s the real message here.

You can’t win a financial system you don’t understand.

Sales Navigator

li_at

JSESSIONID

Talks about #taxes, #wealth, #investing, #retirement, and #financialstrategies

I create efficient tax plans and investment strategies for Sales & Software Employees making $200,000+ | DM me “W2” for an intro call.

A 7-day trip to visit my sister in SD taught me something crazy:

The problem isn't your income. The problem is what you do with it.

San Diego isn’t cheap.
Flights, food, coffee runs, gas, Ubers, dinners, and all the “let’s just stop in here real quick” moments add up fast.

But the crazy part? I swiped my card like I was a Kardashian.

Not because I’m careless, I hope not....
but implementing cash flow management makes every dollar feel lighter.

Each $ that I spent had a job:
"To be spent for my joy in San Diego."

When you have a system, you stop asking:
“Can I afford this?”

and start asking:
“Is this what I allocated for?”

And that’s the difference you'll never experience.

→ Travel fund? Already filled.
→ Investments? On autopilot.
→ Bills + fixed costs? Covered.
→ Guilt-free spending money? Set aside intentionally.

So when I was in San Diego...

eating at The Taco Stand, walking Sunset Cliffs, spending time with Arya —
the only thing I focused on was being present.

Not the receipt. Not the cost. Not the guilt.

Because cash flow management isn’t about restriction.
It’s about maximum impact with minimum stress.

People think wealth is about making more.
But it’s really about getting the most out of what you already earn.

Making more is great, keeping more is better.

And when your money has a job before you spend it,
you get to enjoy moments like this — fully, freely, and without stress.

That’s the real ROI of a system.

At 19, I dreamt of living a life that nobody in my family ever lived.

So God gave me opportunities to create the one I'm living today.

At 21, I decided to get into financial services.
I had no credibility, but it put me in rooms that changed my future.

At 23, I left corporate.
Walking away from a steady paycheck was scary, but betting on myself forced me to grow.

At 24, I bought my first house.
Not just for shelter—but to learn leverage, equity, and freedom.

At 27, I chose to move back to Colorado.
Closer to family. Closer to roots. Aligned with who I am today.

None of those choices were easy.
Each came with doubt and fear.

But each built on the last.

And that’s how dream lives are made.
Not in one leap.
But in a series of decisions, backed by the discipline to keep showing up when it gets hard.

Many of you have what it takes to change your lives.
Maybe not in a year, but in 5 for sure.

You can’t create a new life while clinging to your old habits.
Neither can you build freedom if every decision made is based on fear.

If you want 2026 to look different than 2025,
it starts with one decision.

And then another. And another.

Your dream life isn't handed to you overnight,
it’ll show up because you were disciplined enough to build it.

Every single time the mountain gets steeper, I remind myself:

What a privilege it is to carry the stress and pressure of the grind when it’s on the path that brings me the most joy.

That’s the kind of stress I’ll choose every single time.

And I hope you do too.

Social media shows the 1% of the 1%.
 
Here's why you shouldn't believe everything you see on your screen:
 
What social media has normalized:

• Millionaires at 18. 
• Always flying private.
• Making $75,000/month.
• Living a iShowSpeed lifestyle.
 
That's fewer than 1% of people in the US. 

Why compare yourself to them? 
 
The vast majority of millionaires:
 
• Are 50+ 
• Fly economy 
• Have money tied up in assets 
• Live frugally and spend time with family 
 
Why not strive to be one of them? 
 
Remember:

99% of the time, wealth is boring and slow. 
 
If comparing yourself to the top 1% doesn't motivate you...

Take the safer route instead. 
 
You'll still achieve your dreams.

As of today, I have $10,748 in credit card debt.

I could pay it off, but I choose not to. Here’s why:

Because not all debt is bad.

Most people hear “credit card debt” and immediately assume irresponsibility.
But here’s what they miss:

→ That balance is on a 0% APR promo
→ The money I could’ve used to pay it off?
It’s working harder elsewhere

→ Being deployed into cash-flowing investments
→ Earning more than the interest I’m being charged (which right now... is zero)

This is what most people never get taught:

Bad debt drains you.
Credit cards at 22%, high-interest loans, buy-now-pay-later traps.

Good debt buys you time, leverage, and flexibility.
Used correctly, it accelerates wealth.

I’m not saying go rack up cards.
I’m saying—understand the strategy.

Paying off everything ASAP might feel good emotionally...
But it’s not always the smartest move financially.

The goal isn't to avoid debt at all costs.
It’s to learn which debt builds and which one buries.

Because the difference?
Could be the reason someone stays stuck at $80K/year…
While someone else builds a million-dollar net worth off the same salary.

♻️ Repost this to challenge what we’ve all been taught about debt
🔔 Follow Omkar Shinde for smarter money strategies that actually work

I house-hacked my primary residence.

Here’s how it ruined my life.

I bought into the dream:
Real estate would be my golden ticket.

I wanted to:

• Diversify my investments.
• Build long-term wealth.
• Borrow against it.
• Generate passive income.
• Leverage it to grow my portfolio.

But the shiny object syndrome got me.

Here’s the reality no one tells you:

Real estate isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s WORK.

• Ensuring you’ve got the right insurance to protect your investment.
• Setting up the right systems for smooth operations.
• Coordinating financing that’s anything but simple.
• Finding tenants who don’t destroy the place.
• Dealing with constant wear and tear.

I underestimated all of it.
I thought it would be easy. I was wrong.

Don’t let the “passive income” buzzwords fool you.
There’s nothing passive about the grind that comes with real estate.

I learned the hard way that you cannot skip preparation:

• Have a plan that’s airtight.
• Build a safety net that can handle surprises.
• Think two steps ahead, not just about your goals, but about the risks.

But here’s what I’ve come to understand:

We all make mistakes.

It’s so easy to feel like you’ve failed when things go wrong.
I’ve been there, staring at the mess I made, wondering how I’d fix it.

The truth is: even the biggest mistakes can be untangled.

This experience didn’t break me. 
It pushed me to grow, to rethink, and to do better.
I’m not perfect, but I’m learning, and I’m moving forward.

If you feel like you’ve made a mistake you can’t come back from—know this:
You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. You’re not alone.

What matters isn’t the mistake.
It’s how you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and take that next step.

And I know you can.

Just because I’m an advisor doesn’t mean I pinch pennies.

Here are 4 unusual things I happily pay a premium for:

The older I get, the more I realize something my 21-year-old self never understood:

Money is a tool. 
I used to look at it like a trophy. 

The more commas I have, the cooler I am.

But now I use it intentionally to buy back the two things that actually matter to me: time and mental peace.

1. Credit Cards

Not just for the points — for the peace they buy me.

→ Lounge access during long travel days.
→ Concierge services that save me hours.
→ TSA Pre and Global entry to skip long lines.
→ Travel protections I use more often than I’d like.

2. Watches

Yes, for the hype — but also because they retain value.
The kind you enjoy daily, that hold appreciation, and eventually get passed down.

It’s one of the rare “luxuries” that doesn’t punish you for liking nice things.

But also tells people what your time is worth.

3. Personal Development

Coaches, courses, mentors, masterminds.
I’ll invest in all of it.

One lesson can save me years.
One perspective can add six figures.
One conversation can change how I operate.

I’m buying the blueprint from someone who's already living my life.

4. Convenience

Fast passes, upgrades, same-day delivery, detailing — all of it.

Because saving $18 while losing an hour of sanity is the worst trade you can make.

Convenience isn’t laziness.
It’s clarity: spend where it expands you.

Most people try to save their way into peace.
Believe me, my parents did.

But you'll come to a point where:

Spending intentionally creates more time, more serenity, and more energy for the things that actually matter.

I met with a 55-year-old couple last week.

They’ve paid off their home and rentals, but have $0 outside of real estate.

And this is exactly why I don’t like real estate.

On the surface, they looked “set.”

→ No mortgage.
→ No rental mortgage.
→ Two properties fully paid off.

But when we talked about retirement, everything changed.

They had no liquidity.

→ $28,000 in Bank of America Savings.
→ $3,600/m in rental income.
→ $17,000 in Crypto.

They went all-in on real estate thinking it was their ticket to freedom.

But even with no debt you still need actual cash flow to retire.

And here’s the part most people never think about:

→ You can’t sell a bedroom to buy groceries.
→ You can’t pay medical bills with home equity.
→ You can’t fund 25 years of retirement with “a house that's paid off.”

Real estate felt safe.
It felt familiar.
It felt like the “smart and traditional” path that everyone online talks about.

But it wasn’t a plan.
It was a bet.

And like most people, they didn’t ask for help until it was almost too late.

Not because they didn’t care but because real estate gives you the illusion of security.

They thought owning two properties meant they’d be fine.
But here’s the truth they learned the hard way:

Real estate may build wealth...
but it doesn’t guarantee retirement.

Not without liquidity.
Not without diversification.
Not without a plan that actually produces income you can live on.

So if you’re banking your entire future on “just owning rentals,” ask yourself:

Will those walls and windows really pay your bills when the paychecks stop?

You closed another Enterprise deal that’s gonna pay you $80,000.

But you have no idea how to put it to work.

This is the trap almost every Tech Sales pro falls into.

You grind for weeks...
Push procurement...
Send signature reminders...

And then that commission finally hits.

$48k, $63k, $85k...

For a weekend, you feel unstoppable.
And you think you do all the right things:

→ Pay off the credit cards.
→ Put a chunk towards the mortgage.
→ Budget some for a nice vacation with the spouse.
→ And save the rest because you don't know when the next one's coming.

But now, you're down to $0 and not moving forward financially.

→ Still spending more than you're making.
→ More equity but can't use it for anything.
→ Retirement contributions are stopped for higher base pay.
→ And your CPA forgot to tell you about the tax ramifications.

Here’s the truth:

Making money and multiplying money are two different games.

Without a system:

• Money comes in fast
• Money leaves even faster
• Stress fills the gap

This is the number one problem I fix for Tech Sales reps making $200K–$800K:

→ A % automatically to taxes
→ A % to long-term investments
→ A % to cash reserves
→ A % to guilt-free spending
→ A % to big goals (houses, weddings, vacations)

Once every dollar has a job, the chaos disappears.

Your commission stops evaporating.
Your lifestyle stops controlling you.
Your money finally starts compounding.

Giving you back the freedom you've always wanted.


If you’re tired of watching big checks melt away…

DM me "QUOTA" and I’ll show you how to optimize your checks.

Stop focusing on: 
 
→ Becoming financially free by 27 years old.
→ Starting the next "unsaturated" business. 
→ Investing in Real Estate with $0. 

Focus more on: 

→ Paying for what you can afford.
→ Learning skills to become better. 
→ Consistently sticking to your daily actions. 
→ Prioritizing the best for you and your family. 
 
The reason why long term plans are successful is because of the short term actions.

You're getting ahead of yourself when you think about the prize. 
 
You'll end up: 
 
→ Paying too much taxes. 
→ Taking on too much debt. 
→ Selling investments to pay for expenses. 
→ Making the same mistakes that could be avoided. 
 
Don't fall into the trap of diving right for the result. 
 
Slow down. 

Focus on what you’re building, not just where you’re going.

How often do you get ahead of yourself?

I've never heard anyone say...

"I love the work-life balance at Amazon." 
 
This was the dream presented to me: 
 
• By every university 
• By my parents 
• By society 
 
 They told me to: 
 
• Graduate in Chemical Engineering 
• Go to Medical School 
• Make $$$ 
 
But what they didn't tell me was: 
 
• Work your a$$ off for 20+ years 
• Take on $100,000+ of debt 
• Mental health destroyed 
 
I couldn't do it anymore. 
I just wanted something of my own. 
 
It led me to what I call: Money Media 
 
• Changed fields from Engineering ▶️ Finance 
• Started writing on Social Media platforms 
• Create life-altering financial plans 
• Get paid while living my dream 
 
What you need to realize is, 
Everyone has a unique skill that they can teach, 
 
You just need to discover it. 
 
So take a chance on yourself, 
It'll pay dividends for the rest of your life. 
 
Take this as a sign to take action on what you've been thinking about for so long. 
 
2025 is your year! Make it happen.

America’s sitting on $1,130,000,000,000 in credit card debt.

If you're the average American, you're carrying about $6,730 of it.

I know you're not dumb.
I know you are responsible.
I know you weren't taught this stuff.

Let bygones be bygones.

But here's what I’ll tell you:

Credit cards aren’t the villain here.
It’s the lack of education that screws people over.

Here’s what I wish everyone knew:

1) You can consolidate.
Just because you got every card for it's promo bonus but forgot to pay it off, doesn't mean you should just keep it.

A single balance transfer to a 0% APR card stops the bleeding immediately.

2) Negotiate like Chris Voss.
Lenders want their money back.
If you’ve been paying on time, they’ll often extend your 0% APR window.

I’ve literally watched someone get an extra year from one phone call.

3) Choose your battle
You can’t keep the same lifestyle and expect your debt to magically disappear.
At some point, you gotta choose:
Comfort today, or freedom tomorrow.

4) Stick with it
This is the part people hate.
Because it’s boring.

Automate payments, throw any extra cash at principal, and just stay consistent.

Could you use more income? Yes.
But that's just a bandaid on a wound that needs stiches.

Bottom line is:
You need more knowledge.

Because the real difference between someone drowning in debt
and someone debt-free?

It’s not luck.
It’s not income.

It’s education.

Master this, and consider yourself graduated :)

Your job at Apple and eCom side hustle might impress your friends.

But your bank account? Still dryer than the Sahara.

You’re grinding:

• Crushing it at your 9-5.
• Growing your side hustle.
• Doubling your streams of income.

But here’s the harsh reality:

• Taxes are eating away your profits.
• You’re overworked and under-saving.
• You have no system to manage cash flow.

What’s the point of earning more if you’re not keeping more?

Let’s break it down:

You’re making money from two places,
But your lifestyle and lack of planning are leaving you broke.

Here’s how to fix it:

1️⃣ Track Everything:

Treat your side hustle like a business.
Track income and expenses meticulously—leverage tools like QuickBooks or spreadsheets.

2️⃣ Build a Tax Strategy:

Use deductions, write-offs, and pre-tax contributions to reduce your overall burden.
Your side hustle can help you save if you plan wisely.

3️⃣ Automate Investments:

Set up automated contributions to your 401(k), IRA, and a brokerage account.
If you don’t see the money, you won’t spend it.

It’s not about making more money.
It’s about making your money work for you.

Your dream life doesn’t come from doubling your income.

It comes from doubling your intention.

DM me "INTENT" to start 2025 with the right systems in place.

Don't think "over night".

Instead, think "over time".

Social media sells you a lie:
→ Flip houses and retire next year.
→ Invest in crypto and quadruple your money.
→ Start a side hustle and become a millionaire.

It’s very intoxicating.
The promise of instant success.

But here’s the truth:

 “Overnight success” is always decades in building.

Here’s what actually works:

→ Playing the long game.
→ Focusing on consistency, not hype.
→ Choosing proven strategies over quick wins.

It’s not glamorous.
But it’s sustainable.
It’s how real wealth is built.

Ask yourself:

Would you rather:
→ Burn out chasing quick gains?
→ Or grow steadily, compounding success over time?

Because one path leads to anxiety.
The other leads to freedom.

The shortcut is a trap.
The real wealth is in the journey.

What’s one long-term goal you’re committing to today?

Just like the 90.5 million Americans, I own a pet. 
 
I've spent 5 figures on Zuko so far, here's how: 
 
I love Zuko. He fulfills his duties as a dog: 
 
→ Constant face licks 
→ Excited when I get home 
→ An energetic ball of love and joy 
 
But don't let his adorable smile betray you. 
Because taking care of a dog isn't cheap. 
 
I've paid for: 
 
→ Food and toys 
→ Doggy Daycare 
→ Two hip surgeries 
→ Constant vet visits 
→ Monthly groomer visits 
 
I've spent 5 figures on him. 
Yet, I have no regrets. 
 
How, you ask? 
Because I had a plan before I got him. 
 
Here's what I did: 
 
1. Due Diligence 
→ Talk to the breeder/adoption agency to understand any history that I need to know. 
 
2. Emergency Fund 
→ Have a separate E-fund for Zuko that is used to pay for his expenses. 
 
3. Budget 
→ $200/month goes towards goes toward Zuko for any of his daily needs. 
 
4. Subscriptions 
→ His meds, grooming appts, vet visits etc. are all subscription-based so I can leverage them whenever instead of a one-time big payment. 
 
You may think I'm crazy for spending that much on a dog, 
But he's a priority I'm willing to spend on. 
 
Here's your takeaway: 
Plan for your priorities, let the rest take a backseat. 
 
Your priorities might be different than Zuko, 
But a plan will always help keep that priority important.

The only affirmation that helps me push through the tough times.

"Your mind will take you further than your circumstances ever will."

Most people avoid that truth.
Because it forces you to zoom out... and confront the life you're actually living.

For years, I let my environment shape my mindset.
I let circumstances dictate how far I believed I could go.

I didn’t realize the cage wasn’t around me— it was in me.

Then life hit me with what I now call "my Inner Switch".

An Inner Switch is that moment when:

• You fail at something you thought you were great at
• Someone you trust forces you to rethink your path
• You catch yourself living a life you never consciously chose

And suddenly you realize—
your outer world only changes when your inner world does.

Mindset isn’t motivation.
It’s not clichés.
It’s not the 5am alarms or the inspirational wallpaper on your phone.

It’s the decision to stop living on autopilot.
It’s the intention to build, not just react.
It’s holding the bigger picture when life tries to shrink you.

As Naval Ravikant said:
“The world just reflects your own feelings back at you. Reality is neutral.”

If you see limits, you live within them.
If you see possibility, life expands around you.

So be grateful— not just for what you have,
but for the chance to shape who you’re becoming.

Say the thing you’ve been avoiding.
Start the project you’ve been delaying.

Move toward the person you actually want to be, not the version you’ve settled for.

Your Inner Switch isn’t a feeling. It’s a call to action.

Don’t wait for life to force it.

Flip it yourself—
and watch everything around you rise to meet it.

Exactly 36 days till the last day of 2025.

Time is lost, and if you haven't done anything for your finances this year, do this to get back on track.

Most people don’t realize how much can change in 36 days.
Not everything, but enough to shift the trajectory of your entire 2026.

And yes... even if you’ve ignored your finances all year.
Even if you’ve been “too busy.”
Even if you promised yourself you’d start in January.

So here’s what you can still do before December 31st:

1. Fix your tax bill

• Run your last-minute deductions.
• Max out (or catch up) your 401(k).
• Prep for bonuses + RSUs hitting in Q4.
• Add to your IRA before the window closes.

2. Cash Flow Reset for 2026.

Use AI to evaluate your last 11 months of spending.

• Travel
• Restaurants
• Sneaky subscriptions
• “Treat yourself” purchases

If you don’t patch them now, you’ll repeat them next year.

3. Rebalance your investments

With how wonky the market has been:

Take some wins.
Harvest some losses.
Reposition yourself for 2026.
Switch or implement strategies if needed.

Reach out if you want to get evaluated.

4. Set 2026 goals in 2025.

Most people wait for January to “get organized.”
By the time they do, it’s March.
By the time they act, it’s June.
By the time they feel behind… the year is gone.

Give yourself a real advantage:
Start 2026 on Day 1, not Day 90.

36 days is enough to:

→ Fix your spending habits.
→ Lower your taxable income.
→ Build your investment structure.
→ Walk into 2026 with clarity instead of chaos.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire financial life.
You just need to start now.

Because time isn’t the problem.

Waiting is.

Unpopular Opinion:

You need money to create money.

Here's why:

A 100% return on $100 is $100.
A 10% return on $10,000 is $1,000.

While both returns look attractive, here's the crucial point: 

Scale matters.

10% is attainable, 
especially with a well-thought-out investment strategy. 

But a 100% return? 
That's almost like chasing a mirage—exciting but highly unrealistic for most.

$100 is a great place to start, 
it shouldn’t be where you end. 

Building wealth requires not just an initial investment, but a commitment to increasing that investment over time.

Remember this:
Every dollar you invest today paves the way for your financial future. 

The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow through the power of compounding.

Whether it's: 

• Setting aside a portion of your income, 
• Exploring different investment vehicles, 
• Or seeking advice from financial experts,

the key is to take that first step.

Your financial goals won’t achieve themselves; 

You've got to execute the plan with determination.

DM me "START" if you need that push to get started on the right step.

Gib Irons

Irons & Irons P.A.

As the managing partner of Irons & Irons, P.A., I am in charge of running the day to day operations of the business including but not limited to implementing firm policy related to cash flow and profitability, staffing, client development, time management, and productivity systems.  
My practice is focused on personal injury litigation and family law.  As a rule, our firm does extensive screening before accepting a personal injury or family law case.  We seek to limit the number of active clients that we are representing at any given time in effort to streamline the litigation process.  As such, our clients enjoy being able to have regular and frequent access to their attorney and exceptional service.  
In the world of domestic and family law, where tension and stress are all too common for everyone involved, and the burnout rate amongst attorneys in astonishingly high, we provide a client based service that caters to high net worth and upper middle class individuals seeking to reach a favorable disposition in their case within a reasonable timeframe.

Managing Partner

Irons Equity, LLC

Gib Irons is an attorney, entrepreneur and real estate investor.  He is the founder and CEO at Irons Equity and oversees operations, acquisitions, investor relations and asset management.
Gib and his wife, Kate have 3 children, Anna-Gibson (9), Miles (7) and Malene (4).  Gib is an avid surfer and fisherman and loves offshore fishing for tuna, dolphin and wahoo.

Chief Executive Officer

Helping Accredited Investors Passively Invest in Real Estate | Founder @ Irons Equity | Father & husband (and surfer & fisherman, but my wife told me to write that last.)

In 2007, I started my law firm in Greenville, NC.

In 2019, I had a breakthrough.

Being an attorney is taxing.

It's stressful. It's intense. It's a ton of work.

It's all of that — and it's non-stop.

(If you're an attorney, you're nodding your head right now.)

A lot of attorneys work until they die. Not because they want to — but because they don't have an exit plan. 

My breakthrough came when I met a real estate investor during the Big Rock Blue Marlin fishing tournament in 2019.

He started telling me all about his strategy.

- How he invests in real estate.
- How it's saved him 6 figures in taxes. 
- How he built 6 figures in passive cash flow.

I walked off that boat committed to real estate investing.

14 months later, I owned 14 properties.

Today, my mission is simple:

I want to help other high-earners (not just attorneys) experience the same benefits I've seen from real estate investing.

Yes, not paying as much in taxes is incredible.
Yes, the portfolio diversification is great.
Yes, the return potential is wonderful.

But you know the best thing?

Real estate gives you and your family more options for your lives.

And what could be better than that?

Visit ironsequity.com or send me a DM to learn more.

Gib Irons is an attorney, entrepreneur and real estate investor.  He is the founder and CEO at Irons Equity and oversees operations, acquisitions, investor relations and asset management.  Gib is a resident of Greenville, North Carolina.

Gib owns 14 single family condominiums, a commercial building, and a short-term rental (STR) property in Sevierville, Tennessee near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg named “Smoky Mountain Masterpiece.” 

Gib is a passive investor in a 660-unit portfolio in Arlington, Texas, a 344-unit apartment building in Dallas, Texas, and a 295-unit property in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

In addition to Gib’s real estate investing experience, Gib is the owner and managing partner of Irons & Irons, PA, a multi-million dollar law firm based in North Carolina and established in 2007.

Gib and his wife, Kate have 3 children, Anna-Gibson (9), Miles (7) and Malene (4).  Gib is an avid surfer and fisherman and loves offshore fishing for tuna, dolphin and wahoo.

Your $75K salary becomes $150K.
Then $250K.
Then $500K.

And you know what happens?

Your stress doubles. Your tax bill triples. Your time disappears.

You're making more but keeping less—and you've got nothing to show for it except exhaustion and a fat tax return to the IRS.

The dirty secret of wealth building isn't about making more.

It's about **keeping more** and making your money work while you sleep.

I see this with every high-earning professional I meet:
- Doctors working 80-hour weeks
- Lawyers billing their lives away
- Business owners trapped in their own companies

They're rich on paper but broke on time.

Real wealth isn't just income. It's options.

The freedom to say no. The ability to take a Tuesday morning surf session. The option to retire—or not—on your terms.

That only happens when you stop trading time for money and start putting your capital to work.

Most people wait until they're 60 to figure this out.

Don't be most people.

What's keeping you from making your first passive investment?

My wife made $250,000 in a year while staying at home with my kids.

When I first started investing in real estate, it was chaos.

-> I was trying to run a law office.
-> I was managing my 14 properties.
-> I was juggling multiple contractors.

Then my CPA made a suggestion:

“Gib, would your wife be open to becoming a qualified real estate professional?”

My CPA told me if Kate managed those 14 properties and logged 750 hours in a year, she could become a qualified real estate professional, and we’d be able to improve our tax situation.

Kate was interested, and in 2021, she earned her qualified real estate professional designation.

Now, Kate is critical to our real estate success as a family.

-> Any time we have turnover, she’s at properties doing showings.
-> She’s constantly juggling maintenance people and tenants.
-> And did I mention she watches our 3 kids under 10 years old?

It’s a ton of work — and she’s incredibly good at it.

In 2021, thanks to Kate’s help and her professional designation, we were able to save $250,000 in taxes in a single year.

Not a bad salary for a Stay at Home Mom.

I quit alcohol 17 years ago because of the metal band Korn.

Why it was one of the best decisions of my life:

In 2002 I met the lead singer, Jonathan Davis.

I thought he was the stereotypical party animal like most rockstars.

But he told me something that changed my life:

“I saw my career going down the drain and I had to make a choice:

Music or partying.

I couldn’t do both so I quit.”

He didn’t drink or do any drugs.

5 years later… I quit.

Since then I:

• Have become healthier
• Wake up more energized
• Built 2 thriving businesses
• Got better at handling my emotions
• Created the best relationships with my friends and family

If you’re stuck in the same miserable job or situation and have no idea how to break out…

Look at how much you’re drinking.

I guarantee it’s holding you back.

P.S. -

If you're looking for an opportunity to invest in medical real estate and build passive income. 

Send me a DM.

I missed my daughter's soccer game to bill $800.

Worst trade I ever made.

And I've made some shitty investments.

But that one hurt different.

Because you can't get that back.

Here's what nobody tells you:

High income is a trap.

You think: "Just a few more years."

"Just one more promotion."

"Just get to partner first."

Then you're 50.

Rich on paper.

Poor in memories.

The math that woke me up:

$400K salary = 2,000 billable hours

Every hour you work = $200

Every game you miss = Priceless

You can't buy those back.

What I did:

Stopped optimizing for income.

Started optimizing for time.

Bought assets that work without me.

The shift:

2019: 80-hour weeks, missed every game

2020: Bought 14 properties in 14 months

2024: 1,200 units GP/LP, never miss a game

Still make the same money.

Work 40% less.

The assets pay me monthly:

Medical real estate → distributions

Build-to-rent portfolio → Cash flow

Multifamily syndications → Equity growth

All while I'm coaching soccer.

The truth nobody says:

Your kids don't care about your salary.

They care if you show up.

Your spouse doesn't want the promotion.

They want you present.

You're not building wealth for later.

You're trading life for money.

Working 80-hour weeks is hard.

Building assets that buy your time back is hard.

Realizing too late that you missed everything is hard.

Choose your hard.

---

Comment "TIME" if you're tired of missing what matters.

Follow me for real talk on buying your life back.

I invested $1.5M of my own money in 24 months.

Not a single dollar from investors.

Here's what that bought me:

The right to ask for theirs.

Most syndicators are broke.

They're raising capital they can't afford to invest in themselves.

Then they wonder why nobody trusts them.

Here's what I learned:

Skin in the game > Slick pitch decks

Real money talks > Fake Instagram posts

Eating your own cooking > Selling dreams

The breakdown:

$500K → Multifamily deal (Arlington, TX)

$300K → Medical real estate fund

$200K → Phoenix build-to-rent

$500K → Three more deals after vetting 100+ opportunities

What happened next:

Raised $12M in 3 weeks.

Why?

Because investors could see my money first.

Not asking them to do what I won't do.

The truth nobody says:

You can't raise capital without credibility.

You can't have credibility without skin in the game.

You can't have skin in the game without capital.

Being broke is hard.

Risking your own money is hard.

Asking others to trust you when you don't trust yourself is hard.

Choose your hard.

Comment below:

Would you ever invest with anyone that does not have skin in the game?

Here's the wealth-building advice I wish someone gave me at 25:

Your friends will tell you to max out your 401(k).

Your parents will tell you to save 10% of your income.

Your financial advisor will tell you to invest in index funds.

None of them are wrong.

But none of them will make you wealthy, either.

Here's what will:

Own things that produce cash flow.

Not stocks that might go up.
Not crypto you can't explain to your spouse.
Not speculative investments that keep you up at night.

Things that put money in your account every single month, whether you work or not.

Real assets. Real businesses. Real estate.

I spent my 20s doing what I was "supposed to do" saving diligently, investing in my 401(k), working harder.

I spent my 30s doing what actually builds wealth buying assets that generate passive income and reduce my taxes.

The difference?

In my 20s, I was hoping to retire at 65.

In my 30s, I realized I didn't have to.

Because when your assets cover your lifestyle, work becomes a choice, not a requirement.

And that's when everything changes.

You don't need to make a million dollars a year.

You need to build a portfolio that throws off $10K-$20K a month.

That's freedom.

Which path are you on the path everyone takes, or the path that actually works?

The Fed just injected $13.5 billion into the economy.

It's the second largest injection since COVID.

And we're barely into December.

Here's what nobody's telling you about what this means for your cash:

If you're sitting in a savings account right now, you're getting destroyed.

Your 1% interest rate has no chance of keeping pace with what's coming.

That's because they're greasing the pipes before they open the firehose.

More money printing is coming. Way more.

When they flood the system with cash:

→ Your dollars will buy less
→ Inflation accelerates
→ Asset prices rise
→ Savers lose, holders win

I'm not saying this to scare you.

I'm saying it because I've watched this movie before.

The playbook is simple:

✅ Get into hard assets
✅ Real estate that appreciates with inflation
✅ Tangible investments that can't be printed into oblivion

With interest rates heading down, the cost of capital is about to get cheaper. Interest rates are heading down.

If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "right time" to invest, you're watching it happen right now.

Cash is losing value every single day they run the printer.

Don't be left holding the bag.

Holders of cash will get crushed. 

Send me a DM if you want to diversify.

I pay 35% in taxes.

I paid $0 on $1M of income last year.

Legally.

Here's exactly how I did it:

I made a $200,000 charitable donation in 2023.
That donation turned into a $1,000,000 tax deduction on my 2024 return.

Let me break down the math:

Tax I would've paid on $1M at 35%: $350,000

Tax I actually paid: $0

Net savings after the $200K donation: $150,000 in my pocket

Here's the $100K example:

Say you donate $100,000.
You receive a $500,000 tax deduction (5x multiplier).

If you're making $1M annually in the 35% bracket:

Tax on $500K at 35% = $175,000
Amount you donated = $100,000
Net benefit = $75,000 you keep instead of sending to the IRS

How This Actually Works:

You donate to a qualified charitable organization

→ They buy raw materials and create a product (medical supplies, accessibility tech)
→ Independent appraisal values the finished product at 5x cost
→ You get a K-1 by March 15th with your charitable deduction
→ Reduces your AGI by up to 50% per year
→ Excess carries forward to future years

The Track Record:

9 consecutive years of successful operation
Zero IRS audits
$90M raised annually in just 8 weeks

Hundreds of high-earners have used this strategy

Yes, there's risk.

The IRS could theoretically disallow it years later.

You'd owe back taxes plus penalties.

But with 9 years and zero audits, I'm comfortable with that risk to keep an extra $150K.
The Bottom Line:

Donate $100K → Save $175K in taxes
Donate $200K → Save $350K in taxes

The window opens mid-September and closes by Thanksgiving.

If this caught your attention, DM me "TAX".

I'll send you more details on my personal experience with this strategy.

--
I am not a CPA, tax attorney, or financial advisor. This is not tax or financial advice. This is educational content based on my personal experience.

$500,000 Invested → $550,000 K‑1 Loss

Most professionals think “passive income” sounds too good to be true.

But this was my reality on my very first real estate syndication deal.
→ Deal: Aria Ventura (660-unit Class B apartment portfolio)
→ Capital Invested: $500,000 as a Limited Partner
→ K‑1 Loss: $550,000 — thanks to bonus depreciation

Yes, you read that right:

I invested $500K and showed a $550K loss… on paper.

Here’s what most people don’t realize:

→ The IRS allows something called bonus depreciation
→ When structured properly, real estate syndications can pass that to Limited Partners
→ That creates paper losses—which can offset other gains (or even active income if you qualify)

This isn’t a loophole.

It’s a strategic framework the wealthy have used for decades to:
→ Reduce taxable income
→ Preserve capital
→ Build wealth without trading time for money

I didn’t manage tenants.
I didn’t fix toilets.
I didn’t deal with late-night maintenance calls.

I simply deployed capital into a professionally managed, cash-flowing real estate asset—and let the structure do the heavy lifting.

If you’re a high-income professional tired of the grind and ready to make your money work harder than you do:

→ DM me and I’ll show you how to start building wealth without sacrificing your time.

I built my law firm into a prison.

Then I bought my way out with real estate.

Spent 10 years becoming the attorney everyone wanted.

Also became my own worst boss.

The prison I built:

80-hour weeks

Can't take vacation (clients need me)

Miss my kids' games (depositions scheduled)

Make great money (but can't spend it with my family)

The wake-up call:

2019 Fishing tournament. Met a guy with 200 properties.

He asked: "What's your exit plan?"

I didn't have one.

39 years old. Multi-million dollar firm. Zero exit strategy.

What I did next:

Bought 14 properties in 14 months.

Studied real estate like I studied for the bar exam.

Invested $1.5M of my own money.

Built a 1,200+ unit portfolio.

The truth no one tells you:

You can't build freedom by selling hours.

Doesn't matter if you charge $500/hour or $50/hour.

Time for money = prison.

Assets that pay you = freedom.

Today:

Still run my law firm (on my terms)

Invested in 20+ real estate deals

Raised $12M in 3 weeks

Actually see my kids play soccer

Being trapped is hard.

Building an exit is hard.

Staying trapped forever is hard.

Choose your hard.

---

Comment "EXIT" if you're ready to stop trading time for money.

Follow me for real talk on escaping the high-earner trap.

Grateful today.

Not for the deals. Not for the distributions.

For the time.

Time with Kate and the kids.

Time I wouldn't have had when I was billing 2,000+ hours a year.

Real estate gave me options but the best option has always been choosing family first.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Every successful investor I know has a Not To Do List.

Here's mine and some people will hate this:

I don't invest in deals without skin in the game.

I don't chase cap rates without looking at sponsor track record.

I don't take calls from syndicators who won't show me their actual distributions.

I don't invest in markets I haven't personally visited.

I don't respond to pitch decks that say "strong cash flow" without numbers.

I don't work with sponsors who don't invest their own capital.

I don't sit through webinars that are just sales pitches.

I don't buy into deals where the sponsor makes money even if I lose mine.

I don't invest without understanding the tax benefits first.

I don't take advice from people who've never closed a deal.

I don't fill my portfolio with assets that can't show me monthly distributions.

I don't ever invest in something I can't explain to my wife.

Your time is your capital too.

Spend it wisely.

I donated $200K to charity in 2023.

And took a $1M charitable contribution.

Let me show you the math.

My numbers:

Donated: $200,000

Charitable Contribution K-1 loss: $1,000,000

If I'm in the 35% blended tax bracket on that $1M of income:

Tax I would have paid: $350,000
Tax I actually paid: $0 (on that portion)

Money saved: $350,000

Net savings after donation: $150,000 in my pocket

Here's how someone could do this with $100K:

Donate: $100,000
Tax deduction received: $500,000 (5x multiplier)

If you're making $1M annually in the 35% bracket:

Tax on $500K at 35%: $175,000
Amount donated: $100,000

Net benefit: $75,000 you keep instead of paying to the IRS

The Structure:

-> You donate to a qualified charitable organization.
-> They purchase raw materials and create a product.
-> Independent appraisal values the finished product at 5x the raw materials cost.

-> You receive a K-1 by March 15th showing your charitable contribution.
-> You can reduce your adjusted gross income by up to 50% per year.
-> If the charitable contribution exceeds 50% of your AGI, it carries forward to future years.

The track record:

The sponsor I work with has done this for 9 consecutive years.

Zero IRS audits.

$90M raised annually in just 8 weeks (mid-September through Thanksgiving).

Hundreds of high-earners using this strategy.

Yes, there's risk.
The IRS could disallow the deduction years later.
You'd owe back taxes plus penalties and interest.

The bottom line:

Donate $100K, save $175K in taxes.
Donate $200K, save $350K in taxes.

The math is simple.
The strategy is proven.

This post is just here for educational purposes. 

If you have more questions or want to connect on my personal experience send me a DM. 

Disclaimer:
I am not a CPA. I am not a tax attorney. I am not a financial advisor. This is not tax advice. This is not financial advice. This is purely educational content based on my personal experience. Always consult with your own qualified tax professional before making any financial decisions.

17 years of being a lawyer taught me this:

You can make $200k+ and still feel trapped.

Attorney life almost broke me before I found real estate:

→ I was working 60-80 hour weeks
→ Clients were demanding and draining
→ Every dollar required my time and energy
→ I was stressed, exhausted, intense, non-stop

Sure, the money was good. But the lifestyle was terrible.

It all changed when I met a guy at a fishing tournament who owned 200+ properties.

He asked me what my exit plan was as an attorney.

I told him I didn't have one.

The conversation that followed marked a turning point in my life.

14 months later, I owned 14 properties. All while still running the law firm.

Today I'm at 1,200+ units.

The law firm is still running. But now it's a choice, not a requirement.

Real estate gave me perks that practicing law never could:

→ Passive income that flows whether I work or not
→ Tax advantages that actually keep more money in my pocket
→ Equity that builds while I sleep
→ Time back with my family

Most high-earners I talk to are in the same trap I was in:

Making $250K-$500K+ per year but completely dependent on showing up every single day.

One health issue. One burnout moment. One big life change. And the whole thing collapses.

Real estate didn't make me rich. It made me free.

And once you have that, you can't imagine going back.

What would change for you if your income wasn't tied to your time?

You have anxiety because deep down you know you could be doing greater.

It's really just you against the mirror.

You vs you.

I get it. 

I spent years billing 2,000+ hours as a trial attorney while knowing I was trading time for money in a game I couldn't win.

The anxiety wasn't about the work.

It was about the path.

When I invested my first $500K into real estate, the anxiety didn't disappear it transformed.

Now it's fuel.

It reminds me that sitting still is more expensive than any deal I could lose money on.

So when anxiety hits, I do one of two things:

Go small—knock out the task I've been avoiding.
Or go BIG—take the swing I've been thinking about for months.

For me, going big was putting $1.5M of my own capital into deals before asking anyone else to invest.

For you, it might be making that first $50K passive investment instead of letting it sit in a savings account earning 4%.

Which sounds scarier?

That's the one you need to do.

Our team raised $12 million in 3 weeks.

For medical real estate.

People keep asking how we did it so fast.

Here's what actually happened:

It wasn't one big pitch that convinced everyone.

It was 18 months of building trust before we ever opened the fund.

Here's the truth about raising capital that nobody talks about:

The raise doesn't start when you launch the fund.

It starts the first time you show actual results.

Our investors didn't invest in a deal.

They invested because they'd been watching:

→ Monthly distribution updates (actual amounts, not vague "cash flow")

→ Real tax savings with receipts ($250K my first year)

→ Honest conversations about deals we walked away from

→ $1.5M+ of my own capital already invested alongside LPs

When we opened the medical real estate fund, we weren't asking people to trust us.

We were giving them the opportunity to participate in what we were already doing.

That's the difference.

Most sponsors spend weeks trying to convince investors with projections.

We spent 18 months showing them actual results.

By the time we launched, the question wasn't "Should I invest?"

It was "How much can I invest?"

---

$12M in 3 weeks wasn't luck.

It was proof of concept that took years to build.

Do you want to connect and discuss your 2026 investment goals?

Send me a DM.

$152,000,000,000.

That’s what the U.S. travel industry contributes to GDP every single month.

40+ days of delays, disruptions, and uncertainty.

It’s not just frustrating for travelers it’s a major economic red flag.

Here’s what this shutdown is doing to U.S. travel:

1. TSA + air traffic staffing stretched thin overtime halted, sickouts rising, delays spiking

2. Passport + visa processing slowed or stopped backlogs growing, trips canceled

3. National parks + landmarks closed or unstaffed tourism dollars lost, local economies hit

Why it matters for investors:

→ Travel-dependent assets (hotels, STRs, tourism hubs) are seeing demand shocks

→ Markets reliant on visa/immigration flow = instability risk

→ Infrastructure delays can ripple into CRE timelines and valuations

→ Consumer confidence tied to smooth travel and right now, that’s shaky

This shutdown is a sneaky saboteur.

It’s not loud. But it’s quietly choking off the flow of money, people, and opportunity.

If your income relies on systems that *need permission to function…

You’re playing someone else’s game.

I help investors build streams that flow no matter what—

Passive, tax-efficient, and shutdown-proof.

I break it down weekly in my newsletter:

https://lnkd.in/e3dfUJFp

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