If you’ve experienced a surge in income by applying the principles in my books (consciously or unconsciously), Congratulations!

But here’s the thing: earning the money is only step one. The next step—being smart with it—is just as important. So don’t stop learning, even if you’ve already reached the financial target you were aiming for.

If you don’t want to become one of those “windfall casualties” you hear about in the news, stop right now and ask yourself:
What do I want my life to look like in 5–10 years? 20 years? Beyond that?

When the money starts flowing, the natural temptation is to go grab all the goodies and gadgets you couldn’t afford before. Maybe you’re not even a big spender—but where a lesser brand used to be “good enough,” you now opt for the higher-end version because (perhaps for the first time) you can.

This is not a slam on high-end products. Sometimes, they do last longer or perform better. But often, the “value” is mostly perception—expertly packaged and sold to us. And when money isn’t tight, we become easier to sell to.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with catching up on long-delayed repairs or rewarding yourself for your hard work. The challenge is knowing where to draw the line. Most people, riding that adrenaline rush of sudden perceived freedom, can’t see that line clearly.

The result? Those who get a quick windfall often end up right back at broke before they know it. They didn’t account for unexpected market shifts or setbacks—things that can reverse fortunes just as fast as they came—unless they did something uncommon: jumping tracks from the quick-money mindset to a slow, steady, long-term strategy.

This isn’t natural. It takes conscious effort and a deliberate practice of delayed gratification.

So, what should you do instead?

Goal #1: Build a steady, predictable passive cash flow
Use the money you earn to build or invest in passive income streams. Once your passive income exceeds your expenses, you’re financially free. A person with a million dollars in the bank but no cash flow is not free.

Related: Blood Banks and Your Finances - (this is really good!)

Goal #2: Let the extra income pay for luxuries
After your passive income is greater than your expenses, let the surplus pay for luxuries—if you want them.

Avoid building a luxury lifestyle on stagnant money (cash just sitting in the bank) instead of cash-flowing assets. And remember—“luxury” is relative. Whatever it means to you, it can wait.

Also, don’t spend all your earnings on lifestyle upgrades. It’s okay to downsize if it improves your cash flow. It’s okay to buy used if it means you have more to invest. Unless you make these hard calls, you may have nothing left to invest—and your future self will not be amused.

If you have money in the bank—invest it.
Don’t let it sit there. Don’t burn it on consumables. Put it to work earning a return. Convert it into cash flow.

If you run a business—or if you know your “Soul Purpose” (as Garrett Gunderson calls it)—that’s often the most meaningful place to put your stagnant money to work.

• Plan A: Use it to grow your business cash flow.

• Plan B: If you don’t have a business (or your current one is more hobby than income source), put the money to work elsewhere while you figure it out. It might even fund your Soul Purpose later, so you can do what you love without the pressure to make it pay.

One of the most reliable ways to build steady, long-term cash flow is through real estate—not the flashy, quick-profit kind, but the slow, boring, steady-growth kind.

And not just any long-term real estate—it has to be the right property in the right location. (Sadly, most areas right now are not ideal for the 7–10 year strategy I want to share with you.)

What’s better?

Would you rather…

• Earn $250,000 a year as a doctor with zero passive income and an upper-class lifestyle?

• Or earn a modest income as a contractor with $1 million in assets?

• Or be a teacher making $40K/year, but own rentals that give you an extra $4,000/month in passive income?

There are 3 types of wealth—but only one gives you true freedom. And with preparation and planning, anyone can step into it.

Click to watch the 1-minute, 44 second video below:

Reality Check (and a true confession)

Real estate played a huge role in our first big financial breakthrough.

We went from broke—falling behind with zero investing experience—to nearly $300K cash tax-free in just a few years. But here’s the truth: we didn’t know how to reinvest it wisely, and we weren’t great at drawing the spending line. After years of being broke, the arrival of money made us giddy—so even though we tried to be smart, we still made costly mistakes we didn’t recognize until years later.

We made a lot. We lost a lot. But most importantly, we learned a lot.

That’s why we’re now drawn to the slow, steady strategies StrongBrook is helping us implement today. They let us grow at nature’s pace—solid and sustainable—rather than chasing quick, big, but fleeting windfalls.

Our setbacks taught us patience. And now, I’d much rather grow wealth slowly and surely than watch it vanish quickly.

As long as we keep our vision for where we want to be in 10 or 20 years, I’m confident the principles will keep steering us in the right direction. In fact, I’m enjoying the journey more than ever. Moving at a slower pace gives me more time for myself and my family. It just feels right.

What We’re Doing Now

My husband and I are now working with our longtime friend Gary Norris, preparing to build a retirement portfolio through StrongBrook—a research, property acquisition, and management team that takes care of all the real estate work we used to do ourselves, but no longer have time for.

StrongBrook handles everything for its investors:

• Identifies the right cash-flow and growth markets

• Shops the auctions

• Rehabs the properties

• Finds the renters

• Manages the rentals

…so the investors don’t have to. This is now part of our long-term retirement plan, and we invite you to check it out for yourself.*

Funny Story: How (and Why) We Got Involved

Gary has been a trusted friend and cheerleader since we met in 2007. As an avid Jackrabbit Factor fan, he’s helped spread my message for years through his radio show and live events.

More recently, Gary’s been introducing investors to this portfolio-building opportunity, and his wife invited me to speak at one of their date-night socials hosted at Kris Krohn’s home (Kris is the founder of StrongBrook).

That evening was my first real introduction to what StrongBrook does. And honestly—after feeling burned from failed investments in the past—I didn’t think anything could change my mind about real estate. But I was wrong. I heard something that completely shifted my perspective.

I recorded the conversation and took it home to my husband. It shifted his perspective just as powerfully as it did mine. "What I heard there (while I waited for my turn to speak) made all the difference."

Your Next Step

If you want to know what changed my mind about real estate:

1. Click here to listen to the first 30 minutes I shared with my husband. You’ll also hear the one-hour presentation I gave afterward on mindset—featuring some new principles you may not have heard before.
   (It’s free until December 15. After that, it will only be available to our paid FTMF participants and Insider’s Club Members.)

2. Click to request a FREE GAME PLAN from an adviser at StrongBrook’s corporate office.
   (Look for the big red button in the upper right of the webpage.)

During your phone appointment, you’ll share how much passive monthly income you’d like to create—and your target retirement date—and they’ll reverse-engineer a real estate portfolio strategy to get you there.

Even if you can’t invest right now, they can help you plan for the future so you’ll be ready when the time comes.

It’s all about planning ahead—mapping out the long-term strategy that gets you where you want to be. You have nothing to lose by learning more about the possibilities.

We hope you’ll join us. Click here to request your FREE, no-obligation Game Plan now.

Prosper on!