Most people will be financially free in 4-7 years, pending taking action with financial planning and being able to save at least 30-50k a year to build their investment portfolio. With an investor philosophy, begin with the end in mind and design your ideal life now. You are fortunate to be on the path to being financially free, and it is a privilege to meet this financial goal, so please do something with it and make a positive impact in the world.

Having passive cash flow is the simple part… the hard part is figuring out what meaningful thing to do after. Money and time are interchangeable resources. When you start out, money is worth more than time. But in time, when you grow to become a successful investor, time will transition to being more valuable.

The investment process can be frustrating, with real estate and other alternative investments, the price does not go up with the instantaneous feedback of the capital markets.

The good thing is that it is not bipolar either, and when you have your head down, with the right investment strategy, adding value things will work out in the end, and that “slack in the train set” will eventually come out.

Quick math: $621-$554 average rents is $67 of average rent bump in a year of work.

67*96 units*12 months = +$77,184 NOI bump

$77,184/0.5 cap = $1,543,680 in added value from income increase alone.

Once you have implemented the TWE trifecta, it’s all about basic saving your money and investing it more.

This is the point where you need to have patience and trust the investment process. This is why we created the Rich Life Podcast, focusing on personal development beyond finances. Ben-Shahar shares four archetypes in his book called Happier outlines how we fall into these four “happiness archetypes”:

Rat Racer – enjoy the idea of a future destination, but neglect the present
Hedonist – enjoy the journey (right now), but neglect the future
Nihilist – enjoy reliving the past, but neglect the present & future (because it’s hopeless)
Happiness – enjoy the experience of climbing toward the peak

The happiness archetype is the ideal archetype, part of which is a community of relationships with like-minded people who are aligned with your trajectory.

Create your own “strike zone” and evolving investment criteria

Every investor has different life circumstances and different investment risk tolerances. They also have different things they like to see in deals and other things that are deal killers.

The trouble is, no deal is perfect and will never fit in your “strike zone”. Especially when your funds are not fully deployed, you will have to go into deals that are not a perfect fit because either those deals are not there (unicorns) and you have to balance waiting and having your money making nothing or worse potentially sitting in the volatile stock market.

Below is one mind-map that I created for myself to help think of my portfolio as a whole. As you can see, my idea “strike zone” today is centered around better-than-C-class assets with a moderate level of value. However, most of my investments are not in that zone! My philosophy has changed slightly over time as I did not want the headache of Class C tenants who struggle to pay but overall I am trying to get my weighted average in the zone. Also, something can be said for having diversification outside my “strike zone”. At the very least, it is possible, is to develop some sort of goal instead of looking at deals blindly.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Start With the End in Mind – Financial Freedom Is Closer Than You Think – Most people can reach financial independence in 4–7 years with the right investment principles by consistently saving and investing $30K–$50K annually. Define your ideal life now, not later. Money is a tool, not the goal.

Cash Flow Is Easy—Purpose Is Harder – Once you achieve passive income, the real question becomes: What now? Time eventually becomes more valuable than money. If you don’t plan beyond the spreadsheet, you may end up financially free but emotionally stuck.

Real Estate Is a Long Game—Don’t Expect Daily Gratification – Unlike stocks, real estate doesn’t respond instantly. But value-added work pays off. Example: A $67/month rent bump across 96 units can create $1.5M+ in equity at a 5 cap. Stay patient and keep grinding.

Implement the TWE Trifecta—Then Stay the Course – After you’ve got your tools, strategy, and income systems in place, it’s all about saving and re-deploying capital. The process becomes boring—and that’s when it starts to work.

Avoid Archetype Traps—Pursue Integrated Happiness – Don’t be the Rat Racer, Hedonist, or Nihilist. Aim for happiness—someone who finds meaning in both the journey and the goal. Financial freedom means nothing if you’re not living a fulfilled life along the way.

Your “Strike Zone” Will Evolve—And That’s Okay – Every investor has different goals, risk tolerances, and deal-breakers. Over time, your criteria will change. Class C headaches may not be worth the yield forever. Be flexible, but intentional.

Perfect Deals Don’t Exist—Don’t Let Analysis Paralysis Win – Unicorn deals are rare. Waiting too long can cost you more in lost opportunity or stock market risk. If the deal is “good enough” and fits your broader portfolio strategy, it may be time to swing.

Map Your Portfolio Like a Pro – Create a visual “strike zone” to track your investing preferences and allocations. Even if not every deal lands in the middle, having a framework keeps your portfolio balanced and purpose-driven.

Financial Freedom Is a Privilege—Use It for Impact – If you’re on this path, you’re already ahead of most. Don’t waste it. Design a life that gives you freedom and meaning—then go help others do the same.

This is educational content, not tax, legal, or investment advice. We are not attorneys, CPAs, or financial planners. Please let us know if you need a referral to a 💼 CPA, ⚖️ Lawyer, or other vendor here.

The Wealth Elevator Syndication eCourse

Begin with the End in Mind

Create your own “strike zone” and evolving investment criteria

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Course Progress