Get Your FILL, Financial Independence and Long Life

Join the mailing list - https://eyimbook.com/newsletter/How do you transition from a 9-to-5 to financial freedom through real estate, even if you are starting with nothing? In this episode, seasoned real estate operator Michael Fernandes shares actionable strategies on how he built his portfolio from the ground up using creative financing and savvy local prospecting.🚀 Key Searchable Concepts & Takeaways1. Finding "Value-Add" Real Estate OpportunitiesInvestors are always searching for the best way to find undervalued properties. Michael’s strategy focuses heavily on value-add real estate, targeting properties where he can manufacture a minimum of 30% upside.• The "Driving for Dollars" Method: For beginners or those working a 9-to-5, the best deals are often in your own backyard. Michael recommends driving a few-mile radius around your neighborhood on weekends looking for physical signs of neglect (e.g., overgrown grass, deferred maintenance).• Direct-to-Owner Marketing: Once an underutilized property is spotted, skip the MLS. Knock on doors, leave physical notes, or research the owners to call them directly before graduating to direct-mail marketing campaigns.2. Creative Finance: What is a "Subject-To" Mortgage?One of the most frequently searched terms in real estate investing is creative finance, specifically Subject-To (Sub-To) deals. Michael broke into the industry during the 2008 crash with only $749 in his bank account using this exact strategy.• How Subject-To Works: You buy the property and take over the deed, but the existing mortgage stays in the seller's name. You simply assume the mortgage payments.• Is it legal? Yes. While banks have a "due-on-sale" clause that allows them to call a loan due upon transfer, Michael notes it is rare (occurring in only about 5 or 6 out of 1,500 of his deals). As long as the lender gets paid on time, they rarely care where the check comes from.• Handling Equity with Second Mortgages: If a house is worth $100,000 and the seller owes $50,000, they have $50,000 in equity. Michael structures these deals by having the seller hold a seller-financed second mortgage for that equity, or helping them sell that mortgage note to a private note investor for quick cash.3. Raising Private Capital vs. Bank FinancingSecuring traditional bank loans can be a major hurdle for new investors. Michael emphasizes that raising private capital is often much easier and less restrictive than dealing with banks.• Finding joint venture partners or private lenders who have the cash but lack the time to find deals is a powerful way to scale.• By leveraging Subject-To financing first, beginners can build immediate track records and revenue before networking at local Real Estate Investor Associations (REIAs) and meetups to raise bigger capital.4. Market Nuances: Attorney States vs. Title StatesCreative financing strategies like Subject-To do not work the same everywhere.• Deed of Trust States (e.g., Florida, Texas, Arizona) utilize title companies and are highly favorable for creative deals.• Attorney-Heavy States (e.g., New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) are notoriously more challenging because closing attorneys who are unfamiliar with Subject-To structures can frequently act as "deal killers."💡 Top Golden Rules for Beginner InvestorsDon't Quit Your 9-to-5 Prematurely: Do not leave your day job until you have a solid, predictable revenue stream coming in from your investments. Splitting your time is hard, but starving while trying to close your first deal is harder.Avoid Forced Growth: Don't rush the process. Growing too fast prevents you from learning how to properly structure, manage, and scale deals, which can ultimately ruin a business.Want to replicate Michael’s blueprint? Tune in to the full episode to hear exactly how he scaled 14 deals in just 90 days following a market crash!Connect with Michael: https://www.theinvestorspool.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/decentralizedrei/

In this engaging episode of Get Your Fill: Financial Independence and Long Life, host Christine McCarron interviews Brian Herriot, author, speaker, financial advisor, and entrepreneurship coach. Brian challenges the traditional retirement model and the 4% rule by introducing time freedom—achieving flexible, fulfilling living long before reaching massive wealth. He explains that true freedom comes from cash flow rather than a huge nest egg, combining modest savings withdrawals with flexible, seasonal work or passive income streams. Drawing from his own journey—sparked by a life-altering commute epiphany and shaped by his wife’s cystic fibrosis and lung transplant—Brian advocates designing a life of seasonal schedules, lifestyle businesses, and purposeful adventures, emphasizing that you don’t need millions to live freely if you optimize work, income, and time intentionally.Brian shares practical steps for transitioning from traditional employment to entrepreneurship without the “hustle” grind. He advises leveraging existing professional skills to create service-based offerings (e.g., fractional CFO roles or independent consulting), building slowly while still employed, saving a year’s runway, and testing ideas before fully committing. He stresses the importance of structure in self-employment—suggesting virtual assistants for accountability—and setting clear boundaries with clients to protect flexibility. Through real-life examples, including a real estate agent who limited clients for work-life balance, Brian shows how mindset shifts and small, deliberate steps can lead to time freedom much earlier than conventional paths, allowing more time for family, travel, and meaningful pursuits.The conversation highlights the deeper value of timefreedom: it creates space for purpose, connection, andintentional living, rather than endless accumulation. Brian warns against equating freedom with “enoughism” or retirement boredom, encouraging big goals pursued flexibly. He promotes surrounding yourself with like-minded people who understand and support non-traditional paths, and shares upcoming book details (pre-order available with free audiobook bonus). Listeners are inspired to rethink success, prioritize character over resumes, and design a life that’s rich in experiences and freedom, not just money.Frequently searched keywords: time freedom, financialfreedom vs time freedom, lifestyle business, seasonal work schedule, entrepreneurship transition, flexible retirement, cash flow over nest egg, 4% rule alternative, no-hustle entrepreneurship, purposeful living, work-life freedom, fractional consulting, building passive income freedom before wealth.Watch the video: https://youtu.be/QIpmbzCKx9YConnect with Brian: www.timefreedom.life

In this podcast episode of "Get Your Fill: Financial Independence and Long Life," host Christine McCarron interviews Alistair Gordon, founder and CEO of Expertunity (also associated with the Expertship Institute) and author of the book Master Expert. Gordon is a leading authority on subject matter experts (SMEs), who are highly specializedtechnical professionals—such as software engineers, IT specialists, data experts, or engineers—who possess deep domain knowledge that keeps organizations running smoothly but often remains invisible until something goeswrong. He estimates there are about 40 million SMEs worldwide, many of whom feel stuck in repetitive, mundane tasks after years of honing their technical skills, leading to frustration, underappreciation, and limited career growth.Christine, a former SME herself in software, shares relatable experiences of translating complex jargon between engineers and clients, highlighting how SMEs often get pigeonholed into narrow roles, over-rely on technical expertise, and struggle with communication due to heavy use of jargon.Gordon emphasizes that true professional satisfaction andimpact for SMEs come from developing "enterprise skills" (a term he prefers over the undervalued "soft skills"), which include communication, storytelling, collaboration, business acumen, influence, knowledge transfer, and the ability to navigate organizational politics and change. Many SMEs dismiss these as unimportant because they've invested soheavily in technical prowess, but mastering them allows experts to break out of their "technical bubble," delegate routine work, say no effectively without damaging relationships, version their explanations for differentaudiences (e.g., CEOs want the "why" and business impact, not technical details), and ultimately amplify their value. This shift can lead to more fulfilling work, greater influence, better retention in organizations, or even opportunities like consulting or independent ventures. Gordon stressesthat SMEs are smart and capable of rapid progress once they start, and he advocates for them to "design their own adventure" since only they truly understand their expertise's potential.The conversation wraps with practical advice for SMEsfeeling trapped: start small with free resources on expertship.com, read Master Expert, or explore related books on management and communication. Gordon encourages a mindset change—recognizing that doubling value comes from adding enterprise skills, not just more technical depth—and notes how organizations increasingly invest in retaining experts post-COVID due to their critical role. The episode inspires technical specialists to regain passion, avoid burnout, and pursue a happier, more impactful career by getting "unstuck" and contributing more broadly.Frequently searched keywords: subject matter expert (SME),enterprise skills, soft skills, technical expert career development, expertship, Master Expert book, communication for experts, jargon in technical roles, knowledge transfer, influence and impact for specialists, breaking out of technical bubble, career satisfaction for engineers/IT professionals.Watch the video: https://youtu.be/HdAZwVFGas4Connect with Alastair: expertship.com

In this engaging episode of Get Your Fill: Financial Independence and Long Life, wealth advisor Tiffany Irving shares practical insights on launching a business and achieving financial security. She introduces her "three P's" framework—prepare, plan, and protect—emphasizing the need to analyze cash flow, savings, and revenue timelines before taking the entrepreneurial leap, yet warns against analysis paralysis that prevents action. Irving stresses that starting a business involves emotional and financial risk, especially transitioning from steady W-2 income, but highlights the personal growth and passion that drive success, even if initial ventures fail. She encourages thoughtful preparation combined with a willingness to pivot and embrace the "leap of faith" required for great opportunities.Irving opens up about her passion for empowering women financially, drawing from her own experience as a female breadwinner with a stay-at-home husband. Coming from a blue-collar background where money was rarely discussed, she now champions financial literacy amid the upcoming "great wealth transfer" to women and younger generations. The conversation explores non-traditional family dynamics, including societal judgment faced by stay-at-home dads and the importance of open communication about roles, finances, and expectations in partnerships. Irving notes how her setup challenged gender norms yet allowed presence for their children, ultimately shaping her kids' progressive views on work and family.The episode delves into broader financial mindsets, contrasting scarcity-driven habits from lower-income upbringings with the early education often seen in wealthier families. Irving advocates starting money conversations young—using tools like savings jars—to harness compound interest and build healthy habits. She views money as a tool for pursuing passions and goals, urges listeners to seek education through books, podcasts, and advisors, and reassures that it's never too late to start planning. Embracing failure as a learning step and prioritizing financial confidence, especially for women, emerge as key takeaways for long-term independence and fulfillment.Connect with Tiffany: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyirving/ https://www.mesirow.com/capabilities/wealth-management/irving-teamWatch the video: https://youtu.be/giCqS1OTjIc