Episode 113: Zero Foreclosures. 30–50% Returns. No Marketing. The Lending Model Nobody Talks About – Part 1
03/09/2026 | 28 mins.
What if one of the most profitable real estate strategies didn’t require owning dozens of rentals, flipping houses, or spending thousands every month on marketing? In this episode, Rich Lennon sits down with Preston Zeller to break down a lending model that many investors never hear about, but the ones who discover it often wonder why they didn’t start sooner. Instead of chasing deals, managing tenants, or constantly hunting for the next property, this strategy focuses on something far simpler: becoming the lender. Rich Lennon joins the show to share how he transitioned from building a traditional real estate portfolio into a private lending model that has produced consistent returns, strong relationships, and zero foreclosures. He explains why lending can be one of the most overlooked opportunities in real estate and how it allows investors to grow wealth while avoiding many of the headaches that come with owning properties. You’ll Learn How To: Understand the difference between owning real estate and lending on it Build strong returns without running a full real estate operation Use private lending as a wealth-building strategy Reduce risk while still participating in profitable deals Build relationships with borrowers who consistently bring opportunities Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors are tired of managing rentals and renovations Investors who want strong returns without running a full business People are curious about private lending as a wealth-building strategy Anyone looking for alternative ways to grow capital through real estate Why You Should Listen: Most investors think the only way to win in real estate is to own more properties. But sometimes the smarter move is stepping into a different role entirely. This episode introduces a lending model that allows investors to stay involved in real estate while avoiding many of the traditional headaches. If you’ve ever wondered how lenders generate strong returns without managing properties, this conversation will open your eyes to a strategy few people talk about. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: [00:00] Why many investors overlook lending as a real estate strategy [04:00] Rich’s journey from traditional investing into private lending [08:00] The problem with constantly chasing deals [12:00] Why lenders often face fewer headaches than property owners [17:00] The role relationships play in building a strong lending network [22:00] How this model creates consistent opportunities without marketing [27:00] Why some lenders achieve strong returns while avoiding foreclosures Follow Rich Lennon here: Website: https://richlennon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/ Follow Preston Zeller here: Website: http://theartofgrievingfilm.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonzeller/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZellerhausArt
Episode 112: How Taxes Are Silently Destroying Your Wealth (And the Strategy That Stops It)
03/05/2026 | 16 mins.
What if the biggest thing holding you back financially isn’t your income, your investments, or even your spending, but your taxes? Most people focus on making more money. Very few focus on keeping more of what they earn. And over time, that quiet leak adds up to hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars lost. In this episode, Rich Lennon joins the show to break down why income taxes are the single biggest obstacle to building real wealth, and what you can legally do about it. From the power of tracking your net worth to the strategy behind buy-and-hold real estate, Rich shares the mindset and moves that helped him shift from operator to lender, and dramatically accelerate his wealth. You’ll Learn How To: Track your wealth so you can actually grow it Understand why income taxes slow your progress more than you think Use buy-and-hold real estate to create powerful tax advantages Apply the BRRRR strategy the right way Minimize risk while still earning higher returns Who This Episode Is For: Real estate investors are trying to keep more of what they earn Entrepreneurs frustrated by large tax bills Anyone building wealth who feels stuck or behind Investors are ready to think long-term instead of year-to-year Why You Should Listen: Most people never question how much taxes cost them over a lifetime. This episode opens your eyes to the compounding effect of taxation and the strategies available to offset it legally. If you want to grow your net worth faster and more securely, this conversation gives you practical tools you can actually use. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: [00:00] Rich’s background and why tracking wealth matters [03:00] The compounding example that changes how you see taxes [06:00] Why income taxes are the biggest wealth killer [08:30] How the government uses the tax code to incentivize investors [10:30] The basics of buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat (BRRRR) [13:00] Using private money and refinancing to recycle capital [15:00] Understanding risk, returns, and playing the long game Follow Rich Lennon here: Website: https://richlennon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/
Episode 111: One Florida Investor Just Lost 30 Deals (And Every Private Lender With Him)
03/02/2026 | 14 mins.
What happens when 30 real estate deals fall apart at the same time, and the private lenders lose everything? It’s happening right now. Rich actually likes subject-to deals. They can be powerful tools when used correctly. But when you ignore basic rules, equity, underwriting, legal structure, and skin in the game, things can go bad fast. And when they do, the private lender is usually the one left holding the bag. In this episode, Rich breaks down what went wrong in a major Florida subject matter situation and why so many private money lenders are suddenly stuck with no exit and no protection. This isn’t about fear. It’s about facts. You’ll Learn How To: Spot red flags before wiring your money Protect yourself in subject-to deals Avoid greed-driven decisions Structure private lending the right way Make sure you’re truly secured before funding Who This Episode Is For: Private money lenders Passive investors chasing high returns Anyone involved in subject-to deals Investors in masterminds or paid groups Real estate professionals who want to protect their capital Why You Should Listen: Many lenders were promised 30%, 40%, or even 50% returns. That should’ve been the first warning sign. Rich walks through the six biggest mistakes private lenders are making right now, from lending outside their local market to skipping attorneys, ignoring equity, and trusting operators with zero skin in the game. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: [00:00] What’s happening with subject-to deals around the country [02:00] Why lending outside your local market adds massive risk [04:00] The greed gland problem and unrealistic returns [05:30] Why operators need real skin in the game [07:00] The danger of skipping legal representation [08:30] Why equity is non-negotiable in lending [10:30] The problem with mastermind groupthink [12:00] How to protect yourself before the deal goes bad Follow Rich Lennon here: Website: https://richlennon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/
Episode 110: Investor vs. Business Owner – Why One Goes Home and One Goes Back to Work
02/26/2026 | 12 mins.
What if the biggest difference in real estate isn’t how much money you make, but whether you have to keep showing up to make it? There’s a massive mindset gap between being a business owner and being an investor. One has to go back to work after the meeting. The other doesn’t. In this episode, Rich shares two stories that hit him hard. Both involved walking into rooms full of high-level builders and commercial real estate professionals, and realizing he was completely underdressed. This episode isn’t about clothes. It’s about confidence. It’s about understanding the difference between owning a job in real estate and owning assets that pay you whether you show up or not. You’ll Learn How To: Understand the real difference between a real estate business and real estate investing Build confidence in your investor identity Stop chasing activity and start building passive income Think long-term instead of living deal by deal Separate the image from the actual wealth Who This Episode Is For: Wholesalers, flippers, and builders who feel stuck in the grind Landlords who want to transition into true passive income Entrepreneurs are questioning whether they built a business or just another job Anyone who wants financial freedom, not just financial success Why You Should Listen: It’s easy to confuse being busy with being wealthy. This episode challenges you to ask a better question: when the meeting ends, do you go home or go back to work? Rich shares a simple but powerful mindset shift that changed how he saw himself and his business. Real wealth isn’t about looking successful in the room. It’s about owning assets that work whether you’re there or not. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: [00:00] The mindset difference between investors and business owners [02:00] The builders' association meeting that sparked the shift [04:00] How perception and appearance can mislead you [06:00] The commercial real estate conference wake-up moment [08:00] The confidence shift halfway down the aisle [10:00] Why passive income changes how you see yourself [11:00] The real question to ask about your real estate career Follow Rich Lennon here: Website: https://richlennon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/
Episode 109: How I Bought 30 Rentals Without Using a Single Dollar of My Own Money
02/23/2026 | 13 mins.
What if the reason you’re stuck at one or two rentals is that you keep using your own cash? Most investors think they need to save more money before they can scale. Bigger down payments. Bigger reserves. Bigger bank account. But what if that mindset is actually the thing slowing you down? In this episode, Rich breaks down the exact strategy he used to buy his first 30 rental properties, without using a single dollar of his own money. No gimmicks. No hype. Just borrowing money the right way, renovating smart, refinancing out, and keeping your capital safe. He walks through the numbers, the real cost of interest, and why worrying about rate differences can keep you stuck on the sidelines. You’ll Learn How To: Buy rental properties with none of your own cash Use private money and hard money the right way Stop obsessing over interest rates that barely matter Reverse engineer deals based on refinance requirements Protect your cash so you never run out of capital Who This Episode Is For: New investors who think they need big savings to start Landlords who feel capped because they keep putting 20% down Entrepreneurs who want to scale without draining their reserves Anyone serious about building a rental portfolio the smart way Why You Should Listen: The worst thing that can happen to a real estate investor isn’t paying 2% more in interest. It’s running out of cash. Rich shares why keeping access to capital is more important than shaving a few thousand dollars off an interest payment. He explains the real difference between 12% and 18% money, how to use local banks to refinance, and why borrowing, even when you have cash, is often the safer move. This episode isn’t about being flashy. It’s about being strategic. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: [00:00] The simple mindset shift that unlocked 30 rentals [01:30] The buy, renovate, rent, refinance model explained [03:00] Private money vs. hard money, what really matters [05:00] Why the interest rate difference is smaller than you think [07:00] How local banks evaluate refinance deals [09:00] Reverse engineering your purchase price for zero cash in [10:00] Why you should avoid using your own money, even if you have it [11:30] The real danger of running out of capital Follow Rich Lennon here: Website: https://richlennon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/
Want to grow your money at 30% to 50% per year—without the stock market rollercoaster, soul-crushing 80-hour workweeks, or gambling on risky get-rich-quick schemes?Do you crave financial freedom but feel stuck in the outdated “work harder, save more, retire someday” model?Welcome to The Growing the Money Podcast, where host Rich Lennon pulls back the curtain on the wealth-building strategies the banks, billionaires, and ultra-wealthy use every day to grow their fortunes—strategies that YOU can start using today.If you’re ready to take control of your financial future, this podcast is your shortcut to creating sustainable, long-lasting wealth. Forget Wall Street’s 4% “safe” retirement model or risky investment fads. Instead, Rich will show you how to build wealth smarter, faster, and with less risk—all while keeping your time and sanity intact.Whether you’re a:Real estate investor looking to scale your portfolio without overleveraging...Private money lender searching for higher, more predictable returns...Entrepreneur ready to grow your income streams and outsmart traditional financial systems...Or a professional tired of working harder just to stay stuck in the rat race...This show is your blueprint to financial freedom.Every week, Rich shares his proven money frameworks—strategies designed to grow your wealth faster and more sustainably, all while protecting what you’ve worked so hard to build. You’ll learn how to:Achieve 30% to 50% annual returns without relying on the stock market or complex schemes.Put your money to work for you, so you’re not trading your time for dollars.Avoid the pitfalls that keep most people broke and stressed about money.Unlock the same wealth-building secrets banks and the rich use to grow their empires.But this is more than just a podcast—it’s a movement to help you flip the script on your financial life.If you love podcasts like The Suze Orman Show, The Dave Ramsey Show, or BiggerPockets Money Podcast, or if you’re inspired by money minds like Grant Cardone, Robert Kiyosaki, or Tony Robbins, you’ll feel right at home here.No fluff. No gimmicks. Just real-world strategies to grow your money smarter, faster, and without the stress.It’s time to stop following the same tired advice that keeps you stuck in the grind. It’s time to grow YOUR money. Let’s reclaim your financial freedom together.
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