Growing the Money with Rich Lennon

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/

What if your $8/hour virtual assistant could eventually run your entire company? Most entrepreneurs hire VAs to handle small tasks. Answer emails. Pull lists. Follow up on leads. And that’s where it stops. But what if you could turn that same person into a true manager, or even a COO?
In this episode, Rich breaks down exactly how he’s done it inside his own real estate business. He explains the difference between a task-based assistant, a true manager who owns 90-day goals, and a COO who makes real business decisions based on the P&L. This isn't a theory. It’s how his company actually runs day to day.
You’ll Learn How To:
Understand the difference between an assistant, a manager, and a COO
Delegate outcomes instead of just tasks
Use 90-day goals rocks to create accountability
Build a leadership structure with virtual team members
Step out of daily decisions and let your business run
Who This Episode Is For:
Real estate investors building a rental or acquisition team
Entrepreneurs are tired of being the bottleneck
Business owners who want real leverage, not just cheap labor
Anyone curious how far a virtual assistant can actually grow
Why You Should Listen:
Most people see virtual assistants as low-level help. Rich sees them as future executives. In this episode, he shares how he promotes from within, trains VAs to think like owners, and gives them real responsibility over revenue, expenses, and company goals. If you want a business that runs without you approving every little thing, this conversation will change how you think about hiring.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
[00:00] Why most entrepreneurs underuse their virtual assistants
[01:00] The difference between task-based VAs and managers
[02:00] What 90-day rocks are and how managers own them
[03:00] How a virtual COO can run your P&L
[04:00] Why process and the right hire matter more than location
[05:00] How to remove yourself as the daily decision-maker
Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

What if trying to make a safe 12% return ended up costing you $75,000, plus 25% interest? This episode is different. Rich shares a real call he received from a private lender who wired $75,000 to a local flipper, using a 0% credit card. No mortgage. No deed of trust. No security. And now the borrower has disappeared, while the credit card company wants its money back.
It’s a tough story. But it’s also a powerful lesson. In this short but important episode, Rich breaks down the three critical mistakes that destroyed this deal and how you can make sure you never end up in the same position.
You’ll Learn How To:
Avoid lending institutional money, such as credit cards or lines of credit
Protect every loan with the right security instrument
Recognize red flags like gap funding and bridge loans
Separate community reputation from real due diligence
Think like a lender, not like a people-pleaser
Who This Episode Is For:
New private lenders who want to avoid painful mistakes
Real estate investors approached for quick bridge loans
Anyone considering using credit cards to fund investments
Investors who want to grow wealth without blowing it up
Why You Should Listen:
Private lending can be one of the best wealth-building tools in real estate. But only if you do it right. This episode is a wake-up call. Rich walks through exactly what went wrong, from lending borrowed money to wiring funds without security, to ignoring the warning signs behind gap funding requests. It’s not about fear. It’s about being smart, protected, and prepared. Because if you won’t protect your money, no one else will.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
[00:00] The call that sparked this episode
[01:30] Why lending credit card money is a dangerous move
[03:00] The massive mistake of not securing the loan
[04:30] Why reputation is not collateral
[05:00] The red flags behind gap funding and bridge loans
[06:30] What happens when a borrower disappears
[07:30] The hard truth about trying to recover your money
Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

Is debt the key to building wealth, or the thing that quietly puts you at risk? The honest answer? It depends on where you are in your journey.
In this short yet powerful episode, Rich Lennon breaks down how his opinion on debt has changed three times as his net worth, confidence, and priorities have evolved. From wanting everything paid off, to leveraging hard to grow, to shifting back toward security, this episode walks through the real-life thought process behind each move.
You’ll Learn How To:
Know when debt helps you grow and when it holds you back
Think about leverage based on your stage of wealth
Use return on equity to guide smarter decisions
Balance growth with peace of mind
Adjust your strategy as your life changes
Who This Episode Is For:
Rental property owners are unsure whether to pay off properties
BRRRR investors are debating how much leverage is too much
Entrepreneurs trying to grow without overextending
Anyone who feels torn between safety and speed
Why You Should Listen:
Debt isn’t good or bad. It’s a tool. And tools only work when you use them at the right time. In just nine minutes, Rich gives you a simple framework for thinking about debt through the lens of the wealth curve, so you can make decisions that match your goals, not someone else’s strategy.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[00:00] Why Rich’s view on debt changed over time
[01:30] His early goal of owning properties free and clear
[03:00] How leverage helped him grow faster
[04:30] The moment security started to matter more
[06:00] Understanding the wealth curve
[07:30] How return on equity changes the game
[08:30] Why your strategy should evolve as you grow
Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

What if the real secret to safe, consistent lending isn’t finding better borrowers, but writing better loans?
In Part 2 of this series, Rich Lennon goes deep into the actual mechanics that protect private lenders when things go wrong. This isn’t theory or hype. It’s the real-world structure Rich has used across 140+ loans without a single loss.
He breaks down exactly how notes, deeds of trust, defaults, penalties, insurance, and personal guarantees work together to give lenders control, not hope. If you’ve ever wondered how experienced lenders protect themselves before money goes out the door, this episode answers that question clearly and honestly.
You’ll Learn How To:
Structure notes so there’s no confusion at payoff
Use default clauses as leverage, not punishment
Protect yourself with insurance, guarantees, and cross-defaults
Control deals when borrowers stop communicating
Lend confidently without needing perfect borrowers
Who This Episode Is For:
Private lenders who want real downside protection
Investors lending on flips or BRRRRs
Anyone using self-directed retirement money
Operators ready to transition from active deals to lending
Investors who want predictable returns without surprises
Why You Should Listen:
Most people think losses happen because of bad borrowers. In reality, they happen because of weak paperwork and unclear terms. This episode shows you how professional lenders design loans that work even when things go sideways, so you stay in control no matter what.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
[00:00] Why the note is where real lender power starts
[03:00] Per-annum interest vs short-term rate confusion
[06:30] How default clauses actually protect lenders
[10:30] Using penalties as leverage, not enforcement
[14:30] Insurance requirements most lenders miss
[18:00] Why personal guarantees matter more than LTV
[21:30] Cross-default and cross-collateral strategies
[25:30] How experienced lenders control risk during rehabs
[29:00] Why lending beats every other real estate strategy long-term
Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/