White Collar Advice

• Tai Lopez Faces $112M Fraud Allegations

  In today's episode, I share some personal thoughts on the news that Tai Lopez has been charged by the SEC with running a $112 million Ponzi scheme through his company, Retail Ecommerce Ventures. I've followed Tai's work over the years—not as an investor in his 67 Steps or any of his programs, but as a marketer interested in how he built an empire around books, Lamborghinis, and lifestyle branding. Millions admired him, millions hated him, but nobody ignored him. Now he's facing something I know all too well: an SEC case that could be referred to the DOJ and turn criminal. My own case started civil before becoming criminal, and I talk about that connection here. We'll cover what the SEC is alleging, why civil charges can escalate, what happens next for Lopez and his partners, and what lessons every entrepreneur should take away about hype, investor money, and compliance. More than that, I try to explain the reality of what it feels like to go from selling success to being accused of fraud. Thank you, Justin Paperny

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• What lesson from Seth Godin's "purple cow" applies to standing out in prison and after?

  In this episode I go back to April 28th, 2008, the surrender drive my mom and older brother made with me, the gas station in Bakersfield, the very bad Carl's Jr. meal, and the fact that I walked in without a plan until I met Michael inside, I explain how that mentorship led to my first asset, a daily writing commitment that started on October 12, 2008, I sent pages to my mom, she put them on the internet, I got praise and criticism and kept going, I lay out why I tell people to write something today—even a napkin note—and why to build a profile on prison org with a biography, daily journals, book reports, a release plan, and testimonials that go on a leaderboard, I talk about support for the org, the First Step Act program, and policy work on credits, parole, clemency, and furloughs, and you can also read the full blog on White Collar Advice. Justin Paperny

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• What do families remember more: the dad who complained about commissary peanut butter—or the one who stayed grateful?

  In this episode I talk about family, because I saw the heartache and I also saw the hope in visitation, I lay out why complaining about peanut butter, mail call, alarms, and cold water does nothing at home while gratitude, studying, writing, preparing, and engaging in programs actually changes how your family experiences your time, I share how Michael helped men strengthen letters to judges, probation, and employers, and why telling the truth on calls matters more than fishing for sympathy, I get into Viktor Frankl on the why, Marcus Aurelius on perspective, and Epictetus on where to put your attention day to day, I explain why my own why was making my parents proud and not encumbering their retirement and how restitution payments fit into that, if you want all the examples and pacing you can listen to the full podcast, and you can also read the full blog on White Collar Advice. Justin Paperny

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• What does Blink teach about thin-slicing, and why does it matter for defendants?

  This episode focuses on reputation from the inside—how people will thin-slice you in seconds off a DOJ press release and why you can't leave the frame empty. I walk through saying "don't use my name" to using the conviction as a conversation starter, writing daily, and handing out a signed book. We hit Blink (snap judgments), Montaigne (hard questions on the page), and Jim Rohn (work harder on yourself than on your job). Then I spell out what to post where people can see it: biography, journals, book reports, release plan, testimonials—time-stamped entries that add up to a body of work. This isn't about logistics we cover in the weekly webinar; it's about giving case managers, probation, and employers more than a headline. If you want the full context and the sequence of steps, listen to the podcast version, and you can also read the complete blog on White Collar Advice. Justin Paperny

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• What lesson did Matthew Bowyer's segmentation and "next right thing" mindset teach?

  This episode is a push against waiting. I walk through the driving-range text—"you were right"—and the call that followed: a target who delayed prep through discovery and then learned cooperators had already proffered while the government moved ahead. We cover why time is against you (think blitzkrieg), why case managers and other stakeholders form opinions daily, and why segmenting the next hour and the next week is the only way to move. I lay out grounded asks: the right prison request, specific facility and programming (including RDAP) on the record, a surrender date that aligns, redesignation if needed, a written plan your family can see, fitness before you go in, and medications discussed with your physician. For families, the question to ask is simple: what do you do all day—and what's your strategy. If you want the sequencing and examples, listen to the podcast; you can also read the full blog on White Collar Advice. Justin Paperny

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