After more than three decades of walking alongside families as they sell, buy, and invest in real estate, I’ve learned something that still surprises people:
Two families can have the same net worth and live entirely different lives.
One feels grounded, peaceful, and aligned.
The other feels stressed, fractured, and unsure—despite “doing everything right” on paper.
That’s because wealth has never been only about money.
Money matters. I’m not dismissing that. Bills must be paid. Homes must be maintained. Futures must be funded. Yet when money becomes the definition of wealth rather than a tool for it, something quietly erodes. Relationships strain. Purpose blurs. Decisions get rushed. And peace of mind slips away.
In Episode 727 of LIFE’s Inside Track, as we closed out The Wealth Formula Expanded Journey, Ken and I intentionally slowed the conversation down. This final episode wasn’t about tactics or strategies. It was about meaning, legacy, and how wealth is actually lived.
The Order That Changes Everything
Over the years, I’ve seen patterns repeat themselves—both in families who flourish and in those who struggle despite financial success.
The order matters.
Who you be → what you do → what you have → what you give
When this order is honoured, wealth becomes stabilizing.
When it’s reversed, money often becomes the master.
If you focus first on what you have, you’ll always feel behind.
If you focus first on who you’re becoming, clarity starts to emerge.
I’ve watched people with modest incomes live with remarkable peace because they stewarded what they had wisely. I’ve also walked with people who had significant assets yet lived under constant pressure because they were disconnected from purpose, values, or gratitude.
True wealth begins internally.
Wealth as Purpose in Motion
One of the stories that continues to shape me is connected to a project very close to my heart: You Feed Them in Africa.
Years ago, I saw firsthand what happens when people don’t have enough—not just money, but nourishment. Children going to school with nothing more than warm water in their bellies. The illusion of fullness. The absence of fuel for thinking, learning, dreaming.
When food became available, everything changed. Focus improved. Hope returned. Possibility expanded.
That experience permanently reframed wealth for me.
Wealth is not hoarded.
It moves.
It fuels life.
Money, when aligned with purpose, becomes capacity—to help, to give, to build, to serve. Without purpose, it’s hollow. Without some form of wealth, purpose is often limited in reach.
That tension matters.
The Legacy Conversation Most Families Avoid
As this episode moved into what we called passing the torch well, the conversation became deeply personal.
Many families will experience a significant transfer of assets in the coming years. And yet, far fewer families talk openly about values, wisdom, responsibility, and character before that transfer happens.
I’ve seen the consequences.
Wealth passed without wisdom can become a burden.
Money given without preparation can create confusion, entitlement, or even grief.
There’s a quote that has stayed with me for years:
“When you give your children wealth without wisdom, you give them both a gift and a grief.”
That grief doesn’t always show up immediately. Sometimes it looks like freedom at first. But without the internal framework to steward resources well, people often repeat the same mistakes—just with bigger numbers.
As parents, grandparents, and guides, there is a responsibility here. Not to control outcomes, but to teach, model, and invite conversation long before the inheritance arrives.
Legacy lasts longer when it’s taught, not just transferred.
Why Financial Freedom Isn’t the Finish Line
One of the most common myths I hear is this idea of arrival.
“If we just get there…”
“When things finally settle…”
“Once we’re financially free…”
But real life doesn’t work that way.
You don’t finish the Wealth Formula.
You live it.
Just like healthy eating isn’t a temporary diet, wise stewardship isn’t a phase. It’s a way of being. A posture. A practice that evolves as seasons change.
In the final chapter of the book, the encouragement is simple and profound:
Keep growing.
Keep giving.
Keep pouring yourself into what matters.
When debt is reduced and clarity increases, generosity becomes more natural—not forced. And interestingly, study after study shows that people who give regularly report higher levels of happiness than those who don’t.
That’s not coincidence. That’s design.
Real Estate as a Tool, Not a Trophy
Real estate has been one of the most powerful tools we’ve used to build stability and opportunity over time. Not because it made us “rich,” but because it provided structure, leverage, and long-term capacity.
A home is more than a transaction.
It’s a foundation.
When guided wisely, real estate can support family rhythms, reduce financial stress, and create room to give generously. When rushed or misaligned, it can do the opposite.
This is why we focus so much on clarity before action.
When your options are clear, your wisdom can flow.
A Gentle Invitation
If reading this has stirred something—perhaps a question about what you’re building, or why—it doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you’re paying attention.
Wealth by Design is not about perfection.
It’s about alignment.
And alignment begins with a single, honest next step.
That’s why we offer a simple 15-minute clarity call. Not to sell. Not to rush. Just to help you see your options more clearly and move forward with intention.
Because when we move forward together, we build wealth that holds—and a life that feels rich in all the ways that matter.
Freedom flows through gratitude, generosity, and growth.
And together, we’ve got this.