Have you ever noticed how one wrong voice can send your entire journey off course? In life—and especially in real estate—the people beside you are either multiplying your wealth or quietly draining it. Who’s beside you determines where you end up.

In this week’s LIFE’S Inside Track with Ken and Yetta Dekker, we dig into the hidden cost of wrong advice and the extraordinary return of surrounding yourself with the right counsel.

The Cost of Free Advice

It’s easy to find opinions. Everyone has one, and most people are eager to share them. But free advice often comes with an invisible price tag. We’ve met clients who trusted a friend’s “expert” opinion or followed an unqualified professional’s suggestion—and paid for it in tens of thousands of dollars lost, unnecessary stress, and years of setback.

As Yetta says, “Free advice is easy to get—but it’s not always easy to recover from.”

Sometimes, the person offering guidance has confidence but no lived experience. Other times, they mean well but simply don’t know what they don’t know. Either way, your financial and relational outcomes depend on who you let influence your decisions.

The Power of the Right Counsel

Ken and I have learned this one firsthand. Over the years, we’ve surrounded ourselves with trusted professionals—lawyers, accountants, mortgage specialists, and mentors—who understand the terrain we’re navigating. Their wisdom doesn’t just save us money; it protects our peace of mind.

Paying for the right expertise may seem expensive at first glance, but when you compare it to the cost of a single misstep, it’s clear: wise counsel is an investment, not an expense.

Relationships as Levers

Your network isn’t just about business—it’s about balance. The same principle that applies to your wealth applies to your well-being. Relationships either multiply or divide your results.

That’s why we regularly audit our circle. We ask ourselves:

Who energizes us and aligns with our values?

Who challenges us to grow, not shrink?

Who drains energy or encourages patterns that no longer serve our purpose?

These questions aren’t about judgment—they’re about stewardship. Just as you’d assess your finances, assessing your relationships helps ensure that what’s flowing into your life supports your goals.

Choose Your Circle Like Your Investments

Here’s the bottom line: if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far—really far—go together with people who elevate you.

When you intentionally surround yourself with truth-tellers, encouragers, and experts, you create leverage. The kind that multiplies not only your wealth but your wisdom, vitality, and joy.

And that’s what we want for you.

Because building wealth wisely isn’t just about real estate—it’s about relationships.

💡 Watch this episode 718 DekkerTeam – YouTube of LIFE’S Inside Track with Ken and Yetta Dekker to discover how to surround yourself with the right people—and multiply your results in every area of life.