Invest in You

Fredrik Sandvall, Ivan Sandvall, Charlie Sandvall
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Invest in You is a global podcast where Fredrik Sandvall shares ideas and conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and operators. The show explores investing, entrepreneurship, AI, and personal development with a focus on long-term value, ownership, and clear decision-making. Occasionally joined by his sons, Charlie and Ivan, the podcast blends experience with a next-generation perspective. The goal is simple: help you think better, act with intent, and build a life and portfolio that compound over time.

  1. 7h ago

    Carl Allen — Creative Deal Making, Seller Psychology & Building an M&A Empire

    In this episode, Fredrik interviews Carl Allen, a veteran business acquirer, M&A coach, and founder of Dealmaker Wealth Society, about the art and psychology of buying businesses. Carl shares his journey from Wall Street to becoming one of the world's most prolific acquisition entrepreneurs, having completed over 500 transactions across three decades. He explains why understanding seller psychology — not just financials — is the real key to closing deals, and how he's built an AI-powered "clone" of his own decision-making to scale his coaching to tens of thousands of students worldwide. The conversation dives deep into practical deal structuring: SBA financing mechanics, why paying all cash up front is rarely the smartest move, and how creative, no-money-down deals can benefit both buyer and seller. Carl also opens up about running his private equity portfolio through delegation rather than day-to-day operating, pursuing a doctorate at the University of Miami in his mid-fifties, and the personal disciplines — health, recovery routines, and Lego — that keep him performing at a high level. KEY TAKEAWAYS Seller Psychology Over Spreadsheets: Carl's research found that roughly 80% of sellers don't cite money as their top priority when selling — they want a "safe pair of hands" to protect their legacy, employees, and customers. Understanding this motivation lets buyers structure smarter, often cheaper, deals. Never Pay All Cash at Closing: Deferred consideration, seller financing, and structured payouts reduce buyer risk, improve tax outcomes for sellers, and often allow for a higher headline price than an all-cash offer. SBA Financing Fundamentals: A typical SBA 7(a) deal involves roughly 10% buyer equity, 80% bank financing, and 10% seller carry-back (held on standby for at least two years). Loan delinquency on deals over $1M is under 1%. The "Two Offers" Negotiation Strategy: Presenting a seller with two structured options — a slow, all-cash offer versus a fast, higher-value creative deal — leverages binary decision psychology to move negotiations forward. Owner vs. Operator: Carl attributes much of his success to staying strictly in his "zone of genius" (deal-making, numbers, and marketing) and partnering with operators to run the day-to-day of his portfolio companies. BEST MOMENTS "A safe pair of hands to continue my legacy" — on what sellers actually want. "You never, ever, ever pay all the money up front." "The brain works in binary — yes or no." "Every deal, every conversation... will teach you something." CARL ALLEN Free training: trainwithcarl.com Book: Creative Dealmaker — available on Amazon and Audible YouTube: @CarlAllenOfficial (100,000+ subscribers) ABOUT THE PODCAST Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

    52 min

  2. 4d ago

    Unlocking Your Voice: The Power of Communication in Personal and Professional Growth

    In this episode, Fredrik interviews Helen von Dadelszen, a vocal coach and speaker, about the significance of voice in communication. Helen shares her journey from New Zealand to Europe and discusses how societal conditioning can cage individuals' voices, preventing them from expressing their ideas confidently. Key takeaways include the importance of managing nerves and vocal production to enhance communication effectiveness. Helen introduces the "PREP" framework for structuring responses in conversations, emphasising the need to make a clear point, provide reasons, give examples, and conclude effectively. The episode also highlights the value of asking questions to foster trust and connection, as well as the importance of pauses in communication. Helen's book, "Courageous Action," is recommended for those looking to overcome stage fright and improve their communication skills. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Importance of Voice in Communication : The way we communicate, including our physical voice and the ideas we express, is crucial for connecting with others. Effective communication involves both the content of our message and how it is delivered. Overcoming Communication Barriers : Many individuals struggle to express themselves due to social conditioning and fear of judgment. It's essential to recognise these barriers and work on building confidence to share ideas and knowledge. BEST MOMENTS “The voice or the way that we communicate with the world is our connection with people." "If we allowed and we were able to better communicate with each other, we would avoid a lot of issues that we have." https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-von-dadelszen/ Book  Courageous Action: Your Playbook for Communicating Confidently, One Small Step at a Time, https://amzn.to/3SdFJe4  https://courageousaction.ch/ ABOUT THE PODCAST Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4jxF94k⁠⁠  Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠⁠⁠  Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

    51 min

  3. Jun 26

    Unlocking the Secrets of Digital Marketing: Strategies for Success in a Crowded Market

    In this episode of "Invest & You," hosts Fredrik Sandvall and Bryan Driscoll delve into the intricacies of digital marketing, SEO, and real estate investing. Brian shares his journey from stumbling into digital marketing in the early 2000s to becoming an SEO expert and real estate investor. KEY TAKEAWAYS Understanding Your Audience: It's crucial to identify who your target audience is and what problems they face. Tailoring your marketing efforts to address their specific needs can lead to more effective engagement and conversions. Empathy in Marketing: When generating leads, it's important to view potential customers as individuals with unique situations rather than just numbers. Building a connection and delivering value can significantly enhance your marketing efforts. SEO Evolution: The landscape of SEO is changing, with a shift towards providing direct value rather than trying to manipulate search engine algorithms. Incorporating structured data and focusing on user intent can improve visibility and engagement. CONNECT WITH BRYAN Follow Bryan on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-driscoll-seo-real-estate-expert/ https://www.motivatedleads.com/ About the Podcast Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: ⁠https://bit.ly/4jxF94k⁠  Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠⁠  Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

    50 min

  4. Jun 22

    The Art of the Exit: Scaling, Synergies, and Selling Your Business

    In this episode, Fredrik sits down with Robert Cacchia, CFO at Benzinga, to trace his fascinating career path from studying physics to leading financial strategy in the high-stakes worlds of private equity and investment banking. Robert breaks down the essential skills needed to climb the financial ladder, emphasizing why effective communication and storytelling eventually outweigh raw spreadsheet modeling.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Communication is Your Best Asset: While hardcore technical skills and financial modeling are crucial early in your banking career, reaching the VP, Director, or CFO level requires mastering the art of storytelling.  Growth Beyond the Spreadsheet: A modern CFO does more than just manage the books. They act as strategic partners focused on removing roadblocks, talent acquisition, retaining top performers, and aligning the entire organization toward a successful exit or scaling event. The Truth About M&A Synergies: When acquiring companies to scale, relying solely on headcount reduction to achieve "cost synergies" is a flawed strategy.  Invest in Your Team (and Trust Them): To avoid "key man risk" and truly scale a business, founders and executives must hire operators who specialize in their niches, empower them to act, and trust the process.  Always Invest in Yourself: You cannot sustain a high-level career without treating your time and health as your most valuable resources. Prioritize continuous learning, get adequate rest, exercise, and remember to celebrate your victories along the way to avoid burnout. BEST MOMENTS "If you can't convince someone to do a decision with those numbers, it's useless. Numbers, rationality don't convince. The storytelling convinces." "The best meetings, the best conversations are the ones where you don't even open the deck, the pitchbook. It's when you just sit down and talk." "Put the right people in the right places, give them the freedom to operate and hold them accountable. You will surprise yourself with what is delivered." "When an investor... is buying your business, they are buying the future. They're not buying what you already delivered." "People tend to overestimate the cost synergy piece in mergers... You're not going to win because you merged two companies and got rid of one controller or one HR or one CFO... Focus on one plus one equals three on the growth." TO CONNECT WITH ROBERT Robert@benzinga.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-g-checchia-cfa/  https://www.benzinga.com/ About the Podcast Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k  Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

    45 min

  5. Jun 18

    How to Legally Cut Your Tax Bill by Living Abroad, with Bobby Casey

    Getting residency in a new country doesn't automatically make you a tax resident there, and confusing the two could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, as one Swedish entrepreneur in this episode discovered the hard way. Frederik Sandvall sits down with tax lawyer and offshore structuring expert Bobby Casey to break down how personal tax residency actually works, from Portugal's different visa categories to Costa Rica's territorial tax system and the four-tier global tax framework Bobby uses with his clients. They dig into why popular setups like Estonian e-residency and Dubai companies often backfire for digital nomads, when a US LLC quietly outperforms more exotic jurisdictions, and how married couples can legally structure income to pay close to zero tax. Listeners will come away understanding the real difference between physical and tax residency, the questions a proper advisor needs answered before recommending any structure, and why following generic advice from YouTube or Facebook groups is a costly gamble. You'll also hear concrete numbers behind real client structures, including how one couple legally earned a seven-figure income with a near-zero tax bill.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Separate physical residency from tax residency before making any move. They're governed by different government offices with different rules, and your visa type, such as Portugal's D7, D8 or Golden Visa, determines whether you trigger tax residency at all. Consider a residency-based territorial tax country like Paraguay if you want a stable tax home as a nomad. Paraguay only taxes income earned within its borders and requires just a few days of physical presence every other year, making it far more workable than countries with long minimum-stay requirements. Exit your home country's tax system through the proper official process, not informally. One Swedish entrepreneur who left without completing the required checklist was retroactively treated as a tax resident for ten years and ended up owing well over a million euros in back tax. Match your company's jurisdiction to where you actually operate. Estonia suits physical-goods businesses selling into the EU, Dubai and Hong Kong suit businesses genuinely operating in the Middle East or Asia, and most location-independent digital businesses do better with a low-maintenance US LLC than with these more fashionable structures. Check the banking reality before registering a company offshore. Jurisdictions like Panama, Belize and Dubai can create serious friction getting money in or out, with real clients losing access to bank accounts or unable to receive payments from US clients altogether, so confirm your payment flows work before committing to a structure. QUOTES "People just think there's residency and physical and tax residency is the same thing." "The number one best option for high-income Americans who want to live abroad and pay no tax is to marry a non-American." "There's no such thing as a five-minute call in this." "I want to invest in myself, and I can bypass a lot of my own internal struggles by spending time with people that are in life where I want to be." "You only regret the things you don't do, not the things you do." About the Podcast Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: ⁠https://bit.ly/4jxF94k⁠  Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠⁠  Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

    53 min

  6. Jun 15

    The Truth About Electric Cars, Sales Resilience, and Salary Sacrifice

    In this episode of Fredrik sits down with Andrew Leech, the Founder and Managing Director of Fleet Evolution, to discuss his incredible journey from working late-night shifts at a supermarket to pioneering the UK's first electric car-focused salary sacrifice scheme. Andrew shares candid stories about his working-class upbringing, his leap into entrepreneurship to escape the corporate grind, and how he navigated severe government policy U-turns and the COVID-19 pandemic to build a thriving business. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Foundation of Hard Work: Andrew's work ethic was heavily influenced by his mother, a machinist who always emphasized the value of earning and owning your own money.  Beware the Social Media Illusion: Both Fredrik and Andrew warn younger generations about the trap of comparing their real lives to the curated, often fake, "doomscroll" lifestyles seen on social media.  Adaptability is Everything in Business: When the UK government was indecisive about EV policies between 2012 and 2019, Fleet Evolution's growth flatlined.  The Unmatched Perks of EV Salary Sacrifice: Electric vehicles aren't just great for the environment; they are massive money-savers.  Sales Skills are Non-Negotiable: To start a business from the ground up, you must get comfortable with hearing "no."  BEST MOMENTS "My mom... always used to say, 'Yeah, but it's my money, I've earned it.' And that really stuck with me." "It’s all about what you’re giving and what you’re getting, and just setting it all into perspective rather than just living the doomscroll life."  "What's the use in sweating blood and tears for a company that's going to treat you in such a way?"  "A 'no' is just one off your to-do list... Obviously the best result is a 'yes,' but the worst result is just apathy and no response."  "The vast majority of people who say they don't like electric cars have never ever drove one. Or haven't drove the right one." TO CONNECT WITH ANDREW  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-leech-b3a34921/ fleetevolution.com  About the Podcast Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k  Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

    40 min

  7. Jun 12

    Visualizing Company Genius: Simon Bowen on the Models Method

    In this episode, Fredrik sits down with Simon Bowen, founder of The Models Method, to explore how businesses can transform complex, contentious concepts into simple, powerful visual models. Simon challenges traditional marketing advice like Simon Sinek's "Start With Why," arguing that a company's true "why" should center entirely on the customer's suffering, not the brand's origin story. KEY TAKEAWAYS Stop selling your origin story and start focusing entirely on fixing their specific "aches." Turn your complex business ideas into simple visual models so people can actually understand what you do. Your business is being pulled in four directions: customers, your team, suppliers, and stakeholders, and you have to satisfy all of them to win. Businesses fail at strategy because they spend all their time "in the game" instead of training as professional athletes do. Marketing gets you attention (width), but you need a clear, valuable solution (depth) to actually make money. BEST MOMENTS "What we really are is lifelong mistake makers. Because all the lessons come from the mistakes. Life is either wins, lessons, or losses, and you get to choose a lesson or a loss." "The universal 'why' is: I just want to know that all you care about is me and my problem." "A company wins in the marketplace when it can demonstrate to the customer that you might not be able to name the ache or point to it... but I can actually give it a name, and I can prove to you I know how to fix it." "If you've got plenty of width but no depth, you're shallow. If you've got plenty of depth but no width, you're the best kept secret." "Trust is no longer the currency of the market... Believability is the currency of the market." TO CONNECT WITH SIMON: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ simon@modelsmethod.com https://modelsmethod.com About the Podcast Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k  Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

    1h 32m

  8. Jun 10

    Can Your Business Survive Without You?

    In this episode, Fredrik Sandvall explores a difficult reality for many founders: does your business work for you, or do you work for your business? Drawing from his book, Options Strategy, Fredrik dives into the concept of "Owner Dependence" and the risks of becoming the central bottleneck in your own company.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Many entrepreneurs start businesses for freedom, only to realize they have built a system that entirely relies on their constant presence, effectively making them an employee of their own creation. A true measure of business health is stepping completely away from the daily operations and communications for a few weeks. If the business implodes or stagnates without you, it is dangerously owner-dependent. Founders often sabotage the sale of their own companies at the last minute because their personal identity is too deeply intertwined with the business's daily operations. To regain their time, founders must document their processes, leverage AI tools to extract knowledge from their heads, and confidently delegate to key account managers or "hero leaders" within the team. By removing yourself as the operational bottleneck, you free up your calendar to focus on exponential growth strategies, such as acquiring other businesses, rather than merely chasing incremental organic growth. BEST MOMENTS "The business can create freedom, but you might quietly have become something that the business actually owns. Ultimately, your freedom vehicle now owns you and owns your time." "Many people thinking about selling the business get cold feet in the last second and they don't sell. Why? Because if they sell the business, they sell their identity." "You are not a solo entrepreneur anymore, you now have a team. But you might have kept some of the core functions close to your heart... which means you are now a little bit of a so-called bottleneck." "By trusting others, that gives you status and also gives them status. It allows them to feel more in control and you to be in control of something much bigger." "If I can help the company to grow not like 5, 10, 25%, but actually times two, times four, times five... by acquiring other businesses, that's a great way to think about what to do with your time." BOOK REFERENCE HERE https://amzn.to/49CjBQz  About the Podcast Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent. Community & Contact Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k Fredrik Sandvall LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/ Eric Tabone Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericrtabone/ Website: nearshorebusinesssolutions.com

    18 min
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About

Invest in You is a global podcast where Fredrik Sandvall shares ideas and conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and operators. The show explores investing, entrepreneurship, AI, and personal development with a focus on long-term value, ownership, and clear decision-making. Occasionally joined by his sons, Charlie and Ivan, the podcast blends experience with a next-generation perspective. The goal is simple: help you think better, act with intent, and build a life and portfolio that compound over time.

Information

  • Creator
    Fredrik Sandvall, Ivan Sandvall, Charlie Sandvall
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    236
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Fredrik Sandvall