The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast

Markian Sich
  • 4.7 (153)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

The military taught us discipline, leadership, and resilience—but it never taught us how to build wealth or create true financial freedom. That’s where we come in.I’m Markian Sich, a United States Marine turned real estate investor, and I know firsthand how tough it can be to figure out what’s next after service. That’s why I started The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast—to bring you real stories, real strategies, and real success from military investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who’ve been where you are.We talk about leveraging your VA Loan, Military House Hacking, and proven investing strategies to help you build passive income, transition with confidence, and take control of your financial future.You’ve fought hard to defend the American Dream—now let’s make sure you own a piece of it. Subscribe now and start your journey to financial freedom!

  1. 6d ago

    He Liquidated His TSP to Buy Real Estate (Here's Why) | Ep 404

    He walked away from a TSP full of 10–12% returns, paid the taxes and the 10% penalty, and never looked back. Why? Three words: "I want my money now." In this episode, Markian sits down with Justin Herbe — retired Army officer and author of From Combat to Cash Flow — for a two-hour, no-excuses conversation about building wealth while you're still in uniform. Justin bought his first house as a brand-new second lieutenant in Alaska in 2005, deployed nine months later, and rented it out for BAH — then ran that same VA/FHA buy-move-deploy-repeat playbook through six or seven PCS moves until he retired in 2021. They get into liquidating retirement accounts, why bad orders make good investments, non-recourse loans, the $100K franchise he "drove off a cliff," and why the tax code is really a 6,000-page list of reasons not to pay taxes. Whether you're active duty, a military spouse, a veteran, or an investor tired of waiting until retirement to start, this episode will help you turn the obstacles of military life into your unfair advantage. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS • Why waiting until you retire costs you the game • How to turn a bad PCS into a rental • Why he liquidated his TSP on purpose • How to make mistakes early, de-risk later • Why the tax code rewards real estate owners • How "base hits" beat swinging for home runs ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Why the Military Isn't Your Excuse 6:00 - First House in Alaska, Then a Deployment 14:00 - "I Want My Money Now" — Killing the TSP 27:00 - The $100K Franchise He Burned Down 41:00 - Real Estate vs. TSP: Who It's Really For 54:00 - Turn Bad Orders Into Good Investments 1:08:00 - Base Hits, Non-Recourse Loans & the SBA Trap 1:26:00 - The Tax Code Is a List of Loopholes by Design 1:44:00 - Raising Boy Investors & the Next 20-Year Plan 💬 NOTABLE QUOTE "Take a bad set of orders and turn it into something good." — Justin Herbe 📘 Justin's book From Combat to Cash Flow: https://combattocashflow.com/ ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and should not be considered tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult with a qualified CPA, enrolled agent, tax attorney, or financial professional before making investment or tax decisions. ✅ Let's Connect Facebook Group: https://www.militaryrealestateinvesting.com Instagram: @activedutypassiveincome X: @MarkianSich #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #MilitaryWealth #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #ADPI #Entrepreneurship #AmericanDream #VALoan #TSP #MilitaryRealEstate #Syndication Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

  2. Jul 16

    Stop Over-Saving: Why Playing It Safe Is Costing Your Legacy | Ep 403

    You keep telling yourself the market's wrong. The timing's off. The economy. Interest rates. The truth is quieter than that, and it's staring back at you in the mirror. In this episode, Markian Sich sits down with ADPI community member Bryan Cream, Army veteran, special education teacher, and now an investor helping people put forgotten retirement money to work. Bryan borrows a phrase every service member knows, the "Blue Falcon," the buddy who sabotages the mission, and turns it inward. Most of us, he argues, have quietly become our own Blue Falcon: over-saving, second-guessing, waiting for the "right time" while inflation eats the savings we're so proud of protecting. They dig into the promise Bryan made to his wife that lit the fire, how a forgotten 401k can be turned into real cash flow, and why confidence is something you build in the library, not something you're born with. Whether you're active duty, a military spouse, a veteran, or an investor sitting on savings you're afraid to move, this episode will help you see where you're standing in your own way, and take the first step out. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS Why the absence of action is its own self-sabotageHow "playing it safe" quietly loses to inflationWhy the biggest risk is usually inactionHow a forgotten 401k can pay you twiceWhy you can roll over part of an account, not allHow going niche makes your brand more powerfulWhy confidence is built through research, not personality⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Meet Your Own Blue Falcon 2:00 - Self-Sabotage Disguised as Responsibility 5:00 - The Promise That Lit the Fire 11:00 - Where the Military Blue Falcons Itself 14:00 - Over-Saving vs. Under-Investing 16:00 - Real Risk vs. Perceived Risk 19:00 - Turning a Forgotten 401k Into Cash Flow 26:00 - From Hesitation to Execution 💬 NOTABLE QUOTE "The biggest risk is not taking action and letting inflation take over and minimize their savings." — Bryan Cream ✅ Let's Connect Facebook Group: https://www.militaryrealestateinvesting.com Instagram: @activedutypassiveincome X: @MarkianSich #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #MilitaryWealth #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #ADPI #Entrepreneurship #AmericanDream #SelfDirectedIRA #401k #MultifamilyInvesting #VetPreneur Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

  3. Jul 9

    How to Know When to Walk Away From a Real Estate Deal | Ep 402

    Most people think entrepreneurship builds character. Build long enough and you learn the harder truth: it doesn't build character, it exposes it. In this episode of the Active Duty Passive Income Podcast, Markian sits down with Tim Krambs — 24-year Army veteran, former combat aviation and foreign area officer, ADPI coach, and full-time real estate investor — for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the show. Tim shares the deal he's proudest of: a fully-funded RV park syndication he walked away from two weeks before closing, taking a loss, because pushing it through would have been "purely on ego." Along the way you'll get the decision frameworks he uses to separate clarity from anxiety, the difference between price and cost, and why stewardship beats the scoreboard. Whether you're active duty, a veteran, a military spouse, or an investor scaling a portfolio, this one is about the part of the journey nobody puts in the highlight reel — what gets built in you when the spotlight's gone. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS  • Why entrepreneurship exposes your character instead of creating it  • How to tell whether you're acting out of clarity or anxiety  • The "rule of 5" — five reasons to stay vs. five reasons to run  • Why price and cost are not the same number  • How to steward investor trust when your ego wants the win ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Meet Tim Krambs, ADPI Hero 2:00 - The Truth Nobody Tells You About Entrepreneurship 9:30 - Defining Real Success 21:00 - From Combat Aviator to Full-Time Investor 29:00 - Price vs. Cost: The Mindset Shift 50:00 - The Stewardship Mindset 1:01:00 - The Decision Frameworks He Lives By 1:05:00 - The Funded Deal He Walked Away From 1:16:00 - The One Lesson to Remember 💬 NOTABLE QUOTE "Do not let your ego be your idol, and let prudence be your guide and light when you're stewarding the resources of your business partners and investors." — Tim Krambs ✅ Let's Connect Facebook Group: https://www.militaryrealestateinvesting.com Instagram: @activedutypassiveincome X: @MarkianSich #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #MilitaryWealth #ADPI #Entrepreneurship #Stewardship #MultifamilyInvesting #VeteranInvestor #Syndication #FinancialFreedom Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

  4. Jun 25

    I Moved From Ukraine at 15. America Taught Me This About Wealth | Ep 401

    I moved from Ukraine to America at 15 years old, and one thing immediately stood out: Americans were playing a completely different game when it came to wealth. Years later, I realized the U.S. tax code isn’t just a tax system — it’s a blueprint for building wealth. In this episode, I share how growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine gave me a unique perspective on America, entrepreneurship, real estate investing, and the incentives hidden inside the U.S. tax code. Most people view taxes as something to avoid. But what if the tax code is actually a roadmap showing exactly what the government wants you to do? We break down why real estate sits at the center of the American economy, how incentives drive behavior, and why understanding the rules of the game can completely change your financial future. 🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS • What moving from Ukraine to America revealed about opportunity • Why the U.S. tax code rewards specific financial behavior • How real estate became one of the strongest wealth-building vehicles in America • Why “tax loopholes” are often intentional incentives • How military families can use financial education to build long-term freedom ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - A Unique Perspective on American Culture 1:26 - Background: From Ukraine to the United States 7:57 - The “American Spark” and Driven Mindset 10:58 - The Power of the Tax Code and Financial Incentives 16:44 - Real Estate as the Bedrock of Wealth 23:05 - Why You Should Avoid Mediocrity for Success 💬 NOTABLE QUOTE “The tax code is a guide on how to not pay taxes. It’s a massive social engineering project of the rules of how to not pay taxes.” — Markian Sitch This page may contain affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to purchase or use a service or product, ADPI may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. ✅ Let’s Connect Facebook Group: https://www.militaryrealestateinvesting.com Instagram: @activedutypassiveincome X: @MarkianSich #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #TaxStrategy #MilitaryWealth #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #ADPI #MultifamilyInvesting #Entrepreneurship #AmericanDream Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

    I Moved From Ukraine at 15. America Taught Me This About Wealth | Ep 401

  5. Jun 18

    The Real Military Edge in Commercial Real Estate | Ep 400

    In this episode, Markian breaks down the real unfair advantage military members can bring into commercial real estate. It is not ego, superiority, or a belief that service members are automatically better investors. It is team-building. Military life forces people to operate with different leaders, different personalities, tight timelines, imperfect conditions, and real pressure. That experience translates directly into multifamily and commercial real estate because deals require clear roles, trust, coordination, and execution. Markian walks through ADPI's Core Four framework and explains how each role works: The deal analyzer, or underwriter, acts like the intel officer.The deal acquisition specialist acts like the scout.The asset manager acts like the sergeant major or senior enlisted leader.The capital raiser acts like the recruiter, with serious compliance responsibilities.The big lesson: you do not need to become every role. You need to understand your role, find the missing roles, and build with people aligned around the same mission. Key Takeaways Military benefits and experience are leverage, not a plan by themselves.Humility matters because civilian investors can be excellent operators.The military creates team-building reps that can translate into business.Commercial real estate rewards organized teams more than isolated effort.ADPI's Core Four gives military investors a simple framework for team roles.Capital raising requires education, responsibility, and qualified legal guidance.The next move is to identify your role and stop trying to build alone.Resources Mentioned ADPI Core Four framework.Military Multifamily Academy.ADPI Campus.Disclaimer This episode is for education only. It is not legal, tax, financial, securities, or investment advice. Consult qualified professionals before making investment, legal, tax, or capital raising decisions. Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

  6. Jun 11

    How Military Families Use Real Estate to Lower Taxes | Ep 399

    Most investors focus on cash flow. The smartest investors focus on taxes too. In this episode of the Active Duty Passive Income Podcast, Markian Sich breaks down how military families can use real estate investing to potentially reduce taxable income, keep more of what they earn, and accelerate long-term wealth building. You’ll learn how depreciation, cost segregation, bonus depreciation, and Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) work together—and why these strategies can create significant advantages for military families when structured properly. Whether you’re active duty, a military spouse, a veteran, or a real estate investor looking to optimize your portfolio, this episode will help you better understand one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available through real estate. 🎙 In This Episode: • What depreciation actually means for real estate investors • Why residential rental properties are depreciated over 27.5 years • How cost segregation can accelerate deductions • What bonus depreciation is and when it may apply • Understanding Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) • Why documentation and qualifying hours matter • The unique role military spouses can play in tax strategy • How tax savings can compound and fuel portfolio growth • Common misconceptions investors have about real estate taxes • Why sophisticated investors pay attention to tax strategy—not just cash flow If you’ve ever wondered how experienced investors legally reduce their tax burden while continuing to grow their portfolios, this episode is for you. ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice. Always consult with a qualified CPA, enrolled agent, tax attorney, or other licensed professional regarding your specific situation before making investment, tax, or entity decisions. Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

  7. Jun 4

    Passive Income Is A Lie

    Markian records this episode live from a hotel room in Indianapolis — mid property tour, mid investor meetings — and delivers one of the most honest takes on passive income you'll hear. The premise: passive income is the biggest lie in entrepreneurship. The context: this is coming from the founder of Active Duty Passive Income. In this episode, Markian unpacks the myth vs. the reality. He walks through his 56-unit apartment complex — $3,500/month on roughly 3.5 hours of work — and his 72-unit deal acquired in 2025 with a GP team. He explains why real estate can absolutely produce passive-like returns, but why the risk, the decisions, and the guarantees behind those returns are anything but passive. He also shares the origin of the ADPI name — the couch in San Diego, the green Marine Corps notebook, and the moment "Active Duty Passive Income" clicked as a play on words that stuck. Honest. Specific. No hype. Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

    Passive Income Is A Lie

  8. May 28

    Why I Switched From Single-Family Rentals to Multifamily

    Most people start with single-family rentals. I did too. My first deal made about $200/month. Then I bought a 56-unit apartment complex with my parents as investors, and that deal changed everything. In this episode, I break down why I switched from single-family to multifamily, including: How multifamily properties are valuedWhy cap rates matterHow raising rents can increase property valueWhy expenses matter so muchThe tax benefits of multifamilyWhy one vacancy does not crush the whole dealWhy team-based investing can help you scale fasterThis is not about saying single-family is wrong. It is about showing you how the math changes when you move into commercial multifamily. Apply for the Military Multifamily Academy: https://activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Most military investors don’t struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they’re doing it alone. The Military Multifamily Academy (MMA) is a 14-week program designed to help service members learn commercial real estate by actually working real deals with a team. No theory. No guesswork. Just execution. If you’re ready to stop watching and start building, learn more here: activedutypassiveincome.com/mma Support the show ADPI was built by military members who realized something most people never question: trading time for money doesn’t lead to freedom. So we built a different path. Today, ADPI helps active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses build passive income through real estate, entrepreneurship, and strategic investing. Inside the community you’ll find thousands of military investors who speak the same language of service, discipline, and execution. The mission isn’t just buying properties. It’s building a life with options. More time with family. More control of your future. More impact in the community you serve. If you’re active duty or a veteran and serious about using real estate to build lasting wealth, the ADPI Military Multifamily Cohort Program was built for you. We walk you through the entire process step by step, from building your team to structuring deals and going after properties that actually move the needle. Book your free strategy call right now: https://www.activedutypassiveincome.com/podcast-mma https://www.gohighlevel.com/active-duty-passive-income?fp_ref=active-duty-passive-income-llc66 No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you want to go. Follow ADPI for ...

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4.7
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153 Ratings

About

The military taught us discipline, leadership, and resilience—but it never taught us how to build wealth or create true financial freedom. That’s where we come in.I’m Markian Sich, a United States Marine turned real estate investor, and I know firsthand how tough it can be to figure out what’s next after service. That’s why I started The Active Duty Passive Income Podcast—to bring you real stories, real strategies, and real success from military investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who’ve been where you are.We talk about leveraging your VA Loan, Military House Hacking, and proven investing strategies to help you build passive income, transition with confidence, and take control of your financial future.You’ve fought hard to defend the American Dream—now let’s make sure you own a piece of it. Subscribe now and start your journey to financial freedom!

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