The Broke Millionaires

Lauryn & Joshua Massari

Building Wealth, Raising a Family, and Keeping It Real.We share the unfiltered journey of growing wealth through mid-term rentals, creative finance, and home renovations - all while raising a young family. From sacrifices and struggles to wins worth celebrating, we bring you real stories, smart strategies, and the behind-the-scenes chaos of chasing big dreams. Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community with weekly Q&A call.  skool.com/brokemillionaires https://www.instagram.com/thebrokemillionaires_

  1. 4D AGO

    E49 | We Don't Sell Properties. So Why Are We Selling This One?

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires What happens when a fully permitted, ground-up rebuild in one of California's most in-demand neighborhoods stops making financial sense to hold — and selling it could generate up to $800K tax-free? In Episode 49, we pull back the curtain on the exact strategy we're exploring to make that happen, plus the creative finance scandal making national news, the hidden IRS tax trap destroying sellers in 0% seller-finance deals, and a $2,000 education savings strategy that could fund years of private school tuition completely tax-free. What You'll Learn: Why irresponsible sub-2 investors are causing innocent sellers to face foreclosure — and what ethical creative finance looks likeThe IRS imputed interest rule creating hidden tax bills in 0% seller-finance dealsHow bonus depreciation (back for 2026) can legally eliminate a six-figure capital gains tax billWhy we didn't sell last year — and why this summer may be the right windowWhat a cost segregation study is and how to use it to turn tax liability into new investment propertiesThe honest math behind a property that barely cash-flows despite renting for $13,500–$15,000/monthThe Coverdell ESA strategy: how $2,000 could fund 12+ years of private school and college tuition tax-freeHow HostShare and Home Exchange funded a family snow trip for nearly freeWhy we shifted from equity-building to cash-flow-focused investing — and what that means for our next movesThe free School community we're launching: weekly office hours, Q&A, and deeper dives on every episode topicResources & Links: HostShare: hostshare.coHome Exchange: homeexchange.comIRS Applicable Federal Rates (Imputed Interest): irs.gov/applicable-federal-ratesCoverdell ESA Overview: irs.gov/coverdell-esaFree School Community: skool.com/brokemillionairesMTR Summit: midtermrentalsummit.comJoin our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours where we break down episodes and apply them to real life. Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_ Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yfzjfeyj Legacy Wealth Builder: bmlegacywealthbuilder.com (Info + schedule a call) Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Consult a licensed CPA, financial advisor, or attorney before making any investment or tax decisions. Real estate investing involves risk, including potential loss of capital.

    1h 4m
  2. MAR 27

    E48 | From Flips to Hotels While Working a Full-Time Job | Lorenzo Mercado

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires In this episode, we sit down with Lorenzo Mercado—a pediatric nurse turned real estate investor and podcast host—who shares the real side of building wealth while still working a full-time job. From losing money on flips… to pivoting into boutique hotels… to raising capital and building in public—this episode breaks down what it actually takes to level up in real estate. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but nothing is working yet… this one will hit. What We Cover  What beginners completely misunderstand about real estate  Lorenzo’s first deal (and how he lost ~$30K)  Costly mistakes: permits, timelines, title issues, and bad assumptions  Why flipping can be riskier than people think  Why Lorenzo walked away from flipping entirely  How hotels create value differently than single family homes  The power of NOI vs. comps in commercial real estate  Raising capital and building deals through relationships  Why consistency beats everything (especially early on)  When to stay focused vs. when to pivot  Hiring, leverage, and buying back your time  Building wealth while working a W2 job  Using your network (even your day job) to unlock opportunities Key Takeaways  “Safe” thinking (no debt, pay everything off) keeps you stuck  Most people don’t fail—they just wait too long to start  Real estate isn’t easier or harder now—it’s just different  Flipping margins are thin unless you control the deal flow  Commercial real estate = controllable value (not comps)  Consistency for 3–5 years is non-negotiable  You don’t need to quit your job to build wealth  The fastest growth comes from taking imperfect action Real Talk Moments  Losing money on deals doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re learning  “Building in public” comes with pressure—but also opportunity  Waiting is the most expensive mistake in real estate  You can’t learn your way into success—you have to act  Books Mentioned Rich Dad Poor DadSet for Life – Scott Trench The Surrender Experiment🔗 Connect with Lorenzo  Instagram: @lorenzo.mercado_  Podcast: The Lo-downFinal Message If you’re stuck consuming content and waiting for the “right time”…  this is your sign: Just start. You’ll learn more from one deal than 100 podcasts. Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours where we break down episodes and apply them to real life. Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_ Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yfzjfeyj Legacy Wealth Builder: bmlegacywealthbuilder.com (Info + schedule a call)

    45 min
  3. MAR 6

    E47 | WARNING: Your 401k Is Designed to Keep You Working Until 65 (Here's Your Way Out) | Kam Dasani

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires Most people try to preserve wealth before they even have it. In this episode, Kam Dasani reveals why he quit his $250K Silicon Valley job to become a full-time options trader—and how his copy-paste swing trading system helps busy professionals accelerate wealth faster than any 401k or index fund. We break down: Why 401ks and index funds keep you stuckThe 45-second options trade anyone can doHow swing trading beats day trading for busy peopleThe #1 mistake new traders make (and how to avoid it)How to copy ex-Wall Street traders’ movesWhy Kam’s mom still thinks his success is “fake”Is this better than real estate or crypto?Kam shares real results, risk management tips, and how you can start with just $5-10K—even if you’re a total beginner. If you want financial freedom, location flexibility, and a proven system for building wealth, this episode is for you. Resources & Links: Free Trial Discord: https://discord.gg/TKrdXJ4JWnFollow Kam on instagram: @profitwithkamBook: Laughing at Wall Street by Chris CamilloJoin our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours where we break down episodes and apply them to real life. Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_ Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yfzjfeyj Legacy Wealth Builder: bmlegacywealthbuilder.com (Info + schedule a call) Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Options trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors.

    42 min
  4. FEB 27

    E46 | Buying Back Your Time with Justin Lund

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires What if the biggest thing holding your business back… is you? In this episode, Justin Lund joins us to break down the real reason founders get stuck, overworked, and secretly trapped—even after hitting 7 figures. The problem isn’t lack of effort. It’s hiring in the wrong order. Justin explains why hiring isn’t about scaling your business—it’s about buying back your time so you can pull bigger levers. We unpack: The biggest lie entrepreneurs believe about scalingWhy founders avoid hiring at the coreHow to calculate your true hourly valueThe cost of inaction vs. the cost of hiringWhy your business collapses when you take a vacationThe 2 types of problems in life and businessThe most expensive hiring mistake founders makeHow to build rhythms and routines around financesBalancing ambition with marriage and young kidsJustin also shares a powerful personal story about losing millions due to poor financial oversight—and the systems he now uses to protect himself and his clients. If you’re rebuilding, scaling, or feel like your business can’t survive without you… this episode will shift your perspective. Key Takeaway: Hiring the right way gives you time back. Time back lets you pull bigger revenue levers. Bigger levers create freedom and enterprise value. Books Mentioned: Buy Back Your Time – Dan MartellHow to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale CarnegieGetting Things Done – David AllenConnect with Justin on Instagram to learn more about buying back your time and building a business that works without you. Instagram: instagram.com/itsjustinlund Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours where we break down episodes and apply them to real life. Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_ Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/yfzjfeyj Legacy Wealth Builder: bmlegacywealthbuilder.com (Info + schedule a call) If this episode brought value, leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur who needs it. Get out there and make it happen.

    1h 2m
  5. FEB 17

    E45: The Passive Income Lie Nobody Talks About

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires Real estate investing and passive income are often marketed as effortless paths to financial freedom, but in Episode 45 we unpack the truth about rental properties, value-add real estate, property management, cash flow, and what it really takes to build wealth. Joshua and Lauryn dive into the misconception that real estate is passive from day one. Whether you’re buying rentals, flipping homes, managing apartments, or scaling short-term rentals, the early stages are rarely hands-off. They share real-life examples from their own portfolio — renovation delays, sewer backups, contractor issues, property manager challenges, and the reality of being house rich but cash broke. Key themes in this episode: • Why passive income requires upfront effort and risk  • The difference between buying assets and building systems  • Why even managed properties require decisions  • The stress behind value-add investing  • The loneliness of building wealth differently  • Raising kids while managing renovations and rental properties Joshua explains that passive income becomes more passive over time as systems, automation, and teams take over. But in the beginning, it demands time, energy, capital, and resilience. If you’re building a real estate portfolio and chasing financial freedom, this episode offers an honest, grounded look at what the journey really involves. ⭐ Support the Show If this episode helped you, please leave a 5-star rating and a review. It takes 2 seconds and helps us reach more families building wealth in a down economy. Connect + Support: If you got value from this episode, share it with a friend and leave a review. Questions or guest recommendations? DM Joshua + Lauryn. Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_ Newsletter Learn how we made over $2M in equity in 5 years. FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD Want to learn more about our mastermind community? Send us a DM or visit https://bmlegacywealthbuilder.com This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice.

    1 hr
  6. FEB 5

    E44: Rebuilding 2026: Sunsetting Work That Doesn't Pay You Back

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires In Episode 44, Lauryn and Joshua talk about a key lesson reinforced by Dan Martell’s coaching: when sales are going down and a product is consuming your time without paying you back, it’s time to sunset it—not emotionally, but strategically. They share real-life updates on family life, investing momentum, and what “rebuilding” looks like in 2026. Joshua breaks down a major strategic pivot inside Midnight30 Marketing: moving away from commodity orders (low-dollar, high-time) and doubling down on premium, service-based client gifting through a new brand—Impacked™.  The conversation goes deep into raising minimums, learning to say no, automating repeat orders using AI, and building a scalable “client experience gift” system designed to boost retention for coaches, educators, and membership-based businesses. They also share updates on: • stabilizing their Texas apartment building with new property management • a solar + roof program that drops insurance costs dramatically • launching the Broke Millionaires Legacy Wealth Builder community 🔥 What You’ll Learn • Why “selling commodities” becomes a race to the bottom—and how to escape it • How to reframe an offer and charge more by adding a service layer • The importance of sunsetting work that drains time and kills momentum • Why $50, $500, and $50,000 orders can cost the same amount of time • How Joshua plans to use AI automation to process repeat orders end-to-end • The Impacked™ concept: premium gifts + automation + retention triggers (welcome / mid-year / renewal) • Why premium items beat cheap swag (and actually stay in people’s lives) 🧠 Key Themes • Momentum, positivity, and rebuilding as 2026 focus words • Letting go of “yes to everything” and protecting time with minimums • Shifting from transactional orders to a retention-based program • Building a business model that supports family life (not 80-hour weeks) 🧩 Mentioned in the Episode • Dan Martell coaching framework: pivot + sunset declining offers • Impacked™ (premium client experience gifting) • Legacy Wealth Builder community + weekly calls + deeper coaching • Automation using AI to reduce time spent on repeat orders • Premium gifting for online coaches and educators  ⭐ Support the Show If this episode helped you, please leave a 5-star rating and a review. It takes 2 seconds and helps us reach more families building wealth in a down economy. Connect + Support: If you got value from this episode, share it with a friend and leave a review. Questions or guest recommendations? DM Joshua + Lauryn. Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_ Learn how we made over $2M in equity in 5 years. FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD Want to learn more about our mastermind community? Send us a DM or visit https://bmlegacywealthbuilder.com This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. #BrokeMillionairesPodcast #BusinessPivot #EntrepreneurLife

    39 min
  7. JAN 17

    E43: Land Investing That Prints Money (With Brent Bowers)

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires Brent Bowers (thelandsharks.com) joins Joshua and Lauryn to break down how he went from broke Army officer, deployments, and debt to building freedom through vacant land investing. Brent shares the exact moment land “clicked” for him, why land beats rentals for simplicity, and how seller financing turned one small deal into predictable monthly cashflow. If you’ve ever thought land investing sounds fake, this episode will challenge that. In This Episode, We Cover: • Brent’s origin story: military life, family strain, and needing a way out • Why rentals didn’t “cashflow” like promised (repairs killed profits) • The first land deal: paying $285 in back taxes and turning it into $5,000 • Why “boring” land can be a money printer with seller finance • How Brent uses postcards/letters to reach tax-delinquent landowners • Seller financing: down payments, 8–12% interest, and long-term cashflow • The biggest lie: “You can’t make money with land” • Why beginners fail: inconsistency, perfectionism, and quitting too early • The fastest way to lose money: skipping due diligence (call the county!) • Tax mistakes: the painful IRS bill, and why depreciation assets matter • Passive vs active: it’s active while building, passive once stabilized • Long-term plan: keep taxes low, buy rentals annually (mobile parks/industrial) • Golden rule: “Never buy on emotion” Book recommendation: Who Not How (Benjamin Hardy + Dan Sullivan) Brent’s Most Memorable Lessons: • Consistency beats perfection. Send the offers, follow up, repeat. • Due diligence is non-negotiable. “Call the county and see if it’s buildable.” • Cash chunks + cashflow matters. Big flips are great, but monthly payments protect you in downturns. • Land has fewer headaches. No tenants, no toilets, no HVAC repairs. Resources + Links: • Brent’s site: thelandsharks.com • Land owner/data tool: landsharksdata.com • Brent on YouTube: Brent Bowers (https://www.youtube.com/@brentlbowers) • Postcard resource mentioned: thelandsharks.com/postcard Connect + Support: If you got value from this episode, share it with a friend and leave a review. Questions or guest recommendations? DM Joshua + Lauryn. Learn how we made over $2M in equity in 5 years. FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD Want to learn more about our mastermind community? Send us a DM or visit https://bmlegacywealthbuilder.com Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_ This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. #LandInvesting #CreativeFinance #SellerFinancing #WealthBuilding #RealEstateInvesting #BrokeMillionaires

    50 min
  8. JAN 9

    E42: How We Co-Host Midterm Rentals (And Stack Bookings to Cut Vacancy)

    Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires In this episode, Joshua and Lauren pull back the curtain on one of the hottest topics they keep getting asked about: co-hosting midterm rentals. They break down what co-hosting really is (and what it isn’t), why their model focuses on 91016, and the exact process they use to onboard and manage properties—from the discovery call to guest screening, turnovers, and performance clauses. They also share a wild real-world result: one of their three-bedroom midterm rentals closed out 2025 with 355 booked nights—only 10 vacant days all year—by strategically stacking reservations and building a strong lead network (insurance placement, corporate stays, and overflow leads from Airbnb). If you’re a real estate investor considering midterm rentals—or an owner curious about co-hosting—this episode lays out the operational truth: leads + systems + the right property are everything. What You’ll Learn • Why “stacking reservations” is the secret to minimizing gaps in a midterm calendar • The difference between short-term, midterm, long-term, and where each model wins • Why vacancy can kill short-term numbers (even in “perfect” STR locations) • The #1 reason most owners fail at midterm rentals: no lead network • Why they tell owners to expect ~10 months occupancy (and aim to overdeliver) • How they evaluate property fit (size, layout, family features, market demand) • The difference between market appreciation, inflation, and forced appreciation • Their co-hosting system: walkthrough → analysis → proposal → onboarding → operations • The “controversial” turnover move: brand new sheets + duvet cover every guest • How they screen guests using tools like Autohost, ID verification, and leases Key Topics Covered Stacking bookings + insane occupancy • A three-bedroom property closes 2025 with 355 booked nights (10 vacancy days). • Why midterm can outperform STR vacancy patterns (midweek gaps, turnover friction). Why they won’t build on comfort • Selling a property to “fix cashflow” is a band-aid that sacrifices long-term wealth. •Capital gains taxes + losing an appreciating asset makes selling a bad “quick fix.” The three types of appreciation • Market appreciation: supply/demand forces. • Inflation hedge: dollar devaluation inflates asset prices on paper. • Forced appreciation: strategic renovations and value-add improvements. Co-hosting vs arbitrage • Arbitrage relies on fixed rent obligations while income can decline. • Cities tightening STR rules + oversaturation has crushed some large operators. • Co-hosting offers a lower-liability model (no master lease exposure). Why midterm operations are different • Midterm guests are often families, displaced insurance claims, corporate stays. • Furnishings must feel homey + durable, not “party house” aesthetic. • Small details matter: bathtubs, family amenities, cohesive kitchen setup. Their “Controversial” Turnover Standard They do something almost nobody does: ✅ Every new guest gets brand new sheets + a brand new duvet cover • They don’t reuse sheets for guests—helps avoid stains, wear, and hygiene concerns. • Guests can keep the sheets; sheets are donated when possible. It also saves labor: • Their cleaning crew does less laundry, which reduces turnover time and cost. Who This Episode Is For • Investors considering midterm rentals as a strategy • Owners struggling with vacancy or transitioning away from STR • People curious about co-hosting but unsure what it includes

    1h 2m
4.8
out of 5
57 Ratings

About

Building Wealth, Raising a Family, and Keeping It Real.We share the unfiltered journey of growing wealth through mid-term rentals, creative finance, and home renovations - all while raising a young family. From sacrifices and struggles to wins worth celebrating, we bring you real stories, smart strategies, and the behind-the-scenes chaos of chasing big dreams. Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community with weekly Q&A call.  skool.com/brokemillionaires https://www.instagram.com/thebrokemillionaires_

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