Before The Returns

Jaden T. Zubal

Before the Returns is the podcast for people who want to build wealth with purpose—not just chase numbers on a spreadsheet. Hosted by Wealth Strategist Jaden Zubal, each episode challenges the “highest return at any cost” mindset and shows you how to align your money with your values, your family, and your legacy. We cover Family Banking, smart insurance design, real estate strategies, entrepreneurship, and generational wealth planning—practical tools that create security today and freedom tomorrow. If you’ve ever wondered how to make money the tool instead of the goal, this podcast is your blueprint.

  1. 23H AGO

    E24 - Why High Earners Still Feel Financially Behind

    You don’t feel behind because you make too little money. And this episode is not walking back what we said last week about focusing on income first. Income is step one. But income alone doesn’t build freedom. In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden breaks down why high earners — even those making $150K, $200K, or more — still feel financially tight despite doing everything “right.” We unpack: • Lifestyle creep that quietly erodes margin  • Why W-2 income gets compressed faster than expected  • How debt layering reduces optionality  • The illusion of progress inside retirement accounts  • Why net worth growth isn’t the same as flexibility This isn’t anti-investing.  It’s not anti-retirement.  And it’s not about budgeting harder. It’s about understanding that income amplifies your structure. If your income has grown but your stress hasn’t dropped, this episode will help you see where the gap actually is — and how to think about it differently. Before you chase higher returns, make sure your foundation can hold them. If this episode resonated: → Listen to last week’s episode on why income comes first.  → Share this with someone who’s earning more but feeling tighter.  → Subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s episode on designing financial flexibility. Got feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    20 min

  2. FEB 19

    E23 - If I Was 20 Again, I’d Build This First

    If I was 20 again, I would not start by investing. Not because investing is bad.  Not because retirement accounts don’t work. But because most 20-year-olds don’t have an investing problem. They have a value problem. In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden explains why building skills, increasing income, and developing judgment matter more in your 20s than optimizing a small investment portfolio. You’ll hear: Why “time in the market” isn’t the full pictureHow earning power can compound faster than investments early onThe danger of chasing passive income before building active valueWhy control and personal development create stronger financial foundationsWhat “roots before returns” really meansThis episode isn’t anti-investing. It’s about order. Because fruit doesn’t grow without roots. If your income, your skills, and your judgment aren’t growing… your portfolio won’t save you. Key TakeawaysMost young adults should prioritize skill development before portfolio optimizationIncreasing income can have a larger early impact than small investment gainsYou are your most valuable asset in your 20sControl and personal development create long-term financial leverageInvesting is important — but it shouldn’t replace self-investmentReflection QuestionsAre you building roots — or chasing returns?What skill, if developed over the next five years, would meaningfully increase your income?Are you investing because you’re ready — or because you’re afraid of being behind?If your portfolio disappeared tomorrow, what would still make you valuable?Got feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    15 min

  3. FEB 12

    E22 - The Truth About Interest Rates (Why You’re Optimizing the Wrong Number)

    Interest rates don’t matter. At least not the way you’ve been taught they do. Most financial conversations revolve around APY, refinancing for a quarter percent, or chasing the highest yield savings account. But while consumers obsess over rates, banks optimize something very different: volume, velocity, control, and capital reuse. In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden breaks down: Why most 30-year mortgages don’t last 30 yearsHow loans are frequently sold and transferredWhy refinancing resets the fee clockAnd why the system relies on movement—not patienceMore importantly, he shares a personal story of choosing lower returns with higher control — and why that decision felt empowering. This isn’t anti-investing.  It’s anti-optimizing the wrong metric. If you’ve been focused on rate instead of control, this episode will change how you see money. Key TakeawaysMost 30-year mortgages are paid off or refinanced within 7–10 yearsLoans are frequently sold into secondary marketsBanks optimize volume, velocity, and reuse — not just interest spreadYield without control creates fragilityControl creates optionality and opportunityReturns follow structure — not the other way aroundListener Reflection QuestionsWhat number do you optimize first — rate or control?Can you access your capital without penalty or permission?Are you thinking like a depositor or like an owner?Got feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    21 min

  4. FEB 5

    E21 - Why Knowing How Money Works Still Doesn’t Change Your Behavior

    You know how money works.  You know what the smart financial move is.  And yet—when stress hits or life gets busy—you fall back into the same patterns. In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden revisits how banks use money and explains why understanding the financial system alone doesn’t change behavior. Drawing from personal stories and real-life pressure moments, he shows how emotional conditioning and early money experiences quietly override logic. This episode isn’t about learning another strategy.  It’s about why financial knowledge doesn’t stick—and what actually has to change before behavior, control, and outcomes do. Key Takeaways Financial knowledge doesn’t automatically change behaviorStress exposes your true money habitsEarly money experiences shape adult decision-makingFamiliar systems feel safe—even when they don’t serve youStructure must support behavior when emotions take overListener Reflection Questions When stress hits, what do you default to financially?Do you avoid, freeze, over-control, or take impulsive action?Where did that reaction first get learned?Got feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    18 min

  5. JAN 29

    E20 - Your Money Decisions Aren’t Logical - They’re Emotional

    Most people believe they make financial decisions based on logic, math, and discipline.  But in reality, most money choices are driven by stories we absorbed long before we ever earned a paycheck. In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden shares a personal childhood story he recently told on stage at a business conference—one that unexpectedly resonated more than any strategy ever has. That moment revealed something most financial conversations miss: money behavior is emotional before it’s rational. This episode isn’t about tactics or optimization.  It’s about awareness. You’ll be invited to reflect on your own early money experiences, recognize the invisible patterns they created, and understand why strategy alone often fails without first addressing the story underneath it. Key Takeaways Money behavior is shaped emotionally before it’s shaped logicallyChildhood experiences quietly install financial patternsStrategy doesn’t stick without self-awarenessReflection is the first step toward controlListener Reflection Questions What did money feel like growing up?What did you learn without anyone saying it out loud?Where do those lessons show up in your life today?Got feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    17 min

  6. JAN 22

    E19 - Whole Life Insurance Explained: Why It Fails as an Investment (And Where It Actually Works)

    If you’re trying to make whole life insurance beat the market, you’re right to hate it. That belief — that whole life insurance should function like an investment — is the root of almost all the frustration, backlash, and misinformation surrounding it online. In this episode of Before the Returns, I break down what whole life insurance actually is, what it isn’t, and why comparing it to stocks, real estate, or other investments guarantees disappointment. We talk through why misuse leads to blame, how expectations get set incorrectly, and where whole life insurance actually fits inside a real financial strategy. This isn’t a sales pitch.  It’s a framework shift. If you’ve ever felt confused, skeptical, or conflicted about whole life insurance — or you’ve heard strong opinions on both sides — this episode will help you understand where it works, where it doesn’t, and why the distinction matters. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why labeling whole life insurance as an investment breaks the entire modelThe difference between investments and financial toolsWhy whole life insurance always “loses” when compared to the market — and why that’s not the pointHow misunderstanding expectations leads to disappointment, not product failureWhy term insurance and whole life insurance serve fundamentally different purposesHow whole life insurance functions as a capital warehouse, not a growth engineReal-world examples of using policy loans for real estate opportunitiesWho this strategy is actually for — and who it is notGot feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    18 min

  7. JAN 15

    E18 - Using Whole Life Insurance to Invest in Real Estate (Pros, Cons, and How It Actually Works)

    more than chasing returnsWhen this strategy doesn’t work (and who should avoid it)I also share how this same system helped my family handle unexpected medical expenses without disrupting everything else financially — something most people never consider when they think about investing. This episode is for: Real estate investors who want more control over their capitalHigh-income earners tired of parking cash inefficientlyLong-term thinkers who value stability, liquidity, and optionalityThis is not about getting rich quick.  It’s about building a system that supports real investing over decades. Got feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    20 min

  8. JAN 12

    E17 - Is Real Estate Really Passive? The Truth About Turnkey Rentals & Property Managers

    Real estate is often sold as “passive.” Buy a turnkey property, hire a property manager, and let the checks roll in. That’s the story.  This episode is the reality. In this episode of Before the Returns, I break down why real estate is rarely truly passive—and how believing that it is can quietly erode your returns without you realizing it. I share a real experience from an out-of-state turnkey rental where a single email from a property manager almost cost me months of cash flow… until one 15-minute phone call changed everything. This isn’t an anti–turnkey episode. It’s a clarity episode. We talk about: What “turnkey real estate” actually means (and what it doesn’t)How property managers are incentivized—and why that mattersWhy delegation doesn’t remove responsibility, it just hides itThe difference between distance and control in investingWhy “passive” can be one of the most dangerous words in real estateIf you’re investing—or thinking about investing—in rental properties, especially out of state, this episode will help you recalibrate expectations, protect your margins, and think like an owner instead of a spectator. Got feedback? Drop it here Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter 📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com ⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

    17 min
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Before the Returns is the podcast for people who want to build wealth with purpose—not just chase numbers on a spreadsheet. Hosted by Wealth Strategist Jaden Zubal, each episode challenges the “highest return at any cost” mindset and shows you how to align your money with your values, your family, and your legacy. We cover Family Banking, smart insurance design, real estate strategies, entrepreneurship, and generational wealth planning—practical tools that create security today and freedom tomorrow. If you’ve ever wondered how to make money the tool instead of the goal, this podcast is your blueprint.

Information

  • Creator
    Jaden T. Zubal
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Before The Returns
  • Show Website
    Before The Returns