Generational Growth with Austin Johnson

Austin Johnson
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Generational Growth is a podcast about entrepreneurship, investing, and building wealth with purpose. Hosted by former Army West Point officer, investor, and jiujitsu brown belt, Austin Johnson, the show documents his journey building a mission driven wealth focused on authentic relationships and giving investors turnkey access to a trusted wealth building team. At a time when distrust in corporations and governments is at an all-time high, this podcast is built on one core belief: people will save people — with a mission centered around supporting jiujitsu & disabled communities

  1. 2d ago

    The Tax Moves Business Owners Miss Before Year-End | Christina Merrill

    Tax preparation records what already happened. Tax planning gives business owners and real estate investors time to make better decisions before the year closes. In this Generational Growth webinar, Austin Johnson speaks with accounting professional Christina Merrill and real estate professional Baggio Saldivar about bookkeeping, entity selection, S-corporation considerations, commonly missed business expenses, year-round planning, whole life insurance, and 1031 exchanges. The central lesson is simple: your bookkeeper, accountant, tax professional, attorney, insurance professional, and real estate team need accurate information and enough time to work together. IN THIS EPISODE How LLCs, S corporations, and C corporations differ at a high levelThe practical difference between a bookkeeper, accountant, tax preparer, and tax plannerWhat monthly bookkeeping and account reconciliation actually involveWhy personal and business transactions should be kept separateHow to think about the cost and value of professional accounting supportWhy QBI, mileage, depreciation, and entity elections require individual analysisQuestions to ask before using whole life insurance as part of a capital strategyThe basic timing framework for a 1031 exchangeWhy tax planning should begin before the final weeks of the year CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:54 Choosing an LLC, S corporation, or C corporation 7:45 Bookkeeper vs accountant vs tax planner 12:41 What monthly bookkeeping actually includes 17:58 What professional accounting support can cost 21:39 Depreciation and commonly missed business expenses 24:06 QBI, mileage, and vehicle-expense choices 29:50 When to stop doing the books yourself 33:58 When an S corporation may make sense 37:10 Late S elections and C-corporation tradeoffs 42:59 Tax considerations for W-2 earners 45:48 Christina's whole life and IBC perspective 50:38 Policy loans and tax considerations 52:14 1031 exchange basics 54:28 Why year-round tax planning matters 56:37 Can property-sale proceeds fund whole life? 58:16 Connect with Christina58:59 Closing NEXT STEPSWant to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/... Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA Website: https://coachchristina.com/ Email: christina@blueprintbookkeepingcoach.com DISCLAIMERThis content is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized tax, accounting, legal, financial, investment, real estate, lending, or insurance advice. Tax laws, limits, rates, filing requirements, entity rules, insurance contracts, and qualification standards change and depend on individual facts and jurisdiction. No entity type, deduction, election, exchange, insurance policy, policy loan, retirement strategy, or investment approach is appropriate for everyone. Life insurance dividends are not guaranteed; policy loans accrue interest, reduce available cash value and death benefit, and may create tax consequences if a policy lapses or is surrendered. Deductions for interest, mileage, depreciation, home-office use, retirement contributions, and business expenses require applicable eligibility and substantiation. A 1031 exchange generally defers rather than eliminates tax and must satisfy strict requirements. Consult appropriately licensed tax, legal, accounting, insurance, and investment professionals before acting. Examples and outcomes discussed by the speakers are personal or hypothetical and are not guarantees of future results.

  2. Oct 2

    Financial Freedom Is Only Level One | Omni Casey

    Financial freedom can solve the money problem. It does not automatically give you purpose. Real estate investor Omni Casey reached financial freedom, stepped away from active work, and discovered that doing nothing left him depressed and restless. In this conversation, Omni explains how he rebuilt his vision around real estate, community, and impact, and why he now describes financial freedom as only the end of level one. Austin and Omni also break down the practical path: earning active income, preserving capital, reinvesting rental cash flow, building repeatable systems, choosing when cash flow or appreciation should matter more, and finding experienced partners when a full-time W-2 professional does not have the time to operate every part of a deal. IN THIS EPISODE How Omni moved from selling surfboards to buying rental propertiesWhy one property per year eventually became a portfolio-acquisition systemThe operating system he uses to manage multiple businessesWhy he reinvested rental cash flow instead of treating it like spending moneyThe signal he used before leaving active incomeWhy reaching financial freedom did not create lasting fulfillmentHow the Cash-Flow Breakfast Club connects education, community, and serviceWhy cash flow can be a defensive priority before taking appreciation riskHow leverage changes real estate returns and riskA realistic entry path for busy W-2 professionalsCHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:47 Meet Omni Casey: real estate, freedom, and impact 5:23 The surfboard customer who became Omni's first mentor 7:17 From one rental to buying property portfolios 11:28 The operating system behind the growth 13:05 Building a financial-freedom calculator 14:59 Why Omni reinvested every dollar of rental cash flow 19:18 When is it safe to leave active income? 19:54 Reaching financial freedom and becoming depressed 23:29 Why Omni built the Cash-Flow Breakfast Club 25:44 Using a vivid vision to design the next chapter 29:54 Health, work, and the balancing act 34:24 The goal to help 10,000 people reach financial freedom 35:54 Money is not the point 39:52 Regret, experience, and passing lessons forward 42:19 What Omni watches in the housing market 44:53 Why cash flow can protect the downside 47:04 Cash flow vs appreciation 48:00 Financial freedom is only level one 51:13 Using co-living to change a property's cash flow 54:37 Why leverage changes the real estate equation 59:30 The mistakes that keep new investors stuck 1:02:45 A starting path for busy W-2 professionals 1:05:45 Connect with Omni and the Cash-Flow Breakfast Club 1:07:02 Closing NEXT STEPS Want to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/... Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH OMNI Cash-Flow Breakfast Club: https://www.cashflowbreakfastclub.com/ Launch or lead a local club: https://www.cashflowbreakfastclub.com... Omni's website: https://www.omnitheinvestorguy.com/ LinkedIn:   / omnitheinvestorguy   Instagram:   / omnitheinvestorguy   YouTube:    / @omnitheinvestorguy   DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized financial, investment, real estate, lending, legal, tax, insurance, or accounting advice.

  3. Sep 30

    Private Lending Isn't Passive: The System Behind Every Good Loan | Doug Smith

    Private lending can look passive from the outside. But who underwrites the borrower, structures the loan, services the note, and steps in when the deal stops performing? Doug Smith returns to the Generational Growth Podcast to explain the operating system behind a private lending portfolio. Drawing on more than 35 years in lending and credit, Doug breaks down why experienced lenders build teams around underwriting, documentation, servicing, workouts, and portfolio management instead of treating a real estate note like a set-it-and-forget-it investment. Austin and Doug also clarify the differences between private money, hard money, and bridge financing; discuss how to evaluate a lending professional; and explore how self-directed retirement accounts and properly structured whole life insurance may fit into a broader capital strategy depending on a person's goals, timeline, and professional guidance. IN THIS EPISODE What a complete private lending system has to manage after a loan is madeWhy capital and collateral do not replace credit experienceHow a specialist team can keep an investor from creating another full-time jobThe difference between private money, hard money, and bridge financingWhy repayment capacity and borrower character matter alongside collateralHow to investigate a private lending partner's experience and track recordWhat self-assessment can reveal about the roles you should and should not ownWhy self-directed retirement accounts and whole life policies are different tools, not universal answers CHAPTERS 0:00 Meet Doug Smith and the private lending system 1:11 Austin's mission starts becoming tangible 3:24 Lessons from 35 years and three market crashes 5:38 How Doug's portfolio management model works 7:18 A turnkey system for private lenders and note investors 8:23 Build a wealth team, not another job 10:22 The Mad Lender's Guide and finding your specialty 16:11 Why specialists matter more than control 18:13 Using self-assessment to build the right team 28:49 Why high performers can get trapped 31:40 Private money vs hard money vs bridge financing 34:34 Why collateral should not be the first repayment plan 36:25 How weak financial education spreads 38:48 Questions to ask a private lending partner 42:14 Connecting the capital strategy and lending team 44:10 Self-directed IRAs and whole life as different tools 45:28 Previewing the next conversation 46:45 Connect with Doug 47:29 Closing NEXT STEPS Want to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/... Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH DOUG The Mad Lender: https://themadlender.com/ Doug on LinkedIn:   / doug-smith-72948310bbankerdougsmith   Castle Rock Capital Management: https://go-castlerock.com/ Castle Rock Capital Funding: https://mortgagesbycastlerock.com/Doug's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lenders-Guide-... Watch Part One with Doug:    • Private Lending Explained with Doug Smith:...   DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized financial, investment, lending, insurance, legal, tax, or accounting advice, an offer to lend, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security or financial product.

  4. Sep 27

    Why More Revenue Can Still Leave Your Business Short on Cash | CPA Mark Stiles

    Small business cash flow, business reserves, and tax planning can become more important as revenue grows. CPA Mark Stiles breaks down how business owners can protect cash, build operating reserves, plan for taxes, and turn business profit into future investment capacity. Mark’s path is unusual: he played professional basketball before building a career in accounting and advising small businesses. We talk about what athletes and entrepreneurs have in common, the financial discipline that keeps people from outspending their income, and why staying power matters when business revenue becomes unpredictable. Mark explains his approach to operating reserves, quarterly estimated taxes, finding hidden expenses, meeting proactively with a CPA, and surrounding yourself with professionals who understand the bigger picture. We also get into profit-first thinking, using one profitable business to help fund future investments, separating opportunity capital from true reserves, and why excitement should never override financial boundaries. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:13 From Professional Basketball to CPA 6:56 Balancing Pro Basketball and Accounting 11:14 What Athletes Can Teach Us About Managing Money 15:08 Helping Small Businesses Build Better Financial Systems 19:11 What Happens When a Major Customer Disappears? 21:25 Why Business Owners Need Staying Power 23:29 The Box Method for Growing a Business 26:11 Founder-Led Marketing in the Age of AI 29:19 How Much Cash Should a Business Keep in Reserve? 30:46 Quarterly Estimated Taxes and Tax Planning 34:45 Why Business Owners Need a Financial Team 36:55 How Often Should You Meet With Your CPA? 38:42 Leveraging Experts Instead of Doing Everything Yourself 39:59 Building Business Reserves the Right Way 40:41 Profit-First Thinking for Business Owners 41:25 Using Business Profit to Fund Future Investments 45:14 Building a 3-Month Operating Reserve 46:28 Opportunity Funds vs. Business Reserves 47:53 When Growth Opportunities Cross Your Financial Boundaries 49:42 How to Connect With Mark Stiles 50:31 Why the Right Professionals Are Worth the Investment NEXT STEPS Want to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/... Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH MARKLinkedIn:   / stilescpa   This content is for educational purposes only and is not individualized financial, accounting, tax, legal, insurance, or investment advice. Tax treatment, estimated-payment requirements, appropriate reserve levels, and business-planning strategies depend on individual circumstances, business structure, jurisdiction, and applicable law. Consult qualified professionals before acting.

  5. Sep 25

    Why Military Discipline Wasn't Enough to Build Wealth (Guest Podcast)

    Military discipline taught us how to work, save, and stay committed. It did not automatically teach us how to structure capital, fund real estate, or build wealth around a larger purpose. This is a featured podcast appearance originally hosted by Steve "Zeus" Benton. Austin Johnson joined Steve on his podcast for another conversation about military transition, financial education, Infinite Banking, real estate, jiu-jitsu, and the shift from simply saving money to building a more intentional capital strategy. We are republishing the conversation here on the Generational Growth Podcast because it directly reflects the experiences and mission behind the brand. Austin and Steve discuss what changed after leaving the military, why traditional money advice did not fully match their goals, and how access to capital can create more options for investing, family, community, and service. They also connect financial education to jiu-jitsu: progress comes from repetition, coaching, humility, and learning how the system actually works. IN THIS FEATURED CONVERSATION What military transition revealed about money and identityWhy disciplined saving alone did not create the flexibility Austin wantedHow Infinite Banking changed the way Austin and Steve thought about capitalWhy a financial strategy should be built around the goal, not around a default productHow real estate, liquidity, and access to capital can work togetherWhat jiu-jitsu teaches about coaching, ownership, and personal growthWhy building wealth becomes more meaningful when it supports family and communityHow Austin's Generational Growth mission connects wealth building with giving backNEXT STEPS Want to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/... Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH STEVE LinkedIn:   / steven-benton-5986311b4   Instagram:   / stevezeusbenton   DISCLAIMER This conversation is for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute individualized financial, investment, tax, legal, accounting, real-estate, or insurance advice. Infinite Banking and participating whole life insurance involve product costs, underwriting, policy design, capitalization, loan interest, and individual circumstances. Policy loans and withdrawals may reduce available cash value and death benefits and may create tax consequences if a policy lapses or is surrendered. Real estate and other investments involve risk, and examples or personal experiences discussed are not guarantees of future performance or results. Consult qualified professionals before making financial, insurance, tax, legal, or investment decisions.

  6. Sep 23

    Why Small Business Health Insurance Keeps Getting More Expensive | Liz Antaya

    Small business health insurance costs keep rising, but employers have more options than a traditional fully insured health plan. Health plan architect Liz Antaya breaks down level-funded health plans, ICHRAs, direct primary care, medical cost sharing, self-funding, and the questions business owners should ask before their next health insurance renewal. We talk about why employer healthcare costs can increase so quickly, how fully insured and self-funded plans differ, healthcare price transparency, and why the same procedure can cost very different amounts depending on where it is performed. Liz also explains several options available to smaller employers, including level funding, Individual Coverage HRAs, direct primary care, and medical cost sharing. We discuss how to evaluate those options, what to look for in a benefits advisor, and why employers should revisit their health plan rather than automatically renewing the same structure every year. The goal is to understand where your healthcare dollars are going and make a more informed decision for both the business and the employees. NEXT STEPS Want to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/... Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH LIZ  / lizantaya   CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro: Small Business Health Insurance Options 1:23 Meet Liz Antaya, Health Plan Architect 5:21 Why Health Insurance Renewals Keep Rising 6:29 Fully Insured vs. Self-Funded Health Plans 9:15 Why Healthcare Prices Vary So Much 10:51 Health Plan Options for Small Businesses 12:03 Level-Funded Health Plans for Small Employers 15:08 ICHRA: Giving Employees More Choice 16:55 Direct Primary Care Explained 21:40 Medical Cost Sharing as an Alternative 23:11 Building a Level-Funded Health Plan 26:36 Why 15-Minute Healthcare Became Normal 31:16 How to Choose the Right Health Plan 34:11 How to Find a Good Benefits Advisor 35:34 Employer Fiduciary Responsibilities 37:51 Questions to Ask Your Health Insurance Broker 41:36 Cash-Pay Healthcare and Price Transparency 45:07 Healthcare Transparency Rules 46:42 How Often to Review Your Health Plan 48:40 How to Connect With Liz This content is for educational purposes only and is not individualized insurance, financial, legal, tax, or employee-benefits advice. Health-plan availability, costs, compliance requirements, tax treatment, eligibility, and suitability depend on the employer, employees, jurisdiction, plan design, and applicable law. Consult qualified professionals before making plan changes.

  7. Sep 17

    What Happens If You Die Without a Will? Estate Planning Explained

    What happens to your home, accounts, business interests, and family decisions if you die without a will or estate plan? Estate planning attorney Chris Hamm joins Austin Johnson to explain wills, trusts, probate, powers of attorney, and the decisions many families postpone until it is too late. The conversation focuses on a practical question: who should decide what happens to what you own, you or the default rules in your state? Chris also explains why estate planning is not only for wealthy families, when a trust may or may not fit, how to choose an attorney, and why your legal, tax, insurance, and financial professionals may need to work together. IN THIS EPISODE Why owning a home, account, retirement plan, or business interest means you have an estateThe two questions at the center of an estate planWhy not everyone needs the same trust or document packageWhat can happen when a person dies without documenting their wishesMilestones that should trigger an estate-plan reviewQuestions to ask before hiring an estate planning attorneyHow life insurance and beneficiary designations can interact with an estate planHow Austin is thinking about long-term charitable and community giving CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:51 Meet Chris Hamm 1:20 How Chris became an estate planning attorney 3:06 Why probate changed his career 3:46 Estate planning is not only for the wealthy 5:44 The two questions every plan must answer 7:46 Do you actually need a trust? 9:46 What belongs in an estate plan? 11:46 Why your advisors need to work together 14:46 Where estate plans go wrong 18:27 What happens when family wishes are not documented 23:03 When should you start estate planning? 25:43 How to choose an estate planning attorney 28:32 How life insurance fits into estate planning 30:46 Questions to ask before hiring an attorney 34:42 Austin's long-term giving vision 35:45 Structuring philanthropy that can continue 38:21 If you are unsure, start the process 40:09 Planning cost versus probate cost 40:55 How to connect with Chris 41:58 Closing NEXT STEPS Want to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/... Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH CHRIS LinkedIn:   / chammattorney  Chris's firm profile: https://www.danawhitefamilylaw.com/ab... Law Office of Dana L. White estate planning page: https://www.danawhitefamilylaw.com/es... DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized legal, tax, financial, investment, insurance, or accounting advice. Estate, probate, trust, tax, beneficiary, and power-of-attorney rules vary by state and individual circumstances and may change. Examples discussed are illustrative and do not promise a particular legal, tax, probate, cost, or financial outcome. Consult qualified professionals in your jurisdiction before creating, changing, or relying on an estate plan or financial strategy. Viewing or listening does not create an attorney-client, advisor-client, or other professional relationship.

  8. Sep 15

    Rigan Machado's Black Belt Explains Why Jiu-Jitsu Gyms Fail

    Jiu-jitsu can change a person's life, but opening a gym takes more than being good on the mat. Larry Shealy, a Rigan Machado black belt and leader in the Mach5 BJJ Union, joins Austin Johnson and Jay Shellhammer to talk about why jiu-jitsu academies need mission, business systems, safety, community, and a real reason to exist. Larry's story runs through Rickson Gracie, Royce Gracie, Rigan Machado, a sudden cardiac arrest on his own mats, decades of coaching, and the launch of Mach5. Jay brings the perspective of building High Street Jiu Jitsu in Phoenix and explains why authenticity, kids programs, women's programs, family culture, and gym-owner resilience matter just as much as technique.IN THIS EPISODE Larry's first jiu-jitsu experience with Rickson GracieHow Larry built relationships with Royce Gracie and Rigan MachadoWhy Rigan Machado's Mach5 vision matters for school ownersThe heart event that changed Larry's perspective on life and coachingWhy Austin sees jiu-jitsu as part of the Generational Growth missionWhat new gym owners underestimate about business, marketing, and retentionWhy authenticity cannot be replaced by a systemHow a gym can become a place that builds families, kids, confidence, and community CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 2:57 Giving the gift of jiu-jitsu 4:24 Larry's path from medical device sales to martial arts 6:00 Getting humbled by Rickson Gracie 9:07 Training with Royce Gracie and finding Rigan Machado 13:07 The Rigan Machado relationship 15:33 The health event that changed Larry's life 20:42 How Mach5 started 24:50 Why Larry wants to support gym owners 27:33 Near-death experience and faith 30:20 Coaching with a defibrillator 33:47 Why jiu-jitsu teaches perspective 39:33 Jay's mission at High Street Jiu Jitsu 43:09 Austin's vision to fund and give away jiu-jitsu gyms 44:28 What Mach5 actually provides 46:31 Curriculum, kids programs, and school owner support 48:35 Jiu-jitsu in a box 53:14 Can a system get too big? 55:45 Why authenticity still matters 57:37 The problem with empty affiliations 1:00:51 Building family-centered gyms 1:02:16 Turning parents into safe helpers 1:05:20 The biggest mistakes new gym owners make 1:07:00 Part two and the next conversation NEXT STEPS Want to See If Properly Structured Whole Life Fits Your Capital Strategy? Book a Generational Growth call here: https://calendly.com/austin-generatio... Want to Learn How Privatized Banking, Policy Loans, and Real Estate Can Work Together? Start with the Generational Growth Vault here: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/...Learn more about Generational Growth: https://www.generationalgrowthco.com/ CONNECT WITH LARRY Hendo BJJ: https://hendobjj.com/ Larry's Instagram:   / larry_shealy   Mach5 BJJ Union: https://www.mach5union.com/ Rigan Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association: https://www.riganbjj.com/ CONNECT WITH JAY High Street Jiu Jitsu: https://highstreetjiujitsu.com/ DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute individualized financial, investment, tax, legal, medical, health, business, insurance, or safety advice. Martial arts training involves physical risk, and gym ownership involves financial, operational, legal, insurance, staffing, safety, and market risks. Survival, medical, business, student-growth, affiliation, or academy outcomes discussed are personal examples and are not promises of results. Consult qualified medical, legal, tax, insurance, financial, and business professionals before making decisions about training, opening a gym, funding a business, or changing a health or safety plan.

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Generational Growth is a podcast about entrepreneurship, investing, and building wealth with purpose. Hosted by former Army West Point officer, investor, and jiujitsu brown belt, Austin Johnson, the show documents his journey building a mission driven wealth focused on authentic relationships and giving investors turnkey access to a trusted wealth building team. At a time when distrust in corporations and governments is at an all-time high, this podcast is built on one core belief: people will save people — with a mission centered around supporting jiujitsu & disabled communities

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