Brandon Cobb, CEO of HBG Capital and founder of Learn Land Development, was living his dream job in medical device sales when his boss fired him at a Starbucks on a sunny Friday afternoon.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Brandon shares how that day pushed him into entrepreneurship, how three failed businesses led him to real estate, and how he grew from house flips into land development. He opens up about 2022, when rates doubled on his construction debt, and the routine and mindset that carried him through. He and Chris...

Dani Lynn Robison, founder and CEO of Freedom Family Investments, grew up poor, built a career as a musician on cruise ships, and spent years asking what people who build wealth do differently.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Dani shares the 56-unit apartment deal a buyer tried to cut her out of, why she bought it herself, and how that property taught her the power of operating at scale. She and Chris talk about the mindset that builds wealth, her thesis for needs-based real estate (workforce housing, senior housing, and...

Everyone says office is dead. Ash Patel, managing partner of Invest Beyond Multifamily, sees one of the best buying opportunities in commercial real estate instead.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Ash shares how one building, and one tenant who paid to replace its entire HVAC system, turned him from a residential landlord into a full-time commercial investor. He and Chris talk about how commercial leases and guarantees work, why triple net isn't the easy money it looks like, how a single lease can change a property's value,

why...

You did everything you were supposed to do. So why aren't you happy? Naga Das helps leaders

transcend trauma and find peace and purpose, and her new book, Dying to Live: Finding Peace and Purpose Through Pain, tells the story of how she found her own.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Naga shares her journey from homelessness to a Harvard education and a crypto hedge fund, and how fear, burnout, and addiction led her to a

turning point. She and Chris talk about the difference between...

Even highly capable leaders can become overwhelmed, lose focus, and begin second-guessing their decisions. Warren Wandling is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and communication expert with more than 25 years of experience training leaders in the public, private, and government sectors. He is also the founder and host of the How to Become an Obstacle Buster podcast.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Warren shares how he overcame a paralyzed vocal cord in a career built on speaking, then walks Chris through the five laws he teaches leaders: knowing yourself, purpose, belief...

In 2009, Chris asked his insurance agent whether to fund an investment from the bank or from his life insurance policy. The agent said it didn't matter. That answer cost Chris six figures.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Chris shares a special presentation from the Money Insights Investment Insider series, hosted by Blake Brogan and Rod Zabriskie. He walks through the system he has built over 16 years: cash value life insurance as the foundation, a line of credit as the hub every dollar flows through, and income-producing investments as the fuel...

Kim Lisa Taylor is a nationally recognized corporate securities attorney and the founder of Syndication Attorneys. She and her team have created nearly $5 billion in securities offerings for hundreds of syndicators, fund managers, and small business owners.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Kim joins Chris to walk passive investors through the legal side of a real estate syndication. She explains what makes a deal a security, the difference between 506(b) and 506(c) offerings, and why a sponsor who never asks about your finances is a red flag. She also covers...

Most people treat taxes as a once-a-year, filing-season problem. Davis Oliver of Taxes Saved joins Chris to explain why Q4, not April, is when real tax planning happens, and why most CPAs never bring it up in the first place: their job is compliance and filing, not proactive strategy.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Davis and Chris cover how W-2 employees, not just business owners, can use real deductions the tax code already offers, and what Davis calls a "ticking tax time bomb": the required minimum distributions built into most 401...

Krisstina Wise built a multi-million dollar business, and then her body shut down. About 95% of the way through a keynote in front of 500 people, she froze on stage completely: a stress stroke, brought on by years of running on scarcity and fear. Within 48 hours she couldn't get out of bed, and stayed there for two years while her business fell apart, kept afloat only by real estate investments she'd quietly built on the side.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Krisstina joins Chris to talk about that collapse, the shift from...

Maria Brito has spent 17 years advising private collectors on art, facilitating over $200 million in transactions along the way. Before art, she was a corporate attorney who graduated Harvard Law School after immigrating from Venezuela, working 20-hour days at a New York law firm before deciding it wasn't the life she wanted.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Maria joins Chris to make the case for art as a real, if unconventional, asset class: how it earned that status in the 1970s, the tax benefits of donating a long-held piece to a...

Todd Dexheimer started as a high school teacher making $30,000 a year. In 2008 he bought his first foreclosures because the math worked, even when everyone around him said he was crazy to buy into a crashing market.

On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Todd joins Chris to make the case that bigger deals are actually easier to buy and run than small ones, and walks through the senior housing rollercoaster that took his cash flow from $250,000 in year one to negative by year three: what COVID, staffing shortages, and inflation did to...

Every day, 11,000 Americans turn 65, and roughly 1 in 10 of them owns a business with no plan for what happens next. On this episode of the Next Level Income Show, Chris Larsen sits down with Kris Benson, Partner at Blue Line Ventures, to unpack the largest transfer of small business ownership in U.S. history: an estimated 8 to 10 million businesses expected to change hands over the next decade.

Kris walks through his own path from medical device sales to real estate to self storage to buying B2B service businesses directly from retiring founders, why these...

One thing about the current real estate cycle caught me off guard, and today I'm breaking down exactly what I found.

For years I've tracked where we are in the roughly 18.6 year real estate cycle: seven years up, a mid-cycle slowdown, another seven years up, then a four year reset. That pattern has held since the 1850s. But when you overlay inflation on top of housing prices, the picture changes. Nominal prices kept climbing, but real prices actually peaked back in 2022.

In this episode, I walk through how I...

More than a decade ago, Tim Delaney bought his first small business, a fifty-year-old wine and liquor store in Buffalo, NY, with almost no experience and very little cash down. Today he owns that store and the plaza it sits in, and he helps other people do the same.

In this episode, Tim joins Chris to break down exactly how he structured those two deals, including negotiating 90% seller financing down to a 4% interest rate, and how he used one business as leverage to fund a $120,000 roof replacement on the other. They also dig into...

What separates wealthy investors from the middle class when it comes to building long term financial success? In this episode, Lane Kawaoka shares the mindset, strategies, and investment principles that have helped him build a real estate portfolio of more than 10,000 units across the United States while helping thousands of investors create passive income without the challenges of active property management.

Lane’s journey began in a traditional engineering career. Armed with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and Construction Management and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, he followed the conventional pa...

Building wealth is about much more than finding the right investment opportunity. Long term financial success is rooted in mindset, supported by strong systems, and sustained through meaningful relationships. In this episode Chris sits down with seasoned real estate investor, advisor, and educator Christina Suter to discuss how creating the right foundation can help anyone achieve financial freedom through real estate investing.

With years of experience helping thousands of aspiring and experienced investors, Christina has developed a practical approach that goes beyond buying properties. She believes that real estate is not simply a vehicle...

What if you approached your health the same way a successful CEO runs a thriving business? Every decision matters, every system works together, and long term success depends on consistent leadership rather than quick fixes. In this episode, Chris sits down with human performance expert Justin Roethlingshoefer to discuss what it truly means to become the CEO of your own health.

With more than 20 years of experience helping high performers optimize their physical and mental well being, Justin has worked with professional athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders who understand that sustainable success starts with...

When most people think about retirement investing, they picture traditional stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. But what if your retirement account could be used to invest in real estate, private equity, private lending, or other alternative assets? In this episode Chris sits down with Nicole Capurso and Jason Prezant from Madison Trust Company to explore how Self-Directed IRAs are changing the way investors think about retirement planning.

Nicole Capurso serves as Madison Trust’s Senior Strategic Relations Executive and has spent more than five years educating investors on the opportunities available through Self-Directed IRAs. Al...

Resilience is often forged in life’s most difficult moments. For Nick Prefontaine, a devastating snowboarding accident at just 14 years old became the defining event that transformed his perspective on life, success, and personal growth. In this inspiring episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, Nick shares how he overcame unimaginable challenges and turned tragedy into a mission to help others unlock their full potential.

Nick’s journey began with what seemed like an impossible setback. After a life threatening snowboarding accident left him in a coma, doctors warned his family that he might neve...

In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, we explore the future of precious metals, the role of sound money, and the opportunities investors should be watching in today’s evolving financial landscape. David Morgan, a globally recognized precious metals analyst, consultant, and publisher of The Morgan Report, shares his insights on where gold and silver may be headed and what investors need to understand about protecting and growing wealth.

David Morgan has spent decades studying monetary systems, commodities, and investment strategies centered around real assets. Through The Morgan Report, he has helped in...

Success is often measured by achievements, income, and recognition. But for Derek Peterson, the true definition of success was discovered when he realized that achievement without freedom comes with a hidden cost.

In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, Derek shares the powerful story of how struggle, reinvention, and intentional living transformed his life from chasing success to creating a life built around freedom, purpose, and impact.

Derek’s journey began in Columbia, Maryland, during a defining moment in eighth grade when he nearly failed and was pl...

The real estate market is constantly changing, and successful investors understand that the ability to adapt is one of the most valuable skills they can develop. In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, I sit down with Chris Prefontaine, Chairman and Founder of Smart Real Estate Coach®, to discuss how creative financing strategies can help investors build wealth and find opportunities regardless of where the market cycle stands.

Chris Prefontaine is a 4x best-selling author, former Forbes Business Council Member, and a 3-time Inc5000 Honoree for Fastest Growing Company. Through his work a...

Building wealth is about more than simply acquiring assets. True financial success comes from having a clear framework, making disciplined decisions, and creating a legacy that extends beyond your lifetime. In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, Chris Larsen sits down with investor, entrepreneur, Certified Money Coach®, and bestselling author Gino Barbaro to discuss how he built a real estate portfolio of over 1,900 multifamily units and $450 million in assets under management while staying focused on family, values, and long-term wealth creation.

Gino’s journey is a powerful example of how consistent action, edu...

Achieving financial freedom is a goal that many people strive for, but what comes after reaching that milestone? In this episode of the Next Level Income, Chris Larsen explores Chapter 5 of his journey to financial independence: transitioning from financial freedom to creating generational wealth. While financial freedom allows individuals to live life on their own terms, generational wealth extends those benefits far beyond a single lifetime, creating opportunities and security for future generations.

Chris Larsen, founder and Principal of Next-Level Income, brings decades of experience in investing, business, and wealth-building to this discussion. After...

Chris Larsen dives into one of the most important principles of building long term wealth: investing for cash flow instead of relying solely on appreciation. As part of the ongoing “How to Be Financially Free by Forty” series, Chapter 4 focuses on creating predictable income streams that can support financial independence and reduce reliance on active employment income.

Chris brings decades of real estate investing experience to the conversation, sharing practical lessons from more than 20 years in the industry. Having participated in over $1.5 billion in real estate acquisitions since 2016, Chris explains why many investors make the...

Building wealth is not only about how much money you make. It is also about how much money you keep and how strategically you position your assets for long term growth. In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, Chris Larsen dives into Chapter 3 of the “How to Be Financially Free by Forty” series, focusing on one of the most overlooked pillars of financial success: tax strategy and entity structure.

Chris Larsen, founder and principal of Next-Level Income, brings decades of experience in real estate investing, finance, and business strategy to this conversation. Afte...

The commercial real estate market is going through one of its most significant shifts in decades. Rising interest rates, tighter lending standards, and changing investor expectations have created both uncertainty and opportunity across the industry. In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, we sit down with Jake Clopton, founder of Clopton Capital, to discuss how debt markets are evolving and what investors should be paying attention to right now.

Jake brings years of experience working with real estate owners and operators nationwide, helping clients secure debt and equity solutions in a rapidly...

In this episode, the conversation dives deep into one of the most dynamic and often misunderstood sectors of modern finance: digital assets. Featuring insights from John Gillen, the discussion explores where Bitcoin and the broader crypto market are heading—and how investors can rethink volatility as an opportunity rather than a risk.

John Gillen brings a unique perspective shaped by his experience working on BlackRock Aladdin platform, one of the most powerful portfolio management systems in the world. His transition from traditional finance to co-founding TRU Capital reflects a broader shift happening across the fi...

In this Episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, host Chris Larsen dives into Chapter 2 of the journey toward financial independence by forty, focusing on a concept that often feels intimidating at first glance: saving 50% of your income—without feeling deprived. While the idea may initially sound extreme, Chris reframes it as a powerful and achievable strategy rooted in intentional living, not sacrifice.

Chris Larsen, founder of Next-Level Income and a seasoned real estate investor with over two decades of experience, brings a practical and experience-driven perspective to this discussion. Having been involved in ov...

Level Income Show

Subscribe Now

In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, we dive into one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance: how high-income earners—especially W-2 employees—can legally and strategically lower their tax burden. Joined by tax strategy expert Davis Oliver, this conversation challenges the conventional belief that only business owners have access to meaningful tax-saving opportunities.

Davis Oliver has helped clients save over $88 million in taxes through advanced planning, alternative investments, and innovative structuring. With a background in economics and entrepreneurship from UNC Chapel...

In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, Chris Larsen takes a personal and practical approach as he introduces his upcoming eBook, How to Be Financially Free by Forty. Chris shares the inspiration behind the book, his own journey, and the foundational principles outlined in Chapter 1.

Chris begins by explaining why financial freedom by forty is not just an ambitious goal—it’s an achievable milestone with the right mindset and strategy. Drawing from over two decades of real estate investing experience and his involvement in more than $1.5 billion in acquisitions, he emphasizes that...

In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, the concept of “freedom” has taken on a whole new meaning. For many entrepreneurs, investors, and ambitious professionals, true freedom is no longer just about financial success—it’s about flexibility, mobility, and control over how and where life is lived. In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, Bobby Casey shares powerful insights on how to design a life that aligns with those ideals.

Bobby Casey is not your typical entrepreneur. With over two decades of experience starting, acquiring, and exiting businesses, he has built a reputati...

In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, I sit down with Thomas Cox, a Financial Architect and Infinite Banking Strategist, to break down one of the most talked-about yet misunderstood wealth-building strategies today: Infinite Banking Concept (IBC).

Thomas Cox brings a unique blend of real-world entrepreneurial experience and sophisticated financial strategy. Before stepping into the world of private capital and real estate, he successfully built and scaled multiple seven-figure catering businesses. Today, he owns 32 multifamily units across the Southeast, operates short-term rentals, and leads a private lending network that fuels deals across...

In this milestone episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, I sit down with Craig Ballantyne—widely recognized as the “World’s Most Disciplined Man.” Known for his no-nonsense approach to productivity, performance, and personal growth, Craig has built a reputation for helping high-performing entrepreneurs eliminate chaos, master their time, and achieve extraordinary results.

Craig’s journey didn’t begin with perfect discipline. Like many entrepreneurs, he faced setbacks, distractions, and periods of uncertainty. But through years of refinement and relentless commitment, he developed systems that transformed not only his own life, but the lives of thous...

Success at the highest level of sport is rarely just about physical ability—it is about mental resilience, discipline, and the ability to perform under pressure. In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, we sit down with Brent Bookwalter, a former Olympian and 16-year veteran of professional cycling, to uncover the powerful mental frameworks that fueled his elite career and now help others elevate their performance.

Brent’s journey is one of relentless perseverance. As a key domestique on Cadel Evans’ 2011 Tour de France-winning team, Brent understood that success is often built behind the...

Whole life insurance has long been one of the most debated financial tools in the world of personal finance. Some view it as an outdated product with high costs, while others consider it a powerful wealth-building strategy when used correctly. In this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, host Chris Larsen sits down with Rod Zabriskie and Blake Brogan from Money Insights to explore whether whole life insurance still makes sense in today’s financial landscape.

Rod Zabriskie, President of Money Insights, brings over a decade of experience in financial services along with an MBA focused on...

Every entrepreneur knows the feeling: the deal that fell apart at the finish line, the project that took longer than expected, the market shift that changed the rules overnight. On this episode of the Next Level Income podcast, we sit down with Jose Miguel Berlanga to unpack a simple but powerful truth—grit is good, but only when it’s paired with clarity, humility, and the willingness to get back up again.

With more than 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Jose Miguel Berlanga brings a global perspective shaped by his roots in Mexico City...

On this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, we unpack one of the most misunderstood money strategies out there: how the wealthy legally minimize taxes—not through shady loopholes, but by structuring their wealth differently than the average earner.

Most people are trained to focus on income. Work harder, earn more, pay more taxes. The wealthy play a different game. They focus on building assets that grow over time and are treated more favorably by the tax code. This shift in mindset—from income to wealth—is the foundation of how high-net-worth individuals keep m...

Access to capital is one of the biggest hurdles small business owners face when trying to grow. Traditional bank loans can be slow, restrictive, and often out of reach for entrepreneurs who don’t fit neatly into rigid lending criteria. On the Next Level Income podcast, we explore smarter, more flexible ways to build wealth and scale businesses. In this episode, we sit down with Ian Samlin, CEO and Founder of REIL Capital, to unpack how private credit is becoming a powerful growth tool for small business owners.

Ian’s journey into finance is root...

Building generational wealth through real estate isn’t just about buying properties—it’s about knowing how to preserve capital, defer taxes, and strategically reposition assets over time. On this episode of the Next Level Income Podcast, we sit down with real estate veteran Tim Tepes to break down two powerful tools that sophisticated investors use to scale and protect wealth: 1031 exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs).

With over three decades of hands-on experience and more than 2,000 properties closed, Tim brings rare, real-world insight into how these strategies work beyond theory—and how investors can use them t...