In this episode of The Investors Guide to Joy Investor Series, Paul Graham interviews John Berlet to explore wealth-building strategies across different financial stages. They discuss starting with Roth IRAs, leveraging real estate, and participating in tax deed crowdfunding, while highlighting the benefits of Opportunity Zones and fixed indexed annuities. John offers practical advice for balancing risk based on age using the “Rule of 100” and emphasizes how self-directed IRAs enable passive real estate investing for long-term gains.

John also shares personal stories, such as navigating Hurricane Ike’s impact on a multifamily property, demonstrating the resilience of tangible assets like real estate. Throughout the conversation, he underscores the importance of helping others as a path to personal fulfillment. Paul wraps up by encouraging listeners to align their financial goals with meaningful investments and invites them to continue learning through future episodes.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:08 – Introduction and Overview

01:34 – Starting with Savings and Roth IRA

02:50 – Real Estate and Crowdfunding Investment Strategies

06:17 – Tax Deeds and Right of Redemption

09:59 – Managing Competition and Market Expansion

10:52 – Fixed Indexed Annuities for Long-Term Wealth

13:38 – Rule of 100: Asset Allocation Based on Age

15:01 – Investing with Higher Capital

17:29 – Opportunity Zones and Tax Strategies

20:16 – Self-Directed IRAs and Early Adoption

22:21 – Lessons from Multifamily Investing

24:38 – Mindset and Legacy for Joyful Investing

25:56 – Conclusion and Mission