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If you’ve ever wondered how the ultra-wealthy actually build and maintain their wealth, this episode with Justin Donald is an eye-opener. As the founder of The Lifestyle Investor and a seasoned entrepreneur, Justin pulls back the curtain on the myth of traditional investing and reveals a radically different framework used by billionaires and centimillionaires to grow their fortunes.
One of the most striking insights from our conversation is how outdated the traditional 60/40 investment strategy really is. Once considered a balanced approach — 60% in stocks, 40% in bonds — this model has failed to keep up with the times. As Justin explains, this strategy performed worse than almost any other allocation in 2022, and it’s simply not how the wealthiest families are investing today. Instead, they allocate only 15-25% of their wealth to public equities and fixed income, while channeling 50-70% into alternative investments like real estate, private equity, private credit, and even select crypto and venture opportunities.
Justin’s concept of “lifestyle investing” hits home because it’s not just about returns — it’s about freedom. The goal isn’t to work until you’re 65, retire, and then start living. It’s to design a life now that gives you time for what matters most. “Your business is a rubber ball. Your family is a glass ball,” Justin says. If you drop the business, it bounces. If you drop the family, it shatters. That powerful metaphor perfectly encapsulates the risk many high-achievers unknowingly take when they prioritize work at the expense of home.
Throughout the episode, Justin breaks down his process for generating passive income and why cash flow, not net worth, should be your guiding metric. He also discusses the phases of his career — from grinding early on to learning to scale through systems, delegation, and high-level networking. His investment strategy now centers on putting only surplus income into high-risk ventures and maintaining a large percentage of his portfolio in stable, cash-flowing assets like mobile home parks and industrial real estate.
The takeaway? Success doesn’t come from hustle alone. It comes from intentional choices, smarter systems, and surrounding yourself with people who’ve walked the path before you. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or just someone tired of trading time for money, this episode offers a powerful roadmap for creating wealth and freedom. As Justin says, “You don’t need to build a business — or a life — that owns you.” Instead, learn to invest like the wealthy, reclaim your time, and live a life that’s truly by design.
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Bio:
Entrepreneur Magazine calls Justin Donald the “Warren Buffett of Lifestyle Investing.” As the founder of The Lifestyle Investor and a master of low-risk cash flow investing, Justin’s ethos is to “create wealth without creating a job.” He excels at simplifying complex financial strategies, structuring deals, and disciplined investment systems that consistently yield profitable results.After 21 months of investing, and before his 37th birthday, Justin’s investments generated sufficient passive income for him and his wife Jennifer to leave their jobs. Following his straightforward investment system and 10 Commandments of Lifestyle Investing, Justin negotiated deals with over 200 companies, multiplied his net worth to over nine figures, and continues to maintain a family-centric lifestyle.Justin’s extensive entrepreneurial experience includes owning several profitable real estate-related businesses, one of the largest mobile home park portfolios in the U.S., various additional rental property portfolios, Orangetheory Fitness and KidStrong franchises, and multiple successful operating companies. One notable venture is Stellar, a residential maintenance and rehab company that Justin co-founded, that recently completed its Series B funding round, led by Alerion Ventures and S3 Ventures, the largest venture capital firm in Texas.Justin was recently invited to participate as a SXSW investor judge and speak at Texas Rangers Stadium. He is a member of Tiger 21 and serves on the board of Front Row Foundation International. Through his Lifestyle Investor Mastermind, Justin now consults and coaches entrepreneurs, executives, and successful media personalities on lifestyle investing. He hosts The Lifestyle Investor Podcast, with the aim of helping listeners consistently generate repeatable returns. Justin has also appeared on hundreds of podcasts and shared the stage with prominent figures like Richard Branson, Robert Kiyosaki, Sam Zell, Ron Paul, and Kevin Harrington.In January 2021, Justin released his #1 Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling book, The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cash Flow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom. The book is now in the top 1% of all books ever sold, with all proceeds donated to the Tebow Foundation and Love Justice International, two nonprofits that combat human trafficking in over 30 countries.Justin and Jennifer are dedicated philanthropists who contribute to various causes privately and through their church, with a primary emphasis on fighting human trafficking among other humanitarian efforts. Additionally, they sponsor several children through Compassion International. The Donalds reside in Austin, Texas, and love adventure-based international travel with their cherished daughter.
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Christopher Larsen is the founder and Managing Partner of Next-Level Income. Since “retiring” after 18 years in the medical device industry he dedicates his time to helping others become financially independent through education and investment opportunities. Chris has been investing in and managing real estate for over 20 years.
While completing his degree in Biomechanical Engineering and M.B.A. in Finance at Virginia Tech, he bought his first single-family rental at age 21. Chris expanded into development, private-lending, buying distressed debt as well as commercial office, and ultimately syndicating multifamily properties. He began syndicating deals in 2016 and has been actively involved in over $500M of real estate acquisitions.
In addition to real estate, Chris has invested in equities, oil & gas, and small business lending, as well as being active in Venture South, one of the nation’s Top 10 Angel Investing groups. Chris lives with his wife and two boys (and Viszla, Lucy!) in Asheville, NC where he loves spending time with them in the outdoors and enjoying the food and culture that the region has to offer.
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