The REAL Wealth Formula Podcast

I’ve Never Regretted Firing a Contractor Too Soon | Ep 25

Firing contractors is one of the most uncomfortable parts of real estate investing — and one of the most expensive if you do it wrong. In this episode of The Real Wealth Formula, Brad Hovis breaks down exactly how and when to fire contractors so you don’t lose time, money, or control of your project. Brad shares hard-earned lessons from decades of rehabbing properties, including: -why he has never regretted firing a contractor too soon -how poor character costs more than poor craftsmanship -how contracts, lien waivers, and fast decisions protect your assets -and how to avoid being held hostage on your own property This is not theory. These are real stories, real mistakes, and real systems that protect your cash flow and your peace. If you’re rehabbing houses, managing contractors, or planning to invest in real estate — this episode can save you thousands. ✔ why people stay stuck financially for decades ✔ why lifestyle creep quietly destroys progress ✔ how avoidance keeps people stressed and overwhelmed ✔ and how real wealth is built slowly, intentionally, and with purpose If you’ve ever felt behind, discouraged, or confused about money, this episode will bring clarity, conviction, and hope.   💡 Key Takeaways ✔ Why firing contractors early saves money and stress ✔ The biggest red flags that tell you a contractor won’t work out ✔ Why character matters more than skill on job sites ✔ The “starting five” contractors every investor needs ✔ Why you should never pay for incomplete work ✔ How contracts and lien waivers protect your property ✔ What to do immediately after firing a contractor ✔ When it makes sense to “pay them off” and move on ✔ How systems turn rehabs into a repeatable business ✔ Why strong contractor teams accelerate passive income   🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned REIBIZ: reibiz.com [https://reibiz.com] FreedomSoft: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] PropStream: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] 🤝 Connect With Us Website: www.realwealthformula.com [https://www.realwealthformula.com] Phone: 877-77-MOGUL Email: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.facebook.com/realwealthformula/] LinkedIn: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.linkedin.com/company/realwealthformula/] Instagram: @realwealthformula [https://www.instagram.com/realwealthformula/] X (Twitter): @realwealthshow [https://x.com/realwealthshow] TikTok: @realwealthformula [https://www.tiktok.com/@realwealthformula] YouTube: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.youtube.com/@UCTth3TP25aH5OAXFwEr95kg]   ⏳ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 03:56 – The Biggest Red Flags on Job Sites 04:38 – Why Firing Too Late Always Costs More 06:09 – The “Starting Five” Contractors You Need 07:00 – Specialists vs “I Can Do Everything” Guys 08:10 – When to Fire a Contractor Immediately 09:20 – Why You Never Pay for Incomplete Work 10:08 – Contracts, Lien Waivers & Protecting Yourself 11:50 – How to Avoid Being Held Hostage 12:49 – Real Stories of Contractor Blow-Ups 13:40 – When It Makes Sense to Pay and Move On 15:01 – The Right Way to Negotiate a Clean Exit 17:58 – Building Contractor Teams That Scale 20:35 – Turning Rehabs Into a Repeatable Machine 21:25 – Final Advice

Financial Independence Starts With You, Not Others | Real Wealth Review with Dr. Brian | Ep 24

Most people believe their financial stress will disappear once they make more money. It won’t. In this episode of The Real Wealth Formula, Brad and Dr. Brian E. Arnold breaks down why income alone never creates freedom and why habits, stewardship, and structure matter far more than your paycheck. This is a practical, faith-driven conversation about: ✔ why people stay stuck financially for decades ✔ why lifestyle creep quietly destroys progress ✔ how avoidance keeps people stressed and overwhelmed ✔ and how real wealth is built slowly, intentionally, and with purpose If you’ve ever felt behind, discouraged, or confused about money, this episode will bring clarity, conviction, and hope.   💡 Key Takeaways ✔ You cannot out-earn poor financial habits ✔ Why income growth without discipline increases stress ✔ The real reason most people stay financially stuck ✔ How stewardship creates peace, not restriction ✔ Why responsibility comes before freedom ✔ The danger of delaying financial decisions ✔ The difference between being busy and being wealthy ✔ Why faith requires action in money ✔ How the R.E.A.L. process builds stability before growth ✔ Why long-term wealth is built, not stumbled into   🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned REIBIZ: reibiz.com [https://reibiz.com] FreedomSoft: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] PropStream: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] 🤝 Connect With Us Website: www.realwealthformula.com [https://www.realwealthformula.com] Phone: 877-77-MOGUL Email: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.facebook.com/realwealthformula/] LinkedIn: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.linkedin.com/company/realwealthformula/] Instagram: @realwealthformula [https://www.instagram.com/realwealthformula/] X (Twitter): @realwealthshow [https://x.com/realwealthshow] TikTok: @realwealthformula [https://www.tiktok.com/@realwealthformula] YouTube: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.youtube.com/@UCTth3TP25aH5OAXFwEr95kg]   ⏳ Chapters

How to Pick a Real Estate Market That Actually Cash Flows | John Webb | Ep 23

One of the most common questions real estate investors ask is: “What local markets actually work for investing?” In this episode of The Real Wealth Formula, Brad Hovis sits down with long-time partner John Webb to break down the real way to choose real estate markets using both data and real-world experience. They explain why price-to-rent ratios matter, why distressed inventory is essential, and why you can’t rely on spreadsheets alone. From Memphis and St. Louis to San Antonio and Detroit, Brad and John share firsthand stories—both good and dangerous that reveal why market selection is as much an art as it is a science. If you’re tired of chasing “hot markets” and want to build safe, sustainable cash-flowing rentals, this episode will completely change how you think about location. Real talk. Real numbers. Real freedom.   💡 Key Takeaways ✔ Why price-to-rent ratio is non-negotiable for buy-and-hold investing ✔ How distressed inventory determines whether a market works ✔ Why some cities cash flow while others never will ✔ The difference between A, B, C vs D & F neighborhoods ✔ Why data alone is dangerous without boots on the ground ✔ How brand-name commerce (Starbucks rule) signals stability ✔ Why investors exit markets before they collapse ✔ How jobs, job diversity, and tenant demand protect cash flow ✔ Why vacancy—not repairs—is what really kills returns ✔ How to blend faith, wisdom, and discernment into market decisions   🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned REIBIZ: reibiz.com [https://reibiz.com] FreedomSoft: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] PropStream: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] 🤝 Connect With Us Website: www.realwealthformula.com [https://www.realwealthformula.com] Phone: 877-77-MOGUL Email: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.facebook.com/realwealthformula/] LinkedIn: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.linkedin.com/company/realwealthformula/] Instagram: @realwealthformula [https://www.instagram.com/realwealthformula/] X (Twitter): @realwealthshow [https://x.com/realwealthshow] TikTok: @realwealthformula [https://www.tiktok.com/@realwealthformula] YouTube: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.youtube.com/@UCTth3TP25aH5OAXFwEr95kg]   ⏳ Chapters

The Right Way to Hire Contractors (No One Teaches This) | Ep 22

Hiring contractors can either make you money or completely destroy your deal. In this episode of The Real Wealth Formula, Brad breaks down the exact rules he follows when hiring contractors, built from years of experience, millions in rehab projects, and painful (expensive) lessons learned the hard way. He shares why you should never give contractors deposits, how to protect yourself from disappearing crews, and how one mistake cost him $18,000 in a matter of days. This is a no-fluff, real-world guide for real estate investors who want to: -protect their capital -finish projects on time -avoid scams -and build wealth without unnecessary stress If you’re buying, rehabbing, or managing property—or plan to—this episode can save you thousands. Real talk. Real numbers. Real freedom.   💡 Key Takeaways ✔ Why giving a contractor a deposit is one of the biggest mistakes investors make ✔ The safer alternative: paying vendors directly for materials ✔ Why you should never pay for incomplete work ✔ How fast payment after completion attracts the best crews ✔ The “big boy date” rule that prevents delays and excuses ✔ Why contracts protect both sides when done right ✔ How lien laws actually work (and how they can hurt you) ✔ The true story of losing $18,000 by breaking one rule ✔ Why discipline in rehabs directly impacts your freedom and cash flow   🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned REIBIZ: reibiz.com [https://reibiz.com] FreedomSoft: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] PropStream: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] 🤝 Connect With Us Website: www.realwealthformula.com [https://www.realwealthformula.com] Phone: 877-77-MOGUL Email: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.facebook.com/realwealthformula/] LinkedIn: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.linkedin.com/company/realwealthformula/] Instagram: @realwealthformula [https://www.instagram.com/realwealthformula/] X (Twitter): @realwealthshow [https://x.com/realwealthshow] TikTok: @realwealthformula [https://www.tiktok.com/@realwealthformula] YouTube: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.youtube.com/@UCTth3TP25aH5OAXFwEr95kg]   ⏳ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:18 – Why This Rule Matters for Real Wealth 02:02 – The Right and Wrong Way to Hire Contractors 03:00 – Roofing Scams & Why Deposits Disappear 04:05 – Pay the Vendor, Not the Contractor 05:22 – Why Materials Should Always Be Yours 06:48 – A $100K Pool Scam Story 07:25 – Never Pay for Incomplete Work 08:59 – Why Big Companies Cost More (Same Workers) 09:24 – Paying Fast After the Job Is Done 10:28 – The “Last 5%” That Never Gets Finished 11:15 – Why Speed Matters in Real Estate 12:05 – Asking for the “Big Boy Dates” 13:35 – Holding Contractors Accountable for Timelines 14:20 – Why Every Job Needs a Contract 15:46 – Lien Laws Every Investor Must Understand 17:08 – Contractors, Liens, and Leverage 18:17 – The $18,000 Mistake Brad Made 20:55 – How Contractors Hold Investors Hostage 22:38 – The One Rule That Would’ve Prevented It All 23:47 – Final Advice on Hiring Contractors

How to Break the Financial Patterns That Keep You Stuck | Real Wealth Review with Marion | Ep 21

What if the real reason you’re stuck financially has nothing to do with your income… and everything to do with your identity? In this emotional and eye-opening wealth review, Brad sits down with Marion — a single mom of four who’s been in survival mode for years — to uncover the hidden behavioral patterns, beliefs, and dependencies that quietly sabotage financial freedom. If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I keep ending up in the same money situation?”, this episode reveals the honest, faith-centered truth most people never hear. Together, Brad and Marion walk through the entire R.E.A.L. process — Reduce, Enlarge, Acquire, Live — while confronting deep-rooted habits, painful childhood stories, and the mindset shifts required to build real wealth built on purpose, not pressure. This isn’t just budgeting. This is transformation.   💡 Key Takeaways ✔ Why Marion’s issue isn’t budgeting — it’s decades-old survival patterns  ✔ The shocking habits that secretly keep people in “working poor” mode  ✔ Brad’s tough-love moment: confronting dependency and learned helplessness ✔ How to reset financially when you’re behind on bills, debt, and hope ✔ What to do when your income simply isn’t enough ✔ How to rebuild confidence, boundaries, and financial identity ✔ Why passive income is the long-term North Star — even when you’re starting at zero ✔ A step-by-step action plan Brad creates to help Marion stabilize, earn more, and reclaim her future   🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned REIBIZ: reibiz.com [https://reibiz.com] FreedomSoft: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] PropStream: realwealthformula.com/sponsors [https://realwealthformula.com/sponsors] 🤝 Connect With Us Website: www.realwealthformula.com [https://www.realwealthformula.com] Phone: 877-77-MOGUL Email: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.facebook.com/realwealthformula/] LinkedIn: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.linkedin.com/company/realwealthformula/] Instagram: @realwealthformula [https://www.instagram.com/realwealthformula/] X (Twitter): @realwealthshow [https://x.com/realwealthshow] TikTok: @realwealthformula [https://www.tiktok.com/@realwealthformula] YouTube: Real Wealth Formula [https://www.youtube.com/@UCTth3TP25aH5OAXFwEr95kg]   ⏳ Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:02 - Meeting Marion 02:24 - Career History and Job Transition 04:42 - Current Financial Situation and Stress 06:04 - Identifying Passion vs. Current Work 08:42 - Analyzing Income and Monthly Expenses 12:11 - Reviewing Debt and Financial Dependencies 16:58 - Examining Spending Habits and Bank Statements 20:51 - The Problem with Financing Depreciating Liabilities 23:59 - Addressing Financial Enabling and Psychology 28:17 - Childhood Trauma and Its Lasting Impact 33:00 - Breaking the Cycle of Dependency 38:10 - The Trap of Government Assistance and Survival Mode 43:05 - Defining Legacy and a New Mindset 50:33 - The Real Wealth Formula Evaluation 57:01 - Presenting the Five-Step Success Plan 01:01:00 - Final Encouragement and Closing