Let’s Get Real | Week of July 15, 2025

Personal: Road Tripping, Red Rocks, and Running on Fumes

We’re back.

And I’ve got stories.

18 hours. Two boys under 12. You already know it wasn’t quiet. But it was unforgettable.

I didn’t grow up taking road trips with my parents. My version of travel was different — weeks at a time with my grandpa in his semi-truck. Just him and me, crisscrossing the country. Those long, quiet miles shaped a part of me. And I swear, I felt every one of them again as we packed up and took off for Zion National Park.

The itinerary:

• Day 1: Omaha Zoo — our tradition. Still the best in the world. The boys could go every week and still find something new.

• Day 2: Kearney, NE — doesn’t look like much, but we always hit the Crowne Plaza for its full indoor waterpark. At $150 a night, it’s a steal and sets the tone for the trip.

• Day 3: Denver — spent the night with our best friends and their two girls. Family that isn’t blood, but might as well be. These kids have grown up together. Their laughter fills the house in a way that reminds you what matters.

Then… into the red rock country.

Zion National Park is no joke. Temps hit 107°. But the beauty? Unmatched.
We hiked The Narrows — yes, through the water with two kids — and it was worth every step.
We drove the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel six times. I thought the boys would grow tired of it. They didn’t. Neither did I.

Bryce Canyon gave us a break from the heat: high 70s, crisp air, and views that made you stop mid-sentence just to breathe.

Then there was the hidden gem: a reservoir a local tipped us off to at a bar and grill. Off the grid. Quiet. Perfect.
We fished. Caught a crawfish. Croix screamed like it was a monster. Lincoln got serious, like he was prepping for a show on Nat Geo.
But here’s the kicker — we went up there with a quarter tank of gas. Should’ve been enough. But the altitude climb nearly did us in.

We coasted down that mountain with the gas light on and no margin for error. And somehow, we made it. Turns out “empty” still had a gallon and a half left in the tank.

Lesson of the trip: Even when you think you’ve got nothing left, there’s still something in the tank.
That metaphor’s going to live with me for a long time.

And to our clients — thank you. Taking two weeks off with zero guilt and full presence is a rare gift in this world. We’re lucky to work with people who get it.

Current Events: That “Beautiful Bill” Is Quietly Redefining Giving — Here’s How to Play It Smart

There’s a lot to hate about this bill — and I’ve said plenty of it already.

But buried under the noise is something worth your attention: charitable giving reform.

Here's the key move:
For the first time in years, non-itemizers can claim a significantly larger deduction for qualified charitable donations.

This means your giving is no longer just goodwill — it can be strategy.

A few smart plays:

• Give cash directly to small, local nonprofits (not GoFundMes or Venmos — it has to be a registered nonprofit).

• Document everything — receipts, bank statements, confirmation letters.

• Time your giving before year-end to count for 2025 taxes.

• If you're someone who gives every year, consider bunching 2–3 years’ worth of donations into a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) to supercharge deductions and control when the nonprofit gets the funds.

This doesn’t fix the bill. But it’s a lever we can pull while the bigger fight continues.

This Week’s Drops

🎙️ Let’s Get Real — On Pause (But Not for Long)

I took the last two weeks off to be present.
But the next episode hits next week — and we’re diving deeper than ever.
More truth. More fire. More receipts.

Topics on deck:

• The real state of the housing market (not the media version)

• What wealth really means in an age of burnout

• Behind-the-scenes updates on our content evolution

🔥 No BS Wealth — Big Changes Are Coming

Starting in September, No BS Wealth goes through a full rebrand and relaunch:

• New format

• New guests

• Live recordings

• Unfiltered Q&A episodes (yep, we’re bringing you into the studio)

We’re building something louder, smarter, and more unapologetic.

Invest in What?

This section is for people tired of being shut out of real wealth.

Every week (or when I’ve got something worth sharing), we’ll talk about:

• Private investments nobody markets to the masses

• Quiet real estate plays

• Alternative income assets

• Why the “rich” stay rich — and what they won’t post about

Coming soon:

• Land banking — how the 1% stack land near developing cities

• Fractional business ownership — how you can own part of cash-flowing businesses without running them

• How to vet a deal like a fund manager

No hype. No scarcity BS. Just options you need to know about.

Soul-Check In: You Only Get So Many Summers

On the drive home, it hit me:
We’ve only got about six more summers before Lincoln’s officially grown.

Six.

After that, everything shifts — schedules, freedom, priorities.
The older they get, the faster the years move. And suddenly, the “some day” trips don’t get taken.

So here’s the reminder:
Spend the money. Take the trip. Book the Airbnb. Rent the RV. Drive the 18 hours.

Because it’s not about luxury.
It’s about presence.
It’s about memories they’ll carry long after you’re gone.

And it’s about knowing that no matter what the world is doing — what you’re building inside your home matters most.

Let’s get real.