It’s July 4th, and I know you have better things to do than read long emails, so I’m keeping this one short. But I couldn’t let the holiday pass without sharing something that’s on my mind today.
We spend a lot of time here talking about investment strategies, market cycles, and deal structures. But I want to zoom out and talk about something more fundamental: the foundation that makes it all possible.
It’s actually the premise behind our podcast, the Wealth Independence Podcast, and our tagline: “Where freedom leads, and real wealth follows.”
Today feels like the perfect time to dig into what that really means.
Swimming in Freedom
There’s an old story about two young fish swimming along when they meet an older fish going the other way. The older fish nods and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?”
The two young fish smile, nod, and swim on. Eventually one looks at the other and asks, “What the hell is water?”
That’s us with freedom in the US. We’re so immersed in it that we forget it’s even there.
But here’s the thing: freedom enables wealth, not the other way around. Yes, wealth can buy you certain freedoms, but without foundational freedom, you can never build meaningful wealth in the first place.
The Infrastructure We Take for Granted
Think about what we actually need to build wealth through real estate investing:
Property rights
Access to capital markets
Rule of law and contract enforcement
The ability to choose unconventional investment paths
Without these basics, none of our sophisticated investment structures (syndications, funds, even simple stock purchases) would exist.
We get frustrated when deals fall through or when regulations change. But step back for a moment: we’re complaining about problems that billions of people around the world would love to have.
Why This Matters for Investors
Investment capital flows to the US from all over the world for a reason. It’s not just our market size or economic strength – it’s foundational freedoms that protect and enable wealth creation.
The freedom to choose unconventional investment paths (the kind that actually build wealth) exists because of these foundational freedoms we often forget about.
Today’s Takeaway
So while you’re enjoying your burger or time by the lake today, take a moment to appreciate something most of us rarely think about: we’re incredibly blessed to have the freedom to even build wealth at all.
This freedom isn’t guaranteed. It’s rare, it’s precious, and it’s worth protecting.
And that should motivate us all to keep building, keep exercising our freedoms, and keep choosing the unconventional paths that create real wealth.
Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸