Father–son investors teaching high earners to think like a bank. Dave Stech built a private lending track record through multiple cycles; Josh Stech is CEO of Sundae and ex-Kiavi. They are also Hosts of Just Be The Bank.

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Guest Resources

Just Be The Bank – Check out their website and get the free Stech Family Office Resource Library (3 PDF guides + white paper).

Just Be The Bank: How to be a Successful Private Lender Book – Grab a copy of the book.

3 Value Bombs

1. Stop protecting money and start deploying it with structure. Banks don’t ask “Is this safe?” they ask “Is this structured properly?”

2. Ownership carries risk; control creates certainty; position your capital to get paid first and be protected on the downside.

3. Large-scale success only works when the small-scale model works perfectly. Scale amplifies systems, not chaos.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

Today’s Audio MASTERCLASS: How to Think Like a Bank: A Father-Son Blueprint for Private Lending, Predictable Returns, and Family Legacy

[1:28] – Dave shares something he believes about becoming successful that most people disagree with.

Networking is overrated; fewer, better relationships create deeper impact.
Success isn’t about more contacts; it’s about stronger connections.
Assume success internally; your outer world bends to your inner assumptions.

[3:31] – Dave talks about his money game awakening.

Growing up poor created hunger, not a scarcity mindset; just reality.
Corporate comfort became “the silent thief” where dreams go to die.
Entrepreneurship unlocked financial, time, and global freedom.
Realization: the financial game is stacked against wage earners who stay comfortable.

[5:27] – Josh talks about what becoming “the bank” taught him about control and leverage.

Starting as an operator builds critical underwriting and management skills.
The effort-to-return ratio matters. Private lending removes scalability ceilings.
Being the bank creates predictable income without operational grind.
A “backpack business” allows location and time freedom.

[7:18] – Dave tells why private lending become his family’s financial home base.

It emerged after grinding through flips and short-term rentals.
The family identified 12 business “must-haves” and optimized for effort-to-return ratio.
Private lending pays monthly interest while borrowers do the work.
Positioned as the lender, you get paid first and reduce ownership risk.
Structure (Roth SDIRAs, tax strategy, Puerto Rico residency) compounds wealth faster.

[11:47] – A timeout to thank our sponsors.

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[15:23] – Josh talks about how venture-backed experience reshape your view of risk, scale, and capital efficiency.

Only 1 in 2,000 startups raise venture capital; experience is rare.
Risk is required for freedom; playing small limits outcomes.
Scale only works if unit economics work at small levels first.
Capital efficiency requires clarity between investments and expenses.
Passion must be central, without it, teams and capital cannot align.

[19:18] – Dave talks about how structure and discipline turn private lending into a repeatable system.

Started part-time with one loan and scaled through process refinement.
Structured deals for downside protection: collateral, loan-to-value, clear exits.
Defense isn’t hoarding cash; it’s structuring deals to win even when imperfect.
Proper tax and account structure (self-directed IRAs, export strategies) accelerate wealth accumulation.

[22:02] – Josh tells what’s a realistic first step for someone intrigued by the bank mindset.

Avoid hype; private lending carries real risk that must be understood.
Learn from practitioners who have successfully executed thousands of deals.
Focus on risk mitigation: proper deal structuring, documentation, and systems.
Stand on the shoulders of those who have already built the model.

[25:08] – Dave talks about what core belief must people unlearn to stop playing defense with money.

Unlearn scarcity. Stop asking “How do I avoid losing?”
Start asking “How do I get paid first and protected if it fails?”
Banks deploy money systematically with asymmetric risk control.

[27:08] – Josh gives another belief to unlearn.

Unlearn ownership; adopt control.
Ownership increases exposure; control positions you securely in the deal.
Certainty and consistent double-digit returns can outperform chasing upside.

[28:58] – Call to action.

Just Be The Bank – Check out their website and get the free Stech Family Office Resource Library (3 PDF guides + white paper).
Just Be The Bank: How to be a Successful Private Lender Book – Grab a copy of the book.

[29:23] – Dave tells why to read the book ‘Just Be the Bank’.

It rewires how you think about the money game.
Offers a framework for generating double-digit returns through private lending.
Teaches you how to control your capital rather than relying on financial “black boxes.”
Designed as a legacy blueprint for future generations.

[32:32] – Thank you to our Sponsors!

Thrive: Make 2026 your best year yet by attending the world’s highest rated business growth conference taught personally by Clay Clark and featuring Football Star & Entrepreneur, Tim Tebow, and President Trump’s Son, Eric Trump, at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire!
HighLevel: The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies! Learn more at HighLevelFire.com!

Killer Resources!

1) The Common Path to Uncommon Success: JLD’s 1st traditionally published book! Over 3000 interviews with the world’s most successful Entrepreneurs compiled into a 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!

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