Ryan D. Lee is a personal finance leader helping people build passive income through alternative investing. Founder of Wealth Outside Wall Street, he teaches simple strategies for freedom, purpose, and abundance.

Subscribe to EOFire

Apple | Spotify | iHeart

Guest Resources

Retire in 10 Years or Less – Pick up Ryan’s bestselling book on Amazon.

Retire in 10 Years – Check out Ryan’s website and learn how to create tax-free income for life using real estate and insurance.

3 Value Bombs

1. Financial freedom isn’t about net worth; it’s about how much cash flow your assets generate without selling them.

2. The traditional retirement system hides the real target because most people would quit if they knew how much money it actually takes.

3. True freedom comes from building systems that give you options and control over your time, not just higher income.

Show Notes

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

Today’s Audio MASTERCLASS: How Ordinary Investors Can Achieve Financial Freedom in 10 Years or Less Using Real Estate and Insurance the Way the Wealthy Do

[1:23] – Ryan shares something he believes about becoming successful that most people disagree with.

Success is simply learning how to get back up after being knocked down.
Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s part of the process.
Consistency over time compounds into results you never imagined.

[2:42] – Ryan talks about why the traditional retirement system is broken, and why doesn’t the 401(k) model work anymore.

Most people trade 40–50 years of time without knowing the real retirement target.
The key question people can’t answer: how much money do you actually need saved to produce your desired income?
The traditional model requires 25x your desired annual income; an unrealistic number for most.

[3:24] Ryan explains in simple terms what went wrong with retirement planning.

The destination is hidden because the number is overwhelming.
Since 2000, economic changes have made the old model unreliable.
People can’t track progress when they don’t know the finish line.

[5:40] – Ryan talks about how to reach financial freedom in 10 years or less and what that blueprint looks like.

Ryan followed the traditional path until the 2008 crash exposed its flaws.
Lack of control and predictability pushed him to seek alternatives.
Shifted focus from accumulation to income-producing assets.

[6:26] – Ryan shares what moment changed his financial direction.

Watching older coworkers lose everything during the 2008 crisis.
Realizing decades of work could disappear at the worst possible time.
Deciding to pursue control, predictability, and income.

[7:16] – Ryan talks about how real estate and insurance become the foundation of your strategy.

Learned to measure success by cash flow, not net worth.
Combined asset protection with income-producing investments.
Created a repeatable “passive income machine”.

[8:30] – Ryan tells why overfunded cash-value life insurance is so important in this system.

Provides tax-free growth and protection from market volatility.
Allows borrowing against capital while it continues compounding.
Used as a private banking system to fund real estate investments.

[9:24] – Ryan tells what results this approach personally create for him.

Acquired 17 properties in four years after losing almost everything.
Quit a six-figure corporate job completely financially free.
Still owns the same assets generating tax-free income today.

[11:52] – A timeout to thank our sponsors.

Scaylor: Ready to simplify and unify your business data? Go to Scaylor.com and get your free demo today.
Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world! Sign up for your $1-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/onfire!
HighLevel: The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies! Learn more at HighLevelFire.com!

[12:05] – Ryan talks about what mental shift high achievers need to make to stop trading time for money.

Making money and keeping money are completely different skills.
Entrepreneurs often live launch-to-launch without stability.
The goal is creating surplus and pulling money off the table.

[13:48] – Ryan tells how taxes and financial IQ play into real freedom.

The tax code rewards entrepreneurs who understand it.
Reducing taxes creates more capital to invest into passive systems.
Freedom inside your business changes how you lead and serve.

[14:56] – Ryan talks about how he defines financial freedom today.

Money’s true purpose is creating options and control over time.
Freedom means choosing how and when you work.
Passive income unlocks better decisions in business and life.

[17:41] – Ryan gives his key takeaway.

Inflation, taxes, and interest rates can work for you and not against you.
Entrepreneurs must stay in business long enough to win big.
Wealth is simply a function of value created over time.

[19:42] – Call to action.

Retire in 10 Years or Less – Pick up Ryan’s bestselling book on Amazon.
Retire in 10 Years – Check out Ryan’s website and learn how to create tax-free income for life using real estate and insurance.

[24:54] – Thank you to our Sponsors!

Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world! Sign up for your $1-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/onfire!
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!

2) Free Podcast Course: Learn from JLD how to create and launch your podcast!

3) Podcasters’ Paradise: The #1 podcasting community in the world!