In episode 369 of The Real Jason Duncan Podcast, most high earners are sprinting toward a number that will never set them free — and the worst part is, everything around them says they're winning.

Edward Collins, president and CEO of Up Level by Design, learned this truth the hard way. The year he finally hit seven figures in revenue, his accountant handed him a $352,000 tax bill — and in that single moment, across a mahogany desk buried in paper, his entire worldview shifted. He wasn't a millionaire. He'd made a million. There's a brutal difference. And if no one has ever explained that difference to you, this episode is going to cost you nothing and save you everything.

In this episode, Jason and Edward break down:

Why more income is a vanity metric — and what actually builds real wealth

The exact moment Edward realized gross means nothing without net

How the tax code is a recipe book, not a system designed to rob you

The difference between assets and liabilities (and why most people have it backwards)

Why your "stuff" isn't success — it's a liability parade you're funding

The financial freedom formula in 10 words that changes how you see money forever

How to stop the biggest wealth leaks: taxation, lifestyle drift, and capital misallocation

Why being in the right room with the right people is the real shortcut to wealth

What it costs you — over a decade and across generations — to stay inside this lie

The one thing every entrepreneur should do first before investing a single dollar

If you've ever gotten to the end of a great income year and wondered where the money went — this conversation is your answer.

🎓 FREE LIVE TRAINING: If you're a business owner thinking about selling your company or stepping out of the day-to-day, Jason has a free live training called What to Fix Before You Exit. In 60 minutes, he'll walk you through the biggest mistakes founders make that kill their company's valuation. Register now at whattofixbeforeyouexit.com

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe so you never miss a conversation that challenges what you think you know about success.

Who is Edward Collins?

Edward Collins is the president and CEO of Up Level by Design, a private financial architecture firm that works with high-income business owners, professionals, and investors across the country. Edward didn't grow up with money — he grew up with the wrong beliefs about it. After a stint with the U.S. Department of Justice and a pivot into the private sector, Edward spent years chasing revenue the way everyone told him to. Then came the $352,000 tax bill that changed everything. He spent the next decade learning every rule in the game of wealth — taxation strategy, asset protection, capital deployment, and intentional legacy planning — and now he teaches those same rules to entrepreneurs who are tired of making great money and wondering where it all went. His message is simple: it's not about how much you make. It's about how much you keep, protect, grow, and pass on.

🌐 Website: edwardcollins.com

📸 Instagram: @EdwardCollins_upleveled

▶️ YouTube: Edward Collins_upleveled

🎤 TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/SGuA_XHZtQM?si=-g6fQNKX2xlUpvau

Want to be a guest on The Real Jason Duncan Podcast?

Apply at https://therealjasonduncan.com/podcast/#apply

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review and share this episode with a high earner who's still chasing the wrong number. The gold is the lie — and now they can see the bars.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices