It is not about working harder or smarter; it is about working right. Working hard is important, but if you are doing bad habits, it doesn't matter.

In this episode of the Strength in Numbers Podcast, Marcus Crigler talks with Chris Miles, founder of Money Ripples, cashflow expert, and the man known as the Anti-Financial Advisor.

Chris has retired twice and now teaches real estate investors how to build passive income through non-traditional paths like lending, land notes, oil and gas, and other alternative investments that outperform the typical 401(k) model.

Listen as he breaks down mindset traps, the dangers of hustle culture, why most entrepreneurs overwork from fear, and how to build a stable financial life with liquidity, reserves, and cash flow that continues even when business slows down.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Shift from hustle mode to “work optional” living
• Build passive income without relying on constant deal flow
• Use lending, raw land notes, and oil & gas for double-digit returns
• Avoid the common money traps real estate entrepreneurs fall into

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(06:47) The athlete mindset and why many entrepreneurs come from competitive backgrounds

(09:00) How fear and trauma secretly drive many high achievers

(10:07) Hustle is a season, not a lifestyle

(11:53) Helping people become “work optional.”

(13:24) Chris’ wake-up call: breaking down his dad’s finances

(14:51) The realization that mutual funds and 401(k)s weren’t producing freedom

(16:51) Why liquidity is what protects you

(18:27) The danger of relying only on active income streams

(19:29) Diversifying portfolio through lending, oil, and gas

(22:46) Your business is your number one investment

(23:46) Profit First mindset and why reinvesting everything means you’re not profitable

(24:06) The trap of buying a lifestyle too early

(26:01) Liquidity creates opportunity, and opportunity creates profit

(26:34) What “retirement” really means

(30:55) Why “high risk = high returns” is Wall Street’s biggest lie

(31:54) The myth of tax benefits

(35:29) The danger of deferring time with your kids, family, and life experiences

(36:05) Why the 401(k) and IRA are among the worst places for entrepreneurs to trap money

(39:17) Infinite banking explained: a tax-free high-yield savings account with a death benefit.

(41:48) The importance of avoiding commission-focused agents

(43:51) Tax-free growth, liquidity, and access without penalties

(49:51) How high-net-worth investors store millions in cash value for safety

(54:14) Why wealthy families and politicians have used this strategy

(58:31) Chris introduces the “Work Optional Blueprint.”

(59:01) Final advice: Better decisions come from following your gut

Why You Should Listen:

If your business makes good money but you are still stressed, grinding, or feeling like you can’t slow down, this episode gives you the freedom, stability, and passive income that pays you whether you work or not.

Connect with Chris Miles:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@moneyrippleswithchrismiles 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscmiles/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscmiles/ 
• Chris Miles’ The Work Optional Blueprint