Invest Like a Boss

It's quarterly update time with Sam and Johnny catching up about what life has looked like the last 3 months. The guys both share they've become more introverted and lost their hunger to make more money. They also discuss bad flights, point hacking and how Thailand is changing for the worse. As always, the lifestyle portion is free to the public, but if you also want to also see Sam & Johnny's portfolios and investment portion, you can access instantly when you sign up for the ILAB Patreon at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss.

Discussed: 

Where we are:

Sponsor:

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Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer here.

Derek goes live on location in Australia to interview Black Hops Brewery CEO Nathan Hyde on the challenges of the Australian beer industry. ILAB Bosses may remember that Sam Marks was an early investor in Black Hops (ILAB Episode 06: Invest in Yourself and Startup an Award Winning Brewery) and the company has faced some financial issues as of late. Nathan was brought in earlier this year to help them turn around. Derek and Nathan talk Australian government interference, getting Gen Z into beer, drinking culture and expansion into new markets. Then Sam and Derek give their thoughts on the Australian beer scene and what they think of the current state of Black Hops.

Discussed:

Where we are:

Sponsor:

Time Stamp:

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Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer here.

After seeing a video online featuring rapper The Game, Johnny and Derek discuss what many assume to be assets, actually turn into liabilities. They talk real estate, cars, clothing, jewelry collectibles and more.... you might be surprised at what items are actually liabilities!

Discussed:

Where we are:

Sponsor:

Time Stamp:

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer here.

Johnny and Derek discuss the challenges with trying to earn income off of creating YouTube videos. Johnny has estabilshed a large chanell and been able to turn that into a full-time income while Derek is still struggling to grow his channel and monetize. Johnny discusses his strategy, shooting style, schedule and how much he makes per video in this episode. Learn how you can potentially earn a lot of money by becoming a content creator on YouTube!

Discussed: 

• Johnny's YouTube Channel "JohnnyFD"
• Derek's Car YouTube Channel "Petrolectric"
• Derek's YouTube Channel "15:01"

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine/ IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks – Bangkok, Thailand / IG @sammarks12
• Derek – Los Angeles / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• Masterworks
  Skip the waitlist and join the tens of thousands of investors who have purchased shares of fine art now at Masterworks.art/ILAB
• ILAB Patreon
  Join the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Like these investments? Try them with these special ILAB links:

• Fundrise – Start with only $1,000 into their REIT funds (non-accredited investors OK)
  *Johnny and Sam use all of the above services personally.

Time Stamp:

• 04:40 - How Johnny Started YouTube
• 09:35 - How the YouTube Algorithm Works
• 26:50 - Effect of Having a Big Channel Feature You
• 33:00 - How Much Johnny Earns Per Video
• 48:10 - Answering Patreon Questions

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Midway through the year and time for another quarterly update! Johnny is in Ukraine and Sam is in Thailand for this one. The guys cover experiences living with monks, neighbor disputes, the best places in Thailand and answer your Patreon questions.  In the Patreon only section, they cover what they invested in this quarter and where they are keeping their cash to earn some interest to capitalize on current high rates. That section is only available to Invest Like a Boss Patreon members and can be instantly accessed along with hundreds of other member only posts for just $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss.

Discussed: 

• ILAB 268: Russians Driving Up Real Estate in Bali & Thailand
• ILAB 227: Travel for (Almost) Free with Points Hacking

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine/ IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks – Bangkok, Thailand / IG @sammarks12
• Derek – Los Angeles / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• ILAB Patreon
  Join the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Like these investments? Try them with these special ILAB links:

• Fundrise – Start with only $1,000 into their REIT funds (non-accredited investors OK)
  *Johnny and Sam use all of the above services personally.

Time Stamp:

• 04:40 - Sam's Monk Experience
• 13:25 - Thailand Life
• 22:00 - Sam's bad Neighbor

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

WebStreet Operations Manager Kyle Kuderewski joins the show to tell us about their transition from Empire Flippers Capital into WebStreet and what's coming up to invest in. As a reminder, Webstreet allows you to invest passively in online businesses, whether they be Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA), Content (Affiliate), Software as a Service (SaaS), Kindle Direct Publish (KDP) & more. The funds have been active since 2021 and have built up a solid track record so far. Sam handles the interview as they break down what's available in the upcoming round of funds and how you can invest in the business of WebStreet itself. Then Johnny joins in the end of the episode to share his personal results from investing with WebStreet and what he would choose as his next investment choice of funds within the platform.

Discussed: 

• Join the WebStreet Waitlist for Round 6
• Learn the Story Behind WebStreet & How to Invest
• Set Up a Meeting with a WebStreet Investment Advisor
• ILAB 10: Empire Flippers first appearance on the show
• ILAB 141: Empire Flippers Shares the State of Online Businesses
• ILAB 170: Empire Flippers Announces Capital Division of First Funds

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks – South Carolina/ IG @imsammarks
• Derek – Los Angeles / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• ILAB Patreon
  Join the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Like these investments? Try them with these special ILAB links:

• Fundrise – Start with only $1,000 into their REIT funds (non-accredited investors OK)
  *Johnny and Sam use all of the above services personally.
• Invest Like a Boss Patreon
  Help support the continuation of Invest Like a Boss by becoming a Patreon! Plans start as low as $5/month and give you instant access to years of exclusive content, including portfolio access, trade alerts, bonus episodes & more. Join now at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss.

Time Stamp:

• 04:40 - Interview with Kyle Begins
• 16:36 - WebStreet Performance So Far
• 37:50 - Fund Categories Available
• 42:30 - How to Invest in WebStreet Itself
• 53:07 - Johnny & Sam Follow Up

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Johnny and Derek sit down for a 101 episode on a terrible investment - the Vacation Timeshare! Many people, especially in America, get suckered into these seemingly great vacation getaway deals only to find out they are much less glamorous than was pitched to them in their sales presentations. Besides the initial high fee to get in on these timeshares, they annual fees and restrictions really start to make you regret buying in. On top of that, when you want to get out, it's not easy to do! We go over everything in this episode from why timeshares are a bad to how to get out of one if you find yourself stuck. 

Discussed: 

• VIDEO: Inside Timeshare Sales Staff Meeting
• VIDEO: The Queen of Versailles Trailer

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks – South Carolina/ IG @imsammarks
• Derek – Los Angeles / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• ILAB Patreon
  Join the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Like these investments? Try them with these special ILAB links:

• Fundrise – Start with only $1,000 into their REIT funds (non-accredited investors OK)
  *Johnny and Sam use all of the above services personally.
• Invest Like a Boss Patreon
  Help support the continuation of Invest Like a Boss by becoming a Patreon! Plans start as low as $5/month and give you instant access to years of exclusive content, including portfolio access, trade alerts, bonus episodes & more. Join now at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss.

Time Stamp:

• 05:59 - How Johnny Sold Timeshares
• 12:40 - Different Types of Timeshares
• 24:52 - Johnny's Family Member Bought a Timeshare
• 38:24 - How to Exit Your Timeshare

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

U.S. savings account interest rates are at decades long highs, so Sam and Johnny hop in on this 101 episode to help you find ways to maximize your savings rate of return. The guys go over High Yield Savings Accounts (HYSAs), treasury bonds, annuities, money market accounts & more creative ways to get those extra percentage points. They'll also discuss how much savings you should be holding in case of emergencies. They'll also go beyond the United States to help out with some options for our overseas listeners as well. Share this episode with your friends, you'd be surprised how many people do not having any or very little savings!

Discussed: 

• U.S. Treasury Bonds
• ILAB Episode 004: Stan the Annuity Man
• ILAB 182: If I Have $X Saved, Where Do I Invest It?

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks – South Carolina/ IG @imsammarks
• Derek – Los Angeles / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• Nom Nom
  At Nom Nom, we make food that looks like food. Tailored to your pet’s exact needs and backed by years of scientific research. Get 50% off your first 2 week trial when you visit trynom.com/ilab

Like these investments? Try them with these special ILAB links:

• Fundrise – Start with only $1,000 into their REIT funds (non-accredited investors OK)
  *Johnny and Sam use all of the above services personally.
• Invest Like a Boss Patreon
  Help support the continuation of Invest Like a Boss by becoming a Patreon! Plans start as low as $5/month and give you instant access to years of exclusive content, including portfolio access, trade alerts, bonus episodes & more. Join now at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss.

Time Stamp:

• 10:22 - Savings Best Practices
• 18:54 - Where to Put Your Savings
• 27:46 - US Treasury Bonds
• 32:45 - HYSA vs. Bonds
• 38:07 - Annuities
:

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This is part two on financial fraud and ponzi schemes. Our previous episode (ILAB 273) featured the biggest ponzi schemes of all-time. Our guest, David M. Shapiro, comes on to help explain how to avoid being involved in a ponzi scheme and what signs to look out for. He also talks the government structure around going after these crimes and some of the newer tech driven financial crimes involving cryptocurrency, identity theft and more. Sam and Derek follow up with their thoughts on the interview and Sam tells us about a ponzi scheme he almost fell into in Thailand.

Discussed: 

• David Shapiro's CV
• Watch Madoff: Monster of Wall Street on Netflix
• SEC Official Site on Tips to Spot Fraud

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks – Barcelona, Spain / IG @imsammarks
• Derek – Los Angeles / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• NetSuite
  For the first time in NetSuite’s twenty-two years as the #1 cloud financial system, you can defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months. Learn more at Netsuite.com/ILAB.

Like these investments? Try them with these special ILAB links:

• Fundrise – Start with only $1,000 into their REIT funds (non-accredited investors OK)
  *Johnny and Sam use all of the above services personally.
• Invest Like a Boss Patreon
  Help support the continuation of Invest Like a Boss by becoming a Patreon! Plans start as low as $5/month and give you instant access to years of exclusive content, including portfolio access, trade alerts, bonus episodes & more. Join now at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss.

Time Stamp:

• 05:35 - Interview with David Shapiro Begins
• 13:47 - What are the new tech based crimes happening?
• 24:45 - Is Social Security a Ponzi Scheme?
• 27:54 - How the SEC Structure Works For Investigations
• 35:24 - What Government Agencies Have Have Roles in these crimes?
• 51:20 - Thailand Ponzi Scheme Sam Got Caught In
:

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

After both watching the new Netflix docuseries on Bernie Madoff, Sam and Derek decide to dive deeper into the art of the Ponzi Scheme. They discuss how they came about and go over some of the biggest financial fraud cases in history. This is part one of a two episode run on financial fraud and ponzi schemes. ILAB 274 will feature an expert with tips on how to spot fraud in your investments.

Discussed: 

• Watch Madoff: Monster of Wall Street on Netflix

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Phuket, Thailand / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks – Bangkok, Thailand / IG @imsammarks
• Derek – Los Angeles / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• Nom Nom
  At Nom Nom, we make food that looks like food. Tailored to your pet’s exact needs and backed by years of scientific research. Get 50% off your first 2 week trial when you visit trynom.com/ilab

Like these investments? Try them with these special ILAB links:

• Fundrise – Start with only $1,000 into their REIT funds (non-accredited investors OK)
  *Johnny and Sam use all of the above services personally.

• Invest Like a Boss Patreon
  Help support the continuation of Invest Like a Boss by becoming a Patreon! Plans start as low as $5/month and give you instant access to years of exclusive content, including portfolio access, trade alerts, bonus episodes & more. Join now at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss.

Time Stamp:

• 06:49 - What's Considered a Ponzi Scheme?
• 08:11 - Charles Ponzi
• 12:11 - Enron
• 20:15 - Tom Petters
• 27:54 - Allen Stanford
• 31:25 - Bernie Madoff

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.