The Broke Millionaires

In this episode we interview our first guests Ethan Temianka & Sherry Wang. Ethan got started by raising money for his first deal in CA. From there he scaled one house at a time until he was able to launch his own fund which led to the acquisition of 270 properties over a 3 year period. Ethan talks about the sacrifices he has made along the way and the less glamorous part of building wealth when he got his start. He is now in a dispo cycle and is taking on much larger projects with the knowledge and experience he has gained over the last 10 years. 

In this episode we talk about creative ways we have bought properties and some of the tools we use to give us an edge up on the competition. We also discuss ways in which we find off market properties so we can be the first to make an offer. 

In this episode we dive into some of the actual deals we have done inside our Super 401K. We go over the numbers on the acquisition through the life cycle to disposition. 

In this episode we talk about how we have supercharged our retirement with a super 401K and how anyone can open up a self directed retirement account whether you are a business owner or an employee. We talk about how we invest in real estate inside this Super 401K. 

In this episode we will talk about how we build equity in properties by forcing appreciation through renovations. We also talk about some of the common mistakes people make and what to watch out for. We also touch on ways to pay or finance these renovations. 

In this episode we talk about how to maximize the benefits of credit card points and how to supercharge these benefits through your business or employer. Start enjoying the finder things in life without using your own money. 

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Real estate investing, HELOCs, leverage, home equity agreements, rental property financing, midterm rentals, and creative wealth building — this episode breaks down exactly how we scale our portfolio without piles of cash.

In Episode 4, we share how we leveraged equity from one property to buy the next — and how we’ve used HELOCs, home equity loans, cross-collateralization, private money, retirement account loans, and creative financing to keep moving forward.

We are the Broke Millionaires — equity rich, cash poor, and building anyway.

Inside this episode:

• How a HELOC works and why we prefer it over a HELOAN
 • What a home equity agreement is and when it’s useful
 • How cross-collateralization helped us finance a half-demoed property
 • How rental income can improve your DTI
 • Why self-employed borrowers face tougher underwriting
 • Why persistence matters when loan applications get denied

We also talk honestly about:

• Income dropping from $400k to $40k
 • Living through renovations with three kids
 • Managing multiple liens on properties
 • Surviving construction loans and balloon payments
 • Being in a “survive till ’25” season

We focus on buying value-add properties, forcing appreciation through renovations and ADUs, converting them to midterm rentals (30+ day furnished stays), and rolling equity into the next project.

This is not the easy way.
 But it’s one way to build long-term wealth without inheritance or a corporate pension.

Book Mentioned:
 The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down by Brandon Turner

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Survive Till ’25.

In this episode we talk through some of the traditional mortgage programs that are available with low down payments, and we also overview some more creative ways we have bought properties. 

In this episode we break down some of the benefits of owning real estate. 

Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours Call where we break down podcast episodes and apply them to your real-life situation. skool.com/brokemillionaires

In the very first episode of The Broke Millionaires Podcast, Joshua and Lauryn lay the foundation for what the show is all about: documenting their real, unfiltered wealth-building journey while raising a young family and navigating a tough economy. They describe the paradox that defines their lives today—they are multi-millionaires on paper, yet cash-broke while juggling mortgages, renovations, and the realities of entrepreneurship. 

Together, they break down the true meaning behind “Broke Millionaires,” the difference between being broke vs. poor, and how they built a net worth of roughly $3.2M despite constant financial pressure. They share early money lessons, the misconceptions people have about millionaires, and why cash flow is the lifeblood of their strategy. 

🔥 Inside This Episode

• The honest truth behind being “cash broke” while owning millions in assets
• The difference between being broke (temporary) and being poor (permanent)
• Joshua’s financial awakening: Rich Dad Poor Dad, 2007’s crash, and losing everything
• How he rebuilt from scratch through saving, self-education, and investing
• The origin story of his first creative wealth move: couch flipping turned six-figure business
• Why Lauryn’s background in retail shaped her early money mindset
• Their first conversations about debt, 401(k)s, and how to combine finances
• How they saved relentlessly to buy real estate while starting their family
• A look into their first major renovation, brick-covered chaos, sweat equity, and how it helped them cross millionaire status in 2020
   

🏠 Wealth-Building Milestones They Cover

• Buying Joshua’s first home at 18
• Losing everything in the 2007 crash and starting over
• Turning $80K in a retirement account into a real-estate-driven solo 401(k)
• Creative tax planning and why “it’s not about how much you make, it’s about how much you keep”
• House hacking before it was a trendy term
• Buying a $400K home in California that is now worth ~$1.3M
   

💬 Relationship & Family Real Talk

While grinding toward financial freedom, the couple also opens up about:

• Early dating stories (including Joshua “flipping couches”)
• Blending finances and fixing consumer debt
• Raising three kids, with a fourth on the way, while renovating homes
• The sacrifice, long nights, missed time, and emotional weight that come with pursuing wealth
   

📚 Books & Podcasts Mentioned

• Rich Dad Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki
• BiggerPockets Podcast (episodes 1–100 recommended)
   

✨ Their Wealth Philosophy in One Word

Sacrifice.
They emphasize that wealth-building requires daily sacrifice—time, comfort, energy, and consistency—to create a life of long-term freedom for their family. 

We are looking for guests that have something helpful to share. If you or someone you know could make a good guest on the show, drop us a line to see if it would be a good fit [email protected]

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FREE download of the ALLLL Method™ blueprint. https://bit.ly/4pUFBMD 

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