Episode Topic:

In this episode of Not Just A Transaction, host Nick Prefontaine speaks with a special guest and Certified Financial Planner, Mark Willis. He explains his journey to understanding how money really works after accumulating over $100k in student loan debt. Mark also shares how we are all in the banking business whether we realize it or not, and the importance of being in control of our finances.

Glossary of Special Terms Used in this Episode:

• Opportunity Cost – The loss that you could have gained when making an alternative choice.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• How Mark went on a journey to understanding how money really works after accumulating over $100k in student loan debt
• Why we are all in the banking business, whether we realize it or not, even if we pay with cash
• How to become your own banker or your own source of financing
• What is the number one mistake people make with their money
• Why it’s important to understand your finances and not leave control of your money in someone else’s hands

Resources:

• Stay up to date with the Not Your Average Financial Podcast™: https://bit.ly/boyfuture
• Lake Growth Website: https://lakegrowth.com/
• Mark's LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/marklakegrowth
• Pre Property Solutions website: https://www.prepropertysolutions.com/
• Contact Us: https://www.prepropertysolutions.com/contact/

Mark’s Bio:

Mark Willis is a man on a mission to help you think differently about your money, your economy, and your future. After graduating with six figures of student loan debt, and as he watched everybody lose their retirement savings and home equity in 2008 he knew that he needed to find a more predictable way to meet his financial objectives and those of his clients. Mark is now a Certified Financial Planner, a two-time best-selling author, and the owner of Lake Growth Financial Services, a financial firm in Chicago, Illinois. Over the years he has helped hundreds of his clients take back control of their financial future and build their businesses with proven tax-efficient financial solutions. He specializes in building custom-tailored financial strategies that are unknown to typical start jockeys, attorneys, and other gurus as co-host of the Not Your Average Financial podcast, he shares some of his strategies for investing in real estate, paying for college without going broke, and creating an income in retirement that you won’t outlive. Mark works with people who want to grow their wealth in ways that are safe and predictable, to become their source of financing, and to create a tax-free income and retirement.

Nick’s Bio:

In 2003, Nick Prefontaine was in a snowboarding accident that left him in a coma for over 3 weeks. The doctors told his parents that he probably wouldn’t walk, talk, or eat on his own again. Less than 3 months later, he was running out of Franciscan Children’s hospital. Now Nick speaks to groups that benefit from his message of overcoming adversity.

Nick grew up in the real estate industry and got started at an early age. Most notably, he was knocking on Pre-Foreclosure doors at 16, doing up to 50 doors a day. This experience helped shape Nick’s real estate career. When someone opens the door you better have something compelling to say.

Now, Nick specializes in working with lease purchase buyers to get them into a home and on the path to homeownership. That includes working with them throughout the entire deal which ends in them being able to get their own loan. Getting buyers to the finish line is something Nick and the entire Pre Property Solutions team take pride in. That is something that separates them from their competition. Regardless of a buyer’s credit situation, he looks at their complete financial picture and comes up with a plan to get them into a home.

Zachary’s Bio:

Zachary Beach is an Amazon Best-Selling Author of The New Rules of Real Estate Investing and revised edition of Real Estate On Your Terms. He has been an authority in real estate for 7 years now and has personally completed hundreds of real estate transactions and has mentored investors to complete thousands of transactions.

At the age of 25, Zachary decided to leave the world of bartending and personal training and jump into the family business. Now he is an equal partner and runs the acquisitions department, focusing on helping sellers accomplish their goal of selling their property.

If Zachary is not working, you will find him enjoying the outdoors or spending time with his wife Kayla and two kids, Remi and Bellamy. His passion for family and business is what keeps him motivated and excited to take on each day.