EP 009. Your Money Your Terms: The Power Of Controlling Your Retirement With Greg Herlean

Today, I’m sitting down with Greg Herlean, a nationally recognized expert in self directed retirement accounts. Greg flew in fresh from his offices in Las Vegas and Orange County to break down how you can stop letting Wall Street control your future and start redirecting your retirement funds into investments that you choose real estate, private lending, and more.
With over $7.6 trillion currently sitting in retirement accounts, chances are, you’ve got some skin in the game and you might not even be happy with how it’s being managed. This episode is a wake up call. We’re pulling back the curtain on the myths of traditional 401(k)s and IRAs, and showing you how to unlock those funds before 59½ without the penalties or confusion you’ve been warned about.
If you’ve ever felt like your retirement account is just... there untouchable, boring, and out of your control this episode is for you.

Host Contact Info:
Adam Williams - Host M.I.N.T. Project Podcast
Website: https://elevestcapital.com/
Instagram: @awinvests
Email: [email protected]

What you learn from this episode.
- Self-Directed IRAs
- 401(k) Myths
- Taking Control of Your Retirement
- Alternative Investments

Guest Contact Info:
IG: @gregherlean
YouTube: ⁨ @gregherlean
X: @gregherlean

- Send an email to apply to be on the M.I.N.T. Project Podcast: [email protected]
- Invest with Elevest Capital: https://bit.ly/444mpnv

Connect and follow our other platforms:
Listen on Spotify: https://spotf.fi/4pUsWHw
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n7w5hk8

00:00 - Why No One Talks About Taxes & Retirement
00:24 - $7.6 Trillion in Retirement Accounts
00:47 - Meet Greg Herlean
01:05 - How We First Met
01:25 - Misconceptions Around Retirement Accounts
01:52 - Taking Control of Your Money
02:16 - Why This Topic is Often Ignored
02:38 - How Greg Got Started with Self-Direction
02:57 - The Illusion of “Untouchable” IRAs
03:18 - Why People Think They Can’t Access Their Funds
03:34 - The Traditional Retirement Lie
03:55 - Why Most People’s Plans Don’t Work
04:12 - The Real Reason Advisors Don’t Educate You
04:29 - Your Account Isn’t Too Small to Invest
04:56 - You Can Use $25K–$100K to Invest in Real Estate
05:17 - Real Estate Funds for Small Retirement Accounts
05:36 - Most Retirement Money Sits in the Stock Market
06:00 - What We Do at All of Us Capital
06:19 - Helping You Build Passive Income
06:36 - Only 5% of Americans Self-Direct Their Accounts
06:50 - Real Estate & Retirement Funds
07:39 - 75% Choosing Real Estate
07:39 - What You Can't Invest In
08:02 - Flip, Wholesale, Rent with IRAs
08:22 - Traditional vs. Self-Directed Investing
08:40 - Impact of Stock Market Crashes
09:12 - Control Protects Your Wealth
09:50 - Horizon Trust Service Advantage
10:09 - Control is Priceless
10:29 - Stock Loss Risks
10:48 - Market Crashes & Retirement
11:07 - Trust Horizon
11:25 - Greg’s Real Estate Journey
11:45 - First Self-Directed IRA Deal
12:03 - Issues with Trust Companies
12:28 - Referrals & Slow Service
12:42 - Creating a Trust Company
13:02 - Focus on Service
13:17 - Client Experience
13:34 - 15 Years of Experience
13:52 - Service & Speed
14:10 - Client Base & Family Focus
14:25 - Client Referrals
14:44 - Average IRA Balance
15:02 - Investment Flexibility
15:16 - Pooling Funds with Family
15:35 - IRA LLC Setup
15:53 - LLC Ownership
16:09 - Syndication Investment
16:28 - Client Process Overview
16:46 - Account Setup Steps.
17:30 - Account Funded
17:47 - Investment Decision
18:05 - Fund Documentation
18:21 - Signing for the IRA
18:40 - Fund Transfer
18:53 - Profit Returns to IRA
18:05 - Fund Arrival
18:21 - Documentation Needed
18:40 - Client Signing
18:53 - Fund Transfer
19:17 - Reinvestment Process
19:35 - Tax-Free Compounding
19:57 - Depreciation Benefits
20:23 - 1031 Exchange
20:56 - Compounding Effect
21:19 - IRA Strategy
21:39 - Investment Flexibility
21:56 - Tax Write-offs
22:39 - Investment Strategy
22:58 - Portfolio Growth
23:18 - Investment Comparison
23:38 - Risk Mitigation
24:14 - Fee Comparison
24:39 - Spread Analysis
25:14 - Compounding Returns
25:32 - Risk Awareness
25:50 - Experience Matters
26:10 - Active Involvement
26:44 - Trusted Advisors
27:04 - Passive Investment
27:42 - Attention to Detail
28:05 - Taking Action
28:22 - Spreading Awareness
29:26 - Younger Generation
29:49 - Building Awareness
30:52 - Investment Returns
31:11 - Compounding Growth
31:29 - Actionable Steps
32:06 - Get in Touch
32:23 - Social Media
33:02 - Share & Spread