Money Guy Show — Episode Summary

Podcast: Money Guy Show
Hosts: Brian Preston & Bo Hanson
Episode: How To Pull The Levers of Wealth Creation (By Age)
Date: February 6, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Brian and Bo break down how to build wealth at every stage of life by focusing on the two levers you can always control: increasing your income and decreasing your spending. They share actionable tactics customized for each decade — your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s+ — helping listeners gain confidence and control over their financial destinies. The tone is pragmatic, energetic, and supportive, guided by both hosts’ no-hype, data-driven approach to personal finance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Three Fundamentals of Wealth Creation

(Starts at 00:59)

• Brian and Bo reiterate that wealth creation relies on three pillars: discipline (living below your means), money (the margin you create), and time (letting compounding work).
• Quote, Brian Preston (01:11):
  "That discipline of living on less than you make is going to create the margin that yields the money. That if you give it the most powerful ingredient, the third one, which is the time, you get to let that magical component of compounding growth do all the wonders of the world."

Pulling the Wealth Levers by Decade

1. In Your 20s — Focus: Invest in Yourself & Control Expenses

(02:03 – 12:43)

• Increase income through skill acquisition:
  Prioritize valuable skills, whether formal education or technical certifications. Be deliberate about educational debt.

  • Quote, Brian (02:58): "If you can actually stick the landing and...make myself more marketable and have a new skill set that will actually yield more money, this can be super, super valuable."

• Use your discretionary energy and time:
  Engage in side hustles (driving, delivery, house/pet cleaning) — small investments of time yield major returns due to the "wealth multiplier."

  • Quote, Brian (04:35): "For a 20 year old, a $1 that is invested at 20 by the time you retire is worth $88… but at 55, it’s only $1.91. That’s why side hustles in your 20s can yield huge results for your future self."

• Be flexible with location and career:
  Relocation or a strategic job switch early on can open high-earning opportunities.

  • Brian’s anecdote about a friend moving to San Francisco for career growth (06:23).

• Minimize housing costs:
  Roommates aren't just for college—they’re a powerful expense hack in your 20s.

  • Quote, Brian (07:44): "I had roommates until I got married... If you divide [costs] among many, it’s going to make the situation that much easier."

• Avoid high-interest debt:
  Understand what qualifies as high-interest (student loans >6%, car loans >10%, credit cards), and avoid the credit card "trap."

  • Quote, Brian (09:54): "Credit cards are just as dangerous as illicit drugs… that 0% is just the introductory offer to try to trap you in this world of high interest debt."

• Don’t buy more car than you can afford:
  Use the 20/3/8 rule: 20% down, no more than 36 months, payment ≤8% of gross income. No luxury cars unless it’s paid for in cash.

  • Bo (10:46): "If it's not, we would argue that you have things in the wrong order."
  • Brian (12:17): "More than 1 in 5 new car shoppers [in Q4 2025] committed to a monthly payment of $1,000 or more. That’s insane."

2. In Your 30s — Focus: Career Advancement & Avoiding Lifestyle Creep

(12:43 – 20:36)

• Make the shift from “job” to “career”:
  Focus on roles with growth, seek out mentors/opportunities, and move on if advancement is blocked.

  • Brian (13:40): "Focus on your career. Try to get away from the jobs once you're in your 30s."

• Monetize your marketable skills:
  Consider consulting or freelance gigs in your professional area instead of generic side hustles.

  • Brian’s CPA story (14:58)

• Buy the “right” house, not the “biggest” house: Use the 3/5/25 rule: 3% down minimum (on your first home only), stay at least 5 years, payments ≤25% of gross income.

  • Brian (16:39): "You have to be honest with yourself. Can you live in this house for five years or more?"
  • Bo (18:07): "Plug...your variables [into our calculator]; a right decision can be a wonderful financial decision over the long-term, but the wrong decision can put you in a world of hurt."

• Plug ongoing expense “leaks”:
  Audit subscriptions, watch for costly habits, and fight “lifestyle creep.”

  • Brian (19:05): "Make sure you're auditing those subscriptions... You can get really strict with how often you go out to eat... bedazzle your basic life to create incredible memories. It doesn't always have to be expensive."

3. In Your 40s — Focus: Maximizing Peak Earnings & Eliminating Debt

(20:36 – 28:38)

• Lean into your profession:
  You’re likely entering your highest earning period—pursue leadership roles, but learn when to say “no” to non-essential commitments.

  • Brian (21:42): "I was so impressed when people would ask me to do something...it was in my 40s I was like, I need to learn the power of no."

• Investing and compounding reach their full power:
  In your 40s, investments may start out-earning your job. Stay disciplined and keep investing!

  • Brian (23:07): "By the time you get to your 40s...all those investments, all those decades of saving...your money potentially could start out earning you."
  • Bo (24:27): "76% of our clients said they reached their first million dollars simply by saving and investing... not by being an executive, entrepreneur, or virtuoso."

• Eliminate all high-interest debt:
  No more car, student loan, or credit card debt.

  • Brian (25:52): "Those things need to be eliminated. As you’re in your 40s and beyond, it just doesn’t make sense."

• Shop your big recurring costs:
  Especially insurance—regularly compare home, auto, and umbrella policies.

  • Bo (26:35): "The average savings for just bundling home and auto is almost $500 a year...[I] saved thousands of dollars just for shopping."

• Prioritize your financial security over your kids’ upgrades:
  Ensure your retirement stability (“your own oxygen mask”) before funding expensive lifestyle boosts for your children.

  • Brian (28:18): "Your kids, college and so forth...I know that sounds cruel, but I promise you, your future self will thank you. Your kids, your adult children will thank you."

4. In Your 50s and Beyond — Focus: Landing the Plane & Optimizing for Retirement

(28:38 – 35:30)

• Transition from maximizing income to maximizing life:
  Determine when you can start downshifting and enjoying the money you’ve built. Find your “number” for financial independence.

  • Brian (29:30): "It’s not only the math, it’s also the mindset... What is the number to know if you’re ahead of the curve, behind the curve, or right where you’re supposed to be?"

• Reevaluate your housing situation:
  Decide whether to pay off your mortgage, downsize, or relocate; turn home equity into investable assets.

  • Brian (31:31): "I’d love for you to get to the point in your 50s where you’re closer to financial independence, not financial obligations. And a big part of that is being completely debt free."

• Get strategic about taxes and withdrawals:
  Tax optimization shifts from annual to lifetime, including the impact of sequence of withdrawals and timing of Social Security/Medicare.

  • Bo (32:32): "How do I pay the least amount of taxes over my entire financial life over the remainder of my drawdown years? All these are conversations... as you enter into this station and season of life."
  • Brian’s client anecdote on the importance of adviser guidance for complex retirement tax strategy (33:18).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The discipline of living on less than you make is going to create the margin that yields the money. That if you give it...time, you get to let that magical component of compounding growth do all the wonders of the world." — Brian Preston, 01:11

• "For a 20 year old, a $1 that is invested at 20 by the time you retire is worth $88...for a 55-year-old, it’s only $1.91." — Brian Preston, 04:35

• "Credit cards are just as dangerous as illicit drugs...that 0% is just the introductory offer to try to trap you in this world of high-interest debt." — Brian Preston, 09:54

• "Check yourself before you wreck yourself. Buying cars can blow up your financial life if you’re trying to fake it before you've actually made it." — Brian Preston, 12:30

• “Focus on your career. Try to get away from the jobs once you’re in your 30s.” — Brian Preston, 13:40

• “Lifestyle creep: what is sweet about life is if you do it right, you’re gonna be able to do everything you want...bedazzle your basic life to create incredible memories. It doesn’t always have to be expensive.” — Brian Preston, 19:05

• "Your kids, college and so forth...that’s a step eight. I know that sounds cruel, but...your future self will thank you. Your kids, your adult children will thank you." — Brian Preston, 28:18

• "I’d love for you to get to the point in your 50s where you’re closer to financial independence, not financial obligations." — Brian Preston, 31:31

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:59 — Introduction to the three pillars of wealth (discipline, money, time)
• 02:03 — Levers for wealth in your 20s (income, education, side hustle)
• 07:02 — Decreasing expenses in your 20s (housing, roommates, avoiding debt)
• 12:43 — Leveraging your 30s (career focus, homebuying strategy)
• 18:50 — Avoiding lifestyle creep in your 30s
• 20:36 — Peak earning tips in your 40s (professions, investing, debt payoff)
• 24:27 — Data on how most clients made their first million
• 26:35 — Insurance and major recurring expense tips
• 28:38 — Attitudes, goals, and strategies for your 50s and beyond (retirement, housing, taxes)

Final Takeaway

Brian and Bo deliver a motivational, step-by-step walkthrough for pulling the levers of wealth creation at every age. Their advice is practical, non-judgmental, and supported by real-life data and stories — offering hope and clear strategy for listeners who want to quit worrying about money and start living a fuller life.

For more resources or personal financial calculators, visit: moneyguy.com/resources
To find your number for financial independence: learn.moneyguy.com