Most people don't realize that a large portion of real wealth is created before companies ever reach the public markets. In private companies, early-stage investments, and entrepreneurial ventures, growth happens the fastest.

For a long time, that part of the market has been largely inaccessible to retail investors, reserved instead for institutions and high-net-worth individuals. And that has played a significant role in the growing gap in wealth. In this episode of Money School Elite, I sit down with Mona DeFrawi to unpack how this system actually works and what's starting to change.

Mona has spent decades working inside private markets, helping companies grow, go public, and navigate how capital flows behind the scenes.

In this conversation, we break down several important realities that experienced investors understand, but most people never see.

We discuss why retail investors have historically been "protected" out of private markets, how early-stage investing drives the largest returns, and why most of the growth happens before companies go public.

We also talk about recent policy changes that are beginning to expand access to private markets, what that means for everyday investors, and why understanding how these markets work is becoming increasingly important.

About the Guest

Mona DeFrawi is an IPO and capital markets expert, startup founder, and private market pioneer who has spent over three decades working at the intersection of innovation and finance. She has led and supported multiple tech IPOs, built investor relations and capital markets functions from the ground up, and founded four startups, including early work that helped shape what is now Nasdaq Private Market. Throughout her career, Mona has raised significant capital, contributed to legislation that expanded venture funding, and helped build systems that connect companies with the capital they need to grow. Today, her focus is on expanding access to private markets, using technology, education, and new platforms to help more investors understand and participate in opportunities that have historically been limited to institutions. Her work is driven by a belief that early-stage investing is one of the most powerful drivers of wealth creation and that access to these opportunities should be more widely available. To learn more, visit https://radivision.com/.

About Your Host

From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America's #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is the founder of The Money School™ and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier.

His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works.

Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans, delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.

Resources

Private Money Guide: https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/book-podcast

Wealth Wednesday Webinar: https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/wednesday-webinar-podcast

Mapping out the Millionaire Mystery: https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/newbook-podcast

Real Wealth Is Built Before the IPO, But You Can't Access It w/ Mona DeFrawi