Podcast Summary: The Money Mondays – EP147

Episode Title: Why Most People Never Build REAL Wealth (and How to Change That)
Host: Dan Fleyshman
Date: November 10, 2025
Setting: Amerit Bank Arena, Florida

Overview

This special arena-recorded episode of “The Money Mondays” explores why most people never build real, lasting wealth—and what you can actually do about it. Rich in insight and driven by real-world experience, host Dan Fleyshman brings together three guests:

• Raul Vilas (founder of The Edge, men’s empowerment movement and real estate entrepreneur)
• Aaron Chapman (real estate finance professional & author)
• Eric G. Chapman (fine art painter & illustrator)

The episode focuses on three core pillars:

• How to make money
• How to invest money (wisely and sustainably)
• How to purposefully give it away (the necessity and impact of charity)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trap of Making—but Not Keeping—Money

[02:36]

• Raul Vilas describes a common pattern: Many are good at making money, but few are good at keeping or growing it.
• He shares his early real estate success—making millions through relentless cold calling (his “white pages” story)—but admits to initially squandering it on depreciating assets (like a BMW).
• Quote: “I think a lot of us, we’re very good at making money, but we suck at keeping the money.” – Raul ([02:43])

Lessons:

• Read beyond just making money; focus on assets over liabilities.
• Heeding mentors and books (e.g., “Rich Dad Poor Dad”) redirected him from flashy purchases to wealth-building investments.

2. Fear and Failure in Investing

[04:18], [05:27]

• Fear is the #1 reason people don’t invest—fear of losing, fear of risk, fear of repeating others' mistakes.
• Raul shares a candid story of becoming a multimillionaire by 30, only to lose it all in a market crash due to over-concentration in one sector.
• Quote: “The fear of losing is what holds people back… Those stories—they hear it, like, I don’t wanna be like Raul.” – Raul ([05:27])

Lessons:

• It's important to take calculated risks, especially young.
• True wealth isn’t made through safety—it’s built through growth, learning, and sometimes, failure.

3. How to Choose the “Right” Investment Lane

[06:02], [24:00]

• Raul advocates for multifamily real estate as a stable, cash-flowing vehicle that can weather economic downturns.
• Aaron Chapman emphasizes single-family homes: “They’re not making many more of them… it’s becoming scarcer and scarcer and scarcer.” ([24:00])

Insights:

• Don’t get greedy or over-leverage; stick to your core expertise.
• Understand your “why” before choosing an investment vehicle—legacy, cash flow, or appreciation?
• Critical to structure business and legacy: trusts, holding companies, and entities.

4. Leverage & The Power of Debt

[26:48], [28:00]

• Aaron Chapman breaks down why debt, when used properly, can be an incredible tool for wealth building versus something to fear.
• He illustrates inflation’s impact using a gold coin vs. a $20 bill from the 1800s to today, highlighting why it’s smarter to pay back loans with depreciating currency.

Quote:
“When you have an environment where somebody’s willing to come in and give you 80% of the capital for your business, but take no stake in the business… and you get to keep the asset… who wins? … The longer you take to pay, the less you actually pay.” – Aaron ([24:00]–[29:13])

5. The Circulation of Money: Charity and Family Legacy

[06:45], [30:53], [32:44]

• Money as “currency”—meant to circulate, not just accumulate.
• Raul shares his family practice: Instead of allowances, his kids must earn money—and are expected to give back (e.g., giving gifts to local families in need over the holidays).
• Aaron argues charitable giving is both a biblical command and a societal necessity—if communities don’t care for each other, “you leave it to the government, and that’s not helping anybody.” ([31:40]–[32:14])

Quote:
“The more I let it flow in the source of giving, and I don’t worry about that source of where it’s coming from, more just seems to come. When I have to worry about it is when I’m keeping it.” – Aaron ([31:50])

6. Legacy: Leaving Money and Wisdom

[12:46], [32:44]

• Dan poses his perennial question: “What percentage of your net worth do you leave to your children/grandchildren?”
• Raul: Prioritizes leaving the “opportunity” and the value system, not just wealth. Wants his kids to build their own legacy.
• Aaron: Leaves assets in a trust, but more crucially, an infrastructure and set of rules to perpetuate wealth and mindset for generations.
• Eric: Shares that pain from past family inheritance fights makes him hesitant—but values earning and self-sufficiency.

Memorable Exchange:
“I want to give my kids the net worth of knowing their value, their capacity to produce, but at the same time, the opportunity to provide for themselves.” – Raul ([13:57])

Notable Quotes

• Dan: “We’re going to try to beat Joe Rogan… At least for business!” ([01:49])
• Raul: “Money’s meant to circulate. That’s why it’s called currency.” ([07:01])
• Aaron: “If communities don’t give to communities, who will? …Families don’t give, then you’ve left it to the government.” ([31:40])
• Eric: “I’m an artist. I’m supposed to be starving, right?” ([34:35])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:00 – 02:36] – Introductions & Raul’s background
• [02:36 – 04:18] – Why people fail to keep money
• [04:18 – 06:45] – Fears around investing & lessons from losing millions
• [06:45 – 08:48] – Raising children financially & the meaning of charity at home
• [08:48 – 12:26] – Charity’s link to community and business
• [12:46 – 13:57] – The legacy you leave: money or opportunity, with memorable quotes
• [16:20 – 19:33] – Aaron & Eric Chapman: Book journey, art pricing, and publishing
• [24:00 – 29:13] – Smart real estate leverage and inflation breakdown
• [30:53 – 32:14] – Charity as a biblical/social principle; money as a river
• [32:44 – 36:56] – Family and inheritance: trust, generational wealth, healing old wounds
• [37:42 – 39:35] – Where to find the guests and their work
• [39:35 – End] – Aaron’s story of impact: The book changes his mother’s life

Memorable Moments

• The Gold Coin Analogy: Aaron demonstrates inflation’s effect with an 1888 $20 gold coin versus a $20 bill—now the coin is worth ~$5,000, showing the erosion of fiat currency. ([27:27])
• Family Activities: Raul's family giving Christmas gifts to tenants and children builds a generational habit of charity. ([08:21])
• Book Journey: Aaron’s mother reads his self-help book five times, telling him, “I finally found the strength to forgive myself for the failings as a mother… I wished I had this to give you when you turned eight.” ([40:00])

Where to Find the Guests

• Raul Vilas: Instagram [@raul_theedge]; The Edge movement; King’s Court podcast
• Aaron Chapman: aaronchapman.com | Instagram @sgorin | Book: “Redden Economics” (QuitJerkingOff.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble)
• Eric G. Chapman: Instagram @ericjchapmanart | Website: ejc-art.com | Upcoming show Dec. at Brennan Gallery (Scottsdale)

Tone

• Direct, practical, and heartfelt—Dan keeps conversation focused and actionable. Guests are candid about mistakes, lessons, and philosophies with an edge of irreverent humor.

Takeaways

• Making money is only part of the journey—true wealth comes from learning to keep, invest, and circulate money wisely.
• Understand and leverage the power of cash-flowing assets and smart, long-term debt.
• Give back to instill value and fuel your own abundance.
• Legacy is more about systems, opportunity, and mindset than just cash; teach your children and next generations “how” to build, not just “what” to own.

This episode is packed with real talk, honest stories, and practical strategies for anyone serious about breaking the cycle and building real, sustainable wealth.