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[00:00]
A
You're listening to the Travis Makes Money podcast.
[00:04]
B
What's going on, everybody?
[00:05]
A
Welcome back to the Travis Makes Money podcast, where it's our mission to help you make more money. On this episode of the show, I have a new friend, Perry Lunsford. He is the founder and CEO of the Healthy Insurance dude, one of the nation's highest revered independent health insurance brokerages. U.S. air Force veteran and entrepreneur, Perry has built his company around a simple promise. Do what you say you're going to do, and take exceptional care of people along the way. Since 2018, his family has helped thousands of individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and small business owners navigate health insurance with clarity and confidence. Perry, what's up, man? Welcome to the show.
[00:38]
C
Hi, Travis. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it, man.
[00:41]
A
So tell. Tell me the first time. Let's go back in time here. Tell me the first time you ever made a dollar that was exciting or shocking or surprising to you.
[00:50]
C
First time I ever made a dollar that was surprising. Shocking to me. I started my first real company when I graduated high school or the closest thing to a real company. I started a. An irrigation company. And I don't think I'm somebody who's capable of having a job. I was in the Air Force 10 years, but I think that's more of an adventure than a job. And so really never been to an interview in my life. I did work at Arby's once for, like, two weeks before I got fired. That's been a couple of years, but, yeah, so I had an irrigation company. And so. And it was. It was just me. And then I'd hire some, like, day laborers here and there in the beginning. And so like, now, anytime somebody tries to tell me something's hard, all I can. I can think about is, you know, 1993, 104 degrees, swinging a pickaxe, and trying to install a sprinkler system at 18 years old. So I would say that was probably the first time I ever made a dollar that excited me. And then from there, I learned to flip hot rods. That's what I did in the Air Force for a living, was buy.
[01:55]
A
Okay, yeah. So did you go to the Air Force directly after high school?
[01:59]
C
I had this company for about two years. And back then I thought a college degree was really important. And so I was going to college and building this company, and then, you know, 15 hours turned into 12, nine, six, three. And then at some point, I'm like, yeah, if I don't get a degree, you know, I'm not going to Be successful in life again. That was a long time ago. And joined the air Force and then realized that was volunteer work and then started buying, selling, and flipping hot rods. So I still do that today.
[02:31]
A
Oh, really? Okay. So that's just something that you love, Something you're passionate about.
[02:35]
C
I'm passionate about cars. I got, like, 20 something cars, man.
[02:38]
A
Okay.
[02:38]
C
Yeah. Yeah. Now I just buy and forget to sell, so. Yeah.
[02:43]
A
Yeah, that's fair. Yeah. Well, the. The insurance game, though, can give you some access to capital for the car habit, you know?
[02:49]
C
It can. Yeah. We. We. We have a marketing agency, and I have. So I have the. The insurance brokerage and a marketing agency which creates everything for the. For our insurance brokerage.
[02:59]
A
Okay, so tell me a little about the insurance thing. What I mean, did you get started in this in the air Force? Did you come out and not sure what to do? How did you get started?
[03:08]
C
Yeah, so I owned a chain of fitness centers, which is the worst business model on the planet. Like, you know, you spent $2 million to open a gym, and you beg people for $30 a month, and as soon as something new and shiny opens up across the street, everybody runs over to it. And so. So I had five. Five gyms, made a decent living, and then I kind of. I made a left where I should have made a right. I made some mistakes, but the easiest way to put it is Planet Fitness opened up next door to every gym we had. And so I went from making a decent living to, you know, $350,000 in debt. Broke off my butt, and no idea how to. How to make my mortgage payment. I called my cousin who was in insurance, and he was. I was like, what? I don't. Like, I'm gonna have to get a job. And he's like, yeah, you can't have a job.
[04:00]
A
Yeah, that's not gonna work for you.
[04:02]
C
Yeah. And so. And he was right. He was right. And so I. I kind of fell into this industry, and just from all of my errors and mistakes and failures in life, this industry was just super easy, super simple to me. You know, with the gyms, I. You know, I did a lot of paid ads, a lot of YouTube stuff, a lot of Facebook stuff, a lot of paid ads in the company I had prior to that, I did a lot of Google Ads. And so I never think of myself as a very good salesperson. I'm a. I'm a fantastic marketer so that they're so warm to me when they walk in the door. All I got to do is not fumble and you know, do what I say I'm going to do when I say I'm going to do it and do it with a smile. And so we did that, walked into this world eight years ago just by myself, got appointed and like overnight just became, you know, number one in the country really quickly.
[04:59]
A
Okay.
[04:59]
C
And then we started building and then we started building the brokerage and it was back then it was under that like MLM model like most insurance is. Then I ended up selling that a couple of years ago and rebuilt the whole model where we had more products. My, my employees are all salary based with small residuals built in, really small residuals built in that build up over time. So my employees make an incredible living. We're, we're blessed to have, you know, I think there's, you know, thousands of clients.
[05:33]
A
So tell me, tell me that first 12 month period because this, it's, it's atypical for especially people selling life insurance things like this. Like you tend to make a lot more money year 10 than you made year one. And I'm sure that's still the obviously for you as well. But there's a lot of people who go without paychecks for months on end when they're first getting into the business. What did you do on like day one? You get your license and you're like all right now I can sell, but like what do I do to generate business? How did you get this first?
[06:01]
C
So the first day I was there, you know, first day I signed up and to do it and they hand me. But they used to call Mary Wong leads which are like these penny. Like it's the, it's the white pages, right? And so I'm, I'm dialing through this and, and I, I did that the whole day and I was like this is, this is ridiculous. So that night I decided I wasn't going to do it that way anymore. I got up at 5 in the morning and just started posting pictures of myself. I invented the idea of the Healthy Insurance dude and started posting pictures of myself and my kids on. Back then they were buy sell trade groups, remember those? And, and I was selling two or three policies a day like in my first week. Yeah, yeah, it, it changed my life. I mean, I mean just from posting
[06:52]
A
about like lifestyle content in these groups.
[06:54]
C
Well, I was posting lifestyle content and saying hey, I'm the healthy Insurance dude and I sell health insurance to entrepreneurs and small business owners and 1099. And yeah, I mean I made 750,000 in my first year.
[07:10]
A
That's crazy, dude.
[07:11]
C
It is crazy. I again, you know, I had just had so many failures in life that made me exactly the right person for this. I had no idea.
[07:19]
A
It was hard.
[07:20]
B
This episode of the show is brought to you by Whatnot. So I was scrolling on Whatnot because I really, I just wanted to see what it was about. And I started experiencing what I can only describe as like a social media shopping channel. Uh, but it's live shopping. You gotta go try it out. Okay. Because it's not just for the buyers. It's also for the sellers. Uh, Whatnot is the largest dedicated live shopping platform. Whether it's beauty, collectibles, electronics, luxury, fashion, even cookies, sellers are building real thriving businesses. Anybody can sell. Whether your business is big, small, or yet to exist, people selling on whatnot sell 10 times more than on other major marketplaces. 10 times more. That's because you're not just listing products. You're building real connections with actual buyers. Across Whatnot, the number of sellers making over $1 million a year has doubled. Consistency pays off. It's not just a side hustle. It's a real path to building something that lasts. Whatnot buyers spend more than an hour a day in the app, which is crazy. They're not just browsing and searching for content. They're engaged, they're buying, and they're coming back. You go live, show off products in real time, and then turn what you love into real income. I went on there the other day just shopping around, looking for some stuff tuned into a live stream. Ended up with a couple of shirts, and I love them. And you get this sort of live demonstration, and you get to ask questions about the product and how does it feel and what's the fit and all those types of things. You can get answered live. So you can make sure that you're making a better decision, even as a buyer. So search Whatnot W H a t N o t in the app store, download it, and you can start selling right away. Okay, here's something my younger self would have benefited from, because, let's be honest, most of us just picked a bank at 16 and then never looked back. Sound familiar? Well, that's where Chime comes in. Because Chime is changing the way that people bank. They're not like traditional, stuffy old banks who charge fees and gatekeep perks and rewards and all that stuff. Chime offers the most rewarding fee, free banking, all with no overdraft fees, no monthly fees, no minimum balance fees. Plus you get 5% cash back on Chime card and a category of choice like gas or groceries, all while building credit through regular everyday spending. With absolutely no credit check. You can also grow your money faster with their savings rate. That's nine times the national average. Let me say that again. Nine times the national average for their savings accounts. And if you're ever in a pinch, spot me lets you overdraft up to 200 fee free. So join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's number one choice for banking. Head to chime.com travis that's chime.com travis. Sign up now because it only takes a few minutes. Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services and Chime Card provided by Chimes Bank Partners. Qualifying direct deposits required terms limits apply. Go to chime.com disclosures for details.
[10:02]
C
Yeah, like, I try to bring my friends in. My, my, my best buddy is my attorney and I'm like, dude, you got to quit being an attorney. You got to just do what I do. Just do what I do. And I had no idea that it was difficult. And so, yeah, I made. Yeah. And that was, that was my hardest year.
[10:22]
A
And, and when you, when you got started, was it sort of this MLM structure or was that just the first one that you started?
[10:28]
C
That was, that was. I walked into an MLM structure. And. Okay. And in the MLM structure, you go up quickly and then you can build your own stuff. And. And I, I hated that. I absolutely hated it. I can't stand. Well, in the beginning, again, I didn't know this was hard. It was so easy for me. Again, not because I'm that smart, but because I'm that stupid. I didn't know it was hard. So it was easy. I didn't know that I had a unique set of skills that doesn't translate over to the average person. And so, you know, I brought in hundreds of people over the next five years that I watched fail. Because if there's anything I've learned in the last eight years, it's that, you know, I used to think anyone can be an entrepreneur. They just got to want it bad enough. I don't believe that at all anymore.
[11:19]
A
Really?
[11:20]
C
Yeah, not at all. Not at all. I brought in, I've tried to teach too many people to be an entrepreneur. I think you're born an entrepreneur. You know, like, my brother and I are exactly the same person. We have one difference. And that difference is that I'm a risk taker and he's risk averse. Yeah, right. My brother is a high School soccer coach and athletic director. And, and he's one of the best in Texas, but he's safe. And I like to go, you know, everything seems really good. Let's screw it up and go for something better. Yeah. Yeah. And so if you, if you don't have the charisma, this is, you know, sales and entrepreneurship is difficult. If you don't have, if you don't, if you are, if you're not risk averse, if you love risk and your spouse hates it, you're out, bro. Like, good luck.
[12:12]
A
Yeah.
[12:13]
C
You're either gonna stay an employee, which is wonderful, that is not a cut down, or you're gonna have a divorce. Those are your two options.
[12:21]
A
Yeah, exactly.
[12:23]
C
Yeah. So I, I just, I came in at 43. I'm 51 now. Right, okay, 43. I came in doing this and because I was 43, and because of the company I had before that and because of the company I had before that and, and because of the Air Force. And it was just easy for me.
[12:43]
A
Yeah. The perfect, like, alchemistic mixture of skills and life experience made it seem easy when it was difficult for everybody else, which, by the way, is a great indicator that you're doing the right thing.
[12:54]
C
The things that. Difficult for others stuff to get end up here.
[12:59]
A
Yeah.
[13:00]
C
Yeah.
[13:00]
A
Well. And using the word fail. But I, I would argue those are not failures. Those are just lessons.
[13:05]
C
Yeah. You know, I agree.
[13:06]
A
I'm sure you're, I'm sure you also agree with that, but I'll. But, you know, it's. It's my job to point it out, to say that, like, look, these are not, these are not, these are not failures. They're just another step in the journey, you know.
[13:19]
C
They sure feel like failures at the time, though, don't they, sir?
[13:22]
A
They absolutely do. They absolutely do.
[13:24]
C
When you're in the closet popping Klonopin and crying yourself to sleep in the fetal position, you're like, it's hard to convince yourself this isn't a failure. Right.
[13:33]
A
Yeah. Right. It's really, really difficult when you're in the, in the middle of it, to look at the blessings that come from it. But then also when you look at what you have now, you know, you know that, that this would not be possible had that, you know, had. Had your gyms just like, kept barely making enough money to survive, you would have just kept doing the gyms, you know?
[13:52]
C
Yeah, no, those. I like to play a game with people that I respect, and that is, you know, when we're in a deep conversation, I'LL be like, I want you to think of your life, and if I gave you a DeLorean, right? And you, you could go back in time, but you can't make any changes, and you're just a fly on the wall watching that moment. What three moments would you choose? And. And 90% of the time, if I give you three options, usually one of them is a joyous moment. The birth of your son. Right. The other two are horrible moments that changed your life. Yeah. Your father passing away. Like, I want to go back and see myself under the desk crying again with my door shut and locked. Like, I know I can get through this. I don't know how I can get through this, but we're going to get through it. You know, the, the, the. For me, that's what it is. It's two horrible moments that change the direction and course of my life for wildly, wonderfully, the better.
[15:00]
A
Tell me a little bit more about the. The MLM thing. So, so you essentially, when you started your own insurance brokerage, you completely departed from that business model, or what was the timeline?
[15:09]
C
Well, I, you know, I, I had an agency where that was that model for about five years, and then we transferred into my own brokerage where we're not tied to anybody and nobody can. Nobody can take anything away from me. I enjoyed it for a while. In the beginning, it was, you have your own company, you run it however you want. Just don't break any laws. And so I got. I love, like, my passion in life is certainly not insurance. My passion in life is teaching young men how to be grown men. Right. It's being a father. I have five kids. It's my, like, my greatest joy in life is being a father. I can't get enough of it. And, and, and so, because I'm 51, you know, most of the young men and women who come in here are much younger than I am. And so I, I get to be a mentor or father figure to them. Most of the people who work here call me Papa, which is fun, I guess, but. Yeah. So I was in that MLM thing for a while, and then all of a sudden one day it went from you're. You're in business for yourself to, okay, you need to come into our structure and start acting the way we want you to act. And my place is very. Again, I would say it's. It's. It's like Wolf of Wall street, but with extreme ethics. Yeah, yeah, we're having a blast, man. You know, and every. And so extreme ethics in that Client first, you know, the company second. Right. Everything. But I'm fun to be around as long as. And, but also we don't put up with BS.
[16:43]
A
Yeah. Right. all.
[16:45]
C
We, we call it immediately. You know, that is one of the mistakes that I learned from my, my, my gym business was I let stuff slide, right?
[16:53]
A
Yeah.
[16:54]
C
It's the worst thing you can do in the world. You let any little thing slide and it turns into a giant snowball.
[17:00]
A
Tell me, was there a shift in product recommendations to customers when you were outside of the MLM model versus what you do now?
[17:09]
C
Well, the reason I stuck in the MLM model for so long, even though I didn't want to, was there was just such a limited number of good products in the health insurance world. When Obamacare came in, it destroyed the industry. Right. And then there was only one or two products out there that were any good. But over those years, those products that were, that were, that were, that were good, never improved. And then now there's outstanding products out there. Outstanding products, outstanding prices, outstanding customer service. There's outstanding stuff out there. And at some point it just got to a place where I'm like, okay, thank goodness, it's, it's time to go. Yeah. And the only reason I stuck around as long as I did because it just took that long for the laws and the courts and everything to come around to be able to build, to be able to build great products for the clients.
[18:03]
A
Yeah. That's ultimately how I feel about that. MLM structure is like, there's like a school of people that just immediately call it a scam just because it pays through multiple levels. But I'm sort of under the impression now where it's like, just know what you want because like to, to your point is where you actually pay your employees a base salary and they have the ability to get to full time income a lot quicker and you know, they might sacrifice commissions or they might, they might choose this path for a certain reason and then somebody else might choose the other path for another reason. But just understand that there's pros and cons and whatever else in whatever you're trying to pursue. And one of them, if you, if you're like you and you're like that very entrepreneurial person, you're probably going to find those types of environments to, to too restrictive and too limiting, but maybe you like those things and so that environment might be better for you. You know what I mean? It's just, you got to really figure out how do I, where am I going to Thrive here.
[19:01]
B
This episode of the show is brought to you by Whatnot. So I was scrolling on Whatnot because I really, I just wanted to see what it was about. And I started experiencing what I can only describe as like a social media shopping channel. But it's live shopping. You got to go try it out, okay. Because it's not just for the buyers. It's also for the sellers. Whatnot is the largest dedicated live shopping platform. Whether it's beauty, collectibles, electronics, luxury, fashion, even cookies, sellers are building real thriving businesses. Anybody can sell. Whether your business is big, small, or yet to exist, people selling on whatnot sell 10 times more than on other major marketplaces. 10 times more. That's because you're not just listing products. You're building real connections with actual buyers. Across Whatnot, the number of sellers making over $1 million a year year has doubled. Consistency pays off. It's not just a side hustle. It's a real path to building something that lasts. Whatnot. Buyers spend more than an hour a day in the app, which is crazy. They're not just browsing and searching for content. They're engaged, they're buying, and they're coming back. You go live, show off products in real time, and then turn what you love into real income. I went on there the other day just shopping around, looking for some stuff tuned into a live stream. Ended up with a couple of shirts and. And I love them. And you get this sort of live demonstration and you get to ask questions about the product and how does it feel and what's the fit and all those types of things that you can get answered live so you can make sure that you're making a better decision, even as a buyer. So search Whatnot W h a t N o t in the app store, download it, and you can start selling right away. Okay, here's something my younger self would have benefited from, because, let's be honest, most of us just picked a bank at 16 and then never looked back back. Sound familiar? Well, that's where Chime comes in. Because Chime is changing the way that people bank. They're not like traditional stuffy old banks who charge fees and gatekeep perks and rewards and all that stuff. Chime offers the most rewarding fee, free banking, all with no overdraft fees, no monthly fees, no minimum balance fees. Plus, you get 5% cash back on Chime card and a category of choice like gas or groceries, all while building credit through regular everyday spending. With absolutely no credit check, you can also grow your Money faster with their savings rate. That's nine times the national average. Let me say that again. Nine times the national average for their savings accounts. And if you're ever in a pinch, spot me lets you overdraft up to 200 fee free. So join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's number one choice for banking. Head to chime.com travis that's chime.com travis Sign up now because it only takes a few minutes. Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services and Chime card provided by Chime's bank partners. Qualifying direct deposits required terms of limits apply. Go to chime.com disclosures for details.
[21:43]
C
I wouldn't have changed a thing about it. Not a thing. Yeah, it's got me into the industry, you know, without it. It gives you forced mentorship, gives you the ability. And, you know, it's not like, it's not like you can't, you know, surpass people. But also, at some point, you know, again, when I first came in, there were no. There were very few decent products in the marketplace. Very few. And then. And so the answer to everybody's question is, hey, guess what? I happen to have that right? At some point, that stops being the answer to everyone's question. And, you know, I've been blessed enough to make a lot of people a lot of money. I've been blessed enough to teach a lot of people how to make a lot of money and teach a lot of people, you know, and the thing about making money is you just got to help enough people, right? So, you know, I've taught a lot of people how to help a lot of people, and I've. I've enjoyed every moment of it. But at some point, it was like, all right, I'm gonna go build. It's my turn. I'm gonna go build the biggest brand in the industry. And I need my. I need my company name on Cowboy Stadium at some point.
[22:52]
A
So let's go. So let's talk. Let's talk the personal finance side here for a second. Has anything change changed or shifted in your personal finance philosophy? Like income in. Are you thinking about, like, oh, remember that one time I thought everything was good, the gyms, and then everything was bad and it was all gone. Like, are you putting money in certain types of financial vehicles? Like, where do you invest that money? How do you think about that now?
[23:17]
C
So I'm, I wouldn't say I'm very good at that. I, you know, I have. I. Because I've lost everything. So Many times I've lost everything a few times in life. I, I, I think it's very few entrepreneurs become successful without that. And so I have a hard time putting money in places that I can't get it back. Like, you know, I've got money in IRAs, I've got this, I've got that. But it, you know, con compared to my quality of life or the, the type of living that I make, I don't have as much as I should in there. But I've got a lot of money in perfect antique cars. Right. And so like I, I have a car that's going on, bring a trailer. I think tomorrow, the next day. I, I paid 150000 for that car six years ago. If it doesn't go for 220, I'm going to be really disappointed.
[24:15]
A
Yeah, right.
[24:16]
C
So it appreciates. But also if I have to get the money, I can get it, but it's going to take me a month.
[24:22]
A
Yeah.
[24:23]
C
And also take advice from on that.
[24:26]
A
Well, but I think there, that there is advice there which is that you should invest in what you know, you
[24:32]
C
know what I mean?
[24:33]
A
Like you, like, you know, cars. Like it would be, it would be foolish for me to play that game because I don't know anything about the classic car world. You know what I'm saying? Like, it would be more just like a fun hobby. That's just me getting cars with no idea of the market demand, how long it takes me to offload that car, what profit I can expect to make, if I can expect to make any profit. You know what I mean? Like, whereas that's something that you know really, really well and something you've been doing for the past 25 years. So like, yeah, that makes sense to me. Like invest in the things that you know, don't invest in the things that other people tell you that you should be investing in. Just get to know this thing and this thing and then put your money there and then be okay with whatever happens.
[25:11]
C
Yeah. And the other place that I, that I invest mostly is in the companies I own. Yeah. Yeah.
[25:17]
A
So even one place where you know
[25:18]
C
you're going to get dividends, I know I'm going to get dividends. And if it goes, if it all goes awry, it's, I know whose fault it was.
[25:27]
A
Yeah.
[25:27]
C
I can knock on that dude's front door,
[25:31]
A
we can have a conversation about it tonight.
[25:33]
C
Yeah. I can look right in the mirror and go, hey, dummy, what'd you do there? So, yeah, I, I've never Been great at investing, but also, you know, I sit back and go, man, I'm a hypocrite to my son. My son's 18 and he's working here. He's making a very good living for his age. He's very, very talented for his age. My daughter works. Actually, three of my kids work here. My wife at work is here. My sister's here. You know, it's a. It's a good. It's a great company. I. I love coming to work, but I try to give my son different advice than. Than I would take on my own. And he doesn't want to hear it either. Right.
[26:13]
A
He's like, dad, yeah.
[26:14]
C
I'm like, look what. Look what we can do here, man. Like, look, this is how much I put into this when you were born, and look how much it is now. And then he has the same problem of, yeah, but I can take that much money and turn it into this.
[26:29]
A
Yep.
[26:29]
C
And like, okay, well, what if I take a hundred thousand dollars and dump it into my company? What can I turn it into? Yeah, if I take a hundred thousand dumping into the stock market, what can I turn it into?
[26:39]
A
Right.
[26:39]
C
And I always get kind of lost in that because I know what I can do with it in my company.
[26:44]
A
Yeah.
[26:44]
C
But right in the ass before.
[26:46]
A
So, Perry, I appreciate you taking the time, man, to come on and share a little bit about your journey. Where can people go to get more from you and everything you're working on?
[26:53]
C
Healthyinsurancedude.com Healthy Insurance dude, everywhere.
[26:57]
A
Healthy insurance dude. All over socials, all over the Internet. If you search it, Perry will come up. Perry, I appreciate you taking the time, man. Everybody else tuning in. Remember, money only solves your money problems, but it's easier to solve the rest of your problems when you got some money in the bank. So let's start there. Here on the Travis Makes Money podcast. Thanks for tuning in. Catch you guys next time.
[27:14]
C
Peace.

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: Travis Makes Money

Episode: INTERVIEW | Make Money by Turning Failure into Your Greatest Advantage with Perry Lunsford

Date: August 13, 2026
Host: Travis Chappell
Guest: Perry Lunsford, Founder and CEO of Healthy Insurance Dude

Overview

In this episode, Travis Chappell interviews Perry Lunsford, a U.S. Air Force veteran and the founder of Healthy Insurance Dude, about his unconventional journey to business success. Through candid storytelling, Perry shares how recurring failures shaped his mindset and ultimately became the foundation for his achievements in the insurance industry. The discussion digs deep into the realities of entrepreneurship, the value of learning from hard times, the practical advantages and flaws of MLM business models, and Perry's unique philosophy on investing and personal finance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Perry’s Early Entrepreneurial Journey

[00:49 – 02:37]

Perry’s first taste of entrepreneurial excitement began with launching an irrigation company right out of high school.
Realized early that conventional jobs weren't for him, despite a short stint at Arby's and a 10-year adventure with the Air Force.
Memorable Quote:

“Anytime somebody tries to tell me something’s hard, all I can think about is, you know, 1993, 104 degrees, swinging a pickaxe, trying to install a sprinkler system at 18 years old.” — Perry Lunsford [01:21]

The Pivot from Gym Ownership to Insurance

[03:08 – 04:58]

Owned and operated a chain of five fitness centers, but lost them all after competitors opened nearby, leaving him $350k in debt.
Called his cousin in desperation, who steered him into insurance, setting Perry on a new path.
Leveraged marketing and sales experience from gyms to succeed rapidly in insurance.

Breaking into Insurance with a New Approach

[06:01 – 07:11]

Day one in insurance: given low-quality leads (“Mary Wong leads”) and realized quickly that traditional cold-calling wasn’t for him.
Created the “Healthy Insurance Dude” persona and began marketing on buy/sell/trade Facebook groups by posting lifestyle content.
Sold multiple policies daily in his first week, earning $750k in his first year.
Notable Moment:

“I had just had so many failures in life that made me exactly the right person for this. I had no idea.” — Perry Lunsford [07:11]

Reflections on Failure and Resilience

[10:21 – 13:32]

Perry asserts that entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone; believes entrepreneurs are “born” and not “made,” with an innate tolerance for risk.
- Contrasts himself with his risk-averse brother.
Quote:

“If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last eight years, it’s that… anyone can be an entrepreneur, they just gotta want it bad enough. I don’t believe that at all anymore.” — Perry Lunsford [11:19]
Reframes failures as pivotal life lessons, recalling low points (even "popping Klonopin and crying in the fetal position") as transformative.
Memorable Quote:

“When you’re in the closet popping Klonopin and crying yourself to sleep in the fetal position, it’s hard to convince yourself this isn’t a failure.” — Perry Lunsford [13:24]

Leaving the MLM Model Behind

[14:59 – 18:03]

Initially operated under a multi-level marketing (MLM) structure, appreciating the autonomy at first.
Eventually left as structures became more controlling and product limitations persisted.
Created a new brokerage model: more products, salary-based employees with small residuals, focus on ethical and client-centered service.
Perry’s management style: “Wolf of Wall Street, but with extreme ethics.”

The Role of Mentorship and Company Culture

[15:09 – 16:53]

Expresses passion for mentoring young employees, many of whom see him as a father figure (“Papa”).
Emphasis on addressing problems immediately, a lesson hard-learned from previous ventures.

Product Recommendations & Market Changes

[17:08 – 18:03]

Stayed in the MLM model for years due to a lack of quality insurance products post-Obamacare.
Shifted only when better products and more flexibility emerged in the marketplace.

Entrepreneurship and Fit

[18:03 – 19:00]

Both host and guest agree: Different structures fit different personalities—know what environment helps you thrive.

Personal Finance & Investing Philosophy

Evolving Mindset After Loss

[22:52 – 26:46]

Perry admits he’s “not very good” at conventional investing, still haunted by prior financial losses and valuing liquidity.
Large portions of his wealth are invested in classic cars (which appreciate in value and are "liquid-ish") and his own businesses.
Quote:

“I have a car… I paid $150,000 for that car six years ago. If it doesn’t go for $220, I’m going to be really disappointed.” — Perry Lunsford [24:15]
Advises investing in what you know, sharing that his own kids struggle to take his advice over the allure of entrepreneurial risks.
Most confident investing in his own companies:

“I know I’m going to get dividends. And if it all goes awry, I know whose fault it was.” [25:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Difficult for others, stuff to get, end up here.” — Perry Lunsford [12:53]
“The thing about making money is you just got to help enough people, right?” — Perry Lunsford [21:43]
“I need my company name on Cowboy Stadium at some point.” — Perry Lunsford [22:52]
“Money only solves your money problems, but it’s easier to solve the rest of your problems when you got some money in the bank.” — Travis Chappell [26:57]

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:49 — Perry’s first entrepreneurial venture
03:08 — From gym owner to insurance, hitting rock bottom
06:01 — First day in insurance and marketing innovation
07:11 — Transitioning from struggling to thriving
10:21 — Entrepreneurship: innate or learned?
13:24 — Processing failure and resilience
14:59 — Departure from MLM and company culture
15:09 — Mentorship and building a family-like company
17:08 — Quality of products and market changes
22:52 — Personal investing philosophy, classic cars, and business
25:11 — Advice on investing in what you know

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

Per Perry, failure is inevitable—and essential—on the road to success. Each setback uniquely prepared him for later achievements.
Entrepreneurship may not be for everyone; self-honesty about risk tolerance and fit is crucial for happiness and success.
Invest in what you truly know, rather than what’s “supposed” to be smart.
Creating a positive, ethical company culture and mentoring others can be deeply fulfilling and drive business growth.

Where to Find Perry:

HealthyInsuranceDude.com
Search “Healthy Insurance Dude” on all socials

For listeners:
This episode offers practical and deeply human advice for anyone thinking of launching a business, pivoting after failure, or rethinking their investing strategy. Perry’s candid conversation with Travis serves as a reminder that both pain and perseverance are core to meaningful financial achievement.

Loading summary

Transcript88 lines

[00:00]
A
You're listening to the Travis Makes Money podcast.
[00:04]
B
What's going on, everybody?
[00:05]
A
Welcome back to the Travis Makes Money podcast, where it's our mission to help you make more money. On this episode of the show, I have a new friend, Perry Lunsford. He is the founder and CEO of the Healthy Insurance dude, one of the nation's highest revered independent health insurance brokerages. U.S. air Force veteran and entrepreneur, Perry has built his company around a simple promise. Do what you say you're going to do, and take exceptional care of people along the way. Since 2018, his family has helped thousands of individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and small business owners navigate health insurance with clarity and confidence. Perry, what's up, man? Welcome to the show.
[00:38]
C
Hi, Travis. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it, man.
[00:41]
A
So tell. Tell me the first time. Let's go back in time here. Tell me the first time you ever made a dollar that was exciting or shocking or surprising to you.
[00:50]
C
First time I ever made a dollar that was surprising. Shocking to me. I started my first real company when I graduated high school or the closest thing to a real company. I started a. An irrigation company. And I don't think I'm somebody who's capable of having a job. I was in the Air Force 10 years, but I think that's more of an adventure than a job. And so really never been to an interview in my life. I did work at Arby's once for, like, two weeks before I got fired. That's been a couple of years, but, yeah, so I had an irrigation company. And so. And it was. It was just me. And then I'd hire some, like, day laborers here and there in the beginning. And so like, now, anytime somebody tries to tell me something's hard, all I can. I can think about is, you know, 1993, 104 degrees, swinging a pickaxe, and trying to install a sprinkler system at 18 years old. So I would say that was probably the first time I ever made a dollar that excited me. And then from there, I learned to flip hot rods. That's what I did in the Air Force for a living, was buy.
[01:55]
A
Okay, yeah. So did you go to the Air Force directly after high school?
[01:59]
C
I had this company for about two years. And back then I thought a college degree was really important. And so I was going to college and building this company, and then, you know, 15 hours turned into 12, nine, six, three. And then at some point, I'm like, yeah, if I don't get a degree, you know, I'm not going to Be successful in life again. That was a long time ago. And joined the air Force and then realized that was volunteer work and then started buying, selling, and flipping hot rods. So I still do that today.
[02:31]
A
Oh, really? Okay. So that's just something that you love, Something you're passionate about.
[02:35]
C
I'm passionate about cars. I got, like, 20 something cars, man.
[02:38]
A
Okay.
[02:38]
C
Yeah. Yeah. Now I just buy and forget to sell, so. Yeah.
[02:43]
A
Yeah, that's fair. Yeah. Well, the. The insurance game, though, can give you some access to capital for the car habit, you know?
[02:49]
C
It can. Yeah. We. We. We have a marketing agency, and I have. So I have the. The insurance brokerage and a marketing agency which creates everything for the. For our insurance brokerage.
[02:59]
A
Okay, so tell me a little about the insurance thing. What I mean, did you get started in this in the air Force? Did you come out and not sure what to do? How did you get started?
[03:08]
C
Yeah, so I owned a chain of fitness centers, which is the worst business model on the planet. Like, you know, you spent $2 million to open a gym, and you beg people for $30 a month, and as soon as something new and shiny opens up across the street, everybody runs over to it. And so. So I had five. Five gyms, made a decent living, and then I kind of. I made a left where I should have made a right. I made some mistakes, but the easiest way to put it is Planet Fitness opened up next door to every gym we had. And so I went from making a decent living to, you know, $350,000 in debt. Broke off my butt, and no idea how to. How to make my mortgage payment. I called my cousin who was in insurance, and he was. I was like, what? I don't. Like, I'm gonna have to get a job. And he's like, yeah, you can't have a job.
[04:00]
A
Yeah, that's not gonna work for you.
[04:02]
C
Yeah. And so. And he was right. He was right. And so I. I kind of fell into this industry, and just from all of my errors and mistakes and failures in life, this industry was just super easy, super simple to me. You know, with the gyms, I. You know, I did a lot of paid ads, a lot of YouTube stuff, a lot of Facebook stuff, a lot of paid ads in the company I had prior to that, I did a lot of Google Ads. And so I never think of myself as a very good salesperson. I'm a. I'm a fantastic marketer so that they're so warm to me when they walk in the door. All I got to do is not fumble and you know, do what I say I'm going to do when I say I'm going to do it and do it with a smile. And so we did that, walked into this world eight years ago just by myself, got appointed and like overnight just became, you know, number one in the country really quickly.
[04:59]
A
Okay.
[04:59]
C
And then we started building and then we started building the brokerage and it was back then it was under that like MLM model like most insurance is. Then I ended up selling that a couple of years ago and rebuilt the whole model where we had more products. My, my employees are all salary based with small residuals built in, really small residuals built in that build up over time. So my employees make an incredible living. We're, we're blessed to have, you know, I think there's, you know, thousands of clients.
[05:33]
A
So tell me, tell me that first 12 month period because this, it's, it's atypical for especially people selling life insurance things like this. Like you tend to make a lot more money year 10 than you made year one. And I'm sure that's still the obviously for you as well. But there's a lot of people who go without paychecks for months on end when they're first getting into the business. What did you do on like day one? You get your license and you're like all right now I can sell, but like what do I do to generate business? How did you get this first?
[06:01]
C
So the first day I was there, you know, first day I signed up and to do it and they hand me. But they used to call Mary Wong leads which are like these penny. Like it's the, it's the white pages, right? And so I'm, I'm dialing through this and, and I, I did that the whole day and I was like this is, this is ridiculous. So that night I decided I wasn't going to do it that way anymore. I got up at 5 in the morning and just started posting pictures of myself. I invented the idea of the Healthy Insurance dude and started posting pictures of myself and my kids on. Back then they were buy sell trade groups, remember those? And, and I was selling two or three policies a day like in my first week. Yeah, yeah, it, it changed my life. I mean, I mean just from posting
[06:52]
A
about like lifestyle content in these groups.
[06:54]
C
Well, I was posting lifestyle content and saying hey, I'm the healthy Insurance dude and I sell health insurance to entrepreneurs and small business owners and 1099. And yeah, I mean I made 750,000 in my first year.
[07:10]
A
That's crazy, dude.
[07:11]
C
It is crazy. I again, you know, I had just had so many failures in life that made me exactly the right person for this. I had no idea.
[07:19]
A
It was hard.
[07:20]
B
This episode of the show is brought to you by Whatnot. So I was scrolling on Whatnot because I really, I just wanted to see what it was about. And I started experiencing what I can only describe as like a social media shopping channel. Uh, but it's live shopping. You gotta go try it out. Okay. Because it's not just for the buyers. It's also for the sellers. Uh, Whatnot is the largest dedicated live shopping platform. Whether it's beauty, collectibles, electronics, luxury, fashion, even cookies, sellers are building real thriving businesses. Anybody can sell. Whether your business is big, small, or yet to exist, people selling on whatnot sell 10 times more than on other major marketplaces. 10 times more. That's because you're not just listing products. You're building real connections with actual buyers. Across Whatnot, the number of sellers making over $1 million a year has doubled. Consistency pays off. It's not just a side hustle. It's a real path to building something that lasts. Whatnot buyers spend more than an hour a day in the app, which is crazy. They're not just browsing and searching for content. They're engaged, they're buying, and they're coming back. You go live, show off products in real time, and then turn what you love into real income. I went on there the other day just shopping around, looking for some stuff tuned into a live stream. Ended up with a couple of shirts, and I love them. And you get this sort of live demonstration, and you get to ask questions about the product and how does it feel and what's the fit and all those types of things. You can get answered live. So you can make sure that you're making a better decision, even as a buyer. So search Whatnot W H a t N o t in the app store, download it, and you can start selling right away. Okay, here's something my younger self would have benefited from, because, let's be honest, most of us just picked a bank at 16 and then never looked back. Sound familiar? Well, that's where Chime comes in. Because Chime is changing the way that people bank. They're not like traditional, stuffy old banks who charge fees and gatekeep perks and rewards and all that stuff. Chime offers the most rewarding fee, free banking, all with no overdraft fees, no monthly fees, no minimum balance fees. Plus you get 5% cash back on Chime card and a category of choice like gas or groceries, all while building credit through regular everyday spending. With absolutely no credit check. You can also grow your money faster with their savings rate. That's nine times the national average. Let me say that again. Nine times the national average for their savings accounts. And if you're ever in a pinch, spot me lets you overdraft up to 200 fee free. So join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's number one choice for banking. Head to chime.com travis that's chime.com travis. Sign up now because it only takes a few minutes. Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services and Chime Card provided by Chimes Bank Partners. Qualifying direct deposits required terms limits apply. Go to chime.com disclosures for details.
[10:02]
C
Yeah, like, I try to bring my friends in. My, my, my best buddy is my attorney and I'm like, dude, you got to quit being an attorney. You got to just do what I do. Just do what I do. And I had no idea that it was difficult. And so, yeah, I made. Yeah. And that was, that was my hardest year.
[10:22]
A
And, and when you, when you got started, was it sort of this MLM structure or was that just the first one that you started?
[10:28]
C
That was, that was. I walked into an MLM structure. And. Okay. And in the MLM structure, you go up quickly and then you can build your own stuff. And. And I, I hated that. I absolutely hated it. I can't stand. Well, in the beginning, again, I didn't know this was hard. It was so easy for me. Again, not because I'm that smart, but because I'm that stupid. I didn't know it was hard. So it was easy. I didn't know that I had a unique set of skills that doesn't translate over to the average person. And so, you know, I brought in hundreds of people over the next five years that I watched fail. Because if there's anything I've learned in the last eight years, it's that, you know, I used to think anyone can be an entrepreneur. They just got to want it bad enough. I don't believe that at all anymore.
[11:19]
A
Really?
[11:20]
C
Yeah, not at all. Not at all. I brought in, I've tried to teach too many people to be an entrepreneur. I think you're born an entrepreneur. You know, like, my brother and I are exactly the same person. We have one difference. And that difference is that I'm a risk taker and he's risk averse. Yeah, right. My brother is a high School soccer coach and athletic director. And, and he's one of the best in Texas, but he's safe. And I like to go, you know, everything seems really good. Let's screw it up and go for something better. Yeah. Yeah. And so if you, if you don't have the charisma, this is, you know, sales and entrepreneurship is difficult. If you don't have, if you don't, if you are, if you're not risk averse, if you love risk and your spouse hates it, you're out, bro. Like, good luck.
[12:12]
A
Yeah.
[12:13]
C
You're either gonna stay an employee, which is wonderful, that is not a cut down, or you're gonna have a divorce. Those are your two options.
[12:21]
A
Yeah, exactly.
[12:23]
C
Yeah. So I, I just, I came in at 43. I'm 51 now. Right, okay, 43. I came in doing this and because I was 43, and because of the company I had before that and because of the company I had before that and, and because of the Air Force. And it was just easy for me.
[12:43]
A
Yeah. The perfect, like, alchemistic mixture of skills and life experience made it seem easy when it was difficult for everybody else, which, by the way, is a great indicator that you're doing the right thing.
[12:54]
C
The things that. Difficult for others stuff to get end up here.
[12:59]
A
Yeah.
[13:00]
C
Yeah.
[13:00]
A
Well. And using the word fail. But I, I would argue those are not failures. Those are just lessons.
[13:05]
C
Yeah. You know, I agree.
[13:06]
A
I'm sure you're, I'm sure you also agree with that, but I'll. But, you know, it's. It's my job to point it out, to say that, like, look, these are not, these are not, these are not failures. They're just another step in the journey, you know.
[13:19]
C
They sure feel like failures at the time, though, don't they, sir?
[13:22]
A
They absolutely do. They absolutely do.
[13:24]
C
When you're in the closet popping Klonopin and crying yourself to sleep in the fetal position, you're like, it's hard to convince yourself this isn't a failure. Right.
[13:33]
A
Yeah. Right. It's really, really difficult when you're in the, in the middle of it, to look at the blessings that come from it. But then also when you look at what you have now, you know, you know that, that this would not be possible had that, you know, had. Had your gyms just like, kept barely making enough money to survive, you would have just kept doing the gyms, you know?
[13:52]
C
Yeah, no, those. I like to play a game with people that I respect, and that is, you know, when we're in a deep conversation, I'LL be like, I want you to think of your life, and if I gave you a DeLorean, right? And you, you could go back in time, but you can't make any changes, and you're just a fly on the wall watching that moment. What three moments would you choose? And. And 90% of the time, if I give you three options, usually one of them is a joyous moment. The birth of your son. Right. The other two are horrible moments that changed your life. Yeah. Your father passing away. Like, I want to go back and see myself under the desk crying again with my door shut and locked. Like, I know I can get through this. I don't know how I can get through this, but we're going to get through it. You know, the, the, the. For me, that's what it is. It's two horrible moments that change the direction and course of my life for wildly, wonderfully, the better.
[15:00]
A
Tell me a little bit more about the. The MLM thing. So, so you essentially, when you started your own insurance brokerage, you completely departed from that business model, or what was the timeline?
[15:09]
C
Well, I, you know, I, I had an agency where that was that model for about five years, and then we transferred into my own brokerage where we're not tied to anybody and nobody can. Nobody can take anything away from me. I enjoyed it for a while. In the beginning, it was, you have your own company, you run it however you want. Just don't break any laws. And so I got. I love, like, my passion in life is certainly not insurance. My passion in life is teaching young men how to be grown men. Right. It's being a father. I have five kids. It's my, like, my greatest joy in life is being a father. I can't get enough of it. And, and, and so, because I'm 51, you know, most of the young men and women who come in here are much younger than I am. And so I, I get to be a mentor or father figure to them. Most of the people who work here call me Papa, which is fun, I guess, but. Yeah. So I was in that MLM thing for a while, and then all of a sudden one day it went from you're. You're in business for yourself to, okay, you need to come into our structure and start acting the way we want you to act. And my place is very. Again, I would say it's. It's. It's like Wolf of Wall street, but with extreme ethics. Yeah, yeah, we're having a blast, man. You know, and every. And so extreme ethics in that Client first, you know, the company second. Right. Everything. But I'm fun to be around as long as. And, but also we don't put up with BS.
[16:43]
A
Yeah. Right. all.
[16:45]
C
We, we call it immediately. You know, that is one of the mistakes that I learned from my, my, my gym business was I let stuff slide, right?
[16:53]
A
Yeah.
[16:54]
C
It's the worst thing you can do in the world. You let any little thing slide and it turns into a giant snowball.
[17:00]
A
Tell me, was there a shift in product recommendations to customers when you were outside of the MLM model versus what you do now?
[17:09]
C
Well, the reason I stuck in the MLM model for so long, even though I didn't want to, was there was just such a limited number of good products in the health insurance world. When Obamacare came in, it destroyed the industry. Right. And then there was only one or two products out there that were any good. But over those years, those products that were, that were, that were, that were good, never improved. And then now there's outstanding products out there. Outstanding products, outstanding prices, outstanding customer service. There's outstanding stuff out there. And at some point it just got to a place where I'm like, okay, thank goodness, it's, it's time to go. Yeah. And the only reason I stuck around as long as I did because it just took that long for the laws and the courts and everything to come around to be able to build, to be able to build great products for the clients.
[18:03]
A
Yeah. That's ultimately how I feel about that. MLM structure is like, there's like a school of people that just immediately call it a scam just because it pays through multiple levels. But I'm sort of under the impression now where it's like, just know what you want because like to, to your point is where you actually pay your employees a base salary and they have the ability to get to full time income a lot quicker and you know, they might sacrifice commissions or they might, they might choose this path for a certain reason and then somebody else might choose the other path for another reason. But just understand that there's pros and cons and whatever else in whatever you're trying to pursue. And one of them, if you, if you're like you and you're like that very entrepreneurial person, you're probably going to find those types of environments to, to too restrictive and too limiting, but maybe you like those things and so that environment might be better for you. You know what I mean? It's just, you got to really figure out how do I, where am I going to Thrive here.
[19:01]
B
This episode of the show is brought to you by Whatnot. So I was scrolling on Whatnot because I really, I just wanted to see what it was about. And I started experiencing what I can only describe as like a social media shopping channel. But it's live shopping. You got to go try it out, okay. Because it's not just for the buyers. It's also for the sellers. Whatnot is the largest dedicated live shopping platform. Whether it's beauty, collectibles, electronics, luxury, fashion, even cookies, sellers are building real thriving businesses. Anybody can sell. Whether your business is big, small, or yet to exist, people selling on whatnot sell 10 times more than on other major marketplaces. 10 times more. That's because you're not just listing products. You're building real connections with actual buyers. Across Whatnot, the number of sellers making over $1 million a year year has doubled. Consistency pays off. It's not just a side hustle. It's a real path to building something that lasts. Whatnot. Buyers spend more than an hour a day in the app, which is crazy. They're not just browsing and searching for content. They're engaged, they're buying, and they're coming back. You go live, show off products in real time, and then turn what you love into real income. I went on there the other day just shopping around, looking for some stuff tuned into a live stream. Ended up with a couple of shirts and. And I love them. And you get this sort of live demonstration and you get to ask questions about the product and how does it feel and what's the fit and all those types of things that you can get answered live so you can make sure that you're making a better decision, even as a buyer. So search Whatnot W h a t N o t in the app store, download it, and you can start selling right away. Okay, here's something my younger self would have benefited from, because, let's be honest, most of us just picked a bank at 16 and then never looked back back. Sound familiar? Well, that's where Chime comes in. Because Chime is changing the way that people bank. They're not like traditional stuffy old banks who charge fees and gatekeep perks and rewards and all that stuff. Chime offers the most rewarding fee, free banking, all with no overdraft fees, no monthly fees, no minimum balance fees. Plus, you get 5% cash back on Chime card and a category of choice like gas or groceries, all while building credit through regular everyday spending. With absolutely no credit check, you can also grow your Money faster with their savings rate. That's nine times the national average. Let me say that again. Nine times the national average for their savings accounts. And if you're ever in a pinch, spot me lets you overdraft up to 200 fee free. So join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's number one choice for banking. Head to chime.com travis that's chime.com travis Sign up now because it only takes a few minutes. Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services and Chime card provided by Chime's bank partners. Qualifying direct deposits required terms of limits apply. Go to chime.com disclosures for details.
[21:43]
C
I wouldn't have changed a thing about it. Not a thing. Yeah, it's got me into the industry, you know, without it. It gives you forced mentorship, gives you the ability. And, you know, it's not like, it's not like you can't, you know, surpass people. But also, at some point, you know, again, when I first came in, there were no. There were very few decent products in the marketplace. Very few. And then. And so the answer to everybody's question is, hey, guess what? I happen to have that right? At some point, that stops being the answer to everyone's question. And, you know, I've been blessed enough to make a lot of people a lot of money. I've been blessed enough to teach a lot of people how to make a lot of money and teach a lot of people, you know, and the thing about making money is you just got to help enough people, right? So, you know, I've taught a lot of people how to help a lot of people, and I've. I've enjoyed every moment of it. But at some point, it was like, all right, I'm gonna go build. It's my turn. I'm gonna go build the biggest brand in the industry. And I need my. I need my company name on Cowboy Stadium at some point.
[22:52]
A
So let's go. So let's talk. Let's talk the personal finance side here for a second. Has anything change changed or shifted in your personal finance philosophy? Like income in. Are you thinking about, like, oh, remember that one time I thought everything was good, the gyms, and then everything was bad and it was all gone. Like, are you putting money in certain types of financial vehicles? Like, where do you invest that money? How do you think about that now?
[23:17]
C
So I'm, I wouldn't say I'm very good at that. I, you know, I have. I. Because I've lost everything. So Many times I've lost everything a few times in life. I, I, I think it's very few entrepreneurs become successful without that. And so I have a hard time putting money in places that I can't get it back. Like, you know, I've got money in IRAs, I've got this, I've got that. But it, you know, con compared to my quality of life or the, the type of living that I make, I don't have as much as I should in there. But I've got a lot of money in perfect antique cars. Right. And so like I, I have a car that's going on, bring a trailer. I think tomorrow, the next day. I, I paid 150000 for that car six years ago. If it doesn't go for 220, I'm going to be really disappointed.
[24:15]
A
Yeah, right.
[24:16]
C
So it appreciates. But also if I have to get the money, I can get it, but it's going to take me a month.
[24:22]
A
Yeah.
[24:23]
C
And also take advice from on that.
[24:26]
A
Well, but I think there, that there is advice there which is that you should invest in what you know, you
[24:32]
C
know what I mean?
[24:33]
A
Like you, like, you know, cars. Like it would be, it would be foolish for me to play that game because I don't know anything about the classic car world. You know what I'm saying? Like, it would be more just like a fun hobby. That's just me getting cars with no idea of the market demand, how long it takes me to offload that car, what profit I can expect to make, if I can expect to make any profit. You know what I mean? Like, whereas that's something that you know really, really well and something you've been doing for the past 25 years. So like, yeah, that makes sense to me. Like invest in the things that you know, don't invest in the things that other people tell you that you should be investing in. Just get to know this thing and this thing and then put your money there and then be okay with whatever happens.
[25:11]
C
Yeah. And the other place that I, that I invest mostly is in the companies I own. Yeah. Yeah.
[25:17]
A
So even one place where you know
[25:18]
C
you're going to get dividends, I know I'm going to get dividends. And if it goes, if it all goes awry, it's, I know whose fault it was.
[25:27]
A
Yeah.
[25:27]
C
I can knock on that dude's front door,
[25:31]
A
we can have a conversation about it tonight.
[25:33]
C
Yeah. I can look right in the mirror and go, hey, dummy, what'd you do there? So, yeah, I, I've never Been great at investing, but also, you know, I sit back and go, man, I'm a hypocrite to my son. My son's 18 and he's working here. He's making a very good living for his age. He's very, very talented for his age. My daughter works. Actually, three of my kids work here. My wife at work is here. My sister's here. You know, it's a. It's a good. It's a great company. I. I love coming to work, but I try to give my son different advice than. Than I would take on my own. And he doesn't want to hear it either. Right.
[26:13]
A
He's like, dad, yeah.
[26:14]
C
I'm like, look what. Look what we can do here, man. Like, look, this is how much I put into this when you were born, and look how much it is now. And then he has the same problem of, yeah, but I can take that much money and turn it into this.
[26:29]
A
Yep.
[26:29]
C
And like, okay, well, what if I take a hundred thousand dollars and dump it into my company? What can I turn it into? Yeah, if I take a hundred thousand dumping into the stock market, what can I turn it into?
[26:39]
A
Right.
[26:39]
C
And I always get kind of lost in that because I know what I can do with it in my company.
[26:44]
A
Yeah.
[26:44]
C
But right in the ass before.
[26:46]
A
So, Perry, I appreciate you taking the time, man, to come on and share a little bit about your journey. Where can people go to get more from you and everything you're working on?
[26:53]
C
Healthyinsurancedude.com Healthy Insurance dude, everywhere.
[26:57]
A
Healthy insurance dude. All over socials, all over the Internet. If you search it, Perry will come up. Perry, I appreciate you taking the time, man. Everybody else tuning in. Remember, money only solves your money problems, but it's easier to solve the rest of your problems when you got some money in the bank. So let's start there. Here on the Travis Makes Money podcast. Thanks for tuning in. Catch you guys next time.
[27:14]
C
Peace.