In this financial reality-check episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Alan Franks, founder of The Mill Financial Partners and author of Empowered Money, to talk money, mistakes, and how real estate professionals can get serious about their future. Alan doesn’t hold back—calling out the traps many independent contractors fall into and laying out how to actually build wealth in an inconsistent commission-based world.They cover everything from the psychology of financial planning to tactical moves like using HELOCs, how to think about opportunity cost, why owning a home might not be the best investment, and how to position your portfolio across real estate, equities, and yes—even crypto. Alan also dives into tax strategy, the impact of bonus depreciation, and how agents can set retirement goals that are actually achievable (and not just based on dreams of “hitting a number”).Whether you're living deal-to-deal or looking to make smarter moves with growing income, this conversation will challenge the way you think about money, retirement, and real estate investing.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics[00:00:00] – Why we brought a financial planner onto a real estate podcast[00:01:58] – Where most independent contractors fall short with finances[00:02:55] – Realtors: Are you actually using your tax benefits?[00:04:00] – How to reverse engineer your retirement plan[00:05:20] – What most agents get wrong about income, goals, and lifestyle[00:07:00] – Should you check your financial plan more often than your listings?[00:08:00] – S&P index funds, meme stocks, and crypto: where agents get distracted[00:10:50] – Is your home actually a good investment? A harsh look at equity[00:14:00] – How wealthy people use leverage and debt (smartly)[00:17:02] – Airbnb crash, hard money lending, and safer 2025 bets[00:22:10] – The 4% rule? Alan’s take on retirement income strategies[00:23:30] – Why “just dump it into dividend stocks” isn’t the full answer🔗 Related Resources Below:🌐 For more information on Harcourts Auctions our non-distressed auction platform feel free to visit https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Alan Franks, CFP and The Mill Financial Partners:https://themillfp.com/https://empowered-money.com/https://www.facebook.com/themillfphttps://www.instagram.com/frankly_financial/https://www.amazon.com/EmPowered-Money-security-accumulate-fullest/dp/B0C9SG21KK🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and Harcourts Auctions: https://www.facebook.com/Benbradyharcourtshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionshttps://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions💬 Drop your biggest money mistake (or lesson) in the comments below. Let’s get real.