Most investors know how to make money—but very few know how to keep it, grow it, and build a lasting legacy with it. In this powerful conversation with Melissa Lindsay Freedman, we dig into the systems and mindset shifts that separate constant hustle from true financial freedom. Melissa shares her personal journey from financial confusion to intentional wealth creation, and we get real about the traps investors fall into when they ignore the back-end of their finances. If you’ve ever felt like your portfolio is scaling but your wealth isn’t, this is the episode you need to watch.
For a complete guide on optimizing and scaling your real estate investments, download my Freedom Blueprint! This essential tool walks you through ten key steps for organizing a profitable property portfolio. Click here to get your copy today!
Hello everyone. Today, I am excited to have Melissa Lindsay Freedman with me. Thank you for being here.
Hi, thank you for having me.
I’m really excited for our conversation because for those who do not know Melissa, she really specializes in helping her clients create personalized financial game plans. We’re going to talk a lot about the importance of financial planning, wealth building, being intentional about it, and the wisdom that can help you as a real estate investor—wherever you are in building, maintaining, and growing your financial wealth. So I’m excited.
Me too, thank you.
So let’s get started with why do you do what you do? How did you end up in this place where you help people with financial planning, big-picture thinking, and wealth building?
Yeah, I’m originally from Canada. I immigrated from Canada to the United States and became a naturalized citizen. For me, the whole U.S. financial system was confusing and overwhelming. I didn’t know where to start. As a young 20-something who moved to California, I had no idea how to create a line of credit, how to get started financially. As a single woman, it was difficult to figure out where to open the right bank account, how to get housing—it was all these small but critical things.
Over time, as I learned to steward money and build wealth, I realized that a lot of traditional financial institutions didn’t see me as a full individual. They made assumptions about me as a woman. I saw there was a gap. When I did create wealth, I had no idea how to preserve or grow it. That’s a huge gap—not just for women, but for anyone who learns how to create wealth but doesn’t know what to do after. Preservation is a muscle. I had to learn it all for myself through trial and error, and I was lucky to be in the right circles with millionaires and billionaires. Asking questions and being vulnerable gave me the financial education I needed.
Now I feel very privileged to help women, in particular, understand how to not just create wealth but preserve and grow it too.
This isn’t something we often get instruction on. And yet it’s so important because we’re working so hard to earn money. So many people don’t track how they spend it. It flows in and out just as fast. Let’s start with what happens if people aren’t intentional—if they don’t take the time to learn about wealth preservation and accumulation. What are the consequences?
We talk a lot about families like the Carnegies and Rockefellers and how they’ve preserved wealth for generations. That didn’t happen by accident—it happened because of financial education. In real estate, people often create wealth by leveraging and hitting on a successful project, but they only know that part of the game. They keep reinvesting and re-leveraging without ever diversifying or thinking about legacy. They don’t pause to ask, “What do I want to do with this wealth? What do I value? What’s my long-term plan?”
Eventually it either disappears within a generation or never matures into real freedom. Preservation is the foundation. If you can preserve it, then you can learn how to grow it more strategically.
Let’s say someone is listening and they’re thinking, “Okay, I’m hustling, I’m making money. I’ve got some momentum. How do I start preserving it?” What’s step one?
The first thing I do with clients is sit down in a Google Sheet and look at the entire financial picture. How much is coming in? What’s going out? Where’s the money? Where’s the debt? Then we look at goals. What do you actually want to achieve? Because that takes money—and understanding your numbers is the key to getting there.
The next step is knowing yourself as a financial individual. That includes understanding your risk tolerance. Everyone says if you want to build wealth fast, you have to take risks. But too many people dive into investments without knowing their risk profile. Some are too conservative and just stash money in savings or index funds. Others are 100% into real estate, crypto, or private equity and don’t understand the risk they’re carrying.
You need to slowly build a profile that pushes you toward the right balance of preservation and growth. It’s not about one being right or wrong—it’s about knowing what actually fits you.
That’s huge, especially in real estate investing. There are so many strategies, and none are right or wrong—it’s about fit. Take the BRRRR strategy, for example. On paper, it looks like a great return: buy, renovate, rent, refinance, repeat. But that return only exists because of the risk involved. If someone doesn’t truly understand that risk, they can find themselves in a tight spot.
Exactly. And if you’re going to take that risk, do it in a calculated way. Are you budgeting a buffer? Do you understand your timeline? Are you planning your run rate before that BRRRR pays off?
People ask, “What’s the secret sauce?” Honestly, it’s knowing your numbers. That’s it.
That is so real. So many investors don’t know their numbers—personal or property. They don’t track expenses. They don’t calculate returns. And they wonder why they’re not moving forward. So real estate investors: do it for your properties and your personal finances.
Are there any tools you recommend for tracking all of this?
I love Google Sheets because it lets me see everything. I’ve built out templates that help you plan retirement, track goals, and measure where you stand. But if you want an app, I really like Monarch Money. I’m an affiliate for them. It’s about $24–$25 a month, and it gives you a full picture of your finances.
Ooh, I haven’t heard of that one! If you send us the link, we’ll put it in the show notes so folks can support you and check it out. Are there any other tools?
There are a lot popping up. Monarch is one of the only platforms I’ve seen that gives a good view and includes crypto holdings, which is big for younger investors. I still don’t think there’s a single platform that does everything, especially for more advanced investors, but Monarch is the most consolidated I’ve found.
Yeah, I think once you get past beginner status, you almost need something custom. Most tools are made for average users—not people seriously building wealth.
Exactly. You want to see your live net worth. It helps you make better decisions. Especially if you’re leveraging credit or making big moves, you want all your numbers in one place. Most of us have accounts across countries, asset classes, currencies. It’s hard to track everything. But it’s so worth doing.
Let’s pivot a bit. You work primarily with women. What do you notice that’s unique about working with women in the wealth space?
Right now, we’re seeing the biggest wealth transfer of our lifetime—from men to women. Traditional banks are starting to wake up to how powerful and underserved this market is. But women approach money differently. Many want education and empowerment, not just direction. They want to understand the “why” behind the decision, not just “what to do.”
We also experience major life shifts—motherhood, caregiving, career breaks—that require personalized plans. Working with women takes a more human-centered, emotionally aware approach. For me, it’s a personal calling. I became the person I needed earlier in my journey. And I think a lot of women want that same support.
You have such a powerful story. Before we hit record, we talked about your time in Portugal. Tell us about how your wealth journey gave you the freedom to travel and live the life you designed.
Thank you. I’m definitely not the traditional investor. My portfolio is about 98% in crypto—which I would never recommend to clients! But it gave me the chance to build wealth quickly and have total location freedom. I didn’t want to be tied down to physical real estate, so I spent about a year and a half traveling the world, exploring communities, and even considering where to invest internationally.
Freedom was my top value during that season of life—freedom of time, geography, and choice. I wanted to experience life fully. That financial cushion was my permission slip to say yes to my desires. Some people don’t need that—but for me, having that safety net allowed me to travel luxuriously and confidently.
That resonates so much. Most real estate investors I talk to want exactly that kind of freedom—travel when they want, how they want, without stress. Where were some of your favorite places?
I loved the new Middle East. My favorite country was Oman, right next to the UAE. It has untapped beaches, luxury, kind people, and deep culture. And it feels very safe and welcoming, especially for women.
I was only there for a week because of the visa limit—but it was one of the biggest surprises. Sometimes the best places aren’t the ones you planned or researched—they’re the unexpected stops.
Totally. I had a similar experience in Seoul, South Korea. It was a layover we extended, and now we can’t wait to go back. Sometimes the unplanned places are the most rewarding.
Yes! And I tell people, the more a place is out of your comfort zone, the more you grow. If it feels unfamiliar, that’s a good sign. That’s where transformation happens.
Agreed. And speaking of Southeast Asia, we’re actually heading back to Vietnam soon for four months. It totally exceeded our expectations. Hanoi was authentic and full of culture. Da Nang was beachy with a great expat and world-schooling community. My kids were doing chess club with kids from all over the world. It’s a beautiful way to live and learn.
Lucky children.
Yes, and I’m grateful every day for the life we’ve built. It wasn’t handed to us—it came from being strategic, knowing our numbers, and building a financial engine that funds our values. And that’s what you help women do too.
Exactly. And more and more women are planning for motherhood on their own. I’m seeing a trend of single women wanting to financially prepare to become moms without partners. That’s a huge part of wealth planning. And medical tourism has become a great option—like egg freezing abroad at a fraction of the cost.
So many people are afraid to trust healthcare outside the U.S., but there are incredible options out there if you’re open to them.
Totally. I did all my medical care abroad for over a year and a half while traveling. It’s doable, and often better and cheaper than you’d expect.
This has been amazing. To wrap up, what advice would you give your younger self?
Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to make everything happen on a timeline. Let joy in. Have fun. It will unfold exactly how it’s meant to.
And what’s a book that changed your wealth journey?
Family Wealth really shifted how I think about legacy, taxes, and trusts. It’s a must-read if you care about passing wealth to the next generation.
We’ll link it in the show notes. And finally, tell us about the program you’re launching.
I’m starting the Wealthy Women’s Community. It’s for heart-centered women who want to preserve and grow their wealth with education, support, and shared experiences. We’ll have coaching, calls, and gatherings here in Austin and eventually expand into curated spaces like spas and wellness clubs. I’ve seen how lonely this journey can be—and I want to change that.
Love that. And what’s the best way for people to connect with you?
Instagram. I personally reply to every DM. You can find me at @melissalindseyfreedman.
Amazing. Thank you so much, Melissa!