Share
The Brian Buffini Show
Developing a Knack with Money #150
Ep. 150
•
“You can do the right thing in the right way for the right reasons and make the right reward.” — Brian Buffini
In today’s culture, many people find themselves endlessly struggling to manage their finances. They work more just to spend more and, as a result, end up where they’ve always been — trapped! In this episode, recorded live at a Buffini & Company event, Brian gives ideas and principles to help you make a quantum leap in your finances, get ahead of the game and escape the economic rat race for good!
Like what you hear? See Brian Buffini live at Buffini & Company MasterMind 2019, August 4-6 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Inspirational quotes from today’s interview:
“The culture’s view of financial success is this: work more, buy more.” — Brian Buffini
“You’re working for bills that are coming in the future for decisions you made in the past.” — Brian Buffini
“65% of Americans do not budget.” — Gallup poll
“33% of working Americans have nothing for retirement.” — Brian Buffini
“I started at the bottom 1% and I became the top 1%. That’s one of the greatest things about America.” — Brian Buffini
“You can’t borrow your way to a fortune.” — Brian Buffini
“Invest in what you know...if you can’t pronounce it, don’t invest in it!” — Brian Buffini
“Think long term.” — Brian Buffini
“Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.” — Paul Samuelson
“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off; you sit still and trust the engineer.” — Corrie Ten Boom
“Know what you own, and know why you own it.” — Peter Lynch
“Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new.” — Bob Parsons
“Only real estate is the single great investment in the world.” — Brian Buffini
“People are always going to need three things in life: food, shelter and clothing.” — Brian Buffini
“There are only two reasons to invest in real estate: cash flow and appreciation...you have to decide the purpose of your investment.” — Brian Buffini
“If you try to hit two targets, you will miss both.” — Brian Buffini
“Only buy something that you’d be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for ten years.” — Warren Buffet
“The person who doesn’t know where his next dollar is coming from usually doesn’t know where his last dollar went.” — Anonymous
“When you’re double winning, you double down.” — Brian Buffini
“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” — Benjamin Franklin
“You have to take care of the dollars so you can take care of the hundreds. You have to take care of the hundreds so you can take care of the thousands. You have to take care of the thousands so you’re able to take care of the millions.” — Brian Buffini
“Real estate wealth is generational.” — Brian Buffini
“You can do the right thing in the right way for the right reasons and make the right reward.” — Brian Buffini
“I was born in Ireland, but made in America.” — Brian Buffini
Connect with Brian Buffini
Love what you heard? Share it with your friends! It’s a Good Life
More episodes
View all episodes
11. Why $100K Doesn't Feel Like Enough Anymore
28:52||Season 3, Ep. 11Click here to watch on YouTubeInflation has changed what financial success feels like. In this episode, Brian explains why $100,000 no longer carries the same buying power it once did and why the rising cost of essentials like housing, groceries and utilities has made life feel more expensive for so many families. He also shares a clear blueprint to beat inflation: invest consistently, increase your value in the marketplace and control what’s going out. In Coach Up, Brian helps a successful agent make the transition from producer to team leader and explains why trust, training and patience are essential to building a team that lasts.YOU WILL LEARN:• Why inflation quietly reduces your buying power over time.• How investing, skill-building and higher production help you stay ahead.• What it takes to move from top producer to effective team leader.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“If your income didn’t grow by about 40% over the last decade, you didn’t stand still, you fell behind.” – Brian Buffini“You can’t control the economy, and you can’t stop prices from rising. But here’s what you can control: how you respond.” – Brian Buffini“You don’t get paid for the hour, you get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” – Jim Rohn“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin“Anybody not investing in AI training right now is guilty of malpractice.” – Brian Buffini“The people who do the activities, do the work and actually follow the system are the folks who are earning the most.” – Brian Buffini“Your money has to grow at a higher rate than the inflation rate.” – Brian Buffini“The biggest transition is from a salesperson who’s totally counted on by their customers to having this team that you can trust.” – Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com10. The Three Financial Traps Most People Ignore
41:55||Season 3, Ep. 10Click here to watch on YouTubeWealth isn't just about what you make—it's about what you keep. If the "bucket is leaking" despite your hard work, this is your 2026 roadmap to financial freedom. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on: The "10 Taxes" quietly draining your income every single month. Why $100k today only buys $53k of what it did in 2000. The "Rainmaker Bottleneck" and how to scale past yourself. Referral dialogues that turn one listing into three. Stop the leaks and start building your legacy.YOU WILL LEARN:• Why lifestyle spending can quietly keep you from getting ahead.• How inflation erodes the value of your money over time.• Why strategic tax planning is essential to long-term wealth building.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Buffini Coaching LiveNOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“Money is less about math and more about mindset.” – Brian Buffini“Everybody has a money story, especially your partner.” – Brian Buffini“You cannot save your way out of inflation.” – Brian Buffini“You have to invest your money, and it has to grow at a higher rate than inflation.” – Brian Buffini“You don’t need results in 30 days. You just need to see the dedication to the effort.” – Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com9. Can You Put Your Name to It?
34:25||Season 3, Ep. 9Click here to watch on YouTubeIntegrity is easy to talk about until it costs you something. In this episode, Brian shares a powerful story from his father’s painting business in Ireland and the standard that shaped his own life: do the work in a way you can proudly put your name to. He explains why values make decisions easier, why a good name still matters in today’s world and how doing the right thing builds peace, trust and long-term success. In Ask Mr. B and Coach Him Up, Brian also answers questions about character, worry, trust and how to keep going when business feels hard.YOU WILL LEARN:• Why your reputation is one of your greatest business assets.• How clear values help you make better decisions under pressure.• Why trust is built most deeply during difficult seasons.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“Can you put your name to the work you’ve done?” – Brian Buffini“When your values are clear, your decisions are easy.” – Roy Disney“When you do the right thing in the right way, I believe the right rewards will come.” – Brian Buffini“Integrity gives you peace of mind.” – Brian Buffini“Every time you cut that corner, you cut a little piece of yourself off.” – Brian Buffini“Trust is developed far more in tough times than it is in happy times.” – Brian Buffini“Spend less time worrying and more time trusting.” – Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com8. Show Me Your Friends I'll Tell You Who You Are
33:07||Season 3, Ep. 8Click here to watch on YouTubeThe people around you have a powerful influence on how you think, what you accept and who you become. In this episode, Brian explains why your circle matters so much and how to limit negative influences without becoming isolated or bitter. He shares personal stories from Ireland, lessons from mentors like Jim Rohn and Napoleon Hill and practical ways to seek out positive, growth-minded people. You’ll also learn how to set healthier boundaries, strengthen business relationships without feeling fake and grow your business without losing personal connection.YOU WILL LEARN:• Why your closest associations shape your mindset, goals and future.• How to set boundaries with negative or toxic people while protecting important relationships.• Practical ways to stay personal and relational as your business grows.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.” — Brian Buffini“If you’re hanging out with bad characters, you’re going to get corrupted over time.” — Brian Buffini“When you spend enough time around certain people, you start to talk like them, think like them, normalize what they normalize, accept what they accept and aim for what they aim for.” — Brian Buffini“You don’t just hang out with your friends, you actually become each other.” — Brian Buffini“People are the greatest things in life and people are the most difficult things in life.” — Brian Buffini“What we need to be is social. Social media is a totally different thing.” — Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com7. Taking Control of Your Inner Critic
31:01||Season 3, Ep. 7Click here to watch on YouTubeEveryone wrestles with an inner critic. The real difference is what you do when that negative voice shows up. In this episode, Brian shares how to take control of your inner narrative, guard what you allow into your mind and build the emotional and physical capacity to stay positive under pressure. He also explains why your routines, relationships and daily inputs play a major role in how you think, work and lead.From personal stories to practical coaching, Brian shows how to quiet the negative voice, reinforce the positive and become your own biggest fan.YOU WILL LEARN:• Why your input determines your output.• How routines and physical capacity help you manage negative thoughts.• Why being kind to yourself is essential for long-term success.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“Self-reflection is good, but self-deconstruction is bad.”“Not everyone in the world is cheering for us. We can’t be joining the critics.”“Your input determines your output.”“We say things to ourselves we would not allow anyone else to say to us.”“When I’ve been at my best as a human being, it’s when that part of my life is at its most disciplined.”“If you’re not your own biggest fan, nobody will be.”“I’m not going to turn my mind into a prison.”“I need to be at my physical best to then have the emotional capacity to handle things.”“Social media is a great supplemental process. I don’t think it’s a primary process.”“The two things that will test you in business are success and adversity.”thebrianbuffinishow.com6. Turn Your Budget Stress into Spending Success
29:01||Season 3, Ep. 6Click here to watch on YouTubeMoney stress often starts when you don’t know where your money is going. In this episode, Brian Buffini shares the simple disciplines that helped him and Beverly move from spending 106% of their income to building lasting financial security. He explains Jim Rohn’s 70/10/10/10 plan, why saving and investing must become automatic, and how a clear budget helps you control your money instead of letting it control you. Brian also answers questions about splurging wisely, setting up finances as a young couple and creating a referral-based retirement plan.YOU WILL LEARN:• How to use the 70/10/10/10 plan to build a practical budget.• Why automatic saving and investing can change your financial future.• How business owners can manage cash flow, pay themselves and prepare for retirement.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“A budget is just you telling your money where to go instead of the other way around.” – Brian Buffini“I have never actually seen anybody succeed with money without controlling the outflow of money.” – Brian Buffini“A portion of all you earn is yours to keep.” – George S. Clason“Nothing financially has ever made me more money than that one decision.” – Brian Buffini“Never borrow money for an investment. Ever.” – Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com5. Turning Disappointment into Direction
38:32||Season 3, Ep. 5Click here to watch on YouTubeDisappointment can leave you frustrated, discouraged, and stuck asking why things did not go according to plan. In this episode, Brian Buffini explains how unmet expectations often sit at the root of conflict in life, business, and relationships. He shares why unrealistic expectations create false hope, how tolerance creates margin, and what it looks like to move from frustration to direction.Through personal stories, practical coaching, and candid conversations about parenting, adversity, business, and resilience, Brian offers a simple framework to help you reflect, reset, and move forward with clarity. He also coaches real estate professionals through seasons of transition and growth, showing how the right expectations can strengthen confidence, character, and long-term success.YOU WILL LEARN: • Why unmet expectations create frustration and how to replace them with healthy standards. • How tolerance and margin help you navigate challenges in your schedule, relationships, parenting, and business. • A practical framework to turn disappointment into direction and keep moving forward with confidence.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Disappointment asks, ‘Why did this happen?’ Direction asks, ‘Now what do we do with what we’ve learned?’” - Brian Buffini“The only thing worse than having no hope is having false hope.” - Brian Buffini“Standards lead to proper expectation.” - Brian Buffini“Reflect, reveal, realign, and recommit.” - Brian Buffini“Sometimes things burn up and what comes out the other side is something very powerful.” - Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com4. The Hidden Wealth in Home Buying
30:33||Season 3, Ep. 4Click here to watch on YouTubeRenting versus buying has become one of the hottest debates in personal finance, and a lot of people today are being told that renting is the smarter option. In this episode, Brian Buffini pushes back on that idea and explains why homeownership remains one of the most powerful ways to build wealth, create stability and change a family’s future. He breaks down the financial case for owning, shares his own real estate journey and offers practical encouragement for younger buyers who feel priced out of the market. Through real stories, market perspective and straight talk, Brian shows why owning a home is still one of the best long-term decisions you can make.YOU WILL LEARN:• Why homeownership is one of the strongest paths to long-term wealth.• How buying a home can protect you against inflation and rising housing costs.• Why owning creates stability for families, children and communities.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“Be an owner. Don’t stay a renter.” – Brian Buffini“The smart play is not renting. The wise play is always to own.” – Brian Buffini“You don’t wait to buy real estate. You buy real estate and wait.” – Will Rogers“Home ownership changes a person’s life.” – Brian Buffini“A home is an asset. It’s just not income producing.” – Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com3. Building a Bulletproof Business Plan
34:29||Season 3, Ep. 3Click here to watch on YouTubeA business plan can sound intimidating, but Brian makes it practical and clear. In this episode, he shares the three essentials every business owner needs: detailed goals, time-related action steps and a financial budget. He explains how to set goals that actually move you, how to reverse engineer the steps to achieve them and how to create a budget that supports growth without creating overwhelm. Along the way, he shares personal stories, lessons from his mentors and live coaching that helps agents navigate referrals, vacations, team growth and getting traction early in their careers.YOU WILL LEARN:• The three core elements of a simple and effective business plan.• Why goals need to be emotional, specific and tied to action.• How to balance standards with progress so perfectionism doesn’t stop momentum.NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:“You don’t need an MBA to build a business plan. You just need three things.” – Brian Buffini“Most people overestimate what they can do in a year, but they radically underestimate what they can achieve in five years.” – Brian Buffini“Goals are powerful and the most essential part of your business plan.” – Brian Buffini“What’s important now?” – Lou Holtz“Your principles are written in stone. Your tactics are written in pencil.” – Brian Buffini“A bad plan violently executed is better than the perfect plan never installed.” – General George Patton“You want to create advocates more than clients.” – Brian Buffinithebrianbuffinishow.com