Financial independence isn’t a mindset or a destination. It’s a system built on math, discipline, and better financial decisions.

In Part 2 of this series, Terrie Schauer breaks down the practical mechanics behind financial independence, starting with the most overlooked number in personal finance: your burn rate. Without knowing what your lifestyle actually costs, it’s impossible to replace income or build sustainable passive cash flow.

This episode explores the critical difference between capital and revenue, why spending capital on lifestyle is one of the most common traps high earners fall into, and how real estate investors can structure income to support long-term independence.

Terrie also explains income efficiency inside real estate investing, including the difference between sale proceeds and refinance money, how tax deferral works, and why avoiding taxes at all costs can lead to suboptimal investment decisions. Sometimes selling is the right move—the key is understanding opportunity cost and capital velocity.

In this episode, we cover:

• What financial independence actually requires

• How to calculate and control your burn rate

• Capital vs revenue—and why most people get it wrong

• Using passive income to fund lifestyle without eroding wealth

• Sale vs refinance strategies in real estate

• Tax efficiency, opportunity cost, and capital velocity

If you listened to Part 1, this is the “okay, now what?” episode.

Book a free strategy call, explore our 2026 Mastermind, or attend our upcoming Equity Builders Club networking events to start building the systems that make financial independence possible.

Equity Builders Club Events - https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/events

Book a discovery call - https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call

Explore our 2026 Mastermind after booking a discovery call- https://www.equitybuildersclub.com/book-a-discovery-call

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