7 Levels to Financial Freedom
I went from a campervan to a million-dollar alternative investments portfolio. This is the exact path I followed, and you can skip to wherever you are on the trail. The whole course is free.
Cash Flow Explorer →
Hover over the map to learn about different levels of the Cash Flow Explorer course!
Course Intro
Money is a tool, not the goal. Real wealth is time freedom. Before we get into the levels, I want to share why I built this, my story, what this course is and isn't, and what I mean when I talk about real wealth. Watch this first.
Watch the intro →Level 1: Financial Base Camp
First things first. Before we invest a dollar, we plug the leaks. I'll walk you through the zero-based budget Amy and I use, how to build an emergency fund that actually stays funded, the debt strategy that kills the highest-interest stuff first, and how we run our finances together as a team. Skip this and nothing else works.
- Personal Finance 101: Zero-based budget, emergency fund, debt payoff
- Building Wealth for Two: Align on the vision, regular money date, fun money allowance
Do this: Build your first zero-based budget, open a HYSA, and schedule a monthly money date.
Explore Level 1 →
Level 2: Get Your Bearings
You can't navigate without knowing where you are. We'll calculate your real net worth, audit where your money is actually going, and figure out your savings rate. Then we'll set your three Freedom Numbers, the monthly cash flow targets that mark Secure, Independent, and Free. It's not what you make, it's what you keep.
- Money Snapshot: Net worth, expense audit, and your savings rate
- Your 3 Freedom Numbers: FIRE, Cash Flow, and your three monthly Freedom Numbers
Do this: Write down your net worth, your savings rate, and your 3 Freedom Numbers.
Explore Level 2 →
Level 3: Pack For The Journey
The gap between what I earn and what I spend is the most important number in my financial life. It's the money that buys freedom. We'll grow it by trimming the Big 3 expenses, opening up new income, and flipping the flow so money saves and invests itself before I can spend it. Then we'll talk about turning that gap into passive income, whether you buy it or build it.
- Grow the Gap: Cut the Big 3, grow your income, and flip your financial flow
- Active to Passive Income: The truth on passive income, cashflow quadrant, assets vs liabilities
Do this: Flip your financial flow so savings come out first. Then pick one Big 3 expense to attack.
Explore Level 3 →
Level 4: Always Safety First
There's free money on the table and most people leave it there. I'll walk you through the order I use to fund retirement accounts (401k match → HSA → Roth IRA → Brokerage), how to play the credit game so it saves you tens of thousands, how the tax code actually works as a playbook of incentives, how to protect your family with the right insurance and estate docs, and the road to becoming an accredited investor. Lock this in before you head into the backcountry.
- Stock Investing: 401K, Roth IRA, HSA, taxable brokerage (bonus)
- The Credit Game: How your score actually works and how to raise it
- The Tax Game: The tax code is a playbook — brackets, deductions, income buckets, and net returns
- Protecting Your Family: Term life, umbrella coverage, estate docs, and your Legacy Binder
- Road to Accreditation: Securities overview, paths to accreditation, and what you can invest in now
Do this: Get your full 401(k) match, max your HSA and Roth IRA, lock in term life, and build your legacy binder.
Explore Level 4 →
Levels 5–7 (alternative investments, cash flow, legacy) are still in production. Join the waitlist to be first when they launch.
Level 5: Exploring Alternatives
Exploring alternatives — coming soon!
Join the Part 2 Waitlist →
Level 6: Cash Flow Climbing
Cash flow climbing — coming soon!
Join the Part 2 Waitlist →
Recommended Reading to Get Started
A few books Michael recommends for anyone beginning the journey. These are affiliate links to support our work bringing free, advanced wealth-building education to all.
Follow along on the trail.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cash Flow Explorer free?+
Yes — the entirety of Part 1 (Levels 1–4) is completely free. All 12 videos, every activity, every poll, no paywall. Levels 5–7 (Part 2) are still in production.
Do I need investing experience to start?+
Nope. Levels 1 through 4 are personal finance fundamentals: budgeting, debt, retirement accounts, credit, insurance, and the basics of stock investing. Anyone can start there. Levels 5–7 will go deeper into the more advanced alternative investing strategies — private deals, real estate, deal evaluation — and those are still in development.
What are "alternative investments"?+
Anything outside of stocks and bonds. Real estate, private lending, private equity, farmland, art. Tangible assets in the real world. These are how the wealthy actually invest, and I share my real portfolio and results from all of them.
Who is this for?+
Anyone who's curious about what's beyond stocks and index funds. Whether you're a complete beginner who needs to set up a budget, or you've got cash ready to deploy into alternatives, there's a level for you.