Rethink Real Estate

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