Doug Bennett is the founder of DB Wealth Planning and Preservation, a bestselling author, and host of the globally ranked Goals DO Come True podcast, who has spent over 30 years helping business owners find the date when work becomes optional. His own path included two divorces, a motorcycle accident at 95 miles an hour, and near bankruptcy, all of which now shape how he coaches clients through the psychological side of money.

In this episode, Doug joins Chris to talk about the power of writing down specific, income based goals, why the shift from saving to spending is mostly mental, and the lesson he learned watching his father delay retirement until it was too late. Chris also connects Doug's story back to the 3 Paydays® System and why creative real estate deals beat the traditional one time payday.

Timeline Summary

[1:07] Chris introduces Doug Bennett, founder of DB Wealth Planning and Preservation and host of the Goals DO Come True podcast.

[3:12] Doug shares that both his parents died within 12 weeks of each other, and that his dad never got to enjoy the retirement he'd delayed.

[4:12] Doug explains his mission: helping business owners find the date when work becomes optional and giving themselves permission to spend.

[5:03] Doug says the shift from saving to spending is mostly psychological, shaped by his own two divorces, a serious motorcycle accident, and near bankruptcy.

[6:38] Doug introduces his book, Think Simple Win Big, written from the lessons of selling a chunk of his business for just over a million pounds.

[10:27] Chris pivots to the 3 Paydays System, explaining why creative real estate deals beat the old way of getting paid once.

[13:45] Doug traces his goal setting practice back to 2004, when he rediscovered a goals notebook and found he'd hit 10 of 11 goals he'd written down years earlier.

[15:28] Doug describes doubling his income goal repeatedly, from $100K to $200K to $250K, raising the bar each time he got close.

[16:21] Doug's actual income landed at $250,268 against a $250,000 goal, the moment that convinced him to double the target again.

[16:50] Doug shares that a firm bought a stake in his business for $500,000 in 2019 and another $500,000 plus in 2020.

[17:11] Doug warns that money disappears quickly without a plan, and that his own divorce ended up costing him half of what he'd built.

[17:54] Chris and Doug discuss self imposed limits on goals, and Doug's advice to start with small, believable goals before ramping up.

[21:21] Doug and Chris agree that finding a mentor or community cuts years off the learning curve compared to figuring it out alone.

[22:54] Doug reframes the goal from "retirement" to reaching the point where every choice is open to you.

[24:05] Doug shares where listeners can find his book, his podcast, and his free guide through Smart Real Estate Coach.

Five Key Takeaways

1. Write your goals down, even the ones that feel unreasonable. Doug rediscovered a goals notebook years later and had hit 10 of 11 goals he'd written down, several of which he'd completely forgotten setting.

2. The shift from saving to spending is a psychological one, not a math problem. Doug spends most of his time giving clients permission to actually use the money they've worked to build.

3. Don't wait for "someday" to enjoy what you've built. Doug's father delayed retirement to be with his dying wife and passed away shortly after her, having never gotten the time he was waiting for.

4. Start with small, believable goals before you chase the big ones. If you've never hit a goal before, you won't trust bigger ones until you've proven smaller ones to yourself first.

5. Money without a plan disappears fast. Doug's own experience selling part of his business for over a million dollars, then losing much of it to an unplanned lifestyle and a divorce, is a reminder that earning it is only half the job.

Links & Resources

Book Your Free Discovery Call
https://SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/Discovery

Download: Inside the Deals (Real Case Studies)
https://SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/Deals

Explore Our Partner Resources
https://SmartRealEstateCoachPodcast.com/Resources

Doug's Free Guide (From Financial Struggle to Financial Success)
https://smartrealestatecoach.com/doug

Goals DO Come True Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goals-do-come-true-with-doug-bennett/id1530802197