Success Stories
Rat Race
I have faced numerous financial challenges over the years, but today my passive income exceeds my expenses and I’m out of the Rat Race while still under the age of 40! I can now say that I have done it, but the road was anything but easy.
Although I was born in Canada, I had to learn English as a second language. My parents and brother were all born in Italy and immigrated in the 1960’s, and as a result English was rarely spoken when I was growing up. I had difficulties for many years when attending elementary school and I struggled throughout high school, relying on Coles Notes to translate medieval and Shakespearean English into modern day language that I could comprehend. My mark on the grade 12 English reading portion of the final exam was 30 percent and if it wasn’t for my very high written grade, I would have most certainly failed the course and not received my high school diploma.
Despite this initial language barrier, I was able to achieve sufficient proficiency in English and graduated from university with a specialization in both math and physics. Upon my 1995 convocation, I had aspirations of obtaining my PhD in Theoretical Physics, but felt a few years off would do me some good. At that time, I had no assets, didn’t know how to balance a checkbook, worked the graveyard shift at a parking lot earning $6.71/hour and lived with my parents. I admired everyone with a credit card because they actually knew how to apply for and use one, whereas I hadn’t achieved even that level of sophistication! These are all besides the fact that no one had ever taught me the basics of investing and I had never enrolled in a personal finance course. With all these obstacles, I never imagined it was possible to become financially free.
While working at the parking lot, I heard about the Canadian Securities Institute that offers the Canadian Securities Course – an essential prerequisite to anyone who wishes to sell paper assets such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds in Canada. Having no financial background of any kind, I decided to take this course. At the time, I didn’t know this would serve as a platform for my financial literacy and my eventual exit from the Rat Race. The very high standards and caliber of materials presented helped me become the very best when dealing with these investments. And even after all these years, I still go back to the basics that I learned in the course when viewing investment opportunities.
For five years, I expanded my knowledge and gained experience in paper assets with the intention of eventually achieving my Certified Financial Planner (C.F.P.) designation. Although I never did achieve this, I have three financial advisors who are part of my team and assist me in insurance, tax and estate planning issues along with other components that anyone can use to create the structure for financial success. My financial independence would not have been possible without their continued and ongoing support!
In 2001, I did two things that helped me move forward to escape from the Rat Race. I started a day job working as an accountant in Calgary’s oil and gas sector, while simultaneously joining an elite real estate organization. My day job paid the bills and expanded my accounting skills, and the real estate organization gave me an unparalleled support base for helping me buy my principal residence, as well as my first, second and third investment properties. Today, I give back to this organization by sending real estate related news items in my local papers to the president of our group. This material is then communicated to all other investors at our monthly meetings. This is my way of paying it forward by sharing economic insights with other investors, just as many have mentored me along the way.
I attended my very first Fast Track to Cash Flow presentation in Calgary with Darren Weeks in September 2002. I played the CASHFLOW® game for the first time and nearly escaped the Rat Race by applying my real life strategies. From that point on, I always remembered that the Rich Dad message is about financial literacy through business ownership, real estate, paper assets, accounting and law. The event was very important to me because it reminded me of something I had always known – true wealth comes from business ownership.
Since 2003, I’ve been involved with businesses as a way to escape the Rat Race and as a source for joint venture capital to buy as many properties as possible and preserve my wealth. Although I failed in my first three ventures, losing $1,000, $3,000 and $10,000 respectively, I succeeded in my fourth attempt and I’m now out of the employee world. Being the ultimate investor has always meant being involved in a company before it becomes the next big thing and the masses hear about it in the media. This strategy has the highest risk/reward model of any investment, and it is the method that has resulted in my financial success. Now my passive income exceeds my expenses!
You will never find a company on the S&P 500 whose shares are publicly traded on multiple stock exchanges worldwide, with stock analysts following its every move and whose mission statement is “We Buy Houses!!!” In 2010, I believe that we will be a household name throughout the world just like General Electric, McDonald’s and Home Depot are today. I also believe that Alberta real estate will continue to be a world class investment to hold one’s wealth and that Italy will successfully defend their World Cup victory of 2006 to become five time world champions! I know that less than two percent of the world will agree with my individual positions, but that’s OK because it’s more than what I need to succeed.
If I had to do it all over again, I would associate myself with as many like-minded individuals as possible, so that I could escape the Rat Race much faster. Financial literacy without a strong network is simply not enough to succeed. I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for like-minded people, such as those found in the Fast Track organization, I wouldn’t have been able to make it. If they ever tell my story, I want it to be known that I have achieved my goal because of the selfless sacrifice and dedication of the Fast Track team. My story of financial freedom proves that resisting the employee quadrant is not futile and that if I can do it so can you!!!
Yours truly,
Joe Iannuzzi
Tel: 403-276-2719
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More Testimonials
“CASHFLOW® Technologies, Inc., and Rich Dad's office would like to personally thank Darren for his hard work and dedication in promoting the mission of the Rich Dad Organization... ‘To Elevate The Financial Well-Being of Humanity’.”
The Rich Dad Team
Fast Track To Cash Flow is one of the most genuine educational and networking events I have ever attended. The very nature of this event brings together like-minded individuals in pursuit of increasing their wealth intelligence and ultimately their passive income. Darren Weeks inspired me to take immediate action which is truly a remarkable gift when you think about it. I developed a marketing strategy to keep my network in touch with me. I attracted 20 joint venture investors two weeks after the program when I started applying myself to networking. I am experiencing the possibilities and opportunities now that I am taking ACTION.
July Ono
“Before incorporating the Rich Dad® Poor Dad philosophies, I was an employee attempting to become a sophisticated investor. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to break free from the 'paycheck to paycheck' reality that many of us face. After attending my first Fast Track to Cash Flow Event (FTTCF), I saw the need to understand the fundamentals of business building. This is one of the many lessons I learned from listening to Robert Kiyosaki's teachings. Because of Darren Weeks and the entire FTTCF organization's effort, I will be in a position to leave my full time job in the first half of 2004. I would highly recommend to everyone who wants to take control of their financial future to attend one of these amazing events and experience firsthand the importance of playing 'Cash Flow 101'.”
Joe Iannuzzi
“When I first attended the Fast Track to Cash Flow event, I was probably the biggest skeptic of everyone. I thought Akash was insane for making me get up at 6:30 on a Saturday morning (I live quite a distance out of Vancouver) and spend my whole day there. If you remember, when we all introduced ourselves, I did say that the only reason I was there was because 'Akash made me come.'
But during the seminar, I can say that my outlook on the financial aspect of my life had totally changed. I used to horde all of my cash in low-interest term deposits but now my mind is totally focused on building a real estate portfolio and retiring off the income that will be earned. I still haven't bought my first property yet, but have looked at quite a few and made a few offers.....my goal is to buy my first unit by the end of September and hopefully add another property to that by September of next year. I haven't yet found 'the deal' but am looking all the time.
Take care, and thanks for the inspiration!!”
Meena Chima
“Previously to attending a Fast Track to Cash Flow event in Vancouver I was in the “book learning” phase in my life. After attending one of Darren's events signaled myself it was time to take ACTION and learn from those actions instead of just reading. One of the primary benefits received from this event was a Canadian perspective. His content and speakers are local professionals that know how the Canadian environment works.”
“Within 1 month, after attending my first event, I used one of the Fast Track's Real Estate advisors to help me buy my first revenue property in Edmonton. Since that time I have met an entire new group of “like minded” individuals all moving in the same direction. One of my core beliefs is EDUCATION and ACTION are 2 of the most important fundamentals needed to achieve your dreams. These 2 fundamentals are both supplied in Darren's Fast Tracks To Cash Flow Events.”
Thanks
Russell Westcott
Burnaby, BC
“Darren keeps you on your toes with his stories, motivational ideas, and easy-to-understand way of initiating the potential real estate investor in all of us. The seminar feeds you with countless tidbits of useful information that will make you hungry for more. You won't want the learning to end, and it doesn't have to, because Darren points you to enough resources to keep you going all the way to your first million. ”
Kalvin Mizzi
“Having attended Darren's Fast Track to Cash Flow event, I was amazed at what people learned from playing the CASHFLOW® game and working through the exercises Darren had us do. As a financial planner who has seen countless of financial workshops and seminars, I have yet to see a 1-day course have such an effect on people as this one had. Darren is a fantastic facilitator and great speaker. Drag yourself and your friends and family to this event!”
Gavin Radzick
Certified Financial Planner
Apex Financial Consulting
Fast Track to Cash Flow and www.fasttracktocashflow.com are not associated with and/or sponsored by CASHFLOW® Technologies, Inc. (CTI) or the Rich Dad organization. The sale of Rich Dad Products is not intended to imply endorsement by, or sponsorship, affiliation, association, partnership or joint venture with, the Rich Dad organization or CTI. Use of Rich Dad or CTI intellectual property such as its trademarks is with the permission of CTI.
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