In this episode of the Wealth Wisdom Financial Podcast, host Brandon Neely sits down with Mickey Curd, a seasoned healthcare operations leader turned full-time real estate investor. After 25 years in logistics and support services for hospitals across the Midwest, Mickey made the bold leap in 2024, leaving his W-2 behind to focus fully on real estate.
But this wasn't a jump without a parachute.
Mickey shares how he restarted his real estate investing journey in 2018 with just two properties, and scaled that into a diverse portfolio of 38 units, including single-family homes, duplexes, and 4-plexes, primarily in the Youngstown/Boardman, Ohio area.
We dive into:
Why he chose to re-enter real estate—and what he did differently the second time around
The step-by-step growth from 2 to 38 doors in just 5 years
How he prepared financially and emotionally to leave his 9–5
Tips for managing long-term rentals and Airbnbs without losing your sanity
What it really takes to make the leap from employee to entrepreneur
Whether you're just getting started in real estate or wondering if it's finally time to go all in, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom and inspiration.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:24 Meet Mickey Curd: Real Estate Investor
01:31 Mickey's Real Estate Journey
02:28 Transition to Full-Time Real Estate
03:45 Understanding Velocity Banking
04:14 COVID and Financial Strategies
06:38 Deep Dive into Velocity Banking
10:30 Tracking Finances with Spreadsheets
17:05 From Velocity Banking to Infinite Banking
21:51 Introduction to Policy Repayment Schedules
22:13 Detailed Breakdown of Loan Payments
23:00 Planning for Taxes and Insurance
23:31 Second Policy Overview
24:15 Leveraging Policies as Assets
26:33 Analyzing Real Estate Investments
27:21 Property Analysis Example
31:01 Cash Flow and Property Management
35:55 Scaling Real Estate Investments
38:28 Final Thoughts and Advice
