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Freedom Nation Podcast

Freedom Nation Podcast

Written by: Jeff Kikel
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The Freedom Nation podcast is the home of Freedom Day, the achievement of a work-optional lifestyle. Our show focuses around personal finance, real estate, multiple sources of income, cashflow, and the stories of people that have achieved their own Freedom Days. Our host is Jeff Kikel a 30 year veteran of the Financial Services industry that attained his own Freedom Day by building multiple streams of income, selling some, buying more and sharing his story with the audience.Jeff Kikel Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Build Income, Not Just a Retirement Account | Neil Solomon on Business Ownership and Freedom

    Build Income, Not Just a Retirement Account | Neil Solomon on Business Ownership and Freedom
    Jun 25 2026
    Many mid-career professionals work hard, earn more, and save for retirement, yet still feel trapped.Their time belongs to their employer. Their income depends on showing up. Their lifestyle is built around commitments they cannot easily leave behind.Even a strong salary can become a set of golden handcuffs.The traditional plan tells people to work for decades, build a large retirement account, and hope it lasts.But what happens when your compensation does not match your results? What happens when your business cannot run without you? And what happens when you finally have money but no freedom over your time?Without systems, cash flow, and a business that can operate without the owner, entrepreneurship can become another job.In this episode, Jeff Kikel talks with Neil Solomon about his journey from corporate technical sales to business ownership, global travel, and location-independent income.Neil shares how a disappointing bonus helped him rethink the corporate path, why buying an existing profitable business can be a practical entry into entrepreneurship, and how systems allowed him to step away from daily operations.They also discuss business acquisitions, franchise ownership, remote teams, AI tools, global living, and why freedom is not only about money. It is about having fewer commitments controlling your time.If you are building toward your Freedom Day, this episode will help you think differently about income, business ownership, retirement, and the life you want to create.Subscribe and follow the Freedom Nation Podcast for conversations on financial freedom, real estate, cash flow, business ownership, and multiple income streams.KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy Neil left the corporate world after realizing his results did not translate into meaningful financial freedom.How he prepared for entrepreneurship before leaving his job.Why buying an existing profitable business can be less risky than starting from zero.How franchise ownership helped Neil build a business with nearly 300 employees.The “shower test” for determining whether a business can run without its owner.Why systems, measurements, delegation, and trust are essential to scaling a company.How reviewing many business opportunities builds pattern recognition for acquisitions.Why income streams can create more flexibility than relying only on a retirement account.How living abroad can reduce costs while improving lifestyle options.Why Neil defines freedom as being uncommitted enough to act on opportunities.About the Guest:Neil Solomon is an operator, entrepreneur, and author of The 1% Door. After spending 15 years climbing the Fortune 500 ladder, Neil left corporate life after realizing the system was not designed to reward the people creating the most value.He went on to build and operate businesses across restaurants, franchising, and real estate, employing more than 300 people across multiple industries and countries. Along the way, he has experienced major growth, significant setbacks, and two complete rebuilds.Today, Neil helps people see the hidden systems shaping their money, careers, choices, and lives. He speaks candidly about corporate compensation, inflation, hidden taxes, entrepreneurship, fear, family patterns, and the practical work required before taking a leap into business ownership. Neil currently lives between Mexico, Colombia, and the United States.Links:https://www.theonepercentdoor.com/https://www.facebook.com/TheOnePercentDoorhttps://www.youtube.com/@theonepercentdoorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/theonepercentdoorFast Five Questions:If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “First I figure out how long that five hundred's gonna last me.”“The step two is always the intermediate step. You don't go for the big goal. You don't go for the hit or miss. You go for the stability to get you in a place where you can start building.”“You don't stop. That's the whole thing. And if you don't stop, end with the money you make, turn it into streams again, which we talked about, you'll have the money again.”2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “The biggest mistake was probably contractual. It's believing that the contracts have my best interest in mind.”“You need to know what's on the bad side of the contract. You have to read it for your worst day.”3.What is a book that you would recommend? “The Wisdom of Psychopaths.”“The 4-Hour Workweek, Choose to Be Rich, anything from Tony Robbins.”“Good to Great, Made to Stick.”4.What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “My favorite tool right now is Claude.”“I use Claude as my researcher.”“I also like Indeed.”5.What is your definition of freedom? “It's what you're uncommitted to.”“When you can drop everything and do something in life that you never thought possible. That's freedom.”About Jeff: Jeff spent the early part of his ...
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    55 mins
  • Gold vs Real Estate | Simon Popple on Wealth Protection, Inflation, and Long-Term Investing

    Gold vs Real Estate | Simon Popple on Wealth Protection, Inflation, and Long-Term Investing
    Jun 19 2026
    Most investors spend years building wealth but never stop to ask one critical question:How do I protect it?Inflation quietly erodes purchasing power. Markets become volatile. Real estate can become illiquid. And many portfolios are heavily concentrated in stocks and traditional assets.When uncertainty strikes, investors often discover their portfolios aren't as diversified as they thought.Property can take months to sell.Stocks can experience significant volatility.Cash loses value to inflation every year.The challenge isn't just growing wealth—it's preserving it.In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Simon Popple, gold investment expert, educator, and commodity investor, to discuss why gold continues to play an important role in long-term wealth preservation.Simon shares:Why he transitioned from investment banking and real estate into commoditiesThe different ways investors can gain exposure to goldWhy physical gold remains an overlooked assetHow inflation impacts long-term wealth buildingThe relationship between gold, real estate, and portfolio diversificationWhy many investors misunderstand risk and volatilityIf you're serious about achieving your Freedom Day, this conversation offers practical insights on protecting wealth while building financial independence.👉 Subscribe and follow the Freedom Nation Podcast for more conversations about financial freedom, investing, cash flow, real estate, and multiple streams of income.KEY TAKEAWAYS• Why Simon left investment banking and property investing to focus on commodities• The different ways investors can participate in the gold market• Why physical gold can serve as both a store of value and a liquidity tool• How inflation impacts long-term wealth accumulation• Why diversification matters across asset classes• The difference between investing in gold bullion and gold mining companies• How gold miners can provide leveraged exposure to rising gold prices• Simon's MIDI framework: Market Uncertainty, Interest Rates, Debt, and Inflation• Why investors should think long-term when investing in gold• How social media can help build authority and business opportunities About the Guest:Simon Popple is a former investment banker and property company director who walked away from a six-figure career after discovering how inflation could devastate even a million-pound retirement fund. After years of research and real-world investing, he created The Gold Program System to help people protect and grow their wealth through precious metals and commodities. Today, he shares practical strategies for combating inflation, preserving purchasing power, and building long-term financial security.Links:https://goldprogram.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-popple-4a382a16/Fast Five Questions:If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I would use my computer to tell everyone in the world what I do and why they should speak to me. I would make sure people knew how to get hold of me if they wanted to learn about investing in gold. ”What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Investing in the wrong company Taking a tip. So not doing proper research, taking a tip, putting a load of money into a company because someone said, ‘Hey, this is a good company to invest in.”What is a book that you would recommend? “The Psychology of Money. Brilliant book. Absolutely brilliant.”What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “I use social media. Personally I use LinkedIn.”What is your definition of freedom? “My definition of freedom is doing what you want, when you want, how you want I think freedom means different things to different people.”About Jeff: Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence FoundationConnect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/Connect with Jeff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you...
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    51 mins
  • The Commercial Real Estate Playbook | Ken Ashley on Mentorship, AI, and Building a Career That Lasts

    The Commercial Real Estate Playbook | Ken Ashley on Mentorship, AI, and Building a Career That Lasts
    Jun 9 2026
    Many young professionals are worried about their future. AI is changing industries. Traditional career paths feel uncertain. And many knowledge workers are asking the same question:How do I build a career that remains valuable in a rapidly changing world?The challenge isn't just finding a job.It's finding a profession where your expertise, relationships, and judgment continue to matter. Many people spend years in careers that limit their growth, only to realize they've become replaceable. And in commission-based businesses like commercial real estate, the learning curve can feel overwhelming.In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Ken Ashley, a 30-year veteran of commercial real estate at Cushman & Wakefield, author of The Prescription, and founder of the CREI Summit.Ken shares:How he built a successful commercial real estate career over three decadesWhy mentorship is critical for long-term successHow AI is changing knowledge workThe importance of specialization and finding your nicheWhy freedom ultimately comes from controlling your scheduleWhether you're considering commercial real estate, building a professional services business, or navigating the future of work, this episode is packed with practical insights.👉 Subscribe and follow the Freedom Nation Podcast for more conversations about financial freedom, entrepreneurship, and building a life on your terms.Episode Takeaways:• Why commercial real estate remains a high-opportunity profession despite technological change• The true cost of training and developing new commercial brokers• Why expertise and niche specialization create long-term success• The importance of mentorship early in your career• Why getting a second job is perfectly acceptable while building a commission-based business• How to manage rejection and stay focused on long-term success• Why AI will enhance top-performing professionals rather than replace them• The concept of identifying your "highest payback activities"• Why relationships remain the ultimate competitive advantage• How freedom comes from controlling your schedule and financial future About the Guest:Ken Ashley is a career guide and mentor for high-agency professionals, with nearly 30 years of experience in commercial real estate brokerage—one of the few careers where your skills, reputation, and income compound over time. He helps students and early-career professionals understand how to choose a career with real upside, build expertise from the ground up, and create long-term wealth by becoming indispensable to clients. Known for his practical, no-hype approach, Ken focuses less on transactions and titles and more on mindset, discipline, relationships, and turning your name into your most valuable professional asset.Links:https://creisummit.com/https://www.instagram.com/kenashley/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenashleyatlanta/Fast Five Questions:If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I'd get Karen and we'd go on an adventure. Maybe we would go to a fishing village in South America and see if we could make that bar and restaurant go.”What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “I think my almost biggest mistake was trying to quit commercial real estate. I was eight and a half months in... and I walked in to quit.”What is a book that you would recommend? “Story Worthy by Matthew Dicks.”What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “I love Evernote. I think it's a great note-taking...”What is your definition of freedom? “I think it's the ability to control your own schedule.”About Jeff: Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence FoundationConnect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/Connect with Jeff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite ...
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    33 mins
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