The Sage Investor cover art

The Sage Investor

The Sage Investor

Written by: Brian Spear
Listen for free

About this listen

 You’ve worked hard, invested wisely, and built real momentum. But if you're like many high-net-worth investors… you still feel exposed. Maybe it’s rising tax burdens. Or fragile cash flow. Or the growing sense that today’s markets run more on emotion than fundamentals. Over 10 years and thousands of conversations with investors, Brian Spear discovered something surprising: most aren’t chasing the highest return. They’re chasing clarity. Control. And peace of mind. The Sage Investor is a podcast for wealth builders who want to think deeper, move smarter, and invest with intention. Hosted by Brian—private equity executive and co-founder of Sunrise Capital Investors—this show translates decades of real-world experience into actionable frameworks for lasting wealth. At the heart of this show is our blueprint, the Sunrise C.A.P.I.T.A.L. Strategy: 💵 Cash Flow First 🧩 Add Value 🛡️ Protect the Downside 🧠 Invest, Don’t Speculate 🏛️ Tax Efficiency ✅ Assurance of Outcome 🕊️ Legacy Tired of market noise, tax surprises, or sleepless nights wondering if your wealth is truly safe? This show is for you if you're ready to: ❌ Stop guessing and start investing with a durable strategy ❌ Break free from the anxiety of unpredictable returns ❌ Escape the tax traps that quietly erode your net worth ❌ Avoid speculation and wealth fragility masked as opportunity And instead… ✅ Build a portfolio that cash flows in any market ✅ Invest with clarity, not confusion ✅ Protect your downside—and your peace of mind ✅ Leave a legacy built on principles, not hype Whether you're a seasoned operator or rising Limited Partner, you'll get a front-row seat to the thought process, tools, and mental models behind real people building real wealth—in the real world. The Sage Investor is rooted in the lessons of the timeless thinkers: Buffett. Munger. Rockefeller. Zell. This is a calm, clear counterpoint to the hype-driven investing landscape. Because as Warren Buffett reminds us: “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” Tune in. Slow down. Think deeper. Become a Sage Investor.2026 Sunrise Capital Investors
Episodes
  • #4 - The Cash Flow “Riddle”: If You Solve It, You’re Free for Life

    #4 - The Cash Flow “Riddle”: If You Solve It, You’re Free for Life
    Jan 15 2026
    If you don’t solve the cash flow “riddle,” you will forever be riddled with anxiety. Most multimillionaires think they’ve “made it” because of their high incomes, large nest egg, or vast investment portfolio. But during every downturn, they’re sweating—the anxiety is taking over, and everything seems so fragile that a single recession could destroy decades of hard work. They haven’t solved the cash flow riddle that is the only path to durable financial freedom. Investors have been getting it wrong for centuries, looking at “earnings” or “income” as a sign that a business, or their personal balance sheet, is doing well. Yet, time after time, corporate megaliths fall, billionaires become penniless, and aggressive investors lose everything. In short, they never had durable cash flow—the first step in the C.A.P.I.T.A.L. strategy (https://brianspear.com/how-we-built-a-9-figure-business/). In this episode, I’m breaking down how we have solved the cash flow riddle, so you can reach unshakable financial freedom, too. I’ll give real-world examples of investments we’ve made with tremendous upside on foundations that even hurricanes couldn’t shake, why Buffett, Munger, and Singleton value cash flow far over earnings, and what you can do to solve the riddle and finally reach financial peace. Wisdom of wealth from today’s episode: The cash flow “riddle”: If you can solve it, you’re free for life A true, real-world example of how to make durable, unrelenting cash flow Why free cash flow must come before everything else in investing EBITDA and earnings: Why valuing them often leads to massive financial downfalls Why many NOI-focused syndicators went belly up while cash-flow-first Sunrise Capital (https://sunrisecapitalinvestors.com/register-for-the-deal-room/) never paused distributions The greatest weapon for wealth that will propel your legacy during downturns 00:00 Intro 01:17 The Most Powerful Force for Wealth 03:32 Don't Trust "Earnings" 06:01 Most Investors Are Completely Wrong 09:51 The Cash Flow “Riddle” 14:13 Your Greatest Weapon 17:33 Real Life Example 24:52 This Kills Investors 26:38 Cash Flow ALWAYS Comes First — Hear the Full Episode on the C.A.P.I.T.A.L. Strategy (https://brianspear.com/how-we-built-a-9-figure-business/) Hear Kevin Bupp’s Real Estate Investing for Cash Flow Podcast (https://kevinbupp.com/podcast/) The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success (https://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-Unconventional-Radically-Rational-Blueprint/dp/1422162672) Recommended Resources: Learn more from Brian (https://brianspear.com/) and listen to past episodes of The Sage Investor Connect with Brian (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian--spear) on LinkedIn Are you a high net worth investor with capital to deploy in the next 12 months? Build passive income and wealth (https://sunrisecapitalinvestors.com/register-for-the-deal-room/) by investing in real estate projects alongside Brian and his team!
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
No reviews yet