Most people get a mortgage, sign the paperwork, and spend decades making payments without ever understanding the options available to them. They choose the loan they are offered, not always the loan strategy that fits their goals.

In this episode of Nobody Told You This, Scott Zimmerman sits down with Brad Rice, a mortgage expert with more than 30 years of experience, to uncover the mortgage strategies most people never learn about. Brad explains why a traditional 30-year fixed mortgage may not always be the best option, how adjustable-rate mortgages can be a powerful financial tool, and why wealthy individuals have used leverage as part of their financial strategy for decades.

Scott and Brad also discuss alternative mortgage options for business owners and investors, including non-QM loans, bank statement loans, and DSCR loans. They break down how interest rates actually work, why waiting for rates to drop may not always make sense, and what buyers should consider before making their next move.

Brad also shares the truth about reverse mortgages, explaining how they work, who they can help, and why they are often misunderstood. This conversation reveals the mortgage knowledge many homeowners only discover after making costly mistakes.

Our Guest

Brad Rice has been working in the mortgage industry since 1993 and has spent decades helping homeowners, investors, and business owners navigate the complexities of mortgage lending.

Throughout his career, Brad has worked with a wide range of mortgage products and specializes in helping borrowers understand options beyond traditional loans. From adjustable-rate mortgages and non-QM loans to investment property financing and reverse mortgages, Brad brings years of experience helping people make more informed decisions about real estate and financing.

In this episode, Brad shares the mortgage strategies, loan options, and financial insights that many homeowners never hear about.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• Why most people choose a mortgage without understanding all their available options

• How adjustable-rate mortgages can be a powerful financial tool when used correctly

• What self-employed borrowers need to know about alternative mortgage programs

• How non-QM loans, bank statement loans, and DSCR loans work

• Why waiting for lower interest rates may not always be the best strategy

• How mortgage points, rates, and refinancing decisions impact homeowners

• The truth about reverse mortgages and who they can help

• Brad’s biggest mortgage advice for first-time buyers and homeowners

Timestamps

• 00:00: The mortgage mistakes most people make

• 02:27: Fixed vs adjustable-rate mortgages

• 04:14: How the wealthy use mortgage leverage

• 08:33: Understanding mortgage points

• 11:25: Mortgage options for self-employed borrowers

• 14:07: How DSCR loans work

• 16:46: Should buyers wait for lower rates?

• 22:56: “Marry the house, date the rate”

• 26:25: Reverse mortgages explained

• 35:27: Brad’s biggest mortgage advice

• 37:26: Connecting with Brad Rice

Resources and links

Brad Rice

• Website: https://amerifund.com/team/brad-rice/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradrice

Scott Zimmerman

• Website: https://scottzim.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-zimmerman-9463a12

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-VFHmgfeiJrwmTjyw6l5wQ

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nobody-told-you-this/id6805991169

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OLlZNyzC4IM4S6WRbbgJH?si=537266a3e47d406e

Most people spend their lives building a family, creating memories, and preparing for the future. But very few take the time to prepare their loved ones for what happens when they are no longer there.

In this episode of Nobody Told You This, Scott Zimmerman sits down with Rabbi Mark Blazer, founder of Final Peace, to discuss the importance of legacy planning and why families often face unnecessary confusion during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. After years of officiating more than 800 funerals, Mark saw the same problem repeatedly: families searching for documents, financial information, final wishes, and answers when they were already grieving.

Mark shares the story behind creating Final Peace, a platform designed to help individuals and families securely organize important documents, legal information, personal instructions, and meaningful messages for their loved ones. The goal is simple: create clarity instead of confusion when families need it most.

Scott and Mark discuss why preparing your legacy is not about focusing on death, but about showing love, responsibility, and care for the people you leave behind. From wills and trusts to personal messages and ethical wills, this conversation explores how planning ahead can give families peace of mind.

Our Guest

Mark Blazer is a Rabbi, television producer, entrepreneur, and longtime Jewish communal leader. He serves as Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth Ami in Southern California and is President of Jewish Life Foundation, which operates JLTV, Jewish Life Television. He is also a founder of FinalPeace, an innovative digital legacy-planning platform designed to help people organize their wishes, important documents, legal planning, and personal messages so the people they love aren't left searching for answers during life's most difficult moments.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• Why Rabbi Mark Blazer created Final Peace after decades of helping families through loss

• Why most families struggle to find important documents and information when they need it most

• How Final Peace helps organize wills, wishes, financial information, and personal messages in one secure place

• Why legacy planning is an act of love that can prevent family conflict and confusion

• The importance of leaving behind not just assets, but your values, lessons, and memories

• Why preparing your legacy today can give your family peace of mind tomorrow

Timestamps

• 00:00: The conversation most families avoid

• 01:08: Introducing Rabbi Mark Blazer

• 04:15: The moment that shaped Mark’s calling

• 06:52: Why Mark created Final Peace

• 07:31: What is Final Peace?

• 10:43: The problem Mark saw in 95% of funerals

• 15:33: Scott’s experience using Final Peace

• 18:28: The importance of ethical wills

• 20:36: Creating wills and protecting your wishes

• 23:45: Why nobody talks about legacy planning

• 25:43: Why planning creates peace of mind

• 28:51: Why planning is an act of love

• 29:53: The meaning behind Final Peace

• 32:17: Final Peace as an employee benefit

• 33:13: The legacy you leave behind

Resources and links

Mark Blazer

• Final Peace: https://finalpeace.co/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-blazer-1993751b8

Scott Zimmerman

• Website: https://scottzim.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-zimmerman-9463a12

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-VFHmgfeiJrwmTjyw6l5wQ

For more than 36 years, Scott Zimmerman has sat across the table from thousands of families and business owners, helping them navigate some of life’s biggest decisions. Over that time, he noticed a pattern: the biggest problems rarely come from what people did wrong. They come from the things nobody ever told them about ahead of time.

In the first episode of Nobody Told You This, Scott shares why he finally decided to launch the podcast and create a place for honest conversations about the lessons people often discover only after it’s too late. From preparing for aging parents and protecting your wealth to understanding health, business, and life transitions, this show is designed to bring the right information at the right moment.

Each week, Scott will sit down with experts and people who have learned valuable lessons through experience, covering four major areas: health, wealth, business, and life. The goal is simple: real conversations, practical insights, and the information people need to make better decisions before a crisis arrives.

Our Host

Scott Zimmerman has spent the past 36 years working in insurance and financial services, helping thousands of families and business owners navigate important financial and life decisions. Throughout his career, he has seen the same pattern repeatedly: people are often not impacted by the crisis itself, but by the information they never received beforehand.

Through Nobody Told You This, Scott brings together experts and conversations focused on the lessons, insights, and advice people often discover only after it is too late. His goal is to share practical knowledge that helps listeners prepare, protect what matters, and make informed decisions.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• Why Scott created Nobody Told You This after 36 years in financial services

• The common life lessons people often discover only when it is too late

• Why the biggest problems often come from missing information, not bad decisions

• The four pillars that will shape the podcast: health, wealth, business, and life

• Why health is the foundation everything else depends on

• How the show will explore building, protecting, and transferring wealth

• Why entrepreneurs need practical conversations about building something sustainable

• The importance of preparing for life transitions before they happen

• Who this podcast was created for and the questions every listener should be asking

• What listeners can expect from future episodes and expert conversations

Timestamps

• 00:00: Welcome to Nobody Told You This and what listeners can expect

• 00:42: Scott Zimmerman’s 36 years of experience helping families and businesses

• 00:59: The pattern Scott sees again and again with clients

• 01:18: Why Scott finally decided to start the podcast

• 01:39: Introducing the four pillars: health, wealth, business, and life

• 02:23: Why this podcast will focus on real conversations without the fluff

• 02:47: Who this show is designed for

• 03:09: Why hearing the right information at the right moment matters

• 03:30: The mission behind Nobody Told You This

• 03:47: What listeners can expect from upcoming episodes

• 04:07: Closing thoughts and the future of the podcast

Resources and links

• Website: https://scottzim.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-zimmerman-9463a12

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvVqLPOD4_SGwKfzaKKo9GA

Nobody Told You This with Scott Zimmerman is a podcast for business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to design the life they truly want. Through free-flowing conversations with experts, entrepreneurs, and diverse voices, Scott uncovers the hidden gems, untold stories, and hard-earned lessons that shape personal and professional growth. Each episode offers insight, inspiration, and practical takeaways to help you plan your next move and build a future with intention.