168: Multidimensional Investing with Tom Wheelwright!

Learning is an electrical function of the brain. When we first start learning something, our brains start developing connections to integrate that information. Over a period of time, those electrical connections become stronger and stronger giving the perception of something becoming second nature. It isn’t until a basic function becomes second nature that you can then start adding layers. For example, a professional baseball player was, at one point, an infant who couldn’t walk. Eventually he went on to develop his athletic prowess to the point where he might even chew tobacco while hitting a hundred mile an hour baseball with a piece of wood. At that point, he doesn’t have to think about how to walk anymore.  You see, expertise in things requires depth of experience that allows for complex neural circuitry to form and to make certain, more basic skills, run on autopilot. At that point, you are able to absorb information in multiple dimensions—some conscious and some not. This next level in learning allows us to function at a higher level. So how does this relate to investing? Well, becoming a sophisticated investor requires some of the same layering of information and development of neural circuitry to allow for a more comprehensive approach to personal finance. I’ve talked before about how novice investors are often attracted to the “good from far but far from good” investments. You know—the kind with big front end cash on cash returns that then depreciate to zero in just a few years. Seems obvious to avoid such things but cash on cash is a simple thing to cling on to for novice alternative investors after reading books like Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad. It represents the metaphorical “learning to walk”. Over time, the successful investor starts layering depth and complexity to his investing strategy. He might even start paying attention to the more nuanced lessons in the Kiyosaki books that are often overlooked at first glance. I will admit whole heartedly that there was a time several years ago that I was just “learning to walk”. There is no shame in that. Over time, I just spent so much time thinking about this stuff that I got more sophisticated than most when it comes to thinking about money. That said, I’ve been around for a long enough time to know that five years from now I’ll be a hell of a lot smarter than I currently am! Now, over the last several years, one of the most critical elements of investing that I have learned is to understand the importance of the interplay between deploying capital and taxes. In fact, I would say that taxes play a DOMINANT role in my investing decisions and, for that matter, my life decisions. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Say I earn $100K that I can deploy however I wish. For better or for worse, the first thing that comes into my mind is the fact that a big chunk of that is going to get sliced off and sent to the government in the form of income taxes. That is, unless I do what the government wants me to do like invest in real estate. You see, the tax code is largely a series of tax incentives. If you do what the government wants you to do, you will will be rewarded by paying less taxes. What does the government want you to do? It wants you to stimulate the economy through business activity and investments into things people need like a roof over their head.  If I want to keep as much of my earned money as possible, I personally invest it in real estate. With cost segregation analysis and bonus depreciation, my investments not only serve to build my wealth in the future, but also decrease the amount of money I have to give to the government today. That is one hell of an incentive to ignore!