Iran, inflation, confusion, chaos, and conformity: Why some Americans get rich — and most will not

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

When news broke about the bombing in Iran, most Americans had the same reaction: worry a bit, then change the channel, fill up the gas tank, and hope prices don’t spike again.

But here’s what the media won’t say: this isn’t just about geopolitics — it’s about your wallet.

When bombs drop, prices rise. When prices rise, the Fed panics. And when the Fed panics, they print money like it’s Monopoly night at the Treasury.

Translation: War creates inflation. Inflation crushes the middle class. Unless you understand how this game is played, you’re going to lose — again.

I’ve spent 20 years studying how money works — not just as a financial advisor, but as an advisor to other advisors. The system isn’t broken. It’s working as designed — to benefit those who understand the rules.

The wealthy aren’t worried about oil prices or interest rates. They know inflation isn’t their enemy — it’s their secret weapon.

While the average American clips coupons and hopes their 401(k) holds up, the rich borrow cheap money to buy assets. They don’t sell. They don’t defer taxes. They use a strategy I teach: Buy, Borrow, Die.

They buy appreciating assets, borrow against them tax-free, and pass them to their kids — often without paying capital gains tax.

Meanwhile, the middle class sticks to outdated advice: work hard, save money, max out your 401(k), and hope the market doesn’t crash.

That might’ve worked in the 1980s. Today, it’s a roadmap to frustration. Wages lag inflation. College costs have tripled. Owning a home feels out of reach.

If conflict spikes oil prices, the Fed will do what it always does: lower rates, print money, and act like everything’s fine. But you’ll feel it — at the pump, in the store, and in your savings.

Here’s what school never taught: debt, used wisely, is not your enemy — it’s your best friend. The wealthy use debt to buy assets. The assets grow with inflation. The debt stays the same. Inflation builds their wealth — tax-free.

Most people were taught the opposite. Financial education in America? It’s a joke. You learn to dissect a frog, but not file a tax return. You’re told to take on student loans, then spend decades repaying them with after-tax dollars.

Worse? Most people still think they’re doing the right thing.

If you want the lifestyle your parents had, you’ll need to be twice as smart — and five times as bold. The rules have changed.

The old playbook is dead. The new one is simple:

Buy assets.
Never sell.
Borrow against them.
Die… tax-free.
Repeat.

You either learn how the wealthy play the game… or get played by it.

Most won’t change. Why? Because the system is built for conformity. CPAs and advisors are trained using material written by institutions that profit when you follow the herd — Big Government and Wall Street.

They tell you to “get out of debt” and “max out your retirement plan” — while they use leverage and tax strategies to build wealth.

Stick with the herd, they say. It’s safer.

But consider this:
A 2011 study found 45% of U.S. college students showed no gains in critical thinking after two years — and 36% still didn’t after four.
A 2019 Gallup poll found only 1 in 5 Americans strongly agreed they could set aside personal beliefs to evaluate facts.

Really? 80% ignore facts?

That’s why I wrote Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes — to teach ordinary Americans the strategies the wealthy have used for generations.

You don’t need to be a billionaire to use billionaire strategies. You need the right education — and the courage to think differently.

Stop deferring taxes. Stop throwing interest at liabilities. Build inflation-proof wealth. And no — paying off your house doesn’t make you rich. It just raises your taxes and kills the future compounding.

If Iran flares up, expect higher gas prices, shaky markets, and politicians doing what they do best: spending money we don’t have.

And when the bill comes due?

They won’t be paying it. You will — through inflation, taxes, and a slower, poorer retirement.

You don’t have to accept that. But you do have to act.

This is your wake-up call. Not just about Iran or inflation — but your future. If you’re tired of playing defense in a rigged system, it’s time to go on offense.

Remember, 80%+ will follow the herd.

And maybe that’s a good thing — someone still has to pay the taxes, fund the 401(k)s, sign student loans, and keep Social Security limping along.

But here’s the thing: I truly want to help everyone. That’s why I wrote Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes — to give ordinary Americans access to the tools the wealthy use. Not everyone will listen. But some will.

And for those who don’t?

Just remember what happens to the herd:

They get milked, taxed, and eventually… eaten.