378: Why Dropping Out of School Was the Best Investment I Ever Made

We all grow up being told to “follow the system.” Go to school. Get a job. Obey the rules. But what if the system itself is broken and designed to constrain you? In today’s episode, I sit down with Matt Nettleton of the Default Profitable Podcast to discuss how being labelled “learning disabled” as a kid pushed me to reject public education, to drop out of school as a teenager, and to build a multimillion-dollar global business from scratch. We dig deep into how to turn adversity into fuel, build leverage through systems and delegation, and live life completely on your terms. Enjoy!  

IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

• Listen in as I reveal how dropping out of school at 12 became the best decision of my life…and the foundation for everything I’ve built since.
• Find out how I bootstrapped Expat Money from zero capital to a 30+ person international team serving high-net-worth clients around the world.
• Tune in as I reveal the one thing I wish I had done sooner that would have accelerated my journey even faster.
• Hear my practical advice for anyone ready to quit the corporate grind and build a business you can run offshore and on your own terms.

 

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WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 6-7, 2026

Join us in Panama City from March 6-7, 2026, for our second annual in-person event, the Wealth, Freedom and Passports Conference! Get your tickets now, as space is very limited.   

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Gold in the Caribbean—No Bank Can Touch It

Fiat is failing. Banks are cracking. And smart investors are moving their gold offshore—outside the system. I’ve partnered with a fully insured private vault in the Caribbean where you can buy, store, and protect physical gold… legally and securely. The entire account opening is done online—fast, private, and no nonsense. If you’re serious about protecting your wealth, get the details now at ExpatMoney.com/gold

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Join Me In Panama For Our Next Tour

I have great news. After many meetings and explanations, the Panamanian government has agreed to keep the Investors Visa at a $300k Real Estate investment instead of nearly doubling the amount required, as they said they would. This is a massive win for our community who wants to move to or invest in Panama, but I am not sure how long this will last… If you have been thinking about Panama, then I want to make an invitation to you today. Come join me for a special four-day tour to see if the country I call home is right for you and your family. We have just released the next set of trip dates. You can find out more at ExpatMoney.com/fly. Come visit me and the Expat Money team, get a feel for the country and see if Panama makes sense for investment or as a new home.

Panama Fly'n Buy Real Estate Tour

No Plan-B Without the Language

If you’re planning to move overseas—or even just set up your offshore Plan-B—learning the local language isn’t optional. It’s protection. It’s access. It’s power. StoryLearning makes it easy to start today, from home, by immersing you in real stories—not grammar drills. Spanish, Portuguese, French, and more—learn the language the smart way before you land. Go to StoryLearningCourses.com.

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