015 | I Lost Everything in Stocks… Then Built Wealth with This Simple Strategy | Ray Stewart

Real Estate Investing | Financial Discipline | Retirement Strategy | Long-Term WealthWhat if building real wealth wasn’t about making more money… but using what you already have differently?In this episode of Hold This Thought, I sit down with Ray Stewart to unpack how he quietly built a real estate portfolio over decades- and why most people get it completely wrong. We talk about losing money in the stock market, buying his first rental property out of frustration, and how simple discipline turned a few properties into long-term financial freedom. This conversation isn’t flashy. It’s practical. And that’s exactly why it works.If you’ve ever wondered how to actually build wealth over time, this will change your perspective.Chapters:00:00 | Welcome + The Flooring Business Origin02:58 | Lessons from Working with Family05:52 | Teamwork and Why Family Businesses Fail08:44 | Roles, Strengths, and Staying in Your Lane12:02 | What the Flooring Business Actually Did15:28 | Transition Into Real Estate Investing18:46 | Losing Money in the Stock Market22:03 | The First Rental Property Decision25:31 | Scaling from 1 Property to 16+28:57 | Why You Have to Start Investing Young32:18 | The 50% Down Philosophy Explained35:41 | Managing Risk and Avoiding Bad Debt39:04 | Treating Properties Like Bank Accounts42:26 | The Reality of Owning Rental Properties45:52 | Discipline: Reinvesting vs Spending48:58 | Fear, Debt, and “Becoming the Bank”52:04 | Getting Fired and the Pivot Point55:18 | Health Wake-Up Call + Life Reset58:22 | Discovering Pickleball and New Purpose01:01:12 | Why Pickleball Changed His Life01:03:48 | Community, Longevity, and Final ThoughtsSubscribe for honest conversations exploring the stories that shape us and the ideas that influence our lives.👉 https://www.youtube.com/@HoldThisThoughtPodcast?sub_confirmation=1