Zach explains how he built RTR & used REI to retire from his career as an Optometrist.

In this special episode, Rent To Retirement founder Zach LeMaster joins the Lifestyle Dentist Podcast to share how he went from practicing optometry to building a real estate portfolio that ultimately gave his family financial independence.Zach shares how he and his wife used rental real estate to gradually replace their active income, giving them the freedom to continue practicing healthcare because they enjoy it—not because they financially have to. The conversation explores passive income, long-term wealth creation, real estate tax advantages, cost segregation, leverage, and how busy professionals can invest without turning real estate into another full-time job.👉 Click here: https://hubs.ly/Q04wZWv40 to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions!Here is how the RTR STR Tenant Placement Program works allowing anyone to qualify to use a cost segregation study to take massive tax deductions against their active income or W2 income in 2026:You buy a vacant new construction rental property from RTR, where you can receive up to $30K+ in incentives to be used as cash back, a rate buydown, or a price reduction—the choice is yours.You take about 10 minutes to set up an Airbnb short-term rental listing following RTR’s guide.RTR rents your home for 2–5 nights. You do NOT need to furnish the home. This establishes the home as a short-term rental for 2026 under the strategy discussed in the episode, potentially allowing you to use a cost segregation study to write off approximately 30% of the home value against your income in 2026.RTR estimates 30% based on its experience. Example: a $300K home could potentially generate approximately a $90K tax deduction.You can continue managing the property as a short-term rental, or turn it over to RTR’s management teams beginning January 1, 2027.The potential result: 5 to 6 figures in 2026 tax savings while acquiring a quality new-construction rental property in a growing market.And with the combination of RTR cash-back incentives plus potential tax savings, you could potentially recover a substantial portion of your original down payment—dramatically increasing your effective ROI.That’s how Rent To Retirement helps investors pursue early retirement through real estate investing.👉 Click here: https://hubs.ly/Q04wZWv40 to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions🏠 In this episode:0:00 – Why Zach was invited on Lifestyle Dentist1:10 – From optometrist to real estate investor3:10 – Replacing active income with rentals9:01 – Why real estate works for high-income professionals11:14 – Real estate tax benefits12:04 – Cost segregation explained14:52 – Real estate professional status19:18 – Bonus depreciation explained22:17 – Short-term rental tax strategy23:26 – Material participation rules24:30 – How the STR strategy works27:19 – $300K property / $90K deduction example28:03 – Builder incentives & cash back33:14 – How many rentals can replace your income?35:25 – Scaling a rental portfolio41:18 – Buying your first rental44:15 – Cash vs. leverage51:00 – Why cash flow matters52:08 – Avoiding analysis paralysis53:07 – Turnkey real estate investing56:33 – Where new investors should start58:08 – Investing outside your local market59:42 – Connect with Rent To Retirement👉 Click here: https://hubs.ly/Q04wZWv40 to learn more about this program and speak with the RTR team to answer all your questions🔔 Subscribe to the Rent To Retirement channel for more strategies on turnkey real estate investing, rental properties, passive income, tax advantages, and building long-term wealth.⚠️ This episode is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, financial, or accounting advice. Speak with your CPA, attorney, or qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.