This week, the RV drove to Utah for an inspiring conversation with Chris Miles. Chris is known as the Cash Flow Expert and an unapologetic Anti-Financial Advisor, helping high-income earners break free from the grind and achieve financial freedom—without relying on Wall Street. He is the founder of Money Ripples, retired twice before the age of 40, author of The Work Optional Blueprint, and host of the Money Ripples Podcast, where he has helped clients generate over $300 million in cash flow and passive income.
Hi Chris, welcome to BrandEducation! Where are you from, and where do you currently live?
I’m originally from Oregon, but I currently live in Utah.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
When I’m not working, I enjoy working out, running, and hiking. I also love spending time with my family—I have eight kids—so life is always busy. When I get a chance to relax, I might watch a little Netflix to unwind. Pretty exciting, right?
Can you share a bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today?
The short version is that I started as a financial advisor because I wanted to gain experience as a business owner. But after about four years, a conversation with my father changed everything. When I reviewed his retirement plan, I realized that the traditional “set it and forget it” strategy wasn’t creating true financial freedom. That led me to explore real estate investing instead. I was able to retire at 28 by focusing on passive income. For the past 20 years, I’ve been helping others become “work optional,” meaning they have enough passive income to work because they want to—not because they have to. My journey hasn’t been perfect, though. I went broke during the 2007 financial crisis and had to rebuild everything, eventually becoming financially free again in 2016.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Persistent, service-oriented, and a nerd.
What inspires you in your work and life?
My biggest inspiration is creating a ripple effect of freedom, prosperity, and happiness for others. The legacy I leave behind through the people I help is what truly motivates me.
Share something our audience might not know about you.
I’ve already shared a couple unusual facts, but here’s another one: I still have five of my six wisdom teeth. Maybe that’s too much information!
How did you get started in writing?
Honestly, peer pressure. I actually dislike writing. Even my college thesis was only 37 pages long after including graphs and charts. But many of my followers and clients kept asking me to write a financial book instead of only sharing information on my podcast, so eventually I gave in.
What are you currently promoting or working on?
Right now I’m promoting my new book, The Work Optional Blueprint, and preparing for the 13th season of The Money Ripples Podcast.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your book?
The book shares my journey—from being a traditional financial advisor to questioning that system and ultimately becoming financially independent twice. It also explains how others can apply those same principles to create financial freedom in their own lives.
Are you working on any new projects or ideas?
Yes, we recently launched a new program called Cashflow Breakthrough, designed for small business owners who make good money but often wonder where it all goes.
What are your goals moving forward?
My goal is to help 1,000 families become truly financially independent by 2030, and then continue expanding that impact.
Where can readers connect with you online?
You can find me on the Money Ripples Podcast on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. I’m also active on social media at @moneyripples, and you can learn more at www.moneyripples.com.
Listen to Chris’s episode on The Relatable Voice Podcast below.