Why do millionaires own nothing and control everything?
The #1 asset protection strategy wealthy real estate investors use—and how you can use it to protect your assets, too.
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When you study how the wealthy structure their lives, one pattern becomes clear:
The rich don’t own anything.
At least, not on paper.
Sure, they control millions (even billions) in assets—cars, yachts, homes, private jets, real estate portfolios—but those assets don’t sit in their personal name.
Why?
Let me tell you a story.
The Tesla Story
Imagine I’m driving my Tesla Model S. I’m outside a Target. I glance at my phone. And I rear-end someone.
Hopefully no one is seriously hurt, but what if they were?
My car insurance will cover part of it—collision, bodily injury, maybe property damage. But insurance always comes with limits.
If the injury is severe—or worse—there could be lawsuits involved. And if my Tesla is in my name, guess who they’re coming after?
Me. Personally.
They’ll go after everything I own: my car, my house, my bank accounts.
That’s why the wealthy set things up differently.
They separate ownership from control.
How the Rich Protect Themselves
Wealthy people don’t own the plane.
They don’t own the rental property.
They don’t own the yacht.
A company does. A trust does. A holding entity does.
That’s how they protect themselves from liability—and how they preserve their wealth for decades.
When something goes wrong, people sue who they think are responsible. But if your name isn’t on the asset, it becomes much harder to come after you personally.
That’s not just smart. That’s essential.
How to Start Structuring Your Life Like the Wealthy
You don’t need to be a billionaire to start building this protection.
Even if you’re early in your journey—maybe you own a few properties or are flipping houses—there are simple steps you can take now that will protect your future wealth.
Here’s how I’d do it if I were starting over today:
1. Never hold real estate in your personal name.
Whether it’s a fourplex or a 100-unit building, every property should be in its own LLC. One LLC per asset.
Why?
Because if a tenant or contractor sues you and the property is in your name—or you’ve lumped multiple properties into the same LLC—you’re exposing the entire portfolio.
2. Create a holding company.
Once you have multiple property LLCs, create a separate holding company to own those LLCs. This creates another layer of protection.
So instead of: YOU → Property LLC → Real Estate
You have: YOU → Holding Co. LLC → Property LLC → Real Estate
3. Use trusts to protect your holding company.
If you want the ultimate level of protection (especially for legacy planning), a trust can own the holding company.
At that point, it becomes almost impossible for someone to touch your personal wealth.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Most new investors never think about this.
They’re focused on buying deals, collecting cash flow, flipping houses.
But here’s what they don’t realize: One lawsuit can take everything.
I’ve seen it happen. Contractors get injured. Tenants file claims. Accidents happen. And if you’re not protected, it could all fall apart.
Real-Life Example
If you’re flipping houses, set up a dedicated LLC just for your flips.
If you’re building a long-term rental portfolio, each asset needs its own entity.
Yes, it costs money to set up LLCs and structure things right.
But you know what costs more?
Getting sued for your entire portfolio, bank account, and going bankrupt.
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason the wealthy say:
“Own nothing, control everything.”
They aren’t being sneaky.
They’re being smart.
Because when things go wrong—and they will—you don’t want your name on the line.
You want protection.
You want privacy.
You want peace of mind.
So whether you’re buying your first duplex or scaling to 1,000 units, build your structure like the wealthy do.
One asset. One LLC. One layer at a time.
Start now—before you think you need it.
If you need help setting this up for your real estate portfolio — reach out experts like Mauricio Rauld at Premier Lww Group who specialize in asset protection for real estate investors. Worth every penny.
That’s all for today. See you next week!
- Marc Kuhn
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