Passive Income Pilots

In this episode, hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson welcome Ramez Fakhoury from IRA Club. This episode dives into how pilots can unlock old 401(k)s, TSPs, and HSAs for real estate and other alternative investments. Hear a detailed story of a Southwest pilot transitioning to American Airlines and learn what decisions made the biggest impact. Whether you're changing airlines or just seeking better re...

In this episode, hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson deliver an in-depth, pilot-friendly primer on syndications and passive real estate investing. They break down the risk spectrum from core to opportunistic deals, while sharing real-world analogies and experiences from their own projects, like the Canyon City land entitlement.  Learn how to properly evaluate risk-adjusted returns, the importan...

In this episode, Tait Duryea flies solo to spotlight a powerful tax strategy many high-income earners overlook: real estate professional status. Featuring Brandon Hall from Hall CPA, this episode breaks down a real tax court victory by a harbor pilot who leveraged a flexible W-2 job schedule to claim REP status and unlock massive tax savings. Discover the legal requirements, the importance of docu...

Host Tait Duryea sits down with Brent Kesler, a seasoned life insurance strategist, to explore how pilots and high-income earners can build wealth by turning whole life insurance into a personal banking system. Brent breaks down the misunderstood "infinite banking" concept and how it can be used for real estate, debt payoff, or high-return lending—all while keeping control of your capital.  B...

Hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson welcome financial strategist Brian Herriot for a thought-provoking conversation on redefining retirement and wealth. Explore the power of time freedom, why cash might be your most underappreciated asset, and how to build passive income streams that work for pilots and professionals alike. Brian shares practical tactics for holding liquidity, investing for lifestyl...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson are joined by James Spearman, owner of Spearman Aircraft and Iconic Rides. James walks through his journey of acquiring and scaling an aircraft maintenance business through seller financing, boosting its value through streamlined systems and strategic marketing. He shares the mindset and steps that helped him turn a struggling shop into a seven-figure o...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson sit down with Michael Meylor, a seasoned pilot and self-storage investor who has built an impressive portfolio without raising outside capital. Michael shares how he transitioned from military to commercial flying, how he and his wife started investing in single-family rentals, and why they pivoted to commercial self-storage. The episode covers everythi...

In this episode, Tait Duryea welcomes Gino Barbaro of Jake & Gino to unpack the mindset and mechanics behind building lasting wealth through multifamily real estate. Gino shares his journey from running a family restaurant to becoming a real estate investor with over 1,800 units. They explore topics like values-based decision-making, creating "happy money," the strategic use of whole life insu...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson sit down with retired airline captain and seasoned investor Tom Force to discuss a real estate strategy many overlook—note investing. They cover tax strategies, risk management, and how to get started in note investing. If you’re tired of tenant headaches and want to invest like a bank, this episode is for you. Tom Force, a retired airline pilot and rea...

Hangar space is in short supply, but Trenton Ray is changing that. In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson chat with Trenton about Hangar Direct, his platform that’s like Airbnb for hangars—making it easier for pilots to find and rent space. They dive into the supply shortage, investment potential, and what to know about leasing, financing, or building a hangar.  Trenton Ray is a corpora...

In this special 100th episode of Passive Income Pilots, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson take listeners behind the scenes of the podcast, sharing how it all started and what goes into creating each episode. They also dive into their personal journeys in aviation, investing, and entrepreneurship. From buying their first rental properties to scaling multi-million-dollar real estate portfolios, they discu...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson connect with Zach Lemaster to explore the world of turnkey real estate and build-to-rent properties. They discuss the benefits and challenges of owning physical real estate, the tax advantages of rental properties, and how busy professionals can invest without becoming full-time landlords. Zach shares insights on market trends, the importance of expecta...

In this episode of Passive Income Pilots, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson sit down with Valerie Cusano, an insurance expert with a background in law and decades of experience in commercial and residential insurance. Val dives deep into the critical aspects of real estate insurance, particularly for condo and rental property owners. She explains the difference between condo and homeowners insurance, ke...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson dive into creative real estate financing with Chris Prefontaine, founder of Smart Real Estate Coach. Chris shares powerful strategies like seller financing, subject-to deals, and lease purchases, revealing how investors can acquire properties without banks—even in today’s high-interest rate environment. Learn how to find off-market properties, negotiate...

Have you ever wondered how you could write off an airplane? In this episode, Ryan DeMoor joins hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson to break down the tax benefits of aircraft ownership. Ryan shares how pilots and business owners can strategically use aircraft purchases for tax deductions, the IRS rules around business use, and why proper record-keeping is critical for audits. Whether you're consideri...

In this episode of Passive Income Pilots, hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson explore the world of franchise ownership with franchise expert Cliff Nonnenmacher. Cliff brings decades of experience as a franchise consultant and serial entrepreneur, sharing insights into how pilots and professionals can invest in or operate franchises to build wealth. The discussion covers everything from initial franc...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson sit down with Christian Schiller, an accomplished investment banker with a wealth of experience buying, selling, and evaluating businesses. Christian shares his investment journey, including lessons from early failures, how he refined his investment strategy, and why knowing your limits is key to success. He breaks down the role of investment bankers, e...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson welcome Brian Feroldi , author of Why Does the Stock Market Go Up? to unpack the fundamentals of the stock market and explain strategies tailored for pilots and high-income professionals. Brian demystifies the difference between Roth and traditional 401(k) contributions, shares insights into dividend investing, and explains how to identify great compani...

Dive into the intricacies of Opportunity Zones with this episode of Passive Income Pilots. Hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson are joined by CPA Nathan Sosa of Hall CPA, who demystifies Opportunity Zone (OZ) investments and their potential for tax deferral and appreciation. Whether you're an active investor or prefer passive opportunities, learn how OZs can defer taxes on gains from stocks, business...

Spencer Levy, a leading expert from CBRE, joins Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson to break down the current state of commercial real estate (CRE). He explains how rapid interest rate changes are reshaping the market, highlights key megatrends like reshoring and live-work-play neighborhoods, and offers advice on navigating submarkets. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just getting started, Spencer sh...

In this action-packed episode of Passive Income Pilots, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson sit down with Carl Valeri, an airline captain and experienced entrepreneur, to share actionable strategies to balance a flying career with building a passive income. Carl dives into creative ways to start or buy a business, reduce your tax burden, and even transition to aviation from another career. You’ll hear ins...

In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson sit down with John Heimlich, Chief Economist for Airlines for America (A4A), to unpack the challenges and wins shaping the airline industry. From air traffic control staffing shortages to the impact of pilot pay increases and aircraft delivery delays, John shares key insights into the state of U.S. airlines. He also discusses A4A's advocacy work and wha...

In this episode of Passive Income Pilots, hosts Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson talk with Gordon Alvord, Alaska Airlines captain and co-founder of Rainier Flight Service. Gordon shares how a 2008 furlough led to creating Washington State’s largest flight school, with over 70 aircraft and a reputation for innovation. Discover how he and his partner used business acumen, strategic investments, and bonus...

In this episode of Passive Income Pilots, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson welcome back financial expert Timothy Pope to unravel the complexities of retirement strategies for high-income professionals, focusing on the Mega Backdoor Roth. Timothy explains how this powerful tool allows pilots to contribute significantly more to their 401(k) accounts, unlocking tax-free growth opportunities. You will gain...

Welcome back to another episode of Passive Income Pilots! In this episode, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson step outside financial strategies to explore the world of real-time flight tracking with Ian Petchenik, Director of Communications at FlightRadar24. Ian shares insights into the app that has become essential for aviation enthusiasts and professionals alike, with its vast network of over 41,000 AD...