What if you could tell an AI to "make me a million dollar business" and it actually starts doing it?Johann is 22 years old. He's already built and sold multiple SaaS companies. And in just 58 days, he scaled an AI agent business from zero to over $1 million in annual recurring revenue.Johann leaves a 6 second audio message to his AI Agent during the interview and in minutes it build, and deployed to the internet a personal website for sam marks. To find out the tech stack used, drop us your email at: www.investlikeaboss.com/buildIn this episode of the Build Series, we break down:→ What AI agents actually are (and how they're different from ChatGPT and Claude)→ The OpenClaw explosion and what happened after the hype died→ Why "skill files" are the secret weapon for training AI agents→ The memory problem — and why we're basically re-engineering the human brain→ How Johann uses his AI agent like Jarvis (connected to bank accounts, contacts, Gmail)→ Security: the #1 downloaded skill file was actually malware→ LIVE: We ask an AI agent to build and deploy a website in under 10 minutesWhether you're curious about AI agents, running a business, or ready to set one up yourself, this episode is your crash course.🔗 Join our community of builders: https://www.investlikeaboss.com/build🔗 Johann's company: https://www.cyndra.ai🔗 Johann's Skool Group - Join his AI community: https://www.skool.com/ai-operators-5011📸 Sam's IG: @sammarks12#AIAgents #BuildSeries #InvestLikeABoss #AI2026 #Entrepreneurship #AIAutomation #OpenClaw #ClaudeAI #SaaS #AIBusiness

How do you achieve financial independence and design a life of freedom?In the first episode of the Build Series, Sam Marks sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and digital nomad Johnny FD to discuss his journey from building online businesses to achieving financial independence and retiring before 40.Johnny shares the strategies, investments, mistakes, and mindset shifts that allowed him to create a life where work became optional. The conversation explores entrepreneurship, passive income, investing, travel, lifestyle design, and what financial freedom actually looks like once you achieve it.Topics discussed:• Johnny's path to financial independence• Building online businesses and creating income streams• The role of investing and passive income• Lessons learned from entrepreneurship• Mistakes and setbacks along the journey• What life looks like after achieving financial freedom• Travel, lifestyle design, and location independence• Advice for anyone starting their own journey todayThe Build Series is a new podcast from Invest Like a Boss focused on entrepreneurship, investing, technology, health, and building an exceptional life.Subscribe for future conversations with founders, investors, operators, creators, and builders from around the world.Connect with Johnny FD:YouTube: @JohnnyFDWebsite: johnnyfd.comConnect with Sam Marks:Instagram: @sammarks12Podcast: Invest Like a Boss#FinancialFreedom #FinancialIndependence #BuildSeries

Sam, Johnny and Derek gather for one last quarterly update in an already tumultuous 2025. Is this the final Invest Like a Boss episode? Only time will tell, but for now the guys are reflecting on what they took away from the show and also providing your feedback from 9 years of ILAB. Thanks for the support! This is the public portion of the episode - if you want the full version with video and financial breakdowns from the guys, you can join ourILAB Patreon now for instant access to that and so much more.

Discussed:

ILAB 259: Dave Zook The "Real Asset" Investor

ILAB 283: Are Vacation Homes Worth the Hassle?

Where we are:

Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine / IG@johnnyfdj

Sam Marks - Bangkok, Thailand / IG@sammarks12

Derek – Los Angeles, USA / IG@DerekRadio

Sponsor:

ILAB PatreonJoin theInvest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month atPatreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Time Stamp:

00:55 - Derek's LA Fire Experience / Podcast Studio Burnt

08:57 - Why The Show is Ending

32:12 - What We Got Out of ILAB

42:52 - Listener Feedback on Show Ending

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Read ourdisclaimer here.

Sam Marks and Derek Spartz discuss why Mid-Cap Stock Funds seem to get overlooked by investors. They've done a lot of research that shows you may want to add these funds to your portfolio. The guys kick off the show with a little post-election results talk and then dive inot the reasons why mid-caps should not be so easily overlooked in this special 101 episode.

Discussed:

• ​Mid-Cap Fund Tickers Mentioned: Vanguard Mid-Cap Index ETF $VO, iShares S&P Mid-Cap ETF $IJH, iShares Russell Mid-Cap $IWR
• ​ILAB 298: What is the S&P 500? A Complete Review

Where we are:

• ​Johnny FD – Kyiv, Ukraine / IG @johnnyfdj
• ​Sam Marks - Bangkok, Thailand / IG @sammarks12
• ​Derek – Los Angeles, USA / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• ​ShopifyShopify helps you sell EVERYWHERE. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system–wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. Sign up for a $1 per month trial period now at Shopify.com/ilab
• ​
• ​ILAB PatreonJoin the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Time Stamp:

• ​00:21 - Sam/Derek Election Talk
• ​12:23 - Why Do Mid-Caps Get No Love?
• ​22:25 - Mid-Cap Historical Performance
• ​42:52 - Which Mid-Cap Funds to Invest In
• ​51:52 - What Sparked the Episode Idea?

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer here.

An encore airing of our interview (ILAB 190) from summer 2021 with Kraneshares Managing Director Luke Oliver on the Gloabl Carbon Market and their fund $KRBN. Luke will be returning to ILAB soon for a follow up, so we thought it'd be good for you to get refreshed on this ESG investment idea, seeing as it's underperformed the last 18 months. Derek & Sam both personally hold $KRBN and we know a lot of our bosses out there bought in on this initial airing too so we look forward to Luke's return to the show.

Discussed:

• Original episode ILAB 190
• Kraneshares Global Carbon ETF | KRBN
• The Impact and ESG Case for Gloabl Carbon Allownace Exposure in Portfolios
• Carbon Pricing: Investing in a Changing Climate

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, UA / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks - Barcelona, ES / IG @sammarks12
• Derek – Los Angeles, US / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• Robinhood
  From October 16-27, 2024, when you transfer your IRAs, margin balances, or other brokerage accounts to Robinhood, there’s no limit to how much you can earn. Head to Robinhood.com/HoodWeek now to learn more.

• 
  

• ILAB Patreon
  Join the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Time Stamp:

• 01:12 - Derek Intro
• 03:07 - Interview Begins
• 24:20 - This Seems Too Good to Be True?
• 40:02 - Sam/Derek Recap
• 55:44 - Sam & Derek Both Bought KRBN

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer here.

After speaking about expenses being harder to cover lately, Derek decides to share his daily spending breakdown. Him and Johnny go over the categories and both realize that lifestyle creep is reality now for both of them. They discuss ideas to save money, what things they can slim down and what they may need to cut out all together. With everything getting more expensive and wages not keeping up, this episode is sure to relate to many others out there.

Discussed:

• Derek's 2023 AMEX Spend Chart
• ILAB 306: Q3 2024 Quarterly Update
• ILAB 305: The Economic and Lifestyle Value of Buenos Aires

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, UA / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks - Barcelona, ES / IG @sammarks12
• Derek – Los Angeles, US / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• Shopify
  Shopify helps you sell EVERYWHERE. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system–wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. Sign up for a $1 per month trial period now at Shopify.com/ilab

• 
  

• ILAB Patreon
  Join the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Time Stamp:

• 00:20 - Johnny/Derek Intro
• 14:52 - Gas/Auto Expenses
• 18:22 - Our Heads Are in Prices 10 Years Ago
• 22:27 - Should Derek Leave California?
• 34:55 - Why Johnny Likes Cheap Places

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer here.

Sam, Johnny & Derek all get together for our quarterly update! Lots of things happened in the last 3 months, Sam became a forest monk and tried Ayahuasca, Derek and Johnny met up in Argentina and much more! Lots of health and wellness talk this go around with a little investing as well. This is the preview free version, to unlock the full Patreon only version which is nearly two hours long you must sign up as an ILAB Patreon member - plans start for as low as $5/month and you'll get instant access to the full episode and hundreds of other posts from the guys and a link into the boss community. Thanks for supporting the show so we can continue to make more episodes!

Discussed:

• ILAB Patreon
• ILAB 305: The Economic and Lifestyle Value of Buenos Aires

Where we are:

• Johnny FD – Kyiv, UA / IG @johnnyfdj
• Sam Marks - Barcelona, ES / IG @sammarks12
• Derek – Los Angeles, US / IG @DerekRadio

Sponsor:

• Robinhood
  Starting October 16th, when you transfer your IRAs, margin balances, or other brokerage accounts to Robinhood, there’s no limit to how much you can earn. Head to Robinhood.com/HoodWeek now to learn more.

• 
  

• ILAB Patreon
  Join the Invest Like a Boss Patreon now and get tons of bonus content, including additional episodes, full quarterly updates including account screenshots and more for as low as $5/month at Patreon.com/InvestLikeaBoss

Time Stamp:

• 01:18 - Sam/Johnny/Derek Intro
• 11:09 - Buenos Aires Recap
• 18:16 - Ayahuasca Experience
• 27:56 - Johnny's Missed Flight
• 31:39 - Sam's Letter to the SEC

If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor and share it! If you haven't already, please take a minute to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer here.