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In this episode, we ask:
- What is the 1% net rule?
- Would you like to listen to Episode 316?
- Why does layering on Bank on Yourself® strategies to real estate make a whole lot of sense?
- What is Kirby’s story?
- What is over looked in the short term rental space?
- What is counterintuitive?
- Where can one buy properties for a fraction of the cost of what you can buy in the city centers?
- What can one charge for short-term rental income?
- Why does Kirby help other investors?
- What is the purpose of financial freedom?
- Do you own your day?
- What happened in 2021?
- How does Kirby have a positive impact on others?
- What systems are in place?
- What has been the biggest challenge?
- Do the higher end areas yield the best income?
- What is the backup plan?
- Is the property upside down?
- Does the property cash flow?
- Does it cash flow 1% net?
- What about the banks?
- What about private credit?
- What about DSCR lenders? What ratio are they looking for?
- What is the underlying asset that we are lending against?
- Can banks change their mind at any given point?
- Why does layering on the Bank on Yourself® strategy with a short term rental business work so well?
- When is the best time to buy?
- Is real estate going to crash?
- Where do you put your money when everything is uncertain?
- What about inflation?
- What about the stock market?
- Do we need shelter?
- What has intrinsic value?
- What about the underlying value of the property?
- What about the cash flow?
- What about buying solid assets?
- If your current plan fails, what will you do then?
- What about liquidity?
- What is a dynamic duo?
- What about recency bias?
- When you stress test it, does it still work?
- Are you standing on the X?
- Is not making decision still making a decision?
- What about catastrophe thinking?
- What can I expect in terms of a good short term rental?
- What strategies are outside of the box?
- What is the rule of thumb?
- What are the parameters?
- What are the results so far?
- What are they doing?
- What is the safest thing you could do?
- Would you like to reach out to Kirby at livingoffrentals.com/start?
- What are the takeaways?
- Would you like to meet with Mark or one of Mark’s associates?
Kirby Atwell served six years as an officer in the U.S. Army, after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. During his service, he developed a strong interest in real estate and purchased his first rental property in 2006.In 2011, Kirby left the military to pursue real estate full time. He launched a Chicago‑based investment company and went on to flip roughly 70 properties over five years. Although the business generated significant revenue, the highly transactional model left him with no passive income and a growing treadmill of stress, overhead, and marketing costs. That realization pushed him to pivot toward building assets that produced reliable monthly cash flow.Kirby eventually discovered the power of utilitarian short‑term rentals—affordable, practical properties near major population centers that serve everyday travelers such as workers, families, and medical guests. This strategy transformed his financial life. By 2021, after acquiring eight units producing about $1,000 per unit in net monthly cash flow, he was able to leave his corporate job. Today, he owns and operates 39 short‑term rental listings, supported by systems that keep his time commitment low while delivering high, stable returns.In addition to running his portfolio, Kirby teaches other investors how to replicate this model. Through his coaching program, he has helped hundreds of people select the right markets, secure financing, set up their rentals, and manage them efficiently without expensive property managers. Kirby is the host of the Living Off Rentals podcast and YouTube channel, where he shares strategies, interviews, and insights for building recession‑resistant rental income and achieving true financial freedom. Set up a call with Kirby Atwell at livingoffrentals.com/call.
Phil Smith is an Associate at Lake Growth Financial Services, bringing more than 17 years of banking and credit‑union experience to the firm. A Bank On Yourself® client since 2013, Phil has personally used the strategy to navigate major life transitions, eliminate debt, fund investments, and build long‑term financial resilience—giving him a rare dual perspective as both a seasoned practitioner and a long‑term policyholder.
Janet Kuester describes herself as a 
