Why I Chose Discipline Over Entitlement
When people hear that I’m a multi-millionaire investor (that term makes me cringe), they assume my path was handed to me. The reality? It was anything but. I could have leaned into my family’s success, but I made a choice early on: I wanted to build something myself. Not just money—but purpose, discipline, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from doing the hard work.
I didn’t inherit my wealth. I earned it by investing in myself first.
From Immigrant Roots to Opportunity
My story starts in Iraq. My family fled under political asylum and found our way to the U.S. through England. My parents, both physicians, rebuilt their lives from the ground up in Michigan. By the time I reached college, we were financially secure—but that didn’t mean I was content to coast.
I realized early that money can make life easier, but it doesn’t create meaning. In fact, growing up with financial stability worked against me in some ways. People assumed I didn’t have to work for anything. That assumption knocked a decade off my career, at least in perception. But instead of letting it define me, I let it fuel me.
Education Beyond Wealth
In my family, college wasn’t a choice—it was an expectation. I attended the University of Michigan–which you’ll see proudly displayed on my X profile–where I studied economics and learned valuable lessons about critical thinking. I also learned that formal education is only a small part of success.
“College is great for networking and opening doors, but performance and discipline are what determine success.”
I saw people who had every advantage struggle post-graduation. Wealth and status in youth don’t guarantee long-term success—what does is resilience, a hunger for learning, and the ability to execute.
Growth: The Real ROI
Instead of settling into my family’s financial stability, I committed to personal growth. I used to equate net worth with self-worth. That changed as I started studying successful investors like Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.
“When you inherit wealth, the key isn’t trying to 100X it—it’s learning to steward it wisely.”
I poured my energy into learning, reading, and developing a mindset that prioritized consistency over perfection. And that’s when everything changed.
Real Estate, Value Investing, and the Drive for More
Real estate and value investing became my foundation. Not because they were get-rich-quick schemes (far from it), but because they aligned with my long-term vision. Investing isn’t about flashy moves or gambling on trends—it’s about calculated decisions that compound over time.
“Real estate is a job, investing is a discipline, and entrepreneurship is a mindset.”
Today, I manage my own wealth, with over 1,000 real estate units, eight operating businesses, and nearly $60 million in equities or dry powder, ready to invest when the price is right. More importantly, I keep my mind sharp.
“Investing is about mastering your emotions. Good times and bad times don’t last forever.”
The Shift from Success to Significance
These days, I’m semi-retired—though anyone who knows me will tell you I’m not exactly sitting around. I spend my time managing my investments, growing my businesses, and most importantly, helping others learn how to build their own financial freedom.
That’s why I started Everything Money.
“I love that I’m changing the way people view investing. I want to transform others’ relationships with money. Let’s talk about it.”
On Everything Money, my co-host Mo Hussein and I break down stock news, value investing principles, and real estate strategies without the Wall Street B.S. We built proprietary software to analyze investments the right way—without hype, without shortcuts, and without emotions clouding judgment.
For anyone looking to build wealth, my advice is simple: focus on education, discipline, and purpose.
“There are no shortcuts in life. You only need to become rich once.”
If you inherit wealth, be a good steward. If you’re building from scratch, think long-term and protect what you have. Wealth is more than numbers in a bank account—it’s knowledge, discipline, and the freedom to live life on your terms.
That’s the real investment. And that’s why I never took the easy road.