Tanner Frigaard of Protect What You Built: Why Financial Literacy Shouldn’t Depend on Your Net Worth
Maybe you called a financial advisor once, ready to get organized. You explained where you were. Then you heard some version of “Call me when you have more.” You hung up with the same questions, plus a quiet feeling that this stuff wasn’t built for you.
Tanner Frigaard of Protect What You Built heard those words at 19. On this episode of Square Feet and Side Quests, he shared how that moment shaped his career, and what he now teaches everyone from high school seniors to clients earning multiple seven figures.
I’ve spent a decade in Las Vegas commercial real estate, representing tenants, buyers, and sellers. Every lease and acquisition starts with a financial decision. I’ve also known Tanner for ten years, long enough to watch him turn an early rejection into a mission.
In this article, you’ll learn:
The financial basics Tanner teaches first, and how they can lead to business ownership
How a solo 401(k) can help commission-based professionals lower this year’s taxes
How old 401(k) money can potentially move into real estate syndications
Why comparing strengths and weaknesses beats chasing the “best” financial path
How the Rule of 72 shows compounding working for you, and against you
Check out the highlights here:
Why I Had This Conversation With Tanner Frigaard of Protect What You Built
Tanner and I met about ten years ago, right after I got licensed. We were part of a group of young entrepreneurs who wanted to do good in the community. We bonded over being the only two on digital calendars. Since then, we’ve volunteered with Three Square, Serving Your Kids Foundation, and Kiwanis, and traded referrals for years.
Tanner is a Henderson, Nevada wealth advisor with more than a decade in the industry, and over the years I’ve seen how closely his work overlaps with mine. Through my work providing commercial real estate services in Las Vegas, Nevada, I see how financial decisions shape what people can buy, lease, and build. I’m always interested in that intersection between someone’s industry, real estate, and the community around them, and Tanner’s work sits right in the middle of it.
Watch the full conversation here:
Good Financial Advice Shouldn’t Require a Minimum Balance
At 19, Tanner had just been laid off from a construction job, and he already owned a house. As he told me in the episode, every advisor said he didn’t have enough money and to call back when he had more.
Then a friend referred him to a broker. Tanner became a client first. He got out of debt, put savings in place, and learned what college never taught him. Eventually, he got licensed himself.
He also explained the gap. Many advisors only manage about 25 to 50 clients at a time. When a larger client comes along, a smaller one often gets dropped.
"I felt like I didn’t deserve to just get kind of washed over just simply because I didn’t have enough money at that moment. And that was really what my passion was, to be able to help make a difference in other people’s lives. And if anything, just give them the information so that they can take those tools and better enhance themselves." — Tanner Frigaard, Wealth Manager and Founder of Protect What You Built
That belief shows up in the high school classrooms where Tanner has taught. One former student is now married with two kids and owns his home. Tanner’s team just helped him launch an HVAC company servicing apartment complexes. In Las Vegas heat, that’s families staying cool.
This is financial literacy for entrepreneurs in real life. If you want to start where Tanner starts with students, learn these first:
Qualified vs. non-qualified money
Credit vs. debit, and how banks lend money
How banks, insurance companies, and investment firms differ
What a 401(k) is, and how a Roth works
As I said in the episode, applied knowledge is power. Once the basics click, the next question is usually retirement accounts, where plenty of business owners get stuck.
Retirement Accounts Are Tools, Not Traps
For business owners, Tanner usually points to a 401(k) or a SEP IRA. Both require letting W-2 employees contribute after a set waiting period. That part trips people up.
His question is simple: how much are you trying to save in tax dollars this year, and which program fits?
For agents, Tanner suggested considering a solo 401(k) for real estate agents who want to lower this year’s taxes. It allows much higher contribution limits than an IRA, with catch-up contributions based on age.
A few things surprised me, even after a decade in this industry:
Money in an old 401(k) can potentially go into real estate syndications, including Reg D 506(b) and 506(c) offerings.
Plan loans may be available, if your employer allows them.
Having or adopting a child, or buying your first home, can open penalty-free access to a limited amount. Taxes still apply.
That connection between retirement money and real estate is exactly why understanding the property side matters. If you’re exploring Nevada real estate, my resources on zoning, planning, and buying property in Nevada can help you dig into some of the practical details. But real estate is only one piece of the larger financial picture, and the same idea applies to the accounts themselves: different tools serve different purposes.
The Roth vs. traditional 401(k) choice doesn’t have to be either-or. Tanner explained that a 401(k) can include a Roth component, so both live under the same roof. As he put it, it’s like asking whether apples or oranges are better for your health. Both are good. They serve different purposes.
Traditional 401(k) | Roth 401(k) | |
Tax benefit | Contributions lower taxable income this year | No deduction now; qualified withdrawals are tax-free |
At withdrawal | Distributions are taxed as income | Qualified distributions are not taxed |
Can be combined? | Yes, both can sit in the same plan | Yes, both can sit in the same plan |
One warning. A 401(k) is in the market, so it can lose money. Tanner pointed to 2008 and 2009 as a reminder of how long recovery takes. It isn’t set it and forget it. And pay the IRS their fair share. As we joked, tax evasion is how they got Al Capone.
Knowing the tools is one thing. Sorting good advice from loud advice takes a different skill.
Tune Out the Noise and Build the Path That Fits You
Tanner said a big part of his job is re-education. People hear something on TikTok that sounds good and assume it’s true. He doesn’t argue. He asks, “If I could show you something that would solve that more efficiently, would you be open to talking about that?”
According to Tanner, people managing their own money average returns of three to four percent, while professionally managed money averages seven to nine percent.
But his larger point isn’t that there’s only one “right” way to build wealth. It’s that every strategy comes with tradeoffs, and the path should fit where you are and where you want to go. He explains that idea in this short clip:
Before you commit to one strategy, try this:
Write down the problem you’re solving and where you want to end up.
Name the path you’re leaning toward: being your own bank, the stock market, or only real estate.
Ask an advisor to lay out that path’s strengths and weaknesses against your goals.
At a conference I attended the day we recorded, speakers noted that some people would rather not have the information than risk getting locked into a contract. That fear is why trust comes first.
Trust Is Built Through Access, Boundaries, and Client-First Choices
Tanner said the number one complaint in his industry is clients not being able to reach their advisor. His clients get his cell number. No 1-800 line, no AI bot.
He also sets boundaries. Carriers are closed on weekends, so a panicked Saturday call might become a 6 a.m. Monday call.
He tells new agents they’ll often face two choices. One pays the agent a little more. The other puts the client in a slightly better position. Clients may never know. Tanner said he has always focused on what’s best for them.
What to look for in an advisor:
You can reach them directly when money gets tense
They’re clear about hours and urgent issues
They choose your better position, even when you’d never know
All of it circles back to the lesson Tanner wishes someone had handed him at 19.
What Changed for Me After This Conversation
When I asked Tanner what financial lesson he wished he’d learned earlier, he answered right away: compounding interest.
"It works for investments as well as it works for debt. So it’s always in play. It’s like gravity. It’s always working. But I didn’t know it would be working against me as much as I could use it for me." — Tanner Frigaard, Wealth Manager and Founder of Protect What You Built
The Rule of 72 compound interest shortcut makes it concrete. Divide 72 by your interest rate to see roughly how many years it takes money to double. That double could be your investments, or your debt.
Annual Rate | Approx. Years to Double | What It Could Represent |
4% | 18 years | Conservative savings or bonds |
8% | 9 years | Long-term diversified investing |
24% | 3 years | High-interest credit card debt |
As Tanner said, if something takes ten years to double, the question is when you start the clock.
That hit home. When I volunteer with young adults, I hear, “I spent the money, so why do I have to pay it back?” Explaining how compounding works against you matters as much as how it works for you.
FAQ
Who is Tanner Frigaard?
Tanner Frigaard is a wealth manager and founder of Protect What You Built. He helps professionals and entrepreneurs with tax optimization, wealth preservation, and retirement planning. Find him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. He offers complimentary reviews and consultations.
Can I use my 401(k) to invest in real estate?
According to Tanner, old 401(k) funds can potentially go into real estate syndications, including Reg D 506(b) and 506(c) offerings. Review your plan with a qualified advisor first.
How do I calculate how long it takes my money to double?
Divide 72 by your annual interest rate. At 8%, money doubles in about nine years. At 24%, a credit card balance can double in about three.
Keep the Conversation Going
If you want help with financial planning, wealth protection, retirement strategies, insurance, or business financial protection, reach out to Tanner Frigaard:
Website → https://protectwhatyoubuilt.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-frigaard
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tannerfrigaard/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/tannerfrigaard/
If something in this episode made you think, question, or laugh, don’t let it stop here.
Follow Dertrez Pressley and stay part of the conversation:
🌎 Website → https://www.brownandcompanyadvisors.com/
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🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dertrez-pressley
And if you’re a residential agent with a client who needs commercial space, take a look at my commercial property referrals for residential Realtors in Las Vegas.
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