Hey there! Welcome to the Carry Letter 👋 We’ll be exploring the latest financial news and discussing how it affects entrepreneurs like you. Plus, we'll share some awesome wealth creation insights from successful entrepreneurs.

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If you’re earning six figures and climbing, chances are you’ve heard this a hundred times:

“Renting is just throwing money away.”

Your parents say it. Your LinkedIn feed repeats it. Even your barista said it once while handing you a $7 latte.

But what if they’re all wrong?

Because for HENRYs (High Earners, Not Rich Yet), buying a home might not be the smartest move. In fact, it could quietly stall your financial progress for the next decade.

Let’s break it down…

The Real Cost of “Stability”

Let’s say you make $200K and decide it’s time to buy a $1 million home. (Yes, that’s a starter home in most HENRY-heavy cities.)

• 20 percent down = $200,000 gone immediately

• Closing costs = another $30,000

• Furniture and home upgrades = $20,000 or more

• Ongoing monthly costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance) = $5,000 to $6,000 per month

And that down payment? It could have been growing in a brokerage account, or funding something more flexible than countertops.

The Opportunity Cost No One Talks About

Every dollar you put into your home is a dollar you can’t use elsewhere.

• Contributing to a Roth or Solo 401k

• Investing in your business or a new skill

• Jumping on an angel investing opportunity

• Taking time off between contracts

• Covering a slow quarter without panic

You are not just buying a house. You are locking up cash that could have bought you freedom.

Hidden Costs, Hidden Pressure

When you rent, a broken water heater is someone else’s problem. When you own?

• A leaky roof might cost $10,000

• A property tax hike can hit overnight

• A maintenance emergency can show up the same month you lose a client or your bonus gets cut

Whether you’re W-2 or self-employed, the pressure hits the same. You’re tied to fixed costs that don’t care if your income fluctuates.

Renting Isn’t Dead Money. In Some Cases, It Offers Financial Flexibility.

Renting can give you:

• The ability to move cities or change directions

• Predictable monthly costs

• Capital to invest or use when opportunities show up

• Breathing room if a client leaves or income slows down

You’re not necessairly wasting money if you’re buying optionality instead.

The Bottom Line

Buying a home can be a smart wealth move. But for many HENRYs, it happens too soon, for the wrong reasons, or with more emotional pressure than financial logic.

So just ask yourself:

Is this home giving me freedom, or just giving me roots before I’m ready?

Because when you tie up your cash early, it’s not just about real estate. It could also be about everything else you may be putting on pause for the next 10 years.

What’s Happening at Carry Lab?

Here’s what you can expect in the coming weeks

See the full list of events here. ⏰

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If you want more resources on building wealth as a solopreneur/entrepreneur, check these out:

• The Solo 401k handbook

• The Roth IRA handbook

• The Self-Directed IRA handbook

• The Guide to Paying Less in Taxes

• What is a Solo 401k?

• How to Open a Solo 401k