Why I Don’t Chase Yield (and What I’ve Learned About Real Freedom)
Nov 11, 2025Someone recently challenged me about my rental portfolio.
“Steve, your return on equity isn’t great,” they said.
“You could be making so much more if you leveraged your properties or repositioned them.”
I smiled.
They weren’t wrong — at least not by the world’s definition of “return.”
But that’s because we weren’t playing the same game.
Freedom Over Yield
I made a decision a long time ago to be debt-free.
Not because debt doesn’t work.
Not because I can’t manage it.
But because I value freedom more than yield.
My goal isn’t to squeeze every drop of return out of my assets.
My goal is to live a good, abundant, peaceful life — grounded in Jesus —
to be a great husband, a present father, and a man at peace.
You see, high returns almost always come with high management.
And I’ve already lived that life.
I’ve chased yield, chased deals, chased returns.
And every time, the cost wasn’t financial — it was relational
The Hidden Cost of Chasing More
When I chased returns, I lost more than I gained.
I gave my time, attention, and energy to people and projects that couldn’t care less about me or my family.
The spreadsheets looked great.
My net worth climbed.
But my peace fell.
The world doesn’t measure that cost — but my wife, my kids, and my own heart sure did.
So today, when someone tells me my return on equity is “too low,” I just nod.
Because they’re calculating one kind of return — and I’m living another.
The Return That Matters Most
If you’re always chasing higher yields, you’ll always be chasing.
There’s no finish line.
Enough is never enough when the measuring stick is “more.”
Freedom begins when you decide that good enough is good enough.
I have no debt on my rentals.
They’re stable, simple, and stress-free.
Sure, I could get a higher return by leveraging, but I’d be paying for it with time, attention, and mental bandwidth — things my family isn’t willing to sacrifice anymore.
That’s not failure. That’s freedom.
It’s Not About What’s Right — It’s About What’s Right for You
My approach isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.
If your goal is to grow the largest portfolio possible or hit a specific number — I get it. That used to be me.
But if your goal is to be present with your kids, to rest well, to live generously, and to not let money be your master —
then maybe it’s time to redefine what success looks like.
I’ll still do deals. I’ll still look for bargains. I love the hunt.
But not at the expense of peace, relationships, or joy.
Sometimes the greatest yield isn’t measured in dollars — it’s measured in margin, time, and freedom.
So when someone challenges my numbers, I don’t debate them.
We’re just not aiming at the same target.
Their goal is return on equity.
Mine is return on life.
And for me, that return has been better than any spreadsheet could ever show.
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