Paul Shannon is a real estate investor, fund manager, and co-host of the PassivePockets podcast. After spending 15 years in medical device sales, Paul transitioned into full-time real estate in 2019. He has acquired over 200 residential units through creative strategies like BRRRR and joint ventures and is an LP in 40+ deals across multifamily, industrial, debt funds, and more. Today, he runs Invest Wise Collective, an opportunistic investment fund focused on delivering diversified returns through both GP and LP positions.

Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Must Ask, here.

Key Takeaways

• Paul left a successful sales career to pursue real estate full-time after realizing he wanted more purpose, freedom, and control.

• He failed as a property manager early on but used that lesson to scale through partnerships and better team delegation.

• Invest Wise Collective takes a capital-agnostic, asset-agnostic approach to investing—balancing risk, return, and diversification.

• Passive investors should focus on sponsor alignment, risk tolerance, and consistent underwriting inputs over flashy return metrics.

• Community and mentorship are essential for new and seasoned LPs alike—there's power in learning from others' experiences.

Topics

From Medical Sales to Real Estate Freedom

• Paul started with single-family rentals and flips, managing properties himself while still in corporate sales.

• In 2019, he left his W2 job with a modest portfolio, savings runway, and a desire to build something meaningful.

• A pivotal moment came when he outsourced property management and focused on acquisitions, unlocking rapid growth.

The Rise of Invest Wise Collective

• In 2023, Paul and partners launched a fund to pool capital and invest across asset classes.

• The fund focuses on both GP and LP positions, enabling flexible capital deployment based on risk-reward profiles.

• Their early strategy emphasized debt positions for income and capital preservation, later pivoting to multifamily as opportunities emerged.

Lessons for New Passive Investors

• Focus on the sponsor first, then the deal—good operators can rescue average deals; bad ones can ruin great ones.

• Underwriting inputs matter more than IRR projections—don't get seduced by high returns without understanding the assumptions.

• Diversify across operators, asset types, and loan maturities to mitigate risks like market timing or interest rate exposure.

• Don't let FOMO drive decisions—there will always be more deals. Be intentional, not reactive.

The Power of Community: Passive Pockets

• Paul is co-host of Passive Pockets, formerly Left Field Investors, now owned by BiggerPockets.

• The platform provides deal reviews, sponsor evaluations, educational content, and LP peer collaboration.

• It helps investors go from 100-level beginners to 500-level LPs through shared experience and due diligence transparency.

📢 Announcement: Learn about our Apartment Investing Mastermind here.

Round of Insights

Failure that set Paul up for success: Realized he was a terrible property manager—which led him to outsource operations and discover the value of the Who Not How mindset.

Digital or mobile resource: Slack – an essential tool for team collaboration and staying connected without overwhelming inboxes.

Book recommendation: Creature from Jekyll Island – a deep dive into the history of the Federal Reserve and monetary systems that shaped his financial worldview.

Daily habit: Early morning workouts to boost energy, mental clarity, and start the day with intention and discipline.

#1 insight for passive investing: Don't fall for FOMO. There will always be more deals—invest when you're informed and confident.

Favorite restaurant in Fortville, IN: FoxGardin.

Next Steps

• Visit PassivePockets.com to join the LP community and access exclusive education and deal reviews

• Learn more about Paul's investment strategy at InvestWiseCollective.com

• Focus on sponsor alignment, risk-adjusted returns, and long-term diversification in your investing journey

Closing Call to Action

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