Join Big Mike for a no-holds-barred chat with Mike Stohler, Navy veteran, former commercial airline pilot, and co-founder of Gateway Private Equity Group. With a battle-tested portfolio of over 150 value-add units—from multifamily gems scooped during the 2008 crash to boutique hotels in the U.S. and beyond—Mike embodies the grit of turning setbacks into seven-figure wins.

From his small-town Indiana roots and early landlord fails in the pre-Google days to full-time investing by 2003, Mike reveals how he navigated market crashes, pivoted strategies, and uncovered untapped opportunities abroad. Facing U.S. hotel headwinds like soaring rates and labor costs, discover his bold shift to Spain's Costa Brava—where low-financing deals and tax-smart structures deliver outsized returns. Tune in for raw insights on global diversification, contrarian plays, and building a "lifestyle investment" empire that lets investors vacation at their assets.If you're ready to think beyond borders and crush cycles, this episode is your launchpad.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE0:00 - Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast

0:19 - Guest Intro: Mike Stohler

1:24 - Small-Town Indiana to Navy and Early RE

1:44 - Pre-Google Landlord Failures

2:05 - Airline Pilot Career and Injury Pivot

2:32 - Full-Time RE Investing in 2003

3:01 - 2008 Crash: Buying Multifamily at 10+ Caps

3:52 - Pivot to Hotels ~10 Years Ago

4:05 - Napkin Deal: Selling Portfolio at 4.5 Caps

5:17 - Partnering with 25-Year Hotel Expert

5:50 - COVID Survival: From 84% to 7% Occupancy

6:30 - Current US Hotel Market: High Rates, Expenses

7:21 - Shift to Spain's Costa Brava: Lower Costs, 15 Caps

8:50 - Example: €1.5M Medieval Boutique at 15 Cap

10:09 - Low Financing: 2.55-2.7% Rates

11:12 - Focus: Catalonia/Costa Brava Tourism Hub

12:11 - Tax Structure: No Double Taxation via Treaty

14:15 - Deductible Vacations as Business Expenses

15:18 - Operations: Local Team, Niche Marketing

17:53 - SEO for Castles/Estates, Wedding Focus

20:47 - Projections: 21% IRR, 8-14% Cash Flow

21:34 - Exits: 3 Strategies, Long-Hold Lifestyle Model

23:34 - Structure: 80/20 Split, Simple Waterfalls

26:34 - Fees: 1% Management/Investor Relations

32:58 - Connect with Mike Stohler

If you found this episode substantial and want to dig deeper into real estate, or maybe you want to discover better investment opportunities, be sure to check out www.tempofunding.com.CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.tempofunding.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnJkdVoOsUy85ydkmot9iVA

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CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: gatewaype.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstohler/

Full Transcript:Mike Zlotnik (00:02.039)

Welcome to the Big Mike Fund podcast. the Big Mike, Mike Zlatnik. And today it is my pleasure and a privilege to welcome Mike Stoller. Hey, Mike.

Mike Stohler (00:10.55)

How you doing, Mike?

Mike Zlotnik (00:12.696)

Thanks for coming on a podcast. you said you hail from Scottsdale and you're between Scottsdale and Barcelona. And let me do a forma...

Join Big Mike in a new episode with Chris Miles, founder of Money Ripples and author of The Work Optional Blueprint. Chris, a former Wall Street advisor who retired at 28, shares his journey from millionaire to welfare during the 2008 recession, rebuilding his wealth twice by 39. Discover how to achieve “work optional” freedom—passive income replacing job earnings—through infinite banking, tax strategies, and diversification beyond stocks. Chris warns against Wall Street complacency, predicts market peaks, and advocates rebalancing into alternatives like real estate amid overvalued equities.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE00:00 - Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast

0:19 - Guest Intro: Chris Miles

0:43 - New Book Launch: The Work Optional Blueprint

2:05 - Becoming Work Optional Through Passive Income

2:34 - Chris's Journey: Retired at 28, Recession Recovery, Retired Again at 39

3:39 - Anti-Wall Street Stance Amid Market Complacency

5:18 - Chris's Background as Financial Adviser and Stock Trader

6:03 - Noise vs. Signal: Filtering Media Distractions

8:05 - False Security and Scaling Out of Overvalued Stocks

9:21 - Average Investors Sell at Bottom; Smart Ones Bail Early

11:07 - Taking Profits: Crypto Example and Stock Strategy

11:29 - Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful (Warren Buffett Wisdom)

12:51 - Diversification and Rebalancing Portfolios

13:38 - Opportunities in Beaten-Up Commercial Real Estate

15:22 - Infinite Banking Update: Steady Dividends Rising

16:05 - Warren Buffett's Cash Hoard and Float Strategy

18:58 - Infinite Banking Advantages Over Buffett's Approach

19:51 - Life Insurance as 6% Tax-Free Temporary Holding

20:10 - Vanguard's Low S&P 500 Return Prediction (2.8-4.8%)

22:22 - MAG 7 Dominance in S&P 500 (30% Weight)

23:06 - Approaching Market Peak: Signs of Elevated Risk

24:23 - Final Thoughts: Hope Through Contrarian Choices

If you found this episode substantial and want to dig deeper into real estate, or maybe you want to discover better investment opportunities, be sure to check out www.tempofunding.com.CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.tempofunding.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnJkdVoOsUy85ydkmot9iVA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TFmanagementgroup/?_rdc=1&_rdr

X: https://twitter.com/management_tf

CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: moneyripples.com

Podcast: Money Ripples

Social Media Platforms: @moneyripples

Full Transcript:Mike Zlotnik (00:02.167)

Hey, Chris.

Chris Miles Money Ripples (00:03.371)

Hey, how's it going Mike?

Mike Zlotnik (00:05.274)

Great to see you.

Chris Miles Money Ripples (00:06.658)

Same here.

Mike Zlotnik

Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast. I'm the Big Mike, Mike Zlotnik. And today it is my pleasure and a privilege to welcome back my really good friend. Chris miles with money ripples. Hey Chris.

Chris Miles Money Ripples (01:47.586)

Hey Mike, it's good to be back on again.

Mike Zlotnik (01:50.114)

Awesome to have you back. How things are going? What's going on? We are getting this recording done in mid October 25. So what's new and exciting in your world?

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, host Mike Zlotnik (Big Mike) sits down with real estate powerhouse Chris Prefontaine, Chairman and Founder of Smart Real Estate Coach®. Chris is a 4x best-selling author, Forbes Business Council Member, and a 3-time Inc. 5000 Honoree who has led one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies. With more than three decades of experience and hundreds of creative-finance real estate transactions under his belt, Chris has built a thriving community that empowers investors to succeed in any market.

Mike and Chris dive deep into the world of creative real estate, exploring how Chris rebuilt his business after the 2008 crash and why strategies like lease-purchase, owner financing, and subject-to deals remain powerful tools for today’s investors. Chris explains how his “buying on terms” approach works in both residential and commercial markets, why many sellers prefer creative structures over traditional cash offers, and how he and his family continue to complete deals weekly—while coaching students across 80+ markets to do the same.

They also discuss the importance of mentorship, real-world deal support, and proper expectations for long-term success. Chris shares how the Wicked Smart Community helps investors avoid common pitfalls, accelerate learning through hands-on deal flow, and build credibility through unique certifications.

Whether you’re new to creative real estate or looking to sharpen your strategy, this conversation offers practical insights, mindset shifts, and a clear look at how to thrive in any economic climate.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE00:00 - Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast

0:53 – Chris’s Background

1:17 – Chris’s Credentials & Wicked Smart Community

3:11 – Creative Real Estate After the 2008 Crash

4:45 – Lease Purchase, Owner Financing & Subject-To Explained

5:55 – Creative Finance in Commercial Transactions

6:10 – Recent Creative Finance Deal Example

8:59 – Principal-Only Payments & Deal Structure

9:43 – Creative Financing in Various Asset Classes

9:48 – How Students Work with Chris & His Team

10:59 – Coaching Model, Deal Review & Support System

12:44 – Certification & Credibility in Seller Conversations

13:31 – How to Reach Chris | Free Resources

14:54 – Current Market Conditions & 2025 Real Estate Environment

15:37 – AI, Technology & Faster Deal Analysis

17:22 – Modeling Success & Learning Through Technology

18:49 – AI Tools for Real Estate Due Diligence

19:30 – Integrated Tech Stack for Real Estate Students

21:40 – Scalability & Local Execution

21:52 – Recommended Podcasts

22:19 – Recommended Books

23:01 – Closing Thoughts

If you found this episode substantial and want to dig deeper into real estate, or maybe you want to discover better investment opportunities, be sure to check out www.tempofunding.com.CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.tempofunding.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnJkdVoOsUy85ydkmot9iVA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TFmanagementgroup/?_rdc=1&_rdr

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CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://smartrealestatecoach.com/

Books:

In this episode of The Big Mike Fund Podcast, host Mike Zlotnik sits down with Dwan Bent-Twyford, affectionately known as The Queen of Short Sales™ and host of The Most Dwanderful Real Estate Podcast Ever.

Dwan Bent-Twyford, America’s Most Sought-After Real Estate Investor™, started as a broke single mom who had just been fired from Denny’s — and went on to personally flip over 2,000 properties while teaching thousands of people how to achieve financial freedom. Today, she is recognized as the nation’s #1 expert on short sales and foreclosures. She has authored three bestsellers, including Short Sale Pre-Foreclosure Investing, How to Sell a House When It’s Worth Less Than the Mortgage, and the New York Times bestseller SuccessOnomics co-written with Steve Forbes. Dwan has also been featured on Fox & Friends, MSNBC, Naomi’s Good Morning, Colorado & Company, and numerous media outlets nationwide.

In this conversation, Dwan shares her inspiring 35-year journey — from overcoming hardship as a single mother, to pioneering short sales before they had a name, to now leading a full-scale revitalization project in Clinton, Iowa. She and Mike discuss the philosophy of people before profits, the power of mentorship, the lessons learned from rehabbing communities, and what it truly means to build both wealth and legacy through real estate.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE00:00 - Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast

00:17 — Guest Intro: Dwan Bent-Twyford

01:13 — Dwan’s beginnings in real estate

03:05 — Rehabbing a town in Clinton, Iowa

07:43 — Opportunity zones and revitalization potential

11:23 — Philosophy: People before profits

16:02 — Becoming the “Queen of Short Sales”

23:09 — Hitting one million podcast downloads

24:22 — Starting The Most Dwanderful Real Estate Podcast Ever

29:12 — Favorite books and current reads

30:34 — Advice for new and passive investors

32:41 — Final thoughts | Connect with Dwan

If you found this episode substantial and want to dig deeper into real estate, or maybe you want to discover better investment opportunities, be sure to check out www.tempofunding.com.CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.tempofunding.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnJkdVoOsUy85ydkmot9iVA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TFmanagementgroup/?_rdc=1&_rdr

X: https://twitter.com/management_tf

CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: http://dwanderful.com/

Instagram: @dwanderful

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dwanderful/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-investor's-edge-university/

Tiktok: @officialrealestateguru

Full Transcript:Mike Zlotnik: Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast.

I'm the Big Mike, Mike Zlotnik, and today it is my pleasure and a privilege to welcome Dwan Bent-Twyford. Did I say it the right way?

Dwan Bent-Twyford: That's right. You did.

Mike Zlotnik: Dwan like a swan. You taught me this.

Dwan Bent-Twyford: I taught you this.

Mike Zlotnik: So wonderful to have you. You hail from col...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Mike Zlotnik sits down with Dr. Axel Meierhoefer — founder of Ideal Wealth Grower and host of the Ideal Investor Show. A former German Air Force pilot turned real estate mentor, Dr. Axel shares his extraordinary journey from flying F-111 fighter jets to helping investors achieve financial freedom through turnkey and build-to-rent (BTR) properties.

Together, Mike and Dr. Axel unpack the fundamentals of the “IDEAL” framework — Income, Depreciation, Equity, Appreciation, and Leverage — and explore how everyday investors can grow secure, cash-flowing portfolios even from afar. He also breaks down his “GROWER” coaching model, his philosophy of building clusters for efficient property management, and his community’s transition toward BTR homes as a long-term wealth strategy.

Whether you’re a new investor looking to start your first turnkey property or an experienced one exploring BTR projects, this episode offers deep, actionable insight on scaling your portfolio, structuring your business for protection, and creating lasting wealth.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE

01:33 – Dr. Axel’s Early Journey: From Aviation Dreams to the U.S. Air Force

03:19 – Transitioning from Military Life to Entrepreneurship

04:16 – Discovering Real Estate & the Power of Turnkey Investing

05:16 – Building a Boutique Mentorship Community

07:46 – What “IDEAL” Stands For in Real Estate Wealth Building

09:46 – Coaching with the “GROWER” Model

14:00 – Setting Up for Success: Business Structure & Asset Protection

15:58 – Why Every Investor Needs a Coach

16:52 – Turnkey vs. Commercial: Staying in Your Lane

17:38 – The Cluster Strategy: Managing 100 Properties in 10 Hours a Month

20:21 – Why He Avoids Commercial: Mastering One Discipline

23:23 – Turnkey Property Challenges: Repairs, CapEx & Management

25:44 – Dr. Axel’s Approach to Maintenance & Reserves

29:10 – The Evolution of Turnkey Providers into Build-to-Rent (BTR)

32:27 – BTR Case Studies: Oklahoma, Alabama, and Dallas

35:18 – Legacy Planning & Portfolio Conversion

36:25 – Closing Thoughts & How to Connect with Dr. AxelIf you found this episode substantial and want to dig deeper into real estate, or maybe you want to discover better investment opportunities, be sure to check out www.tempofunding.com.CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.tempofunding.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnJkdVoOsUy85ydkmot9iVA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TFmanagementgroup/?_rdc=1&_rdr

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CONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://idealwealthgrower.com/

Book a discovery call: https://calendly.com/axelmeierhoefer/60min

Podcast: Ideal Investor Show

Full Transcript:Mike Zlotnik: Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast.

I'm the Big Mike, Mike Zlotnik, and today it is my pleasure and a privilege to welcome. Should I call you Dr. Axel or just Axel?

Dr. Axel Meierhoefer: Whatever you like best.

Mike Zlotnik: I appreciate your flexibility. And he hails from sunny Spain. How are you,...

In this episode, Big Mike welcomes Dave Seymour, retired firefighter, real estate expert, and star of A&E’s Flipping Boston. From battling fires in Boston to leading multimillion-dollar private equity deals at Freedom Venture Investments, Dave’s story is one of grit, faith, and relentless reinvention.

He opens up about his journey from financial hardship to becoming a trusted investor and educator in commercial real estate. Dave shares his insights on navigating today’s distressed market, building trust through transparency, and helping professionals generate cash flow and equity through his Legacy Alliance Masterclass. With honesty and humor, this conversation dives into the realities of investing during challenging cycles—and the importance of integrity in wealth building.

About the Guest

Dave Seymour is a retired firefighter turned real estate investor, educator, and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Freedom Venture Investments and founder of Legacy Alliance Masterclass, an educational platform empowering investors to create wealth through commercial real estate. Known for his dynamic presence as the star of A&E’s Flipping Boston and frequent appearances on CBS, CNBC, Fox, and ABC, Dave brings years of hands-on investing experience and candid perspective to every conversation.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE

00:19 – Welcome to the BigMikeFund Podcast

00:53 – Boston vs. Brooklyn banter and the firefighter-to-investor story

02:27 – Immigrating from London and the working-class mindset

03:17 – Financial struggles and faith during the 2008 market crash

04:12 – Discovering real estate education and mentorship as a way out

05:05 – Becoming one of Massachusetts’ top distressed asset investors

05:49 – Landing Flipping Boston and the power of perceived expertise

06:54 – Building a multifamily and lending portfolio across the U.S.

07:39 – Transitioning to private equity and investor partnerships

07:56 – “Stay alive in ’25, fix it in ’26”: navigating today’s market reset

08:54 – Distressed deals ahead: $1+ trillion in multifamily opportunities

09:56 – Educating deal finders through the Legacy Alliance Masterclass

12:00 – Helping professionals boost retirement through real estate

13:15 – Why thriving beats surviving in retirement planning

14:00 – Real estate as a team sport and the power of community

15:03 – Raising capital through transparency and early honesty

16:16 – Handling trapped capital and maintaining investor trust

17:20 – Turning education into deal flow: Legacy Alliance’s model

18:01 – Lessons in transparency, humility, and resilience

20:00 – The truth about risk, responsibility, and investor expectations

21:25 – Real estate vs. stocks: long-term conviction despite setbacks

22:05 – How to connect with Dave SeymourIf you found this episode substantial and want to dig deeper into real estate, or maybe you want to discover better investment opportunities, be sure to check out www.tempofunding.com.CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.tempofunding.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnJkdVoOsUy85ydkmot9iVA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TFmanagementgroup/?_rdc=1&_rdr

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CONNECT WITH THE GUESTEducation: