BigMikeFund

By Mike ZlotnikBusiness Entrepreneurship Investing

BigMikeFund episodes

October 08, 2025 281: From Firefighter to Fund Manager: Building Wealth Through Integrity with Dave Seymour
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
X: https://twitter.com/management_tf
CONNECT WITH THE GUESTEducation:
24 min
October 01, 2025 280: From Silicon Valley to Solar Farms: Real Estate Lessons with Ed Mathews
In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike sits down with Ed Mathews, founder of Clark Street Capital and host of the Real Estate Underground podcast. After 24 years in Silicon Valley startups, Ed pivoted into real estate investing, leaving corporate life behind to build a portfolio of multifamily properties, single-family flips, and now, large-scale projects like a solar farm in Connecticut. Ed shares how he balanced family and career, why he walked away from a lucrative corporate role just before an IPO, and what he’s building today—from industrial flex properties to renewable energy. With insights on cap rate […]
34 min
September 22, 2025 279: Jonathan Greene – Building Wealth with Mindful Real Estate Investing
In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike welcomes Jonathan Greene, real estate thought leader, luxury agent, coach, and host of the rapidly growing podcast Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing. Jonathan shares his unique journey from lawyer to lifelong investor, and how mindfulness and building have shaped his approach to real estate. From flipping homes with his father to investing in multifamily syndications, boutique hotels, and short-term rentals, Jonathan reveals how he blends active and passive strategies to create long-term wealth—and why learning from both wins and setbacks is key. With insights on risk, generational wealth, […]
33 min
September 15, 2025 278: Chris Litzler – Navigating Commercial Mortgage Challenges in 2025
In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike welcomes his good friend Chris Litzler, Senior Managing Director at Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation and seasoned mortgage broker with years of experience navigating complex capital markets. From the Midwest to the national stage, Chris brings a dual perspective as both a mortgage broker and investor, offering unique insights into the current real estate landscape. With transaction volumes still off their 2021 highs but showing signs of recovery in 2025, Chris and Mike dig into the opportunities and challenges facing commercial real estate. They discuss distressed sales, refinancing hurdles, preferred equity […]
33 min
September 01, 2025 277: Harrison Hall – Music, Mental Health & Making Real Estate Fun
In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Mike welcomes Harrison Hall, a Dallas-based real estate investor, entrepreneur, and event creator with a unique blend of passions: music, real estate, and mental health advocacy. From launching a $58M real estate team to founding Elevate Event Series, Harrison has built a career that bridges business, creativity, and community. He shares how he’s turned his personal journey with ADHD and bipolar disorder into a mentorship framework for real estate professionals—focusing on mental focus, content creation, and event-driven networking. Harrison also dives into the state of the Dallas–Fort Worth new construction market, why events […]
30 min
August 13, 2025 276: Yonah Weiss – Maximizing Tax Benefits with Cost Segregation in 2025 and Beyond
In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Mike welcomes back Yonah Weiss, the powerhouse behind Weiss Advice and a leader at Madison Specs, one of the nation’s top cost segregation firms. With the new permanent 100% bonus depreciation taking effect in 2025, Yonah shares how this tax game-changer impacts real estate investors. A national cost segregation expert and educator, Yonah has facilitated over 40,000 studies across all 50 states. He breaks down cost segregation mechanics, asset class benefits, and pitfalls to avoid—offering actionable strategies to cut taxes and grow wealth faster. Whether you invest in multifamily, retail, self-storage, or industrial, […]
32 min
August 06, 2025 275: Alternative Investing Mastery - Patrick Grimes
Join Big Mike for another insightful episode with Patrick Grimes, founder and CEO of Passive Investing Mastery. Patrick, a former automation engineer turned serial entrepreneur, shares his journey from losing everything in a 2009 real estate deal to building a diversified portfolio across real estate, energy, and litigation finance. Discover his Passive Investing Mastery platform, which educates investors on non-correlated alternatives like commercial real estate debt and equity, litigation finance, and more. Patrick explains the mechanics of litigation finance, lending against late-stage lawsuit settlements for 20-35% IRR, and highlights today’s opportunities in distressed commercial real estate (industrial, retail) for high [...]
45 min
July 28, 2025 274: Leon Barnes - Scaling with Collective Genius
Join host Mike Zlotnik, “Big Mike,” on the BigMikeFund Podcast for an insightful episode with Leon Barnes, Director of Membership at Collective Genius Mastermind. Leon, a long-time friend and real estate veteran, shares his journey from Kansas City to Tampa and his role in scaling Collective Genius, a premier community for real estate investors. Discover the evolution of Collective Genius, now with over 500 members across four tiers: Elevate, Select, Premier, and the exclusive CG CEO for visionaries with $10M+ in revenue or $15M+ net worth. Leon highlights the power of community, humility, and intentional learning, with a focus on [...]
36 min
July 14, 2025 273: Loral Langemeier - Building Wealth and Legacy
Unlock the secrets to building wealth and creating a lasting legacy with host Mike Zlotnik and guest Loral Langemeier, a real estate millionaire, six-time New York Times bestselling author, and founder of the Big Table, recorded in June 2025. From her roots as a Nebraska farm girl to becoming a master distributor for Rich Dad Poor Dad’s cash flow game, Loral transformed her career through mentorship from icons like Bob Proctor and real estate ventures across 29 markets. Now, through her Integrated Wealth Systems and the Big Table, a 25-year-old community for creating millionaires, she empowers entrepreneurs with tax strategies, [...]
32 min
June 30, 2025 272: Distressed Assets and CEO Leadership with Trey Taylor
In a market brimming with opportunity, distressed assets and disciplined leadership are key to unlocking wealth. Join host Mike Zlotnik for a powerful conversation with Trey Taylor, managing director of Trinity Family Office and author of A CEO Only Does Three Things, recorded in May 2025. From steering through the post-COVID multifamily market to seizing steep discounts—acquiring a 612-unit complex at $48,000/door, down from $126,000—Trey reveals how his family office thrives by buying distressed properties and deploying capital strategically. Despite challenges like soaring interest rates and tenant-friendly regulations, Trey’s team mitigates risk through strong partnerships and prudent underwriting. He also […]
41 min