Finding Unique Value

Your job title should never limit what you do to best serve your clients.

A sound piece of advice from Michael Chase, the managing director of the Boston regional office for NorthMarq, which provides capital solutions for commercial real estate owners.

It’s lessons like that that he first learned as a kid in the family business… and then later at a small real estate firm. These are places where the company culture encourages problem-solving, taking responsibility, suggesting a company-wide change that could have a positive impact, and doing whatever needs to be done to keep the business thriving. 

He found the same philosophy in his current position and added something else: It’s key to understand your client’s business plan and needs and then structure the best capital for their investments.

We get into all the details on that, as well as…

• What an early mentor taught him that changed his career
• The traits he looks for in his clients (he doesn’t take just anybody)
• Parts of a real estate loan’s structure that many borrowers ignore at their peril
• The true value of win-win deals
• And more

After working for others in her industry for many years, Svetlana Shnayder opened her own skincare studio 10 years ago… and has never looked back.

For providers of technical or professional services, starting a business can be intimidating. But, by drawing on her work experience and closely watching how other entrepreneurs ran their operations (including what they were doing wrong), Svetlana was able to make it work. 

That’s not to say there weren’t any hiccups along the way. We talk about how she overcame the challenges she faced, what she considers to be the key elements to steady business growth, and more. 

Tune in to find out…

• The strategy she used to transition from employee to manager
• The value of continuing education – and where she finds it
• Why she says she’s not a “boss”
• How she uses social media and live events to connect with mentors
• And more

If you’re squeamish about needles, you’ll be delighted to know that Portal Instruments is developing technology that will allow needle-free injections of important medications through the skin. It’s especially important for people with chronic conditions that require constant injections.

Portal’s CEO and co-founder, Dr. Patrick Anquetil is DOING THIS. He’s a scientist and engineer who is also able to see the world through the lens of business, allowing him to spot opportunity in a very important industry.

It’s a great example of how business – and even profit – can drive the development of technology with the potential to help millions of people.

We talk about it, how they got to this point, and much more, including...

• How to protect breakthrough inventions with the government’s help
• The hardest part of running a startup – and how to overcome it
• Fundraising tips for getting the capital you need 
• Why his education takes a backseat, even in this highly specialized industry
• And more

Money management has traditionally been focused on securing returns for clients. That’s still important. But, says investment advisor Max Osbon, in recent years that approach has evolved to include stellar customer service, at least for those advisory firms seeking to differentiate themselves from the competition.

In his work with a select group of families, Max says the most important factor in finding solid investments and keeping clients happy is being flexible. Startups… crypto-currency… private companies… and more – it’s all worth research and a closer look. 

It’s an approach larger, traditional firms would never be allowed to try. We talk about what that allows Max to do for his clients, as well as…

• The fundamental mistakes he sees individual investors making
• Balancing the right level of risk with lifestyle
• Details on a rational way to charge for investment advisory services
• The right way to react to the economy – and the market – with your investments
• A look at how Max established his firm as a uniquely-valued agency with staying power among a plethora of investment firms

Ambitious, bold, and hard-working 24/7, Silvia aka VIA™️ is a one-woman powerhouse in the world of interior design, art, fashion, poetry, music, marketing, branding, and special events.

She often combines several of those elements together in the work she does for her clients, who have included professional athletes, boutique hotels, former presidents, sports teams, musicians, and more. 

VIA says her lack of fear is one of the most essential elements of her success. It brought her from an unconventional upbringing to the worlds she navigates today with ease. At the same time, she’s never been able to ask questions… and seek out help from mentors.

We talk about her whirlwind entrepreneurial journey, including…

• The biggest influences and experiences in her early life that shaped her career
• Why she doesn’t dwell on the past and what she focuses on instead
• How to combine a business mindset with artistic vision
• The business ventures she has in the works right now – and how she’ll get them off the ground
• And more

Real estate investing today seems to be about fixing-and-flipping or putting a property up on Airbnb. But Ryan Short, the founder of Title Town Acquisitions, is all about disrupting that idea and creating real value with his investments for himself and the wider community.

Ryan specializes in multi-family, commercial rental properties. And over the years, he’s developed a knack for finding “diamonds in the rough” that others don’t recognize. We talk about what makes for a good value property that yields returns for years to come.

We talk about his strategy, as well as…

• How real estate marketing can trick you – and what to watch out for
• 5+ ways to reduce risk in real estate investing
• The least competitive real estate market for investors
• Beyond the background check - a process for finding ideal tenants 
• And more

When Ryan Amin was growing up, the family business was hotels. It’s no surprise, then, that Ryan got into the hospitality industry after college. 

But, although he learned a lot from them, he didn’t go back to work for his parents… he struck out on his own in a very unusual way for a recent graduate.

He’s learned a lot over the years about the industry – including ways to overcome endemic labor shortages. But more importantly, he’s developed guiding principles to influence every decision he makes. 

His number one priority: always do the right thing. A business owner in any industry – even executives – can learn a lot from his philosophy.

Tune in to find out…

• How he thrives in such a crowded and competitive market
• The three common characteristics of great managers
• What he learned from early mentors that still guide his business – and why he still has mentors today
• The value of “real talk” with your employees
• And more

Susan Hardy, of the Hardy Insurance Agency, says that too many people focus on the cost of insurance instead of closely examining what’s actually in their policy. She’s seen a lot of cases where that backfired in a big way when a claim was filed and what the policyholder assumed was covered… was not.

That’s why she is passionate about helping people find the right coverage with the right insurance company for their specific situation. There’s no one-size-fits-all in this industry.

It’s a philosophy that has served Susan well as she’s built her business from the ground up. We talk about how she got started and the critical things she did at the beginning to propel growth, as well as…

• Why she’s happy to share information with her competition
• How to make sure your business doesn’t own you
• The type of insurance people do without but shouldn’t – and you can get it for free
• What you should ask an insurance agent before you work with them
• And more

We all know it’s important to diversify our investments. But, says Vitaly Veksler, founder and CEO of Beyond Borders Investment Strategies, most people don’t have enough exposure – if any – to overseas markets. 

It might seem counterintuitive, but having 40% to 50% of your portfolio in overseas markets actually minimizes the volatility of your portfolio. 

Vitaly explains how you can experience significant returns if you put your money into frontier, emerging, and even developed markets around the world. There are dozens of places to potentially invest, but Vitaly shares the systematic approach he uses to determine the best places to invest and when… and how to mitigate risk.

He also shares…

• The best places to invest in times of economic crisis
• Why you shouldn’t buy individual stocks overseas and the investment vehicle you should use instead
• Differentiating between long-term and short-term obstacles to your gains
• A systematic approach for accounting for unknown unknowns in your portfolio
• And more

Morten Haderup, of PIER Marine Interiors, which creates customized ship interiors for cruise ships, yachts, and more, has done business from China to Norway and seemingly everywhere in between. 

Now, he sees opportunity in the U.S. and is starting a whole new company in the country, in a sector where he says there is a distinct lack of competition yet a strong need for the product.

With this new venture, he’s following the same approach that he always has. We talk about his simple yet effective client-centered attitude, as well as…

• Why closing the deal is not a matter of price
• How current U.S. trade policies could backfire in the next few years (and how he’s preparing now)
• A must-have for any company doing business in China
• How to create value where others can’t even recognize opportunity
• And more