In this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Micah Lacher, founder of Anchor Investments, for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about real estate, entrepreneurship, and the power of second chances. From growing up in a struggling household in North Memphis to building a respected investment and development firm in Nashville, Micah’s story is both gritty and inspiring.

They begin with Micah’s early exposure to real estate, sparked by a life-changing move that took his family from an unsafe neighborhood to one of the best public school districts in Memphis—secured through an unlikely deal involving two Delta Airlines plane tickets. That experience set the tone for a life shaped by faith, hustle, and resilience.

Throughout the episode, Micah shares how he transitioned from a brokerage role at Cushman & Wakefield into real estate development, thanks to the mentorship of Bob Tull, a former Walmart developer. He recounts launching Anchor in the depths of the 2009 financial crisis, raising capital deal-by-deal to purchase distressed assets when few others had the conviction to buy.

They also discuss:

- The high-stakes risk of personal guarantees during the Great Financial Crisis  

- How Micah structured deals, underwrote for worst-case scenarios, and still found upside  

- The transition from broker to principal and the influence of early mentors  

- Raising children without entitlement while building wealth  

- Using his business as a platform for purpose and service to the community  

Micah’s outlook is rooted in gratitude and long-term thinking, with a focus on character, consistency, and building something that matters. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of values, leadership, and real estate.

Links:

Micah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-lacher-1366151/

Anchor Investments - https://www.anchorinv.com/

Connect & Invest with Jake:

Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak

1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching

Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:14) - Micah’s upbringing

(00:08:03) - Early career

(00:13:19) - Mentors, marriage, and breaking phone addiction

(00:19:17) - The fear of raising entitled children

(00:22:16) - Learning the brokerage game

(00:30:14) - Transitioning from broker to principal

(00:39:24) - Developing “Walmart shadows” and experiencing the GFC

(00:45:06) - Raising capital in 2009

(00:51:51) - Thoughts on RTO

(00:53:42) - How do you think about your business today, given how you started?

(00:57:30) - Using the business to effect change

(01:10:37) - Establishing a competitive edge

(01:13:08) - Developing hotels in Nashville - and giving away the profits

(01:23:11) - The Nashville market

(01:27:34) - What’s your favorite hotel?