I'm excited to introduce a new format designed to resonate with capital raisers and fund managers alike. In this week's update as of August 15th, 2025, I share our fundraising progress—currently at $73.3 million for the year, with a goal to exceed $100 million by year’s end. I'll also provide insights into the challenges and successes we've experienced with our multifamily deals, along with strategies for leveraging Facebook advertising and investor happy hours to boost engagement. Tune in for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what's driving success (and what needs improvement) in capital raising today!

In this episode, I’m breaking down what you really need to know before making your next hire. After building and scaling teams across sales, marketing, and investor relations in a capital-raising business, I’ve learned that success with hiring comes down to clarity, structure, and focus. I’ll share the exact framework I use to identify when you’re ready to hire, how to create clear KPIs, and why specialists always outperform generalists. Whether you’re hiring your first VA or your next sales pro, this episode will help you hire smarter—and with confidence.

In this episode, I’m sharing a private session I led for a mastermind of top fund managers from around the country—recorded live in Austin.

Over the past several years, I’ve built and scaled multiple investment platforms, and in this talk, I break down the exact framework I use to grow and scale the acquisition of new investors. This isn’t about vague marketing advice—it’s a clear, actionable system for building real momentum in your capital-raising efforts.

I walk through how to identify what’s actually working in your business, how to measure the right metrics, and how to double down on the activities that move the needle. If you’re serious about building a durable, scalable investor base, this episode will give you the roadmap.

Here’s what I cover:

• My step-by-step framework for consistent investor growth
• What most fund managers get wrong about measuring success
• The levers that have created the biggest breakthroughs in our own raise strategies
• How to align your efforts with your long-term vision—and stop spinning your wheels

Whether you're just getting started or managing a growing fund, this session is packed with hard-earned lessons and next steps you can apply immediately.

🎧 Let’s dive in.

In this episode, I dive into one of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a capital raiser: prioritizing cash flow early on is critical to building a sustainable business. Early in my career, I focused too much on long-term equity upside—and nearly paid the price when the market turned.

I share how that experience shaped my approach and why strong, consistent cash flow is the backbone that allows your business to survive—and even grow—when others are contracting. If you're in the game of raising capital or operating investment funds, this episode is a must-listen for understanding how to structure your deals and strategy for durability, not just potential.

Learn how to weather economic headwinds, maintain operational flexibility, and position your business for long-term success.

Raising capital online isn't about flashy tricks—it's about understanding what actually moves the needle. In this episode, I unpack exactly what I learned after spending $136,000 on Facebook ads to grow our investor base.
You'll discover:

• The key marketing metrics every capital raiser should be tracking
  
• How to adapt these paid ad strategies even if you're not running Facebook ads
  
• Why "he who spends the most to acquire investors—profitably—wins"
  
• How to scale your online efforts without burning cash
  

Whether you're raising $1M or $100M, the principles I share here will help you build a sustainable and scalable marketing engine to attract qualified investors online.

In this episode, I walk through the exact strategy we're using at Aspen Funds to grow from $250 million to $1 billion in capital raised—including the key hires we’re making, how we’re scaling our marketing efforts, and what’s changing in our approach as we hit new growth breakpoints. The truth is, the levers that work at $50M are different from those at $250M—and I’m sharing how we’re adapting at each stage so you can apply the same principles to scale your own capital-raising efforts.

If you’re trying to raise your first million dollars, I want to simplify the process for you. In this episode, I’m breaking down the three levers that actually matter—your investor list, one-on-one calls, and time watched. I’ve learned the hard way that most things don’t move the needle. So let’s cut through the noise and focus on what really drives results. This is the playbook I wish I had when I started.

Welcome to Raising a Billion Dollars—a capital raising podcast built for real businesses and serious operators.

Formerly known as the Kingdom REI Podcast, we’ve evolved. This show is no longer just about real estate or faith-driven entrepreneurship—though those roots still matter. We’re stepping into the next phase: helping entrepreneurs, fund managers, and business leaders master the art of raising significant capital to build lasting companies.

In this short trailer episode, we share why we made the shift, what you can expect moving forward, and how Raising a Billion Dollars will serve as your go-to resource for navigating investor conversations, fund structures, private equity partnerships, and scalable capital strategies.

If you're tired of hype, gimmicks, and surface-level advice—and you’re building something real—this show is for you.

Subscribe now and join us as we explore what it really takes to raise and deploy capital at scale.

In this episode, I’m sharing a part of my journey most people don’t expect—how college ministry became the foundation for everything I know about raising capital. Before I ever built a business or raised a dollar, I was learning how to get attention, lead movements, and think outside the box. I’ll take you behind the scenes with some wild stories, real lessons, and how all of it translates into raising millions today. If you're a capital raiser, fund manager, or entrepreneur looking to grow—this one's for you.

00:00 - Introduction

03:00 - Jean's Boat Accident

09:00 - KlinkLoans Fund

17:00 - Vetting Process and Red Flags

22:00 - Investing in KlinkLoans 

26:00 - Conclusion

Make sure to follow Jean via his website at https://klinkloans.com/

Are you ready to break into commercial real estate investing? Are you looking for a christian community of peers and mentors to help you move quickly while avoiding expensive mistakes? If so, apply to be part of the Kingdom REI Mastermind! 

Click here to learn more. 

Start Earning as a Fund Manager with Aspen Funds 💰 Are you a real estate fund manager, capital raiser, or sponsor who has raised more than one million dollars of other people's money and looking to diversify your offerings? If so, apply to become a capital raising partner with Aspen Funds ➡ APPLY HERE: https://aspenfunds.us/fundmanager Our firm, Aspen Funds, has raised more than $250 million of capital and growing. Every month we go live to share what's working for us to help you raise more money and connect with other cool people doing the same.