Small Axe Podcast: Multifamily Real Estate | Buy Buildings, Build Empires

Today we have a special guest with a truly noble mission- "To free 1 million people from financial bondage". His name is Damion Lupo. Over the last quarter-century, he's owned and operated successful businesses ranging from insurance, precious metals, financial consulting, real estate, and venture capital. He's also written a dozen books on these topics. This accumulated knowledge led him to create a better path leading to financial freedom, which is the Qualified Retirement Plan.

Let's dive into Damion's story and learn the importance of setting yourself up for your retirement with the help of an Enhanced Qualified Retirement Plan (EQRP).

[00:01 – 05:45] Opening Segment

• I introduce the guest, Damion Lupo

• • A Qualified Retirement Plan Expert
• Damion tells us what they do in eQRP Co.
• • Give people control of their money 
• Damion shares the story behind his journey
• Damion talks about the services they offer at eQRP

[05:46 – 18:32] Plan Your Retirement

• Damion talks about the new CARES Act.
• The reason why you should get into an EQRP

• • An EQRP is dynamic. It can adapt to changes in the future
  • You get to make the decisions
• Damion discusses the requirements to apply for an EQRP
• Difference between an EQRP and self-directed IRA
• The ease of use of an EQRP
• Damion gives us a list of the things you can invest in with an EQRP

[18:32 – 25:41] Things You Can Do with an EQRP

• Damion discusses some of the things you can do with your EQRP

• • Shares some of the strangest things people have invested in with their EQRP
  • Damion tells us what could happen in a situation where you want to stop investing
• Investing depends on what you really want to do
• If you have money in an EQRP, you can invest in anything 

[25:42 – 28:48] Closing Segment

• Imagine it's a hundred years from now, you have grandkids, and one of them decides to write a book about Damion Lupo. What would you like the title to be?

• • I Cared Through My Action. "It's easy to talk a big game but to actually go do it. It's hard."
• Connect with Damion. See the links below.

Tweetable Quotes:

"You really need training, and how do you do that? You go out there and invest in yourself." – Damion Lupo

"I don't think investing is necessarily the thing to find all your excitement in. I think it's the thing to find your certainty in." – Damion Lupo

Resources Mentioned:

• eQRP Co.
• Enhance Qualified Retirement Plan (EQRP)

The best way to connect with Damion is by texting EQRP to 72000. Follow him on LinkedIn or visit his website https://damionlupo.com/. To know more about EQRP, visit https://www.eqrp.co/.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to explode their business growth by sharing this episode.

I believe that you only need a small axe to build a lasting empire. Let’s start building yours!

To know more about me and all the real estate opportunities you can find, you can connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook or check out my website https://smallaxecommunities.com/ and book a call with me.

Travis is the founder of the Freeman Equity Group, which helps investors achieve their financial goals using real estate. Travis actively manages over $15M in assets. Coming from a software engineering background, he has a wealth of experience in defining project requirements and managing development teams for Fortune 500 companies such as EDS, ECMC, and Apple.

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 – 04:37] Opening Segment

• I introduce my guest, Travis Gibson
• Travis talks about his background and how his journey began
• • His parents are real estate entrepreneurs
  • He followed in their footsteps

[04:38 – 10:46] Single-Family Era

• Travis talks about their family's single-family real estate business

• • Learned the ropes by helping in their family business
• Travis talks about what's left of his single-family properties
• Travis weighs in on being in a "limited partnership (LP)"
• • The advantages

[10:47 – 31:26] Multifamily Ventures

• Travis talks about his first multifamily deal in Kansas City

• • Finding his target market
  • The step by step process
• Proper financing is the difference between a deal that will work and won't work
• Having a good partner is key to a successful deal
• Travis talks about Tenant Improvements (TI) 
• Travis talks about his 26-unit multifamily property in Kansas
• Do you have an asset management fee as well?
• • Why you need it

[31:27 – 36:58] Stock Market

• Travis talks about his stock market investments

• Letting your money work for you
• Funneling the gains into real estate

[36:59 – 42:20] Real Estate Amidst the Pandemic

• What's next for Mr. Travis? 

• • "More deals. Bigger deals."
• All you can do in this pandemic is move forward
• Travis shares his insight on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Minimizing risks

[42:21 – 48:04] Closing Segment

• Imagine it's a hundred years from now, you have grandkids, and one of them decides to write a book about Travis Gibson. What would you like the title to be?

• • "The Juice is Worth the Squeeze."
• Travis talks about the book, The Go-Giver.
• Get in touch with Travis online. See below for social links.
• Final words from Travis and me

Tweetable Quotes:

"The thing that my parents taught me, specifically my dad, is you don't have to live in these properties, but you should treat these properties like you live there." – Travis Gibson

"I'm a firm believer in if you believe that you're a decent operator and you believe in the deal; you shouldn't have a problem with the preferred return." – Travis Gibson

"The better you are at managing risks. The more successful you will be long term." – Travis Gibson

"Don't look at the price; look at the deal. If the deal is good, that's all that matters." – Travis Gibson

Resources Mentioned:

• EDS
• ECMC
• Apple
• Cornerstone Bank
• Qualified Opportunity Zones
• The Go-Giver

You can connect with Travis on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send him an email at [email protected]. Give him a call, 916 538 2216. Visit their website https://freemanequity.com/.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to explode their business growth by sharing this episode.

I believe that you only need a small axe to build a lasting empire. Let’s start building yours!

To know more about me and all the real estate opportunities you can find, you can connect with me on LinkedIn, or check out my website https://smallaxecommunities.com/ and book a call with me.

Today's guest is Gwyeth Smith. Gwyeth is a Principal at Rustic Capital and has a BS in Economics from James Madison University. After graduation Gwyeth worked at an old Rockefeller Company performing domestic and international cost of living analysis. He then transitioned to investing and worked as a proprietary equity trader for multiple New York based companies. At this time, Gwyeth began to explore alternative investments to Wall Street. He turned his NYC apartment into an asset by renting it and moving to AZ to be with his future wife. There he found another passion; helping people with limb loss. He followed a path where he became a certified prosthetist and, in 10 years, has helped countless amputees achieve feats that few "able-bodied" people could even imagine. Gwyeth's career in prosthetics didn't stop his passion for investing, and today his multifamily portfolio includes over 750 units.

[00:01 – 04:52] Opening Segment

• I introduce guest, Gwyeth Smith

• • Studied economics at James Madison University
  • Turned his New York City apartment to a rental and moved to Arizona
  • Certified Prosthetist
  • Over 750 multifamily units
• Gwyeth talks about his prosthetist career
• • Why he got into prosthetics

[04:53 – 12:17] Diving into Real Estate

• Gwyeth shares his journey to multifamily real estate

• • Why he started buying real estate
  • What it looked like buying his first real estate deal
• Gwyeth talks about his partnerships
• • Moving from a residential broker to a commercial broker
  • Partnerships that didn't work out

[12:18 – 26:28] Building Partnerships

• Gwyeth talks about a recent deal he worked on

• • A 13-unit property
• Gwyeth talks about the biggest deal he had since joining the Jake & Gino
• • A 42-unit in Jeffersonville, Indiana
  • The roles in their partnership
  • Their goals for the property
  • Weekly calls

[26:29 – 30:05] Jake & Gino Community

• Gwyeth talks about the impact of joining the Jake & Gino community on his career

• "It's 100% The people in the community, and all the education and all the other stuff are just an added bonus."
• Expanded his network
• Pushed his career to greater heights

[30:06 – 37:15] Closing Segment

• What's the future for you? What's the goal? What's the next step?

• • We don't know what the future holds, but the more you just sit on the sidelines, the harder it's going to be when the opportunities come.
• Imagine it's a hundred years from now, you have grandkids, and one of them decides to write a book about Gwyeth Smith. What would you like the title to be? Or what characteristics would you like highlighted?
• • "Don't Make It Harder Than It Is. Hopefully, if they write about me, they would just think that I'm an overall good person. Never screwed anybody out of anything. Happy, you know, proud that I was there as a family member."
• Get in touch with Gwyeth online. See below for social links.
• Final words from Joshua and me

Tweetable Quotes:

"We know where we wanna be; we just haven't written it down." – Gwyeth Smith

"There's no way, absolutely no way, I would be to where I am now and where I am going. There are exciting things on the horizon here, and it just absolutely wouldn't happen without just the community members." – Gwyeth Smith

"It's a tough time to be on the sidelines because the more you just sit on the sidelines, the more you're not out there in front of people, the harder it's gonna be when opportunities do arise." – Gwyeth Smith

Resources Mentioned:

• Jake & Gino wheelbarrow profits academy
• Jake & Gino Community

You can connect with Gwyeth on LinkedIn and Facebook. Send him an email at [email protected]. Give him a call, 516-238-4150. Visit their website https://rustic-capital.com/ to know more about multifamily investment opportunities.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to explode their business growth by sharing this episode.

I believe that you only need a small axe to build a lasting empire. Let’s start building yours!

To know more about me and all the real estate opportunities you can find, you can connect with me on LinkedIn, or check out my website https://smallaxecommunities.com/ and book a call with me.

Joshua Roosen is a Community Director at Jake & Gino. Joshua was on track to becoming a doctor, but he met a mentor who helped him realize that he could do something more. Joshua explored the world of entrepreneurship, but unfortunately, it didn't go as he planned. On the verge of being kicked out by his parents, Joshua picked up his small axe and used it to chop his way into the real estate world.

Let's dive into Joshua's story of how he wants to change the world for the better.

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 – 05:11] Opening Segment

• I introduce Joshua Roosen

• • Community Director at Jake & Gino
• Joshua talks about his background and how his journey to real estate began
• • His aunt gave him the book Rich Dad Poor Dad
  • Wanted to become a doctor
  • A mentor discouraged him from taking the path to becoming a doctor

[05:12 – 11:34] It's all about the mindset

• Joshua advises the people putting all their efforts at a W-2 job

• • A paycheck is the most powerful drug
  • Time is the one asset that you can't get more of
  • There are no do-overs in life
• It all starts with having an open mind
• Joshua talks about some of the different vehicles to financial independence
• Have a very strong "why"
• • Joshua talks about his "why"

[11:35 – 19:39] Moving Towards Our Goals

• Joshua talks about what you can do with your small axe to start chopping down on your dreams

• • Treat your time as the most valuable asset
  • Find a mentor
  • Believe that you can and find a way to add value
• Here's some advice on how you can get a mentor
• • Show them that you can add value
• Put in the time and effort

[19:40 – 28:39] Joshua's Dreams and Goals

• Joshua talks about his dreams and goals

• • Have the free time to spend with his family
  • Reach his full potential
  • Help others
• Joshua weighs in on the "Go-Giver" mindset
• Have you ever pushed the snooze button because you feel like you hit the wall? What do you do to overcome when you're feeling unmotivated or alone?
• Joshua talks about the first multifamily real estate deal he made
• • If you are interested in investing in multifamily, here's advice from Joshua that you don't want to miss

[28:40 – 33:34] Closing Segment

• Imagine it's a hundred years from now, you have grandkids, and one of them decides to write a book about Joshua Roosen. What would you like the title to be? Or what characteristics would you like to be highlighted?

• • Changing the World for the Better. I would love to empower others through their purpose through financial education. And be a light in this world to help people become more financially literate through the vehicle of multifamily real estate investing
• Get in touch with Joshua online. See below for social links.
• Final words from Joshua and me

Tweetable Quotes:

"Your time is the one asset you can't get more. You can have as much money as you want, but the time is ending one second at a time. And when you realize that and you start valuing it, you want the money to work for you rather than you trading time for money." – Joshua Roosen

"Paycheck is the most powerful drug. Because it's safe and secure, but sometimes if we really want to achieve our highest and biggest dreams and goals. We have to break that pattern. Get rid of those drugs, break the chains, and move on to something that will be really beneficial." – Nico Salgado

"Education is the only investment someone can make that's gonna reduce risk and maximize upside." – Joshua Roosen

Resources Mentioned:

• Jake & Gino LLC
•  Poor Dad
• The Millionaire Fastlane
• The Go-Giver

You can connect with Joshua on LinkedIn and Instagram. Send him an email at [email protected] or visit their website https://jakeandgino.com/.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to explode their business growth by sharing this episode.

I believe that you only need a small axe to build a lasting empire. Let’s start building yours!

To know more about me and all the real estate opportunities you can find, you can connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook or check out my website https://smallaxecommunities.com/ and book a call with me.

Today's guest is a CPA turned real estate investor, Mike Taravella. Mike is the asset manager at Rand Partners LLC. Growing up in a family fixated on a career in teaching or being an engineer at Chrysler, Mike, was the only one who wanted to get into businesses. Mike studied accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. He started his journey working as an accountant for five years until he transitioned to working for startup companies, and is now also a real estate investor.

Let's dive into Mike's story about how "Fat Mike" turned his life upside down and is now using his abilities to help people move the needle on their dreams.

[00:01 – 05:36] Opening Segment

• I introduce Mike Taravella
• • Asset manager at Rand Partners LLC
  • A CPA turned real estate investor
  • Worked professionally as an accountant for five years before joining Rand Partners

• Mike tells us a bit of his background
• • Mike was the black sheep in their family; he wanted to do business while everyone was either a teacher or worked for Chrysler
  • A Certified Public Accountant
  • Worked professionally for five years in accounting
  • Started investing in real estate in 2016

[05:37 – 16:34] The Game Changer

• Mike talks about the mindset shift from accounting to working for startup companies.
• • Physically hurting; overweight and stressed.
  • • He was called "Fat Mike" at work
  • Boosted his confidence with working out
  • Getting to the same level as the team, making sure to provide value.

• Why did you choose real estate?
• • Looking for a sense of control while creating wealth

• Mike talks about the "defining moment" that made him realize he can accomplish even more
• I share what this podcast is all about
• • Chopping down and taking down dreams

• Mike gives advice before you go on cutting down on your dreams
• • Listening to podcasts
  • Reading books
  • Take action
  • Sharpening your axe by applying the things you learn day by day

[16:35 – 21:15] What Is in Store for Your Future?

• Mike shares his love for teaching
• • Making an impact

• Mike talks about one of his core purposes
• • Help a million people become an investor

• People have different risk thresholds
• • What's risky for you might not be risky for others

• Mike talks about their plans in Rand Partners heading into the future
• • Growing their investor base
  • Reach a billion assets under management

[21:16 – 26:50] Mentoring

• Mike shares his experiences as a mentee and as a mentor.
• • Lowering barriers and being vulnerable
  • Making sure to connect with your mentee
  • Change the "I can't" to "how can I?"

• I weigh in on the idea of "I can't."
• • In reality, you can accomplish a lot more than you think

• Fuel your drive with all of those "you can't" from others

[26:51 - 30:25] Closing Segment

• Imagine it's a hundred years from now, you have grandkids and one of them decides to write a book about Mike Taravella. What would you like the title to be? Or what characteristics would you like to be highlighted?
• • "I think the autobiography would be called ‘Game Changer.’ Just showing the path to evolution from "fat mike" who was in accounting. Who for five years really didn't know what he was doing until now I'm in real estate and I love every day where I'm working 6-7 days a week just trying to move the needle."

• Get in touch with Mike online.
• • See below for social links.

• Mike's call to action to learn more about multifamily
• Final words from me

Tweetable Quotes:

"At times, it might be best to take a step back and look at what we can do to better our position. What we should really be focusing on. What specific task would really move the needle." – Nico Salgado

"Everyone can listen to a book and read a podcast, but taking that action or how can I help an existing group grow. Well, that's how I got my opportunity by taking that massive action." – Mike Taravella

"Every day, you have that opportunity to become what you want to be, and you just gotta remind yourself." – Mike Taravella

Resources Mentioned

• Dan Gilbert
• Woodward Original
• 100 Thieves
• Wheelbarrow Profits Academy
• Jake & Gino

You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn or send him an email at [email protected]. Schedule a call, get their newsletters, and see any potential opportunities in the future at https://randpartners.com/. Listen to the Rand Partners Podcast, click here.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to explode their business growth by sharing this episode.

To know more about me and all the real estate opportunities you can find, you can connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook or check out my website https://smallaxecommunities.com/ and book a call with me.

I believe that you only need a small axe to build a lasting empire. Let’s start building yours!