Major Hillard IV started with $1,500, a used book he found in his father's attic, and three jobs he couldn't make work. Today he runs MH Estates LLC, a vertically integrated real estate operation built entirely on buying distressed properties that other investors avoid. In this episode, Major joins host Alex Perny to break down exactly how he turns overlooked deals into long-term cash flow.

Key Points:

• How Major built his first portfolio with almost no starting capital

• Why he targets distressed, mismanaged properties that institutional buyers pass on

• What to look for during due diligence: infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and hidden costs

• How restructuring leases and renovating units can increase property value almost overnight

• Why vertical integration, owning acquisition, management, sales, and financing under one roof, creates a lasting edge

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Major's $1,500 start

07:30 Lessons learned and early mistakes

17:36 Spotting deferred maintenance and infrastructure red flags

28:20 Buying distressed, mismanaged properties for value

41:27 The stigma versus the real economics

57:18 How to connect with Major Hillard

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.

If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at [email protected].

Learn more about our guest, Major Hillard IV: https://www.mhestates.com

Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/ https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/

#RealEstateInvesting #ValueAddInvesting #AlternativeInvesting

Samir Patel bought his first hotel as a junior at West Point. Two decades later, he runs Trophy Point Capital, a private debt fund that has originated over 1,500 loans. In this episode, Samir joins host Alex Perny to break down how debt funds generate yield, why he keeps 8 million dollars of his own money in a first-loss position, and what separates a well-run lender from a risky one.

Key Points

- How Samir went from buying a hotel as a West Point cadet to managing a top 100 private lender

- The difference between fix-and-flip bridge loans and DSCR loans, and why Trophy Point sticks to short-term lending

- How institutional money has pushed private lending rates down to the 9 to 11 percent range

- Why Samir keeps 8 million dollars of personal capital in a first-loss position behind every investor

- The hidden incentive problems in debt fund fee structures, including who keeps origination points

- What Samir looks for when evaluating whether a debt fund manager can actually get money back

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Samir Patel and Trophy Point Capital

07:10 Why velocity matters more than price in lending markets

10:51 Bridge loans, fix and flip, and why Trophy Point avoids DSCR

14:25 Skin in the game and the 8 million dollar first-loss position

15:59 How institutional money has changed private lending rates

23:16 Securitization and where hard money loans fit into Wall Street

28:43 What is really driving demand for rehab and construction lending

32:38 The biggest pain points for borrowers and operators right now

39:48 How Trophy Point structures its fund and pays investors

44:23 Why fast capital raises lead to bad lending decisions

45:42 Foreclosure, disposition, and getting paid back

50:58 Why debt is easier to value than equity inside an IRA

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.

If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at [email protected].

Learn more about our guest, Samir Patel: https://trophypointcapital.com

Learn more about Advanta IRA:

Website: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/AdvantaIRA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advantaira

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advantaira

#DebtFundInvesting #PrivateLending #AlternativeInvesting

Mark Khuri, CEO and co-founder of SMK Capital Management, joins Alternative Investing Advantage host Alex Perny to break down two niche real estate strategies built for passive investors: mobile home park investing and industrial sale leasebacks.

Key Points:

- Mobile home parks have a structural supply moat driven by zoning restrictions

- Tenant ownership models reduce expenses and improve occupancy stability

- Industrial sale leasebacks generate predictable, long-term cash flow

- Triple net leases protect investors from rising expenses and inflation

- Portfolio diversification across tenants and industries limits single-tenant risk

- Environmental phase one reports are a critical step in industrial underwriting

- Value-add plays in industrial include outdoor storage, power upgrades, and expansion

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:42 From single-family to commercial real estate

5:49 Using a self-directed IRA to diversify into new sectors

9:36 Mobile home park investing: supply scarcity and long-term demand

20:23 Installment contracts and converting tenants to homeowners

31:52 Ancillary income: submetering, Wi-Fi bundling, and more

39:48 Introduction to industrial sale leasebacks

49:16 Vetting tenants and managing industrial risk

55:22 Environmental due diligence and deal-breakers

1:01:16 Value-add opportunities in industrial real estate

1:05:34 Industrial outdoor storage as an ancillary play

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.

If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at [email protected].

Learn more about our guest, Mark Khuri: https://smkcap.com

Learn more about Advanta IRA:

https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira

https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/

https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA

https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/

https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/

#MobileHomeParkInvesting #SaleLeasebackRealEstate #PassiveRealEstateInvesting

Franchise investing is more sophisticated than most people realize. Bob Bernotas brings four decades of experience as a franchisee, national chain CEO, and consultant to walk us through how the industry actually works today.

Key Points:

- Franchise sales organizations (FSOs) have reshaped how brands grow across the country, and why the best ones screen rigorously before taking on a brand

- Brand aggregators provide infrastructure and capital that early-stage franchisors lack, accelerating growth and reducing risk for franchisees

- Getting into a franchise early in the territory lifecycle is one of the most powerful advantages an investor can have

- Semi-passive franchise models allow investors to keep their jobs while building a business that runs on a manager-operated system

- Red flags to watch for include excessive profit centers, restricted franchisee communication, and franchisors selling tier-three territories they previously turned down

- Service-based franchises that hold up in down economies are where the best risk-adjusted opportunities exist today

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Bob Bernotas background and career

03:22 Why franchise systems beat building from scratch

05:19 How the franchise industry has evolved over 20 years

07:45 What franchise sales organizations (FSOs) are and how they work

11:39 FSO history and how to identify good vs. bad ones

13:48 How FSOs look from the investor's perspective

15:58 Warning signs that an FSO or brand is not worth your money

20:44 Semi-passive franchise models and time commitment

24:01 How brand aggregators differ from FSOs

28:57 Why chasing recognized brands is usually a mistake

31:19 What the current franchise investor market looks like

33:40 How franchise fees and support have changed

38:00 Profit centers, red flags, and how to spot a bad franchisor

43:40 Industries to avoid and what makes a franchise recession-resistant

47:21 Final thoughts on change and timing in franchising

50:14 Territory strategy and protecting your market

51:50 Closing advice and how to reach Bob

Subscribe to the Alternative Investing Advantage podcast for strategies, insights, and expert guests covering the full spectrum of alternative investing.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

Learn more about our guest, Bob Bernotas: https://www.franchisewithbob.com

Learn more about Advanta IRA:

Website: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/AdvantaIRA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advantaira

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advantaira

#FranchiseInvesting #AlternativeInvesting #FranchiseBusiness

What actually goes into the financial data powering your brokerage app? In this episode, Alex Perny sits down with Andrew Lebbos, Director of Licensing at Benzinga, to pull back the curtain on how financial data is produced, validated, and delivered at scale.

Key Points:

- Benzinga provides earnings, dividends, analyst ratings, and news to Robinhood, Fidelity, Schwab, and more

- Data validation combines AI-enabled QA systems with human oversight to catch outliers

- Proprietary first-party data is increasingly valuable as LLMs demand accurate inputs

- Benzinga powers Perplexity Finance and works with major hedge funds and brokerages

- Companies issue intra-quarter guidance to manage large expectation gaps

- Conference call transcripts and guidance calendars add context beyond raw earnings

- Private market data coverage is actively being built out by Benzinga

- Blockchain-based secondary markets and tokenized assets are opening private markets to retail investors

- Illiquidity in private markets can act as a behavioral safeguard against panic selling

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction and guest background

2:15 How financial data is packaged and produced

5:41 Data validation and QA systems

8:11 What outlier data means for investors

10:54 Earnings surprises and guidance calendars

13:13 AI's role in financial data accessibility

16:56 Benzinga's data-first business model

19:58 Ensuring data accuracy for AI platforms

22:36 How investors can verify AI outputs

26:32 LLM data sourcing and direct integrations

30:51 Changing investor behavior and private markets

34:08 Private market data challenges

38:51 Blockchain, tokenization, and secondary markets

45:12 Illiquidity as a behavioral benefit

48:25 Real estate, prediction markets, and Benzinga's scope

53:17 Where to find Benzinga

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.

If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about our guest, Andrew Lebbos:

https://www.benzinga.com/

Learn more about Advanta IRA:

https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira

https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/

https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA

https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/

https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/

#FinancialData #RetailInvesting #Benzinga #AlternativeInvesting #AIInvesting #PrivateMarkets #AlternativeInvestingAdvantage #FinancialLiteracy #InvestingPodcast #DataDrivenInvesting

Chan Ahn is the founder of Tessera and a 17-year veteran of Wall Street. He joins Alex Perny to explain how blockchain tokenization is opening private markets to retail investors. This episode covers pre-IPO investing, atomic settlement, counterparty risk, on-chain proof of reserve, stablecoins, and the regulatory outlook for tokenized assets.

Key Points:

- Private markets are restricted due to settlement risk and information asymmetry, not just regulation

- Blockchain enables atomic settlement: buyer and seller transact simultaneously with no delay and no counterparty trust required

- Tessera houses assets in a Cayman segregated portfolio and uses Chainlink for 24/7 on-chain verification

- SpaceX tokens trade on-chain at $1.5 to $1.66 trillion, a discount to the $1.75 to $2 trillion institutional target

- Tokenized assets total roughly $30 billion today and are growing at 200% year over year

- McKinsey projects the tokenized asset market reaches $2 trillion by 2030 out of a $300 trillion addressable market

- Blockchain will compress a decade of TradFi market evolution into one to two years

- Dollar-denominated stablecoins serve as the primary liquidity layer for tokenized private market assets

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:12 Chan's background: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and founding Tesera

6:37 Why private markets exist: settlement risk and information asymmetry

13:16 How atomic settlement works on blockchain

20:19 Converting off-chain private equity into on-chain tokens

26:53 Liquidity, price discovery, and trading tokenized assets

32:10 Do private companies benefit from blockchain valuation transparency?

34:31 The disclosure challenge blockchain cannot solve alone

42:01 Derivatives, lending, and the next phase of tokenized markets

47:39 Stablecoins, FX risk, and liquidity standards

51:09 The $300T addressable market and the path to $2T by 2030

55:15 Why tokenization is a win for both companies and investors

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.

If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about our guest, Chan Ahn:

https://www.tessera.pe/

Learn more about Advanta IRA:

https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira

https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/

https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA

https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/

https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/

#BlockchainInvesting #PreIPO #Tokenization #DeFi #PrivateMarkets #RWA #AlternativeInvesting #Tesera #ChanAhn #CryptoFinance

Africa burns off enough energy every day to power entire cities. Bitcoin miners figured out how to profit from it, and almost no one is paying attention yet.Jesse Pielke, founder of HashrateUp, joins Alex Perny on the Alternative Investing Advantage podcast to break down one of the most overlooked plays in alternative investing: using stranded energy in Africa to mine Bitcoin at near-zero cost.Jesse has spent years on the ground in Cape Town building pilot projects across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa. He explains why electricity has nowhere to go. 🔑 Key learnings from this episode:• Why a single 20-foot shipping container holds a full megawatt of mining capacity• How Bitcoin mining absorbs "stranded" energy that grid infrastructure can't move• Ethiopia's hydro power mecca and why politics keep burning investors• Nigeria's flared gas opportunity and how it creates a win-win for oil producers• Why older-generation ASICs that lose money in Norway can profit in Africa• The surprising reason Bitcoin mining only needs a basic LTE signal, not fiber• Risk-adjusted pricing: what energy really has to cost to make these deals work• How US investors can write off Bitcoin mining hardware against taxable income• Why Bitcoin mining gives energy producers a backup when commodity prices tank⏱ Chapters:00:00 – Intro & Jesse's background01:47 – How solar work in West Africa led Jesse to Bitcoin mining04:43 – Ethiopia & Nigeria: Africa's two biggest mining markets08:17 – South Africa's curtailed solar surplus10:30 – Why Bitcoin mining is power-dense and location-independent13:46 – Shipping containers, Starlink, and remote operations17:41 – Why mining needs almost no bandwidth19:36 – The interruptible nature of mining and why it matters21:30 – Security at remote sites24:06 – Ethiopia's volatile regulation and PPA structure26:58 – The Paraguay playbook and risk-adjusted pricing31:45 – Nigeria: flared gas, OPEC, and Bitcoin mining36:29 – Turbines, generators, and CapEx sharing40:58 – Old ASICs finding a second life in Africa47:35 – OPEC, UAE, and Bitcoin as an energy price hedge50:39 – Modularity and scaling into developed markets54:59 – How to get involved as an investor57:21 – Wrap-up and how to find JesseSubscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Learn more about our guest, Jesse Pielke:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-pielke/Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-irahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/#BitcoinMining #Africa #AlternativeInvesting #StrandedEnergy #Cryptocurrency #Blockchain #Nigeria #Ethiopia #SouthAfrica #HashrateUp #EnergyArbitrage #Bitcoin

What does it actually take to build a profitable rental property portfolio without doing all the work yourself? In this episode of the Alternative Investing Advantage podcast, host Alex Perny sits down with Lindsay Davis, CEO of Spartan Invest, to break down the full-service turnkey real estate model and why the Southeast, especially Alabama, continues to be one of the strongest markets for cash flow investing.

Key points from this episode:

• What turnkey real estate investing is and how Spartan Invest handles everything from purchase to tenant placement

• The "three M's" framework for making smart renovation decisions without over- or under-improving a property

• How Spartan uses a proprietary, metric-driven system to set rental rates across 2,300+ managed properties with 96%+ accuracy

• Why factors like steep driveways and neighbor conditions are built into rental rate calculations

• What makes Alabama one of the most landlord-friendly, low-tax investment markets in the country

• How to think about rent increases, tenant retention, and the true cost of tenant turnover (~$3,300 average)

• When new construction makes more sense than acquiring and renovating existing properties

• The growing generational shift toward renting and what it means for long-term demand

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:02 — Introduction & overview of Spartan Invest

01:32 — What full-service turnkey investing looks like

04:09 — Educating investors on risk tolerance and realistic expectations

07:11 — Smart renovation: what adds value vs. what doesn't

11:42 — How Spartan sets rental rates with data-driven accuracy

15:30 — Unusual factors that affect rent (driveways, neighbors, railroad tracks)

18:38 — Alabama's growing appeal as an investment market

21:43 — Impact of migration from high-cost states on local inventory

25:14 — Post-COVID price appreciation in Spartan's submarkets

27:00 — Rent increases: 2020–2023 data and how to handle renewals

32:32 — Strategies for annual rent increases and tenant retention

38:56 — Appliance responsibility: tenant vs. landlord norms by market

44:39 — New construction vs. renovated properties: how Spartan decides

48:50 — The biggest reasons investors choose new construction

51:58 — Generational shift toward renting and long-term demand outlook

53:50 — How to connect with Spartan Invest

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.

If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about our guest, Lindaay Davis:

https://spartaninvest.com/about-us/our-team/lindsay-davis/

Learn more about Advanta IRA:

https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira

https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/

https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA

https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/

https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/

#RealEstateInvesting #TurnkeyRealEstate #RentalProperty #SingleFamilyRentals #CashFlowInvesting #PassiveIncome #AlabamRealEstate #LandlordLife #PropertyManagement #SpartanInvest

Most business owners think raising capital is out of reach. Tyrus Shivers, co-founder of Legacy Wealth Capital Group and former U.S. Air Force signals intelligence analyst, joins host Alex Perny to explain exactly how founders and business owners can access the capital they need legally, strategically, and without giving away the store.Tyrus shares the frameworks he uses every day to guide business owners from cash flow struggles to structured capital raises, using JOBS Act exemptions such as Reg CF, Reg D 506(c), and Reg A. Whether you're a startup founder or a business generating $500,000 in revenue and ready to scale, this episode gives you a clear picture of what it actually takes to raise capital the right way.🔑 Key Learnings:• Why most small business owners are "accidental" operators and how that holds them back from raising capital• The vision-to-marketing-to-sales pipeline that must exist before any capital raise• Why influencer-driven entrepreneurship has set unrealistic expectations for scaling• How to determine exactly how much capital to raise (hint: ask for more than you think)• The full capital stack: bootstrapping, friends & family, angels, banks, grants, venture, and JOBS Act exemptions• What Reg CF, Reg D 506(c), Reg D 506(b), Reg D 504, and Reg A Tier 1 & Tier 2 each allow and which is right for your stage• Why raising capital is a second full-time business and how to staff it correctly• The legal risks of raising capital without proper exemptions or documentation• Why reading your own pitch deck is a red flag to serious investors• How to build a high-performing three-owner team structure to deploy capital effectively⏱️ Chapters:00:02 — Welcome & Tyrus's Morse code background03:58 — How Tyrus got into the capital raising space06:48 — The most common issues business owners face11:09 — Why vision and cash flow must come before operations14:41 — The post-COVID influencer problem in entrepreneurship20:38 — Walking through the full capital stack24:47 — Reg CF, Reg D, and Reg A explained33:37 — The real cost of raising capital38:36 — Documentation, SEC filings, and audited financials46:10 — What to expect from the investor relations process52:44 — Legal rules for who can raise capital on your behalf54:11 — Building a high-performing three-owner team57:51 — How to connect with TyrusSubscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Learn more about our guest, Tyrus Shivers:https://tyrusshivers.com/Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-irahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/#CapitalRaising #BusinessFunding #RegCF #RegD #JobsAct #AlternativeInvesting #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #StartupFunding #AlternativeInvestingAdvantage

37 million homes across the United States are sitting in extreme weather disaster zones, and they're losing 1.2% of their value every single year. That's not a projection. That's what's happening right now.

In this episode of the Alternative Investing Advantage podcast, host Alex Perny sits down with Ben Gilliland of Future Proof Property Intelligence, a seven-year veteran of disaster mitigation, AI-driven property analysis, and climate-resilient engineering, to break down exactly what this means for real estate investors, homeowners, and anyone trying to protect their property and portfolio.

Whether you're a homeowner in a high-risk state or a real estate investor looking to protect and grow your portfolio — this episode could save you six figures.

⏱ Chapters:

0:00 — Introduction: Why Climate Risk Is Now a Real Estate Issue

2:10 — Ben's Background: Rock Bands, Silicon Valley, NVIDIA & Sailboats

8:19 — Defining the 7 Major Disaster Types Threatening US Property

10:29 — Which 17 States Are at High Risk Today

13:30 — What California Is Doing About Wildfire — And What Texas Isn't

14:11 — The My Safe Florida Home Program: What It Covers

15:28 — The Real Cost of Home Hardening in Florida

18:57 — Shallow Water Flooding: The AI Solution for 62% of Flood Claims

22:31 — How AI Scans Your Home, Builds a 3D Twin & Generates a Blueprint

26:25 — The Insurance Crisis: Why Insurers Are Leaving High-Risk States

29:19 — ROI of Home Hardening: The 10-Year View

35:29 — Forced Mitigation: What States Will Soon Require

39:41 — Existing Housing Stock vs. New Construction: The Real Problem

41:14 — Why Reinsurers Walked Away — And What That Means for You

50:05 — The Worst Place to Own Property in the US (It's Not Florida)

51:51 — Migration Patterns & Where Real Estate Value Is Heading

52:53 — The #1 Factor Driving Population Migration: Fresh Water

56:46 — 5 Markets Future Proof Serves Beyond the Consumer

58:37 — How to Access the Tool, Invest & Connect with Future Proof

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.

If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about our guest, Ben Gilliland:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-gilliland-third

Learn more about Advanta IRA:

https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira

https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/

https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA

https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/

https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/

#ClimateRisk #RealEstateInvesting #HomeHardening #InsuranceCrisis #FloodRisk #WildFire #SelfDirectedIRA #AlternativeInvesting #AdvantaIRA