The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast

The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast

By Giang NguyenBusinessInvesting
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The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast episodes

  • From Aerospace W2 to 200+ Units: Scaling With Partnerships | Jason Hsieh

    They say you must quit your job to build wealth. The reality? You can keep your W-2 and still grow big. In this episode, Jason Hsieh shares how he used his W-2 as a superpower to build real wealth in multifamily real estate. He breaks down how to pick under-the-radar markets, which KPIs actually matter, and how to scale responsibly when you’re busy and far from your properties. He also covers when to choose equity growth over cash flow and how partnerships help you scale with less stress.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Jason Hsieh immigrated from Taiwan at 13 and later built a 12+ year career in aerospace in San Jose. He started with out-of-state single-family rentals, tested multifamily as an LP, and then moved to GP roles where his focus is asset management and acquisitions. Today he holds GP interest in 200+ units across the Midwest, with current footprints in Kansas City and Cincinnati.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Set a daily routine so you can grow while keeping your W-2.

    💡 Time block and say no to shiny objects so you stay focused.

    💡 One roof beats one door when you need real scale.

    💡 Screen markets for diverse jobs, steady population, and lower climate risk.

    💡 Hunt under-the-radar metros after the top lists get crowded.

    💡 Partnerships win when values and ethics match in real life.

    💡 Track the leasing conversion funnel, not only occupancy.

    💡 Read the story behind the numbers and question each line item.

    💡 Use tools and comps to manage from afar with clear eyes.

    💡 Shift strategy as seasons change and value resets appear.

    💡 Build one solid market team before expanding to the next.

    💡 Quality before quantity is the mindset to keep.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    01:17 – From Aerospace Engineer to 200+ Units

    02:58 – His Market Selection Framework

    07:17 – LP to GP and Building Strong Partnerships

    14:26 – Time Blocking, Focus, and Saying No

    17:34 – The KPIs Every New Asset Manager Should Know

    19:45 – His Multifamily Goals and Plans

    20:49 – Managing Properties From Afar

    24:51 – Cash Flow or Equity Growth?

    29:30 – One Mindset Lesson for Future Leaders


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Email: [email protected]

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hsieh-17014a25

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/jason.h.rei

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.hsieh.7503


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed this episode?

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    31 min
  • From Engineering Leader to $6M Concierge Transactional Funder | Jonathan Pechmajou

    Too many high achievers grind for years without learning how to make money work. Jonathan Pechmajou blended a director-level engineering career with immigrant grit to build rentals, fund millions in transactions, and teach simple Lean habits that create momentum fast.


    In this conversation, you’ll hear how he turned process thinking into cash-flow skills, what “concierge” transactional funding looks like, and the mindset shifts that moved him from dreaming to doing.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Jonathan Pechmajou is a France-born, U.S.-based director of manufacturing engineering who applies Lean and Six Sigma to optimize businesses and real-estate systems. He owns rentals in Florida and Louisiana, grew a transactional funding business to multiple millions funded, and leads communities and meetups where he mentors operators on vision, cadence, and waste reduction. His story shows how clear targets, simple feedback loops, and the right rooms can turn a W-2 skillset into ownership and freedom.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Write your ideal life on paper so the destination is clear.

    💡 Measure the gap between your goal and your actual, then use five whys to fix the root cause.

    💡 Apply the four Ms—man, machine, method, material—to remove non-value work from life and business.

    💡 Build cadence with quarterly rocks and a simple weekly KPI review.

    💡 Capture every idea in an idea box and sort with the PICK matrix so quick wins come first.

    💡 Use transactional funding to cover EMD, enable a double close, or power a Morby method deal.

    💡 Choose a double close when assignments are blocked or licensing is required.

    💡 The Morby method can let a buyer get paid at closing, so stress test because the structure can add a second lien.

    💡 Offer concierge transactional funding with checklists, calculators, and the right team so clients close smoothly.

    💡 Warm outreach to people you already met can beat cold tactics, like texting 2,300 contacts to spark deal flow.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    01:02 — Who is Jonathan and what does he build now?

    02:55 — How did your entrepreneurship spark start?

    05:00 — What U.S. vs France mindset shift did you feel?

    12:39 — Where should a beginner apply Lean in daily life?

    18:13 — What is transactional funding?

    20:36 — Why would someone use double close?

    21:46 — How does the Morby stack work in a real deal?

    24:08 — When is the stack a bad fit?

    30:36 — What fixed marketing fast for your team?

    31:24 — What did warm outreach look like in practice?

    36:10 — Quarterly rocks and weekly reviews that keep you on track.

    37:18 — Idea box + PICK matrix to sort what to do next.

    39:44 — Who had the biggest influence on your journey?

    40:45 — Where can listeners connect with you?


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Jonathan Pechmajou

    Website: https://www.wisecapitalsolutions.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-pechmajou-a84bb338

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


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed this episode?

    💬 Send it to a friend

    🌟 Leave a review

    ✅ Subscribe for more immigrant stories & wealth strategies.

    42 min
  • Solo Hustle to $450K/Month With Remote Leverage | Abbas Mohammed

    If you’re exhausted from doing everything yourself, this conversation is your permission slip to stop. Abbas Mohammed shows how hiring smarter—not grinding harder—turns chaos into a calm, repeatable system. In this episode, you’ll hear the milestones, the mistakes, and the playbook any immigrant professional can use to buy back time and scale with confidence.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Abbas Mohammed is the founder of Remote Leverage, a recruiting firm that helps U.S. businesses hire experienced Latin American remote team members. He started as a teen real estate agent in San Jose, scaled by building a 25-VA engine, and became a Top 50 RE/MAX performer. Realizing his edge was team-building and systems, he launched Remote Leverage and grew from $50k to $450k/month in about 7–8 months by hiring higher-level talent, building SOPs, and installing manager-led teams. His mission: make global talent accessible so founders can free their calendars and grow faster.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Buy back time first and revenue follows. 

    💡 Hire for experience so you coach less and scale faster. 

    💡 Replace “How do I?” with “Who can do this?” 

    💡 Set clear KPIs so remote teams know exactly how to win. 

    💡 Track work transparently to raise productivity and trust. 

    💡 Hire fast and fire fast to protect momentum. 

    💡 Promote managers and manage the managers, not 50 people. 

    💡 Start with lowest-value tasks and climb the ladder. 

    💡 A single right hire can 10× revenue and execution. 

    💡 Clarify roles and pay on time to keep churn low. 


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    01:35 — Why Remote Leverage Exists

    06:13 — Manage 55 Staff Without Burning Out

    09:05 — Don’t Learn It, Recruit It

    11:37 — What Abbas Works On Now

    12:27 — Staffing vs. Recruiting Explained

    17:37 — VA Starter Playbook

    19:55 — Retention Playbook That Works

    22:04 — Build Smart Multi-Hat Teams

    24:22 — First VA Prep Checklist

    26:19 — 3 Moves to Start Today

    28:22 — Book a Call + Next Steps


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Abbas Mohammed

    Founder – Remote Leverage

    Website: https://remoteleverage.com

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556467767577

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/remoteleverageva

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/104075680/admin/dashboard


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out!


    🔔 Subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy.

    30 min
  • Imposter Syndrome to Owning the Room: Sales, Real Estate, Impact | Christine Valdes

    Most of us were taught to pick one lane: career or wealth, family or growth. In this episode, Christine shows a different path—keep a job you love, stack assets on purpose, and build with your partner without burning out. From a studio apartment start to a 44-unit deal and about 457 LP doors, she breaks down calm, clear steps busy first-gen builders can copy.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Christine Valdes is a pharmaceutical sales leader and real-estate investor raised in Los Angeles by parents who immigrated from the Philippines. She has 25+ years in the pharmaceutical industry, lives in Dallas, and—alongside her husband—owns a business. In the last three years they bought a 44-unit, LP’d in about 457 doors, flipped a home, and reallocated their portfolio toward real estate. She’s currently raising for a land-development deal.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Compare yourself to your own starting line, not someone else’s finish line.

    💡 Imposter feelings fade when you act, learn, and keep showing up.

    💡 Your W-2 can be a powerful funding partner for investing.

    💡 Every interaction is opportunity; lead with value and listen first.

    💡 Buy assets on purpose or lifestyle spending will eat your surplus.

    💡 Sales basics win: know the customer, match value to real needs.

    💡 Grow in seasons; stack strategies as time and energy allow.

    💡 Rebalance your portfolio when goals shift, not just when markets do.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    01:05 — Who is Christine beyond the resume?

    01:28 — Immigrant upbringing and oldest-daughter pressure

    06:51 — Imposter syndrome and belonging

    10:16 — Chemistry to Pfizer to leading in pharma

    13:27 — Every interaction is an opportunity

    17:24 — From flips to a 44-unit and 457 LP doors

    22:17 — Balancing family, wealth building & self-care

    26:06 — Biggest surprise in business

    27:37 — Charity she supports and why


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Christine Valdes

    Website: https://christinevaldes.com

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

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinesariovaldes


    💛 Charity Spotlight

    Life Impact International (https://lifeimpactintl.org)

    — fights child trafficking and supports rescued children


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out.


    🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy!

    29 min
  • Fix the Why: Data-Driven Healing That Lasts | Joya Van Der Laan

    In this episode, we get practical about fixing the why. Board-certified nurse practitioner Joya Van Der Laan shows how simple foundations plus smart testing and tracking turn “normal labs” into real answers, so busy builders can reclaim energy, sleep, and focus. Expect clear steps, not fads, and a data-driven path to feeling like yourself again.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Joya Van Der Laan is a board-certified nurse practitioner and founder of Nourish House Calls, a concierge practice blending functional and regenerative medicine with traditional care. She focuses on root causes, personalized plans, and whole-person healing—covering sleep, nutrition, movement, stress, and hormone optimization. Joya’s approach proves that health powers better decisions, protects time with family, and sustains the long game.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Start with foundations: sleep, protein and produce, movement, sunlight.

    💡 “Normal labs” with abnormal symptoms means keep digging for root causes.

    💡 Hormone shifts can change mood, energy, weight, libido, and sleep.

    💡 Build a plan after testing and recheck key markers about every three months.

    💡 Find licensed providers through IFM and A4M directories.

    💡 Aim for direction not perfection because progress beats perfect.

    💡 Protect marriage and community with intentional rhythms and assuming good intent.

    💡 Do not blame everything on aging.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    01:09 — Why functional medicine?

    03:26 — From clinician to business owner

    04:40 — Building health foundations

    07:39 — “Normal labs,” real symptoms

    10:07 — How to find a functional medicine provider

    12:17 — Women’s and men’s common issues

    15:13 — Care cadence and retesting

    16:47 — Building a business with your spouse

    21:36 — Functional medicine misconceptions

    26:56 — Where to find Joya


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Joya Van Der Laan

    Founder of Nourish House Calls

    Website: https://nourishhousecalls.com

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/NourishHouseCalls

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/nourishhousecalls

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joyavanderlaan


    💛 Charity Spotlight

    Christ Church of Oak Brook — https://www.christchurch.us

    Supporting faith, family, and local community programs


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Facebook: ⁠https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor⁠

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://tidycal.com/giangnguyen/lets-connect-one-rivercapital

    FREE Guide: https://invest.onerivercapital.com/51863/your-ultimate-guide-tomultifamily-syndication


    ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out!


    🔔 Subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy.

    28 min
  • Build Wealth Together: Community, Capital, and Family Freedom | RJ de Leon

    Most people think you need to be rich or “connected” to raise millions. The truth? You can learn it. In this episode, we unpack how RJ de Leon used community and partnerships to scale then chose deals that protect time freedom and family.


    If you’re an immigrant professional or first-gen earner, this one shows how to start small, partner well, and buy back your time.


    👤 Guest Bio

    RJ de Leon is a real estate investor, developer, capital raiser, and community builder. He began in accounting and sales, bought a first multifamily early with his wife Nicky, and later built a construction company to solve rehab problems. Today, he invests and develops in the Chicagoland area and Florida, has 85+ units, has raised $14M+ across ventures, and co-leads investor communities serving 8,000+ members. His work shows a simple path: learn in public, start with your circle, invest first yourself, then invite others.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Education matters, but action wins when you set a clear buy box.

    💡 Your first partners are often in your existing circle. Ask for help.

    💡 Start as a passive investor to vet operators before partnering.

    💡 Raise capital by performing first with your own money.

    💡 Niche down: high-end new builds created better margins locally.

    💡 Community grows when you protect it from spam and noise.

    💡 Divide and conquer at home and in business to sustain energy.

    💡 Choose partners with care; contracts can’t fix bad character.

    💡 Know your season: chase cash flow or time freedom on purpose.

    💡 Patience to know where you are prevents risky decisions.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    00:01:55 — Why switch from accounting to investing?

    00:04:03 — How did you buy your first multifamily fast?

    00:07:00 — What mindset shift led you into development?

    00:14:31 — Who does what on your team and with partners?

    00:19:13 — How did you build a construction team from scratch?

    00:23:14 — How did you grow an 8,000-member community?

    00:26:27 — How do you balance business growth and family?

    00:35:41 — What is the best advice you received from a seasoned investor?

    00:36:49 — Cause you support and why it matters.

    00:37:51 — Where can listeners follow your journey?


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    RJ de Leon

    Co-founder – NVR Capital

    Website: https://nvrcapital.us

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/rjtheinvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/RJtherealestatementor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rjdeleon


    💛 Charity Spotlight

    Wilson Disease Association https://wilsondisease.org

    — provides support and hope to people impacted by Wilson disease worldwide so that they may lead the best quality of life possible


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed the episode?

    Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out!


    🔔 Subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy.

    39 min
  • One Market, One Asset Class: A Strategic, Data-Focused Approach to Scaling as a Multifamily Operator | Jay Balekar

    In this episode, we start at the common pain point: juggling a W-2, rising rates, and the fear of getting the first deal wrong. Jay Balekar shares how he cut the noise, chose one market and one asset class, and used data to build steady cash flow that serves family and future. You’ll hear the systems he uses to recycle capital, choose partners, and keep distributions real in any rate cycle.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Jaideep “Jay” Balekar is a Cincinnati-based multifamily investor and managing partner at Prosper Capital. Originally from India, he studied at Texas A&M and the University of Cincinnati, then spent years in Deloitte cybersecurity consulting before acquiring apartments, including a personal portfolio of ~40 units, a 63-unit JV, and a first 36-unit syndication in 2022. He believes focused, data-driven multifamily can change lives for first-gen wealth builders by creating durable cash flow and real ownership.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Start small, learn fast, then scale with intention.

    💡 Use your own capital first to earn trust before taking LP money.

    💡 Avoid fragile debt and protect sleep at night.

    💡 Focus on A/B+ areas and lighter turns for steadier cash flow.

    💡 Hold longer so operations and cash flow can compound.

    💡 Pass on thin deals that can’t support real distributions.

    💡 Ask operators what data drives their underwriting and assumptions.

    💡 Network on purpose to meet partners and expand capacity.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    00:00 — Welcome to The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast

    00:47 — From India to Cincinnati

    01:55 — Money mindset & education

    04:12 — First steps into multifamily

    09:22 — Why multifamily wins on risk & reward

    11:35 — From W-2 to focused operator

    17:18 — Business vs. Multifamily

    22:59 — How to pick the right operator for passive RE syndications

    28:49 — Jay’s 2025 Multifamily Thesis

    34:13 — The one question he wishes every LP would ask


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Jaideep “Jay” Balekar

    Website: https://prospercapitalco.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaideepbalekar

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaideep.balekar

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaideep.balekar


    📚 Resources

    Market Changes and Investment Strategy: https://youtu.be/6CMau2jpHVM

    – Jay breaks down how he evaluates debt, interest rates, and market cycles in today’s environment.


    New 506c Offering for 70+ Units in Cincinnati: https://youtu.be/p7B2x9Wb-LY

    – Prosper Capital’s most recent multifamily opportunity (Accredited Investors Only).


    💛 Charity Spotlight

    Matthew 25 Ministries: https://m25m.org

    – International humanitarian aid & disaster relief


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed this episode?

    💬 Send it to a friend

    🌟 Leave a review

    ✅ Subscribe for more immigrant stories & wealth strategies

    38 min
  • The Eulogy Filter: How a Chiropractor Scales Wealth & Impact | Alex Tam

    Most of us say yes to too much and pay for it with our time. Dr. Alex Tam shares the Eulogy Filter he uses to decide yes or no: write your eulogy, reverse your life goals, and only say yes if it gives you energy.


    In this episode, you’ll hear how he kept serving patients, defined financial freedom in simple terms, and grew to 200+ units with community and systems. Proof that you don’t have to give up family time to build real wealth.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Dr. Alex Tam is a chiropractor, entrepreneur, and clinical director with 15+ years of experience. He and his wife launched their medical office in 2009, discovered real estate syndication in 2018, and after joining Jake & Gino and MIH, they grew into multiple JVs/GP roles across 200+ units. In 2022, he co-founded a Virtual Assistant company to help busy pros reclaim time. Today, he guides healthcare professionals to invest in multifamily for generational wealth without walking away from the work they love.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Define freedom as passive income covering your monthly expenses.

    💡 Use the Eulogy Filter: goals → tradeoffs → replace or drop → energy test.

    💡 Buy back time with VAs; make yes/no choices on values and energy.

    💡 Know your core values first then hire–train–retain intentionally.

    💡 Marketing is value communication; sales is explaining how you help.

    💡 Community speeds deals and makes it fun.

    💡 Build wealth to buy memories, not shiny stuff.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    01:04 – Hong Kong to U.S. at 8

    04:49 – From hustle to values-aligned action

    14:12 – How to hire, train, and retain A-players

    19:23 – Why real estate for doctors

    24:31 – The Yes/No framework

    28:15 – Choosing memories over status

    30:23 – How to connect with Alex


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

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

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralextam

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.tam.7583


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed this episode?

    💬 Send it to a friend

    🌟 Leave a review

    ✅ Subscribe for more immigrant stories & wealth strategies

    32 min
  • Mother of Two to Cultural Ambassador: Building San Francisco’s QiPao Movement | Sunny Shen

    How does one immigrant mom turn a daily dress into a city holiday? In this episode, Sunny Shen breaks down the simple, repeatable steps behind a 10-year movement: using micro-time as a parent to create, wearing culture in public to spark curiosity, building a values-aligned team, and staying so consistent that San Francisco recognized an official QiPao Day.


    If you’re building community, brand, or nonprofit around your heritage, this is your playbook.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Sunny Shen is a Chinese immigrant, artist, and cultural entrepreneur in San Francisco. With Manchurian roots and training in traditional ink painting, she fell in love with QiPao, started blogging after having two children, and steadily grew a community around Chinese elegance and etiquette.


    She founded QiVogue (QiFengTang) and launched the San Francisco International QiPao Culture Month in 2015; in 2017, the city proclaimed April 14 as Official QiPao Day—the world’s first city-recognized QiPao festival, now celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 QiPao carries 100 to 200 years of history with Manchurian roots and Western influence.

    💡 After having two children, Sunny began blogging daily QiPao styling and grew a following and community.

    💡 Wearing QiPao in public helped her claim identity in a new country and opened conversations across backgrounds.

    💡 Motherhood is a full-time job; use micro time to create, “find a slit in time and stick your needle in.”

    💡 Before launching a nonprofit or community, decide to be consistent and never give up.

    💡 Build brand and IP around the unique value you deliver; constant pivots weaken recognition.

    💡 Time invested compounds; the more you pour in, the more the community gathers around you.

    💡 Shared passion attracts collaborators; photographers, educators, designers, and tech professionals joined her team.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    00:00 – Introducing Sunny Shen

    02:25 – QiPao 101: History, Design, and Meaning

    09:57 – From Mommy Blogger to Movement Builder

    13:55 – Why First Impression is Important

    20:45 – Build a Community That Lasts: Identity, Consistency, Brand

    29:51 – From Passion to Team: Skills & Systems

    33:03 – A Daughter’s POV: Modeling & Etiquette

    37:43 – The One Principle That Fuels Sunny


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Sunny Shen

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005299544987


    Sylvia Li

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sylvia.cloud


    💛 Cause She Support

    Spreading cultural awareness & teaching elegance, beauty, and etiquette through QiPao


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


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    40 min
  • Flip Without Buying: Novations, Wholesaling & 1,000+ Closings | Joette Trinh

    Think “flip without buying” is a myth? In this episode, Joette Trinh demystifies creative financing—what it is, who it’s for, and the contract and deposit rules that actually protect your deal. Expect practical guardrails and tips for choosing the right attorney for your strategy, so you can build safely and confidently.


    👤 Guest Bio

    Joette Trinh is a first-generation American real estate attorney, licensed in CT and MA. Over 12 years, she has handled thousands of investor closings. Raised by a Vietnamese refugee mother, she earned scholarships, cold-called her way into mentorship, and now runs Trinh Law, an investor-focused firm, while building a buy-and-hold portfolio with her husband. She also teaches investors how to use creative finance safely and legally.


    🔑 Key Insights

    💡 Scarcity mindset can be rewired into legacy thinking.

    💡 Scholarships and sweat equity can replace family money.

    💡 Persistence beats a $40K seminar fee.

    💡 Creative finance tools let you flip with no bank loan.

    💡 Contracts & deposits are the bedrock of every deal.

    💡 Multiple income streams like flips, rentals, and firm optimize cash, tax, and impact.

    💡 Giving back turns profit into community change.


    ⏱️ Timestamps

    02:29 – Single-mom upbringing & the money-mindset shift

    03:43 – Six-month cold-call saga that unlocked free mentorship

    07:33 – Double-major to real-estate pivot: why passion beat degrees

    12:51 – Building a balanced portfolio: rentals, flips, law-firm cash flow

    13:47 – Designing a wealth blueprint for three kids’ legacy

    16:54 – Top legal blind spots new investors overlook

    23:44 – Wholesaling & novation: flip without buying property

    27:30 – Biggest life lesson in the last decade

    29:11 – Turning closings into kids’ wheels


    🤝 Connect With Our Guest

    Website: https://trinh.law

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/trinhlawfirm

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joette-trinh

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/TrinhLaw


    💛 Charity Spotlight

    Can’dAid (https://candaid.org)

    — providing tools and access for under-resourced communities to lead healthy, active, and creative lives


    👋 Connect With Me

    Giang Nguyen

    Multifamily Investor

    Commercial Mortgage Broker

    Founder – One River Capital

    Website: https://onerivercapital.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor

    FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect

    FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide


    ⭐ Enjoyed this episode?

    💬 Send it to a friend.

    🌟 Leave a review.

    ✅ Subscribe for more immigrant stories & wealth strategies.

    32 min

About The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast

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The Immi Wealth Builder Podcast is where immigrants gain the knowledge, skills, and support to confidently build wealth and financial freedom.