The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast

In this episode, Peru-born, Charlotte-raised Daniela Pereyra shares how translating for her parents at 10 forged her courage—and how she built a 5.5+ year, referral-only real estate practice by choosing relationships over grind. We dig into picking your lane (without shiny-object stress), turning a $250 self-bet into paid stages, and building a family-first business that buys back time.

👤 Guest Bio

Daniela Pereyra is a real estate broker, investor, landlady, and speaker. Over 5+ years, she’s grown a multifaceted residential real estate business and a nationwide referral network, with features across national news, podcasts, and publications. In 2022, she launched Dare to Jump, a seminar series helping entrepreneurs mitigate self-sabotage. As a first-gen immigrant solopreneur, she leads with love and uses business to help others move with confidence.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Start before you feel ready because clarity grows from action.

💡 Build a business you can sustain so your life stays joyful.

💡 Trust closes deals fast when a warm connection turns into a one call decision.

💡 Do your estate planning early because protecting loved ones is love in practice.

💡 Use free talks to prove value and convert them into paid stages.

💡 Focus on the work you love because it can out-earn everything else and buy back time.

💡 Say no to draining work, refer it out, and keep your energy for your lane.

⏱️ Timestamps

01:07 — From Peru to Charlotte: the real estate spark

05:31 — Teen translator life: shaping her money path

11:15 — What truly pulled her into real estate

17:09 — Finding your lane: saying “no” with power

24:15 — Caregiving + wealth: building both without burnout

31:16 — Broker → paid speaker: one workshop to real gigs

37:07 — Hidden green light: heartbreak that turned to go-time

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Daniela Pereyra

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesellingrealtor

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thesellingrealtor

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

💛 Supported Causes

Lymphoma cancer & Parkinson’s support

Canine renal disease awareness

👋 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

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What if your “too young” excuse is the green light?

At 18, Sophia Mendez is finishing high school and college, working her 11th flip, and proving that asking, learning, and repeating beats waiting for permission. From joining Zoom calls at 14 to raising private money by simply asking with a clear plan and solid numbers, she’s now refining focus, delegate, and choosing family and steady growth over the “flash”.

This episode is about the grounded blueprint on starting young (at any age) and how to lead seller conversations, and build momentum with repetition.

👤 Guest Bio

Sophia Mendez is a teen real estate investor and flipper from Washington state. Her journey began by watching her parents renovate homes at age 8, then saying yes to mentorship at 14.

By 18, she completed a dual-credit program (earning her AA) and is working on her 11th deal, sharing her story on stages and podcasts with an upcoming TV appearance. Sophia proves that proximity, repetition, and asking for help can compress decades into years.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Proximity is power: choose rooms where deals feel normal.

💡 Start before you feel ready: take reps, learn in motion.

💡 Ask for capital clearly: share the project, numbers, terms.

💡 Use what you have: lean on family and your network.

💡 Let the numbers decide: if it doesn’t pencil, pass.

💡 Focus beats FOMO: pick a niche and master it.

💡 Delegate to grow: hand off project management to protect energy.

💡 Lead with service: listen first, solve the seller’s real problem.

💡 Redefine success: choose family, simplicity, and steady reinvestment.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:55 — How she started before graduation

04:23 — The real teen challenges

07:42 — Funding the first deals

13:22 — Finding your lane: Killing shiny-object syndrome

14:24 — What she actually does in her business

17:01 — Growing slowly on purpose

21:10 — Lessons after 10+ deals

22:31 — Her acquisition advice

24:34 — How her definition of success changed

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sophia.mendez.1

Facebook: https://facebook.com/sophia.mendez.778616

💛 Charity Spotlight

7 Figure Foundation — https://www.7figurefoundation.com

Building safe homes and schools for families in less fortunate areas

👋 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

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Growing up in Ukraine, Alek Ivanov clutched a sealed visa envelope on his 2004 flight to the U.S., determined to chase a bigger life. Third-shift pay of $7.75 an hour at Wawa taught him exactly what not to do when he built his own company.

Two decades later, Alek leads Synergy3, a culture-first HVAC company that was twice honored with Bryant’s Medal of Excellence, while crushing Ironman races and bike-packing across Iceland.

In this episode, he unpacks how relentless “yeses,” a $30K annual culture budget, and daily biohacking turned survival wages into a purpose-driven empire.

👤 Guest Bio

Originally from Ukraine, Alek Ivanov immigrated to the U.S. in 2004. He co-founded Synergy3 in 2006, growing it from a one-man van to a culture-centric HVAC firm of 30+ employees. Recognized on ACHR News’ “40 Under 40,” Synergy3 captured Bryant’s Medal of Excellence (2022 & 2023) and “Best Places to Work” honors.

Alek is also an endurance athlete. He completed the Ironman Maryland, five Half-Ironmans, and bike-packed Iceland, Scotland, and Italy.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Your first job can define the culture you never want

💡 “Any action beats inaction”—even failed moves teach faster

💡 Hire for growth, then test for commitment (30- & 90-day exams)

💡 Budgeting $30K+ yearly for recognition builds loyalty & referrals

💡 Culture spends aren’t costs—they’re marketing you don’t have to buy

💡 Biohacking (sleep, 60 supplements, hyperbaric chamber) lets owners out-perform burnout

💡 Crises (2008 crash, Covid-19) can be forced “hard stops” to rebuild systems

🕒 Timestamps

01:05 – Alek’s immigrant backstory & first HVAC spark

08:22 – Turning Wawa pain into Synergy3 culture principles

09:18 – From solo contractor to multi-crew builder in 300-home project

17:25 – Picking partners & releasing control while scaling

22:59 – 30- & 90-day testing: weeding out paycheck-seekers

24:32 – Why owners should pay for therapy, birthdays & clean trucks

31:45 – Biohacking rules: sleep fights, salads & standing desks

34:45 – The land-buy gamble that proved “action over analysis”

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://synergy3.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ivanoff_alek

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alek-ivanov-8209a410

👋 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

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

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

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What happens when love meets limitless hustle?

Christina (Florida-born Realtor–investor) and Attila (Hungarian-American business owner) ditched corporate ceilings, sold swap-meet jewelry to pay rent, then turned a $30k risk into a territory-owning security business, flips worth $8 million, and stakes in 762 multifamily units—all while calling themselves each other’s “backup dancers.”

Get ready to rethink partnership, diversification, and freedom.

Guest Bio

Christina Kovacs is a Florida-licensed Realtor who has brokered deals since 2010 and now runs her own firm, The Home Agency. After flipping and holding roughly $8 million in single-family properties across Florida, Vermont, and Connecticut, she’s expanded into multifamily with limited-partner stakes in 762 units, joint-venture ownership of 105 units, general-partner control of 80 units, and even a 73-site RV park.

Her husband, Attila Kovacs—an immigrant from Hungary who launched his first company at 19—founded the A/V integration firm Miami Wired and serves as Florida’s exclusive dealer for the Ravelco anti-theft system.

Together, the duo blend real estate, technology, and security into a self-funding wealth ecosystem that proves the strongest partnerships truly dance in sync.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Double skill-sets = double momentum (“tinker” vs. analyst)

💡 Start with any cash flow—Craigslist flips & swap-meets count

💡 Own the channel: $30k bought an entire Ravelco territory

💡 Diversify: businesses fund STR cash flow; SFRs pay down; MF builds legacy

💡 DIY first flip = skill & equity accelerator

💡 Shared vision beats W-2 ceilings; freedom first

💡 Clear lanes (“backup dancers”) prevent couple conflict in business

💡 Fail-fast mindset: succeed or learn, then pivot

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why Power Couples Should Build Wealth Together

01:10 – Attila’s Immigrant Hustle Story

02:37 – From Corporate Grind to Entrepreneurial Freedom

07:17 – $30K Leap: Craigslist, Jewelry & Ravelco

09:11 – How Auto-Theft Data Picked Their Market

12:21 – Couple’s Secret: The Tinker vs. Analyst System

14:44 – Recession Pivot: Starting Miami Wired & First Flip

17:46 – Scaling from Flips to 762 Multifamily Units

18:59 – Parenting While Building an Empire

25:48 – Connect with Christina & Attila

🤝 Connect With Our Guests

Christina Kovacs

Website: https://christinakovacs.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/Christina_Kovacs

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

Attila Kovacs

Miami Wired: https://miamiwired.com

Ravelco Florida: https://nocarstolen.com

💛 Cause they support

Local orphanages & hospitals when traveling

👋 Connect With Me

Giang Nguyen

Multifamily Investor

Commercial Mortgage Broker

Founder of One River Capital

Website: https://onerivercapital.com

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

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Ashley Cao got laid off—twice—from two tech giants. But instead of chasing another job, she turned the setback into a wake-up call.

In this episode, she shares how losing her W2 helped her reclaim time, invest out of state with no experience, and build a life rooted in purpose and people. From her mother’s immigrant hustle to co-creating real estate meetups, Ashley proves you don’t need a title to create impact—you need a mission.

If you're done surviving and ready to build a life on your terms—this is the one to hear.

👤 Guest Bio

Ashley Cao is a former tech recruiter at Tesla and Google who pivoted into commercial real estate investing after a 2018 layoff scare. Starting with a BRRRR duplex in Columbus, Ohio, Ashley scaled into multifamily partnerships while working remotely. Today, she helps others finance their deals through her role at Old Capital Lending and co-leads grassroots events like the Anti-Conference Conference.

Ashley is passionate about building wealth in community—and proving that your backup plan can become your best life.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Layoffs can be leverage—severance = runway.

💡 HELOCs make out-of-state BRRRRs possible.

💡 One offer a week builds deal discipline.

💡 $250/door cash flow beats spreadsheet fear.

💡 Community beats solo Googling for growth.

💡 Job skills transfer—recruiting helped her pivot to lending.

💡 Protect time like capital—put purpose first.

💡 Serving others expands your deal flow.

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 - Why “playing it safe” backfires

00:56 - Ashley’s origin—Great Recession grad to tech recruiter

04:19 - Upbringing & refugee work ethic shape money beliefs

08:58 - First BRRRR roadmap—HELOC + Columbus market hunt

15:16 - Making $250/door & realizing scale requires systems

21:17 - Cancer scare reframes time-wealth priority

24:51 - Google layoff → full-time real-estate & lending pivot

28:41 - Birth of the Anti-Conference—fixing networking overload

35:16 - Honoring mom through PanCAN walks & fundraising

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Email: [email protected]

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/_ashflow

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

📅 Projects/Events

Anti-Conference Conference by SARE Ladies — https://sareladies.com/anticonference

A fast and focused real estate conference built for busy people who want real answers, not just inspiration

Register now!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-anti-conference-conference-registration-1352909541859

Friday, September 12, 2025

Electric Playhouse at Caesar's Forum, Las Vegas, NV

📚 Frameworks

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki — https://links.theimmiwealthbuilder.com/rich-dad-poor-dad

A game-changing book on wealth, mindset, and financial freedom through investing

💛 Charity Spotlight

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network — https://pancan.org

Improving the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer by advancing scientific research, building community, sharing knowledge and advocating for patients

👋 Connect With Me

Giang Nguyen

Multifamily Investor

Commercial Mortgage Broker

Founder of One River Capital

Website: https://onerivercapital.com

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

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From “medical-lab tech with no free time” to leading 150+ flips, new-construction builds, and a rental portfolio—all while raising two teen investors. Marizol Mendez breaks down the mind-shifts, missteps, and family systems that turned a library copy of Rich Dad Poor Dad into generational wealth and community impact.

👤 Guest Bio

Marizol Mendez immigrated from a rural Mexican village to the U.S. at age 12. After years in a 9-to-5 lab, the lack of time and financial freedom pushed her and her husband, Omar, into real estate. Eleven years later they’ve executed 150+ renovations, new-builds, and small-multifamily projects and now hold a growing rental portfolio. Marizol’s mission: build wealth with family, bless neighborhoods, and model possibility for other immigrants.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Time freedom is the real goal—money without schedule control still feels like a cage

💡 A single book can re-write an immigrant money playbook

💡 Celebrate the first deal—even if profit is $0; lessons > winnings

💡 Teenagers can close flips: Marizol’s daughter negotiated her own at 15

💡 Flipping funds the cash; rentals & small multifamily build wealth

💡 “No deal” beats a bad deal—patience protects energy & capital

💡 Local investing keeps control & quality high

💡 Funding triangle: private money + hard money + own capital fuels scale

🕒 Timestamps

01:15 - Ditching W-2 Life for Real Estate Freedom

03:27 - Rich Dad Moment → First Auction Deal

05:04 - Flipping Sight-Unseen During Church

09:07 - Turning Teens Into Deal-Finders

14:47 - Why Rentals Beat High-Paid Flips

17:25 - Mail, Math & Surviving High Rates

19:12 - Self-Kindness = World Impact

20:24 - Giving Back Through 7 Figure Foundation

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Marizol Mendez

Facebook: https://facebook.com/marizol.mendez.94

📚 Framework

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

https://links.theimmiwealthbuilder.com/rich-dad-poor-dad

A game-changing book on wealth, mindset, and financial freedom through investing

💛 Charity Spotlight

7 Figure Foundation

Building safe homes for families living in extreme poverty, giving them security, dignity, and hope

https://www.7figurefoundation.com/

👋 Connect With Me

Giang Nguyen

Multifamily Investor

Commercial Mortgage Broker

Founder of One River Capital

Website: https://onerivercapital.com

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

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What if your first real-estate gamble turned a $7,500 dirt lot into a springboard for 30+ revitalized Houston neighborhoods? 🇲🇽➡️🇺🇸

Developer, investor, and author Jose Berlanga shares the unfiltered playbook behind three decades of inner-city turnarounds, bootstrap financing, and the moment he paused a multimillion-dollar business just to be “Dad.” Expect a masterclass on vision, risk, and legacy.

👤 Guest Bio

Jose Berlanga is a Mexican-born serial entrepreneur who has spent 35 years revitalizing Houston through land development and residential construction. Starting with a single self-financed build, he scaled to multi-million-dollar ventures that pioneered today’s hottest in-town districts, from The Heights to Montrose. Beyond real estate, Jose writes (The Business of Home Building) and speaks globally on entrepreneurship and community design.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Jose profited by acquiring undesirable inner-city lots and waiting for values to rise.

💡 His urban-revival strategy combines affordable housing, retail, and patience to create thriving neighborhoods.

💡 Achieving financial independence is challenging, and many give up during tough times.

💡 Entrepreneurs continually push themselves, unlike salaried employees who can disengage.

💡 Strategic partnerships and financial structuring are more effective than individual genius.

💡 Jose prioritized family by taking breaks, demonstrating that legacy outweighs constant revenue

💡 Early investment in overlooked areas, followed by expansion, beats following market trends.

🕒 Timestamps

02:25 - Triple-Major Leap → Business, Econ & Philosophy

03:38 - Biggest Risk? Staying Small

06:50 - Dorm-to-Desk Export Startup Grind

07:43 - Spanish Edge: Supplying Mexico’s Oil Giants

14:25 - Persistence Pays: Scaling a Construction Powerhouse

20:31 4 - Step Inner-City Revitalization Formula

23:01 - DIY Comps: Buying Dirt at $1 Per Feet

37:09 - Defining “Enough”: Blueprint for Success & Balance

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Jose Berlanga

Co-owner & CEO of Tricon Homes

Website: https://joseberlanga.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorjoseberlanga

Facebook: https://facebook.com/authorjoseberlanga

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jose-berlanga-900a9518

📚 Framework

The Business of Home Building

A must-have guide for anyone looking to break into this lucrative industry—written by Jose Berlanga

https://links.theimmiwealthbuilder.com/the-business-of-home-building

💛 Charity Spotlight

Shriners Hospitals

Non-profit delivering life-changing burn & orthopedic care for kids

https://www.shrinerschildrens.org

👋 Connect With Me

Giang Nguyen

Multifamily Investor

Commercial Mortgage Broker

Founder of One River Capital

Website: https://onerivercapital.com

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

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Think private equity is only for billionaires? Alice Chen is here to blow that myth apart. The Taiwan-born, Canada-raised ex-M&A lawyer left her six-figure “Suits-style” career to build and exit multiple businesses, then launched land-development funds open to everyday accredited investors. In this master-class episode, she unpacks fund structures, red-flag due diligence, and the mindset shifts immigrants need to plug into real deal flow.

👤 Guest Bio

Alice Chen is a serial founder, Top 40 Under 40 alumna, and GP of a U.S. land-development private-equity fund. After practicing M&A and securities law, she built an award-winning wine-export marketplace and has invested—both as LP and GP—across multiple alternative-asset funds for 15 years . Her mission: make professional-grade private-equity strategies accessible to immigrant wealth builders.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Business is simply risk management plus partnerships

💡 Learning is tuition—but wealth only comes after you ride the bike

💡 “Plug into deal flow” is the immigrant investor’s unfair edge

💡 No manager—not even Buffett—wins every time

💡 Follow your ikigai: profit meets purpose

💡 Two-sided marketplaces (wine…then capital) create outsized upside

💡 Due-diligence starts with people, not projects

💡 Red-flags: sponsors without personal wins, unclear strategy, weak track record

💡 Balanced living → better investment decisions

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to The Immi Wealth Builder

01:11 – Taiwan ➜ Canada ➜ Big-Law ➜ Top 40 Under 40

03:03 – First Exit & the Mentor Who Taught Private Equity

10:24 – Solving Supply Chains: How Wine Built Her First Startup

16:48 – Land Development 101: Entitlement vs. Horizontal vs. Vertical

18:39 – Crunching the 4.8M-Home Shortage Math

26:22 – Red-Flag Due Diligence for Passive Investors

31:04 – Work-Life Balance & Mindset for Long-Term Success

34:56 – Connect With Alice

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Alice Chen

Website: https://alicechencompanies.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/absolutelyalice

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AliceChenOfficial

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

Pender Hastings Capital Funds

- helping investors grow wealth through land-focused private equity funds

https://phcfunds.com

👋 Connect with Your Host

Giang Nguyen

Founder, One River Capital

Multifamily Real Estate Investor

Commercial Mortgage Broker

Website: https://onerivercapital.com

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

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🎤 Got a story to share? Apply here: https://ig.onerivercapital.com/theimmiwealthbuilder

What if the condo you house-hacked during the Great Recession could snowball into an 8-figure flipping machine? Elisa Covington left a cushy Silicon-Valley tech job, survived a DIY disaster that almost broke her relationship, and now sells up to 20 homes a year across the Bay Area—all while mentoring newcomers and planning a nonprofit to educate girls in Asia. If you’re stuck between a boring W-2 and your first deal, this episode hands you the blueprint.

👤 Guest Bio

Elisa Covington is a Bay-Area–based real-estate investor, coach, author, and YouTuber behind Transform Real Estate. A Chinese immigrant with an MBA from Northwestern Kellogg, she has completed 80 + projects and grown an eight-figure flipping business by systemizing teams and partnerships. Her mission: prove that anyone—especially women and immigrants—can build wealth by turning neglected houses into opportunity.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 House hacking can seed your first flip—no angel investors required

💡 A painful DIY remodel often triggers the “hire pros” mindset shift

💡 Vet contractors first; Craigslist “deals” cost far more later

💡 Mentors mitigate risk and confidence gaps on nightmare projects

💡 Scaling = delegating: agents find deals, crews run sites, you steer vision

💡 Time freedom appears when you visit a project just 3–4 times total

💡 Mindset plateaus kill growth; aim higher to add 50 % revenue in a year

💡 Giving back (nonprofits, coaching) sustains long-term purpose

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to The Immi Wealth Builder

00:45 – From Google Beijing to Kellogg MBA & Corporate Burnout

03:07 – Buying First Condo at the Market Bottom as a Single Woman

04:29 – House-Hack & HELOC: Leverage that Funded Rental #1

05:58 – DIY Remodel That Almost Broke the Relationship

08:26 – The Flip Realization: “Wait, This is Flipping!”

12:48 – Flip Nightmare: Wrong Contractor, Victorian Money Pit

17:49 – Quitting 9-to-5 → 8 Flips → 15–20 a Year

21:45 – Building a Plug-and-Play Team (Agents, Crews, Stagers)

27:10 – Redefining Success: Freedom, Impact, and Fulfillment

29:19 – Future Nonprofit & ‘Building Education’ Charity Shout-Out

30:58 – Connect With Elisa

💛 Charity Spotlight

Building Education

- empowering rural communities through education, sustainable development, and leadership training to end poverty

Website: https://www.bebuildingeducation.org

Facebook: https://facebook.com/buildingeducation

Instagram: https://instagram.com/buildingeducation

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCDNC1fU-nJ9_1BqRYAp4f_w

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

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Elisa Covington

Founder, Transform Flipper Academy

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TransformRealEstate

Instagram: https://instagram.com/transformrealestate

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/TransformRealEstate

👋 Connect with Your Host

Giang Nguyen

Founder, One River Capital

Multifamily Investor

Commercial Mortgage Broker

Website: https://onerivercapital.com

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

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🌟 Leave a quick review — it helps more immigrants find these stories

🎤 Got a story to share? Apply here: https://ig.onerivercapital.com/theimmiwealthbuilder

Elizabeth Hernandez is the definition of focus and follow-through. She passed the CPA exam while going through cancer treatment—and working from home with five kids during COVID lockdown. Now she owns a tax firm and a growing rental portfolio, all built one step at a time.

In this episode, Elizabeth breaks down the mindset, systems, and sacrifices it took to go from overwhelmed to ownership. Her journey is a proof that you don’t need perfect timing to start.

👤 Guest Bio

Elizabeth Hernandez is a licensed CPA, real estate investor, and founder of her own tax firm helping others build wealth through strategic planning. After surviving cancer and earning her CPA in the middle of a pandemic, she started investing in real estate and has grown her portfolio to three rental properties. Now, she’s on a mission to help others—especially women and immigrant professionals—use tax and investing to create financial freedom.

🔑 Key Insights

💡 Tax expertise creates leverage in real estate

💡 Working full-time doesn’t block wealth-building

💡 Urgency fuels smarter financial decisions

💡 Midterm rentals provide stable cash flow

💡 Private lending offers a low-risk starting point

💡 Strategic tax planning protects earned income

💡 Time freedom starts with financial clarity

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: From CPA to Investor Advocate

01:09 – Finding Her Path: Finance, CPA, and Real Estate

02:24 – Growing Up in El Salvador & Living Simply

05:01 – Teen Mom to College Grad: Resilience in Action

06:39 – Passing the CPA During COVID With 5 Kids

08:21 – First Investment After Cancer: Why She Took the Leap

13:23 – Scaling to 3 Properties: Why Midterm Rentals Work

16:00 – Starting Her Own Firm: Values Over Volume

20:47 – Legacy & Advice: Don’t Do It Alone

🤝 Connect With Our Guest

Elizabeth Hernandez

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lizhernandezcpa

Facebook: https://facebook.com/hbtaxcpa

Free Tax Assessment Call: calendly.com/lizhernandezcpa

Learn more about her CPA firm: hbtaxcpa.com

👋 Connect with Your Host

Giang Nguyen

Founder, One River Capital

Website: https://onerivercapital.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor

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

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

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