Episode Overview:

In this value-packed episode of The Ironclad Underwriting Podcast, host Jason Williams and guest Frank Patalano break down the essential return metrics that every investor and operator must understand. From outdated expectations around IRR to the rise of AAR and the importance of cash-on-cash return, this conversation helps listeners sharpen their analytical toolkit. Whether you're raising capital, analyzing a deal, or preparing your next pitch, this episode gives you a no-fluff foundation on how returns really work, and how to spot misleading projections before it’s too late.

📌Topics Covered:

✅Why IRR is both useful and misleading

✅The shift from IRR to AAR and cash-on-cash in today’s market

✅Understanding how refis and capital events skew return metrics

✅The growing importance of equity multiple

✅How assumptions and timelines impact projected returns

✅The role of preferred returns in today’s capital stacks

✅Red flags in overly optimistic pro formas

✅Aligning investor expectations with actual deal structure

💬 Key Quotes:

✅“You shouldn’t really ever put a refi into your business plan, but you should plan to do a refi when it makes sense.”

✅“Cash-on-cash tells you about the stability of a deal, if the cash flow is consistent, that's where passive investors can breathe easy.”

✅“You can’t eat equity. You need a balance between appreciation and liquidity.”

🎧 Connect with Jason:

✅ LinkedIn

✅ https://IroncladUnderwriting.com

✅Linktree

🎧 Connect with Frank:

✅LinkedIn