Success isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about what the numbers make possible.

In this episode, Jason Johansen sits down with Shafik Hijri to explore the deeper “why” behind investing. What does success really look like once you’ve made it through the chaos? And how do you build something that lasts—not just for yourself, but for your family and future generations?

Shafik shares how his vision evolved from “just making money” to building legacy, impact, and financial clarity. It’s not about exit strategies—it’s about living with intention, building with purpose, and defining what enough actually means.

You’ll hear:

• How Shafik’s definition of success has changed since his first deal

• Why financial freedom is just a tool—not the destination

• The role of faith, family, and personal values in building wealth

• How to set long-term goals that align with the life you actually want

• Tactical ways to reverse-engineer your vision into your investment plan

  
  

If you’ve been grinding without knowing where you’re going—this episode will help you get clear.

📥 FREE RESOURCE: Download Mastering Multifamily Investing – 36 Must-Ask Questions for Passive Investors at MeridianPointCapital.com/Guide

It looked beautiful… but it didn’t cash flow.

In this episode, Jason and Shafik talk about one of the most expensive rookie traps in real estate: over-renovating rental properties. Shafik shares how a well-intentioned remodel spiraled into unnecessary upgrades, longer vacancies, and thousands in lost returns—all because he treated a rental like a personal home.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between rent ready and retail ready

• How emotional attachment can destroy your ROI

• Why “nice” doesn’t always mean profitable

• How to set a renovation budget that fits the neighborhood

• What upgrades truly matter to tenants—and which ones don’t

If you're about to swing a hammer, pick up this episode first. It might just save you five figures and months of regret.

📥 BONUS RESOURCE: Download Mastering Multifamily Investing – 36 Must-Ask Questions for Passive Investors at MeridianPointCapital.com/Guide

Some lessons cost more than others. For Shafik Hijri, it was $7,000 a month.

In this episode, Jason and Shafik break down the painful—and powerful—lessons behind a five-figure monthly burn rate. From underestimated repairs and overestimated rent rolls to the hidden cost of bad assumptions, this is a brutally honest look at the kind of mistakes that don't just sting… they scar.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How “cash flow” on paper can disappear in real life

• The blind spots that cost new investors thousands

• What most spreadsheets don’t account for (and why it matters)

• How to mentally and financially recover from major missteps

• The new rules Shafik now lives by before buying anything

This isn’t a horror story—it’s a roadmap. Because the investors who win long-term are the ones who learn, adapt, and keep going.

📥 BONUS GUIDE: Download Mastering Multifamily Investing – 36 Must-Ask Questions for Passive Investors at MeridianPointCapital.com/Guide

Every investor has that moment—the one where fear fades, confidence clicks, and you realize you’re not just trying real estate anymore… you’re in it.

In this short clip, Shafik Hijri reflects on the turning point that marked his transition from hesitant beginner to committed investor. It wasn’t a big win or a huge payday—it was something quieter, deeper, and far more meaningful. Jason and Shafik unpack what changed, what it took to get there, and how to spot that shift when it happens to you.

In this clip:

• The mindset shift that separates learners from leaders

• How experience transforms gut instinct into insight

• The subtle (but powerful) signs of investor maturity

• Why real growth often shows up in the quiet moments

• How to build momentum even if you still feel uncertain

If you’ve ever wondered, “When will I know I’m doing this for real?”—this is your answer.

📥 BONUS RESOURCE: Download Mastering Multifamily Investing – 36 Must-Ask Questions for Passive Investors at MeridianPointCapital.com/Guide

In real estate investing, instincts get you in the game—but strategy keeps you in it.

Jason and Shafik dive into the critical turning point where emotion meets execution. After getting blindsided by hidden costs and unreliable tenants, Shafik had a choice: react or regroup.

In this episode, he shares how he stopped operating from gut feelings and started building a real plan—one grounded in data, discipline, and long-term thinking.

Inside this episode:

• The danger of “emotional math” when analyzing deals

• What Shafik would do differently before buying another property

• The moment he realized he didn’t have a strategy—just a gut

• Why every investor needs written criteria (and how to create yours)

• How setting up the right systems turned losses into leverage

If you’re still treating real estate like a side hustle—or letting emotions steer your decisions—this episode is your wake-up call.

📥 BONUS GUIDE: Download Mastering Multifamily Investing – 36 Must-Ask Questions for Passive Investors at MeridianPointCapital.com/Guide

When the rent checks stop and the bills don’t, reality hits hard.

In this episode, Jason Johansen and returning guest Shafik Hijri pull back the curtain on what happens after the deal closes. The excitement of owning real estate quickly gave way to the chaos of negative cash flow, unexpected expenses, and tenants who knew how to work the system. Shafik shares the gut punches, the lessons, and how he navigated one of the hardest years of his investment journey.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How cash flow projections can go sideways—fast

• What to expect when dealing with inherited tenants

• The emotional cost of eviction delays and court backlogs

• Why reinvestment without reserves is a dangerous game

• The turning point that shifted Shafik’s mindset from panic to planning

This isn’t a highlight reel—it’s the unfiltered truth about what happens when real estate doesn’t pay the way you hoped. If you’ve ever wondered what separates the investors who burn out from the ones who build wealth anyway… this is the episode.

📥 Free Resource: Download Mastering Multifamily Investing: 36 Must-Ask Questions for Passive Investors at MeridianPointCapital.com/Guide

What lights the fire for a real estate investor—and what threatens to snuff it out?

In this powerful kickoff episode, host Jason Johansen sits down with investor Shafik Hijri, who shares how a desire for a better retirement led him away from 401(k)s and into the unpredictable world of real estate. From the excitement of that first multifamily purchase in Rochester to the hard slap of inherited tenants, delayed evictions, and unexpected expenses, Shafik opens up about the early stumbles that almost knocked him off course.

You’ll hear:

• Why rejecting the "traditional path" led to their first property

• The mistake of making a rental “retail ready”

• The emotional weight of eviction delays and negative cash flow

• What they wish they’d planned for in year one

• How reinvestment without reserves almost backfired

Real stories. Real numbers. Real setbacks.

If you're considering your first deal—or trying to recover from one—this episode is the honest conversation you need.

📥 Free Resource: Get your copy of Mastering Multifamily Investing: 36 Must-Ask Questions for a Successful Passive Investment at MeridianPointCapital.com/Guide

Welcome to Toilets, Tenants, and Truth—where real estate investing gets real. Hosted by Jason Johansen, a fund manager, broker, and still-in-the-trenches landlord, this podcast pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build wealth through real estate… without letting it own you. No fluff. No fake gurus. Just real stories from real investors—warts, wins, and all. You’ll hear from investors, agents, and everyday wealth builders about: What drew them into real estate (and what nearly pushed them out). The wins, setbacks, and midnight tenant texts that taught them the hard lessons. What “financial freedom” really means when the dust settles. Why passive investing might be the smartest path for most people. Whether you’re a DIY landlord, a future LP, or just want the returns without the chaos—this is your no-BS guide to real estate that actually works.