Gene has been in the commercial and investment real estate business continuously since 1972 and in the legal profession since 1996.

Awarded the CCIM designation in 1977, Gene continues to serve as a member of the CCIM faculty and achieved Senior Emeritus Instructor status, upon 40 years of teaching. In 2002, he was selected as the Robert L. Ward Instructor of the Year in the Institute. In 2005, Gene was awarded the Victor L. Lyon Distinguished Service Award for his many years of outstanding contribution to the Institute’s education program.

He is a member of the California Bar. The founding partner of Trowbridge Nieh LLP, Gene’s law practice concentrates on the syndication of commercial and investment real estate, through both debt and equity.

As a former syndicator, who for ten years raised investor capital; he served as the sponsor of sixteen investment groups, by raising equity from investors, through registered representatives in the broker dealer community, once sending out 1,676 K1s in a single year.

He was responsible for the organization of those investment groups; the acquisition, management, and disposition of the real estate; and communications with the investors.

Because of his hands-on syndication experience, Gene can communicate with his clients on both the technical and practical aspects of state and federal securities laws. Between Gene’s individual syndication background and the firm’s legal practice, the partners in the firm have written offerings of more than $5 Billion in monies raised. The median offering size is $2. 5 million. His practice writes offerings under Rule 506(b) and 506(c) of Regulation D, Regulation CF, and Regulation A+.

He has trained and mentored three different law partners, in syndication and crowdfunding, since 2008. He has delivered more than 250 live seminars on group ownership, exchanges, and taxation audiences across the country; his articles have been published in various real estate media outlets and he is a highly sought-after speaker on the topic of real estate group ownership.

He authored his first book It’s A Whole New Business in 2005. The Fourth Edition was released in 2021 and is available now at tnllp.com and Amazon.

He and Kay have been married for 50 years and have two daughters, Amy, and Emily. He enjoys music, travel and has run 37 half marathons since turning 60!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Gene Trowbridge

01:05 Current Market Insights for Passive Investors

03:51 Diverse Investment Opportunities Beyond Real Estate

05:53 Understanding Private Placements and Regulation D

09:09 The Evolution of Securities Regulation

14:56 Impact of Economic Crises on Investment Regulations

19:52 Future of Accredited Investor Definitions

21:44 Guidance for New Syndicators

22:22 Understanding Syndication and Securities

24:48 Control and Decision-Making in Partnerships

27:20 Investment Contracts and SEC Regulations

30:04 Key Questions for Passive Investors

33:27 The Importance of Relationships in Real Estate

37:17 Investing Strategies and Debt Funds

39:04 outro

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Keywords

syndication, private equity, accredited investors, real estate, securities regulation, Jobs Act, passive investing, market trends, due diligence, investment strategies

Summary

In this conversation, Randy Smith and Gene Trowbridge discuss the current state of the syndication market, the evolution of securities regulation, and the importance of due diligence for passive investors. Gene shares insights on the role of accredited investors, the impact of the Jobs Act, and key considerations for new syndicators. The discussion emphasizes the significance of relationships in the investment space and provides practical advice for both syndicators and passive investors.

In this episode of the Gentle Art of Crushing It podcast, host Randy Smith interviews Drew Breneman, founder of Brennan, who has achieved significant success in real estate investment with a focus on multifamily properties. Drew shares insights on the current state of the real estate market, particularly contrasting the performance of the Sunbelt and Midwest regions. He discusses his early investments, the challenges faced in Phoenix, and the opportunities available in Chicago, including tax abatement strategies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of cash flow in investments and provides valuable resources for new passive investors.

Drew's Bio

-Started an internet business in high school. He saved all the money from it and acquired his first rental property at age 19 back in 2005.

-Founder of Breneman Capital

-Breneman Capital specializes in multifamily investing with a data-driven approach. The firm only invests in the best markets and submarkets within those markets.

-Invested in a variety of geographies and asset classes: Multifamily in Madison, WI (2005-2007). Then industrial, office, and retail in Minneapolis St. Paul (2008-2012). Multifamily and mixed-use in Chicago (2013-today) before focusing on only multifamily in select submarkets in the Midwest (Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison).

-Acquired $250MM+ of investment property as key/sole GP.

-24%+ average realized IRR on investments sold

-14 deals have executed full cash-out refinances of all our initial equity

-Host of the Breneman Blueprint podcast

-Started out with a duplex and have worked my way up to $30MM+ deals. All self-made starting from scratch - my parents are public school teachers, so didn't start with any capital of theirs or connections.

Breneman Capital: https://www.breneman.com/

Podcast: https://www.breneman.com/podcast

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

Chapters

00:00 Market Overview and Current Trends

05:09 Drew's Journey into Real Estate

11:24 Exploring the Sunbelt and Its Opportunities

16:04 Performance of Phoenix Assets and Future Outlook

21:39 Chicago Projects and Tax Abatement Opportunities

22:01 Chicago's Real Estate Appeal

24:04 Investment Strategies in Chicago

27:58 Understanding Cash Flow vs. Equity Multiples

31:49 Educational Resources for New Investors

35:26 Personal Insights and Future Aspirations

37:53 outro

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Keywords

real estate, multifamily, investment strategies, passive investing, market analysis, tax abatement, cash flow, Chicago, Phoenix, Drew Breneman

August Biniaz is the Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital. CPI Capital is a Real Estate Private Equity firm with its mandate to acquire Multifamily assets, utilizing the value-add business model while partnering with passive investors as Limited Partners. August was instrumental in the closing of over $208 million of multifamily assets since inception.

August is the host of Real Estate Investing Demystified PodCast. He educates real estate investors through his Podcast, YouTube shows, Webinars, and his weekly newsletter "Real Estate Weekly".

Chapters

00:00 Market Overview and Economic Impact

04:50 August Biniaz: Background and Journey in Real Estate

10:06 Navigating Cross-Border Investments: Canadian to US

14:27 International Investor Considerations and Strategies

17:25 Building the Right Team and the BTR Asset Class

21:02 The Rise of Build-to-Rent Communities

23:44 Investment Strategies in Build-to-Rent

25:36 Portfolio Insights and Market Trends

28:38 Education and Immersion in Passive Investing

31:35 Due Diligence in Alternative Investments

34:03 Personal Growth and Investment Philosophy

39:52 outro

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Keywords

real estate, passive investing, market trends, economic impact, cross-border investments, build-to-rent, investment strategies, August Biniaz, CPI Capital, multifamily investments

Summary

In this episode, Doug Clark emphasizes the urgency of pursuing dreams and goals, encouraging listeners to take immediate action rather than postponing their aspirations. He discusses the importance of having accountability partners and masterminds to help maintain focus and motivation. Doug also highlights the need for holistic life planning, considering various aspects of life such as health, family, and personal fulfillment. He concludes with a call to action, urging listeners to embrace inspired hustle and make their dreams a reality.

Chapters

00:00 The Urgency of Life

03:22 Masterminds and Accountability

06:16 Holistic Life Planning

09:43 Inspired Hustle and Action

09:52 outro

Keywords

urgency, goals, dreams, masterminds, accountability, holistic planning, inspired hustle, life planning, legacy, self-improvement

Jeff is an accomplished real estate operator and Investors Relations Maverick. He has successfully deployed over $40M of equity into a $160M portfolio of assets under management and development, which consists of multifamily, luxury SFHs, ground-up development, and light/flex industrial properties. Jeff’s LP and GP portfolio comprises over 2000 doors under management and development.

Jeff is a devoted family man who treasures quality moments with his amazing wife and business partner, Kim, and their three wonderful kids. Outside of running his businesses, his hobbies include boating, golfing, sharing his love for vintage cars and motorcycles, and inspiring young athletes as a coach for youth Travel Baseball.

For LinkedIn (Resume), Facebook, X, YouTube, and to schedule a meeting with me, please visit:

https://linktr.ee/jeff_ervick

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

03:30 Current Market Overview and Its Impact on Passive Investing

06:25 Jeff's Journey into Real Estate

10:00 Balancing W2 Job and Real Estate Investing

12:43 Private Lending Experience and Strategies

15:52 Understanding Infinite Banking and Its Benefits

23:27 The Power of Strategic Investments

25:53 Leveraging Whole Life Insurance for Financial Growth

27:38 Rapid Growth in Multifamily Investments

31:09 The Art of Raising Capital

33:35 Educational Resources for Passive Investors

36:35 Due Diligence in Real Estate Investments

38:25 Bucket List Adventures and Investment Strategies

42:45 outro

CONNECT WITH OUR HOST

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Keywords

real estate, passive investing, multifamily, private lending, infinite banking, market trends, capital raising, investment strategies, Jeff Ervick, Randy Smith

Summary

In this episode of the Gentle Art of Crushing It podcast, host Randy Smith interviews Jeff Ervick, co-founder of Valorous Capital. They discuss the current state of the real estate market, Jeff's journey into real estate investing, and the balance between W2 employment and real estate. Jeff shares insights on private lending, infinite banking, and how he scaled his multifamily portfolio to over 2,000 doors in just two years. The conversation also touches on the challenges of raising capital and the importance of building trust with investors. Jeff provides valuable resources for new investors and emphasizes the need for continuous education in the passive investing space.

Michael Wagman is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Nimble Capital Group, a boutique private-equity firm investing in multifamily real estate acquisitions and developments. He also mentors students on how to raise more capital and transform their lives. He is the host of Beyond the Deal, a podcast about mindset, success, and overcoming challenge in life and business. When he's not focusing on real estate Michael is an active music producer in the Dubstep genre, releasing his music on Spotify.

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Michael Wagman and Market Insights

03:33 Michael's Journey: From College to Real Estate

07:04 The Transition to Sales and Entrepreneurship

09:58 Building a Real Estate Portfolio and Lessons Learned

12:46 Current Ventures and Future Plans

21:19 The Journey to Real Estate Success

29:00 Transitioning to Development Projects

37:24 Advice for New Investors and Resources

46:38 outro

Summary

In this episode of the Gentle Art of Crushing It podcast, host Randy Smith interviews Michael Wagman, co-founder of Nimble Capital. They discuss Michael's journey from being a digital nomad to building a successful real estate portfolio focused on multifamily development. Michael shares insights on the current market cycle, his experiences in sales, and the importance of systems in business. He also talks about his future plans in real estate development and offers advice for new investors.

Keywords

real estate, multifamily, investment, capital raising, entrepreneurship, market trends, personal growth, sales experience, development projects, passive income

Summary

In this episode, Doug Clark emphasizes the dual importance of mindset and action in achieving personal goals. He argues that while action is necessary, a positive mindset is equally crucial for success. Doug encourages listeners to take immediate action towards their dreams, regardless of their current circumstances, and to nurture their minds with positive thoughts. He provides practical suggestions for taking action and emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself to overcome limitations and create a fulfilling life.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Mindset and Action

03:19 Taking Action: Steps to Move Forward

05:49 outro

Keywords

mindset, action, personal development, self-belief, goal setting, motivation, life planning, overcoming limitations, positive thinking, self-improvement

Joe Rinderknecht is the founder of Upgrade Partners Capital (Fund of Funds) and Cowboy Capital (GP Sponsor), a real estate investment firm specializing in acquiring and operating value-add apartment buildings under 100 units. He focuses on deals within a four-hour drive of his home, ensuring hands-on management and strong market expertise. His latest acquisition, a 54-unit property built in 1998, has seen a $2.5 million value increase in just six months through strategic improvements and operational efficiencies.With nearly a decade of experience in commercial real estate, Joe has owned and invested in approximately 600 apartment units across Montana, Idaho, Utah, Texas, and Ohio. His background includes property management, constructions management, asset management for large portfolios, and capital raising for various deals.Joe earned his BS in Finance with a minor in Real Estate and Entrepreneurship from Utah State University in 2018. He also runs Tiny's Tribe, a 506(c) nonprofit dedicated to supporting families affected by life-changing accidents.When he's not working on real estate deals, Joe enjoys fishing, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors with his wife and three children.

Summary

In this episode, Randy Smith interviews Joe Rinderknecht, co-founder of Upgrade Partners Capital and Cowboy, discussing the current state of the multifamily real estate market, challenges faced by passive investors, and Joe's personal journey from ranching to real estate. Joe shares insights on building a multifamily portfolio, focusing on sub-100 unit investments, and strategic approaches to deal sourcing. He emphasizes the importance of construction management and personal connections in real estate transactions, while also providing educational resources for aspiring investors.

Chapters

00:00 Market Dynamics and Passive Investment Challenges

06:20 Joe Rinderknecht's Journey and Background

12:56 Real Estate Ventures and Lessons Learned

18:52 Navigating Construction Challenges and Fund Strategies

21:19 Exploring Fund Structures and Deal Flow

23:21 Market Focus and Asset Selection

26:54 Navigating Tertiary Markets and Local Resources

27:37 The Niche of Sub-100 Unit Properties

32:43 Educational Resources and Learning Opportunities

37:47 Due Diligence in Construction Management

40:48 Personal Growth and Investment Strategies

42:39 outro

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Keywords

real estate, passive investing, multifamily, market trends, investment strategies, construction management, deal sourcing, education, investment portfolio, financial growth