7 Years in Pharma until I Escaped the 9 to 5 | I Help 249+ People Build Financial Freedom ($29.3M+) by Passively Investing in Multifamily Real Estate

Concerned with the sobering reality that you're not on track to provide for your family.

No one to turn to develop a strategy to help. I get it, and that's why I am here for you.

Everywhere you look, people appeared to have mastered their finances, and yet no one talks about money or helps. 

Being in this situation is confusing.

In 2015, I was confused.

I had an average income...

and a high expense lifestyle. 

I viewed it as normal.

I was not on track.

Why do I share this?

Because it's a honest, simple and powerful realization that most people don't reach.

This reality is true for a lot of us, irrespective of income.

I say this backed by anecdotal evidence.

Everyday I help people redefine their relationship with money. 

I've done it for 291+ people. 

Making them $20.2M+ since 2018.

Growing their net worth by $35.2M+.

And the average client has a similar story. 

Looking to make money, but doesn't know where to start.

And no time to figure it out.

And so, I help people build financial security.

Using the tips and tricks that I've done for myself. 

I help people that are: 

- Tired of paying too much in taxes
- Confused with how to manage their investments
- Unsure how to grow their business
- Flustered with the myriad of options   
- Overwhelmed with where to start

Nothing is more important to me than adding value to those around me. This is why I actively work to understand pain points and how to turn them into the foundation for people to scale. 

What I do isn't for everyone. If you think we might be a good fit, contact me:

📞 https://calendly.com/mustafal/15min

📧 ml@velocecapital.com

Disclaimer: Please note that past performance is not indicative of future results and investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. There are no guarantees in any investment. Content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any forward-looking statements or forecasts are based on assumptions and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such statements.

Before investing, carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment product or strategy. Each investor's financial situation and investment objectives are unique, and the information contained herein may not be suitable for all investors. Prospective investors should consult with a financial or legal professional to determine the appropriateness of any investment in light of their individual circumstances.

Mustafa Ladha

If you’re in your 20s or 30s

This is huge

Your biggest asset isn’t your income

It’s your time

And time + leverage is powerful

You don’t need ten properties

You need one

One property bought intelligently

One that cash flows 

This one decision changes your trajectory

Because real estate has a superpower

Something rare

You can use other peoples’ money responsibly

That leverage accelerates ownership

Most people delay this move

They want perfect clarity

Perfect timing

Perfect confidence

But momentum doesn’t come from perfection

It comes from starting

If you looked back 5 years from now

What would you wish you had bought today?

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From 9–5 to Financial Freedom | Helping 291+ People | Generated $20.2M+ in Passive Income & Increased Net Worth by $35.2M+ | Learn How You Can Too

Everyone loves free things

So how do you design life that way?...

I got upgraded to a Mercedes GLE

Paid $50 

Got $275 in value

Fun perk 

But here's why it actually matters for building wealth

After helping 291+ investors deploy $64M+ into real estate 

I've noticed something:

The investors who move fastest don’t just have money 

They have the total stack 

Things like the ‘right’ credit cards

Credit cards aren't about the perks 

They're about what those perks represent:

→ Credit history that gets you approved for better financing terms
→ A profile that signals reliability 
→ The discipline to use debt as a tool, not a trap

One of my clients came to me last year wanting to invest $100K.

Great income 

Weak savings 

He used a line of credit

A high risk strategy that we talked though

We structured a fixed income strategy

It covered the cost of the line of credit

He invested the rest in a high growth opportunity

3 Years Later...

He’s happy he took the risk

He leveraged the bank’s money to make a huge time weighted return

But all investments carry risk

And when it came to investing I had to caution him on the risks associated with this approach 

This move helped him strategically wealth building

The people that build wealth

Look for ways to be efficient 

Ways to build in asymmetric risk 

To get more out of life...

When done right

You look back at life and appreciate the grand design

Here's what's quietly draining your wealth.

It's not inflation.

It's not bad timing.

It's the need to feel certain before you act.

One investor told me 

He'd been ‘waiting for the right time’ for 3 years.

He wasn't lazy.

He wasn't even cautious.

He was protecting himself from the feeling of being wrong.

In the meantime he lost 8%

His $100 is now only worth $92

But he did nothing wrong

In fact 80% of people approach life the same way

They keep their money in the bank

Making 0% a year

That's what most people don't admit.

Waiting isn't about timing.

It's about avoiding regret before it happens.

And along the way we’re losing money 

Without realizing

So the questions loop:

‘What if the market drops?’

‘What if I pick the wrong opportunity?’

‘What if it doesn't work out?’

Each question feels like due diligence.

But really it's just fear dressed up as logic.

And we get caught up in analysis paralysis

Here's the part no one talks about:

The mental cost compounds too.

Every month you wait, 

You're not just losing opportunities.

You're reinforcing the belief that you're not ready.

That story gets heavier over time.

So what's the answer?

Not ‘just take action.’

That's reckless.

The answer is to reduce fragility.

Build a structure where being wrong doesn't break you:

1. Strong reserves 

So surprises don't derail you

2. Conservative assumptions 

So you're not betting on best-case

3. Trusted partners 

So you're not figuring it out alone

When the downside is manageable, 

Fear loses its grip.

And you stop needing certainty to move.

So if you've been telling yourself 

‘I'll start when I feel ready’.

Ask yourself this:

What is that story costing you? 

Not just financially, but mentally?

If you want help building a structure that makes the first step feel safe, 

Comment ‘READY’

It’s really that easy

You just need to take one step

Show me your calendar

And your circle...

80% chance I can tell how the next year will go

Because your results aren’t just about effort

They’re about what your week keeps reinforcing

What you talk about repeatedly

What you tolerate

What gets celebrated

What gets ignored

In a conversation on my podcast

Junaid Ahmed 📹 shared a simple idea worth passing on 

The people you spend time around shape your standards

Often more than your goals do

That’s why two people can want the same thing...

And get completely different outcomes

One person has a room that normalizes progress

The other has a room that normalizes excuses

So here’s the practical move:

Don’t just set a goal

Set a room

A community 

A circle

A space where the behavior you want is already normal

Because when the standard is higher

Consistency stops being a personality trait

It becomes part of the environment

If I looked at your calendar this week, what room are you in most often?

Comment one room that’s helping you (or one you need)

Bonus: tag someone who’s raised your standards just by how they operate.

You’re doing everything right

So are you tense?

You earn

You work hard

You’re responsible

But there’s a quiet tension underneath it all

Because deep down, you know one thing:

If this one income stopped

Life would get hard very fast

That’s not a money problem

That’s a design problem

And design isn’t really about investments

It’s about meaning

A meaningful life needs space

Space to breathe

Space to choose

Space to slow down without fear

That space only exists when your life isn’t dependent on one pillar

Some people rely completely on a paycheck

Some make great money but have zero freedom

Some know they need a plan

But keep delaying it

Different situations

Same root issue

And procrastination is what keeps it in place

Not because people are lazy

Because planning forces decisions

Decisions create responsibility

Responsibility feels heavy

So ‘later’ becomes the strategy

Until time passes anyway

Diversification is how you remove single points of failure from your life

Not to get rich

To create freedom

Because freedom is what gives success its meaning

Be honest with yourself

Where are you right now?

The answer usually tells you what needs to

Adam was fired...

Along with half his team

Replaced by someone that doesn’t need food

Doesn’t need sleep

And can improve efficiency beyond belief

When I read something like Block firing ~50% of their staff

Citing how they’re going to invest in AI instead

It feels like the writing is on the wall

It feels like we all need to take radical accountability

If AI replaces jobs as we know them

We will pivot

We will survive

Life will go on

But there will be pain in the market

When people say 7 streams of income

This is why

Because the market is always in flux

It’s always changing

And yet

Only 50-65% of people invest in the stock market

Only 10-20% of people invest in real estate

The top 20% of people in America are worth $890k+

But people don’t have financial freedom

Realistically most people I work with are aspiring to get to $3-5M

So how do you bridge the gap?

There honestly isn’t a one size fits all answer

You can follow the tried and tested path...

Save more than you earn

But most people don’t get there by saving

They get there by following the path of least resistance

By investing

That’s what I did 

Until I quit at 29

I was offered a promotion ~6 months before I quit

And honestly, this promotion didn’t materially change my financial health 

What was a modest ~6% salary increase going to change

What was a new title going to change

It wasn’t creating the freedom I was looking for

I got that freedom by diligently investing and growing for 7 years

I say this to say that there is only one person that can build you financial freedom

It’s you

Everything else is designed to help build you up

Or knock you down

What steps will you take?

Here’s the truth

A bad market won't kill your portfolio

A broken plan with no backup will

That's what happened on one of our opportunities

We strategically bought the land 

We rezoned the land

We pushed approvals through

Then the city came back with something unexpected

Approved for 11 units instead of 15

Four units gone

Just like that

I remember staring at the numbers

Running the same model three times

Hoping it would somehow change

It didn't

Most people panic here

Or they force the original plan and hope the market saves them

We did neither

We sat with it for a week

Then made the call

Instead of 15 one-bedrooms

We shifted the unit mix

Studios, 1-beds, 2-beds

That pivot protected income

We ended up making about $300 more per unit than expected

Then the second punch landed

Cap rates expanded

The market moved from sub 5% to around 5.5%

Asset value came in about ~$1M less than projected

At this point most operators start ‘explaining’

We focused on outcomes

We sold our equity and returned 65% to investors in 24 months

A 32.5% IRR

Was it the original plan?

No

We targeted a 1.25x refi

For every $100k invested, the investor gets $125k back tax-free

And still owns the asset

That didn't happen

But here's the part most people miss

Real estate isn't about being right

It's about managing risk

And maximizing value

Creating options

And always having a clean way out

Those investors made a 1.65X 

More liquidity in a similar time frame

What's the tightest spot you've navigated in an opportunity?

I'd love to hear how you handled it

80% of people talk about financial freedom like it’s a destination

Here’s why only 20% actually become financially free

Here’s the reality

Financial freedom is a lifestyle built from repeated action

1. How you manage money when nobody is watching

2. How you build income that doesn’t depend on a single paycheck

3. How you stay consistent when life gets busy

Most people don’t fail because they’re lazy

They fail because:

1. They don’t make success inevitable 
2. They don’t have a system
3. They’re trying to build alone

No structure 

No feedback loop 

No one to call out the excuses

They’re stuck in an endless loop:

Plan → Motivation → Stall → Guilt → Reset

The thing that changed everything isn’t finding ‘new information’

It was getting clear on the system

Learn → Apply → Review → Repeat

That’s why we’ve built the MFJ community 

A room for people who want more than inspiration

Inside, we focus on

Practical monetization paths (how skills turn into income)

The foundations that create options (credit, discipline, strategy)

Accountability so you don’t disappear when it gets uncomfortable

If you’re serious about building freedom 

Not just posting about it 

(or reading about it)

Come join us

The view is better on the inside

80% of people won’t click the link in the comment section

20% of people will

And their lives will change

Which are you?

This is crazy...

But I see it all the time

Two people can look at the same opportunity

One feels calm

One feels anxious

Not because the opportunity changed

Because their life is different

Example:

Adam has $250k liquid

Stable income

No big expenses

Omar has $500k liquid

But also a mortgage

And private school tuition

So a chunk of this money is already ‘spoken for’

They both want to invest $75k

On paper, both can afford it

But life doesn’t pay out like it does on paper

One feels relaxed

The other knows he’s taking more risk than he should

Both understand that they need to invest to provide for their families

Both understand that investments carry risk 

That’s why I like asking a simple question before investing:

How much of my liquid cash is going into one opportunity?

Here’s a helpful guideline:

When one investment is 10–20% of your cash...

It usually feels easier to invest

You don’t overthink every update

You don’t need perfection

You give the plan room to work

That’s the quiet benefit of building the right strategic approach 

Investing done right builds wealth…

Without taking over your headspace

I’m curious…

What percent do you invest in one opportunity?

My client made 30.14% 

Here's what he did next

He pulled out all his money

Because of missed expectations

Honestly, I get it

And it's painful to admit I didn't deliver

But the reality is more nuanced

This client wanted more regular touch points

Not a newsletter or a LinkedIn post

1 on 1 interaction

I can't fault him for that

He also wanted a 20% return a year

Not 30.14% over two years

That's a communication gap

I can't legally promise a specific return

He expected something I couldn't deliver, 

Something I can’t imagine committing to

So clearly I messed up when we first spoke

So here's what I did:

-Sent him the steps to cash out.
-Asked for feedback.
-Sent steps I'll take to address it.

I don't usually ask for feedback

I don't like probing and bothering people

It's their money

They can take it back whenever they want

This bias is stopping me from growing

The goal isn't just to ‘get good results’

The goal is alignment between results and expectations

Most frustration in investing doesn't come from the numbers

It comes from unclear expectations:

How often will we talk?

What does ‘good performance’ actually look like over time?

What does this strategy feel like in the slow months?

I normally avoid probing questions

Avoid reaching out uninvited

I like to protect people’s space

But silence doesn't always feel like respect

Sometimes it feels like being left alone with uncertainty

And uncertainty is dangerous

It’s where people start making emotional decisions...

Even when the investment is performing

The ‘miss’ here wasn't effort

It was alignment

And I'd rather learn it now than repeat it 10 times

Have you ever left an investment that was working...

Because it didn't feel right?

If your real estate plan feels ‘comfortable’

You should be nervous

Mohammed Quadri, MD, MBA, SSBB said this on my podcast

‘Leadership isn’t doing what people want

It’s pointing to the direction they don’t want to go’

That’s how I help people too

It’s not my job to push an opportunity

It’s my job to guide 

Even when the answer is:

Not this opportunity

Not this timing

Not this leverage

Not this level of risk

That can sound crazy in a world that rewards transactions

Because sometimes it means I step back

Even when I could push it through

Even when it would be easier for me

Even when it’s a clean ‘yes’

But I sleep better

Because the long game is trust

And peace of mind may feel expensive

But it is really invaluable

What’s the uncomfortable truth you’re avoiding in your real estate plan right now?

I Invest In And Support Healthcare AI From Innovation To Adoption | For Founders, Funders & Physician-Innovators

Hey

This is why you’re stuck

You keep asking:

Should I persevere?

or

Should I pivot?

But that question is almost impossible to answer in real time

Because you’re asking it after you’re tired

Stressed

And in your head

...

On our podcast, Rob Durant pointed out something that just clicks

The real leverage is deciding before you’re emotional

So here’s the habit

Write down why you started 

While you still have perspective.

Then add a few ‘decision rules’

What does success look like in 6–12 months?

What evidence would tell me to keep going?

What evidence would tell me to pivot?

What’s a non-negotiable I won’t trade away?

Later

When things get messy

You don’t have to guess

You can look at what you wrote and say

‘This is still true - I stay’
 
Or

This changed - I pivot

That’s the difference between a strategic pivot 

And a panic move

If you’re deciding between pushing and pivoting right now

What’s the one signal you’re watching most closely?

Like Walt, I’m a bumblebee - bringing together ideas, perspectives, and people.

We don’t learn about money in school

We learn it on LinkedIn

[There’s a lot wrong with this...]

Here's what nobody tells us about investing

Volatility doesn't just change our portfolio

It changes our behavior

[And people don’t talk about this]

We're told to invest for the long term

Don't time the market

But here's what actually happens

People buy when stock are high

[After a big run-up in a bull market

We get hit with fear of missing out

FOMO]

Then sell after a big drop

[Once again

We make decisions based on emotion]

Not because we’re dumb

Because uncertainty is stressful

Crypto is the cleanest example

Bitcoin can make us huge gains and losses over short periods of time

That level of volatility is hard to sit through

So people do the worst possible thing

We turn a long-term plan into a short-term emotional decision

After helping 291+ investors generate $20.2M+ in passive income

I've seen this pattern constantly

Here’s what I mean

One client came to me after panic-selling

He lost $40K 

Not to the market

But to his own reaction

The stock recovered 3 months later

He didn't

The best investors I know don't have nerves of steel

They have a tried and tested strategy

Build by a solid team

A team that they’ve vetted

The core of that strategy is simple

Assets they can actually hold long term

That's the real edge

Not picking the ‘best’ investment

Picking one you won't abandon when things get uncomfortable

Before the next dip

Write your rules

If you can’t explain why you’ll hold it during a drop

You shouldn’t own it

What’s one rule you follow when markets get ugly?

P.S.

I buy when the market is down

It’s my version of black friday

I live for this

[And you would too...]

It’s the reason I get up in the morning

I got a call late one night

Let’s call him ‘Adam’

He has a senior role in tech

With a high income

On paper

Everything looked perfect

But his first sentence wasn't about money

‘My son just asked if I'm coming to his game tomorrow

I told him, 'I'll try.'

He said, 'You always say that’

This line, from a child to a parent, hurts

We do everything for our kids...

Honestly, 

I've heard this story so many times

From executives

Business owners

Founders

‘I'll slow down after this project’

‘Once I hit X, then I'll have more time’

But the target keeps moving

And the people we say we're ‘doing it for’

Get what's left of us

Not the best of us

His story hit close to home

Adam is essentially asking 

‘How do I earn more?’

‘How can I slow down
without everything falling apart?’

The answer was simple

The right real estate strategy that makes Adam enough to retire

So Adam makes money, whether he checks his phone or not

It wasn't overnight

But slowly…

The feeling shifted from ‘If I stop, it all stops’

To ‘I can choose my pace and still be okay’

The real win for Adam wasn't a spreadsheet

It was showing up to his son's midweek game

Phone face down

Fully present

For the first time in years

Same career

Completely different relationship with time

Is your life designed to support the life you want

Or is it structured to starve you of the freedom you crave

We can all be Adam

Book a call to learn more

This is intense, maybe a bit crazy

But there’s an element of wisdom, a bit of value

If you’re not willing to outwork everyone

Don’t ask the world to trust you

Here’s why:

Helping people isn’t a ‘content plan’

It’s a responsibility

And responsibility has a cost

You wake up earlier

You do the extra reps

You take the harder conversations

You keep going when it’s boring

That’s why passion matters

Not because it’s cute

Because passion is the only thing that makes ‘hard’ sustainable

On my podcast, Owen Beiny explained it using credit card points

He basically said:

If you love the craft, 

You stop fearing competition 

Because nobody can outwork obsession

That clicked for me 

Because it’s exactly how I think about money

Most people don’t lose financially because they’re ‘bad with money’

They lose because they never build the habits that require repetition

Tracking spending weekly

Understanding risk (not just returns)

Learning the difference between income and wealth

This is why I’m passionate about what I do

I’m not here to ‘motivate’ you

I’m here to help you get money clarity 

And build a system you can follow for years 

And if passive real estate fits

Use it to compound

Because results don’t come from intensity

They come from consistency you can sustain

If you want help building that system

Message me

Founder and CEO at The Points Partner

80% of people obsess over upside.

The 20% that don’t, 

They protect their future

Making money lures us in

Managing risk enables us to build the foundation

The foundation to exponentially grow

Here are 4 simple steps I use:

1. Assume delays and surprises.

Don’t treat them as bad luck.

Treat them as normal.

Part of the process

2. Stress test the numbers.

Change your assumptions

Assume higher costs and longer timelines.

If it only works in the perfect scenario,

It’s not for me

3. Look at human behavior.

How have the people involved behaved when things went wrong in the past?

Character is part of risk management.

4. Ask: would I still do it if this is how it played out?

If the 'bad' version of the investment

Still leaves you standing,
 
You can breathe easier.


This isn’t about pessimism. 

It’s about protecting your future self.

If you want help pressure-testing the downside

In your current plan,

DM me review

And we can walk through it.

Upside is easy to love

Downside is what decides if you keep the win

Here’s my 4-step check

4 Easy Steps To Protect Downside

Everything has a cost

Especially success...

Everyone chases success

We want to look impressive

We want to be paid well

We want applause

But there’s a version of success that costs too much

And it quietly takes your sleep

Multifamily can do that

Because the work never ends

It just changes form

As you scale It becomes:

1. Refi pressure
2. Capex surprises
3. Insurance spikes
4. Leasing risk
5. Investor expectations
6. A calendar you can’t control
7. And the list goes on

So you adapt

You carry it

You become 'the reliable one'

But reliability turns into identity

And identity turns into a cage

You stop asking the real question:

Is this what freedom is supposed to look like?

Most people don’t burn out from one big problem

They burn out from constant vigilance

Always scanning

Always bracing

Always one step away from 'if this goes wrong...

That’s not wealth

That’s survival with nicer spreadsheets

This is why I’m sharing Freedom Isn’t Free

A live workshop hosted by Faisal Masud Ensaun

It’s for the person who’s growing…

But wants to grow with more clarity, calm, and control

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin

Even while you’re 'winning'

You’re not alone

Details in the first comment

Everyone talks about AI

But nobody explains this part

It feels like a toy

Something ‘smart people are playing with’

Smartphones were like that

In 2004–2005, 

Basically 0% of the world used a smartphone

Today it’s roughly 70–80%

And it didn’t just change communication

It changed every aspect of our lives

Work

Learning

Investing

Generative AI is in that early same early stage 

Only ~10–20% use ChatGPT monthly

Most people ‘try it'

Very few rebuild their lives around it

Here’s the part people miss:

Technology changes how we live

But it doesn’t change the truth of building wealth

Here’s what I mean

Real estate has been creating wealth for generations

Own a physical asset

Let time do the heavy lifting

Let income + appreciation compound

But only about 10–12% of U.S. adults invest directly in real estate.

That’s not because everyone else is broke.

It’s because most people never get clarity

They never learn how to build wealth 

They don’t know where to start

If you’re curious how to build wealth 

Comment below or DM me

I’ve helped 291+ people make $20,200,000+ in real estate

What’s the hardest part of investing in real estate?


1. Finding an opportunity 
2. Figuring out if it’s a good opportunity
3. Actually turning that projection into real money

Drew Breneman

Protect & Grow Capital With Our Multifamily Investment Opportunities For Family Offices, Fund Managers, & High-Net-Worth Individuals

When I was 19, I bought my first property.

I didn’t realize it then, but that little duplex changed my life.

Now, 20+ years later, I’ve sourced, capitalized, and closed on over $250 million of properties for my firm, Breneman Capital.

I’ve worked closely with investors - family offices, PE, Fund of Funds, RIAs, and individuals - to help them generate income and wealth through multifamily real estate.

The old real estate adage says, “You make your money when you buy in real estate.”

I agree with that - but I think it’s only 50% true.

The other 50% comes in the execution. And I’ve built Breneman Capital through that lens. 

Our realized investments have produced an average gross return of:

• 27% IRR
• 2.3x equity multiple
• 14% average annual cash yield

This is across 14 full-cycle investments with an average hold period of 6 years.

In my opinion, our longest-standing investor relationships come down to 2 factors:

1) Our deals have performed well.
2) We focus on giving investors the best possible experience.

Real estate can be complex. But we like to keep our goals for our investors simple.

- Strong returns.
- Great experiences.
- World-class communication.

Here is what our investor said about us:

✅ Tim B.
“My wife and I wanted passive real estate heading into retirement. We’ve invested in multiple Breneman Capital deals and have been very pleased. They’ve helped us preserve and grow our nest egg without day-to-day work, and I recommend them to friends and co-workers.”

✅ Jim H.
“I’ve invested with Drew for 10+ years across 20+ projects. He’s the most knowledgeable real estate operator I’ve met and someone I trust. These investments have built long-term wealth for my family, with solid returns.”

If you’d like to set up an exploratory call, feel free to click the link in my Featured Section.

Founder & CEO

I started Breneman Capital in 2005 at age 19 to purchase my first rental properties and grow my own wealth. 

Today, we work with individual investors, Family Offices, PE, Fund of Funds, RIAs, etc., and allow them to invest alongside us in the best opportunities that we find (and have been for nearly 20 years).

Invest with us: https://www.breneman.com/invest

High-paying jobs keep you broke.

Yes, even if you're making $750,000+.

For a lot of people, high salaries become a pair of Golden Handcuffs.

• Expensive zip code
• Luxury car payments 
• Country club dues

You’re trapped.

And you can’t leave your job because your $75,000/mo lifestyle depends on your $62,500/mo income. 

So it's not really the job that might keep this person's bank account near $0. It's the lifestyle creep that some allow to happen.

A high-paying job with the conscious choice to not always increase spending as income increases is a powerful tool.

The real wealth builders are living below their means, saving, and investing. 

A good question to ask yourself:

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲?

Founder @ Breneman Capital | Passive Multifamily Investments That Protect & Grow Capital | 21+ years in Real Estate | Trusted by 100+ Accredited Investors

When you see people successful in real estate, it's usually not: "They went to Harvard for undergrad and MBA.”

It's:

"Yeah, that guy bought a duplex when he was like 22. Then just kept buying. Now he apparently owns 800 units. I think he's from Iowa or something."

Most millionaire investors I work with have zero interest in private jets or Lamborghinis.

A lot of my calls with new investors look like this:

"Hey Drew.

"I've been maxing out my 401(k) & IRA for years. I'm always trying to figure out what the best option is for the other assets I have. Can you tell me a little bit more about what you do and how real estate works?"

Of course, everyone is different.

But nearly all my investors have a few things in common:

-> They're savers.
-> They don't care about flashy things.
-> They're willing to delay satisfaction.

In other words:

They focus on building wealth more than showing it. 

--

P.S. If you'd like to explore investing alongside us at Breneman Capital, schedule a call with our team here: https://lnkd.in/gWFK2VmV

10 pieces of real estate advice I wish someone had given me when I was 20:

1. Start before you're ready.

I bought my first duplex at 19. I didn't know what IRR meant. My entire strategy was: If it's cash flow positive, my worst-case is holding it long-term and receiving cash flow each month.

2. Buy what's in front of you.

I was a student at UW-Madison, so I bought student rentals in Madison. My market study was polling friends about what they were paying.

3. Your W2 is education on someone else's dime...

I worked at a multifamily developer, then a retail developer. I knew nothing about commercial property when I started. I learned everything there, and I wasn't in a rush to leave while I was still learning.

4. ...So build while you work.

From 2008 to 2011, I worked three jobs simultaneously: my W2, self-managing my Madison rentals, and buying deals with my first investor.

5. Quit when your job starts costing you money.

By deal five, I'd already exceeded my W2 income. I still didn't quit until deal six was under contract. 

The math was simple: Could I make more reallocating my 9-to-5 hours to the next deal? When the answer was yes, I left.

6. Optimize for learning, not salary.

Comparing a $65K job to a $75K job? When you're 40, that extra $10K you passed up won't matter. What you learned is what compounds.

7. Get to your spot.

On that note, if you know where you want to go with your career, prioritize experience that will get you there. If you want to go out on your own someday, don't take a job as an analyst at a rating agency. Be a broker, get in the mix on actual transactions.

8. Periods of discipline feel longer than they are.

I lived in places under $1,000/month into my late 20s. At 26, I moved back in with my parents to extend my runway. 

At the time, it felt like a lot of sacrifice. But looking back from now that I'm in my 40s, it was all just a blip.

9. Get creative with financing.

I owner-occupied my first duplex for a lower down payment and better rate. You can still do FHA loans at 3.5% down on a 1-4 unit. Someone I know went 50/50 with her sister-in-law. One qualified for the loan, the other brought the cash.

10. The compounding happens later.

I bought $2 million of property as a college student. Same strategy on repeat: Buy, increase operating income, improve value, refi, buy again. 

By 2019, my first investor and I had built that into $80+ million.

--

P.S. What advice would you give to yourself when you were 20?

1 major reason you should invest in real estate: 
 
What other investment gives you 4 ways to make money?  
 
𝟭. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 
 
You collect your rent, you pay your expenses, you have money left over. 
 
That money left over is your cash flow.  
 
It’s critical to you focus on your cash flow (especially as a new investor). 
 
Beyond just income, a strong cash flow can: 
 
✅ Act as a buffer against risks. 
✅ Help you secure more favorable financing. 
✅ Provide flexibility for reinvesting in future properties. 
 
(And that’s just the start).  
 
𝟮. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 
 
You know how your parents bought their house for $79,000 in 1984? 
 
And how that same house sold for $453,000 in 2026? 
 
That’s building appreciation.  
 
There’s a lot more to unpack with building appreciation, but that's the gist. 
 
𝟯. 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 
 
Most investors take out a loan to buy a property. 
 
You can take the rental income from your tenants to pay down that loan. 
 
As your loan is paid down, your equity in the property increases. 
 
Now, you own more of your property — and your rental income paid for it.  
 
𝟰. 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀)  
 
Real estate has a bunch of tax benefits (too many to break down right now). 
 
But simply put, the U.S. government wants to incentivize real estate investors. 
 
Depreciation allows you to deduct the cost of the building over its useful life as if it were an expense. 
 
A.K.A: You can reduce your taxable income thanks to your real estate.  
 
--  
 
OK. That’s a lot.  
 
(And remember, we kept it all high-level.) 
 
Questions?  
 
Just send me a DM.



Disclaimer: This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and investors may experience different results than those shown, including the loss of principal. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.

I’ll never forget walking through this building.

It was sad. And bizarre. 

During the walkthrough, the seller was visibly nervous. Her tenants kept coming up to her to give her hugs.

Turns out, she getting a divorce from her husband, and was quietly selling the building. So her tenants were consoling her about the divorce while she was simultaneously trying to sell the building in secret. 

And as I was halfway through the walkthrough, it hit me:

“They clearly want to keep this a secret... I was actually the only buyer the broker reached out to on this. And it’s going to be a hard deal to sell if it needs to be a secret.” 

The broker knew I had the reputation of being a closer — so I got the call before he even had the listing secured.

I don’t want to be insensitive by boiling down this woman’s personal situation with a lesson about how it’s important to build a reputation in real estate, but that’s the reality of this one.

In 2017, I acquired the building for $1.45MM.

By late 2018, it appraised for $2.45MM when I refinanced.

I upzoned the property, added a unit, and did a light renovation of all the other units. 

You can't really plan for things like this.

All you can do is build a reputation and protect it.

Behind every "deal" are real people navigating real-life situations.

You never know how that's going to come into play.

--

P.S. If you'd like to explore passive real estate investing, send me a message. Let's find a time to chat. 
 


Disclaimer: This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and investors may experience different results than those shown, including the loss of principal. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.

The “real estate market” doesn’t exist. 
 
(𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀.) 
 
People like to paint with broad strokes in investing. 
 
• “Everything is distressed!” 
• “The market is hot right now.” 
• “I think the bubble is about the pop.” 
 
This mindset leads to passive investors missing out on great opportunities — and harming their understanding of real estate in general. 
 
I say the “real estate market” doesn’t exist because there is no singular real estate market.  
 
If you owned a multifamily property in Chicago in 2025, you probably had a great year. 
 
If you owned a multifamily property in Las Vegas in 2025, you probably had a rough year. 
 
But if you extrapolate these experiences into your perception of the “real estate market” as a whole, you’re skewing your perception of both opportunity and risk.  
 
-> Every region is different. 
-> Every asset is different. 
-> Every deal is different. 
 
Generalizing and making assumptions in real estate is no different than making stock market decisions based on fear-mongering CNBC headlines. 
 
Yes, some areas of the country and some real estate assets are distressed. 
 
But in other areas and other asset classes, opportunity is exploding. 
 
Define your goals. 
↳ 
Do your research. 
↳ 
Find a great deal. 
 
A singular “real estate market” doesn’t exist. 
 
But the benefits of real estate certainly do. 
 
-- 
 
P.S. If you're an accredited investor looking to experience the benefits of passive real estate investing, send me a DM.

Hiring general contractors can be a nightmare.

Use these 5 tips to find the best GC possible:

1. Check qualifications

Do your homework. Google the GC’s name and business name. See if any reviews are listed on public sites. 

2. Ask for referrals

The single most important part of hiring a GC is finding one you can trust. 

Reach out to other property owners and investors to ask for referrals. If you get a referral, take that GC out for a beer or coffee to get to know them better.

3. Ask questions 

• What is your payment schedule?
• How long have you been in business?
• Will I have a dedicated team for my project?
• How and where do you store your team’s tools?
• Do you have end-of-the-day clean-up procedures? 
• How far in advance do you order materials and where are they stored?

4. Vet the team

Talk with the job site superintendent and understand their expertise and approach to solving issues with subcontractors.

Who's going to run the painting crew? It's more important to talk with them than the salesperson for the contractor's company. 

5. Protect yourself when paying

Pay through a title company to ensure the contractors get paid and you avoid mechanics liens. This way, the owner is always protected since the title company will be providing a date-down endorsement.


To see the full list of 10 tips for hiring the right GC, check out our blog here: https://lnkd.in/dtdD2NjE

I didn't come from money.

My "wealth" was education.

Some people are born into trust funds.

But both of my parents were teachers.

So my "trust fund" was an emphasis on education.

I think that ended up being more valuable in the long run.

I've talked often about how I'm a self-taught real estate investor.

• I got interested in it around age 16.
• I started reading books about real estate.
• I made the leap with my first investment at 19.

My parents instilled a love for learning in me.

Turns out, there can be a pretty big ROI in that.

Since education has always been central to my success (and since I'm my parents' kid), I wanted to take a stab at doing some educating of others myself.

I spend a lot of time on the phone with beginner real estate investors.

And I get a lot of the same questions:

-> "How does this all work?"
-> "What are the tax implications?"
-> "Why would I invest in X and not Y?"

So over the last year, I took all those questions...

And I turned them into a free educational course. 

The result?

My 5-day "Passive Real Estate Investing Mini-Course."

It's free to anyone who wants to learn.

In 5 days, you'll get 5 emails (1 email per day).

By the end of the course, you'll understand what you need to know to make your first real estate investment, including:

-> How to protect yourself from a stock market downturn with real estate income.
-> How to get ownership interest in an income-generating property.
-> How to replace tenant headaches with ACH deposits.

Education is wealth — both figuratively and literally.

Get my free course here: https://lnkd.in/dFuyGq2T

When it comes to bedtime, my kids are better negotiators than most people I've done deals with.

Bedtime starts at 7:45.

By 8:30 they've secured:

• One more story
• Water
• Different water (too cold)
• Bathroom trip
• Answers to their questions 
• One more hug
• Actually, yep, another story 
• Second bathroom trip (suspicious timing)
• One final tucking in

Each concession is small. They all feel reasonable in the moment. Then somehow I end up 45 minutes past where I started, wondering how I ended up here again. I knew it was coming. I saw it coming. And here we are. 

This is the part where I'm supposed to tie it to business.

Something about scope creep? Or protecting your boundaries in negotiations? Or how small concessions compound?

But I'd rather get some actual parenting conversation going:

How do you get your kids to stick to their nighttime routines?

Put in 5-10 years of intense work in your 20s.

Don't waste that time. 

At that age, you can be on for 18 hours a day.

I expect that if you surveyed people who grinded in their 20s and people who ignored work in favor of "finding themselves" in their 20s, you'd find very few who regretted working and quite a few who regretted falling behind financially.

Real estate GPs talk about the benefits of investing.

But *how* does it actually work? Here’s how: 

𝟭. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

At Breneman Capital, we provide an investment memo via email and through our investor portal that highlights:

• The strategy for that particular asset, including investment type and hold period.
• Renovation scope (if applicable).
• Competitive analysis.
• Expected returns.
• Market analysis.

From there, we welcome any questions.

𝟮𝗔: 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 “𝗡𝗼.” 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝟮𝗕: 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 “𝗜’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁.” 

If you don’t already have access to our investor portal, you’ll be given access.

Then, you’ll commit your investment amount (minimum $50K).

𝟯. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝟯𝗿𝗱-𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀.

Most people just have their attorney or CPA sign a letter. 

(We have a template form we can provide to help this process.)

If you don’t have a CPA or an attorney, we use a service called Parallel Markets that makes it easy to verify your status. 

𝟰. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗟𝗖 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗟𝗖.

𝟱. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:

• Subscription Agreement
• Private Placement Memorandum (PPM)
• Operating Agreement

𝟲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗟𝗖 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗟𝗖.   
 
𝟳. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆.

If you're someone who likes to:

• Get all the information.
• Study all the information.
• Understand all the information

Then you'll love my free 5-day, 5-email Passive Real Estate Investing Mini-Course.

Get access to no-frills real estate guidance for passive investors here: 
https://lnkd.in/dFuyGq2T

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Drew Breneman

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