Nick Stromwall

Principal Fund Manager @ Oak and Vine Upstream Energy Fund | Real Estate Investing, Syndications

What if we lived on 10% and gave 90% away?

I’m an entrepreneur at heart and an alternative asset fund manager who loves educating faith-driven investors on how to invest in alternative assets like real estate and energy.

Can you multiply money and impact with your current investing strategy?

I’m on a mission to build a thriving business that propels generosity—helping investors multiply their income so they can multiply their impact.

I spent 15 years in ministry developing leaders and building systems that empowered people to thrive. Now, I help people invest, train leaders, and build scalable systems that create lasting impact.

… And I help leaders get the #TripleWin:

✅ Winning at Work – Building scalable, high-impact businesses
✅ Winning with Family – Creating financial freedom for the people they love
✅ Winning in Community – Investing in opportunities that serve a greater purpose

As the VP of Efficiency and Innovation at Rise48, I focus on:
→ Streamlining systems to help our investors and team operate at peak efficiency
→ Developing scalable processes to support growth and maximize returns
→ Optimizing investor experience so they can confidently invest in high-quality, cash-flowing multifamily real estate

As the founder of Oak and Vine Capital, I focus on partnering with world-class operators in the best asset classes. I’ve served as a General Partner and Managing Partner in multiple real estate and energy syndications. 

My mission is clear:
→ To invest in businesses that create Kingdom Impact and empower investors to do the same.

Let’s multiply your resources for greater Kingdom impact.

Principal Owner

I help people multiply their money and impact through passive real estate investing in commercial real estate and alternative asset syndications.

We closed out the year together in Phoenix at the Rise48 Christmas Party  a western-themed evening that brought our teams from Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina into the same room.

Not for meetings.
Not for metrics.
But for connection.

It was a night of conversations, shared stories, and time with the people who put in the work every day behind the scenes. The kind of environment where relationships deepen, trust strengthens, and culture is reinforced in real time.

Because great execution doesn’t start in spreadsheets.
It starts with alignment.
With shared values.
With teams who believe in the mission and in one another.

I left the event reminded of how far we’ve come as an organization and how much opportunity is ahead as we continue building, growing, and serving together in the new year.

Grateful for our teams, our leaders, and every person who plays a role in the work we’re doing.

What was one meaningful moment you experienced with your team last year?

#Rise48Group #TeamCulture #LeadershipInAction #EndOfYearReflection

I help faith driven leaders multiply their money and impact through investing in alternative assets like real estate

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I was terrified raising money for my first syndication.

Not surface level nerves.
Real fear.

Can I actually do this
What if I mess this up
What if people trust me and I fail

Up to that point, I had proven one thing.

I could buy a duplex.

But a syndication is different.
It’s not just your money anymore.

It’s a responsibility.
Stewardship.
Weight.

The McKinley project forced a new internal question.

Not “is this a good deal?”
But “am I ready to lead?”

Here’s what changed everything.

I stopped trying to do it alone.

I found partners I deeply trusted.
People with track records.
People with shared values.
People who were willing to say no if something felt off.

Then I focused on three fundamentals.

→ A growing market with real demand
→ A conservative business plan
→ Offering investors something better than what they were settling for

But the real work wasn’t underwriting.

It was identity.

I had to move from
“Can I do this?”
to
“I’m responsible to do this well.”

Once that clicked, the fear didn’t disappear.

But it stopped leading.

That first raise wasn’t about scale.
It was about obedience.
Preparation.
Integrity.

Looking back, the hardest part was never raising capital.

It was believing I was ready to carry it.

This week I’m unpacking the goals behind the deals.
And the mental barriers that came before the breakthroughs.

No hype.
No theory.
Just the real progression.

If you’re staring at your next step and asking
“Can I really do this?”

You’re probably closer than you think.

Follow along this week.

And next week
I’m opening a space to go deeper
Fundamentals
Mindset
Execution

More soon.

Would you rather play it safe
Or grow into the weight of responsibility?

(I've raised capital on 17 deals, and who you partner with is most important)

 The picture is from our McKinley project, a 48-unit multifamily apartment in Iowa

My little girl is potty trained after a holiday weekend potty training blitz! We used a secret weapon that I'm happy to share with you today.

The Potty Dance Song.

After successful poops and pees in the potty
we rewarded her with a special song.

we get down low, and sing

the potty dance
the potty dance

number 1
number 2

in the potty
(then we drumroll low to high)

and pick her up while saying
WAHOO

simple, and yet the smile gives it all away.

Should we put this to music?

What were some of your potty training tricks?

The hardest part of raising $1,000,000
Was believing I was allowed to ask.

Before that, I had raised $300,000.
Five investors.

That wasn’t small to me.

That was five families creating margin.
Five people accelerating toward freedom and impact.

So I set a new goal.
Raise my first $1,000,000.

And immediately, the doubts showed up.

I was working in ministry.
Different industry.
Different network.

I kept telling myself:

I haven’t earned the right yet
I need more touchpoints
I should steward the relationship better first

That belief almost stopped everything.

Here’s what finally clicked.

Asking isn’t pressure.
It’s an invitation.

You’re not asking for a yes.
You’re asking for interest.

Yes or no
Both are acceptable.

The real responsibility isn’t the ask.

It’s being prepared if someone says yes.

→ Clear education
→ Simple systems
→ The right team
→ A next step that serves them

Once I reframed that, the fear lost its grip.

God brought the connections.
Old relationships resurfaced.
New conversations opened.

Not because I was perfect.
But because I was willing.

If you’re stuck wondering
“Have I earned the right yet?”

You probably have.

And if you want help building the systems behind the ask
I’m teaching it live on Tuesday.

How to raise your first $1,000,000
And how to think about $10,000,000 next.

Link in the comments.

Yes or no
Is the fear more about rejection
Or believing you’re allowed to ask

I wanted my first real estate deal so badly.

Not because I wanted to be “in real estate.”
Not because I cared about titles or numbers.

I wanted it because my family was growing.
And because we were mentoring students who needed support.
And generosity requires margin.

At the time, I honestly didn’t know if I had what it takes.

I questioned myself constantly.
Am I capable of this
Am I thinking too big
Am I built for this path

That first goal wasn’t syndication.
It wasn’t raising capital.
It was owning our first duplex.

But behind that small step was a much bigger vision.

How do I create more capacity to give
How do I meet the needs around me
How do I steward what God has entrusted to us well

That single duplex changed how I saw myself.
Later came syndicating deals.
Later came raising capital for trusted partners.

But the hardest part was never the deal.

It was the mental question
Do I have what it takes

This week, I’m going to start breaking down my goals
And the mental challenges I had to overcome at each stage
Not theory
Not hype
Just the real progression

If you’re setting goals right now
Start with your vision
Not the tactic

Follow along this week as I share more.

And next week
I’ll be opening up something new
A space to go deeper
A forum built around fundamentals, mindset, and execution

More soon.

𝘗.𝘚 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘧?

Most capital raisers talk about strategy.
The ones who scale focus on results.

That’s why we built the Fundamental Forum, a live working session for capital raisers and fund managers who want real frameworks they can apply immediately.

In recent conversations, we’ve walked through:
→ The blueprint to raise your first $1,000,000 with clarity and structure
→ How to build the systems required to scale toward $10,000,000+
→ Messaging, follow-up cadence, and relationship-driven capital flows
→ Lessons from peers who are actually in the market right now

Our next session is Tuesday, January 13th at 12 PM MST / 2 PM EST.

If you’re ready to move from effort to outcomes, this is the room to be in.

👉 Register here to save your seat: https://lnkd.in/gBU2eNQq

#FundamentalForum #CapitalRaising #FundManagers #ScalingCapital #Rise48Equity

Today we're hosting this month's Fundamental Forum - 

a live conversation for capital raisers who want to scale with intention, structure, and execution.

This session is centered around one theme:
Goal Setting That Works
 

We’ll walk through:

• Building a repeatable, scalable system

• Reverse engineering your capital raise

• Investor conversion funnel

If you’re raising capital, you don’t need more noise.

You need clarity, alignment, and momentum.

We go live today at 12 PM MST / 2 PM EST.

👉 Join the session here: https://lnkd.in/gq2qidYb

#CapitalRaising #FundManagers #InvestorRelations #FundamentalForum #Rise48Equity

Implement this small hack and get more done in your day 👇

mind dump or mind purge all of your open loops into a trusted system.

I like asana.

Block out 30 minutes today and do this.

𝗗𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿:
• tasks
• ideas
• projects
• things you've delegated or been delegated
• sticky notes on your desk, fridge, etc.
• notes on your desktop
• emails you've been saving in your inbox
• notes in your notes app
• voice memos
• slack messages
• think personal and work!

→ I feel so free after getting everything down and out ... a trusted system really helps.

This mental space gives me more capacity to win at work, with family, and in my community!

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲?

Comment below 👇

P.S. - Please repost ♻️ if you found this useful

p.s.s. if you are local in Minneapolis and want to learn more I'm teaching my business systems early tomorrow, send me a DM

Closed! Apartments of Westgrove in Raleigh, NC Rebranding as “Rise Westgrove”

To learn how you can invest in multifamily properties like this, set up a call with us on our website.

#multifamilyinvesting #Arizonamultifamily

Nassau Investments is a private equity firm specializing in value-add hotels and apartment complexes. Its principals and partners have acquired over 3,000 apartment units since 1999. Our hotel operator-partner has over 5,000 hotel keys (worth over $1.5 BILLION) under management.

We succeed with apartments and hotels through making cost-effective value-add improvements. This leads to substantial increase in the market value of our investments. We are able to achieve very low cost renovation, construction and property managent by being vertically integrated. 

Nassau Investment's strategic partners allow us to acquire hotels and apartments all over the United States.

To know more about our company, our track record and how we succeed, download our Pitch Deck. To know more about our CEO, Michael Ealy, listen to the various podcast interviews (links below). To get an idea of our most recent deals, read our CEO's blog posts (links below).

Michael Ealy

She was managing properties for other people. Now she owns over $1M worth of her own.

This is Nikki. She started with zero properties and built a seven-figure real estate portfolio from one off-market deal.

Five units. Bought it for $140K. Rents were around $650. She didn’t gut the place or do a major rehab. She simply raised under-market rents to $850, $1050, even $1150. That one move increased her cash flow and equity at the same time.

She found the deal off market, skipped the bidding wars, and bought from a seller who was just ready to let it go. No fancy tricks. Just solid vision, smart positioning, and long-term thinking.

Five years later, that same deal looks like a steal. Properties like it are now going for $300K to $400K.

Most people wait for the perfect time. She made her time perfect by executing with what she had.

This is what happens when you stop managing someone else’s portfolio and start building your own.

What’s stopping you from making your first move?


#RealEstateInvesting #MultifamilyRealEstate #WealthBuilding #HouseHacking #OffMarketDeals

Helping you to actively or passively invest in apartments and hotels

She’s lived rent-free for 10 years and walked away with $400,000 in equity. From one deal.

Not a syndication. Not a big portfolio. Just one smart move.

She bought a duplex for $100K. Moved into one unit. Rented out the other.

Over the years, she put about $90K into renovations. Today, that property is worth over $600K. She’s all in for $200K and up $400K. While living rent-free the entire time.

Let that sink in.

This is why house hacking is one of the most underrated plays in real estate. It’s not complicated. It doesn’t require a huge team or fancy financing. Just vision, strategy, and the patience to let time do its thing.

When I asked what made her do it, her answer hit different. She said, “I always wanted to live my life and not let life live me.” That mindset is the difference maker.

Most people are stuck trying to survive the cost of living. Meanwhile, she used real estate to erase one of her biggest expenses and build long-term wealth at the same time.

You don’t need to start with millions. You don’t even need to buy 10 doors. You just need one deal that puts you on the path.

Thinking about house hacking in 2026? Already doing it? Drop your experience or questions below. Someone’s next move might start with your comment.


#realestateinvesting #househacking #financialfreedom #wealthbuilding #multifamilyrealestate

Most people don’t have a money problem. They have a “what they do with money” problem.

Shoutout to Adnan Saani Dangotey for dropping this reminder.

Buying assets isn’t just about wealth, it’s about freedom. Assets give you options. Liabilities steal your time, energy and peace.

2026 doesn’t have to be another year of hustle with nothing to show for it.
Make it the year you shift how you think, what you own, and how you move.

Stack assets, simplify your life, and let your money start working harder than you do.

Let’s get intentional this year. What’s one asset you’re focused on building in 2026?

👇Drop it in the comments.

#FinancialFreedom #WealthBuilding #MindsetShift #RealEstateInvestor #OwnershipMatters

Most investors don’t fail because they’re lazy. They fail because they’re focused on the wrong things.

In apartment investing, it’s easy to stay busy and still fall behind. 

Underwriting deals all week, jumping on calls, updating spreadsheets, managing property issues. But activity isn’t the same as progress.

When we really looked at what moved the needle in our business, it came down to a few key things. Tight capital strategy. Clear deal filters. Operators who execute. Once we stopped trying to do everything and focused on those, everything changed. Fewer distractions. Better decisions. Real growth.

We’re breaking it all down later at 12pm EST during our live training: How to Accomplish More in 12 Weeks Than Most People Do in 12 Months.

Comment 12 Weeks and I’ll send you the link.

#multifamilyinvesting #realestatesyndication #apartmentinvesting #capitalraising #commercialrealestate

The reason most people never hit their goals? They're using the wrong calendar.

Annual goals look good on paper, but they trick your brain into thinking there’s time to waste.

You tell yourself you’ll start next month... then suddenly it’s December.

Here’s what we learned:
-Working in 12-week cycles creates urgency.
-It gives you shorter deadlines, tighter feedback loops, and way more focus.

When we applied this to our business and real estate strategy, we:
-Cut dead projects fast
-Rebuilt momentum in slow quarters
-Hit targets that used to take a full year

The key isn't to do more. It's to do the right things faster, and measure real outcomes weekly.

We’ll break down how to set up and run your own 12-week system this Wednesday at 12 noon EST.

Want the link? Drop “12 Weeks” in the comments.

#executionstrategy #goalsetting #realestategrowth #entrepreneurship #productivitytools

Most People Waste Time Chasing One Deal. Smart Investors Chase 100.

Getting your first apartment deal is like dating.

You get excited. You focus on one person. You tell yourself it’s the perfect fit. Then it falls through… and you start over from scratch. That’s how most people approach real estate.

They get attached to one deal, analyze it for weeks, hesitate to make an offer, and lose it to someone who moved faster. Then they think the game isn’t for them. 

The truth? One perfect deal isn’t the goal. The key is building a system that creates consistent reps and real momentum.

Here’s what that system looks like:

-Analyze 10 deals a week. This keeps instincts sharp and standards realistic.
-Make 2 offers a week. Not every deal needs to be perfect. Build options.
-Focus on the pipeline. Don’t chase deals. Build a machine that produces them.

When you move this way, the pressure comes off any one property. It becomes about progress, not perfection.

That’s how real momentum is built...not in 12 years, but in 12 weeks.

I’m breaking it all down live today, Jan 14 at 12 PM EST. We’re also doing a live walkthrough of a current deal so you can see exactly how we break it down. 

Comment “I’M IN” to get the link.


#MultifamilyRealEstate
 #ApartmentInvesting
 #RealEstateStrategy
 #CommercialRealEstate
 #W2ToWealth

“Own the Building, Not Just the Dream”

Everyone tells you to “build wealth.” But no one shows you how to buy the actual building. You’ve seen it everywhere:

"Buy assets, not liabilities."
"Cash flow is king."
"Real estate is the key to freedom."

But when you finally decide to take action and buy a building, what do you hear?

"Just keep saving."
"You’re not ready yet."
"Start with a single-family home."

Here’s the problem: Most people spend years reading, listening, and waiting for the right time or the right amount of money. The result? They end up owning the dream... but not the property. Let’s change that.

Here’s what it actually takes to go from zero to owning your first apartment building in 12 weeks:

-Focus on 6 to 20 units. These are small enough to avoid institutional competition but big enough to scale.
-Analyze 10 deals a week. The people who win aren’t smarter. They just look at more deals and make more offers.
-Send 2 LOIs weekly. This builds pipeline and momentum. The first deal usually doesn’t come from the first offer.
-Talk to owners directly. Off-market deals aren’t magic. They’re the result of consistent outreach and solving real problems.
-Build a lean team fast. You don’t need to know it all. You need the right broker, lender, and property manager in your corner.

Your first building doesn’t require a decade of saving or a perfect credit score. It requires clarity, consistency, and the right steps in the right order.

I’m walking through that full process tomorrow, January 14 at 12 PM EST. Step by step. Simple and doable. Comment “12 WEEKS” below and I’ll send you the link.


#ApartmentInvesting
#RealEstateStrategy
#MultifamilyMindset
#PassiveIncomePlan
#BuyBackYourTime

If you think you need decades to retire, you might be following the wrong plan. Pensions are disappearing. Social Security keeps shrinking. And most people have less than $25K saved.

The real issue isn’t just money. It’s mindset. Too many people believe freedom only comes after 40 years of grinding. But what if that belief is the real problem?

What if the gap isn’t your income or your savings...but how you think?

Wealth doesn’t start with a paycheck. It starts with taking ownership. Believing you’re responsible for your future. Acting before you feel ready. Staying consistent when it’s not easy.

That’s what separates people who stay stuck from people who build something real.

I chose apartment investing because it gave me control, cash flow, and growth. But the strategy doesn’t matter if the mindset isn’t there. None of it works without discipline, commitment, and a clear vision of what you’re building.

So here’s a challenge: Write down one goal you’ve been putting off. Something you know you need to start. Then take the first step this week. 

Don’t wait for perfect. Move with purpose.


#WealthMindset #OwnershipMentality #DisciplineEqualsFreedom #ThinkBiggerLiveBigger #BuildWithPurpose

Most people spend a decade chasing their first apartment deal.

By then, life is busier, the market has shifted, and momentum is gone.
But what if it didn’t have to take that long?

What if you could skip the trial-and-error and follow a simple path that gets you in the game in 12 weeks?

Tomorrow, January 14 at 12 PM EST, we’re doing a live walkthrough of a property and breaking down exactly how to go from zero to ownership.

You’ll see what to look for, how to move fast, and what steps actually matter.
Comment 12 WEEKS and I’ll send you the link.

Let’s get you out of research mode and into ownership.


#ApartmentInvesting #RealEstateWealth #BuyTheBuilding #MultifamilyOwnership #12WeekBlueprint

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The Battle

Nick Stromwall

Michael Ealy

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taplio

The Battle

Nick Stromwall

Michael Ealy

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Nick Stromwall's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreNick Stromwall's LinkedIn Performance