I create efficient tax and investment strategies for tenured Sales and Software Pros | Financial Advisor & Fractional CFO | Guiding you to a better and abundant financial life |

TFA’s mission is to enhance the present and future economic well-being of its clients and representatives. 

Baby Boomers are retiring every day.

The average baby boomer believes $300,000 is sufficient enough to retire on.

Do you think that's enough money? But before I answer that, here's my story:

I was on track to be a Chemical Engineer till 2020. But when I graduated, I was distraught with what the job requirements were. Putting myself first, I completely decided to quit the track.

No plan, no job in sight. I started to panic.
 
That's when my mom sat me down and told me to list the things I'm passionate about. Turns out personal finance and education were the top two on my list. Not shocking, considering I always had a passion for how money works. 
 
So, I started doing research for jobs in financial services. My goal was to implement my passion for financial education for everyone. 

Since then I've helped countless individuals, families, and business owners make easier financial decisions for their future.
 
Services I provide:

1. Portfolio Planning
2. Budget Creation
3. College Funding
4. Debt Reduction 
5. Retirement Planning 
6. Proper Protection
7. Tax Efficiency
8. Investment Allocation



What makes me different:
- Keeping you accountable to your goals
- Creating simple yet effective strategies
- Establishing a personal relationship
- Yearly reviews accounting for changes in goals and income

So to answer the question above, $300,000 is not enough money to retire on, in my opinion. But that's where I come in. 

If you want to learn more about how my clients are pursuing their financial goals, let's have a quick chat :)

Omkar Shinde

I was one signature away from a $640/month Jaguar XE.

I walked out.

2020. Car dealership. Everything was ready:

• Credit cleared.
• Loan approved.
• Papers in front of me.

Monthly payment: $640/mo. 🤯

I glanced out the window.

My 2012 Subaru was sitting right next to the Jaguar.

• Runs perfectly.
• 63,000 miles.
• Paid off.

And I thought: "What am I doing?"

I backed out. Drove home in my Subaru.

Took that $640/month and put it toward retirement instead.

$640/month for 4 years = $30,720.
At 8% annual return over 40 years?

That turns into $1,023,000.

One decision.
One signature I didn't sign.
Worth over a million dollars in retirement.

I didn't drive a nice car for 2 years.

But I wasn't trading my future for a car payment.

P.S: I bought the Jaguar 2 years later at a cheaper price.

I create efficient tax plans and investment strategies for Sales & Software Employees making $200,000+ | DM me “W2” for an intro call.

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We spent $2,482 on our 4 day Austin trip last week.

And I never once worried about the cost.

Here's what we did:

• Flew down for our college friends wedding.
• Checked in on our 2 rental properties.
• Saw friends we haven't seen since last March.

The whole trip, I didn't open my banking app once.

I didn't swipe my card thinking, "Can I actually afford this?"

It was a done deal the moment we booked the flights.

Before the trip:

Travel fund? Funded.
Investments running on autopilot.
Rental income covering the mortgages.

So when it came time to show up—for the wedding, for our friends—I wasn't spending.

I was just using money that had been set aside months ago.

Most people skip trips like this.
Or they go and spend the whole time worrying about money.
Or spend frivolously piling on more debt.

I've worked with business owners making between $250k-$400k who can't take a week off without panicking about cash flow.

And I've worked with clients making $180k who travel twice a year without blinking.

I spent $2,482 in Austin last week. 

But I didn't feel it.
Nor did my bank account.

My parents were stuck in Qatar for 168 hours after the US decided to strike Iran.

I've never felt more helpless in my life.

There's no lesson here. Just a reminder:

Hug, kiss, and tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them every single moment you get.

The world is an unpredictable place. 

P.S: My parents are back home, safe and sound! If you had a loved one who was affected, I'm praying for their safety too.

Just dropped ₹2,49,334 in India for my wedding outfits.

That's about $2,500. Here's the best part:

It's not the fact that I saved A LOT of money.
Or I travelled to see family.
And reunited with everyone after 3 years.

Spending hard earned money on memories are the only dividends you need in life.

So ball out, my friend. You have my permission 🤑

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2021: $13,293 in AUM.
2022: $17,345 in AUM.
2023: $873,871 in AUM.
2024: $6,312,009 in AUM.
2025: $12,429,991 in AUM.
2026: ???

Everyone starts the race at the starting line.
But you choose how long you want to keep going.

You stick to your job.
Let time do the rest.

Between Feb 14th and Feb 27th, I made $11,344.

While working from this 162 sq. ft room in my Grandma's house in India.

Been to India 4 times in the last 4 years I've been working for myself, and it always gives me a sense of gratitude.

I wasn't in an office.
I wasn't tied to a desk.
I wasn't asking for time off.

I was halfway across the world. And my business kept running.

Everyone talks about this freedom.
Yet nobody wants bad enough to actually live it.

The money will come and go. 
But the memories, the time and the health all erode away.

It's all about control. 

Control over your time.
Control over your income.
Control over your location.

When you work for someone else, you need permission to take vacation.
When you work for yourself, you decide when and where you work.

I'm not saying it's easy, but it is simple.


Start small.
Build on the side.
Figure it out as you go.

Because once you build it?

You get to live life on your terms.

What's stopping you from starting today?

Because the alternative is spending the next 40 years watching someone else control your life.

My client pays $1,200/year for life insurance.

He has no spouse. No kids. No mortgage.

Who exactly is he protecting? I asked him that last month.

35 years old.
Software engineer.
Making $280K.

"Who's this for?" He paused.
"I don't know. My colleagues told me I needed it."

If you're single with no dependents or debt, life insurance is a waste of money.

Nobody relies on your income.
You're just paying to protect people who don't need protecting.

I have another client—Engineer at Google.

42 years old.
Married with 3 kids.
$450K mortgage.
$410K household income.

If he dies tomorrow, his family loses everything.

He's paying $15,000/year across everything:

$2.5M Term for him.
$2.5M Term for his wife.
Max Funded Permanent Policy for Tax Benefits.

That's not a waste.
That's the smartest $15,000 he spends every year.

If people depend on your income, you need life insurance.
If they don't, you're lighting money on fire.

Stop buying insurance because "someone" told you to.
Start buying it because someone actually depends on you.

DM "LIFE" for a free insurance review—I'll show you exactly what you need (and what you don't).

I lost a client 6 weeks after they started working with me.

He agreed to everything..... at first.

Then did none of it.

This client was a referral from an existing client.

• Married with 2 kids.
• $250K household income.
• 7 rental properties with $1,500/month cash flow.
• HELOC at 8% on his primary house.

If he lost his job, this house of cards would collapse fast.

So I put together a plan:

• Pay off the HELOC ASAP.
• Get his wife a part-time job while looking for full-time.
• Sell the underperforming properties before it's too late.

He agreed to everything. Then did none of it.

6 weeks later, he fired me.

My first thought: I'm not good enough.

Maybe my plan was wrong.
Maybe I invested at all-time highs when I should've waited.
Maybe I pushed too hard.

I replayed every conversation trying to figure out where I screwed up.

But after talking to him:

He said he wanted change. He just didn't want to do anything differently.

Agreement isn't commitment.
And I can't want it more than he does.

I spent 6 weeks trying to save someone who didn't think he needed saving.

That's on me for not seeing it sooner.

Not every client relationship works out.

And that's okay.

Now I know the difference between someone who wants help and someone who just wants validation.

If you max out your 401(k), you will be fine.
If you invest in Real Estate, you will be fine.
If you max out your Roth IRA, you will be fine.
If you invest in your brokerage, you will be fine.
If you contribute to a 529 plan, you will be fine.
If you work with an accountant, you will be fine.
If you have Term Life Insurance, you will be fine.
If you have a Auto or Student Loan, you will be fine.
If you implement at plan at 45 instead of 35, you will be fine.

All in all, if you're doing the basics, you will be just fine.

BUT...

Doing basic work will get you basic results.

It won't get you the life that you want to live, instead it will make you live the life that you silently judge others on.

Don't let that be you. 

Start now. Start today. 

My DMs are open.

At 34 years old, they make $430,000/year.

And don't save a single dollar.

I talked to this couple 2 weeks ago.

Here's what their reality looked like:

• $17,000 on credit cards.
• Two luxury car payments.
• $6,000/month mortgage.
• No emergency fund. $80,000 in an IRA.
• Rentals losing money every month because rent < mortgage.

Almost half a million in income.
Nothing left at the end of the month.

I could say they were reckless... but they were just stuck in the "we'll save next month" loop.

If your lifestyle scales with your income, you'll always feel broke—no matter how much you make.

So we built a system:

$3,600/month automated to investments and savings—comes out first, before any spending.
$8,000/month for fixed costs in one account.
$2,500/month guilt-free spending in another.

Every dollar now has a job.
But they'll have to cut back their lifestyle significantly.

And that's going to hurt for the first few months.

The system only works if they stick to it.
That's the hard part nobody talks about.

DM me "MONEY" if you're making good money but have nothing to show for it.

What's the point of making $600K if you're still living like you make $60K?

Here's the biggest myth you're falling for:

High income = Financial literacy.

It's the exact opposite: 
Sales employees making insane money with no idea where it's going.

Here's what I've seen in the last year:

• $12M net worth client paying $180K in taxes he could've reduced by 40%.
• Prez Club client making $400K with $12,000 left in his account at the end of the year.
• Real Estate believer with 7 rentals, buying his 8th property but losing $2,500/month in cash flow.

You can make $600K and still be broke.
Because income doesn't solve a bad mindset.

I've worked with people making $150K building wealth faster than people making $500K.

Why?
Because they have a plan.
Or they're working with a team like mine.

Making money is one skill.
Managing it is another.

If you're making great money but still feel broke, the income isn't the issue.
The system is.


P.S: What's your biggest money habit you wish you could change?

Between Feb 14th and Feb 27th, I had 6 qualified inbound leads.

From a time zone that's 12.5 hours ahead.

I didn't listen to Alex Hormozi:

I didn't run ads.
I didn't cold call.
I didn't send a single email.

People found me.
Because I've been building a personal brand for 3 years.

Most people think personal branding is for influencers or creators.

Nah. It's for anyone who wants opportunities to come to them instead of chasing them.

Here's what a personal brand does:

→ It builds trust before you ever have a conversation.
→ It makes you visible when you're not in the room.
→ It opens doors you didn't even know existed.

I was halfway across the world in India. 
Asleep when these people reached out.

And they still found me.
Sometimes from posts that were 5-7 days old.

That's the power of showing up consistently online.

Your personal brand works for you 24/7.

And keeps paying dividends.

Every post you write.
Every insight you share.
Every story you tell.

It's building credibility that compounds over time.

While you're waiting for the "perfect time" to start posting, someone else with half your experience is building their brand right now.

And they're getting the opportunities you think you deserve.

The market doesn't care about your resume.
It cares about who shows up.

So you can either start building your brand today or watch someone else take your spot.

What's it going to be?

$23.85. That was my first paycheck in this business.

I stared at it thinking, "What am I doing with my life?"

My friends were making $80K, $100K salaries.
And I couldn't even crack $500/month.

Every single cell in my body was telling me not to pursue this opportunity.

So, I tried other things.
Explored different paths: Drop shipping, Copywriting, Streaming.

But I kept coming back to this business.

So I tried working through it, but:

My own family didn't trust me with their money.
My friends never did business with me.
My colleagues outcasted me.

Which led me to have imposter syndrome every single day.

"Who am I to give financial advice?"
"Should I just get a normal job like everyone else?"

I knew people making 10x what I was.
Most of them in my friend circle.

And I couldn't even convince my parents to become clients.

But I didn't quit.

I showed up.
Learned everything I could.
Grinded when nobody was watching.

Because I knew I had the potential.

Now?

My entire family are clients.
Friends I grew up with are clients.
I've poured thousands back into this business.

Best of all, I don't question *if* I'm going to be succesful. 
To me, it's *when*.

I'm not done yet. 
And I'm a hell of a lot further than $23.85.

What kept you going when everyone doubted you?

I've talked to 11 people in the last 2 weeks who hate their jobs.

All of them want out, but I bet $50 none of them will leave. 

All of these conversations have the same premises:

"I was sold a very different dream."
"I realized there's nothing at the top."
"I do a good job, and I'm rewarded with more responsibilities."

So what's stopping you?

"I have a mortgage."
"I've got kids to feed."
"My spouse doesn't work."
"I can't afford to take that risk right now."

I get it. Responsibilities are real.
Bills don't stop because you're unhappy.
And the job market is in turmoil right now.

Forgive me for being the voice that others are too scared to say out loud.

But here's the hard truth:

You have two options.

Option 1: Accept it.

Stop complaining about your job.
Stop dreaming about what could be.
Make peace with the path you're on.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with choosing stability.
But you don't get to be miserable for choosing it AND do nothing about it.

Option 2: Work 10x as hard and jump ship.

Wake up earlier.
Have a 5-9 before your 9-5.
Sacrifice weekends for the next 2 years.

It's going to suck.. it's going to be the hardest things you've done.

You'll be exhausted. You're eyes are going to be baggy.
You'll be Nespresso's top consumer.
And your free time disappears.

But eventually, you'll have options.
And options = freedom.

I have no children. 
But I have a to-be wife, a mortgage, and staff to pay.
My responsibilities might be slightly less worrying, responsibilities nonetheless.

But throughout my career, I've learnt:

You cannot stay comfortable while being miserable.
You either accept where you are or you fight to change it.

But you can't do both.

So which one are you choosing?


P.S: I'm looking for 3 people in Q2 who believe that they are meant for more, and believe they are the Option 2 path-takers. DM me "Option 2" and I'll reach out to see if my team can help.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Would you rather get licensed, work for a big box firm with a steady paycheck, with no ownership to gain experience?

Or

Would you get licensed, bet big on yourself with a variable income, have 1:1 mentorship with full ownership and gain experience along the way?

Asking for a friend.

P.S: I'm looking for the latter.

As of today, I have $8,945 in credit card debt, but $100,000K+ saved for a wedding. I could pay off the debt, but I choose not to. Here’s why:

Leverage.

Most people hear “credit card debt” and immediately assume irresponsibility.
But here’s what they miss:

→ That balance is on a 0% APR promo.
→ Earning more than the interest I’m being charged 
→ The money I could’ve used to pay it off? It’s marked for my wedding.

This is what most people never get taught:

Bad debt drains you.
Credit cards at 22%, high-interest loans, buy-now-pay-later traps.

Good debt buys you time, leverage, and flexibility.
Used correctly, it accelerates wealth.

I’m not saying go rack up cards.. although I did open 2 new cards for the bonuses.

I’m saying—understand the strategy.

I'm so excited to payoff the debt and see that $0.00.
But it’s not the smartest move financially, at this moment.

The goal isn't to avoid debt at all costs.
It’s to learn which debt builds and which one buries.

Because the difference?

Could be the reason someone stays stuck at $80K/year...

While someone else builds a million-dollar net worth off the same salary.

P.S: Just got approved for the United Club Business and Hilton Aspire Cards. Any cardholders wanna share their experience?

7 months into working with me, and she forgot about her RSU's from 2016.

They're -45% from her vesting date.

Here's what happened:

Client works for a renowned CRM company.
She got RSU's as part of her comp package. Typical.

Vested. 
Held onto them.
Never looked at them again.

Fast forward to now:

The stock tanked 45% since it IPO'd.
Most of her tax lots are down 60-70%.

She's sitting on a $60K loss she didn't even know existed.

It's normal.

Tech employees get RSU's and treat them like free money.
and they implement the "Vest-and-Hope" Strategy.

This happens more than you think.

But you see, RSU's aren't diversified.

They're tied to one company.
And if that company tanks, you lose.

So what did we do?

→ Tax-loss harvesting to offset her gains elsewhere.
Sold enough of her portfolio to offset some income tax and use the rest to offset capital gains tax.

→ Rebalanced her portfolio so she's not overexposed to one stock.
Something better to manage risk that's cost efficient, and meets their goals.

She went from sitting on dead weight to using that loss strategically.

RSU's are part of your compensation.
Not your investment strategy.

The moment they vest, you need a plan.

If you haven't touched your RSU's in years, 
you might be in the same boat.


P.S: If you need an RSU review/strategy and have no idea where to start, Dm me "RSU" and we can explore if working together is a good fit.

My client missed out on $47,300 in 2 years.

Despite working with my team.

He came to me in 2022:

• Switched jobs for higher pay.
• RSU's vesting over 3 years.
• 30% salary increase.
• Chunky sign-on bonus.

He was motivated to get everything in place financially.

But then he got cold feet.

The signs were all there:

• Kept pushing off meetings
• His internet would be down
• Expenses kept coming up
• Work kept him busy

Eventually, he ghosted us.
No replies for 12 weeks.

I gave up.

Cut to September 2024. He finally replied.

2 years later.

"Hey Omkar, hope all is well. I finally had a chance to sit down and analyze your plan."

I reconnected with him, excited to chat.

But his situation was completely different:

Got married.
Lived the same college lifestyle.
Bought a house he couldn't afford.

I couldn't take him on as a client.

Here's what he lost in those 2 years:
1. $12,500 in Roth contributions that would've grown to $18,200 at 8% annual return.
2. $15,000 in tax deductions he could've claimed.
3. $3,000 in interest he paid that could've been avoided.
4. $10,600 in RSU growth he missed by not rebalancing when he should have.

Total: $47,300.

Gone. Because he waited.

Don't be this guy. 2 years is a long time to pay for cold feet.

Credit card points are a scam.

No single card has all the benefits you want.

• Chase Preferred has great travel partners.
• Amex Platinum has lounge access.
• Capital One has hotel transfers.

So what do you do?

You open 3, 4, 5 cards to "maximize" your points.

Now you've got 47,000 points with Chase, 32,000 with Amex, 19,000 with Capital One.

None of them are enough to book anything good.

So you're stuck waiting, accumulating, spreading yourself thin across multiple programs.

And to actually maximize points, you have to spend a ton of money.

"Earn 5x on travel!"
"Get 3x on dining!"

Cool.

I need to spend $20,000 to earn enough points for a $600 flight?

That's not a reward.

That's just spending money with extra steps.

I've had clients tell me they opened 6 credit cards in one year, chasing sign-up bonuses, trying to game the system.

And now they're juggling payment dates, annual fees, and point expiration dates like it's a part-time job.

(Some are scared to close accounts because it'll affect their credit score)

All to save $400 on a vacation they could've just paid for.

If you're spending money you wouldn't normally spend just to earn points, you're not winning. You're getting played.

Pick one card, use it for everything, pay it off every month.

And if you want to travel, save the cash.

Points aren't free money. They're a loyalty tax disguised as a reward.

Every other Friday, you wait for that $5,231 paycheck.

But by Monday... that paycheck goes poof.

It's a repeat of the same things:

You worked late nights.
Put in weekend hours.
Closed the deal that finally hit your quota.

Payday arrives—
And quicker than that, the $$$ disappears.

Because here’s what happens:

→ The Chase bill hits.
→ The car payment auto-drafts.
→ Groceries, daycare, travel... all waiting in line.

By Monday morning, you’re already stressed about how to stretch what’s left.

This isn’t carelessness (well maybe a bit..)

But mostly, it’s a missing skill.

Because *earning money* and *managing money* are two completely different games.

One fills your account. The other builds your freedom.

Without a cash flow system, the cycle repeats:

• Direct deposit in on Friday.
• Expenses drain it by Monday.
• Anxiety fills the rest of the month.

What's worse? 
You can’t out-earn disorganization.

Most Sales clients making over $200,000, don’t need more money, they want it.

But they NEED a structure that makes cash flow predictable, month after month.

What's your cash flow management look like?

DM me "FLOW" and I’ll show you how to finally keep more of what you earn.

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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The Battle

Omkar Shinde

Drew Breneman

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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);}Omkar Shinde's LinkedIn Performance

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