The Alternative Investing Advantage

Advanta IRA
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Get off Wall Street and explore the wide world of alternative investments for your IRA. Take control and give yourself the freedom to choose the assets for your retirement plan, assets like real estate, cryptocurrency, private placements, and much more. Our podcast features Advanta IRA professionals and guest experts who help provide a roadmap to your success with investment trends, strategies, and tips for investing your IRA to build wealth for your future.

  1. 1d ago

    The $1,500 Real Estate Deal That Changed Everything - Episode 217 w/ Major Hillard IV

    Major Hillard IV started with $1,500, a used book he found in his father's attic, and three jobs he couldn't make work. Today he runs MH Estates LLC, a vertically integrated real estate operation built entirely on buying distressed properties that other investors avoid. In this episode, Major joins host Alex Perny to break down exactly how he turns overlooked deals into long-term cash flow. Key Points: • How Major built his first portfolio with almost no starting capital • Why he targets distressed, mismanaged properties that institutional buyers pass on • What to look for during due diligence: infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and hidden costs • How restructuring leases and renovating units can increase property value almost overnight • Why vertical integration, owning acquisition, management, sales, and financing under one roof, creates a lasting edge Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Major's $1,500 start 07:30 Lessons learned and early mistakes 17:36 Spotting deferred maintenance and infrastructure red flags 28:20 Buying distressed, mismanaged properties for value 41:27 The stigma versus the real economics 57:18 How to connect with Major Hillard Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week. If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com. Learn more about our guest, Major Hillard IV: https://www.mhestates.com Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/ https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/ #RealEstateInvesting #ValueAddInvesting #AlternativeInvesting

    59 min

  2. Jun 17

    From West Point Cadet to $130M Private Lender - Episode 216 w/ Samir Patel

    Samir Patel bought his first hotel as a junior at West Point. Two decades later, he runs Trophy Point Capital, a private debt fund that has originated over 1,500 loans. In this episode, Samir joins host Alex Perny to break down how debt funds generate yield, why he keeps 8 million dollars of his own money in a first-loss position, and what separates a well-run lender from a risky one. Key Points - How Samir went from buying a hotel as a West Point cadet to managing a top 100 private lender - The difference between fix-and-flip bridge loans and DSCR loans, and why Trophy Point sticks to short-term lending - How institutional money has pushed private lending rates down to the 9 to 11 percent range - Why Samir keeps 8 million dollars of personal capital in a first-loss position behind every investor - The hidden incentive problems in debt fund fee structures, including who keeps origination points - What Samir looks for when evaluating whether a debt fund manager can actually get money back Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Samir Patel and Trophy Point Capital 07:10 Why velocity matters more than price in lending markets 10:51 Bridge loans, fix and flip, and why Trophy Point avoids DSCR 14:25 Skin in the game and the 8 million dollar first-loss position 15:59 How institutional money has changed private lending rates 23:16 Securitization and where hard money loans fit into Wall Street 28:43 What is really driving demand for rehab and construction lending 32:38 The biggest pain points for borrowers and operators right now 39:48 How Trophy Point structures its fund and pays investors 44:23 Why fast capital raises lead to bad lending decisions 45:42 Foreclosure, disposition, and getting paid back 50:58 Why debt is easier to value than equity inside an IRA Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week. If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com. Learn more about our guest, Samir Patel: https://trophypointcapital.com Learn more about Advanta IRA: Website: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/AdvantaIRA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advantaira Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advantaira #DebtFundInvesting #PrivateLending #AlternativeInvesting

    56 min

  3. Jun 10

    How to Invest in Mobile Home Parks with a Self-Directed IRA - Episode 215 w/ Mark Khuri

    Mark Khuri, CEO and co-founder of SMK Capital Management, joins Alternative Investing Advantage host Alex Perny to break down two niche real estate strategies built for passive investors: mobile home park investing and industrial sale leasebacks. Key Points: - Mobile home parks have a structural supply moat driven by zoning restrictions - Tenant ownership models reduce expenses and improve occupancy stability - Industrial sale leasebacks generate predictable, long-term cash flow - Triple net leases protect investors from rising expenses and inflation - Portfolio diversification across tenants and industries limits single-tenant risk - Environmental phase one reports are a critical step in industrial underwriting - Value-add plays in industrial include outdoor storage, power upgrades, and expansion Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:42 From single-family to commercial real estate 5:49 Using a self-directed IRA to diversify into new sectors 9:36 Mobile home park investing: supply scarcity and long-term demand 20:23 Installment contracts and converting tenants to homeowners 31:52 Ancillary income: submetering, Wi-Fi bundling, and more 39:48 Introduction to industrial sale leasebacks 49:16 Vetting tenants and managing industrial risk 55:22 Environmental due diligence and deal-breakers 1:01:16 Value-add opportunities in industrial real estate 1:05:34 Industrial outdoor storage as an ancillary play Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week. If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com. Learn more about our guest, Mark Khuri: https://smkcap.com Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/ https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/ #MobileHomeParkInvesting #SaleLeasebackRealEstate #PassiveRealEstateInvesting

    1h 9m

  4. Jun 3

    Franchise Investing: Hidden Industry Trends Investors Need to Know - Episode 214 w/ Bob Bernotas

    Franchise investing is more sophisticated than most people realize. Bob Bernotas brings four decades of experience as a franchisee, national chain CEO, and consultant to walk us through how the industry actually works today. Key Points: - Franchise sales organizations (FSOs) have reshaped how brands grow across the country, and why the best ones screen rigorously before taking on a brand - Brand aggregators provide infrastructure and capital that early-stage franchisors lack, accelerating growth and reducing risk for franchisees - Getting into a franchise early in the territory lifecycle is one of the most powerful advantages an investor can have - Semi-passive franchise models allow investors to keep their jobs while building a business that runs on a manager-operated system - Red flags to watch for include excessive profit centers, restricted franchisee communication, and franchisors selling tier-three territories they previously turned down - Service-based franchises that hold up in down economies are where the best risk-adjusted opportunities exist today Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Bob Bernotas background and career 03:22 Why franchise systems beat building from scratch 05:19 How the franchise industry has evolved over 20 years 07:45 What franchise sales organizations (FSOs) are and how they work 11:39 FSO history and how to identify good vs. bad ones 13:48 How FSOs look from the investor's perspective 15:58 Warning signs that an FSO or brand is not worth your money 20:44 Semi-passive franchise models and time commitment 24:01 How brand aggregators differ from FSOs 28:57 Why chasing recognized brands is usually a mistake 31:19 What the current franchise investor market looks like 33:40 How franchise fees and support have changed 38:00 Profit centers, red flags, and how to spot a bad franchisor 43:40 Industries to avoid and what makes a franchise recession-resistant 47:21 Final thoughts on change and timing in franchising 50:14 Territory strategy and protecting your market 51:50 Closing advice and how to reach Bob Subscribe to the Alternative Investing Advantage podcast for strategies, insights, and expert guests covering the full spectrum of alternative investing. Questions? Contact us at Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com Learn more about our guest, Bob Bernotas: https://www.franchisewithbob.com Learn more about Advanta IRA: Website: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/AdvantaIRA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advantaira Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advantaira #FranchiseInvesting #AlternativeInvesting #FranchiseBusiness

    54 min

  5. May 27

    The Truth About AI and Financial Data Accuracy - Episode 213 w/ Andrew Lebbos

    What actually goes into the financial data powering your brokerage app? In this episode, Alex Perny sits down with Andrew Lebbos, Director of Licensing at Benzinga, to pull back the curtain on how financial data is produced, validated, and delivered at scale. Key Points: - Benzinga provides earnings, dividends, analyst ratings, and news to Robinhood, Fidelity, Schwab, and more - Data validation combines AI-enabled QA systems with human oversight to catch outliers - Proprietary first-party data is increasingly valuable as LLMs demand accurate inputs - Benzinga powers Perplexity Finance and works with major hedge funds and brokerages - Companies issue intra-quarter guidance to manage large expectation gaps - Conference call transcripts and guidance calendars add context beyond raw earnings - Private market data coverage is actively being built out by Benzinga - Blockchain-based secondary markets and tokenized assets are opening private markets to retail investors - Illiquidity in private markets can act as a behavioral safeguard against panic selling Chapters: 0:00 Introduction and guest background 2:15 How financial data is packaged and produced 5:41 Data validation and QA systems 8:11 What outlier data means for investors 10:54 Earnings surprises and guidance calendars 13:13 AI's role in financial data accessibility 16:56 Benzinga's data-first business model 19:58 Ensuring data accuracy for AI platforms 22:36 How investors can verify AI outputs 26:32 LLM data sourcing and direct integrations 30:51 Changing investor behavior and private markets 34:08 Private market data challenges 38:51 Blockchain, tokenization, and secondary markets 45:12 Illiquidity as a behavioral benefit 48:25 Real estate, prediction markets, and Benzinga's scope 53:17 Where to find Benzinga Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week. If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about our guest, Andrew Lebbos: https://www.benzinga.com/ Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/ https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/ #FinancialData #RetailInvesting #Benzinga #AlternativeInvesting #AIInvesting #PrivateMarkets #AlternativeInvestingAdvantage #FinancialLiteracy #InvestingPodcast #DataDrivenInvesting

    54 min

  6. May 20

    How Blockchain Is Unlocking Pre-IPO Investing for Retail Investors

    Chan Ahn is the founder of Tessera and a 17-year veteran of Wall Street. He joins Alex Perny to explain how blockchain tokenization is opening private markets to retail investors. This episode covers pre-IPO investing, atomic settlement, counterparty risk, on-chain proof of reserve, stablecoins, and the regulatory outlook for tokenized assets. Key Points: - Private markets are restricted due to settlement risk and information asymmetry, not just regulation - Blockchain enables atomic settlement: buyer and seller transact simultaneously with no delay and no counterparty trust required - Tessera houses assets in a Cayman segregated portfolio and uses Chainlink for 24/7 on-chain verification - SpaceX tokens trade on-chain at $1.5 to $1.66 trillion, a discount to the $1.75 to $2 trillion institutional target - Tokenized assets total roughly $30 billion today and are growing at 200% year over year - McKinsey projects the tokenized asset market reaches $2 trillion by 2030 out of a $300 trillion addressable market - Blockchain will compress a decade of TradFi market evolution into one to two years - Dollar-denominated stablecoins serve as the primary liquidity layer for tokenized private market assets Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:12 Chan's background: Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and founding Tesera 6:37 Why private markets exist: settlement risk and information asymmetry 13:16 How atomic settlement works on blockchain 20:19 Converting off-chain private equity into on-chain tokens 26:53 Liquidity, price discovery, and trading tokenized assets 32:10 Do private companies benefit from blockchain valuation transparency? 34:31 The disclosure challenge blockchain cannot solve alone 42:01 Derivatives, lending, and the next phase of tokenized markets 47:39 Stablecoins, FX risk, and liquidity standards 51:09 The $300T addressable market and the path to $2T by 2030 55:15 Why tokenization is a win for both companies and investors Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week. If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about our guest, Chan Ahn: https://www.tessera.pe/ Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/ https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/ #BlockchainInvesting #PreIPO #Tokenization #DeFi #PrivateMarkets #RWA #AlternativeInvesting #Tesera #ChanAhn #CryptoFinance

    58 min

  7. May 13

    Why the Best Bitcoin Mining Opportunities Are in the Middle of Nowhere - Ep. 211 w/ Jesse Pielke

    Africa burns off enough energy every day to power entire cities. Bitcoin miners figured out how to profit from it, and almost no one is paying attention yet.Jesse Pielke, founder of HashrateUp, joins Alex Perny on the Alternative Investing Advantage podcast to break down one of the most overlooked plays in alternative investing: using stranded energy in Africa to mine Bitcoin at near-zero cost.Jesse has spent years on the ground in Cape Town building pilot projects across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa. He explains why electricity has nowhere to go. 🔑 Key learnings from this episode:• Why a single 20-foot shipping container holds a full megawatt of mining capacity• How Bitcoin mining absorbs "stranded" energy that grid infrastructure can't move• Ethiopia's hydro power mecca and why politics keep burning investors• Nigeria's flared gas opportunity and how it creates a win-win for oil producers• Why older-generation ASICs that lose money in Norway can profit in Africa• The surprising reason Bitcoin mining only needs a basic LTE signal, not fiber• Risk-adjusted pricing: what energy really has to cost to make these deals work• How US investors can write off Bitcoin mining hardware against taxable income• Why Bitcoin mining gives energy producers a backup when commodity prices tank⏱ Chapters:00:00 – Intro & Jesse's background01:47 – How solar work in West Africa led Jesse to Bitcoin mining04:43 – Ethiopia & Nigeria: Africa's two biggest mining markets08:17 – South Africa's curtailed solar surplus10:30 – Why Bitcoin mining is power-dense and location-independent13:46 – Shipping containers, Starlink, and remote operations17:41 – Why mining needs almost no bandwidth19:36 – The interruptible nature of mining and why it matters21:30 – Security at remote sites24:06 – Ethiopia's volatile regulation and PPA structure26:58 – The Paraguay playbook and risk-adjusted pricing31:45 – Nigeria: flared gas, OPEC, and Bitcoin mining36:29 – Turbines, generators, and CapEx sharing40:58 – Old ASICs finding a second life in Africa47:35 – OPEC, UAE, and Bitcoin as an energy price hedge50:39 – Modularity and scaling into developed markets54:59 – How to get involved as an investor57:21 – Wrap-up and how to find JesseSubscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Learn more about our guest, Jesse Pielke:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-pielke/Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-irahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/#BitcoinMining #Africa #AlternativeInvesting #StrandedEnergy #Cryptocurrency #Blockchain #Nigeria #Ethiopia #SouthAfrica #HashrateUp #EnergyArbitrage #Bitcoin

    1 hr

  8. May 6

    A Turnkey Real Estate Strategy that Removes the Hardest Part of Investing - Ep. 210 w/ Lindsay Davis

    What does it actually take to build a profitable rental property portfolio without doing all the work yourself? In this episode of the Alternative Investing Advantage podcast, host Alex Perny sits down with Lindsay Davis, CEO of Spartan Invest, to break down the full-service turnkey real estate model and why the Southeast, especially Alabama, continues to be one of the strongest markets for cash flow investing. Key points from this episode: • What turnkey real estate investing is and how Spartan Invest handles everything from purchase to tenant placement • The "three M's" framework for making smart renovation decisions without over- or under-improving a property • How Spartan uses a proprietary, metric-driven system to set rental rates across 2,300+ managed properties with 96%+ accuracy • Why factors like steep driveways and neighbor conditions are built into rental rate calculations • What makes Alabama one of the most landlord-friendly, low-tax investment markets in the country • How to think about rent increases, tenant retention, and the true cost of tenant turnover (~$3,300 average) • When new construction makes more sense than acquiring and renovating existing properties • The growing generational shift toward renting and what it means for long-term demand ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:02 — Introduction & overview of Spartan Invest 01:32 — What full-service turnkey investing looks like 04:09 — Educating investors on risk tolerance and realistic expectations 07:11 — Smart renovation: what adds value vs. what doesn't 11:42 — How Spartan sets rental rates with data-driven accuracy 15:30 — Unusual factors that affect rent (driveways, neighbors, railroad tracks) 18:38 — Alabama's growing appeal as an investment market 21:43 — Impact of migration from high-cost states on local inventory 25:14 — Post-COVID price appreciation in Spartan's submarkets 27:00 — Rent increases: 2020–2023 data and how to handle renewals 32:32 — Strategies for annual rent increases and tenant retention 38:56 — Appliance responsibility: tenant vs. landlord norms by market 44:39 — New construction vs. renovated properties: how Spartan decides 48:50 — The biggest reasons investors choose new construction 51:58 — Generational shift toward renting and long-term demand outlook 53:50 — How to connect with Spartan Invest Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week. If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast@AdvantaIRA.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about our guest, Lindaay Davis: https://spartaninvest.com/about-us/our-team/lindsay-davis/ Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-ira https://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/ https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/ #RealEstateInvesting #TurnkeyRealEstate #RentalProperty #SingleFamilyRentals #CashFlowInvesting #PassiveIncome #AlabamRealEstate #LandlordLife #PropertyManagement #SpartanInvest

    55 min
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About

Get off Wall Street and explore the wide world of alternative investments for your IRA. Take control and give yourself the freedom to choose the assets for your retirement plan, assets like real estate, cryptocurrency, private placements, and much more. Our podcast features Advanta IRA professionals and guest experts who help provide a roadmap to your success with investment trends, strategies, and tips for investing your IRA to build wealth for your future.

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