Apogee Wealth Podcast: Wealth, Business & Life By Design

Jonathan Nichols
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Apogee Wealth Podcast: Wealth, Business & Life By Design is a show for professionals and investors who want a clearer, more intentional approach to building wealth through multifamily real estate syndication. The podcast focuses on how multifamily investing actually works, from understanding deal structures and underwriting to capital raising, asset management, and long term strategy. Conversations are grounded in real world experience and designed to help listeners better evaluate multifamily opportunities, understand risk, and think like experienced operators rather than chasing surface level returns. Whether you are actively investing in multifamily real estate, exploring syndications, or looking to deepen your understanding of how successful multifamily investors build and manage portfolios, the Apogee Wealth Podcast delivers practical insights, thoughtful discussions, and education you can apply with confidence. This is wealth, business, and life by design.

  1. 2d ago

    What Every Multifamily Investor Needs to Know About Multifamily Insurance with J.T. Lynch

    Do you actually know what your multifamily insurance covers and what it doesn't?In this episode, I sit down with J.T. Lynch, Commercial Insurance Broker at Ramey King Insurance, specializing in multifamily and commercial real estate risk management. J.T. works with owners, operators, and investors nationwide to structure property, liability, and umbrella insurance programs that meet lender requirements while controlling costs. As both an insurance professional and a passive real estate investor himself, J.T. brings a practical ownership perspective that most insurance brokers simply don't have.We break down the three core components of multifamily insurance, what lenders actually require, and the physical property red flags that can blow up your premiums or kill a deal entirely. J.T. also shares how loss history sticks to a property, not the owner, why crime scores matter more than most investors realize, and how to use insurance estimates during underwriting before you ever submit an offer. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 04:32 The three core components of multifamily insurance 05:17 How geographic risk affects your insurance coverage and premiums 06:32 What lenders require from your insurance policy and why 09:29 Physical property red flags that impact your insurance 10:00 Roof age and why it is one of the most important factors in underwriting 11:09 Aluminum wiring and the fire risk hiding in older multifamily properties 12:02 Federal Pacific and Zinsco breaker boxes and why they matter 13:29 How loss history sticks to a property and affects your premiums 15:03 How to evaluate loss runs when buying a multifamily property 16:07 Why crime scores and high crime areas create insurance exclusions 18:38 What property improvements can lower insurance premiums 20:46 What to do when a tenant files a slip and fall claim 23:17 How to get an insurance estimate during multifamily underwriting What We Cover The three main components of multifamily insurance every investor needs to understand How geographic risk and lender requirements shape your insurance program What physical property conditions to look for that could affect your coverage and premiums How loss history works and what it means when evaluating a deal Why crime scores matter and how they can affect your ability to close How to use insurance estimates during underwriting before submitting an offer What to do when a claim happens and how to be proactive about slip and fall prevention Key Takeaways Property insurance, general liability and umbrella coverage are the three core components of any multifamily insurance program Loss history sticks to the property for five years not the owner so always request loss runs before making an offer Roofs older than fifteen years are valued at actual cash value not replacement cost which can cost you significantly after a claim Aluminum wiring in properties built between 1960 and 1982 can lead to fires and must be mitigated before most carriers will insure the property High crime scores can trigger exclusions for firearms and abuse that your lender will not accept Insurance is currently in a soft market meaning premiums and deductibles are lower right now so take advantage of it Getting an insurance estimate before submitting your LOI is one of the most overlooked steps in multifamily underwriting Connect with J.T. Lynch Website: https://rameyking.com LinkedIn: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtlynchrameyking/ Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    What Every Multifamily Investor Needs to Know About Multifamily Insurance with J.T. Lynch

  2. Jul 22

    7 Things Keeping You From Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

    Why do most people who want to invest in real estate never actually get started? Today, I break down the seven reasons most people never succeed as real estate investors. After almost a decade in this business and coaching several students along the way, I have seen the same patterns come up over and over again. And the truth is, it almost always comes down to one of two things: not knowing what to do, or not believing that you can do it. I walk through each of the seven reasons in detail, from analysis paralysis and confusing education with action, to waiting for the perfect deal and thinking you need a lot of money to get started. If you have been sitting on the sidelines wanting to invest but can not seem to get traction, this episode was made for you.   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:30 Analysis paralysis and why it stops most new investors 08:27 How to use books, podcasts, and mentors to build your foundation 13:15 How the house hack strategy lets you get started with less money 15:44 How the BRRRR method works for low money down investing 17:13 How partnering and using other people's money opens doors 20:23 How to build the right team for your real estate investing strategy 23:33 How to identify what is holding you back as a real estate investor   What I Cover The two root causes behind every reason people fail to get started in real estate Why analysis paralysis is the number one thing holding new investors back How to know when you have enough education to take action Why there is no such thing as a perfect deal and what to look for instead How to get started in real estate investing with little to no money Why trying to do everything alone is one of the biggest mistakes new investors make How ego quietly kills deals and investor careers before they ever get off the ground   Key Takeaways Most people never get started in real estate because they either do not know what to do or do not believe they can do it Education gives diminishing returns over time, at some point you have to stop learning and start doing There is no perfect deal, the skill is knowing the difference between a deal killer and an obstacle you can work through A house hack lets you get into your first property with as little as 5% down at a personal residence interest rate Partnering with someone who has capital is a legitimate path to your first deal even if you have little money of your own Building the right team is what separates investors who scale from those who burn out trying to do everything themselves Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    7 Things Keeping You From Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

  3. Jul 17

    Lending, Deals, and What It Really Takes to Close a Deal with Carl Pankratz

    What does it actually take to close a multifamily deal forty five minutes before wire cutoff on New Year's Eve and save your investors millions in taxes? In this episode, I sit down with Carl Pankratz, President and Managing Director of Blackacre Commercial and HUD Multifamily Financing Expert who has been involved in over a billion dollars in real estate transactions. Carl is also a Professor at Texas Tech University's Rawls College of Business, a former city councilman, and was recently appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to study the use of land banks throughout Texas. We get into lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, where the lending market is headed, and why competent operators matter more than ever right now. Carl also shares how he approached one of our recent deals together and what it took to get it closed on December 31st. If you are newer to real estate and trying to figure out who to trust and how to build the right team, this episode is for you.   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:26 Who is Carl Pankratz and how he got into commercial real estate 06:09 Why liquidity and operator quality matter more than ever right now 10:01 How global events and oil prices affect commercial real estate financing 11:49 Why the 10-year Treasury is the number to watch for deal flow 13:32 What the current lending environment looks like for multifamily buyers 15:12 Why 1980s assets are some of the best basis plays in today's market 21:13 How we closed a multifamily deal 45 minutes before wire cutoff on December 31st 26:27 What it means to have the right team in your corner on every deal 28:04 Advice for new real estate investors getting started today 29:34 Why matching your debt term to your hold strategy is so important 31:26 Why competence matters more than projected returns in today's environment   What We Cover What the 2008 financial crisis looked like from inside the title industry and what it still teaches us today Where interest rates and the lending market are headed for the rest of the year Why 1980s multifamily assets are some of the best basis plays available right now How to properly prepare for an appraisal and set the narrative before the site visit What it took to close a deal on December 31st and save investors millions in taxes Why matching your debt term to your hold strategy is one of the most overlooked decisions in real estate What new investors should look for before choosing an operator or doing their first deal   Key Takeaways When credit stops, it stops fast; liquidity is the thing that keeps operators alive when markets turn Having an engineering report ready before the appraisal sets the narrative and protects your deal Match your prepayment penalty to your hold strategy, or it will cost you more than you expect HUD financing offers 35-year terms and 80 percent LTV in any market, making it one of the best long-term debt options available If someone is projecting 25 percent IRRs in today's environment, they probably do not know what they are doing   Connect with Carl Pankratz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-pankratz-a9547055/ Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    Lending, Deals, and What It Really Takes to Close a Deal with Carl Pankratz

  4. Jul 8

    How to Legally Reduce Your Tax Bill Through Real Estate Investing with Yonah Weiss

    What if the biggest tax advantage in real estate is one most investors have never heard of? In this episode, I sit down with Yonah Weiss, Business Director at Madison SPECS, the largest national cost segregation company in the country. Yonah has helped property owners save over a billion dollars in taxes, spent fifteen years as a teacher before getting into real estate, and hosts the top-rated Weiss Advice podcast. We break down exactly what cost segregation is, how it works, and why it can mean the difference between a massive tax bill and paying nothing at all. Yonah also explains how bonus depreciation works, who can actually use these deductions, and what the short-term rental loophole means for W-2 earners who want to pay less to the IRS.   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 02:58 Why most real estate investors have never heard of cost segregation 04:31 How closing a deal saved me nearly $100,000 in taxes 05:59 What is depreciation and how does it work in real estate investing 07:23 What is cost segregation and how does the engineering study work 10:04 The five year and fifteen year depreciation buckets explained 11:40 What is bonus depreciation and how does it supercharge your tax savings 18:29 How limited partners in syndications benefit from cost segregation 20:21 What depreciation recapture actually means when you sell a property 24:41 What property size makes cost segregation worth doing 26:21 The short-term rental loophole for W-2 earners explained 29:53 Can the short-term rental strategy actually replace your W-2 income 31:26 Active vs passive real estate investing and how cost seg applies to both 32:24 How to build a powerful network in commercial real estate through LinkedIn   What We Cover What cost segregation is and how it accelerates your real estate tax deductions How bonus depreciation works and what changed with the One Big Beautiful Bill Who can actually use cost seg write-offs and the real estate professional status rule How limited partners in syndications benefit from cost segregation What depreciation recapture means and how to reduce or eliminate it The short-term rental loophole and how W-2 earners can use it How Yonah built a nationally recognized brand through LinkedIn without a single sales pitch   Key Takeaways Cost segregation lets you pull forward years of depreciation deductions into year one Bonus depreciation is back at 100% permanently after the One Big Beautiful Bill passed in 2025 Unless you or your spouse qualify as a real estate professional, depreciation offsets passive income only, not your W-2 The short-term rental loophole lets self-managing owners use losses to offset W-2 income with just 100 hours a year Any property over $200,000 in purchase price is worth getting a cost seg estimate on Depreciation recapture does not mean paying back your deductions; it means paying a lower tax rate on a portion of your gain Passive losses you never used do not disappear; they can offset gains when the property sells   Connect With Yonah Weiss https://www.yonahweiss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/yonahweiss/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cost-segregation-yonah-weiss/ https://twitter.com/YonahWeiss Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    How to Legally Reduce Your Tax Bill Through Real Estate Investing with Yonah Weiss

  5. Jul 1

    How to Get Started in Real Estate Investing in 2026

    What is actually stopping you from buying your first piece of real estate?In this solo episode, I break down the most common ways to get started in real estate investing and the real pros and cons of each one. After almost a decade in this business, I have watched a lot of people get started, and I have watched even more talk themselves out of ever starting. So today I want to walk you through your options and help you pick one.I cover the house hack, single family rentals, fix and flips, and alternative strategies like short term rentals, along with the real numbers behind each one so you know what you are actually getting into. I also explain the difference between residential and commercial real estate, why that distinction matters so much for how a property is valued, and how to think about getting started in multifamily as either a passive or active investor.   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:48 The number one reason people never start investing in real estate 04:42 How to house hack your first property 09:22 Buying your first single-family rental property 14:08 How the fix and flip strategy works 16:34 The BRRRR method buy, renovate rent, refinance, repeat 18:48 Residential vs commercial real estate explained 20:51 Alternative rental strategies like short-term rentals and ADUs 23:36 Why commercial multifamily real estate scales better than residential 26:59 Passive investing as a limited partner in multifamily 28:24 Becoming a general partner in multifamily real estate 30:51 How to pick a real estate investing strategy and get started   What We Cover The biggest reason most people never make their first real estate investment How to house hack your first property with minimal money down The pros and cons of single-family rentals and what most people get wrong about cash flow How the fix and flip and BRRRR strategies actually work The difference between residential and commercial real estate and why it matters How to decide between passive investing and being an active general partner in multifamily   Key Takeaways Most people never invest in real estate simply because they never take action A house hack lets you get into your first property with as little as 3.5% down Single-family rentals are valued on comps, not income, which means large repairs can wipe out years of cash flow The BRRRR method lets you recycle your capital by refinancing after a renovation instead of selling Commercial real estate is valued on income, which means improving the property directly increases its value Losing one tenant in a 100-unit property only costs you 1% of income, not 100% like a single-family rental Pick one strategy, commit to it, and put a plan in place to make your first investment happen this year Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    How to Get Started in Real Estate Investing in 2026

  6. Jun 24

    The Multifamily Lending Blueprint Every New Investor Needs to Know with Julie Anne Peterson

    What does your lender actually need to see before they say yes to your first multifamily loan?In this episode, I sit down with Julie Anne Peterson, affectionately known as the First Lady of Lending and Senior Director at Old Capital Lending, one of the largest mortgage brokers in Texas. Julie is not just a lender. She owns and operates multifamily assets, capital raises, and hosts Zoom at 8 every Tuesday night to educate and connect investors across the country.We walk through the blueprint for getting your first multifamily loan, from understanding your personal financial statement to assembling the right team before you ever put a deal under contract. Julie breaks down the difference between agency and bank loans, how to match your debt to your business plan, and why the prepayment penalty conversation is one most operators are not having early enough.We also talk about what limited partners should be looking for when they review a deal, the red flags to watch for in underwriting, and the questions every passive investor should be asking before they write a check.If you are new to multifamily and feel like the lending side is the most confusing piece of the puzzle, this episode will change that. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 02:33 Why invest in real estate 03:27 Real estate is not a get-rich-quick strategy 04:13 Real estate as a hard asset 05:40 How real estate generates cash flow 06:34 How leverage increases returns 08:50 Tax advantages of real estate 11:37 The 4 ways real estate makes money 16:07 Different real estate investing strategies 18:02 Multifamily vs single-family investing 24:53 Risks of real estate investing 27:14 Long-term strategy for building wealth What We Cover The three things lenders look at before approving your first multifamily loan The difference between Fannie, Freddie, and bank financing, and when to use each How to match your loan term and prepayment structure to your business plan How to build your team before you find your first deal What limited partners should be asking operators about their debt How to evaluate rent growth and expense assumptions in today's market Resources and communities to help you learn and connect faster Key Takeaways Your lender is your biggest partner on any deal, not just a source of money Net worth, liquidity and experience are the three boxes you have to check for agency lending A 30-year amortization on agency debt lowers your monthly payment compared to most bank loans Matching your loan term to your business plan is just as important as getting the lowest rate Yield maintenance can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars if rates drop and you exit early As a passive investor, dig into how an operator has improved NOI, not just whether they have gone full cycle The first year in many markets today should be modeled flat; distributions are more realistic in year three Connect with Julie Anne Peterson 🔗 Links and resources: https://linktr.ee/juliepetersonoldcapital 💻 Zoom at 8, a free weekly network and education call for multifamily investors every Tuesday night: www.zoomat8.com Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    The Multifamily Lending Blueprint Every New Investor Needs to Know with Julie Anne Peterson

  7. Jun 17

    How to Scale into Multifamily Real Estate Investing with Ryan Morehead and Kevin McCarthy

    Why are partnerships so important in multifamily investing?In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Morehead and Kevin McCarthy from Westline Equity to talk about their journeys into real estate, how they built their partnership, and what they’ve learned from getting into larger multifamily deals. Ryan brings decades of experience in multifamily property management, brokerage, and family real estate operations, while Kevin started with small single-family and multifamily properties before scaling into larger deals.We talk about why multifamily is rarely a solo business, how the right partners can help you move faster, and why each person on a team needs to bring a different skill set to the table. Ryan and Kevin share how Westline Equity came together, how they think about underwriting, acquisitions, capital raising, mentorship, and why building a strong team has been one of the biggest keys to their growth.We also get into their first large multifamily deal, the challenges they faced with lending, operations, seller communication, and investor updates, and the lessons they took from that experience. Toward the end, we discuss why they’re excited about the Dallas-Fort Worth market today, what they’re seeing in current valuations, and what advice they would give to investors who are just getting started.   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:05 Meet Ryan Morehead and Kevin McCarthy 02:06 Kevin’s journey from single-family investing to multifamily 04:45 Ryan’s background in multifamily property management 07:24 Why investors do not need to start with 100-unit deals 08:55 Why partnerships matter in multifamily investing 13:48 The role of mentorship in real estate 17:37 Lessons from their first large multifamily deal 21:12 Conservative underwriting and investor communication 25:01 Finding deals and raising capital 28:52 The future of Westline Equity 32:27 Why DFW may be a strong buying opportunity 37:25 Advice for new multifamily investors   What We Cover Ryan and Kevin’s different paths into real estate investing Scaling from smaller properties into larger multifamily deals Why partnerships are critical in commercial real estate How Westline Equity was formed The value of mentorship and coaching Lessons from a difficult first large multifamily acquisition Why conservative underwriting matters How to think about acquisitions and capital raising Current opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth multifamily market   Key Takeaways Multifamily investing is a team sport The best partnerships combine different strengths and skill sets Mentorship can help shorten the learning curve and avoid costly mistakes Conservative underwriting matters most when challenges show up Strong investor communication builds trust during difficult transactions Today’s DFW market may offer strong buying opportunities for disciplined investors   Guest Resources Check their website: https://westlineequity.com/ Connect with Ryan Morehead on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-morehead/ Contact Ryan: ryan@westlineequity.com Contact Kevin: kevin@westlineequity.com   Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    How to Scale into Multifamily Real Estate Investing with Ryan Morehead and Kevin McCarthy

  8. Jun 10

    How to Become a General Partner in Multifamily Real Estate

    Planning to become a general partner in multifamily real estate?In this episode, I break down what it actually looks like to become an active investor in multifamily real estate, especially if your goal is to become a general partner on larger commercial deals. I explain the difference between limited partners and general partners, what each role is responsible for, and why being a GP is not as passive as many people think.I walk through the main responsibilities of a general partner, including acquisitions, capital raising, and asset management. I also share the common paths people take to get into their first multifamily deal, whether that means scaling up from smaller rentals, finding your own deal, or joining an experienced sponsor as a co-GP.I also share part of my own journey from single-family investing into multifamily syndications, why mentorship helped Paula and me get started, and how Apogee Advisory now helps new and experienced investors build the skills, confidence, and network needed to grow in this business. If you want to move from passive interest to active participation in multifamily investing, this episode will give you a clearer starting point.   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 00:34 Who this episode is for 01:41 What is a multifamily syndication 02:55 Limited partners vs general partners 03:40 Why being a GP is not passive 04:26 The main roles of a general partner 05:47 Capital raising in multifamily deals 07:16 Asset management and deal execution 08:03 How to get started as a general partner 10:48 Finding your first deal or joining as a co-GP 13:39 My journey from single-family to multifamily investing 16:02 Apogee Advisory, mentorship, and mastermind programs 18:24 The reality of being active in multifamily investing 19:21 When being an LP may be the better fit   What I Cover The difference between LPs and GPs in multifamily syndications What a general partner actually does on a deal Why acquisitions, capital raising, and asset management matter How new investors can get into their first multifamily deal Why raising capital is often the easiest way to bring value as a co-GP My own path from single-family investing to multifamily syndications How mentorship and masterminds can help shorten the learning curve Why being a GP requires real responsibility, risk, and active involvement   Key Takeaways Being a general partner is an active role, not a passive investment Multifamily syndications usually involve both limited partners and general partners The three main GP roles are acquisitions, capital raising, and asset management New investors often get started by joining an experienced sponsor as a co-GP Raising capital can be one of the clearest ways to provide value on a deal Mentorship can help new investors avoid mistakes and build confidence faster If you do not want the responsibility of running deals, being an LP may be a better fit   Resources Join my Mentorship Program (1:1 coaching for active multifamily investors) - https://apogeemfc.mykajabi.com/mentorship Join my Mastermind Program (For serious multifamily investors building skills, network, and relationships) - https://apogeemfc.mykajabi.com/mastermind  Download my free ebook: Achieving Financial Freedom Through Multifamily Investing - https://www.apogeemfc.com/ebook  Hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode! Connect With Me🌍 Website: https://www.apogeemfc.com/📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/multifamilyengineer💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-nichols45/✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.apogeemfc.com/contact

    How to Become a General Partner in Multifamily Real Estate
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Apogee Wealth Podcast: Wealth, Business & Life By Design is a show for professionals and investors who want a clearer, more intentional approach to building wealth through multifamily real estate syndication. The podcast focuses on how multifamily investing actually works, from understanding deal structures and underwriting to capital raising, asset management, and long term strategy. Conversations are grounded in real world experience and designed to help listeners better evaluate multifamily opportunities, understand risk, and think like experienced operators rather than chasing surface level returns. Whether you are actively investing in multifamily real estate, exploring syndications, or looking to deepen your understanding of how successful multifamily investors build and manage portfolios, the Apogee Wealth Podcast delivers practical insights, thoughtful discussions, and education you can apply with confidence. This is wealth, business, and life by design.

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