The Timeless Investor Show

Arie van Gemeren
  • 5.0 (12)
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The Timeless Investor Show explores how serious thinkers build wealth, resilience, and lasting success across generations. Hosted by Arie van Gemeren, CFA - The Timeless Investor Show connects history, philosophy, and real-world investing lessons into practical frameworks for today's investors, with a core focus on real estate investing. We study empires, cycles, currencies, and capital stewardship - and translate timeless principles into real-world action. Think well. Act wisely. Build something timeless.

  1. From $500M in Called Loans to Self-Storage Empire: Brad Minsley's Vertical Integration Playbook

    21H AGO

    From $500M in Called Loans to Self-Storage Empire: Brad Minsley's Vertical Integration Playbook

    Send us a text In 2008, Brad Minsley faced every real estate developer's nightmare: $500 million in loans called across 27 banks. Most operators would have been wiped out. Instead, Brad fought back, survived the crisis, and used those hard-won lessons to build Ten Federal - one of the most innovative self-storage companies in America. Today, Ten Federal operates 120 facilities with revolutionary automation technology, proprietary DaVinci locks, and just 0.6 employees per store (compared to 2+ at major REITs). Their funds have consistently outperformed, with their 2019 fund finishing #1 among all commercial real estate funds that year. In this episode, we cover: How Brad survived the 2008 crisis when banks called $500M in development loansWhy the combination of high leverage + balloon payments is a death sentenceThe hidden danger of material adverse change clauses in loan documentsHow Ten Federal pioneered unmanned self-storage operationsThe vertical integration strategy that creates unfair competitive advantagesWhy most real estate operators actually harm performanceData science and machine learning in self-storage investingBuilding proprietary technology that now operates in 1 of every 7 storage facilities nationwideKey Takeaways: You can survive high leverage OR balloon payments, but not bothDeep operational knowledge prevents exploitation by contractors and vendorsAutomation + enterprise software creates massive competitive moatsThe best opportunities exist where sophisticated operators can outcompete mom-and-pop ownersThis conversation reveals how crisis-tested experience, combined with technological innovation and operational discipline, creates sustainable competitive advantages in real estate. Connect with Brad Minsley:  Email: brad@10federal.com  Website: www.10federal.com  Company: Ten Federal (self-storage development, automation, and fund management) Resources mentioned: Poor Richard's Almanac by Benjamin FranklinPoor Charlie's Almanac by Charlie MungerThe New Personality Self-Portrait by John OldhamDeath of Money by James RickardsBig Debt Crises by Ray DalioThe Timeless Investor Show explores enduring principles of wealth creation through history, philosophy, and practical experience. Subscribe for weekly conversations with battle-tested investors and timeless market insights. Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    1h 14m
  2. The Sassoon Dynasty: From Baghdad to Bombay - How Refugees Built Asia's Real Estate Empire

    SEP 8

    The Sassoon Dynasty: From Baghdad to Bombay - How Refugees Built Asia's Real Estate Empire

    Send us a text They called him the Rothschild of the East. But while the Rothschilds moved paper, David Sassoon built infrastructure. In 1829, he fled Baghdad with nothing but two saddlebags of gold. By 1860, his family controlled the largest trading house in Asia. By 1940, they owned half of Shanghai. This isn't just another rags-to-riches story. It's a masterclass in turning displacement into dynasty. In this episode, we explore: How a stateless refugee became the unofficial bank of BombayWhy owning warehouses beats owning goods (the original REIT model)The concept of "cultural arbitrage" and why immigrants have a superpowerHow the Sassoons timed every market perfectly across 130 yearsWhy infrastructure always wins, regardless of who's in powerFrom the opium trade to Shanghai jazz clubs, from Bombay swampland to prime real estate - the Sassoons proved that disruption creates opportunity, displacement creates advantage, and infrastructure creates dynasties. Whether you're a real estate investor, a student of history, or someone interested in how fortunes are really built, this episode reveals timeless principles that work in any era. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless. Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    21 min
  3. The Kipper & Wipper Crisis: History's Forgotten Financial Catastrophe

    SEP 1

    The Kipper & Wipper Crisis: History's Forgotten Financial Catastrophe

    Send us a text 1621. The Thirty Years War is bleeding German treasuries dry, and desperate princes discover what seems like the perfect solution: improve their coins by making them cheaper to produce. What could go wrong? Everything. In this deep dive into one of history's most overlooked financial disasters, we explore how professional coin clippers called "Kipper & Wipper" accidentally created Europe's first hyperinflation crisis, crashed international trade, and taught the world lessons about currency debasement that we're still ignoring today. From medieval mint operations to modern quantitative easing, this 400-year-old German monetary experiment reveals uncomfortable truths about every government's favorite financial magic trick: creating money out of thin air. You'll discover: How German princes turned silver coins into copper while keeping the same face valueWhy sophisticated merchants took years to catch on to obvious fraudThe psychology of monetary delusion that repeats in every currency crisisWhy this obscure crisis predicted every hyperinflation from Revolutionary France to Weimar GermanyWhat medieval coin clipping teaches us about Fed policy and modern "money printing"Why real assets become king when paper promises failThis is a blueprint for understanding monetary chaos. And if you think "this time is different," this episode will change your mind. The German princes of 1621 thought they had discovered unlimited wealth. Instead, they discovered the eternal truth: there is no substitute for real value creation, honest money, and the patience to build wealth the hard way. Those lessons remain as relevant today as they were 400 years ago. Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    26 min
  4. Andrew Jackson's War on the Money Monopoly

    AUG 26

    Andrew Jackson's War on the Money Monopoly

    Send us a text The president had a bullet lodged in his chest and gold coins in his pocket. His enemy controlled America's entire money supply. What happened next changed American finance for 200 years. In 1833, President Andrew Jackson did something unthinkable - he destroyed the most powerful financial institution in America. The Second Bank of the United States controlled the nation's money, could create credit from nothing, and when challenged, its president deliberately crashed the economy to prove his power. This isn't just history - it's prophecy. Jackson's war against paper money, central banking, and financial manipulation mirrors today's debates about the Fed, Bitcoin, and currency debasement. In this episode, we explore: How Nicholas Biddle weaponized a recession to fight JacksonWhy Jackson carried gold coins and refused paper moneyThe "pet banks" disaster that followed victoryHow destroying the Bank led to 80 years without central bankingThe secret Jekyll Island meeting that created something worseWhy real estate is the ultimate hedge against monetary manipulationSince 1971, the dollar has lost 87% of its value. The Fed can print trillions with a keystroke. But they can't print land. They can't print apartment buildings. Understanding Jackson's war helps us see why owning real assets - not paper promises - is the only timeless strategy. The pattern always repeats: centralize power, corruption follows, revolution destroys it, chaos ensues, then even more centralization. Know where we are in the cycle. Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    29 min
  5. Ray Kroc - The Real Estate Empire Hidden Behind Golden Arches

    AUG 19

    Ray Kroc - The Real Estate Empire Hidden Behind Golden Arches

    Send us a text Most people think Ray Kroc built a hamburger empire. They're wrong. Ray Kroc built the world's largest real estate company, and he just happened to serve hamburgers on top of it. By the time of his death, McDonald's owned more retail real estate than any other company in the world - not Walmart, not Sears, McDonald's. In this episode, we unpack how a 52-year-old milkshake machine salesman turned a simple hamburger stand into a real estate empire worth hundreds of billions of dollars. From near-bankruptcy to global domination, Kroc's story reveals timeless principles about persistence, systems thinking, and the power of owning great real estate. Key lessons covered: Why Kroc nearly failed for two years before discovering the real business modelHow Harry Sonneborn's insight about land ownership saved McDonald'sThe genius of aligned incentives between McDonald's and franchiseesLocation strategy and long-term real estate appreciationThe ruthless pursuit of control that enabled empire buildingSystems thinking that made global scale possibleWhether you're a real estate investor, entrepreneur, or builder, Kroc's playbook offers profound insights about creating something that lasts generations. Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    31 min
  6. John Law: The Gambler Who Destroyed France

    AUG 11

    John Law: The Gambler Who Destroyed France

    Send us a text The year is 1720. A Scottish murderer who escaped death row has just become the richest man in history. He controls France's entire money supply, tax collection, and colonial trade. In six months, he'll flee Paris dressed as a woman, leaving behind the world's first modern financial collapse. Meet John Law - convicted killer, mathematical genius, and the man who created paper money, quantitative easing, and stock market bubbles 300 years before the Federal Reserve existed. His Mississippi Company scheme turned servants into millionaires overnight, crashed to zero, and set in motion events that would lead to the French Revolution. In this inaugural episode of our new "Villains" series, Arie Van Gemeren uncovers the wild true story of history's first financial engineer - from dueling over women in London to controlling $6.5 trillion in today's money to dying broke in Venice. More importantly, discover why every central bank today is still running Law's playbook, why paper wealth isn't real wealth, and how to protect yourself when everyone else is getting rich on leverage and stories. Key Takeaways: Why every fiat currency is a confidence gameHow leverage becomes a weapon of mass destructionThe dangerous pattern when one entity controls money, taxes, AND tradeWhy bubbles always need a story (and today's versions)The only three roles in any bubble (and why all three ended badly here)This is the Timeless Investor Show. Think well. Act wisely. Build something timeless. New series alert: "The Villains" - learning from history's greatest financial fraudsters to protect your wealth today. Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    29 min
  7. Real Estate Operations: 8 Years, 550+ Units, Lessons Learned

    AUG 5

    Real Estate Operations: 8 Years, 550+ Units, Lessons Learned

    Send us a text After 8+ years and $150M+ in real estate acquisitions, here's what actually drives returns: operations, not deals. In this special episode, I break down the operational lessons that separate winning real estate investors from the rest. From why I stopped talking to middle management and started calling leasing agents directly, to the $2,200 water heater mistake that taught me about cost control. What You'll Learn: The "get in the weeds" philosophy - why Basil II managed his empire from the battlefield, not the throne roomTenant retention early warning systems (work orders are your canary in the coal mine)Leasing speed kills competition - Caesar's "trivial causes" principle applied to 15-minute response timesFinancial forensics - Carnegie's cost obsession and why you need to audit every invoiceInfrastructure over deals - building systems that outlast youManaging trades and contractors without getting burnedHistorical Connections: Each operational lesson connects back to characters we've studied - from Carnegie's weighing scales to Marcus Aurelius's early warning philosophy to the Medici's contractor management systems. This isn't your typical "10 tips" episode. These are hard-won lessons from managing 550+ units, with the historical wisdom to back them up. Perfect for: Active real estate investors, property managers, and anyone building an operating business. Most investors focus on deals. Winners focus on operations. Resources Mentioned: Andrew Carnegie biography and cost control methodsBasil II's administrative systemsCaesar's Letters from GaulConnect with Arie: Newsletter: The Timeless Investor on SubstackEmail: arie@lombardequities.comPrevious episodes on Carnegie, Basil II, Caesar, and moreSubscribe and leave a review if this episode helps you think differently about real estate operations! Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    33 min
  8. The Man Who Built Florida: Henry Flagler's $3 Billion Railroad to Paradise

    JUL 29

    The Man Who Built Florida: Henry Flagler's $3 Billion Railroad to Paradise

    Send us a text In 1885, Florida was nothing but swamps and mosquitoes. By 1915, it was America's winter playground. One man made that transformation happen: Henry Flagler. This is the story of the most audacious real estate development project in American history - how a 55-year-old Standard Oil co-founder spent $100 million building a 400-mile railroad through impossible terrain to create an entire state's economy. In this episode, you'll discover: How Flagler used vertical integration to control every piece of the value chainWhy he built luxury hotels as "marketing" for land developmentThe engineering marvel of his Key West railroad extension over 128 miles of oceanHow one man created the $100 billion Florida tourism industry from nothingModern parallels to Disney, Musk, and Amazon's infrastructure strategiesKey Lessons: Infrastructure creates land value, not the other way aroundThink in decades, not years, for generational wealthCreate markets instead of competing in existing onesVertical integration amplifies returns across the entire value chainWhether you're a real estate investor, entrepreneur, or student of business history, Flagler's story reveals timeless principles about vision, patience, and the power of thinking impossibly big. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless. Subscribe to the Timeless Investor Newsletter for our long-form content. Follow the Timeless Investor Show if you want to hear more of our podcast content. Get your own copy of Timeless Wealth: Real Estate Through the Ages. If you want to learn about new investment opportunities through Lombard Equities Group (accredited investors only), please reach out here. Think Well. Act Wisely. Build Something Timeless.

    25 min
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About

The Timeless Investor Show explores how serious thinkers build wealth, resilience, and lasting success across generations. Hosted by Arie van Gemeren, CFA - The Timeless Investor Show connects history, philosophy, and real-world investing lessons into practical frameworks for today's investors, with a core focus on real estate investing. We study empires, cycles, currencies, and capital stewardship - and translate timeless principles into real-world action. Think well. Act wisely. Build something timeless.

Information

  • Creator
    Arie van Gemeren
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Timeless Investor Show
  • Show Website
    The Timeless Investor Show

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