The ROI Masterclass

Liat Siegel
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Welcome back to another episode of the RIO masterclass podcast, where we talk about building abundance and growing our businesses in real estate.

  1. 2D AGO

    Why Smart Investors Obsess Over Risk Before Returns

    Why Smart Investors Obsess Over Risk Before Returns Angelo Vitale left Wall Street, rating agencies, and institutional finance to build a real estate investment platform focused on asymmetric returns and capital protection. With experience underwriting billions in transactions, Angelo shares how institutional investors really evaluate risk, why most deals fail before closing, and how today’s capital markets are creating rare opportunities in housing and storage. We dive into due diligence mistakes, market red flags, design ROI, and why protecting downside risk matters more than chasing returns. This episode is a masterclass on real estate investing, mindset, and long-term value creation in uncertain markets. ⏱️ Episode Timeline 00:00 – Intro From Wall Street to real estate private equity: Angelo Vitale’s background 01:20 – Landing in Texas Why he’s on-site evaluating a new self-storage deal 03:00 – Early Career Path Cold-calling into CBRE and breaking into institutional real estate 06:00 – Inside Wall Street & CMBS Underwriting billions in transactions at investment banks and rating agencies 09:30 – The Entrepreneurial Pull Why Angelo left institutional security to build his own platform 12:00 – Two Investment Verticals Explained Personal housing investments vs. Vital Capital’s GP partnerships 15:00 – Scaling Operators to the Next Level Turning 4,000-unit portfolios into institutional-grade assets 18:00 – Due Diligence That Actually Matters Why “kicking the tires” still beats spreadsheets 22:00 – Asymmetric Returns Explained How Angelo protects downside while targeting high ROI 26:30 – Red Flags That Kill Deals Macro risks, operator risk, and market-level warning signs 31:00 – Market Distress & Opportunity The trillion-dollar debt wall and what it means for investors 36:00 – Lessons from 2008 Why asset value matters more than financial engineering 40:00 – Design vs ROI When spending more actually increases profitability 44:00 – Growing Up on Job Sites How construction shaped Angelo’s investor mindset 48:00 – What Sets Him Apart Seeing value others miss through multi-angle underwriting 52:00 – Final Advice for Investors Protect capital first, returns come second 55:00 – Where to Find Angelo Vital Capital Management + LinkedIn #realestateinvesting #commercialrealestate #AsymmetricReturns #privateequity #capitalmarkets #investormindset #realestateroi #wealthcreation #Multifamily #SelfStorageInvesting

    21 min

  2. FEB 5

    The Restaurant Profit Cheat Code Nobody Talks About

    Most restaurants fight razor-thin margins, but they’re ignoring their most powerful profit lever. Ben Potts, hospitality investor and founder of Unfiltered Hospitality, reveals why beverage programs are the real cheat code to restaurant ROI. From quitting investment banking during the 2008 crash to losing everything during the pandemic, Ben explains how design, menu engineering, and staff training can turn a struggling operation into a high-performing business. In this episode, we break down: Why beverage margins outperform food The design mistakes that cap revenue How the bar should anchor the entire restaurant The systems that compound profits year after year If you’re an operator, investor, or developer, this conversation will change how you see hospitality forever. :stopwatch: YOUTUBE CHAPTER TIMELINE — BEN POTTS 00:00 — Why Restaurants Struggle With Profit (The Real Reason) 02:45 — From Investment Banking to Hospitality 06:20 — The Moment Ben Realized Food Isn’t the Profit Engine 09:40 — Why Beverage Margins Beat Food Every Time 13:30 — The Biggest Bar Mistake Restaurant Owners Make 17:10 — Designing a Menu Around Your Ideal Guest 21:45 — Why Most Beverage Menus Leave Money on the Table 26:00 — The Psychology Behind What Guests Actually Order 30:20 — How Menu Layout Directly Impacts Revenue 34:50 — Training Staff to Sell Without “Selling” 39:15 — Why Simplicity Outperforms Over-Creativity 43:40 — Pandemic Losses & Rebuilding Smarter 48:30 — When Premium Pricing Actually Works 52:20 — Bar Design Choices That Increase Spend Per Guest 57:00 — What High-Performing Restaurants Do Differently 1:01:30 — Scaling Hospitality Without Killing Quality 1:06:10 — The Systems That Protect Profit Long-Term 1:10:40 — Advice for Restaurant Owners Right Now 1:14:30 — Final Lesson: Think Like an Investor, Not an Operator 🎙 @benpottsbenpotts shares thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights into how small menu decisions can drive repeat visits and higher sales. #RestaurantROI, #HospitalityBusiness, #BarDesign, #RestaurantProfitability, #FoodAndBeverage, #HospitalityInvesting, #EntrepreneurMindset, #DesignROI, #RestaurantOwners, #BusinessPodcast

    27 min

  3. FEB 3

    Stop Developing Start Building Community

    For decades, developers chased returns, and accidentally designed community out of our cities. In this episode of ROI Masterclass, Christopher Woodruff, CEO of Woodruff Brokerage Company and The Cotton Companies, explains how modern development created isolation, urban blight, and disconnected places — and how servant leadership can reverse it. From traveling to South Korea with city leaders, to rebuilding neglected blocks through adaptive reuse, Christopher breaks down why long-term ROI comes from asking one question first: What does this community actually need? We explore experiential design, secondary and tertiary city investing, sustainable planning, and why great development isn’t just financial, it’s human. If you’re a developer, investor, or city builder, this conversation will change how you think about growth. :stopwatch: YOUTUBE CHAPTER TIMELINE (Clean + Clickable) 00:00 — Why Economic Development Drives Real Estate Success 03:30 — Traveling to South Korea With City Leadership 07:10 — Entrepreneurship vs Servant Leadership 11:20 — How Cities Are Really Built (And Broken) 15:40 — Developers Created the Suburban Problem 20:10 — Strip Malls, Parking Lots & Lost Community 25:10 — Adaptive Reuse as Community Repair 30:00 — Why Community Is the Missing Asset Class 34:30 — Experiential Design & Cultural Connection 39:20 — Why People Crave Community Again 44:10 — Jane Jacobs, Density & Safer Cities 48:50 — Secondary vs Tertiary City Investing 54:10 — Long-Term Developers vs Short-Term ROI 59:20 — How Design Decisions Multiply Returns 1:04:30 — Sustainability, Energy & Operating Costs 1:09:40 — Why Aesthetics Affect Human Psychology 1:14:40 — Planning for Relevance 20 Years Ahead 1:19:30 — Where Smart Developers Are Investing Next 1:24:50 — Three Rules Every Developer Should Follow 1:29:30 — Servant Leadership as a Development Strategy 1:34:10 — Final Advice for Builders & Investors #RealEstateDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment #ServantLeadership #RealEstateROI #AdaptiveReuse #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #SustainableDevelopment #CommercialRealEstate #DeveloperMindset #ExperientialDesign #FutureOfCities

    26 min

  4. JAN 29

    Why Holding Real Estate Beats Flipping: The Power of Compounding Explained

    Most real estate investors chase deals. Institutional investors chase systems and compounding. In this episode of ROI Masterclass, Hayato Hori breaks down how he went from buying a single Midwest rental in college to building a multifamily private equity platform focused on 22-unit buildings and long-term value creation. We unpack why holding assets beats flipping, how occupancy quietly drives NOI and valuation, and why conservative underwriting wins in uncertain markets. Hayato also explains why Midwest workforce housing remains one of the most overlooked opportunities in real estate today. If you want to understand how real wealth is built through cash flow, systems, and disciplined execution, this episode is required listening. ⏱️ YOUTUBE CHAPTER TIMELINE (WITH TIME) 00:00 — Buying a First Rental Property in College 04:30 — From Startups to Real Estate Full-Time 08:10 — Selling 250 Deals vs Owning Assets 12:40 — The Moment Compounding Finally Clicked 17:00 — Why Institutions Outpace Individual Investors 21:30 — Holding vs Flipping: The Wealth Gap 26:10 — Why the Midwest Still Works 30:40 — Why Chicago’s Fundamentals Matter 35:20 — Occupancy vs Rent Growth (The Real NOI Driver) 40:10 — How $1 in Rent Impacts Valuation 44:50 — The Danger of Overpricing Units 49:30 — Why Concessions Destroy Long-Term Value 54:10 — Workforce Housing & Section 8 Demand 58:40 — Small Upgrades That Drive Higher Rents 1:03:30 — Design as a Revenue Tool (Not Luxury) 1:08:20 — Why Conservative Underwriting Wins 1:13:40 — Value-Add Without Speculation 1:18:50 — The Operator vs The Asset 1:24:30 — Biggest Mistakes New Investors Make 1:29:10 — The Power of Reserves & Risk Management 1:34:40 — Final Advice for Active & Passive Investors 🎙 Hayato Hori shares thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights into why informed budgeting protects projects when chaos shows up. #MultifamilyInvesting, #RealEstateROI, #CashFlowInvesting, #PrivateEquityRealEstate, #MidwestRealEstate, #AffordableHousing, #WorkforceHousing, #PassiveIncome, #RealEstateFund, #NOI, #CommercialRealEstate

    33 min

  5. JAN 27

    This Is Why Construction Projects Quietly Lose Millions

    Most construction projects don’t fail because of design, they fail because of poor planning, weak systems, and emotional decision-making. In this episode of the ROI Masterclass, Wendy Ruiz Cofiño, EVP at Falke, breaks down what actually protects ROI in complex real estate and construction projects. From why unrealistic budgets kill deals, to how poor coordination quietly drains millions, to the systems owners must have in place before design even begins, this conversation exposes the real risks investors overlook. If you’re building, renovating, or scaling real estate, this episode will change how you think about time, money, and control. ⏱️ YOUTUBE CHAPTER TIMELINE (TIGHT + RELEVANT) 00:00 — From Technology to Construction ROI 03:45 — Why Owners Rep Is the Missing Link 07:20 — The Biggest Myth: “I Can Manage This Myself” 11:40 — Emotional Decisions That Kill Projects 16:10 — Why Unrealistic Budgets Are the Root Problem 20:30 — How Owners Lose Millions Without Knowing 25:10 — The Danger of Starting Design Too Early 29:50 — Why Mid-Construction Changes Are So Expensive 35:00 — Value Engineering During Design (Not After) 40:30 — Systems vs Tools: Why Tech Alone Fails 45:50 — Where Time Delays Really Come From 51:20 — Permits, Scheduling & Hidden Bottlenecks 56:40 — Why Contractors Must Be Involved Early 1:01:30 — Ground-Up vs Renovation Risk 1:06:20 — When Owners Should Say “Stop the Project” 1:11:40 — The Real Cost of Poor Coordination 1:17:00 — The Future of Construction, Tech & Experience 1:22:30 — Final Advice for Owners & Investors 🎙 @wenmnc shares thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights into why informed budgeting protects projects when chaos shows up. #ConstructionROI, #OwnersRepresentation, #RealEstateDevelopment, #ProjectManagement, #CommercialRealEstate, #HospitalityDevelopment, #DesignAndBuild, #RealEstateInvesting, #ConstructionManagement, #DevelopmentRisk, #CostControl, #RealEstateStrategy

    30 min

  6. JAN 22

    This One Mistake Destroys Restaurant Valuations

    This One Mistake Destroys Restaurant Valuations Most restaurant owners think great food guarantees success. It doesn’t. In this episode of ROI Masterclass, Eric Gagnon, co-founder and president of We Sell Restaurants, the largest restaurant brokerage firm in the U.S. reveals what actually drives restaurant value, profitability, and successful exits. After helping thousands of owners buy and sell restaurants, Eric breaks down the biggest mistakes that destroy valuations: overspending on build-outs, ignoring sales culture, discount addiction, poor systems, and emotional decision-making. He explains why perceived value equals real value, how storytelling can increase sales by 30–40%, and what makes a restaurant truly sellable. If you’re operating, scaling, or planning to exit a restaurant, this conversation could save, or make, you millions. :stopwatch: HIGH-IMPACT YOUTUBE CHAPTER TIMELINE 00:00 — From Corporate Banking to Restaurants 03:20 — The Leap From Corporate to Entrepreneur 06:40 — Starting a Brokerage From a Basement 10:30 — Why Rejection Fueled Growth 14:40 — Buyers vs Sellers: The Early Struggle 18:20 — Scaling, Franchising & Systems 22:40 — “You Can’t Improve What You Don’t Track” 27:10 — Why Most Owners Don’t Know Their Numbers 31:40 — Real-Time Accounting & Customer Data 36:20 — Why Sales Is the #1 Survival Skill 40:30 — Chick-fil-A vs Everyone Else 45:10 — Why Social Media Is NOT a Sales Tool 50:20 — Branding vs Discount Addiction 55:40 — How Storytelling Increases Sales 30–40% 1:01:10 — The Hidden Cost of Bad Decor Decisions 1:07:30 — The $1.4M Build-Out Disaster 1:13:40 — Testing Design Without Killing ROI 1:19:20 — Why Everyone Is in Sales (Even the Kitchen) 1:25:30 — How to Sell Food, Wine & Desserts Properly 1:32:10 — What Makes a Restaurant Truly Sellable 1:38:40 — Systems, Documentation & Exit Value 1:45:10 — Franchise Value vs Independent Restaurants 1:51:30 — AI, Efficiency & the Future of Restaurants 1:58:40 — Final Advice for Restaurant Owners 🎙 Eric Gagnon shares thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights into why visual-driven buying is becoming the future of real estate. The ROI Masterclass Podcast Playlists :point_down:LINK IN THE COMMENT #RestaurantBusiness #RestaurantROI #HospitalityIndustry #RestaurantOwners #SellingARestaurant #FoodAndBeverage #RestaurantValuation #HospitalityLeadership #BusinessSystems #EntrepreneurMindset #WealthThroughBusiness #ROI Masterclass

    36 min

  7. JAN 22

    The Real Reason Most Brokerages Struggle to Scale And How to Fix It

    The Real Reason Most Brokerages Struggle to Scale And How to Fix It Most real estate brokerages don’t fail, they stall, burn out leadership, and slowly lose margin. In this episode of ROI Masterclass, Steven Meadows, COO of a 23-office real estate brokerage, breaks down what actually drives scalable growth. From starting at a front desk to leading nearly 400 agents, now remotely from Spain — Steven reveals why systems beat hustle, why perceived value determines real estate ROI, and how small operational decisions compound into massive results. We dive into mergers and acquisitions, recruiting at scale, lead generation that actually works, brokerage-as-a-product thinking, and why presentation, staging, and photography directly impact profitability. If you’re leading teams, growing a brokerage, or building any service business, this episode will change how you think about scale. :stopwatch: HIGH-IMPACT CHAPTER TIMELINE (Tightened) 00:00 — From Front Desk to Brokerage Leadership 03:30 — Accidental Entry Into Real Estate 07:20 — The Foreclosure Boom & Early Lessons 11:10 — From Franchise Sales to COO 15:40 — Scaling from 5 Offices to 23 19:30 — Mergers, Acquisitions & Cultural Fit 24:20 — Why Recruiting Unlocks Scale 28:40 — Why Most Agents Resist Change 33:30 — How to Manage Change Without Revolt 38:20 — The Open House Concierge System 43:30 — Why Lead Generation Is the Lifeblood 48:40 — Perceived Value = Real Estate ROI 53:30 — Why Photography & Staging Matter More Than Price 59:20 — The “Dating App” Effect in Home Buying 1:05:30 — Brokerage as a Product Model 1:11:20 — Economies of Scale Most Brokers Miss 1:17:40 — Authentic Networking & Relationship ROI 1:24:30 — Leading 400 Agents From Spain 1:31:10 — Why Distance Improved Leadership 1:38:20 — Systems, Delegation & Perfectionism 1:45:40 — Toxic Culture & Hiring/Firing Fast 1:52:30 — Steven’s 3 Rules for Scaling Smarter 🎙 Steven shares thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights into why visual-driven buying is becoming the future of real estate. The ROI Masterclass Podcast Playlists :point_down:LINK IN THE COMMENT #RealEstateBrokerage,#RealEstateLeadership,#ScalingBusinesses,#RealEstateROI,#BrokerageGrowth,#SystemsOverHustle,#EntrepreneurMindset,#RemoteLeadership,#DesignForROI,#WealthThroughRealEstate,#RealEstatePodcast,#BusinessSystems

    36 min

  8. JAN 15

    From Paris hotels to Nashville Airbnbs: The luxury STR formula.

    From Paris hotels to Nashville Airbnbs: The luxury STR formula. Luxury short-term rentals don’t fail because of bad locations — they fail because owners invest in the wrong things. In this episode, Melissa Dorange, founder of Humming Host, breaks down how comfort, operations, and guest psychology actually drive revenue in competitive Airbnb and VRBO markets. From why beds matter more than décor, to how dining tables unlock holiday bookings, to the systems behind consistent 5-star reviews, Melissa shares what truly separates high-performing luxury listings from expensive underperformers. You’ll learn how to design for who your guest actually is, how operational details protect ROI, and why professional design only works when paired with smart systems. If you want higher occupancy, better reviews, and stronger margins, this episode changes how you think about luxury. ⏱️ YouTube Chapter Timeline (With Time) 00:00 — From Global Hospitality to Short-Term Rentals 03:40 — What “Luxury” Really Means in Airbnb 06:30 — Professional Design vs DIY (Where ROI Shows Up) 10:10 — How Property Managers Shape Design Decisions 13:50 — Bed Types That Increase Occupancy 18:20 — Why King Beds Beat Queens (Every Market) 22:40 — Group Travel vs Weekday Business Guests 26:30 — Dining Tables, Holidays & Booking Gaps 30:20 — Why Couches Matter More Than You Think 34:50 — Where to Spend More (And Where Not To) 39:40 — Comfort, Hospitals & Guest Psychology 44:30 — Why Cookie-Cutter Design Fails 48:10 — Systemizing Amenities Without Killing Personality 52:30 — Kitchen Details Guests Always Mention in Reviews 58:00 — How 5-Star Reviews Are Actually Built 1:03:30 — Inspection Systems That Prevent Bad Reviews 1:09:10 — Tech That Makes or Breaks Guest Experience 1:14:40 — Locks, PMS, Cleaning & Maintenance Tools 1:20:30 — Owner Journey vs Guest Journey 1:26:40 — Direct Bookings: What’s Realistic Today 1:33:00 — How to Incentivize Guests to Book Direct 1:38:10 — Final Advice for STR Operators 🎙 @Melissa Dorange shares his thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights. The ROI Masterclass Podcast Playlists 👇LINK IN THE COMMENT #ShortTermRental #AirbnbHosting #LuxuryAirbnb #HospitalityDesign #STRManagement #RealEstateROI #DesignForROI #GuestExperience #VacationRental #PropertyManagement #AirbnbTips #DirectBookings #WealthThroughRealEstate

    28 min
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About

Welcome back to another episode of the RIO masterclass podcast, where we talk about building abundance and growing our businesses in real estate.

Information

  • Creator
    Liat Siegel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Liat Siegel
  • Show Website
    The ROI Masterclass