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Some stories don't just inspire—they provide the exact blueprint you need to follow. Igor Shaltonov's journey from Moscow to multimillion-dollar fund management is exactly that kind of story.

Picture this: A professional water polo player from Russia with a law degree lands in Manhattan Beach, California, on a November day. While Moscow suffers through minus 10-degree weather, Igor watches kids playing barefoot on the beach in 70-degree sunshine. That moment cracked something open inside him—a realization that he'd been missing possibilities his entire life.

What makes Igor's story so compelling isn't just the dramatic change in scenery. It's how he built his success on fundamentals rather than credentials. Without hedge fund experience or an elite MBA, Igor methodically created wealth by focusing on what he calls "the next right thing." First in youth sports (he and his wife built a successful basketball academy), then in real estate, and finally in fund management with A Vista Funds, which now manages hundreds of millions across multifamily housing, land development, and organic food companies.

The wisdom Igor shares cuts through the noise of typical investment advice. Rather than chasing flashy returns, he focuses on consistency and risk management. His philosophy—"everybody has a dollar, but nobody invests it"—highlights that success doesn't require enormous capital, just persistent action. When the 2022-2023 market downturn devastated real estate portfolios, Igor pivoted brilliantly, moving from interest rate-sensitive investments to land entitlement deals and private credit positions. This adaptability helped his investors thrive while others struggled.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson from Igor's journey is his approach to teaching investment principles. He allows his children to lose money on risky investments early so they learn valuable lessons while the stakes are low. This same careful, educational approach extends to how he manages investor capital—focusing on preservation first, then strategic growth.

If you're looking to build wealth through funds or real estate but lack traditional credentials, Igor's path offers a proven alternative: consistent action, strategic diversification, and the discipline to avoid uncontrollable risks. Want to learn from someone who raised $18 million in his first year not through connections, but through competence? This conversation is your masterclass.

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What if your biggest limitation became your greatest advantage? Shomel Malik turned Islamic finance principles into a capital-raising superpower, building a real estate portfolio worth over $75 million without using a dollar of traditional debt.

This eye-opening conversation reveals how conviction and creativity can transform fundraising. Born in Pakistan and raised in New Jersey by a father working three jobs, Shomel abandoned the expected path to medicine and forged his own entrepreneurial journey. After cutting his teeth in multi-level marketing (where he gained invaluable speaking and sales skills), he found his calling in real estate during the 2008 financial crisis.

The magic of Shomel's approach lies in how he structures deals. Rather than seeing Islamic prohibitions against interest as a limitation, he developed an equity-sharing model that resonates deeply with Muslim investors who often keep substantial capital in non-interest-bearing accounts. This created a powerful niche - instead of competing with countless operators for traditional capital, he became the go-to expert for faith-conscious investors seeking halal investment opportunities.

Shomel shares his exact LinkedIn strategy for generating investor interest, his approach to hosting compelling investor events, and why he believes you should never "panhandle" for money. His mindset flips traditional capital raising on its head: "I'm not begging for your investment; I'm offering you an opportunity."

Perhaps most powerful is Shomel's reflection on a $20 million mistake. By selling properties outright rather than maintaining equity positions, he missed the massive appreciation that followed. This painful lesson shaped how he structures deals today, ensuring his investors and his company both participate in long-term wealth creation.

Whether you're raising capital, building a business aligned with your values, or simply seeking inspiration from someone who chose principle over expediency, this conversation will challenge your assumptions about what's truly possible in real estate investing.

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Ever wonder how someone goes from literally borrowing gas money to building a real estate empire? That's exactly what Stratton Brown did, and on this episode, he reveals the raw, unfiltered journey that transformed his life.

Stratton shares the pivotal moment when everything changed—having to call his mom for $20 to fuel his car one day, then having $30,000 in his bank account the next. This kickstarted his career in real estate wholesaling, which evolved into self-storage investments and a successful virtual assistant staffing company. With refreshing candor, he admits to losing $50-100K annually on experimental ventures while still building multiple seven-figure businesses.

What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Stratton's practical approach to breaking into commercial real estate without massive capital. He details how he acquired self-storage facilities with creative financing—as little as 10% down and interest rates as low as 2-3%. One property purchased for $900K with $300K down is projected to be worth $1.7-2M after improvements. These aren't theoretical strategies—they're real deals he's completed and currently manages.

The episode also dives deep into how Stratton built a personal brand that attracts deal flow and investment capital. His advice? Document your journey from day one, even if you're just starting out. Years later, people who followed his progress—including his former college strength coach—reached out to invest in his deals. This organic approach to capital raising has allowed him to fund deals without traditional marketing.

As we look toward 2025, Stratton shares his market outlook and why he believes now is the time to acquire commercial properties, particularly with 100% bonus depreciation returning. Whether you're just starting in real estate or looking to scale into larger commercial deals, this conversation provides a blueprint worth following.