In this podcast episode, I had a chat with Ben Miller, the Co-Founder and CEO of Fundrise. We explored the potential opportunities and risks for real estate and stock investors in the coming year. Ben has always struck me as more level-headed than other CEOs and investors I’ve interacted with. He’s seen the ups and downs of the market, having weathered the 2000 Dotcom bust and the 2008 real estate downturn.
As someone who manages capital, I appreciate a cautious approach. We’re not swinging for the fences; we’re aiming for consistent, steady gains on our journey to financial independence. Avoiding major pitfalls is a key strategy for long-term investment success.
Fundrise, a company I’ve invested in, has been a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. We share a common investment philosophy, particularly when it comes to the Sunbelt region. Back in 2016, I predicted that Americans would start moving to more affordable parts of the country, thanks to advancements in technology. Today, Fundrise primarily invests in residential and industrial real estate in the Sunbelt region.
Established in 2012, Fundrise is a private real estate platform that manages over $3.3 billion in equity for more than 500,000 investors. Since 2016, I’ve invested $954,000 in various private real estate funds and individual deals. My main goal is to diversify away from pricey coastal city real estate and generate more passive income.
You can listen to my podcast episode with Ben Miller on Apple or Spotify. We delve into the history of Fundrise, the impact of the Savings and Loan crisis, the pros and cons of a conservative approach, and how to identify and invest in mega trends. We also discuss the prediction of a recession in the second half of 2024, the role of the Fed, and the current opportunities in construction loans and refinances.
We also touch on the launch of the Opportunistic Credit Fund, which requires a minimum investment of $100,000, and the Innovation Fund, a venture capital fund that invests in private growth companies in the artificial intelligence, prop tech, fintech, and SAAS space.
I hope you find this episode insightful. You can sign up for Fundrise and start investing with as little as $10. Remember, dollar-cost averaging into a weak market is a sensible strategy.
Financial Samurai started in 2009 and is now one of the leading personal finance sites, with about one million organic pageviews a month. I’ve invested over $134,000 in Fundrise funds. Investing in Sunbelt real estate, which has lower valuations and higher yields, is a great way to diversify away from expensive San Francisco real estate, where I own multiple properties.
