On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Bob Fraser, bestselling author of Invest Like a Billionaire and CFO and Chief Macro Strategist at Aspen Funds. Bob shares how billionaire investors moved away from traditional 60/40 portfolios toward alternative investments—and why everyday investors can adopt the same mindset without billionaire-level wealth.

Throughout the conversation, Bob explains why professionally managed real estate is often the most approachable entry point into alternatives, especially for investors who want exposure without taking on a second full-time job. He and Jonathan explore the differences between active and passive investing, the importance of aligned partnerships, and why many investors underestimate the operational demands of being a landlord.

The discussion then dives deep into macro-driven investing, with Bob outlining why industrial real estate stands out today due to reshoring trends, logistics demand, and lower construction and operational complexity compared to multifamily. Bob also explains why fund structures can be more efficient than single-asset syndications, offering better capital deployment, diversification, and investor control—especially around taxes and liquidity.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why billionaires shifted away from traditional portfolios toward alternatives

• How everyday investors can think like billionaires without massive capital

• The difference between active real estate and truly passive investing

• Why industrial real estate is outperforming multifamily in the current cycle

• How fund structures can improve diversification, tax efficiency, and liquidity

• What macro trends Bob looks for when evaluating alternative investments

Follow and Review
If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Bob:

Website: http://aspenfunds.us/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspenfunds

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobfraser10/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Greg Trotter, CEO and founder of Commercial Building Consultants, to unpack what real estate investors often miss during commercial due diligence. With over 40 years of experience in construction, inspections, and forensic building analysis, Greg explains how his role is to act as a "bodyguard" for investors—protecting their equity by identifying real risks before they close.

Greg walks through how property condition assessments should align with an investor's hold period and exit strategy, why cosmetic upgrades are often a distraction, and how overlooked systems like roofs, drainage, lift stations, and life-safety infrastructure can quietly derail deals. He also shares stories from projects across the U.S. and beyond, highlighting how climate, weather events, deferred maintenance, and operational blind spots create long-term financial consequences.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of why transparency, conservative planning, and honest reporting matter more than optimism in underwriting—and how knowing the full story of a building can protect both operators and investors from costly surprises down the line.

• How Greg's construction background led him into commercial inspection and consulting

• Why due diligence must account for hold period, capex timing, and exit strategy

• Commonly overlooked risks like drainage, roofing, lift stations, and life-safety systems

• How deferred maintenance compounds into multimillion-dollar problems

• Why weather events, storm surge, and climate risks are changing how buildings must be evaluated

• The difference between cosmetic improvements and protecting long-term asset value

Follow and Review
If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Greg

Website: http://thecbcteam.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebuildingguy/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Joel Kraut, co-founder and managing director of BRRRR Loans, to explore the realities of long-term real estate investing, private lending, and sustainable financial decision-making. Drawing on decades of experience as an investor, lender, and former Wall Street trader, Joel challenges popular investing shortcuts and explains why slowing down and mastering fundamentals is often the fastest path to real wealth.

The conversation dives deep into the limitations of the FIRE movement, the dangers of over-leverage, and how emotional decision-making derails otherwise solid deals. Joel shares lessons from market cycles, early BRRRR strategies, and hard-earned mistakes, emphasizing that success in real estate is far more about people, preparation, and honesty than chasing the newest strategy or acronym.

Listeners will gain practical insight into what lenders actually look for in borrowers, how to present deals professionally, why organization and credit discipline matter, and how long-term relationships—not hype—drive consistent success in real estate.

• Why the FIRE movement often overlooks patience and foundational investing

• How Joel's early real estate and refinancing experience shaped his lending philosophy

• The real dangers of over-leverage and market-specific concentration risk

• What private lenders look for beyond credit scores and projections

• Why honesty, preparation, and organization matter more than clever deal structures

• How long-term relationships create repeat business and lasting wealth

Follow and Review
If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Joel:

Website: http://www.brrrr.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrrrrLoans

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brrrrloans/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brrrr_loans/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelbrrrr/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-kraut/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brrrr_loans

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.