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In this episode of Weiss Advice, host Yonah Weiss sits down with real estate investor and broker Christina Kovacs to unpack her full journey through residential flips, short-term rentals, multifamily ownership, and asset management at scale.

Christina shares how getting her hands dirty early in her career shaped her as an operator, why she ultimately pivoted away from single-asset investing, and the lessons she learned the hard way about property management, partner selection, and staying focused in one lane.

They also dive into tenant management, underwriting realities in Class C assets, the power of LinkedIn as a business tool, and why Christina is now doubling down on multifamily and commercial brokerage heading into 2026.

This is a must-listen for investors who want real, operator-level insight into what actually drives performance in multifamily deals.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:01:30 – Christina’s early real estate journey and live-in flips
03:30 – Pivoting from single-family and STRs into multifamily
06:45 – Joint ventures vs syndications and building confidence as an operator
07:50 – Why property management can destroy a great deal
09:00 – The 42-question property manager vetting process
11:00 – Auditing ledgers, hidden expense creep, and CapEx tracking
16:15 – Tenant horror stories and inherited problems after acquisition
18:45 – Managing delinquency and underwriting reality in Class C assets
20:00 – How LinkedIn became a powerful networking and deal-making tool
22:20 – The “Final Four” questions: books, skills, failure, and success
26:30 – Transitioning into commercial real estate brokerage
28:15 – What success truly means to Christina today

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Scaling from hands-on investing to multifamily operations
• Property management due diligence and accountability
• Asset management systems that protect investor returns
• Avoiding shiny object syndrome
• Leveraging LinkedIn for real business growth
• Building a long-term, focused investment strategy

🌐 Connect with Christina

Learn more and connect with Christina at ChristinaKovacs.com

www.linkedin.com/in/kovacsmultifamily

facebook.com/christinakovacs8

instagram.com/christina_kovacs

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In this episode of Weiss Advice, host Yonah Weiss sits down with Gabe Einhorn, a 23-year-old entrepreneur building at the intersection of real estate, technology, and faith.

Gabe shares his journey from capital markets into founding VryfID, a renter-first real estate tech platform designed to securely store and verify sensitive rental documents—solving one of the biggest pain points in competitive rental markets like New York City. With no prior tech background, Gabe breaks down how he assembled a team, learned the space, and turned a real-world problem into a scalable startup.

The conversation also dives deep into Gabe’s faith-based clothing brand Prays, and the viral street interviews that unexpectedly transformed his confidence, personal growth, and connection to God. Gabe explains why he chose to speak openly about faith in professional spaces where it’s often discouraged—and how doing so has opened doors instead of closing them.

Finally, Gabe reflects on entrepreneurship, cold calling, personal discipline, and what success truly means at an early stage of life and business.

⏱️ Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – 02:10 | Gabe’s background: capital markets, real estate finance & early career
• 02:50 – 06:00 | Launching Prays: faith, clothing, and viral street interviews
• 07:30 – 09:55 | Overcoming fear, confidence growth & approaching high-profile figures
• 10:50 – 14:00 | The problem with NYC rentals & the idea behind VryfID
• 14:00 – 17:30 | Renter fraud, document verification & landlord buy-in
• 18:45 – 20:10 | Balancing a startup with brokerage work & long-term vision
• 24:50 – 30:30 | Final Four questions: books, skills, success & mindset

🔗 Connect with Gabe

• Social: Gabe Einhorn (all major platforms)

linkedin.com/in/gabe-einhorn-55b74822b

https://www.instagram.com/praysstudios/

• Faith Brand: Prays / Pray Studios
• Real Estate Tech: VryfID (VerifyID)

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What if the greatest investment you could make isn't in real estate, stocks, or even private credit—but in yourself? Dave Wolcott, former Marine officer turned alternative investment expert, shares how studying millionaires and billionaires led him to discover a holistic approach to wealth that goes far beyond your bank account. In this episode, Dave breaks down private credit (the hard money lending of the business world), explains why he focuses on just three asset classes, and reveals how investors are achieving 20%+ returns by cutting out the middlemen.

[00:00 - 05:30] From Marines to Triplets: The Wake-Up Call

• Served as an officer in the Marine Corps, traveled the world including Israel
• Had triplets in 2000, quadrupling his family size overnight with an 18-month-old at home

[05:31 - 09:25] The Six Forms of Capital: Beyond Financial Wealth

• The greatest investment is in yourself—not just the next deal
• Defines holistic wealth across six dimensions: financial, intellectual, spiritual, human, emotional, and social capital
  
  
  

[09:26 - 15:05] Private Credit Explained: The Business World's Hard Money Lending

• Banks are tightening regulations, creating gaps in funding for growing small businesses
• Private credit fills the need for fast capital—think roofing companies with 3 years of backlogged work after hurricanes

[15:06 - 20:05] How to Access Institutional-Quality Returns

• Pooling investor capital through a fund model to bring $10M+ to sponsors
• Gets the same terms as major institutions by working directly with sponsors (no middlemen)

[20:06 - 25:10] The Three-Asset Strategy: Real Estate, Energy, and Private Credit

• Ultra-wealthy get really good at 1-3 asset classes for best due diligence and deal flow

[25:11 - 31:00] Time Is the Real Asset

• Questions the accumulation theory: why defer taxes in a 401(k) when taxes will likely increase?

[31:01 - 33:05] Final Four & How to Connect

Connect with Dave:

Website: https://holisticwealthstrategy.com (free book download)

Podcast: Wealth Strategy Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy

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What if the key to successful multifamily investing isn't just about the numbers—but about the people living in your properties? Joe Rinderknecht, the cowboy-hat-wearing founder of Cowboy Capital, shares his unconventional path from shoveling manure on a Utah ranch to operating over 1,000 multifamily units.

[01:40 - 06:15] From Ranch to Real Estate: Building on Grit

• Grew up ranching and breaking horses in northern Utah—learned that your word is your bond
• Father left the ranch for construction and cabinet making, taught Joe everything from concrete to framing

[06:40 - 10:10] Trial by Fire: The 80-Unit Section 42 Property

• Asked for a property management job with zero experience—got thrown into an 80-unit low-income housing property
• Property had no manager for two weeks, with sky-high delinquency, vacancy, crime, drugs, and cockroaches

[10:11 - 15:20] The Path to Becoming a Sponsor

• Never planned to stay in property management long-term—goal was always to learn and move on
• Admits being "unemployable" with a resume showing 6-8 month stints at various companies

[16:35 - 23:35] Impact Investing: Making Every Dollar Matter

• Lost his brother (age 20) and grandmother in a 2013 car accident—nearly died himself
• Provides four types of support: capital, food, construction/home modifications, and mindset coaching

[23:36 - 26:40] Why Treating Tenants Well Is Good Business

• Questions how slumlords succeed when they don't care about people's lives
• When tenants feel like a unit is their home, turnover drops, repairs decrease, delinquency falls

[26:41 - 32:00] Rapid Growth and What's Next

• Bought 4 deals (419 units) since September 2024, currently under contract on 117 more units
• Believes there's a great buying opportunity in the next 10-24 months

[26:45 - 32:55] Final Four & How to Connect

Connect with Joe:

Website: https://cowboycapital.us
Email: Joe@CowboyCapital.us
LinkedIn: Joe Rinderknecht
Instagram: @joe_rinder

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Key Quote:
"If you can get a tenant to feel like their unit is their home, your turno

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Sometimes the best business decision is knowing when to let go. Amy Calandrino, founder of a commercial real estate brokerage, shares her journey from hammering in her own signs during the 2010 recession to building a team of nearly 10 advisors—and why she ultimately chose to close her firm to join Cushman & Wakefield. In this episode, Amy reveals the hidden costs of entrepreneurship, the importance of aligning your work with your values, and how she's redirecting her energy toward meaningful impact through her family foundation's financial literacy programs.

[01:05 - 04:10] From Vermont to Orlando: Building a Career on Grit

• Started working full-time at age 13 and put herself through college debt-free
• Worked alongside her husband in a law office where she learned about commercial real estate

[04:25 - 07:20] The Hidden Costs of Running a Brokerage

• Founded her brokerage in 2010 during the economic downturn with a shoestring budget
• Grew from solo founder to nearly 10 advisors by 2022

[07:21 - 11:45] Making the Leap: Consulting the Best in the Business

• Sought advice from industry leaders Sarah Malcolm, Allison Weiss, and Beth Azor
• Realized she could still be an entrepreneur without owning a brokerage

[11:46 - 19:30] The Three-Month Transition and Its Unexpected Lessons

• Spent 90 days transitioning clients and wrapping up her brokerage
• Experienced grief despite making the right decision

[19:31 - 27:15] Redirecting Energy: The Aspiring Entrepreneur Program

• Founded a family foundation with her husband to give back to the community
• Created an entrepreneurship program for elementary school students

[27:20 - 31:50] Final Four & How to Connect

Connect with Amy:

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

Email: Amy.Calandrino@cushwake.com

Book: "From Perfect to Real" (available on Amazon)

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None of this could be possible without the awesome team at Buzzsprout. They make it easy to get your show listed on every major podcast platform.

Tweetable Quote:

"Success to me is serving my clients in the best way possible and knowing each and every day that I've put forth the most amount of effort that I can. I never want to p

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What happens when a tech executive discovers she can beat her financial advisor's returns by 5%? Divya Smith, founder of Ascending Avenue, shares her journey from 20+ years in Fortune 500 leadership to managing $300M+ in multifamily assets while helping others achieve financial freedom without sacrificing family time.

[00:00 - 07:00] From Corporate Technology to Real Estate Investing

• 20+ years in technology leadership and executive roles at Fortune 500 companies
• The unsettling realization that financial advisors didn't know as much as expected
• Testing her investment skills: 19% returns vs advisor's 14% (minus fees)
• How a LinkedIn connection who quit corporate for real estate sparked the transition

[07:01 - 14:00] Learning from Single Family Rental Mistakes

• Managing one property with 5 tenants over 15 years - including police visits and drug issues
• Being $600 below market rent due to discomfort raising prices on struggling families

[14:01 - 20:00] Building a Different Kind of Real Estate Business

• Currently managing 3 investments per year (down from 4 to avoid burnout)
• The importance of in-house property management and construction teams
• Creating community through quarterly events: pizza parties, Halloween celebrations, Easter hunts
• Why Class B multifamily became the sweet spot for investments

[20:01 - 29:00] Final Four & The Real Goal of Financial Freedom

• Worst job: Asking for $9M in leftover funds for community initiatives - and being denied
• Paradigm-shifting book: "Atomic Habits" by James Clear (re-read annually)
• Skill to learn: Guitar (gifted 2 years ago, still waiting to be played)
• Success definition: Helping others define their own success and touching 10,000 lives through career coaching

Connect with Divya:

Website: https://www.ascendingavenue.com

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

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

LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW by clicking this link.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Be sure to follow me on the below platforms:

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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None of this could be possible without the awesome team at Buzzsprout. They make it easy to get your show listed on every major podcast platform.

Key Quote:

"The goal is not to quit your job. The goal is to do what you love to do." - Divya Smith

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What happens when a Hollywood producer trades movie sets for multifamily properties? Michael Jacobs, founder of Mar Vista Entertainment (sold to Fox Studios), shares his transition from 25 years in entertainment to building a vertically integrated real estate empire in Pittsburgh.

[00:01 - 08:05] From Hollywood Producer to Real Estate Investor

• Built Mar Vista Entertainment from a 2003 business plan to Fox Studios acquisition
• Specialized in $5M-and-under movie production for Netflix, Disney Channel, Lifetime
• The decision to transition away from Hollywood's demanding travel schedule
• Started with three duplexes to test the rental market in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill

[08:06 - 15:40] Building a Vertically Integrated Real Estate Business

• How frustration with general contractors led to building an in-house construction team
• The challenge of 100-year-old infrastructure: cast iron pipes, knob-and-tube wiring
• Expanding from rental properties to becoming one of Pittsburgh's premier design-build firms
• Why complete gut renovations became the standard approach for old housing stock

[15:41 - 22:10] The "Singles and Doubles" Business Philosophy

• Why avoiding the pressure for home runs and grand slams builds sustainable businesses
• The danger of social media hype and "get rich quick" mentalities
• How to test, measure, and scale gradually while watching the numbers
• Balancing tenant satisfaction with property upgrades to reduce turnover

[22:11 - 28:40] Final Four & Building for the Future

• Worst job: Cleaning motel rooms for $6/hour time-and-a-half on Sundays
• Paradigm-shifting book: "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell
• Skill to learn: Guitar (joining the ranks of aspiring musical entrepreneurs)
• Success definition: Providing for family and keeping nine children and two grandchildren happy

Connect with Michael:

Website: https://marvistadb.com
LinkedIn: Michael Jacobs

LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW by clicking this link.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Be sure to follow me on the below platforms:

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www.yonahweiss.com

None of this could be possible without the awesome team at Buzzsprout. They make it easy to get your show listed on every major podcast platform.

Tweetable Quotes:

"The numbers drive everything at the end of the day. " - Michael Jacobs

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What does it take to gain the trust of investors and build a business that thrives in such a relationship-driven industry?

In this episode of Weiss Advice, Yonah speaks with Julia Anderson, founder of Capital Catalyst and fractional CMO, who shares her journey from managing restaurants to becoming a marketing leader in real estate syndication. Julia explains how her early hands-on business experience prepared her to help capital raisers build credibility, manage marketing systems, and create authentic connections with investors. She also discusses the pitfalls she sees when working with new clients, the importance of CRM systems, and why personal branding often outweighs company branding when raising capital.

[00:01 - 07:30] From Restaurants to Real EstateKey Takeaways:

• How Julia transitioned from restaurant operations to real estate marketing.
• Why her early leadership roles shaped her confidence and skillset.
• The importance of seeing opportunity in unexpected industries.

[07:31 - 14:00] Thrown Into the World of Multifamily

• What Julia learned at her first Best Ever Conference.
• How she began to understand multifamily syndication from the ground up.
• The significance of asking questions and staying curious in new industries.

[14:01 - 21:30] Marketing Pitfalls and CRM Challenges

• Why CRMs often fail without proper customization.
• How messaging clarity impacts investor trust and action.
• The need to tailor marketing systems to both the business and its audience.

[21:31 - 28:30] The Power of Personal Branding

• Why investors follow people, not just brands.
• How authenticity and storytelling build trust.
• What the significance of consistency is in social media and content creation.

[28:31 - 34:47] Always Be Raising: Building Long-Term Systems

• Why raising capital isn’t an overnight process.
• How the right systems create sustainable investor relationships.
• The importance of preparation before a deal is on the table.

Connect with Julia:

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

LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW by clicking this link.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Be sure to follow me on the platforms below:

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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None of this could be possible without the awesome team at Buzzsprout. They make it easy to get your show listed on every major podcast platform.

Tweetable Quotes:

“People follow a person. They don't follow a brand… So they need to know who you are as a person.” - Julia Anderson

“The systems and the processes you build in a solid marketing foundation are what keep you from ever needing to scramble to raise c

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