BigMikeFund

In this tactical episode of the Big Mike Fund Podcast, "Big Mike" - Mike Zlotnik sits down with Jason Balara , founder of Lark Capital. Jason shares his journey from working in construction as a teenager in the Los Angeles area to building a multifamily syndication firm focused on high-impact value-add strategies. Download our complimentary guide: How to Choose a Smart Real Estate Investment Fund...

In this episode of the Big Mike Fund Podcast, "Big Mike" Zlotnik sits down with Steven Arita, a Senior Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and founder of Arita Capital. Steven shares his journey from a small town in Hawaii to the tech hubs of Austin, Texas, and explains how he used real estate to design a path to financial freedom without quitting his day job. Whether you are a broker...

In this high-energy episode of the Big Mike Fund Podcast , "Big Mike" Zlotnik welcomes Oliver Graf , the visionary behind Big Block Realty . Based in sunny San Diego, Big Block Realty has consistently ranked as one of the top real estate teams in the nation by sales volume and holds the #1 spot in California. STOP! Your free eBook is ready. 🎁🚀 Get into the link to get instant access (before we t...

In this deep-dive episode of the Big Mike Fund Podcast , "Big Mike" Zlotnik sits down with Sean Ross , CEO of 1031X . With over 32 years of industry experience, Sean’s firm is one of the longest-standing boutique qualified intermediaries in the country. Sean brings a massive wealth of financial knowledge—ranging from M&A and currency trading to economics—to help investors navigate the complexi...

In this informative episode of the Big Mike Fund Podcast , "Big Mike" Zlotnik welcomes Owen Lynn from Advanta IRA . With a decade of experience at institutional giants like Merrill Lynch and TD Ameritrade, Owen now helps investors break free from the limitations of traditional brokerages by utilizing Self-Directed IRAs (SDIRAs) . Whether you are a brokerage leader looking to scale or a real estate...

In this highly anticipated reunion on the Big Mike Fund Podcast , “Big Mike” Zlotnik sits down with Tim Bratz for their first deep dive since COVID to discuss the evolving landscape of commercial real estate. Tim, founder of Legacy Wealth Holdings, shares how he scaled a portfolio to over 4,000 units - and why the growing “operational friction” of managing at scale pushed him to build a technology...

In this deep-dive episode of the Big Mike Fund Podcast, "Big Mike" Zlotnik sits down with Brendan Cobb to discuss why many ground-up developers struggled in 2024–2025 and how to pivot for success in 2026. Brendan breaks down his "Land Development Accelerator" model, which focuses on forcing appreciation through government approvals rather than taking on the high risk of vertical construction. Whet...

In this eye-opening episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike explores Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) with expert Matt Middendorp. Recorded during the holiday season, they break down how ESOPs serve as a powerful exit strategy for business owners—preserving control, legacy, and community impact while rewarding employees with retirement ownership. Matt explains the mechanics: creating a...

On this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike sits down with Jack Martin, co-founder of 52TEN Partners, to break down why mobile home parks remain one of the most resilient asset classes in real estate. Jack explains how shrinking supply, strong demand, and affordability drive consistent performance across market cycles. The conversation covers rent growth versus apartments, value creation...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike chats with Delta Captain James Reeman from a sunny Hawaii layover. Drawing parallels between high-stakes fighter pilot missions and savvy investing, James shares aviation's "threat brief" for risk mitigation—identifying pitfalls, prepping contingencies, and debriefing lessons to avoid repeats. From commanding F-16s and a Space Force squadron to...

Join Big Mike for a deep dive into resilient multifamily investing and life's bold pivots with Gino Barbaro, co-founder of Jake & Gino, a real estate education platform. With a self-funded portfolio exceeding 1,800 doors and $350M in assets under management—mostly in Tennessee—Gino transformed from a New York pizza shop owner to Florida-based family man, driven by a vision for his six kids' fu...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike sits down with Lancelot Lennard, a dynamic real estate and mortgage broker from Florida's Daytona area. Recorded in December 2025, they dive into the evolving Florida real estate market, including softening values, rising construction costs, and the impact of DeSantis' proposed property tax cuts for primary residences. Lancelot shares insights o...

Join Big Mike for a no-holds-barred chat with Mike Stohler, Navy veteran, former commercial airline pilot, and co-founder of Gateway Private Equity Group. With a battle-tested portfolio of over 150 value-add units—from multifamily gems scooped during the 2008 crash to boutique hotels in the U.S. and beyond—Mike embodies the grit of turning setbacks into seven-figure wins. From his small-town India...

Join Big Mike in a new episode with Chris Miles, founder of Money Ripples and author of The Work Optional Blueprint. Chris, a former Wall Street advisor who retired at 28, shares his journey from millionaire to welfare during the 2008 recession, rebuilding his wealth twice by 39. Discover how to achieve “work optional” freedom—passive income replacing job earnings—through infinite banking, tax str...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, host Mike Zlotnik (Big Mike) sits down with real estate powerhouse Chris Prefontaine, Chairman and Founder of Smart Real Estate Coach®. Chris is a 4x best-selling author, Forbes Business Council Member, and a 3-time Inc. 5000 Honoree who has led one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies. With more than three decades of experience and hundreds of crea...

In this episode of The Big Mike Fund Podcast, host Mike Zlotnik sits down with Dwan Bent-Twyford, affectionately known as The Queen of Short Sales™ and host of The Most Dwanderful Real Estate Podcast Ever. Dwan Bent-Twyford, America’s Most Sought-After Real Estate Investor™, started as a broke single mom who had just been fired from Denny’s — and went on to personally flip over 2,000 properties wh...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Mike Zlotnik sits down with Dr. Axel Meierhoefer — founder of Ideal Wealth Grower and host of the Ideal Investor Show. A former German Air Force pilot turned real estate mentor, Dr. Axel shares his extraordinary journey from flying F-111 fighter jets to helping investors achieve financial freedom through turnkey and build-to-rent (BTR) properties. Togeth...

In this episode, Big Mike welcomes Dave Seymour, retired firefighter, real estate expert, and star of A&E’s Flipping Boston. From battling fires in Boston to leading multimillion-dollar private equity deals at Freedom Venture Investments, Dave’s story is one of grit, faith, and relentless reinvention. He opens up about his journey from financial hardship to becoming a trusted investor and educ...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike sits down with Ed Mathews, founder of Clark Street Capital and host of the Real Estate Underground podcast. After 24 years in Silicon Valley startups, Ed pivoted into real estate investing, leaving corporate life behind to build a portfolio of multifamily properties, single-family flips, and now, large-scale projects like a solar farm in Connect...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike welcomes Jonathan Greene, real estate thought leader, luxury agent, coach, and host of the rapidly growing podcast Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing. Jonathan shares his unique journey from lawyer to lifelong investor, and how mindfulness and building have shaped his approach to real estate. From flipping homes with his father to investin...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Big Mike welcomes his good friend Chris Litzler, Senior Managing Director at Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation and seasoned mortgage broker with years of experience navigating complex capital markets. From the Midwest to the national stage, Chris brings a dual perspective as both a mortgage broker and investor, offering unique insights into the...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Mike welcomes Harrison Hall, a Dallas-based real estate investor, entrepreneur, and event creator with a unique blend of passions: music, real estate, and mental health advocacy. From launching a $58M real estate team to founding Elevate Event Series, Harrison has built a career that bridges business, creativity, and community. He shares how he’s turned...

In this episode of the BigMikeFund Podcast, Mike welcomes back Yonah Weiss, the powerhouse behind Weiss Advice and a leader at Madison Specs, one of the nation’s top cost segregation firms. With the new permanent 100% bonus depreciation taking effect in 2025, Yonah shares how this tax game-changer impacts real estate investors. A national cost segregation expert and educator, Yonah has facilitated...

In a market brimming with opportunity, distressed assets and disciplined leadership are key to unlocking wealth. Join host Mike Zlotnik for a powerful conversation with Trey Taylor, managing director of Trinity Family Office and author of A CEO Only Does Three Things, recorded in May 2025. From steering through the post-COVID multifamily market to seizing steep discounts—acquiring a 612-unit compl...

Ready to turbocharge your real estate investments? Join host Mike Zlotnik, the Big Mike, for an illuminating discussion with Terry Judge, founder of Core Advisors and a 19-year veteran in cost segregation. Recorded in early May 2025 amid tariff uncertainties and high interest rates, this episode dives into how cost segregation can unlock massive tax savings, especially with the anticipated return...