The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast

They say you must quit your job to build wealth. The reality? You can keep your W-2 and still grow big. In this episode, Jason Hsieh shares how he used his W-2 as a superpower to build real wealth in multifamily real estate. He breaks down how to pick under-the-radar markets, which KPIs actually matter, and how to scale responsibly when you’re busy and far from your properties. He also covers when...

If you’re exhausted from doing everything yourself, this conversation is your permission slip to stop. Abbas Mohammed shows how hiring smarter—not grinding harder—turns chaos into a calm, repeatable system. In this episode, you’ll hear the milestones, the mistakes, and the playbook any immigrant professional can use to buy back time and scale with confidence. 👤 Guest Bio Abbas Mohammed is the fou...

Most of us were taught to pick one lane: career or wealth, family or growth. In this episode, Christine shows a different path—keep a job you love, stack assets on purpose, and build with your partner without burning out. From a studio apartment start to a 44-unit deal and about 457 LP doors, she breaks down calm, clear steps busy first-gen builders can copy. 👤 Guest Bio Christine Valdes is a pha...

In this episode, we get practical about fixing the why. Board-certified nurse practitioner Joya Van Der Laan shows how simple foundations plus smart testing and tracking turn “normal labs” into real answers, so busy builders can reclaim energy, sleep, and focus. Expect clear steps, not fads, and a data-driven path to feeling like yourself again. 👤 Guest Bio Joya Van Der Laan is a board-certified...

Most people think you need to be rich or “connected” to raise millions. The truth? You can learn it. In this episode, we unpack how RJ de Leon used community and partnerships to scale then chose deals that protect time freedom and family. If you’re an immigrant professional or first-gen earner, this one shows how to start small, partner well, and buy back your time. 👤 Guest Bio RJ de Leon is a re...

In this episode, we start at the common pain point: juggling a W-2, rising rates, and the fear of getting the first deal wrong. Jay Balekar shares how he cut the noise, chose one market and one asset class, and used data to build steady cash flow that serves family and future. You’ll hear the systems he uses to recycle capital, choose partners, and keep distributions real in any rate cycle. 👤 Gue...

Most of us say yes to too much and pay for it with our time. Dr. Alex Tam shares the Eulogy Filter he uses to decide yes or no: write your eulogy, reverse your life goals, and only say yes if it gives you energy. In this episode, you’ll hear how he kept serving patients, defined financial freedom in simple terms, and grew to 200+ units with community and systems. Proof that you don’t have to give...

How does one immigrant mom turn a daily dress into a city holiday? In this episode, Sunny Shen breaks down the simple, repeatable steps behind a 10-year movement: using micro-time as a parent to create, wearing culture in public to spark curiosity, building a values-aligned team, and staying so consistent that San Francisco recognized an official QiPao Day. If you’re building community, brand, or...

Think “flip without buying” is a myth? In this episode, Joette Trinh demystifies creative financing—what it is, who it’s for, and the contract and deposit rules that actually protect your deal. Expect practical guardrails and tips for choosing the right attorney for your strategy, so you can build safely and confidently. 👤 Guest Bio Joette Trinh is a first-generation American real estate attorney...

In this episode, Peru-born, Charlotte-raised Daniela Pereyra shares how translating for her parents at 10 forged her courage—and how she built a 5.5+ year, referral-only real estate practice by choosing relationships over grind. We dig into picking your lane (without shiny-object stress), turning a $250 self-bet into paid stages, and building a family-first business that buys back time. 👤 Guest B...

What if your “too young” excuse is the green light? At 18, Sophia Mendez is finishing high school and college, working her 11th flip, and proving that asking, learning, and repeating beats waiting for permission. From joining Zoom calls at 14 to raising private money by simply asking with a clear plan and solid numbers, she’s now refining focus, delegate, and choosing family and steady growth over...

Growing up in Ukraine, Alek Ivanov clutched a sealed visa envelope on his 2004 flight to the U.S., determined to chase a bigger life. Third-shift pay of $7.75 an hour at Wawa taught him exactly what not to do when he built his own company. Two decades later, Alek leads Synergy3, a culture-first HVAC company that was twice honored with Bryant’s Medal of Excellence, while crushing Ironman races and...

What happens when love meets limitless hustle? Christina (Florida-born Realtor–investor) and Attila (Hungarian-American business owner) ditched corporate ceilings, sold swap-meet jewelry to pay rent, then turned a $30k risk into a territory-owning security business, flips worth $8 million, and stakes in 762 multifamily units—all while calling themselves each other’s “backup dancers.” Get ready to...

Ashley Cao got laid off—twice—from two tech giants. But instead of chasing another job, she turned the setback into a wake-up call. In this episode, she shares how losing her W2 helped her reclaim time, invest out of state with no experience, and build a life rooted in purpose and people. From her mother’s immigrant hustle to co-creating real estate meetups, Ashley proves you don’t need a title to...

From “medical-lab tech with no free time” to leading 150+ flips, new-construction builds, and a rental portfolio—all while raising two teen investors. Marizol Mendez breaks down the mind-shifts, missteps, and family systems that turned a library copy of Rich Dad Poor Dad into generational wealth and community impact. 👤 Guest Bio Marizol Mendez immigrated from a rural Mexican village to the U.S. a...

What if your first real-estate gamble turned a $7,500 dirt lot into a springboard for 30+ revitalized Houston neighborhoods? 🇲🇽➡️🇺🇸 Developer, investor, and author Jose Berlanga shares the unfiltered playbook behind three decades of inner-city turnarounds, bootstrap financing, and the moment he paused a multimillion-dollar business just to be “Dad.” Expect a masterclass on vision, risk, and legacy...

Think private equity is only for billionaires? Alice Chen is here to blow that myth apart. The Taiwan-born, Canada-raised ex-M&A lawyer left her six-figure “Suits-style” career to build and exit multiple businesses, then launched land-development funds open to everyday accredited investors. In this master-class episode, she unpacks fund structures, red-flag due diligence, and the mindset shift...

What if the condo you house-hacked during the Great Recession could snowball into an 8-figure flipping machine? Elisa Covington left a cushy Silicon-Valley tech job, survived a DIY disaster that almost broke her relationship, and now sells up to 20 homes a year across the Bay Area—all while mentoring newcomers and planning a nonprofit to educate girls in Asia. If you’re stuck between a boring W-2...

Elizabeth Hernandez is the definition of focus and follow-through. She passed the CPA exam while going through cancer treatment—and working from home with five kids during COVID lockdown. Now she owns a tax firm and a growing rental portfolio, all built one step at a time. In this episode, Elizabeth breaks down the mindset, systems, and sacrifices it took to go from overwhelmed to ownership. Her j...

Tushar Sharma went from a small Himalayan town to building a MedTech company backed by top surgeons. In this episode, he shares how he turned doubt into innovation, used feedback to grow, and made the leap from PhD to CEO. If you’re an immigrant or first-gen professional ready to turn your skills into something bigger—this story is your roadmap. 👤 Guest Bio Tushar Sharma is the founder and CEO of...

What if your biggest wealth-building move doesn’t require quitting your job? In this episode, we dive into the real story behind Vince Rodriguez’s journey from buying a beat-up triplex in Bakersfield to building a $10M real estate portfolio—all while holding down a full-time W2 job. From nightmare tenants to smart partnerships, Vince breaks down the honest (and hilarious) lessons he learned along...

What if you didn’t wait to feel ready — and just started building wealth scared? In this episode, Tracy Keffer shares her journey from immigrant life in Ohio to becoming a successful real estate investor and agent. From buying her first fixer-upper to finding creative ways to scale, Tracy shows us that you don’t need a perfect plan to get started — just the courage to try. This is a must-listen fo...

What if everything you believed about yourself—your limits, your worth, your identity—was shaped by someone else’s rules? In this eye-opening episode, Lydia Knight shares her extraordinary journey from being raised in a cult to becoming the CEO of a global coaching company. She shows us how to break free from limiting beliefs, rewire our minds, and boldly create lives of purpose, freedom, and impa...

In this episode, Giang Nguyen speaks with Valentina Brega about her journey from arriving in the U.S. with just $400 to creating a multi-7-figure virtual assistant business. Valentina shares how she overcame housing and credit challenges, rose as a $9M+ revenue leader in real estate, and built a global VA placement agency helping entrepreneurs scale through smart hiring and delegation. This episod...

In this episode, Giang Nguyen welcomes real estate investor and entrepreneur Sarah-Jade Lacoursiere for a powerful conversation on building wealth in the U.S. as an immigrant. Originally from Canada, Sarah shares how she went from corporate executive to full-time real estate agent, investor, and team leader—creating financial freedom through house hacking, rental properties, and mindset shifts. If...