The Immi-Wealth Builder Podcast

From Aerospace W2 to 200+ Units: Scaling With Partnerships | Jason Hsieh

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 to choose equity growth over cash flow and how partnerships help you scale with less stress. 👤 Guest Bio Jason Hsieh immigrated from Taiwan at 13 and later built a 12+ year career in aerospace in San Jose. He started with out-of-state single-family rentals, tested multifamily as an LP, and then moved to GP roles where his focus is asset management and acquisitions. Today he holds GP interest in 200+ units across the Midwest, with current footprints in Kansas City and Cincinnati. 🔑 Key Insights 💡 Set a daily routine so you can grow while keeping your W-2. 💡 Time block and say no to shiny objects so you stay focused. 💡 One roof beats one door when you need real scale. 💡 Screen markets for diverse jobs, steady population, and lower climate risk. 💡 Hunt under-the-radar metros after the top lists get crowded. 💡 Partnerships win when values and ethics match in real life. 💡 Track the leasing conversion funnel, not only occupancy. 💡 Read the story behind the numbers and question each line item. 💡 Use tools and comps to manage from afar with clear eyes. 💡 Shift strategy as seasons change and value resets appear. 💡 Build one solid market team before expanding to the next. 💡 Quality before quantity is the mindset to keep. ⏱️ Timestamps 01:17 – From Aerospace Engineer to 200+ Units 02:58 – His Market Selection Framework 07:17 – LP to GP and Building Strong Partnerships 14:26 – Time Blocking, Focus, and Saying No 17:34 – The KPIs Every New Asset Manager Should Know 19:45 – His Multifamily Goals and Plans 20:49 – Managing Properties From Afar 24:51 – Cash Flow or Equity Growth? 29:30 – One Mindset Lesson for Future Leaders 🤝 Connect With Our Guest Email: jason@formosaequity.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hsieh-17014a25 Instagram: https://instagram.com/jason.h.rei Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.hsieh.7503 👋 Connect With Me Giang Nguyen Multifamily Investor Mortgage Broker Founder – One River Capital Website: https://onerivercapital.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? 💬 Send it to a friend 🌟 Leave a review ✅ Subscribe for more immigrant stories & wealth strategies.

Solo Hustle to $450K/Month With Remote Leverage | Abbas Mohammed

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 founder of Remote Leverage, a recruiting firm that helps U.S. businesses hire experienced Latin American remote team members. He started as a teen real estate agent in San Jose, scaled by building a 25-VA engine, and became a Top 50 RE/MAX performer. Realizing his edge was team-building and systems, he launched Remote Leverage and grew from $50k to $450k/month in about 7–8 months by hiring higher-level talent, building SOPs, and installing manager-led teams. His mission: make global talent accessible so founders can free their calendars and grow faster. 🔑 Key Insights 💡 Buy back time first and revenue follows.  💡 Hire for experience so you coach less and scale faster.  💡 Replace “How do I?” with “Who can do this?”  💡 Set clear KPIs so remote teams know exactly how to win.  💡 Track work transparently to raise productivity and trust.  💡 Hire fast and fire fast to protect momentum.  💡 Promote managers and manage the managers, not 50 people.  💡 Start with lowest-value tasks and climb the ladder.  💡 A single right hire can 10× revenue and execution.  💡 Clarify roles and pay on time to keep churn low.  ⏱️ Timestamps 01:35 — Why Remote Leverage Exists 06:13 — Manage 55 Staff Without Burning Out 09:05 — Don’t Learn It, Recruit It 11:37 — What Abbas Works On Now 12:27 — Staffing vs. Recruiting Explained 17:37 — VA Starter Playbook 19:55 — Retention Playbook That Works 22:04 — Build Smart Multi-Hat Teams 24:22 — First VA Prep Checklist 26:19 — 3 Moves to Start Today 28:22 — Book a Call + Next Steps 🤝 Connect With Our Guest Abbas Mohammed Founder – Remote Leverage Website: https://remoteleverage.com [https://remoteleverage.com] Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556467767577 [https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556467767577] Instagram: https://instagram.com/remoteleverageva [https://instagram.com/remoteleverageva] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/104075680/admin/dashboard [https://linkedin.com/company/104075680/admin/dashboard] 👋 Connect With Me Giang Nguyen Multifamily Investor Commercial Mortgage Broker Founder – One River Capital Website: https://onerivercapital.com [https://onerivercapital.com] Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor] Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor] FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect [https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect] FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide [https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide] ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out! 🔔 Subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy.

Imposter Syndrome to Owning the Room: Sales, Real Estate, Impact | Christine Valdes

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 pharmaceutical sales leader and real-estate investor raised in Los Angeles by parents who immigrated from the Philippines. She has 25+ years in the pharmaceutical industry, lives in Dallas, and—alongside her husband—owns a business. In the last three years they bought a 44-unit, LP’d in about 457 doors, flipped a home, and reallocated their portfolio toward real estate. She’s currently raising for a land-development deal. 🔑 Key Insights 💡 Compare yourself to your own starting line, not someone else’s finish line. 💡 Imposter feelings fade when you act, learn, and keep showing up. 💡 Your W-2 can be a powerful funding partner for investing. 💡 Every interaction is opportunity; lead with value and listen first. 💡 Buy assets on purpose or lifestyle spending will eat your surplus. 💡 Sales basics win: know the customer, match value to real needs. 💡 Grow in seasons; stack strategies as time and energy allow. 💡 Rebalance your portfolio when goals shift, not just when markets do. ⏱️ Timestamps 01:05 — Who is Christine beyond the resume? 01:28 — Immigrant upbringing and oldest-daughter pressure 06:51 — Imposter syndrome and belonging 10:16 — Chemistry to Pfizer to leading in pharma 13:27 — Every interaction is an opportunity 17:24 — From flips to a 44-unit and 457 LP doors 22:17 — Balancing family, wealth building & self-care 26:06 — Biggest surprise in business 27:37 — Charity she supports and why 🤝 Connect With Our Guest Christine Valdes Website: https://christinevaldes.com [https://christinevaldes.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinesariovaldes [https://www.instagram.com/christinesariovaldes] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinesariovaldes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinesariovaldes] 💛 Charity Spotlight Life Impact International (https://lifeimpactintl.org [https://lifeimpactintl.org]) — fights child trafficking and supports rescued children 👋 Connect With Me Giang Nguyen Multifamily Investor Commercial Mortgage Broker Founder – One River Capital Website: https://onerivercapital.com [https://onerivercapital.com] Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor] Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor] FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect [https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect] FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide [https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide] ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out. 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy!

Fix the Why: Data-Driven Healing That Lasts | Joya Van Der Laan

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 nurse practitioner and founder of Nourish House Calls, a concierge practice blending functional and regenerative medicine with traditional care. She focuses on root causes, personalized plans, and whole-person healing—covering sleep, nutrition, movement, stress, and hormone optimization. Joya’s approach proves that health powers better decisions, protects time with family, and sustains the long game. 🔑 Key Insights 💡 Start with foundations: sleep, protein and produce, movement, sunlight. 💡 “Normal labs” with abnormal symptoms means keep digging for root causes. 💡 Hormone shifts can change mood, energy, weight, libido, and sleep. 💡 Build a plan after testing and recheck key markers about every three months. 💡 Find licensed providers through IFM and A4M directories. 💡 Aim for direction not perfection because progress beats perfect. 💡 Protect marriage and community with intentional rhythms and assuming good intent. 💡 Do not blame everything on aging. ⏱️ Timestamps 01:09 — Why functional medicine? 03:26 — From clinician to business owner 04:40 — Building health foundations 07:39 — “Normal labs,” real symptoms 10:07 — How to find a functional medicine provider 12:17 — Women’s and men’s common issues 15:13 — Care cadence and retesting 16:47 — Building a business with your spouse 21:36 — Functional medicine misconceptions 26:56 — Where to find Joya 🤝 Connect With Our Guest Joya Van Der Laan Founder of Nourish House Calls Website: https://nourishhousecalls.com [https://nourishhousecalls.com] Facebook: https://facebook.com/NourishHouseCalls [https://facebook.com/NourishHouseCalls] Instagram: https://instagram.com/nourishhousecalls [https://instagram.com/nourishhousecalls] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joyavanderlaan [https://linkedin.com/in/joyavanderlaan] 💛 Charity Spotlight Christ Church of Oak Brook — https://www.christchurch.us [https://www.christchurch.us/] Supporting faith, family, and local community programs 👋 Connect With Me Giang Nguyen Multifamily Investor Commercial Mortgage Broker Founder – One River Capital Website: https://onerivercapital.com Facebook: ⁠https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor⁠ [https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor] Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor [https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor] FREE Discovery Call: https://tidycal.com/giangnguyen/lets-connect-one-rivercapital [https://tidycal.com/giangnguyen/lets-connect-one-rivercapital] FREE Guide: https://invest.onerivercapital.com/51863/your-ultimate-guide-tomultifamily-syndication [https://invest.onerivercapital.com/51863/your-ultimate-guide-tomultifamily-syndication] ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out! 🔔 Subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy.

Build Wealth Together: Community, Capital, and Family Freedom | RJ de Leon

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 real estate investor, developer, capital raiser, and community builder. He began in accounting and sales, bought a first multifamily early with his wife Nicky, and later built a construction company to solve rehab problems. Today, he invests and develops in the Chicagoland area and Florida, has 85+ units, has raised $14M+ across ventures, and co-leads investor communities serving 8,000+ members. His work shows a simple path: learn in public, start with your circle, invest first yourself, then invite others. 🔑 Key Insights 💡 Education matters, but action wins when you set a clear buy box. 💡 Your first partners are often in your existing circle. Ask for help. 💡 Start as a passive investor to vet operators before partnering. 💡 Raise capital by performing first with your own money. 💡 Niche down: high-end new builds created better margins locally. 💡 Community grows when you protect it from spam and noise. 💡 Divide and conquer at home and in business to sustain energy. 💡 Choose partners with care; contracts can’t fix bad character. 💡 Know your season: chase cash flow or time freedom on purpose. 💡 Patience to know where you are prevents risky decisions. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:01:55 — Why switch from accounting to investing? 00:04:03 — How did you buy your first multifamily fast? 00:07:00 — What mindset shift led you into development? 00:14:31 — Who does what on your team and with partners? 00:19:13 — How did you build a construction team from scratch? 00:23:14 — How did you grow an 8,000-member community? 00:26:27 — How do you balance business growth and family? 00:35:41 — What is the best advice you received from a seasoned investor? 00:36:49 — Cause you support and why it matters. 00:37:51 — Where can listeners follow your journey? 🤝 Connect With Our Guest RJ de Leon Co-founder – NVR Capital Website: https://nvrcapital.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/rjtheinvestor Facebook: https://facebook.com/RJtherealestatementor LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rjdeleon 💛 Charity Spotlight Wilson Disease Association https://wilsondisease.org — provides support and hope to people impacted by Wilson disease worldwide so that they may lead the best quality of life possible 👋 Connect With Me Giang Nguyen Multifamily Investor Commercial Mortgage Broker Founder – One River Capital Website: https://onerivercapital.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/thatsalsainvestor Facebook: https://facebook.com/thatsalsainvestor LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/thatsalsainvestor FREE Discovery Call: https://links.onerivercapital.com/lets-connect FREE Guide: https://links.onerivercapital.com/multifamily-syndication-guide ⭐ Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend and let me know what stood out! 🔔 Subscribe for weekly real conversations on time freedom, wealth, and legacy.