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What if the secret to building real wealth isn’t working harder, but getting smarter about ownership and leverage? In today’s episode, Steven chats with entrepreneur and investor Joe Edgar as he shares how calling himself a “lazy entrepreneur” actually helped him win. From buying his first fixer-upper at 14 to building tech platforms and launching Loca, Joe breaks down the difference between income, ownership, and systems that work without you. He shares lessons from real estate, venture capital, and time spent with Aboriginal communities in Australia that shaped his views on money and simplicity. If you earn well but feel stuck on a treadmill, this conversation will hit home. Learn how to let your money work harder than your time and build steady, lasting wealth.

Joe Edgar is an entrepreneur, investor, and technology founder known for his early start in real estate and his focus on scalable business models. He purchased and renovated his first property at just 14 years old, building a foundation in real estate that later expanded into lending, angel investing, and venture capital. Over time, he founded and led multiple technology platforms, including property management software and the local commerce rewards app Loca. Edgar has also worked with government-backed investment programs and venture funds, bringing a strong perspective on capital allocation and startup growth. Often calling himself a “lazy entrepreneur,” he promotes building systems that create leverage, passive income, and long-term value rather than trading time for money.

Connect with Joe:
Website: ​​https://loca.us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-edgar-7a018521/
X: https://x.com/Joe_Edgar_
YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Nyvxy-oCht0PX_sELkslg


Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(2:40) Meet Joe Edgar
(5:18) Buying a house at 14
(13:35) Australia and cultural lessons
(20:02) Why lifestyle inflation keeps people stuck
(24:45) Lifestyle vs scalable entrepreneurs
(28:30) The vision behind Loca
(42:44) Connecting local businesses with real estate ecosystems
(52:20) Venture capital and fund of funds explained
(1:09:21) Investment strategies: Real Estate vs. Venture Capital
(1:19:47) The importance of home ownership and passive income
(1:30:12) Navigating investment choices
(1:44:42) Where to find and learn more about Joe and his resources
(1:45:25) Outro

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For more resources and guides, check these out:

• Investor 101 https://www.aritacapital.com/investor-101-resource/#
• Due Diligence Resource https://www.aritacapital.com/dd-checklist-resource/

If you want to learn more, reach out at:

Email: steven@aritacapital.com

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

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.arita

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What if the real key to strong investor returns isn’t focusing on investors first, but creating an amazing living experience for residents? In this episode, Steven sits down with John Makarewicz, President of Ferris Capital Partners, to break down what operator-level thinking truly means. John shares his journey from early struggles in college to building and exiting a major real estate company, and how clear systems, strong culture, and disciplined execution drive long-term results. He explains his simple 1-3-5 framework for goal setting, why resident experience fuels investor success, and how he builds high-performing teams across multiple markets. If you’re a high-income tech professional weighing DIY rentals versus passive investing, this conversation will give you clarity and confidence.

John Makarewicz is an experienced entrepreneur and real estate operator, currently serving as President and Managing Partner of Ferris Capital Partners. He specializes in multifamily real estate investing, focusing on acquiring and improving apartment communities to create strong returns for investors while delivering an exceptional living experience for residents. Prior to Ferris Capital, John served as President of Mark Spain Real Estate, where he helped scale the company significantly and played a key role in its growth and eventual private equity exit. Throughout his career, John has been known for his focus on systems, leadership, culture, and operational discipline, building teams that execute at a high level and drive long-term value.

Connect with John
Website: https://www.fariscapitalpartners.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-makarewicz-23589a37/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_makarewicz/


Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(3:06) John’s background and private equity exit
(7:28) Systems and operational discipline
(10:33) Identifying his role in the business
(20:17) Target markets and investment strategy
(24:36) Resident-first philosophy
(26:56) Building culture through daily fundamentals
(33:45) The 1-3-5 goal-setting framework
(44:49) Passive investing vs. DIY rentals
(53:59) Books, learning, and long-term growth
(55:45) Where to find John and his team
(56:49) Outro

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Share this with your tech friends who you think will benefit from this podcast. Please also rate and subscribe so this podcast can reach more audiences.

For more resources and guides, check these out:

• Investor 101 https://www.aritacapital.com/investor-101-resource/#
• Due Diligence Resource https://www.aritacapital.com/dd-checklist-resource/

If you want to learn more, reach out at:

Email: steven@aritacapital.com

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

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.arita

Send a text

What actually makes money in self-storage, and why do smart people still get it wrong? In this episode, we sit down with Jacob Vanderslice, co-founder and principal at VanWest Partners, for an honest, operator-first conversation about how these businesses really work. Jacob shares how pricing and revenue decisions happen day to day, why his team walked away from REIT management to run everything in-house, and how small choices add up to real NOI growth. We also talk about real risks investors should pay attention to right now, including new supply, local market pressure, and changes in how often people move. The big takeaway is simple. Strong results come from discipline, fast response, and caring deeply about operations.

Jacob Vanderslice is a seasoned real estate investor and co-founder of VanWest Partners, a Denver-based investment firm that focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing value-add self-storage facilities across the U.S. He began investing in real estate in 2005 and now leads VanWest’s Investor Relations effort, where he is known for high transparency in reporting and strong partner relationships. Under his leadership, the firm has deployed hundreds of millions in capital into self-storage and other real estate assets, including significant residential acquisitions earlier in his career. Before real estate, Jacob served as a professional firefighter and arson investigator in Colorado. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Craig Hospital, which specializes in neurorehabilitation and research. Outside work, he enjoys aviation, skiing, hiking, and spending time with his wife and two sons.

Connect with Jacob
Website: https://www.vanwestpartners.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-vanderslice-02905b16b/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanWestPartners/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanwest_partners/?hl=en
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanwest-partners/


Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(2:12) Jacob’s journey into real estate and his family life
(5:28) Why self-storage became the long-term focus
(9:46) Revenue management, data, and month-to-month pricing
(17:21) The hard lesson that led away from REIT property management
(20:41) Why controlling operations changes performance
(30:45) Where self-storage fits in today’s risk landscape
(35:24) Who self-storage customers really are and why they stay
(46:01) Why taking calculated risk is the only way to learn
(50:07) Outro

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Share this with your tech friends who you think will benefit from this podcast. Please also rate and subscribe so this podcast can reach more audiences.

For more resources and guides, check these out:

• Investor 101 https://www.aritacapital.com/investor-101-resource/#
• Due Diligence Resource https://www.aritacapital.com/dd-checklist-resource/

If you want to learn more, reach out at:

Email: steven@aritacapital.com

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

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.arita