Invest in You

Latest Episodes:

Building a $405M Portfolio: Why Data Beats "Gut" Investing Nov 06, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Invest in You podcast, host Fredrik Sandvall sits down with Neal Bawa to explore the intersection of real estate, data-driven investing, and the massive disruption coming from Artificial Intelligence. Neal shares his journey as a technologist living in California who built a real estate portfolio with over $405 million in assets under management. The conversation unpacks the severe housing shortage in the US, global demographic shifts, and how AI agents will revolutionize white-collar work and traditional business models over the next decade.

Key Takeaways

Data beats gut feeling: Successful investing requires prioritizing hard data over human intuition, which often leads to poor decisions.
Trust requires interaction: Raising capital and building investor trust happens through consistent interaction and education, using scalable platforms like webinars and podcasts.
The US housing shortage: The United States faces a massive housing deficit not because of a lack of land, but due to the prohibitive costs of building new infrastructure (like sewers, roads, and utilities) in undeveloped areas.
Global demographics: Aging populations will force structural changes worldwide, drawing lessons from Japan's approach to consolidating elderly care into metropolitan areas to save on infrastructure and healthcare costs.
The AI revolution: Agentic AI (using tools like Claude and open-source models) is poised to take over vast amounts of white-collar work; traditional service businesses will soon use AI agents to exponentially scale revenue without increasing human headcount.

Neal Bawa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-bawa/
Podcast Community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k
Fredrik Sandvall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

Guest Bio: Neal Bawa

Neal Bawa is a technologist and real estate entrepreneur with $405 million in assets under management. Originally from India and now based in California, Neal applies a highly analytical, data-first approach to commercial real estate investing, development, and asset management. He is deeply focused on macroeconomics, demographic trends, and leveraging the transformative power of AI to build future-proof businesses.

Host Bio: Fredrik Sandvall

Fredrik Sandvall is a global entrepreneur, investor, and the host of the Invest in You podcast. With expertise across property, venture capital, and business acquisitions, Fredrik engages with founders and operators to help listeners build long-term control and financial freedom.
Community & Relevant Links

Venture Capital in Web3 and AI: Why a Fund-of-Funds Strategy Mitigates Early-Stage Risk Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Invest in You podcast, host Fredrik Sandvall sits down with Mitch Mechigian to explore the future of money, digital assets, and early-stage tech investing. Mitch shares his transition from traditional investment banking to navigating the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape. The conversation unpacks the geopolitical race for crypto dominance, the structural shifts driven by US dollar stablecoins, and how venture investments can be structured to mitigate risk while capturing high-growth opportunities.

Key Takeaways

Decentralized networks and stablecoins are tokenizing US dollars, shifting financial power away from traditional intermediaries toward internet-native, peer-to-peer ecosystems.
While London historically held the human capital for financial dominance, the UK missed a critical regulatory window to lead the global crypto industry.
Navigating post-Brexit economics requires the UK to decide whether to align with heavy regulations or carve out an innovation-friendly, competitive stance.
Investing in early-stage startups is highly unpredictable, making a diversified fund-of-funds strategy safer than direct investments for pre-seed rounds.
Successful venture capital fundamentally relies on investing in adaptable founders who embrace failure, iterate rapidly, and operate with deep integrity.

Guest Bio: Mitch Mechigian Mitch Mechigian is a Partner at Fifth Era and Blockchain Coinvestors in London, where he focuses on direct investments in AI, blockchain, and digital assets. Originally from Oregon, he studied mathematics before starting his career in Morgan Stanley's capital markets and investment banking divisions in New York and London. He eventually transitioned into venture capital to focus on Web3 and decentralized finance.

Host Bio: Fredrik Sandvall Fredrik Sandvall is a global entrepreneur, investor, and the host of the Invest in You podcast. With expertise across property, venture capital, and business acquisitions, Fredrik engages with founders and operators to help listeners build long-term control and financial freedom.

Community & Relevant Links

Fifth Era: https://www.fifthera.com/
Mitch Mechigian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-mechigian-b42b3572/
Podcast Community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k
Fredrik Sandvall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

Will AI Recommend You or Your Competitor? How to Win at Answer Engine Optimization Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

In this special episode of the Invest in You podcast, host Fredrik Sandvall explores a critical question for modern business owners: Will AI recommend you or your competitor? Fredrik explains how the rise of artificial intelligence is transforming traditional search engine optimization (SEO) into answer engine optimization (AEO), and shares actionable steps to ensure your brand is discovered, trusted, and recommended by AI tools.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

AI acts as a filter for potential customers, meaning your business must have accessible, easily digestible online information to even make it onto a recommendation list.
Content should be structured to directly answer the questions people ask before they buy, such as "How much does it cost?" or "What are the alternatives?", making FAQ formats highly effective for AI.
Pricing transparency builds trust; even if your pricing is bespoke, clearly stating price ranges, package options, or solution tiers helps AI and customers understand your value.
Your online presence must clearly define what you do, who you help, and how you work with them, rather than relying on vague descriptions.
Social proof is vital; AI digests customer reviews, peer recommendations, and independent testimonials to validate your claims and establish authority.
Ensure your digital footprint is current by removing outdated prices, wrong dates, or irrelevant services that could confuse an AI scraping your site.
"You can't really do anything unless people trust you. And they can actually trust what they find online."
"If you create your content as like a question and respond to the question, that will make things much, much easier."

ABOUT THE PODCAST Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Listeners tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

COMMUNITY & CONTACT Podcast community: ⁠https://bit.ly/4jxF94k⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

From Expense to Investment: Rethinking Your Accounting Strategy Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Invest in You podcast, host Fredrik Sandvall is joined by Ryan Page, founder and CEO of Back Pocket CPA, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Ryan discusses how business owners can shift their perspective on accounting, turning it from a dreaded expense into a strategic investment. Drawing on his experience helping founder-led agencies, Ryan explains the critical differences between basic bookkeeping and fractional CFO services, the mechanics of maintaining healthy profit margins, and how artificial intelligence is transforming financial data analysis.
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Accounting should be viewed as a critical tool to build financial confidence and understand business performance, rather than just an administrative cost.
Prioritizing gross margin is far more important than top-line revenue, as uncollected invoices do not provide the cash backing a business needs to survive.
When discounting your price during a negotiation, you should always remove specific services from the package rather than giving away your top-tier offering for less money.
Artificial intelligence tools, such as automated ledgers, are streamlining basic bookkeeping and generating dashboards, but they still require human oversight for strategic planning.
The accounting industry is currently experiencing significant consolidation, creating opportunities to acquire smaller practices from retiring owners and merge them into larger operations.

"Margin is more important than revenue. I think there's a lot of things revenue-wise you send an invoice out and you don't collect it... there's no cash backed by that."
"If you're going to discount, do it with removing services as well. So it's not like they're getting your top-tier service for just a lesser value."
"You can't have a CFO if they have nothing to analyze... underlying a forecast is the fundamentals of the business."

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GUEST Guest: Ryan Page Website: backpocketcpas.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanapage

ABOUT THE PODCAST Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Listeners tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

COMMUNITY & CONTACT Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

How to Build a High-Yield Storage Portfolio Using SBA Loans Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Invest In You podcast, Fredrik is joined by Chris Long, a real estate investor and entrepreneur specialising in highly profitable self-storage yards. Chris details his transition from the demanding world of carpentry and construction to the cash-flowing, low-overhead model of "dirt, fences, and gates". Drawing on his experience scaling his portfolio, Chris breaks down creative financing strategies, the power of SBA loans, and how to leverage AI to run a lean, highly productive real estate business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

High-Yield Storage Yards: Converting simple dirt lots into fenced self-storage yards offers a highly predictable, low-maintenance cash flow model with minimal operational overhead.
Creative Financing and SBA Loans: US-based investors can leverage Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to acquire existing businesses with only 10% down, lowering the barrier to entry.
Repurposing Unused Space: Investors can generate instant equity and cash flow by identifying neglected land, such as unused gardens, and converting them into paid parking or storage spaces.
AI-Powered Lean Teams: Real estate operators can replace large traditional teams by utilizing AI tools for deal sourcing, underwriting, and outreach, maximizing productivity.
The Power of Persistence: A "no" is often just a stepping stone to a "yes," and maintaining relentless persistence is the ultimate formula for closing difficult off-market deals.

BEST MOMENTS

"You take dirt, you put up fencing, put up a gate, you rent it out and you make cash."
"There's more money looking for people with deals than there's deals... eventually as an operator, we grow and then we have money we want to deploy."
"You could do more with an Excel spreadsheet using AI than a high-rise building of people."
"No, no, no means yes... that's the formula to success."

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GUEST

Guest: Chris Long
Instagram: @chrislongyards
LongYards Storage
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-long-152b3988/

ABOUT THE PODCAST Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom. Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

COMMUNITY & CONTACT

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandvall/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

The Tax Smart Landlord: Turning Tax Savings into Compounding Wealth Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Invest In You podcast, Fredrik sits down with Ted Lanzaro, a US-based CPA, real estate tax specialist, and author. Ted shares his extensive expertise on how real estate investors can use proactive tax strategies to save money and rapidly compound their wealth. Drawing from over 25 years of experience, Ted discusses the importance of building the right professional team, leveraging US tax codes like the 1031 exchange, and the core concepts covered in his books, including his release on year-round tax planning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Tax Savings as an Investment Strategy: By proactively reducing tax liabilities, real estate investors can take those savings and reinvest them into more properties, creating a compounding cycle of wealth.
The Importance of Proactive Planning: The worst time to ask a CPA about saving money on taxes is after a property has already been sold. Investors should consult their tax advisors before buying, selling, or renovating properties to ensure they are utilizing the best strategies available.
Advanced US Tax Tools: Ted explains highly effective strategies for US investors, such as the 1031 exchange (also known as "swap till you drop") to defer capital gains, and using cost segregation studies to accelerate bonus depreciation.
The Short-Term Rental Exception: Investors can potentially bypass standard passive loss limitations by operating short-term rentals (like Airbnbs) and materially participating in their management.
Avoiding Real Estate Red Flags: When investing, it is crucial to avoid properties with negative cash flow, poor locations, or bad property management companies, as these factors can quickly ruin an investment.

BEST MOMENTS

"I tell people I sell money essentially, right? Because... I teach people how to save money on their taxes... they typically will end up saving, you know, five times, 10 times, 20 times what they actually pay me."
"Call me before you buy a property, before you sell a property, and before you renovate a property."
"We have an expression which is called 'swap till you drop'."

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GUEST

Guest: Ted Lanzaro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedlanzaro/
Books Mentioned: The Tax Smart Landlord and Year-Round Tax Planning for Real Estate Investors

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Invest in You is a global podcast where entrepreneur and investor Fredrik Sandvall shares practical ideas and conversations with founders, investors, and operators. Episodes focus on investing, entrepreneurship, and building long-term control and freedom.

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective. Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

COMMUNITY & CONTACT

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

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

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

Dr. Hussein Rifai on Navigating Cultural Nuances and The Chaos Theorem in Global Deal-Making Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Fredrik sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and global business leader Dr. Hussein Rifai, dialing in from Australia, to explore the intricacies of global deal-making and cultural negotiation.

Dr. Rifai shares insights from a four-decade career that spans shaping Ernst & Young's early supply chain practice in the 1990s to navigating complex international mergers and acquisitions. Drawing on his rich background—from growing up in Jordan with a family committed to justice, to leading the turnaround of Australia's iconic SPC Global—Hussein discusses the lessons that shaped his upcoming book, The Chaos Theorem, and his perspective on business, resilience, and success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Essence of Investment Banking: Unlike traditional businesses that sell services or physical goods, investment banking treats the company itself as the primary product to be bought, sold, or merged.
Cultural Nuances in Negotiation: Global deal-making requires adapting to different cultural styles, such as the directness of German business, the slow but ironclad trust-building in Japan, and the relationship-first approach in the Middle East.
Navigating Last-Minute Changes: When negotiating in certain regions, such as India, buyers frequently attempt to alter terms at the eleventh hour, requiring sellers to remain adaptable and prepared for shifting documents.
Embracing Global Perspectives: Traveling and working across different continents allows professionals to absorb diverse cultural values, ultimately making them mentally richer and more adventurous.
Personal Accountability and Resilience: You are the only person capable of changing your life. Maintaining a constant flow of knowledge is essential for staying young and continuously improving yourself.

BEST MOMENTS

"The investment banking really is a group of people whose product is the company itself."
"The only person that can change you, if you want to find him, look in the mirror."
"I think knowledge is the elixir of life."

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GUEST

Website: https://www.husseinrifai.com/

Book: The Chaos Theorem

ABOUT THE PODCAST

COMMUNITY & CONTACT

Podcast community: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4jxF94k⁠⁠

Fredrik Sandvall

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall

Radical Transparency: Building an $80M Auto Empire on Trust Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Fredrik sits down with automotive industry veteran and entrepreneur Dominic Genova to explore how to build a highly successful, trust-based business in a notoriously cutthroat industry. Dom shares his journey from working 17 years at Chrysler to building an $80 million dealership, successfully selling it right before the COVID-19 pandemic, and transitioning into a savvy commercial real estate investor.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Building a Trust-Based Enterprise: In an industry plagued by bait-and-switch tactics and hidden fees, Dom built his dealership on radical transparency and treating customers fairly to create sustainable, long-term loyalty.
Knowing When to Exit: After growing his enterprise to 87 employees and $80 million in annual sales, Dom successfully sold his dealership just one week before the COVID-19 shutdowns began.
Smart Post-Exit Investing: Rather than relying on traditional financial brokers, Dom shifted his wealth into commercial real estate, securing triple-net leases with corporate tenants like Wendy's to ensure steady, reliable cash flow.
Defining Your Life's Currency: Dom stresses that the ultimate goal of wealth creation is determining the true "currency" of your life—whether that is time, family, or travel—because simply chasing money will never be enough.
Avoiding Industry Scams: Now a radio host and author, Dom dedicates his time to educating consumers on how to avoid being "snookered" by complex financing markups and dealership traps.

BEST MOMENTS

"If you can build an orchard and have apples come in next year, and then more apples get more apples... you have a sustainable customer base who will come back to you."
"You need to figure out what the currency of your life is... if it's purely money, you're never going to have enough."
"A life has little meaning except on the effect it has on other lives."

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GUEST Website: nononsenseroundtable.com Book: Don't Be Taken (Available via his website)

ABOUT THE PODCAST

COMMUNITY & CONTACT

Podcast community: ⁠https://bit.ly/4jxF94k⁠

Fredrik Sandvall

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

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall⁠

Celebrating 250 Episodes: How to Define Wealth on Your Own Terms Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

In this special milestone solo episode celebrating over 250 episodes of Invest In You, host Fredrik Sandvall reflects on the core lessons learned from speaking with millionaires, billionaires, authors, and entrepreneurs. Sharing six specific themes for building true wealth and freedom, Fredrik explores everything from the importance of trust to leveraging modern tools like AI to scale your success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You Are the Ultimate Asset: Investing in yourself is paramount because you only have one body and mind for a limited duration. This includes focusing on your health, energy, and knowledge.
Trust as a Currency: Trust is foundational for building relationships and creates opportunities that money alone cannot buy. It acts as a bridge in sales and serves as the glue that bonds a team together.
Building for the Future: Businesses should be designed with redundancy so they can succeed without the founder's constant presence. Implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ensures tasks can be split among team members and increases the company's value.
The Economics of Success: True success requires compounding effort over time. A major challenge for modern businesses and content creators is fighting to capture and retain audience attention.
Multiplying Decisions with Tools: Utilizing systems and modern tools like AI can drastically improve the quality of your decisions and your work. Adding these operational systems makes administrative and analytical tasks significantly more efficient.
Redefining Wealth: True wealth is defined by having the freedom to make choices regarding your time and relationships. Health is the ultimate wealth, as a sick person would trade everything they have just to be well again.

BEST MOMENTS

"We only got one body, one mind, and we're here for a limited duration on Earth so to speak, so make the best out of it."
"I trust people until they choose I cannot, which means I'm exposing myself for good and bad."
"If you're building a business, you're gonna leave the business sooner or later upright or lying down."
"If you ask someone who's sick, they would trade everything for becoming well again."

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: ⁠https://bit.ly/4jxF94k⁠

Fredrik Sandvall

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

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FredrikinLondon/⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FredrikSandvall⁠

Proactive Tax Strategies for Real Estate Investors and High-Income Earners Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Fredrik sits down with real estate CPA, investor, and author Ted Lanzaro to explore how strategic tax planning can dramatically accelerate long-term wealth creation. Ted shares his journey from reading Rich Dad Poor Dad and acquiring his first rental properties to founding a specialized accounting firm and authoring books on real estate taxation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Proactive vs. Reactive Tax Planning: Consulting a real estate-focused CPA before buying, renovating, or selling a property allows investors to structure transactions strategically, rather than trying to mitigate heavy tax burdens after a closing.

Unlocking Value via Cost Segregation: Rather than depreciating an entire building over 27.5 years, conducting a cost segregation study isolates 5-year and 15-year components to accelerate tax deductions using bonus depreciation.

Short-Term Rental Strategy for High Earners: High W-2 salary earners faced with passive loss limitations can utilize short-term rentals (average stay under 7 days with material participation) to deduct real estate paper losses against ordinary income.

Wealth Compounding with 1031 Exchanges: The "swap 'til you drop" strategy allows investors to defer capital gains taxes indefinitely by reinvesting sale proceeds into properties of equal or higher value, eventually passing assets to heirs with a stepped-up tax basis.

Risk Management in Financing: Debt serves as a powerful multiplier for growth when paired with cash-flowing assets and fixed financing, whereas short-term adjustable-rate bridge loans can jeopardize portfolios during market downturns.

BEST MOMENTS

"I tell people I sell money essentially... I teach people how to save money on their taxes; they pay me for that service, but they typically will end up saving 5, 10, 20 times what they actually pay me."

"Every person's situation is unique... There's really no one-size-fits-all set of universal tax strategies."

"If you just show up with a shoebox full of receipts, no organization, no system, no proactivity... you are going to overpay your taxes dramatically."

"Debt is like fire. You could use it to warm yourself or you can get burned by it."

"Buy and wait, don't wait and buy."

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GUEST

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedlanzaro/

https://landmarkcpagroup.com/

About the Podcast

Occasionally joined by his sons Ivan and Charlie, the show offers both experience-based insight and a next-generation perspective.

Listeners in 155+ countries tune in to think clearer, act smarter, and build with intent.

Community & Contact

Podcast community: https://bit.ly/4jxF94k

Fredrik Sandvall

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