Real Estate Questions for a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

[Peter Vander Ploeg]

Hi All - 

I plan to write a blog series for the bigger pockets community, and I’m looking for topics that are important to you.  Could you answer these 3 questions to help me?  Thanks for taking the time to leave a reply.

1. What problems are you facing as a real estate investor?
2. What questions do you want to ask a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)? 
3. How could a CFP help you with your real estate investing? 

Why write a blog series? - From what I can tell, there is a desire and a need for quality advice, but finding a CFP that "speaks real estate" seems to be very difficult. I have read countless posts that real estate investors are either running into advisors who don't understand real estate investing or only offer a solution like a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Both of these scenarios don't meet the needs of today's real estate investor, and I believe my background puts me in a unique position to help.

A little about me - I am a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with a Masters Degree in Real Estate Finance who has a heavy background in real estate acquisition, renovation, and investing.  I have experience with fix-n-flips, public trustee auctions, residential sales, multi-family acquisition and management, and commercial analysis.  Also, I am a real estate investor looking to expand my own portfolio.  As a CFP I have solved problems and created financial plans for clients with a net worth of up to thirty million.  A few areas of my expertise pertaining to real estate investors are financial planning, investment management, tax strategy, small business strategy, and cash flow analysis. 

Thanks Again!

Peter

[Steve Vaughan]

Originally posted by @Peter Vander Ploeg:

1. 
   What problems are you facing as a real estate investor?
2. What questions do you want to ask a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)? 
3. How could a CFP help you with your real estate investing? 

Question 1 is WAAY to broad. Deal-flow, financing, tenant mgt. Easier to be a successful REI that later becomes an advisor than vise versa. I'd stay out of the micro weeds.

A common problem I see for seasoned investors is transitioning to passive 'retirement'. What are some viable actionable and tax-advantaged options when we want to sell larger complexes that have been paid off and depreciated? Lower cost DSTs, installment sales, NNN, 1031 into TIC syndication...? Not much written on that. Maybe be a transition expert.

Since you have expertise in RE finance, maybe assist us in being lenders?   Some of us have large opportunity funds earning squat in mmkt or savings accounts or want to switch niches on some level.

My underlying theme is more hands off.  We've built via hands-on mostly. Help us transition. Look forward to your blog👍