All Forum Posts by: Josh St Laurent

@Bryan Maddex isn't it such a funny paradox that you actually benefit if the market goes down while you have your loan. You're paying yourself back interest, the principal is out of the market and not going down, AND you're using the funds to build equity in real estate. Winning all around!

@Carl Rowles as a public school teacher you may have a 403b which also sometimes offers loans!

@Devin James I actually love this question. I've worked over the years with both HNW and UHNW people, some living their best life and some miserable and chasing the next million thinking it will make them happy. A book I often send to the latter is called "The Power of Enough" by Elizabeth Husserl. Like many things in life our own enough is self determined and completely self imposed and dictated. For some they just want a quiet piece of land to spend time with family and a rocking chair on the porch. Others "need" luxury condos in several countries around the world and drive supercars. Defining your enough can be a good measuring stick to reasses, because spending time on forums like these you're likely to hit your enough, the key is being able to say "I have enough" and be able to enjoy the fruits of your labors. 

Last thing I'll say is a quote that stuck with me, "Choose Your Hard". Life is hard in general, being poor is a certain type of hard, not knowing how you're gonna pay rent etc. Building a billion dollar business, also hard. Whichever path you choose (likely one between those two) will be hard. Most people tend to agree having more money vs less equates to "better problems" but there is a cliff where that doesn't matter very much anymore. I.e. if you have 500 million and make another 2 your lifestyle likely won't change at all and your ability to fix problems in your life won't either. 

Anyway, my .02, hope it helps. 

@Michael Whitman very good point and something to check on ahead of taking the loan. It is dependent on the company's 401k plan and you can usually find that info in their summary plan description (SPD) in the loans section. It'll range from - no problem link a bank account and continue payments to you have 30 days to pay back the loan or we'll default it. Worth checking.  

@Carl Rowles HELOC is a good option. Check if you can take a 401k loan if you want to pay interest back to yourself instead of a bank, too. Assuming you have a W-2 job that has a 401k*

@Rene Hosman all good options!  If you like the idea of a self-directed HSA like @Kaaren Hall mentioned check out providers like Accuplan and IRA Financial Trust. The setup and ongoing fees will likely be higher but you'll be able to leverage the account to buy RE so it's a tradeoff like anything else.

Happy researching!

@Rene Hosman, it’s awesome that you’re looking into ways to invest your HSA funds! Here’s a quick rundown of what you might consider:

1. Employer HSA vs. Your Own Account

Employers usually pick the default HSA provider, but you can open one anywhere that offers a brokerage option. Popular choices like Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard let you invest in a range of stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. If you go this route, be aware that you’ll lose payroll deductions—so you’ll have to track contributions on your own (see IRS Publication 969 for HSA rules).

2. If You Own a Business

If you're running an LLC or S-corp, you might be able to fund an HSA through that payroll. It can simplify end-of-year paperwork, but you'll want to confirm the details with a tax pro.

3. Long-Term Game Plan

Paying out of pocket and keeping your medical receipts can be a great strategy. This lets your HSA grow, and since qualified withdrawals are tax-free, putting more aggressive investments in an HSA can pay off in the long run (similar to the “put your risk in Roth” idea).

4. Rollovers & Debit Cards

Most brokerage HSAs come with a debit card, so spending isn’t too hard if you ever need to. If you do a rollover from your current HSA, make sure you’re aware of any fees or time limits. Typically, you can only do one rollover per 12-month period (again, IRS Publication 969 has the details).

In the end, having the option to invest your HSA funds is usually a better bet than letting them sit in a basic savings account. Just be sure to stay on top of your contributions, fees, and any extra paperwork so you can get the most out of those “triple tax” benefits.

Hope this helps!

 It's tried and true!  Happy to help, good luck with everything

Sophia, as you can tell from some of the replies, financial advisors often get a bad rap—and for a good reason, in many cases. Having spent 10 years at Fidelity Investments, I saw firsthand how traditional firms often fall short when it comes to helping real estate investors. Many advisors don’t understand the complexities of real estate investing, fail to provide tax strategies, and, unfortunately, some are more focused on selling products for commissions rather than offering real value.

That said, not all financial advisors are the same. There are advisors out there who specialize in working with real estate investors and understand the unique challenges and opportunities in this space. However, as others have mentioned, they can be hard to find.

It’s important to know that a financial advisor who works with real estate investors isn’t just there to pick stocks or sell products. They often partner with CPAs and other professionals to create strategies that maximize your overall net worth. This can include coordinating around tax strategies, estate planning, and cash flow management—all while considering your real estate portfolio as part of your larger financial picture. The right advisor can help align your investments with your long-term goals and ensure all parts of your financial life work together.

Since you’re in Canada, I’m not able to help directly, but I recommend starting with BiggerPockets’ search tool to find a real estate-competent advisor who may be able to serve you: BiggerPockets Advisor Finder

It’s great that you’re starting here on the BP forums, as this community tends to have good insights and referrals. Best of luck, and I hope you find someone who can help you navigate your real estate goals.

@Andy Rousch what I use (And pay for my clients to use) is Quickbooks for business accounts and Monarch Money for personal spending accounts.  They both provide different data depending on what is important to you.  Hope this helps!