Are You the Right Investor?

In the world of cold, calculated algorithms that spit out index fund returns, most have found the world of stock investing lonely, and mostly boring. Yes cracking open your laptop while you're still wearing your pajamas and slinging some e-trades may interest some, but others are seeking not only great returns, but a community of like-minded people to share their successes with, and then use that success to make an IMPACT in the world. That was me for sure. I recently listened to a video from the boxing legend Mike Tyson where he stated: "greatness in itself doesn't come with goodness, I realized late in my life, all great men are not good men." I realized that my great returns didn't do a thing to make me - good.

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" Mark 8:36

Brad Penley (Capital Markets & Investor Relations) creating cash flow with Jeremy Cisneros (Underwriting and Broker Relations)

At Growth VUE Properties I found more than just money-hungry investors, greedily searching for the next big investment win; I found people who wanted to make an impact. These fellow investors, business owners, leaders, and mentors work tirelessly to create gains for investors that want to build strong communities, provide jobs, create safe and sustainable housing, reduce the ecological footprint, and give back to charities that are actually making a difference. Through each one of our deals, we carve out a portion of the proceeds to go to an impact endowment that will directly provide to charities we support. This is foundational to Growth VUE Properties, and as one investor told me yesterday, "that is a breath of fresh air, so many other companies are just chasing big checks to make rich people richer." Commercial real estate investing is our "ways," not our "means."

So the question is: are you the right investor for us?

To answer that we have to get into some formalities. Per the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do have to follow some basic guidelines. Rule 506(c) of Regulation D requires that we have screened for accredited investors with a prior existing relationship. "Accredited investor" means that you have $1 million dollar net worth, not including the equity in your primary residence, OR you make $200K per year for the last two years, OR $300K for the last two years as a married couple. Additionally, this year the SEC ruled that financial specialists holding a Series 7 (licensed general securities representative), Series 65 (licensed investment adviser representative), or Series 82 (licensed private securities offerings representative) license as qualifying. These rules are in place to ensure the right level of investment sophistication to take part in private securities.

On top of those government guidelines, we screen investors for those who want to make an impact. We ask potential investors the simple question: "What would you do if you had all the money in the world?" The responses are varied, but all of our investors want to give back: missions trips, volunteering at schools to read to mentor children, become a coach for their kids' teams, develop struggling inner-city athletes, provide for widows or single moms, provide solar electricity for villages in Africa to run schools, provide clean water, cure diseases, or take care of the elderly.

Lastly, our investors are our friends, family, coworkers, and business partners. Commercial Real Estate investing is a long-term investment where the relationship matters. We want to make an impact but also have fun together. We want to grow personal and professional networks and find others that want to make an impact through investing.

Real estate Strategy meetings often occur over friendly games of pool with President Samson Jagoras and Charities Manager Nathaniel Woods.

If you are interested in making safe and steady returns while making an impact in the world through charitable giving then contact me for a 15-minute consultation at [email protected]. Be ready for the question: "what would you do if you had all the money in the world?"

• Brad Penley

www.thegrowthvue.com

Lt Commander Penley is an active duty Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer with five successful counter-terrorism deployments, the comments made in this article are his own and do not reflect the United States Department of Defense. He has advanced degrees is Special Operations Low-Intensity Conflict, Strategy & War, and Financial Analysis. He currently has a multimillion-dollar personal investment portfolio, and also is a Principal at Growth VUE Properties which provides large commercial multifamily assets to passive investors.