From Adversity to Abundance

In this episode of From Adversity to Abundance, host Jamie Bateman sits down with Michael Rebelo, founder of Ever Forward Capital Partners, for a conversation about breaking into multifamily real estate at a young age — with purpose, grit, and the right mindset. Michael and his mother started their multifamily business after a candid kitchen table conversation about their finances and the limitations of the traditional investment path. Since then, they've helped raise capital on over 200 units across Texas and Oklahoma, launched a new townhome project in Phoenix, and celebrated Michael's mother stepping away from her W-2 to become a full-time entrepreneur.But this episode goes beyond the deal count. Jamie and Michael dig into the critical importance of mindset as a capital raiser and entrepreneur — why knowing your investor avatar, leading with your personal story, and saying no to the wrong opportunities are just as important as finding the right deals. For anyone looking to raise capital, launch a fund, or understand the current multifamily landscape, this episode delivers practical value and genuine inspiration.Guest Introduction: Michael RebeloMichael Rebelo is the founder of Ever Forward Capital Partners, a Phoenix, Arizona-based firm focused on multifamily syndications and private real estate projects. Starting his journey at 17 alongside his mother after watching their family get hit by the 2008 financial crisis, Michael has helped raise capital on 152-unit and 64-unit apartment projects and is currently raising for a 14-unit Class A townhome deal in Phoenix. He is also the host of the Ever Forward Mindset Podcast.Episode Highlights:From Kitchen Table to Capital Raiser: Michael shares how a frank family conversation about the 2008 financial crisis sparked his and his mother's decision to pursue multifamily real estate — and how a near-breaking point became the fire that accelerated everything.Raising Capital for Multifamily: Michael breaks down what has worked — defining your investor avatar, leading with your personal story and your why, and learning SEC compliance before you need it.Mindset as a Business Strategy: Why mental discipline, the ability to say no, and showing up consistently are the real differentiators between entrepreneurs who build lasting businesses and those who don't.Key Takeaways:People invest in people first — your story and your why matter more to potential investors than projected returns alone.Define your investor avatar early — serving everyone means serving no one, and the right relationships will strengthen your business far beyond any marketing campaign.Mindset is not optional in entrepreneurship — the discipline to show up and say no to distractions separates those who build from those who quit.Connect with Michael Rebelo: Instagram: @therealMichaelRebelo Facebook: www.facebook.com/michael.rebelo.2025 Website: www.everforwardcapitalpartners.com Podcast: Ever Forward Mindset PodcastAre you an accredited passive investor? Learn more about the Integrity Income Fund: https://labradorlending.com/investors/passive-investors/Purchase The From Adversity to Abundance Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGTWJY1D?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860Leave us a REVIEW: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-adversity-to-abundance/id1618672867?mt=2&ls=1 https://www.adversity2abundance.com/reviews/new/Connect with us: Website: https://www.adversity2abundance.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/labradorlending/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labradorlendingllc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/labrador-lending/?viewAsMember=true YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChYrpCUlqFYLy4HngRrmU9QConnect with Jamie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bateman-5359a811/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/batemanjames0enARRMcFw9NbBgOLElp

In this episode of From Adversity to Abundance, host Jamie Bateman sits down with Craig Eppler, founder and CEO of Eppler Capital Funds, for a conversation that is equal parts practical and inspiring. Craig comes from a rare background — having worked his way up from analyst to Chief Investment Officer at a financial advisory firm, with a stint at Vanguard along the way. That front-row seat to the world of alternative investing eventually led him to launch his own private debt fund, which has crossed the $10 million mark in just three and a half years. On top of that, Craig has quietly built a rental portfolio of 59 doors across Pennsylvania — all while running a fund that provides investors with consistent monthly income.But this episode isn't just a highlight reel. Craig opens up about a $50,000 loss on a second lien deal that went to zero a painful but important lesson about property valuation, position risk, and the danger of trusting social proof over due diligence. Whether you're a passive investor, an aspiring fund manager, or a rental property owner, this episode delivers hard-earned wisdom and a refreshingly honest look at what building a private debt fund really takes.Guest Introduction: Craig EpplerCraig Eppler is the founder and CEO of Eppler Capital Funds, a Philadelphia-area private debt fund that crossed $10 million in capital under management after launching in March 2023. With a background as a derivatives trader at Vanguard and later as Chief Investment Officer at an investment advisory firm, Craig brings institutional-level thinking to private credit investing.Episode Highlights:From Vanguard to Private Debt Fund: Craig shares how his background in institutional finance, managing alternative investments for high-net-worth clients, gave him the blueprint — and the conviction — to launch his own fund and serve investors seeking consistent monthly income.The $50,000 Loss: Craig breaks down a second lien deal in Texas that went to zero — a pastor-investor with attractive yield and trusted social proof that ultimately couldn't hold up under scrutiny of the actual property value.Building a $10M Fund in 3.5 Years: From personal outreach and chamber events to email newsletters and podcasts, Craig walks through exactly how he grew his investor base to 50 people and crossed the $10 million milestone.59 Doors and a Debt Fund: Craig explains why he never abandoned his rental portfolio even as his fund took off — and why holding both equity and debt positions creates a more balanced and resilient investing strategy.Key Takeaways:If you've been investing long enough, you're going to lose money on a deal — what matters is what you learn and how you adjust your criteria going forward.Second lien lending carries real risk; understanding property value and lien position isn't optional — it's the foundation of protecting investor capital.Raising capital is harder than it looks, even with an institutional background — relationships, consistency, and showing up are what actually move the needle.Connect with Craig Eppler: Website: eplercapital.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cepplerAre you an accredited passive investor?Learn more about the Integrity Income Fund:labradorlending.com/investors/passive-investorsPurchase The From Adversity to Abundance Book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGTWJY1D?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860Leave us a REVIEW: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-adversity-to-abundance/id1618672867?mt=2&ls=1adversity2abundance.com/reviews/newConnect with us:Website: adversity2abundance.comFacebook: facebook.com/labradorlendingInstagram: instagram.com/labradorlendingllcLinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/labrador-lending/?viewAsMember=trueYouTube: youtube.com/channel/UChYrpCUlqFYLy4HngRrmU9QConnect with Jamie:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jamie-bateman-5359a811Twitter: twitter.com/batemanjames

In this episode of From Adversity to Abundance, host Jamie Bateman sits down with Brooke Kaine, owner of Kaine Investments and a seasoned real estate veteran with decades of experience across land development, ground-up construction, rehabs, and private lending in Maryland. Brooke is the kind of guest who is as generous with his wisdom as he has been with his time — a self-described evangelist for private lending who discovered hard money about 13 years ago and hasn't looked back since. His story spans multiple real estate strategies, a pivotal geographic move that changed his trajectory, and a business model that ultimately gave him something more valuable than profit: consistent cashflow and deeply meaningful relationships.But this episode isn't just about the mechanics of private lending. It's about the mindset shifts, the inflection points, and the hard-won lessons that come from living through market crashes, government overreach, and the quiet courage it takes to uproot your life and start over in a new city. Brooke brings warmth, candor, and a lifetime of stories to this conversation — and saves one of the most powerful observations about relationships and impact for the very end.Guest Introduction: Brooke KaineBrooke Kaine is the owner of Kaine Investments, a Baltimore-area private lending operation he built from the ground up over the last 13 years. After decades in land development and home building in Southern Maryland, Brooke pivoted to hard money lending and grew his business from 20 loans in his first year to nearly 250 at his peak. Today he operates as a capital investor, lending to other hard money lenders while staying connected to the business he loves through relationships built one lunch at a time.Episode Highlights:From Land Developer to Private Lender: Brooke shares how government overreach in Calvert County slowly strangled his land development business — and how a cold February night and one honest question from a friend pushed him to make the move to Baltimore that changed everything.The Power of Inflection Points: Inspired by a chance dinner conversation with a self-made executive, Brooke reflects on how the moments things looked the worst were often the very moments that launched the biggest leaps forward.Building a Lending Business on Relationships: From 20 loans to nearly 250 a year, Brooke breaks down how his entire business growth came not from Facebook ads or social media — but from showing up, nurturing relationships, and genuinely caring about the people across the table.Key Takeaways:Indecision is still a decision — more is lost by waiting for the stars to align than by making an imperfect move and adjusting along the way.Cash flow beats profit. Consistent monthly income is what actually funds your life and lets you sleep at night — lumpy profits don't.Relationships are the real business. Word of mouth, trust, and genuine care for people will outlast any marketing strategy you can buy.Connect with Brooke Kaine:Phone/Text: 301-943-1407Email: [email protected] you an accredited passive investor?Learn more about the Integrity Income Fund:https://labradorlending.com/investors/passive-investors/Purchase The From Adversity to Abundance Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGTWJY1D?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860Leave us a REVIEW: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-adversity-to-abundance/id1618672867?mt=2&ls=1https://www.adversity2abundance.com/reviews/new/Connect with us:Website: https://www.adversity2abundance.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/labradorlending/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labradorlendingllc/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/labrador-lending/?viewAsMember=trueYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChYrpCUlqFYLy4HngRrmU9QConnect with Jamie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bateman-5359a811/Twitter: https://twitter.com/batemanjames

In this episode of From Adversity to Abundance, host Jamie Bateman sits down with Nate Hare, Vice President at Directed IRA, who knows firsthand what it means to lose it all and rebuild. In 2007–2008, Nate lost all 17 of his rental properties and was forced to file for bankruptcy — and if that wasn't enough, he simultaneously lost his job in the mortgage industry. Two crushing blows at once. But rather than staying down, Nate used that painful chapter as a launchpad to discover one of the most underutilized wealth-building tools available to everyday investors: the self-directed IRA.Today, Nate travels the country educating real estate investors on how to use self-directed accounts to invest in rental properties, mortgage notes, note funds, private lending, and beyond. Most people don't even know this product exists — and that's exactly the gap Nate has made it his mission to close. This episode is packed with real client stories, hard-learned lessons, and a breakdown of the six account types Directed IRA manages — all designed to help you better understand your options and take true ownership of your financial future.Guest Introduction: Nate HareNate Hare is Vice President at Directed IRA and a passionate advocate for self-directed retirement account investing. After losing 17 rental properties and filing for bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis, Nate discovered the power of self-directed IRAs in 2012 and never looked back. With over 15 years in the industry, he now speaks at real estate investor associations and events across the country, helping investors understand how to grow wealth tax-free through alternative investments.Episode Highlights:From $500K in Rental Income to Bankruptcy: Nate shares his raw story of losing 17 Las Vegas rentals and his mortgage job simultaneously during the 2008 crash — and how it reshaped everything he knew about investing.The Self-Directed IRA Unpacked: Nate breaks down what a self-directed IRA actually is, why most financial advisors won't tell you about it, and how it allows you to invest retirement dollars into real estate, notes, and private lending — tax-free.The Six Account Types: Nate gives a clear breakdown of the six self-directed account types Directed IRA manages — from traditional and Roth IRAs to HSAs and Coverdell ESAs — and how each one can work for different financial goals.Key Takeaways:Losing everything can be the catalyst that leads you to smarter, more intentional investing — Nate's bankruptcy ultimately led him to a wealth strategy he now teaches nationwide.Most people have never heard of self-directed IRAs because the financial advisory industry has little incentive to promote them — educating yourself is the first step.Buying real estate or lending money inside a retirement account eliminates the tax drag that quietly erodes wealth for most investors over time.Connect with Nate Hare & Directed IRA: Website: directedira.com Instagram: @natehareofficicialAre you an accredited passive investor? Learn more about the Integrity Income Fund:https://labradorlending.com/investors/passive-investors/Purchase The From Adversity to Abundance Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGTWJY1D?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860Leave us a REVIEW: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-adversity-to-abundance/id1618672867?mt=2&ls=1 https://www.adversity2abundance.com/reviews/new/Connect with us: Website: https://www.adversity2abundance.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/labradorlending/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labradorlendingllc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/labrador-lending/?viewAsMember=true YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChYrpCUlqFYLy4HngRrmU9QConnect with Jamie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bateman-5359a811/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/batemanjames

In this special crossover episode, Jamie Bateman — host of the From Adversity to Abundance Podcast and fund manager at Labrador Lending — steps to the other side of the mic as a featured guest on the Real Estate Pros Show with host Michelle Tack. Jamie pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to build and operate a mortgage note investing business, from sourcing deals and raising capital to the day-to-day realities of asset management.Jamie shares candid stories from the field, including borrower situations that took unexpected turns and deals that tested his problem-solving skills. Whether you're new to the concept of note investing or looking to deepen your understanding of this niche, this episode gives you an honest and grounded look at what it means to operate at the intersection of real estate and finance.Episode Highlights:Note Investing Unpacked: Jamie breaks down what mortgage note investing actually is — stepping into the shoes of the bank, buying existing debt, and managing the paper rather than the property.The Realities of Asset Management: From active foreclosures to bankruptcy cases, Jamie reveals just how hands-on running a note portfolio can really be.When Deals Go Sideways: Jamie shares real case studies, including a borrower who passed away mid-bankruptcy and a hard money loan gone wrong — and how he navigated both.Originating vs. Buying Notes: Jamie discusses his pivot toward originating more loans and why bridging the gap between note originators and note buyers is a major opportunity.Key Takeaways:Projections are a starting point, not a guarantee — every note has a story and rarely plays out exactly as planned.Buying correctly gives you options; even when things go wrong, a well-purchased note leaves room to recover.The human element in owner-occupied note investing is real — people skills matter just as much as financial acumen.Intentional networking, not just social media presence, is what drives deal flow and capital in the note space.Are you an accredited passive investor? Learn more about the Integrity Income Fund:https://labradorlending.com/investors/passive-investors/Purchase The From Adversity to Abundance Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGTWJY1D?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860Leave us a REVIEW: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-adversity-to-abundance/id1618672867?mt=2&ls=1 https://www.adversity2abundance.com/reviews/new/Connect with us: Website: https://www.adversity2abundance.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/labradorlending/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labradorlendingllc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/labrador-lending/?viewAsMember=true YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChYrpCUlqFYLy4HngRrmU9QConnect with Jamie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bateman-5359a811/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/batemanjames