The Money Advantage Podcast

The Money Advantage Podcast


Bob Fraser: Real Estate Notes with Aspen Funds

November 11, 2019

https://youtu.be/wymV-ro4P_w

In today’s show, we’re interviewing Bob Fraser, Co-Founder and CFO of Aspen Funds.  Aspen Funds operates several private investment funds in real estate notes for accredited investors, offering a real estate backed opportunity with low volatility, high returns, and comparatively high liquidity.

Where Alternative Investments Fit into the Cash Flow System

Here at The Money Advantage, we are a community of wealth creators who are entrepreneurially-minded business owners taking control of our lives and financial destiny. 

It’s not enough to just make a great income.  You have to figure out how to keep more, protect that money, and finally, increase and make more through the right investing decisions.

That’s why we have created the 3-step Business Owner’s Cash Flow System.  It’s your roadmap to take you from just surviving, to a life of significance, purpose, and financial freedom.

The first step is keeping more of the money you make by fixing money leaks, becoming more efficient and profitable.  Then, you’ll protect your money with insurance and legal protection, and Privatized Banking.  Finally, you’ll put your money to work, increasing your income with cash-flowing assets.

Today’s conversation will give you a closer look at real estate notes as an alternative investment option for accredited investors.

Who Is Bob Fraser?

Bob Fraser is on a mission to help investors take advantage of one of the most effective and overlooked avenues of real estate investing: residential mortgage notes. 

As Founder and Principal of Aspen Funds, Bob has purchased more than 1,000 mortgage notes, earning double-digit annual returns without the risk and volatility of traditional investing options.

Conversation Highlights

* Bob’s background starting a tech firm, raising venture capital, then getting caught in the tech wreck and losing everything that caused him to want more control and to be in the driver’s seat of his investing.* Aspen Fund’s four funds (three income funds and a growth fund) for investors.* The income fund buys mortgage notes at significant discounts, becomes the bank, collects payments, and pays 8.5% annualized return to investors. When the borrower refinances or sells the house, Aspen Funds is paid the full amount, earning capital gains returns as well.* The pool currently has 307 notes, and with average of 3 – 6 paying off every quarter, the cash provides an internal liquidity program for investors.* Investors can invest with qualified and non-qualified money, with no UBIT generation.* How being a lien-lord instead of a landlord can pay higher returns without the management challenges.* The funds are very tax-efficient. Even outside of a tax-deferred vehicle, the growth fund generates about 80% of its returns as long-term capital gains.  The income fund is about 30% long-term capital gains.* Why Bob Fraser prefers second-position liens.* How they underwrite risk to determine the value of each note.* This investment is for accredited investors with a minimum investment of $50K.* A real example of how Aspen Funds sources notes and generates yields.