Raise the Bar

Raising capital is easy when times are good but maintaining investor confidence when the market tightens takes a different skillset. In this episode of Raise the Bar, AdaPia D’Errico investor relations strategist, fintech pioneer, and leadership advisor joins Seth Bradley to reveal the systems and mindsets that create lasting investor trust. AdaPia unpacks what authentic communication really looks like, how emotional intelligence drives capital growth, and why consistency is the most underrated form of marketing. If you raise capital, lead a team, or manage investor relationships, this conversation will completely shift your perspective on what “professional” IR looks like. Bullet Points and Highlights:- The real foundation of trust in investor relations- How fintech changed the way investors communicate- Why emotional intelligence is your biggest advantage- Creating systems that simplify IR and investor follow-up- How to retain and re-engage your investor base- Communicating through uncertainty and market change- The “alignment factor” behind sustainable capital raising- What AdaPia learned from scaling a crowdfunding platform to 9 figures- Why modern investors crave authenticity, not hype Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley’s Links:https://x.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesqwww.facebook.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesqhttps://medium.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en AdaPia d'Errico's Linkhttps://www.adapiaderrico.com/?utmhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adapia/?utmhttps://www.instagram.com/adapiaderrico/?utm

In this episode, Jennings explains that he made his first million by buying apartment complexes, stabilizing them, improving operations, and exiting for profit. His last million came from the same business model, continuing to buy, fix, and sell multifamily properties. Looking ahead, Jennings plans to make his next million through a flex warehouse development project. Jennings  building a 37,000 square foot industrial property, dividing it into smaller contractor garage units, and selling them individually under a condo structure. Jennings expects to be all-in for about $4.2 million with a projected exit around $9 million. Bullet Points and Highlights:- Jennings made the first million by buying, stabilizing, and improving apartment complexes.- Jennings generated profits by exiting repositioned multifamily properties.- Jennings made the last million through the same multifamily investment strategy.- Jennings continues to operate heavily in apartment acquisitions and dispositions.- Jennings says the next million will come from flex warehouse development.- Jennings is developing a 37,000 square foot industrial flex property.- Jennings is breaking the space into 1,100 square foot contractor garage units.- Jennings plans to sell the units individually under a condo association structure.- Jennings expects to be all-in for about $4.2 million on the project.- Jennings projects an exit of roughly $9 million, creating substantial upside. Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley’s Links:https://x.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesqwww.facebook.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesqhttps://medium.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Jennings Smith Jr.'s Linkhttps://www.instagram.com/jenningsfostersmithjr/?hl=en&utmhttps://x.com/Jenningsfosterhttps://www.facebook.com/jennings.smith.50/?utm

In this episode, Jennings explains that the biggest risk he ever took was a highly distressed 208-unit property in Oklahoma. The asset was half vacant, most of the remaining tenants weren’t paying rent, and it required a $2.5 million rehab while being located halfway across the country. The deal demanded consistent oversight, weekly calls, and frequent trips to Tulsa to keep the project on track. Jennings and his team bought it for roughly $5 to $5.5 million, were all-in for about $8 million, and ultimately exited for $12.6 million. For Jennings, this deal is the perfect example of big risk producing big reward. Bullet Points and Highlights:- Jennings’s biggest risk was a distressed 208-unit property in Oklahoma.- The property was 50 percent vacant when acquired.- Many of the remaining tenants were not paying rent.- The project required a $2.5 million renovation.- The property was halfway across the country, increasing operational difficulty.- Jennings and his team bought it for about $5 to $5.5 million.- They were all-in for roughly $8 million after rehab.- They exited the deal for $12.6 million.- The project required two years of consistent focus, weekly calls, and regular trips to Tulsa.- Jennings views the deal as a clear example of big risk leading to big reward. Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley’s Links:https://x.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesqwww.facebook.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesqhttps://medium.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Jennings Smith Jr.'s Linkhttps://www.instagram.com/jenningsfostersmithjr/?hl=en&utmhttps://x.com/Jenningsfosterhttps://www.facebook.com/jennings.smith.50/?utm

The last two years have tested every real estate investor’s limits. In this episode, Jennings Smith, CEO of My First Million in Multifamily and co-creator of The Deal Room, joins Seth to break down what’s really happening in today’s market. Jennings opens up about over-scaling, selling off high-risk assets, and pivoting into easier, more stable investments. Jennings also shares how he grew one of the fastest-rising Facebook groups in the real estate space by giving massive value, staying transparent, and teaching others to raise capital ethically and sustainably. Bullet Points and Highlights:- Why raising capital in 2025 feels harder but better- The difference between scaling fast vs. scaling smart- How floating-rate bridge loans nearly broke his portfolio- When to pivot, liquidate, or double down- The real reason some investors failed after 2021- How to communicate value when people ask “what do you do?”- Why community and education have been his biggest growth tools- Behind the rise of My First Million in Multifamily Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley’s Links:https://x.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesqwww.facebook.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesqhttps://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesqhttps://medium.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Jennings Smith Jr.'s Linkhttps://www.instagram.com/jenningsfostersmithjr/?hl=en&utmhttps://x.com/Jenningsfosterhttps://www.facebook.com/jennings.smith.50/?utm

What happened to the easy money era? In this episode, Seth reconnects with investor and BiggerPockets personality Matt Faircloth, founder of The DeRosa Group. They unpack how the capital-raising landscape has shifted, why fund-to-fund models are gaining traction, and why flipping homes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Matt also shares his unfiltered perspective on the future of multifamily, the rise of accredited vs. non-accredited structures, and where smart money should focus next. Bullet Points and Highlights:- Behind the scenes at BiggerPockets and Best Ever conferences- The rise of fund-to-funds and why it matters for capital raisers- Why Fractional isn’t a perfect fit for serious investors- The reality behind flipping vs. long-term real estate investing- How TV glamorizes flipping and why “slow wealth” isn’t sexy- Matt’s take on America’s obsession with quick returns- A preview of what’s next for The DeRosa Group Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley’s Links:https://x.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesqwww.facebook.com/sethbradleyesqhttps://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesqhttps://medium.com/@sethbradleyesqhttps://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Matt Faircloth's Linkhttps://www.facebook.com/mdfaircloth/?utmhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mdfaircloth/https://www.instagram.com/themattfaircloth/?hl=en&utm