My Worst Investment Ever Podcast
Business:Investing
BIO: August Biniaz is the Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital. CPI Capital is a real estate private equity firm with the mandate to acquire multifamily assets while partnering with passive investors as limited partners.
STORY: Upon looking back and reflecting on the worst investment decision August has ever made, he says it’s his time, shiny object syndrome, getting excited about new investment ideas, and then putting a lot of time into learning about those ideas and losing that time.
LEARNING: Don’t be a jack of all trades and a master of none. Focus on your primary business. Stay in your lane.
“Being focused is probably the greatest asset anyone could have when it comes to success in business or otherwise.”August Biniaz
Guest profile
August Biniaz is the Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital. CPI Capital is a real estate private equity firm with the mandate to acquire multifamily assets while partnering with passive investors as limited partners. August was instrumental in the closing of over $208 million of multifamily assets since inception.
August educates real estate investors through webinars, YouTube shows, weekly newsletters, and one-on-one coaching. He is the host of Real Estate Investing Demystified PodCast.
Worst investment everUpon looking back and reflecting on the worst investment decision August has ever made, he says it’s his time, shiny object syndrome, getting excited about new investment ideas, and then putting a lot of time into learning about those ideas and losing that time.
In one incident, when crypto came around, August got involved in the crypto world, trying to connect with investors, creating businesses within the crypto world, and putting his brainpower and time into learning about this new asset class. However, August went down a rabbit hole that took him away from his main focus.
In another incident, an asset class came across his desk. This was the build-to-rent single-family rentals or BTRSFR. After the great financial crisis in 2008, single-family homes in the US were selling for pennies on the dollar. Wall Street got involved, knowing that the market would eventually turn around, and started buying portfolios of single-family homes. However, as they managed these properties, they realized they were handled similarly to multifamily ones. So, they created this new asset class: build to rent single-family rentals.
August brought this idea to investors in his database and invested in a development project. It was a former purchase contract in which August partnered with a developer. This deal created some difficulties for his investors, partners, and himself. He never closed on that deal. This deal diverted August’s focus from his main business, and he lost opportunities there.
Lessons learnedWhen things aren’t working well, it’s apparent that you may need to find something else or double down on your efforts to fix them.
Actionable adviceIf you’re in the process of building a business or you already own a great business, don’t put your attention and focus into something that’s totally outside of your sandbox. Instead, try to focus on that business you’re already building.
August’s recommendationsAugust recommends listening to the My Worst Investment Podcast, learning how entrepreneurship, startups, investing, and other asset classes work, watching YouTube shows, and reading books. He is happy to provide 30 minutes of his time if you quote the My Worst Investment Podcast.
No.1 goal for the next 12 monthsAugust’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to hit his target of two deals in 2024. On the personal side, he’s moving to the US and setting up a base in Florida.
Parting words“If you’re looking for risk-averse advice, talk to your parents. They’re always risk averse. And anytime you’re looking for risky advice, talk to your drunk friend.”August Biniaz
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Connect with August BiniazMark Kohler - Take Ownership of What You’re Doing Wrong
Jusper Machogu - Africa Needs More Fossil Fuels Not Aid
William Browder - Don’t Go to Russia
ISMS 41: Larry Swedroe – Focus on Managing Risk Not Returns
Chris Ball - If They’re Not 100% Right, Don’t Hire Them
Vivek Raina - Nobody Can Beat You at What You’re Good At
William Cohan - Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of An American Icon
Tony Fish - Be Brave to Ask the Unsaid Questions
ISMS 40: Larry Swedroe – Market vs. Hedge Fund Managers’ Efficiency
Chris Kendall - Don’t Underestimate the Funding Needed to Go Big Time
Riggs Eckelberry - Don’t Go into Any Industry Unprepared
ISMS 39: Larry Swedroe – Don’t Choose a Fund by Its Descriptive Name
Lark Davis - Take Your Profits and Run Away
Sam Primm - Be Intentional About What You Invest In
Marc Faber - The Value of True Diversification
Coach JV - Diversify Inside and Outside the Asset Class
ISMS 38: Larry Swedroe – The Self-healing Mechanism of Risk Assets
Solomon Thimothy - Give Yourself Permission to Fail
Anthony Greer - Be Patient and Willing to Get Rich Slow
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