A Long Day on the Homefront

I'm the founder and CEO of PropPoint, a Tenant-in-Common (TIC) investment-sales company based in Santa Monica, Calif. PropPoint works with 1031 investors who want to sell their investment real estate and helps them locate a Tenant-in-Common property (see BW, 2/13/06, "Getting a Slice of the Commercial Market"). These range from retail space to multi-family to oil rights, and enable 1031 investors to purchase interests in a large, high-quality institutional-grade property. TIC investments fit the retirement lifestyle, and they're ideal for the aging demographics in America.

I split my time among key activities, including leading operations, working on strategy, and speaking with clients and prospects. Having begun my career at Goldman Sachs (GS ) and having worked for a boutique real estate firm, I'm passionate about investments and real estate. So when I saw a void in the 1031 TIC Exchange real estate market, I jumped right on it.

As a current student in the FEMBA (Fully-Employed MBA) Program at UCLA Anderson School of Management, I have the benefit of choosing classes that complement the needs of PropPoint and my personal development. I'm a perfect example of how a part-time MBA program can benefit your career. I've been able to test -- and integrate -- B-school cases and concepts into PropPoint's business structure. Whether it's real estate, technology or business law, my focus is on classes that will help me run my business and structure financial transactions -- from corporate privatization to real estate development projects (see BW Online, 3/26/06, "Creativity Comes to B-School").

5:00 a.m. -- It's a little earlier than normal, but with meetings in northern California today, there's no sleeping in. Plus, my early start means I'll avoid the L.A. traffic. I grab my briefcase and carry-on luggage and head to the office.

5:20 a.m. -- Our new brochures are finally here. Before leaving for the airport, I send out a few e-mails to our investors. An e-mail comes in with an investment summary for a new TIC real estate property -- I make plans to visit this during my trip north.

6:00 a.m. -- Off to LAX for my 7 a.m. Southwest flight to Oakland. More phone calls, parking, security.

7:00 a.m. -- I grab some coffee and read through the day's newspapers. I can't resist pulling out my computer and sending a couple of follow-up e-mails. Before taking off, I squeeze in another review of the due-diligence reports for the properties I will be visiting for my clients.

8:10 a.m. -- Arrive in Oakland, pick-up my rental car, and head to my breakfast meeting.

8:40 a.m. -- I call back to check-in with the office. I learn that one of our larger investors needs more due diligence on two L.A. properties and wants to see more photos. Ryan Stepp, my right-hand man and vice-president in our Client Services group, heads out of the office to visit the properties...

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