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What happens when commercial real estate owners ignore the fine print in their loan documents, and how can one mistake cost them everything?

In this episode, Yonah welcomes Shlomo Chopp, a seasoned expert in structured finance, real estate, and distressed asset workouts. Shlomo shares his unconventional path into commercial real estate, the importance of understanding debt structures, and the major pitfalls borrowers face in today’s high-interest environment. From his early days in flooring and software sales to managing complex loan workouts, Shlomo breaks down how structured finance operates, why many borrowers are in distress, and how his patented solutions might help reshape the future of shopping centers.

[00:01 - 07:00] From Flooring Sales to Finance

• How career pivots shaped Shlomo's real estate journey
• Why necessity led him to structured finance
• The importance of deep document knowledge in distressed assets

[07:01 - 14:00] What Structured Finance Actually Means

• What sets structured finance apart from traditional loans
• How lenders reduce risk by syndicating deals
• Why structured deals exploded pre-2008 and again recently

[14:01 - 21:00] Current Market Distress & Why It’s Happening

• Which asset classes are struggling most—and why
• How overleveraging and poor planning created problems
• Why technicalities in loan documents can trigger major consequences

[21:01 - 28:30] Innovation, Patents & Retail Reinvention

• Why Shlomo filed patents to rethink shopping centers
• How micro-fulfillment might bridge e-commerce and retail
• The significance of patience in innovation and timing

[28:31 - 34:33] Philosophy, Negotiation & Defining Success

• How he measures success beyond just profits
• Why mentorship and strategic relationships matter
• The value of reading widely to stay sharp

Connect with Shlomo:

Website: www.caseinv.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chopp

Twitter: x.com/ShlomoChopp

LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW by clicking this link.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

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Tweetable Quotes:

“There’s no such thing as passive income—only passive losses.” - Shlomo Chopp

“Structured finance isn’t just about money. It’s about aligning risks and rewards so everyone involved sees the path to getting paid.” - Shlomo Chopp

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What if your community's blighted mall could be transformed into a thriving, income-producing asset? Andy Weiner, founder of RockStep Capital, joins Yonah to share how he revitalizes struggling shopping centers by turning them into community-centered investments with strong cash flow. Drawing from over 30 years in retail and real estate, Andy explains why secondary and tertiary markets are prime for investment, how local partnerships reduce risk, and the philosophy behind his company’s culture of adaptability and integrity.

[00:01 - 06:27] From Retail Collapse to Real Estate Opportunity

• Why Walmart’s dominance led to the end of Wiener’s retail chain
• How retail operations experience became the foundation for Andy’s real estate investment approach
• The importance of understanding tenant risk in shopping center investing

[06:28 - 12:34] Investing in ‘Hometown America’

• Why RockStep focuses on secondary and tertiary markets
• The role of local business leaders as equity partners and risk reducers
• How community banks offer flexibility national lenders can’t

[12:35 - 18:22] Turning Blight into Economic Engines

• Examples from Louisiana, Kansas, and South Dakota showing how RockStep transforms communities
• How public-private coalitions help reposition underperforming malls
• Using incentives and local alignment to unlock property value

[18:23 - 25:57] The RockStep Philosophy: Culture, Values, and Direction

• The meaning behind the company name "RockStep"
• A breakdown of Andy’s 25 “Rock Steps” – internal rules of behavior
• How culture drives performance, retention, and investor trust

[25:58 - 31:00] Cash Flow, Malls, and the Future of Retail

• Why retail’s decline is overstated and where the opportunities are
• Three strategies to reposition malls for cash flow or mixed use
• RockStep’s goal to educate investors on shopping center economics

Connect with Andy:

Website: https://rockstep.com/learning-center

https://investclearly.com/sponsors/rockstep-capital

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-weiner/

LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW by clicking this link.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Be sure to follow me on the below platforms:

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

LinkedIn

Youtube

Exclusive Facebook Group

www.yonahweiss.com

None of this could be possible without the awesome team at Buzzsprout. They make it easy to get your show listed on every major podcast platform.

Tweetable Quotes:

“We call it RockStep because it’s a dance move. You’ve got to be nimble. When there’s a threat or opportunity, you switch direction.” - Andy Weiner

“If we can’t get a local investor to believe in me, RockStep, and the asset, we won’t do the deal.” - Andy Weiner

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How would your financial life change if you stopped being a consumer and became the owner of your banking system? In this episode of Weiss Advice, Yonah speaks with Jim Oliver, founder of CreateTailwind and advocate of the Infinite Banking Concept. Jim shares his journey from poverty to financial independence, emphasizing the significance of controlling the banking function in your life. Through real-life examples and analogies, he explains how velocity, ownership, and mindset can radically alter your financial future. Jim also introduces the principles behind Infinite Banking and the importance of breaking away from conventional thinking about money, taxes, and legacy building.

[00:01 – 06:17] Own or Be Owned

• The importance of motion in money and why stagnation leads to loss
• The significance of financial ownership vs. consumer mentality
• The lesson Jim learned at age 13 while working in a casket factory

[06:16 – 12:38] Turning Headwinds into Tailwinds

• The idea behind "CreateTailwind" and how financial systems work against you
• How to recapture the 34.5 cents lost in interest from every dollar earned
• The concept of velocity and using your own financial system for growth

[12:39 – 18:53] Infinite Banking, Explained

• How Infinite Banking works through whole life insurance policies
• The concept of leveraging your cash value while it continues to grow
• Building assets and legacy simultaneously

[18:54 – 24:41] Breaking from the Herd

• Why more people don’t use Infinite Banking or tax-saving strategies
• The role of coaching, education, and mindset in financial success
• How ownership shifts perspective from fear to confidence

[24:42 – 30:44] Legacy, Freedom, and Ownership

• The five shifts Jim outlines in his new book Owner Shift
• Personal lessons about health, aging, and continued growth
• What success and freedom really mean

Connect with Justin:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/createtailwind182

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/createtailwind/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createtailwind

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/create_tailwind/

LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW by clicking this link.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Be sure to follow me on the below platforms:

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

LinkedIn

Youtube

Exclusive Facebook Group

www.yonahweiss.com

None of this could be possible without the awesome team at Buzzsprout. They make it easy to get your show listed on every major podcast platform.

Tweetable Quotes:

“If water doesn't flow, it becomes stagnant—and if money doesn't move, it dies.” - Jim Oliver

“You either pay someone else interest, or you give up the

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