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Rick Kaplan Host of the NEREJ/ NYREJ Podcast interviews Benjamin Stef of Nexa Lending. www.fundingfreedom.net

Ben talks about really unique, high-leverage loan programs that most investors don't know about that can help them scale faster. We've been able to scale our mortgage business to multiple six figures in less than 6 months all while keeping margins low in order to benefit the investors and their pockets. At this point I've been invited to many other podcasts and speaking engagements sharing the knowledge my team and I have. Because we work with so many real estate investors at a high level across the country, we get to see a lot of strategies that work and a lot of strategies that don't work, coupled with having mortgage and lending knowledge, so we know how to structure deals to make sense on paper.

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Rick Kaplan Host of NEREJ/ NYREJ Podcast Interviews Jens Nielsen of Open Doors Capital.

Jens spent 27 years in IT and telecom before transitioning full-time into real estate investing and coaching.

Since 2016 I've been a partner in over 2,700 apartment units and 100,000+ square feet of commercial real estate, and I’ve raised over $10M in private capital.

Over the past few years, I’ve also shifted focus toward industrial and other commercial assets, while helping investors and business owners improve decision-making, operations, and long-term strategy.

What’s shaped me most isn’t just the growth—it’s navigating challenging deals, lender negotiations, and market shifts, which has forced me to become more disciplined around risk and capital preservation.
Tells us what you would like to discuss on the show? ’d focus on how commercial real estate investors can adapt right now, especially as traditional multifamily deals have become harder to make work:

Pivoting Across Asset Classes
How investors can move into areas like light industrial or niche commercial to continue finding value.
What Actually Works in Today’s Market
Adjusting underwriting, debt strategy, and hold periods in a higher-rate environment.
Risk Management from an Operator’s Perspective
Lessons from managing through tough deals, working with lenders, and protecting investor capital.

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Rick Kaplan host of the NEREJ/NYREJ Podcast interview with Rod Santomassimo of The Massimo Group. massimo.coach
Rod Santomassimo is the founder of The Massimo Group, the leading coaching organization for commercial real estate brokers worldwide. He is a five-time bestselling author, a patented inventor, a former division one athlete, and a two-time recipient of Duke University’s MBA Alumni of the Year award. Globe St. and ALM Media have also named Rod a "Best Boss in Commercial Real Estate,” a recognition that reflects both his leadership and the culture he has built.

Rod helps brokers earn more in less time by immersing them in the people, processes, and platforms proven to drive exponential growth. He’s leading the way in integrating AI into commercial real estate, assisting his clients in streamlining their work and securing more opportunities faster.
Outside the office, Rod spends time with his wife of 30 years and their two grown children.