In this episode of the Real Estate Investing School Podcast, host Joe Jensen sits down with Ryan Cadwell—veteran investor, managing partner at Resolute RDM, and all-around real estate realist. With over $100M in transactions across development, flipping, brokerage, and asset management, Ryan brings 17 years of boots-on-the-ground experience and a refreshing "no-Kool-Aid" perspective. He shares how his career evolved from a dream of passive income to building a life he doesn't want to retire from. The two dive deep into how to design a business that aligns with your values, avoid ego-driven deals, and focus on investment value over market hype.

Ryan also opens up about his journey from ministry to agnosticism, why real estate is never really passive, and how he's found purpose supporting transitional youth through his board work with 91 Place. This conversation covers everything from emotional decision-making and buyer psychology to using Google alerts to track job trends in your market. If you're tired of the guru fluff and want real talk about what it takes to build a sustainable, fulfilling investing career, this episode delivers in spades.