Most people think successful investors spend their time chasing the next big opportunity. Jacob Vanderslice believes the best investors do the exact opposite; they spend more time thinking about what could go wrong.

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with Jacob Vanderslice, Principal and Co-Founder of VanWest Partners, to discuss the mindset, discipline, and decision-making behind successful real estate investing and long-term wealth creation.

Jacob shares how his career evolved from residential fix-and-flips to commercial real estate investing, why profitability always matters more than growth, and the framework his team uses to evaluate risk before investing millions of dollars.

The conversation explores everything from downside protection and responsible leverage to raising capital, market cycles, commercial real estate, AI-powered deal analysis, and the questions every investor should ask before writing a check.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, real estate investor, or someone looking to build wealth over time, this episode offers practical lessons on protecting capital, evaluating opportunities, and making smarter financial decisions.

In this episode:

• Why profitability beats growth every time

• The biggest mistakes investors make during good markets

• How professional investors evaluate risk before returns

• The transition from fix-and-flips to commercial real estate

• Why storage facilities became an attractive investment class

• Responsible leverage and debt management

• Cash flow versus IRR, and which matters more

• How AI is changing commercial real estate underwriting

• Why market cycles create opportunity for disciplined investors

• Building long-term wealth through conservative investing

If you're serious about entrepreneurship, investing, financial freedom, and building lasting wealth, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

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