In this insightful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Boris and Amanda Palomino — the powerhouse couple behind a rapidly growing assisted living operation. What started as a personal passion for meaningful work grew into a scalable business model with real estate, licensing, care teams, and systems all working together. Boris and Amanda break down what assisted living really is, who it serves, and why the demand curve over the next decade makes this one of the most compelling niches in housing and small business ownership.They walk through the true economics behind assisted living — from resident fees to operating margins — and the difference between running a home, owning the real estate, and building a company that can eventually scale across multiple locations. The Palominos also take us inside their story: burnout, breakthroughs, division of roles, supportive mentors, and how they merged purpose with profitability.This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about assisted living as an investment vehicle, a recession-resistant business model, or a mission-driven path into entrepreneurship. Tune in now to learn how Boris and Amanda built a business rooted in care, cash flow, and long-term impact.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:34:30 Amanda talks about a social model of care46:10 Boris talks about the ideal property KEEPING IT REAL:09:40 – The business model explained12:55 – Licensing and compliance basics15:22 – Real estate vs. operating company19:44 – Resident care & staffing challenges24:01 – Revenue, fees & margins28:33 – Demand drivers & demographic trends32:58 – Scaling from one home to many37:45 – Purpose, burnout & balance42:19 – Systems, roles & EOS structure46:58 – Advice for new operators50:44 – Long-term vision & impactCONNECT WITH THE GUESTSBoris PalominoWebsite: https://www.palominoseniorliving.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-palomino/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borisvpalomino/Amanda PalominoWebsite: https://www.palominoseniorliving.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-palomino-617a112a/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamandapalomino/#AssistedLiving #SeniorHousing #RealEstateInvesting #CashFlowBusiness #HealthcareEntrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #ImpactDriven #AlternativeInvesting #HousingSolutions #ExperimentNation

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connect

Get the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this sharp and self-reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down one of the most uncomfortable — yet transformative — questions every entrepreneur must confront: Are you operating like a professional, or like an amateur hoping for professional results?

Coming off an accountability call and stepping into a new year, Ruben unpacks why “professionalism” isn’t about perfection — it’s about preparation, detail, repetition, mastery, and the invisible work nobody sees. He compares the gap between good and great athletes, operators, and creators, showing how the slight edge comes from habits, systems, and a level of intentionality that compounds over time.

Ruben highlights the common traps entrepreneurs fall into: copying highlights instead of understanding the process, wanting the championship without training like a champion, or expecting mastery without the thousands of unseen reps.

From content creation to deal analysis, from running a business to building a brand, he walks through the mindset shifts required to raise your standards, commit to your craft, and step fully into professional territory.

This episode is a wake-up call — a gut check that challenges you to examine the quality of your inputs, the rigor of your process, and the integrity of your ambition.

Tune in now to learn how to adopt the mindset of a professional, build mastery through repetition, and elevate your standards so your results finally match your goals.

#EntrepreneurMindset #Professionalism #HighStandards #BusinessGrowth #Mastery #ExperimentNation #RealEstateEntrepreneur #MindsetMatters #SuccessHabits #PersonalDevelopment

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this strategic episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down the five core pillars he’s taking into 2026: relationships, resources, resilience, speed, and standards. After closing out 2025 with major wins and powerful lessons, he shares how each pillar showed up in the real world—from securing financing after four banks said no, to creating rooms and communities that unlocked new opportunities, to using AI as a force multiplier for execution.

Ruben explains why every major milestone in his life has come from a relationship, how resourcefulness replaces excuses, and why resilience is the non-negotiable trait behind every breakthrough. He also unpacks the power of speed, the mindset shift behind moving without all the answers, and why your standards quietly dictate your destiny long before your habits do.

This episode gives you a clear framework you can apply immediately: build deeper relationships, leverage the right resources, stay resilient through the inevitable challenges, move quickly with conviction, and raise the standards that shape your environment and outcomes.

Tune in now to learn how to apply all five pillars, accelerate your growth, and build a 2026 filled with momentum, clarity, and results.

#EntrepreneurMindset #SuccessFramework #AIForBusiness #BusinessGrowth #ExperimentNation #MindsetMatters #GoalSetting2026 #RealEstateEntrepreneur #HighStandards #PersonalDevelopment

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this forward-focused episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down the three pillars he’s using to engineer a powerful and intentional 2026: a clear definite aim, an AI-powered execution toolbox, and the 1-5-10 framework for turning vision into action. After reflecting on Q4, two AI workshops, and the patterns he’s seen among operators and entrepreneurs, Ruben explains why most people fail at goal setting — and how a simple shift in mindset and structure changes everything.

He walks through why experimentation is the only path to discovering your purpose, how to filter every opportunity through a 10-year trajectory, and why alignment becomes your internal GPS. From there, Ruben shows how AI removes the two biggest excuses holding people back — lack of information and lack of time — and how to use AI as a personal board of directors to eliminate blind spots and accelerate execution.

Finally, Ruben breaks down the 1-5-10 framework, including how to define your 10-year dream life, reverse-engineer your five-year milestones, convert that into one-year focus, and translate everything into monthly and weekly sprints that actually stick. This episode is a practical blueprint for anyone who wants to avoid another “New Year sprint–February fizzle” cycle and instead build a system that compounds for years.

Tune in now to learn how to set a clear aim, harness AI, and build a weekly structure that finally closes the gap between who you are and who you’re becoming.

#EntrepreneurMindset #GoalSetting #AIForBusiness #ProductivitySystems #ExperimentNation #BusinessGrowth #VisionPlanning #RealEstateEntrepreneur #MindsetMatters #2026Planning

In this powerhouse episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Jack Martin — co-founder and CIO of 52TEN, one of the top mobile home park operators in the United States. Jack brings decades of experience across development, acquisitions, capital formation, and operations, having overseen over $1B in real estate projects and more than 2,000 lots nationwide.

Jack breaks down why mobile home parks sit at the lowest end of the real-estate risk spectrum, how they deliver unusually stable cash flow, and why investors from high-net-worth individuals to family offices chase the asset class for its superior tax advantages. He explains the core difference between mobile home parks and RV parks, why land improvements are the real engine of bonus depreciation, and how lot-rent economics create both affordability for residents and reliable income for operators.

Throughout the conversation, Jack unpacks key levers for value creation — sub-metering, operational discipline, expense reduction, proper sizing for scale, and what separates truly institutional-quality parks from everything else. He also reveals how his team evaluates 150 deals a year and buys only three, why scarcity drives long-term upside, and how EOS, belief, and people have shaped 52TEN’s rise into a market leader.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the real math behind mobile home park investing, see how large operators think, and learn why this niche remains one of the most tax-efficient, recession-resistant strategies in the country. Tune in now to discover why Jack calls mobile home parks “the most stable real estate in America.”

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

08:02 Jack talks about why MHPs are lowest on the risk spectrum

25:56 Jack talks about applying cost segregation

KEEPING IT REAL:

06:00 – Mobile home park model

08:06 – Why investors choose MHPs

10:36 – Bonus depreciation power

12:57 – Tax buckets clarified

14:49 – Investor profiles shift

21:17 – Land improvements explained

24:53 – Cost-seg advantage

28:10 – Evaluating properties

33:03 – Renting land, not homes

37:56 – Tenant stability factor

45:28 – Why new parks aren’t built

49:04 – Expense leaks & fixes

53:05 – Affordability for residents

57:22 – Yield expectations

1:04:12 – Belief, EOS, people

Episode Hashtags: #MobileHomeParks #RealEstateInvesting #AffordableHousing #WealthStrategy #PassiveIncome #TaxStrategy #LandImprovements #MHPInvesting #FinancialFreedom #ScaleWithStability

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://52ten.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-martin-52ten/

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks one of the most overlooked success variables in entrepreneurship and temporary housing: your environment. After attending a high-level BookThinkers event hosted by his friend Nick Hutchinson of episode #99 and reconnecting with mentors and peers, Ruben breaks down how proximity, intention, and the rooms you choose to enter shape your growth more than tactics ever will.

He shares the deeper meaning behind the “white lab coat vs. the suit” rebrand—why beginner operators need experimentation, and why seasoned operators need depth, systems, and specialization. Ruben walks through how he discovered his tribe across short-term rentals, mid-term rentals, insurance housing, and beyond, with pivotal moments sparked by guests like Michael Sjogren (Episode 91), Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh (Episodes 81 & 263), and Will Dotson. Each connection created a bridge, a business model, or a breakthrough reminder.

This episode zooms in on the power of alignment, integration, and why deeper rooms lead to bigger opportunities, why Q4 is advantage season, and how vertically aligning your mission, business, and contribution creates momentum that lasts beyond a single market cycle.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between where you are and the room you know you should be in, this episode is your invitation.

Tune in now to learn how to choose environments that elevate you, adopt belief systems that accelerate you, and build a business that serves something bigger than yourself.

#EntrepreneurMindset #RelationshipEquity #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #Networking #ExperimentNation

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this detailed episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with tax strategist and CPA, Michael Uadiale Michael brings the type of clarity most entrepreneurs wish their CPA would give them, breaking down the real tax game in a way that feels simple, concrete, and practical.

Michael shares why the tax code is built for business owners and investors, not W2 earners — and how most people are losing money simply because they’re operating in the wrong category. He explains the difference between tax preparation, tax planning, and tax strategy, why bonus depreciation is so misunderstood, and how entrepreneurs can position themselves before Q4 ends.

Throughout the conversation, Michael outlines the real KPIs that matter for understanding your tax position, the most common blind spots he sees in operators, and how AI is reshaping the accounting industry. More importantly, he gives a blueprint for building a tax-optimized business structure — from entity setup, to bookkeeping hygiene, to capturing deductions the right way.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to stop guessing, stop overpaying, and finally understand how to use the tax code as a tool for building wealth. Tune in now to learn how Michael’s strategic approach can help you keep more of your money, protect your business, and plan for long-term freedom.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

11:50 Michaeil talks about the tax code and real estate success.

17:40 Michael talks about getting proactive on managing taxes

KEEPING IT REAL:

04:20 – What CPAs do

07:58 – Compliance vs. strategy

11:15 – Why books matter

14:42 – Cash flow leaks

17:10 – Business owner mindset

20:55 – W2 vs. 1099

23:41 – Entity structure basics

26:12 – LLC vs. S-Corp

29:09 – Audit red flags

32:44 – Deduction vs. credit

36:01 – Mileage & receipts

40:28 – Real estate benefits

44:12 – Depreciation explained

48:00 – Cost segregation use

52:18 – Passive vs. active

55:44 – Short-term rental rules

58:59 – Material participation tests

1:02:10 – Tax strategy stacking

1:05:08 – Mid-term rental angle

1:08:30 – Investor documentation

1:12:44 – AI and accounting

1:16:10 – Scaling financial ops

1:20:55 – Final takeaways

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smeedcpa/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_uadiale/?hl=en

#TaxStrategy #BusinessFinances #RealEstateInvesting #CashFlow #EntrepreneurMindset #FinancialLiteracy #SREI #BusinessOwnerLife #CPAInsights #WealthBuilding

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: ⁠https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this insightful episode of In The Lab, Ruben welcomes Giang Nguyen, founder of One River Capital, a former scientist turned real estate investor and syndicator. Giang shares her remarkable journey from working in gene therapy at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to achieving financial freedom through multifamily real estate. Her story unfolds with precision and strategy—from buying her first $30,000 foreclosure property in cash to scaling into duplexes, five-units, and eventually syndications.

Giang breaks down the financial and emotional blueprint behind leaving a W2 job the right way—by doing the math, living below her means, and mastering capital allocation. She reveals how she bought, renovated, and refinanced early properties, often paying in cash before leveraging them to scale. As a mortgage broker and syndicator, Giang dives deep into the mindset and numbers that drive wealth building—covering how to calculate key performance indicators (KPIs), why cash flow matters more than NOI, and how investors can prepare to transition from single-family homes to multifamily investments.

This episode is a playbook for anyone looking to build wealth strategically, without hype—only math, milestones, and mastery. Tune in now to learn how Giang's methodical approach can help you engineer your exit from a W2 and design a business that funds your freedom.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

07:35 Giang talks about the push that made her need to grow in multifamily

22:21 Giang talks about how syndication performance is measured.

KEEPING IT REAL:

00:05 – Offense vs. defense

01:09 – Scientist to investor

06:23 – Choosing freedom over medicine

08:58 – First $30K property

10:35 – Learning by doing

14:04 – Living below one’s means

15:57 – Employer match strategy

17:00 – No car philosophy

18:35 – Comfort in numbers

21:01 – Financial blind spots

23:33 – Tracking key KPIs

25:01 – Distribution vs. NOI

30:55 – Cash flow clarity

33:37 – Proof of concept

35:04 – Multifamily cash flow

36:09 – Zoning strategy explained

37:26 – Buying “by right”

38:05 – Highest and best use

40:06 – Transition to 5+ units

42:00 – Immigrant lending limits

43:40 – Lender risk factors

1:41:13 – Power of community

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://onerivercapital.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatsalsainvestor/

#RealEstateInvesting #FinancialFreedom #Syndication #Multifamily #W2ToWealth #CashFlow #ImmigrantEntrepreneur #WomenInRealEstate #MortgageBroker #OneRiverCapital #InvestSmart #BuildWealth#CapitalRaising #FinancialStrategy