With about two weeks to go before this year's convention, I am getting a bit fired up. I shift mind sets and become razor focused on forward thinking during these events.

I have created my own list of goals and objectives. Admittedly, some of the speakers didn't have that spark with me as I have heard them before. I have listened to them via USB recordings (thank you Jeffery), and plan on asking incredibly specific implementation questions this being the second or sometimes the third time around with them. That really all that measurable so I will give you additional items I am looking for to sharpen my real estate toolbox.

1) With Bill Cook who is advocates doing door knocking in tight circles, I want to run across my targeted REO marketing approach in hopes he can give me ways to improve seeking out what I see as an emerging niche. The foreclosure mitigation funds from five years ago have FINALLY dried up. Since I spend over $3,000 per successful transaction in getting an unlisted property, I want to reduce that number by 10%. More important, Bill can help advise you on creative ways to stack real estate tools to make an impossible transaction, possible. Folks think this out please, if you are doing the same thing as everyone else, what makes you think you will get above average returns? You need to learn to use and then routinely practice creativity.

2) There is a PHD coming that will teach us enders (those of us who are slowly winding down) methods and paths to follow that allow for additional freedom and tax savings. When you are towards the end, we are not as worried about money as much the freedom part. If she can show me ways to further diversify risk while navigating a period that will have the largest transfer of wealth, what is the value to all investors?

3) Tax savings is huge issue. I have literally paid at least six figures in taxes that I really didn't have to. I might have paid even more before using my coconut fully. An enrolled agent who was a football fan, moved next to me out in San Diego. I bought two sets of season tickets and picked his brain over tailgating. I might not have been a Charger fan at the Murph, the knowledge he shared paid for the steaks, tixs, and many additional houses. I see an EA is on tap. If you want to pay five figures in additional taxes and not even get a Christmas card, you don't need to improve yourself. When someone says they are an EA, it means the IRS has trained them specifically. When Enrolled agents speak, they will site the specific cases that allow you to write off that questionable expense - or they will tell where the future audit traps are at. How much is that audit going to cost you?

4) When it comes to AI, there are those out there that avoid it totally. Thank you. As for me, I want to use it to find my next three houses. If you want to avoid it that much, please move near me. It is already embedded into the software system I use to sort out specific search strings. You can manually search every estate, pulling out the owners who have real estate and have owned it for at least 10 years in specific zip codes. For me it is less than 2 minutes to pull the data. I tend to be cheap, so I had AI create my own post cards, so it took another four minutes for me to print up the address labels for these places too. This system - which was discussed at the convention a few years back, is so much faster than the manual system I used only have. I still have a list though of folks are paying their taxes late.

5) Bill Bronchick will be there. Enough said. If there was only one asset protection expert I could hire, it would be this man. I want to pull him offline and ask him about having my personal property trust as trustee for my land trust. I want to know if I should have out of area trustees for that third layer of security. I understand that others might have an opinion, but frankly - you are not the national authority on the topic. Hands down, he is. Last year the number two or three attorney was there. It is almost as if we might have clients that watch TV and hear Edgar Snyder lawsuit commercials during the day. One lawsuit WILL wipe out three to five years of cash flow.

6) The HOW and WHY are oh so important in this business. Does anyone think it is a good idea to create your own competition? But attending a national convention, you don't have to worry about it near that much. So, I want to learn and share the HOW and the WHY on how we do business with as many folks as I can. What is the value of that power networking and honesty?

My first goal is to get Zero to buy me lunch. Next maybe dinner too.

Then get Ray to dumb down his egg head knowledge so I can understand it.

I haven't won are you smarter than a 5th grader yet.

In all seriousness, when you invest a weekends worth of time - I need to know the why I am going so I can do my utmost to achieve that why.

It is awesome to be with like-minded people. It is good to hear what they are doing and even in some cases even contribute into these investments. But the focus has been improving your business model.

Time in the market will trump market timing. But improving that series of systems you have call a business can improve productivity. If your target is a mere 10% cash on cash return, (which is pitiful BTW) improving it just 1% on a small million-dollar portfolio can yield you over $50,000 over 10-year period.

Sorry Bonanza, but last minute life changes are keeping us from coming this year.

Already have the refunds in motion. The good news is that there are two more spots for someone to get in to the luncheons.

Really going to miss this, but things happen.

It's only about a three hour drive from the convention to me, if you decide to stay longer you are welcome to visit. Brad can drop you off and I can take you to Indy airport.

Hmmm...a new business venture? Brad's Luxury Shuttle Service!

BRAD

Ray I'll be getting with you to learn and reconnect.

Zero I'll miss you and your wife. Ya'll are great.

Brad As always, when Brad talks, I listen.

But back on topic, objectives.

I'm at a weird point in my life since I retired, rentals are now my main focus and I want to improve my business model, reduce my time inputs, automated more, and have a "legacy plan" for my property management business and my life assets.

I bought a new house so I need to do house things. I want to build a pond, get a large metal building insulated, and maybe get a garden going. None of which relates to the above but takes time away from it.

As always, so much to do and not enough time.

Bonanza,

Hire a bookkeeper to come in a few hours per week to pay bills and log in rents.

Hire a housekeeper to "clean you office" and rentals.

$20/hour can free you up.

Autodraft rent. Your people PREFER it.

Use the program I'll be teaching at Convention to minimize service calls AND put more money in your pocket - to pay the chauffer.

BRAD

LUNCH!!!!