A Tribute to My Investing Hero

[Intelligent Income Daily]( Welcome to Intelligent Income Daily, the free daily newsletter from wealth and income expert Brad Thomas. Brad’s experience spans three decades of real estate and stock market booms and busts. Today, he and his team focus exclusively on the safest and most predictable ways to earn sustainable and growing income in any market condition. You can find all past issues [here](. And if you have any questions, please contact Brad and his team [here](mailto:memberservices@widemoatresearch.com). A Tribute to My Investing Hero By Brad Thomas, Editor, Intelligent Income Daily Yesterday, the most legendary investor that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting face to face, passed away at the age of 81. One of the best things about my job is meeting with successful businessmen and women, who inspire me and enhance my approach to intelligent investing. It would be difficult for me to put together a top 10 list of people I’ve met – speaking with these incredible individuals has been an absolute honor that’s taught me so much. [image]( But if we narrowed that list down to just one person? I’d have a name in no-time flat. Sam Zell, was a real estate legend who shook the industry countless times to make his billions. Zell was – and still is – one of my all-time investing heroes. And he’s left a legacy we can model to build our own wealth, even in the trying times. Here at the Intelligent Income Daily, we’re focused on finding the safest income-producing investments on the market. And we do so by following the tried and tested strategies of the greatest investors of our time. So today, I want to honor his legacy and share his wealth-building strategy, which landed him the title, “the grave dancer.” Recommended Link [THE PROPHECY An Exclusive Event Hosted by Buck Sexton May 23 at 10 AM ET]( [image]( On May 23rd, national radio host Buck Sexton will be making what could be [the most important interview of his career…]( But it’s not with former President Trump, Jordan Peterson, or anyone else he’s talked to in the past… It’s with his father, Mason Sexton. Mason was one of Wall Street’s most respected analysts in the ‘80s. As the Chicago Tribune wrote, he called the crash of ’87 “practically down to the minute.” But after that famous call, Mason withdrew from the public eye. And his forecasts for the last 30 years –including calling the bottom of the 2009 crash… the top (and bottom) of the Covid crash, and the exact peak of the market last January – have been kept private. Reserved for his hedge funds and billionaire clients that pay him up to $10,000 a month for his insights. But, on May 23rd, that all changes… Because Mason Sexton’s latest forecast is far too chilling – and the consequences for Americans far too wide ranging – for this information not to go public. [Click here to reserve your spot to The Prophecy right now.]( -- “Bearded and Blunt-Spoken” There are a lot of obituaries you can find on Zell’s passing. The ones I’ve seen have done a good job at honoring such a great investor. But this paragraph from the Associated Press stood out especially to me thanks to its first line. All it needed to add, I think, was something about Zell’s range of facial expressions, including his wizened, attention-grabbing smile. “Bearded and blunt-spoken, Zell reveled in bucking traditional wisdom. He had a golden touch with real estate and got his start managing apartment buildings as a college student. By the time he reached his 70s, he had amassed a fortune estimated at $3.8 billion.” I got to meet this absolute character in 2021 right as I was publishing my last book, The Intelligent REIT Investor Guide. [Image] (Sam Zell and Brad Thomas in October 2021) He had endorsed it already, writing: “The simple genius of public REITs is that they turn bricks and mortar into transparent and predictable liquid assets. Since they tend to pay high dividends, REITs can serve as a terrific addition to an investment portfolio. Thomas’ book helps break down this asset class for the average person, making REITs more understandable and therefore more accessible to everyone.” I was thrilled that an idol of mine had written such a tribute. And then I got to meet him! I know I sound completely starstruck, but come on… How would you feel if you met your hero? A Memory Worth Holding Onto Zell made a name for himself buying up distressed assets, then turning them around for big-time profits. In other words, the companies he bought had one foot in the grave, then he would come along with spring in his step and buy them right before they came back to life. And that’s how he got his nickname, “the grave dancer.” He “danced” all the way until his passing, always on the lookout for the next highly profitable new deal. And all he did was follow a simple strategy in his acquisitions. He looked for flagging companies that needed some TLC (tender, love, and care) – whether it was capital or marketing or new leadership – to grow great again. He did his research, he crunched his numbers, and he came to his conclusions. His vision wasn’t perfect, mind you. None are. And he did find himself on the losing end of an investment more than once. But he passed away with a net worth of $5.2 billion. So he clearly had more victories than he did defeats. Quite a lot more. In the investing game, that’s what we strive for: a successful track record that helps us live long and full lives with financial confidence. To quote Equity Group Investments, the company he chaired: “Sam Zell was a self-made, visionary entrepreneur. He launched and grew hundreds of companies during his 60-plus-year career and created countless jobs. Although his investments spanned industries across the globe, he was most widely recognized for his critical role in creating the modern real estate investment trust, which today is a more than $4 trillion industry.” Can you now see why I have such a high opinion of him? Long live the memory of Sam Zell and his impressive investment approaches. With that goal in mind, I’ve decided to dedicate my new book, REITs for Dummies (due out this summer), to him. The dedication will be something like this: “To Sam Zell, an investor worth emulating. Thanks for providing such an amazing example of how to turn commercial real estate into something to talk about. May you rest in peace.” Happy SWAN (sleep well at night) investing, Brad Thomas Editor, Intelligent Income Daily IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… [Final stage before digital money]( The end is near… Our financial system is about to be transformed in a way that would’ve been unthinkable just a few years ago. And almost nobody is prepared for the chaos that follows. According to Bank of America, this overhaul is imminent – And Dr. Nomi Prins says the final stage begins in July, with the rollout of the FedNow system. To show you everything you need to know about the FedNow system – and to help you prepare – Dr. Prins has recorded a free presentation with all the details. It’s controversial, but Nomi’s interview is a must-watch for anyone with more than $2,500 in an American bank or retirement fund. [Click here to find out what you need to do to prepare for this historic transformation.]( [image]( [Wide Moat Research]( Wide Moat Research 55 NE 5th Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33483 [www.widemoatresearch.com]( To ensure our emails continue reaching your inbox, please [add our email address]( to your address book. This editorial email containing advertisements was sent to {EMAIL} because you subscribed to this service. To stop receiving these emails, click [here](. Wide Moat Research welcomes your feedback and questions. But please note: The law prohibits us from giving personalized advice. To contact Customer Service, call toll free Domestic/International: 1-888-415-6046, Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm ET, or email us [here](mailto:feedback@widemoatresearch.com). © 2023 Wide Moat Research. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, copying, or redistribution of our content, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from Wide Moat Research. [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Use](