Ep. 135 - From Active Duty Army to Financial Freedom with Jocelyn Bradley
Financial freedom through real estate investing promises flexibility and passive income, but the path there is often messy and complex. In this interview army veteran turned investor Jocelyn Bradley pulls back the curtain on her journey from active duty to building a 15-property rental portfolio and successful real estate business. Jocelyn shares the pivotal mindset shift around defining “enough,” how a stint as a frustrated government employee led her to embrace real estate full-time, horror stories from hiring the wrong contractors, and the importance of taking mental health days even when you’re your own boss. The conversation ultimately reveals that the dream is attainable with the right systems, relationships, and perspective. Takeaways apply whether you’re a budding or seasoned investor.
From Army Logistics to Real Estate Agent and Financial Freedom. After leaving active duty service, Jocelyn went on to become one of the top-producing Real Estate Agents in the Fort Liberty area, as well as acquire a decent-sized portfolio of rental properties along the way. And it's all been possible due to her professionalism and commitment to serve others along the way.
To learn more about Ashton, listeners can visit his website at Valkere Investment Group!
[00:00 - 13:32] The Transition From Active Duty to Real Estate
- Jocelyn served 9.5 years on active duty army before joining the reserves in 2019.
- She became a Department of Army civilian but hated it and quit after 6 months.
- She pivoted to real estate, becoming an agent and full-time investor.
- Get to know the requirements and the investment required of being a real estate agent based on your state.
[13:33 – 27:35] Building a Rental Portfolio and Optimizing Systems
- Choosing to delegate work instead of jumping into the details to have time for more important tasks.
- Jocelyn has 15 rental properties housed under LLCs for asset protection.
- She assembles teams to handle tasks like maintenance and renovations.
- Trusts offer additional benefits like avoiding probate and lawsuits.
[27:36 – 38:09] People Take Care of People
- Be choosy in hiring contractors based on communication, timeliness, and transparency.
- Screen your tenants and be firm as necessary - vacancy is better than a huge headache.
- Prioritize honesty so you can build up trust more quickly with your team.
[38:10 – 56:01] Expanding as an Investor
- Jocelyn invested as a limited partner in a 55-unit apartment syndication
- She is strategic in today's market, focused on new builds and creative deals
- Ask yourself - how much is “enough”?
Connect with Jocelyn!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dis_be_jocelyn/
Website: https://www.jocelynbradley.com/
Connect with Ashton!
Website: Valkere Investment Group
LinkedIn: Valkere Investment Group
Want to learn more about creating multiple streams of income, wealth protection, financial freedom, or real estate investing? Join our investor club, check out our blog, get our free ebook on investing, or join us for our monthly Real Estate Investing Made Simple virtual meetup. Take the first to your wins in life and head on to http://www.valkeregroup.com.
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Key Quote
"It's all about taking care of people, right? What I've learned is if you take care of people, they'll take care of you." – Jocelyn Bradley
