Alex E. Edwards didn’t wait for permission to succeed — he rewrote the rules. After purchasing his first multifamily property in his early twenties, he went on to build a multimillion-dollar real estate company and become the founder of Thumbprint Realty, now the largest Black-owned brokerage in New England. But Alex’s impact goes far beyond transactions. As a TEDx speaker and author of Mortgage Before Marriage, he’s leading a bold conversation: what if financial freedom should come before marriage — not after? 

Through more than 1,200 closed transactions and millions in buyer assistance, Alex has helped turn access into opportunity, especially for single women and first-generation homebuyers who’ve been told to “wait their turn.” In this conversation, we unpack how money stress silently impacts relationships, why equity can strengthen families, and how ownership transforms communities. His mission? Help one million people build legacy before love — because when we change what ...

Michael Russell is a seasoned real estate investor and hospitality entrepreneur who turned short-term rentals on Maui into financial freedom before scaling into hostel and hotel investing. As the co-founder of Howzit Hostels—the #1 small hostel in North America—and Malama Capital, he brings over 20 years of experience across short-term rentals, long-term rentals, commercial real estate, and hospitality assets. He shares how he sources and analyzes hotel deals, leads acquisitions, and is leveraging systems and AI to create efficient, high–cash flow hospitality investments with strong equity upside. Also a co-host of the Hotel Investor Playbook podcast, he offers practical insights for investors looking to transition from Airbnb-style rentals into hotels, build scalable businesses, and design unforgettable guest experiences—all while balancing entrepreneurship, family life, and island living in Maui.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand why successful investors fo...