Financial Freedom Podcast with Dr. Christopher H. Loo, MD-PhD

🎥 Impact Investing with Sam Sells: From Military to $300M Affordable Housing Fund

May 1, 2025

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Impact investing expert Sam Sells joins the show to share how he transitioned from military service and government work to building a $300 million fund dedicated to affordable housing and socially responsible real estate.

In this episode, you’ll discover how Sam Sells uses his background with USAID, the HUD, and foreign development projects to solve real-world problems through multifamily housing development and private capital raising. If you’ve been searching for how to start in impact investing, how to access government grants for real estate, or how to align your investments with your values — this conversation is tailored for you.

Sam breaks down:

The blueprint to raise capital from investors aligned with mission-driven goals
How to leverage government funding, bonds, and grants effectively
The red tape around HUD — and how to work through it
Why leadership and resilience are essential in today’s real estate landscape
The power of purpose-driven investing and real financial returns

This episode is especially useful if you:

Are tired of purely profit-driven investing
Want to fund affordable housing solutions
Are looking to enter real estate investing with social impact
Need inspiration from someone who’s made the leap from service to success

Let Sam’s story provide insight, clarity, and real answers to your impact investing questions.

0:00 - Introduction to Sam Sells & his journey1:00 - Military background and transition to impact work2:00 - Why real estate? Why impact investing?3:05 - How to scale impact through smart systems4:15 - Affordable housing & investor incentives5:40 - Working with HUD, USAID, and government bonds7:10 - Is the government still a good partner?8:35 - The truth about USAID and foreign aid10:00 - Lessons in leadership and overcoming failure11:30 - Top books and resources for raising private capital13:00 - Where to connect with Sam

To check out the YouTube (video podcast), visit: https://www.youtube.com/@drchrisloomdphd

Disclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show.

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