Rentier

LexShares: $2.3M In, $2.3M Out

  • Post Date：
42 Cases, 8 Investors, One Platform’s Collapse How my investor group barely broke even on a litigation finance crowdfunding platform The Bottom Line My investor group put $2.3 million into 42 commercial litigation cases on LexShares from 2017-2020. We barely broke even. Total Invested $2,331,000 Members 8 Cases 42 Record 20 wins, 15 losses, 7 […]
Read More

The Passport Patent Payday: 9 Years to 1.84x

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #644: The Passport Patent Payday An inventor’s RFID technology ended up in every US electronic passport. After 9 years of litigation, the government finally paid. The Numbers Invested $25,000 Returned $45,897 Net Profit $20,897 MOIC 1.84x IRR 9.43% Holding Period 2,458 days The Case In the mid-2000s, an inventor developed technology for securely […]
Read More

The Litigation Ledger: January 2026

  • Post Date：
$2.75M Committed: 2 Funds, 5 LexShares Investments Tracking my litigation finance portfolio — Statera Capital funds and LexShares direct investments Portfolio Summary (January 2026) Category Total Committed Capital Deployed Status Statera Funds $2,500,000 $1,440,000 Fund I harvesting; Fund II investing LexShares Cases $255,000 $255,000 1 settled, 4 active Total $2,755,000 $1,695,000 Statera Capital Funds Fund […]
Read More

The $208M Rebrand: YieldStreet Becomes Willow Wealth

  • Post Date：
YieldStreet → Willow Wealth: Anatomy of a Rebrand When $208 million in losses meets a name change — what veteran investors learned about “democratizing” alternative investments What Was YieldStreet? Founded in 2015 by Michael Weisz and Milind Mehere, YieldStreet positioned itself as a fintech platform that would “democratize access to alternative investments” — letting retail […]
Read More

The $100M Question

  • Post Date：
Background This thought experiment emerged during dinner table conversations with my wife about retirement planning. We discussed everything from where to live and how to invest to how often to visit family. Our conversation meandered in every possible direction until we finally reset with a simple question: “What if, right at this moment, we had […]
Read More

How ‘Senior Secured’ Became Subordinated Scraps

  • Post Date：
YieldStreet Law Firm Financing VII: A 6-Year Saga Ending in Default A $15M “senior secured” loan to a class action law firm — how I lost $87,742 over 6.5 years The Numbers Invested $250,000 Returned $162,258 Net Loss ($87,742) MOIC 0.65x IRR (10.28%) Holding Period 2,355 days Target Term 36 months The Investment On March […]
Read More

The David vs Goliath Letdown: $50M Claimed, 1.12x Returned

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #1101: The Copycat Fuel Injection System A small engineering firm proved a €14 billion auto giant stole their technology — but $50M+ in claimed damages became a 1.12x return The Numbers Invested $30,000 Returned $33,710 Net Profit $3,710 MOIC 1.12x IRR 4% Holding Period 1,699 days The Case A Michigan engineering firm developed […]
Read More

The $5 Million Mistake: Rejected Settlement, Total Loss

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #617: The $5 Million They Should Have Taken A retail developer rejected a $5M settlement offer, went to trial, lost, appealed, lost again. Total loss. The Numbers Invested $82,500 Returned $0 Net Loss ($82,500) MOIC 0.00x IRR -100% Holding Period 1,351 days The Case In 2009, a major metropolitan transit authority — one […]
Read More

The Counterfeit Nightmare: Chinese Prison, Zero Recovery

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #321: The Counterfeit Equipment Nightmare A small reseller bought “genuine” equipment from a Fortune 50 company. It was counterfeit. Their employees went to Chinese prison. The lawsuit went nowhere. The Numbers Invested $47,500 Returned $0 Net Profit ($47,500) MOIC 0.00x IRR -100% Holding Period 1,648 days The Case In 2011, a small East […]
Read More

The Trademark Grind: 50 Letters, 4 Years, 1.10x

  • Post Date：
The Trademark Enforcement Campaign 15 lawsuits, 4+ years, and a 1.10x return — the economics of volume trademark litigation The Numbers Invested $50,000 Returned $54,970 Net Profit $4,970 MOIC 1.10x IRR 2.1% Holding Period 1,673 days Distributions 5 payments The Case A financial advisor built a nationally-recognized brand around his radio program. His company owned […]
Read More

The Second Million

  • Post Date：
My Journey to Becoming a Multi-Millionaire Reaching my first million in 2018 was a milestone that changed everything. What happened next surprised even me: in just three years, I doubled that initial fortune. The journey from disciplined saver to aggressive investor taught me lessons that transformed not just my wealth, but my entire perspective on […]
Read More

The Extended Hold: 16-Month Term, 45-Month Finish, 13% Return

  • Post Date：
Short Term Small Business Financing I: The Extended Hold How a 16-month small business lending deal stretched to 45 months — and still delivered 13%+ returns The Numbers Invested $70,000 Returned $87,032.77 Net Profit $17,032.77 MOIC 1.24x IRR 13.12% Target Term 16 months Actual Term 45 months The Investment In April 2018, YieldStreet launched Short […]
Read More

The Monsanto Verdict: $289M Jury Award, 1.70x Return

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #656: The Groundskeeper Who Made History Johnson v. Monsanto — the first Roundup cancer verdict, a $289M jury award, and my small piece of legal history The Numbers Invested $25,000 Returned $42,399 Net Profit $17,399 MOIC 1.70x IRR 29% Holding Period 770 days The Case You probably heard about this one. Dewayne Johnson […]
Read More

The Installment Plan: 31 Payments, 1.69x Over 3 Years

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #1098: The 31-Payment Settlement A medical finance fraud case settled quickly — then took 2.5 years to pay out in installments The Numbers Invested $30,000 Returned $50,703 Net Profit $20,703 MOIC 1.69x IRR 65% Holding Period 1,061 days Payments Received 31 The Case A Florida investor spent seven years building a relationship with […]
Read More

The Pyrrhic Victory: Won at Trial, Lost Money

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #310: When Winning Still Loses Money UKnight v. Knights of Columbus — a $100 million lawsuit wins at trial, but the $500,000 verdict doesn’t cover the litigation funding The Numbers Invested $170,000 Returned $149,937 Net Profit ($20,063) MOIC 0.88x IRR -4.41% Holding Period 1,018 days The Case List Interactive v. Knights of Columbus […]
Read More

The Double Loss: No Verdict, No Lawyer, No Recovery

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #249: A Total Loss What happens when the plaintiff loses at trial, then loses their lawyer The Numbers Invested $50,000 Returned $0 Net Profit ($50,000) MOIC 0.00x IRR -100% Holding Period 1,079 days The Case A landlord leased 18,000 square feet of office space to a county child services agency in Pennsylvania. The […]
Read More

The Startup Vindication: Trade Secrets Case, 1.76x in 15 Months

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #678: When a Giant Copied the Startup A trade secrets case generated 1.76x in 15 months — via a plaintiff buyout The Numbers Invested $150,000 Returned $263,269 Net Profit $113,269 MOIC 1.76x IRR 58% Holding Period 456 days The Case Cosmetic injections are a $4+ billion global market. The problem: poorly trained providers […]
Read More

Personal Goals For 2020

  • Post Date：
New Year, Same You I set my goals every year at the end of November and do a year end review at new year. I usually keep them private, but this year I decided to share on my blog. All goals fall under one of the top 3 focus areas of life: money, health, and […]
Read More

The Acquisition Exit: 48-Month Term, 21-Month Payoff

  • Post Date：
YieldStreet Diversified Pre-Settlement Portfolio XXV: The Acquisition Exit How a platform acquisition turned a 48-month investment into a 21-month win with 13%+ returns The Numbers Invested $250,000 Returned $289,248 Net Profit $39,248 MOIC 1.16x IRR 13.14% Target Term 48 months Actual Term 21 months The Investment In December 2017, YieldStreet launched Diversified Pre-Settlement Portfolio XXV […]
Read More

The Rubber Band Windfall: 2.57x on a Toy Licensing Fad

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #285: Riding the Rubber Band Craze How a toy licensing dispute turned $25,000 into $64,135 in under 2 years The Numbers Invested $25,000 Returned $64,135 Net Profit $39,135 MOIC 2.57x IRR 66% Holding Period 682 days The Case Remember when rubber band bracelets were everywhere? In 2013-2014, loom kits were the hottest toy […]
Read More

The Break-Even Beginning: My First Litigation Bet

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #217: My First Litigation Investment 640 days to break even — and why I consider that a win The Numbers Invested $10,000 Returned $10,000 Net Profit $0 MOIC 1.00x IRR 0% Holding Period 640 days The Case A software company developed a web-based payment platform for transportation companies. A Fortune 500 trucking conglomerate […]
Read More

Beyond The First Million

  • Post Date：
Beyond The First Million Reaching the $1 million milestone has fundamentally transformed my investment approach and opened new opportunities in alternative asset classes. This page outlines my strategic shift toward litigation finance and the evolution of my portfolio strategy as I pursue higher returns and accelerated wealth accumulation. Portfolio Strategy Evolution My asset allocation strategy […]
Read More

The First Million

  • Post Date：
My Journey to Becoming a Millionaire This is the story of my 18-year journey from arriving in the United States to achieving my first million in investable assets. It’s a tale of strategic job changes, calculated lifestyle decisions, and the power of compound growth through disciplined saving and investing. The Foundation Years (2004-2010) I graduated […]
Read More

Tax Optimization Strategy

  • Post Date：
The 2 Most Common Ways to Reduce Your Taxes Tax Deductions (<$250,000) Income Distribution (>$250,000) Tax Deductions Reducing your taxable income by deducting variety of personal & business expenses is one of the most common ways to lower your taxes when your gross income is under $250,000. It becomes less effective as your income increases […]
Read More

Retirement Plan 2018

  • Post Date：
Retirement Changes Under the New Tax Law We reassessed our target numbers based on the new tax bill, a new investment strategy, and current spending figure. The risk-free interest rate is the return investors are willing to accept for an investment with no risk. I assume the risk-free rate of return is 12%. Housing Expense Townhouse for […]
Read More

The 73-Day Payday: 1.79x in 10 Weeks

  • Post Date：
LexShares Case #281: A 73-Day Win How a wealth management fraud case turned $75,000 into $134,295 in under 3 months The Numbers Invested $75,000 Returned $134,295 Net Profit $59,295 MOIC 1.79x IRR 1,741% Holding Period 73 days The Case A professional athlete trusted a major bank’s wealth management team with his career earnings. What followed […]
Read More

Credit Limit 101

  • Post Date：
How to Build Credit History from Scratch This post continues from the previous post. Can you talk a little more about how to get started doing credit card arbitrage, like the basics? I just discovered this and am still trying to get my head around how you get the cash from the cards to invest. […]
Read More

Balance Transfer 101

  • Post Date：
Getting Started with Credit Card Arbitrage Recently, a reader named Evan asked the following question in a blog comment: Can you talk a little more about how to get started doing credit card arbitrage, like the basics? I just discovered this and am still trying to get my head around how you get the cash […]
Read More

The Midtown Payoff: $100K to $119K in 12 Months

  • Post Date：
EVIVA Midtown Add-on Project Paid Off My 1st preferred equity investment on commercial real estate project has completed. It’s 366 days from the time of capital commitment to the repayment of principal and accrued interest. The investment has generated 19.45% IRR. Key Events Date Cashflows Description Aug 30, 2016 Capital Commitment Sep 6, 2016 ($100,000) […]
Read More

Personal Capital Sucks

  • Post Date：
Mint vs. Personal Capital Both Mint and Personal Capital are personal finance management services that allow you to sync and aggregate all of your financial accounts in one platform. Personal Capital is very popular among personal finance bloggers because of the terrific affiliate marketing program. Switched from Mint to Personal Capital I have tested Mint […]
Read More

Discover Price Protection

  • Post Date：
Credit Card Price Protection Discover will refund the difference up to $500 on eligible items if you find a lower price at any store within 90 days of purchase. This applies to eligible items at any store so long as you used your Discover card for the entire purchase. There is a reimbursement limit of […]
Read More

The Deal That Never Closed: 36 Days, $3,330 in Cash Drag

  • Post Date：
ProudLiving Project Has Been Terminated My second preferred equity investment in a commercial real estate project has been terminated. It was 36 days from the time of capital commitment to the return of subscription. The estimated opportunity loss was $3,330. Funding In September 2016, iFunding announced a $1.4 million, 2-year preferred equity investment in an […]
Read More

Cross Account Balance Transfers

  • Post Date：
Cross-Account Transfers Banks typically do not allow electronic funds transfers between different account owners, even among family members, unless the person is a joint account holder. However, they rarely verify the account owner of the target account. Most of the time, cross-account ACH transfers work without any problems, except in rare cases where they conduct […]
Read More

Bank of America Closed All Credit Card Accounts

  • Post Date：
Mass Closure of Credit Card Accounts Today I received letters from Bank of America stating that they are closing my credit cards. As a result of a recent review, we’ve closed your above referenced account because there are too many accounts with balances and you currently owe sufficient amounts on your revolving lines of credit. […]
Read More

How to Liquidate and Close a LendingClub IRA Account

  • Post Date：
Backstory I made a prior-year contribution to my traditional IRA in January, assuming it would be tax deductible. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. A complication arose because the non-deductible IRA contribution was already fully invested in my LendingClub IRA account. I ended up having to liquidate notes to execute a backdoor Roth IRA conversion. Steps […]
Read More

Retirement Plan 2016

  • Post Date：
Backstory Today is my birthday, and I’m approaching my 40s. Recently, I’ve been experiencing high levels of stress at work that have been taking a toll on my physical and emotional health. This seems like an ideal time to get my retirement finances in order. Early retirement has become an obsession, and I’m counting down […]
Read More
© 2016 Rentier