Quitting Government After 22 Years: Luis Rivas’ Journey from Speculator to Real Estate Coach
Recorded: September 2025
Guest: Luis Rivas
Host: Erwin Szeto, The Truth About Real Estate Investing for Canadians Podcast
After 22 years in the federal government, Luis Rivas made a bold move—he retired early, cashed in his pension, and pivoted into real estate investing and coaching. In this episode, Luis shares how he went from speculating on Ottawa condos to building a multifamily portfolio across Canada and the U.S., and eventually becoming a head coach at WealthGenius.
Luis opens up about the emotional toll of leaving a secure job, the lessons learned during COVID, and the mindset shift required to thrive as an investor. He breaks down his strategy for underwriting multifamily deals, targeting 5–6% cap rates, and why he’s now looking south of the border for better returns and landlord-friendly policies.
We also dive into the challenges of being a landlord in Ontario, the importance of property management, and why Canadians must invest to secure their retirement. Luis shares his formula for calculating how big your portfolio needs to be to hit your lifestyle goals—and why legacy planning matters more than ever.
📍 Catch Luis at the Expand Conference in Mississauga, October 31–November 2, where he’ll be speaking alongside top investors.
🎤 I, Erwin Szeto, will also be speaking at the event.
📲 Connect with Luis: Instagram & YouTube — @cashflow.rivas
Real Estate Investing & Coaching with Luis Rivas: Top Questions
- How did Luis Rivas transition from government work to real estate investing?
He retired early during COVID, cashed in his pension, and began coaching while building a multifamily portfolio.
- What was Luis Rivas’ first real estate investment?
Two pre-construction condos in Ottawa, which he later sold due to poor cash flow and lack of appreciation.
- Why does Luis prefer multifamily properties over condos?
Multifamily offers better cash flow, scalability, and commercial financing options, especially in secondary markets.
- What cap rate does Luis target in his investments?
He aims for 5–6% cap rates, with property management included in the underwriting.
- Why is Luis looking to invest in the U.S. market?
U.S. markets offer better cap rates, landlord-friendly laws, and more scalable property management systems.
- What advice does Luis give to new investors?
Get educated, join a community, and design your portfolio based on your lifestyle goals—not arbitrary door counts.
- How does Luis calculate the size of a portfolio needed for retirement?
He uses a formula based on monthly income goals, cash-on-cash return, and equity share to determine total portfolio value.
- What are the risks of investing in rural or tertiary markets?
Limited financing, property management, and appreciation can cripple deals if not properly managed.
- What is Luis’ take on Ontario’s rent control policies?
He believes they unfairly burden landlords and discourage investment, pushing many to look outside Ontario. - What asset classes is Luis exploring next?
He’s researching self-storage and care homes, especially in Texas, for their automation potential and lack of rent control.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here
📜 Full Transcript
The full, cleaned transcript of my conversation with Luis is available here for anyone who wants to dive deeper into his journey as a real estate investor
To Listen:
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FtMpPavD0xMB8riqiayGc?si=WFCkN9wDTu-GJo8sf8Jhxw&nd=1&dlsi=3d5328e1d2b54a60
Audible: https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0FTMP1RMM?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
YouTube: https://youtu.be/mWBef5KN5W4
🦸♂️Household Hero? Here’s Your Next Step
If you’re a Canadian investor trying to build wealth safely and sustainably, Adam’s journey has valuable takeaways.
It might be time to revisit your current strategies—real estate, lending, or insurance—and ask:
- Do your investments match your long-term goals?
- Do you fully understand how your strategies work?
- Would a more conservative approach offer better peace of mind?
Real estate remains a powerful tool for building wealth, especially with careful underwriting and due diligence. Insurance can be useful too—but only if it supports your broader financial goals.
Need help with conservative, peace-of-mind investing—backed by Wall Street-style due diligence—plus financial planning with your best interests at heart?
Until next time, happy Canadian and USA Real Estate Investing.
Erwin Szeto,
Your Cross Border Investment Guy
Why I’m Investing in the U.S.
I’ve been investing in Ontario since 2005. It’s been a great run—starting with properties in the $100Ks, now reaching $800K–$1M. How much higher can it go? I don’t know.
The remaining appreciation potential doesn’t justify the risk. That’s why I advise clients to look to the U.S., where rental properties range from $150K–$350K USD, with rents between $1,400–$2,600/month.
These cash-flowing numbers are night and day compared to Canada. Plus, landlords have rights, there’s no rent control, and income is in U.S. dollars—which are stronger than Canadian dollars.
If you don’t believe that U.S. dollars are stronger, ask 100 non-Canadians what they’d prefer to be paid in.
To regain control of your retirement, check out the cash-flow properties at:
👉 iwin.sharesfr.com
How SHARE Makes It Easier
The best part? My U.S. investments are more passive than my Canadian ones. I work with SHARE, an asset manager that guides me through the entire process.
SHARE helps with:
- Finding quality income properties
- Structuring the legal and tax side
- Managing the property manager and insurance provider
- Saving time and money with preferred rates
They even advise on when to refinance or sell. SHARE supports investors across the U.S., which is why I plan to own in Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas. It’s like having a JV partner—without giving up ownership or control.
Final Thoughts
If increasing cash flow is your goal, I don’t know of a better strategy for most Canadians. Once more: iwin.sharesfr.com is where to see what boring, cash-flowing investing looks like on the path to financial peace.
This is how I’m making real estate investing great again—for my family and hopefully for yours too.
Sponsored by… Me!
This episode isn’t sponsored—except by my wife Cherry and me. Real estate investing is our life. It’s helped us build wealth and achieve peace of mind about retirement and our children’s future.
Interested in our systematic approach to real estate investing—the same one used by most of my podcast guests? Then check out:
📍 infinitywealth.ca/events
Till next time—just do it. I believe in you.
Erwin Szeto
W: erwinszeto.com
FB: facebook.com/erwin.szeto
IG: @erwinszeto
Disclaimer
As a committed advocate for transparent and responsible investing, I want to disclose that I am an Advisor to SHARE SFR (Single Family Rental). I hold equity in the company and earn referral commissions from clients I refer.
My endorsement of their model—focusing on positive cash flow and direct ownership—is based on personal experience and belief. Still, every investor should do their own due diligence.
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