Published: July 29th, 2025
By: The Her Financial Frequency Team

Whether you're just getting started or rethinking how to invest your 401(k), this episode is packed with actionable insights, especially from Janae, who shares her journey from corporate life to multifamily investing and fund management.

What Is a Fund, and Why Should You Care?

A fund is essentially a pre-packed basket of investments—like a sampler platter of stocks, bonds, or other assets. Instead of picking individual stocks (like Apple or Amazon), you’re buying into a group of investments managed by professionals.

Key Benefits of Funds:

> Diversification: You're spreading your risk across multiple assets.

> Simplicity: No need to analyze markets daily.

> Professional Management: Experts handle investment decisions.

This makes funds one of the simplest ways to begin investing—even if you’re not a financial expert.

Janae’s Journey: From Corporate America to Real Estate Investing

Janae’s story begins in corporate America. Like many professionals, she had a 401(k) and passively contributed to it without truly understanding how it worked. It wasn't until she left her corporate job that she realized she had money sitting in accounts that could be working harder for her.

Her Journey:

> Transferred her 401(k) into a self-directed IRA

> Explored real estate investing through local investor meetups

> Started by loaning money to flippers, earning interest

> Progressed into fix-and-flip partnerships

> Eventually moved into multifamily real estate investing

Janae emphasized how education and community played a pivotal role in her transformation from a passive saver to an intentional investor.

Why Multifamily and Funds Made Sense

After realizing how time-consuming single-family home flipping could be, Janae attended a mastermind where one sentence changed her path: "Why are you doing this one door at a time when you could do it a hundred at a time?" This led her to scale up through multifamily properties and later into real estate syndications—pooling funds with other investors to purchase large properties. But she didn’t stop there.

Enter: The Fund Model

While syndications allowed investors to buy into individual apartment buildings, the fund model offered more:

> Diversification across multiple properties

> Reduced risk if one project underperformed

> Consistent cash flow through debt funds

What Is a Debt Fund?

A debt fund allows investors to pool money, which is then loaned out—often to real estate developers or business owners. The investors then receive returns based on the interest paid back on those loans.

Think of it as acting like a bank:

> The fund lends money

> Borrowers pay interest

> The interest is distributed to investors

This model can provide steady income, often through quarterly distributions, making it attractive for those looking for "mailbox money."

Types of Investment Funds You Should Know:

1. Mutual Funds

> Actively managed by professionals

> Comprised of a mix of stocks, bonds, etc.

> Common in retirement plans like 401(k)s

2. Index Funds

> Passive management

> Designed to match the performance of market indices (e.g., S&P 500)

> Lower fees than mutual funds

3. Venture Capital Funds

> Invest in early-stage startups

> High risk, high potential reward

> Typically for accredited investors

4. Private Equity Funds

> Buy and restructure private companies

> Long-term investments with a goal to sell for profit

5. Hedge Funds

> Use complex strategies to generate high returns

> Often limited to high-net-worth individuals

6. Debt Funds

> Focus on fixed-income securities or loans

> Offer predictable income and lower volatility

> How Do You Choose the Right Fund?

> The best fund for you depends on your:

Financial goals

Risk tolerance

Time horizon

Accreditation status

For example:

> New investor? Try index or mutual funds.

> Want cash flow? Consider a debt fund.

> Looking for high growth? Explore venture capital or private equity.

> Need lower fees? Index funds are often a smart choice.

Note: Some funds, like venture capital and private equity, may require you to be an accredited investor (i.e., earning $200,000+/year or having $1M+ in assets).

Final Thoughts: Make Your Money Work for You

Janae’s story is proof that you don’t need a finance degree to take control of your wealth. You simply need the right education, community support, and the willingness to start. She started with money that was just sitting in her 401(k)—money she wasn’t even actively using—and turned it into a thriving investment career that now helps others grow their wealth too.

So if you're someone who feels overwhelmed by investing, remember this: Your money already has the potential. It just needs direction.

Want More?

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Remember: Wealth isn’t just about numbers — it’s about energy, alignment, and intention.

Her Financial Frequency: Helping women stop playing small and start building legacy wealth with purpose.

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