At an early age, Fred Zarbailov fearlessly and determinedly embraced the real world to guarantee his own success. Although he came from humble circumstances, it didn’t prevent him from wanting financial abundance and achieving his aspirations. Nowadays, he is one of the most prosperous property investors and a sought-after economic consultant! His remarkable achievement illustrates that dedication, laborious effort, and never giving up on your ambitions can take you far in life.

After obtaining his degree in Finance and Marketing from DePaul University, he embarked on a successful adventure as a Financial Analyst/Advisor. Fortunately for him, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., an international powerhouse in asset management and investment banking, had the perfect opportunity to gain invaluable experience by providing its customers with outstanding financial services across the globe.

Initially, he saw that this realm wasn’t the route for him and decided to direct his focus towards a more lucrative venture in transportation. He achieved great success as president and owner of his own company, earning both respect and financial profits through it. However, when Uber came along his attention diverted back to real estate investing – which became an exciting new challenge for him. Nowadays besides being an agent/investor in properties, he is also engaged with crypto-currency trading and stock investments!

From the moment he was a child, mathematics enchanted him with its logical and structured nature. As his knowledge grew, this admiration extended to social studies; the intricate relationship between people and cultures around the globe captivated him. He realized that life is complex—shaped by our environment while also influenced by our relationships—which further intensified his curiosity in these intricacies.

Fred was born with a natural affinity for organization and social sciences, so it didn’t come as a surprise to him when he discovered that his true passion lay in business. He sees the financial system as an exploration of how businesses shape human behavior on our planet—a journey that requires both structure and supervision in order for its long-term success. His ultimate ambition is to create value by providing innovative solutions which benefit individuals from all economic backgrounds while contributing positively to advancing the world’s economy.

Fred is passionate about helping his customers reach their goals. From providing real estate investment counseling to asset management, he caters to each individual’s unique needs and objectives while minimizing potential risks they might face along the way. He believes that communication must be crystal clear and dedication unwavering in order to build a successful future – not only for himself but also those whose lives he touches.

Fred Zarbailov is an ambitious, philanthropic entrepreneur determined to make a difference in people’s lives. He wholeheartedly wishes to join forces with renowned organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters—America’s premier youth mentoring society—and Housing Action Illinois – a non-profit that provides assistance for low-income housing agencies and counseling services. With his participation in these prestigious groups, Fred has the potential to positively influence communities throughout America.

How did you get started in this business?

I started this business to make money. Yes, I will be very honest. Different people have different passions, my passion is to become rich, to make money for myself. Regardless of industry or business, as long as it’s generating money I wanted to do that and that is why I started in this real estate business because it is a lucrative market. I had a miserable childhood financially. I couldn’t even afford a movie ticket worth $4. I remember I used to play basketball in the park or watch free TV (non-cable) to entertain myself so I always wanted everything in life.

I was hungry for success. I knew I had to earn it by any means to provide myself with everything I wanted. So at first, I got into finance and banking because I thought it was a high-paying industry since a lot of people were making huge funds in finance back in 2004-2007. I also thought it would help me build connections in the banking industry that would ultimately benefit me to secure loans for my own business. But that didn’t work out. I found investment banking very dull and boring and didn’t see it as a pathway to success for someone like me.

My parents were businessmen so it was a general path for me. I decided to quit my educational degree in finance. I decided to jump into the transportation business. I knew someone who owned the biggest taxi business in Chicago so I decided to try my luck too. I had the idea of buying a lot of cars and leasing them out to drivers. So I pursued that.

I didn’t own the taxi dispatch service, but I owned the cars. That was a pretty successful gig until Uber became very strong and killed the business. So then I got into market research and the real estate business excited me. I started trying my luck in real estate investing, buying properties, and renting them out to tenants. This is how I started working as a real estate agent/property manager and real estate investor.

How do you make money?

I am a real estate investor. I buy, sell, and rent out the property to make money. I also offer consultancy and charge per hour for my services.

How long did it take for you to become profitable?

As you know I tried banking and finance then I invested in a taxi company that was doing very well in terms of making money before Uber. And now I’m working as a real estate investor. I don’t exactly remember when my company became profitable, all I can say is I had a fair share of ups and downs in this business too but today I’m happy with how I’m progressing.

When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?

No, I never doubt anything I ever do. I have tried so many different things in life and I always approach every new venture with 100% faith that I will make it happen.

How did you get your first customer?

A friend of mine was my first customer who believed in me and trusted me with his hard-earned money.

What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?

Become a brand yourself and be your own salesman. This is the best marketing strategy that has worked for me so far. I plan things ahead, strategize them well, stay determined and motivated, do my research well and network with the right people to promote myself and my company. My ability to manage my finances well also adds to my success to grow and generate new business.

I do the numbers to see if my investment will work well and will steer me to a bigger opportunity. I never let people take advantage of me as I always keep working on my negotiation skills to win an argument. I strive to understand the other person’s point of view, their perspective, and what drives them so that I can convince them of my perspective. I believe that you have to understand the rules of the game to win the game.

What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?

I invested in a property and that was not a very good decision. I lost a lot of fortune in that deal but then I made the toughest decision and sold it for a huge loss. I had two options, either wait for the market to improve and get a reasonable return on investment or sell it for a lower value and invest that money in a better opportunity hoping to get a good return. I chose the tough but brave option.

What do you think it is that makes you successful?

There are a number of factors that contribute to anyone’s success. I can proudly claim I have great communication and sales skills. Working with people and having employees demand to be nice and respectful to them. You have to build great relationships and manage them with respect. When I worked in the transportation business I was very nice and friendly to my clients and my drivers. That’s how I was able to get repeat customers and great workers. I was able to become friends with them. And I owe my success to my ability to manage people in the best possible manner.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

My most satisfying moment in business is yet to come. When I make my first million dollars I will be on cloud nine.

What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?

I want to make my business grow bigger and make millions. This is my only passion and I feel excited to find my bank balance growing insanely.

What business books have inspired you?

The best business book that I would recommend everyone to read is: “Rich Dad Poor Dad“. The book has impacted me immensely. The author is a genius who knows the secret of success. In this book, the author teaches us the worth of investing in real estate to make an unimaginable amount of money. The book also teaches some great lessons about making money and leading an amazing life in general.

It is a tremendous way to learn about financial literacy, manage finances, and become a productive member of society. I believe it is a grave issue that no one teaches us about managing finances in schools or colleges. Our educational system is just training us to become good employees who spend their lives helping their employers make more profits.

We are never really taught how to start and manage businesses, take and manage risks and grow on our own. We aren’t taught to think for ourselves and have entrepreneurial spirits. The book focuses on real estate but the lessons go beyond that.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would advise my younger self to work hard from an early age. If I could go back to my high school days, I would sit with my younger self in the cafeteria and guide my younger self to learn from other people’s mistakes, and not be afraid to get into a business that fulfills his dreams of making huge sums of money. I would also tell my younger self to surround himself with smarter friends. I would also advise myself to study political science and pursue a career in politics.

Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?

Yes, definitely. I would love to help people grow. I want people to learn with ease what I learned the hard way. Interested individuals can contact me through my website or social media. I would be more than happy to guide and play a positive role for enthusiastic people who are eager to grow.

 

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