This is a work in progress, but that’s the point! Download the template, fill it out for your favorite book of the bible, then let’s discuss and I will post! I started with Judges, so you can use it as an example.
7. The Book of Judges by Nathan, Spring 2013
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. -Romans 15:4
Summary: 9-unit apartment building near Columbus, Ohio and Ohio State’s campus that I bought with my brother, Thad in July 2013. As of 1 April 2015, it is managed by North Point Asset Management.
Recent
2014 Summary, and 2015 Projection
Shiloh’s Five Loaves is a gluten-free bread company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Devaunt LeClaire of Kineomen is the business brains behind the operation while his brother is the baker.
I became a Kineomen investor in November 2014. Shiloh’s Five Loaves is Kineomen’s primary investment project currently. Kineomen recently proposed a real estate business in Ohio and I am considering a small project this fall to test the viability and get the ball rolling.
Summary: 9-unit apartment building near Columbus, Ohio and Ohio State’s campus that I bought with my brother, Thad. It is managed by Renting Ohio since April 2014.
Recent Updates
Shiloh’s Five Loaves is a gluten-free bread company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Devaunt LeClaire of Kineomen is the business brains behind the operation while his brother is the baker.
I became a Kineomen investor in November. Shiloh’s Five Loaves is Kineomen’s only investment project to date. More to follow.
Summary: 9-unit apartment building near Columbus, Ohio and Ohio State’s campus that I bought with my brother, Thad. It is managed by Renting Ohio since April 2014.
Profitable? Yes. August 2014 was a profitable month and “normal” enough to be repeated and sustained. I populated the spreadsheet that I use to evaluate properties with the numbers from August. Accounting for 11% vacancy, the expected cash flow is $255 / month. Maintenance and improvements have cost a lot, but are starting to taper off. Rent is steadily increasing with the market and with the improving condition of the building.
Recent Updates
Shiloh’s Five Loaves is a gluten-free bread company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, I can put you in touch with co-founder, Devaunt LeClaire. The investment window is open until 31 October 2014.
I lent money to this company in October 2011 with a friend. We have yet to be repaid, but the company is doing well as far as we can tell. They are currently seeking investors. I do not plan on investing further.
I sold all my stocks in December 2013 have been in cash since. After reading How to Make Money in Stocks by William O’Neill of Investor’s Business Daily, I determined that if I were able to make money in stocks, it would always be a gamble and it takes a lot of time just like any other investment. I decided I want to invest in things I am familiar with personally.
I was recently solicited to participate in a Nielsen household TV survey. They have a unique way of enticing participation. The first envelope has a lot of explanatory material and a request to participate, as well as–without explanation–$5 cash, a single five-dollar bill. I agreed to participate, so after a few weeks they sent me a second envelope with a “TV Viewing Diary” to be filled out in detail for two weeks; and again the cash–this time the envelope contained six five-dollar bills, $30 cash! I spent the fives on groceries, filled out the TV viewing diary (blank because I don’t watch), and took their TV survey. Now, like Pavlov’s dogs, I am expecting a thank you letter with more cash. I can’t wait to hear from Nielsen again!
At the end of the diary, Nielsen leaves space and asks you to “comment on TV in general.” This is my response:
Except for about two years in the middle, I haven’t had TV in my house since 2003 (for two years my roommates had one). At first I felt like I was missing something and like I didn’t know what was going on. After a few months, I no longer missed it and I gathered from conversations at work and with friends what was in the news and what was going on in various shows. After a few years, I started having the opinion that TV actually prevents people from really knowing what’s going on. I hear conversations about current shows and it’s all sensationalized fantasy. People’s world view from the news is this chaotic, scary place, when really the world, for the most part, is fairly well-off, happy, and stable. When I see TV now, much of it is shocking and some of it is offensive. I do miss sports and ESPN. I watch 
whenever I can! -Nathan Ruffing
So you’ve got my card. Why do I have a card? The real question is, why don’t you have a card? I have one because I am an aspiring adventure capitalist, and I have ideas percolating from 7 1/2 years in the military and I want to share them and execute the best of them. Here is my story.
I am a transitioning Marine Corps Officer and pilot of the mighty CH-53E heavy lift helicopter. I joined the Marine Corps after graduating college, and began my service in January 2007. Following initial training and flight school, I was in “the fleet” from May 2010 until May 2014, and deployed with various units to Afghanistan in 2011, on the 31st MEU in 2012, and back to Afghanistan in 2013. During my service, I have had the challenge and privilege of serving with inspiring and intelligent Marines. As I transition out, I feel an implied obligation to live up to the example that many of them set, and to use what I have learned for good.
During 7 1/2 years in the military so far, it has been busy, but there have been many hours in chow halls, K spans, “at the LSA,” on the boat, and–who am I kidding?–at work, to plan, scheme and dream about what we are going to do after. That’s a lot of talk. Now it’s time to walk the walk.
What is the website for then? Once I’m out, in July 2015, I will need a place to define and organize what I am doing. I want to share my ideas, network with people around the world, establish business relationships, sell products, and give friends and acquaintances a way of following my whereabouts, failures, and successes.
Currently the site includes a summary of my only real business venture (695 Riverview Drive) and some posts that are basically just my musings. On the near horizon, I am in the process of investing in a start-up gluten-free bread company organized by a fellow transitioning Marine Officer. It is an exciting opportunity and an endeavor for which two families are moving across the country and risking it all to ensure its success. I look forward to posting about it. I also plan to post a first-year summary of my apartments at 695 Riverview Drive.
Comment on the site, or e-mail me! nate@nathanruffing.com
These are my favorite quotes. Some are famous, some are my own, and some are things I’ve heard friends say. Feel free to suggest some more.
-A summation of Aristotle’s ideas by Will Durant
-Free e-mail, etc. They are selling your information.
-Popularized by Neil deGrasse Tyson
-John Adams
-Success is situation-dependent. Everybody has their time to shine.
-Sergeant Brad Johnson to my brother, at a party during college, when my brother was explaining why he had to leave the party to study. I prefer this variation,
-Staff Sergeant Brandon Hayes during fitness report debrief. It is a variation of an Albert Einstein quote.
-Major “IKE” Rossman to the company grade officers, meaning be the first to come up with a plan and it will become the plan.
-A variation of, “Work to live. Don’t live to work.”
Oprah and I have a few things in common. For one, we both have favorite things. If you want to see her favorite things, click her picture. If you would rather see my favorite things, read on.
Check out the Amazon Affiliate program for an explanation of why I made this post.
If you have never read your e-mails, browsed Facebook, Netflix, or YouTube from your couch, then you are missing out, trust me. With this on my lap, my wireless roller ball mouse in one hand and the King of Beers in the other, I am king of my domain (my domain being my living room).
Borderline sadistic, this product makes you want there to be more flies to kill. For an extra $10, there is also a PRO version for those man-eating horse flies.
This flashlight got me through many aircraft pre-flights in Afghanistan with the white light, then switched colors to green for the flight. Single AA battery, durable metal, bright enough. Must-have flashlight.
Favorite movie, hands down.
Seriously? They sell Snickers bars on Amazon? It is my favorite candy bar, but I actually don’t recommend buying 48 at a time…
Do you like this site? Do you want your own website? It’s easy–or it can be if somebody shows you how.
I will show you how to create a simple WordPress website. Post your business information, post your own ideas, have a customized e-mail address associated with your website. It costs less than $15 per year to maintain.
Professional web design companies will charge you hundreds of dollars to design a site for you. For $100, I will sit down with you and take 5 hours (a short day of work) to walk you through the process, and get you started as an independent operator of your own simple site.
Notice I didn’t use any fancy jargon here. Creating a website can be complicated and time consuming. The first step, however, is simple and very worth it. Take that first step!
Contact me, Nate@RR34.us, with any questions, and we can set up a time to get you started!
I have a monthly budget. This makes my life 1000% easier than people who don’t because I am financially ahead. I want you to be ahead also and your life to be easier. Here is a great spreadsheet:
Cash Flow and Potential Savings v1.2
Change the yellow boxes. Other boxes have formulas. Use this spreadsheet to identify financial changes, challenges, and opportunities with an upcoming life change. Enter your monthly income and expenses for your current situation, then enter the same information for the future and quickly see the changes. Finally, see how much you will save over time with a monthly savings allocation.
