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Anthony, CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments: Advize Career Interview
Buckingham Investments' CEO and Managing Broker built a thriving career path from an unexpected start in claims adjusting, leveraging an MBA and a knack for real estate investing to create dual successful ventures.
This individual's journey highlights the importance of strong communication and initiative, emphasizing relationship-building over technical skills—a lesson learned through navigating the complexities of the industry, including fluctuating markets and high-attrition rates.
The interview reveals a dynamic daily routine combining office leadership, hands-on deal-making, and client mentorship, all while managing personal investments.
Entry-level opportunities exist as analysts or junior agents, offering undergraduates the chance to gain experience and build a potentially lucrative career in this varied and exciting field, where persistence, proactive communication, and debt management are key to success.
A winding educational path—from East Asian studies to an MBA—demonstrates the value of transferable skills and adaptability in building a fulfilling career in real estate.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Anthony Walker
CEO/Managing Broker
Buckingham Investments
University of Southern California
Loyola Marymount University - MBA
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Spanish & Other Languages, International Relations & Affairs
Real Estate
Real Estate
Honors Student
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Career Path of a CEO and Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments
After studying international relations in college, Anthony pursued a challenging career as a claims adjuster, a role that unexpectedly helped shape their future. This experience, combined with an MBA from Loyola Marymount University and an introduction to real estate investing, led to a successful career where they built two complementary businesses—a real estate brokerage and a personal investment portfolio—by leveraging "what I had learned...as well as in the MBA program," all while simultaneously "having a front row seat to what's going on in the market."
Main Responsibilities Of A CEO And Managing Broker At Buckingham Investments
Anthony, CEO and Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments, wears "a lot of hats," encompassing strategic leadership, recruiting and training agents, managing financials and sales activities, and creating investor education content through various media channels. This includes directly working with clients on real estate deals while also managing their own personal investment properties.
A Day in the Life of a CEO and Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments
Anthony's day as CEO and Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments involves a mix of office and field work, including leading company meetings and training sessions on topics like "new contracts and agreements," and conducting property inspections, meeting with various professionals, and performing financial analyses; the latter recently included "comparing different financing options" for a client considering a large multi-property purchase.
Most Important Skills for a CEO Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments
Anthony, CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments, prioritizes "communication, ability, intelligence, and initiative" in hiring, viewing these broad skills as more crucial than specific technical expertise which is easily learned. The ability to "walk into a room full of people they've never met before and stick out their hand," showcasing strong communication and initiative, is key to success in the sales-focused real estate investment industry.
Favorite Parts of Being a CEO and Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments
Anthony, CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments, most enjoys the "flexibility and variety" of the role, but especially appreciates witnessing clients' understanding and excitement as they achieve financial independence; this reignites the passion Anthony felt when beginning the career.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Real Estate Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments
Anthony's biggest challenge as CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments is the inherent instability of real estate brokerage, a "hundred percent commissioned job" where income fluctuates greatly and "the security is not there." This, combined with the lengthy sales cycle of at least six months, contributes to a high attrition rate, with less than 5% of new agents building lasting careers.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Real Estate Industry as a Managing Broker
Anthony, CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments, finds the real estate industry's "sheer variety and options" most appealing, allowing for diverse approaches like "apartment buildings or retail, or brokerage, or financing." The transformation of "stuff that we look at on paper" into physical reality, impacting investment returns and the built environment, is also a source of fascination for him.
What Type of Person Thrives in Real Estate, According to a Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments
Anthony, CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments, identifies persistence, strong communication skills ("well-spoken, gregarious, friendly"), and a proactive nature ("a lot of initiative") as key traits for success in the real estate industry. The demanding nature of the job, likened to "training for something," means a correlation exists between success in collegiate or professional sports and success in real estate, due to the necessity of enduring "constant rejection".
What A CEO At Buckingham Investments Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Real Estate Industry
Early in the career, the belief that "every problem could be solved with a spreadsheet and the right answer" proved incorrect; instead, success in the investment real estate industry hinges on building relationships, with the technical aspects being secondary. The most successful individuals prioritize networking and meeting people over mastering the technical details, proving that "it's all about relationships".
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Real Estate Agents And Analysts
Anthony, CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments, identifies two primary entry-level real estate roles for undergraduates: analyst, performing "analysis on deals or financing," and junior agent, a "hundred percent commissioned" position often involving support tasks under a senior agent's guidance, with cold calling sometimes (but not always) involved.
Significant Career Lesson From a Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments
Anthony, CEO/Managing Broker at Buckingham Investments, learned a crucial lesson during the current commercial real estate market shift caused by rising interest rates: "watch the debt, be careful of the debt." This lesson, learned after witnessing the consequences of high leverage during previous low-interest rate periods, underscores the importance of understanding and managing debt levels throughout a career in the industry.
College Experiences That Helped A CEO And Managing Broker At Buckingham Investments Succeed
Anthony's undergraduate studies in East Asian languages and cultures were unrelated to their current career in real estate, yet this experience taught them "how to learn," a crucial skill. The CEO/Managing Broker found their graduate business school education, particularly courses in accounting, finance, and law, invaluable to their daily work at Buckingham Investments, proving that a winding career path is possible and even beneficial.
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