For those of you guys that still have day jobs... Does your employer know about your REI. I would like to hear the pros and cons of both sides. I will go first. My employer is fully aware that I am investor and close deals. I try to be honest in everything I do so when I needed off of work for closings/etc I was honest. I do not have a problem with this approach as my manager owns his own store outside of the company. The owners also own several companies. It has opened up good dialogue and if anything has only seemed to have a positive impact. When I need off early or to work a half day they have no problem with it. I also am a top sales rep for them so that could have something to do with it. I don't share specifics or details however. I won't tell them how much I am making/have made. They do not know that I run a direct mail campaign.

If people were to follow this advice, the BiggerPockets daily traffic would plummet. :-)

I certainly keep it a secret from @Joshua Dorkin

In my experience, I would not recommend that you let them know, they will use it against you if things don't get done in time or well. I have held management positions so I know what is said at the management meetings. Keep your business to yourself

I think it all comes down to intent. If you are just investing for the sake of investing and can still perform your job without annoying colleagues by bragging about it all the time, you should be fine. If you start advertising that you are simply keeping the job long enough to build up your portfolio so you can afford to jump ship....then you can expect to have issues. If you pay attention, you will find enough people to network at work with that dabble in it to varying degrees. Keep your discussions with them. For everyone else, keep your discussions around the job, family, softball, weather and whatever other safe topics there are. And be ethical. When you are at work, do the job you are paid to. Manage your schedule as needed to take care of your job and your side business. The hard part really gets to the point where you are close to being able to jump ship. In the beginning, with one property....it's a no brainer. You are excited to grow but are still clearly dependent on that W-2. As you get near that number (different for everyone) that can actually support you or at least enable you to jump ship and survive while continuing to grow....that's hard. You want to leave but still like the safety and income. That said, your focus tends to be more on the real estate vs your job so you really need to make up your mind. For those that really love their jobs...this is less of an issue. For most...including me...it's an active dilemma that only gets worse with age, a wife and kids.

Does your Boss know that you are an investor?

Colleen F.Pro Member

Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes

11y

I am a buy and hold investor with a full time unrelated job. My boss doesn't know and most of my co-workers don't know either. If I need time, I take the time I have coming to me and rarely share its purpose for RE or otherwise. My business is my own business. Its not so much a secret as that I am in general private and keep some parts of my life separate from others. I will say that if someone asked I would be truthful but it's an unrelated field and I am not in the office much so it would rarely come up. Now I know the more typical real estate person is networking but it isn't one of my strong points.

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Ryan Dossey

OP

Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes

11y

Great answer @Colleen F. My job requires that I am in the office from 9-6 so I don't have much choice. That being said I don't "network" at work. My Real Estate isn't at the point where it can support me.

Does your Boss know that you are an investor?

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