Many of us know that Latinos were hit harder than any other demographic during the great recession of 2008 to 2012, but not everyone knows why. Those of us in the real estate business were taught that we should invest in real estate, because it is what we know. That makes a lot of sense. Real estate professionals, at least in theory, should know a good real estate deal when they see one. However, something most people don’t consider is if your income is reliant on the strength of the real estate market, when the market goes through a rough patch, you’ll get hit twice as hard. Your income will be impacted and your investments will take a hit as well. When you consider that real estate is a cyclical business, meaning downturns are a regular part of the business, and real estate assets are not very liquid when the market is soft, some diversification of your investments is something you should seriously consider.
Real estate professionals should definitely use their expertise to make good real estate investments, but investing only in real estate can be risky. Investing in blue-chip dividend stocks is a good way to hedge against a recession in the real estate market. Overall, Latinos invest in stocks and retirement accounts at a lower rate than every other racial demographic. This is one of the reasons Latinos lost two thirds of their total wealth between 2008 and 2012. Consider this: On December 31, 2008, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 8,776. On December 31, 2012, it closed at 13,104. Think about that. The stock market gained more than 50% during the roughest years of the great recession – at a time when real estate prices in most markets were flat or negative. It was also really hard to sell a home for a decent price during that period, and almost impossible to get a cash-out loan. Unfortunately, I know a lot of people who lost everything during that time. While real estate prices have been trending upward since 2012, and have increased by about 100% in the last 10 years, the Dow Jones currently sits at just over 36,000 – roughly a 300% gain during that same 10-year period.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting the stock market will always be a better investment than real estate. To the contrary, I believe real estate will continue to do well for a while, but I do believe if your business is real estate, it makes good sense to educate yourself on the stock market and other investments outside of real estate.
There is no shortage of data showing the impact Latinos are having on the U.S. economy, from GDP and entrepreneurship to workforce participation and homeownership. So why hasn’t that growth translated into the kind of economic and political power our numbers suggest it should? In this episode, I focus on two things we can actually control: building wealth and owning our narrative. Cultural influence matters, but ownership is what turns influence into lasting power. And if we want the next generation to inherit more than momentum, we need a strategy for converting our work ethic, growth, and economic contributions into the institutions and assets that shape this country.
The World Cup reminded the world just how magnetic Hispanic and Latino culture can be. In this episode, I talk about why that popularity is more than a cultural victory—it is an economic opportunity hiding in plain sight. From music, food, sports, and fashion to the global appeal of our biggest stars, our culture already has the power to shape markets and influence how people see us. The question now is whether our business and political leaders are ready to turn that momentum into capital, representation, and lasting power. This is a moment we cannot afford to waste.
The World Cup gave Hispanics and Latinos an extraordinary global stage, but the opportunity goes far beyond sports. In this episode, I look at how cultural influence can shape perception, attract investment, and ultimately create economic power. South Korea understood this decades ago and built a global strategy around making its culture impossible to ignore. Now, the world has seen the energy, pride, and creativity of our community on its biggest stage. The question is whether we recognize the value of that moment and build something lasting from it.