May 14, 2025
The Rookie Guide to Asset Protection: LLCs, Insurance, Partnerships, & Trusts
Real Estate RookieAbout this episode
Do you really need an LLC for rentals ? What about a trust ? What kind of insurance should you get? With so many questions (and confusion) surrounding asset protection for real estate investors , we’ve brought on an expert to set the record straight so you can protect your assets—without going overboard or breaking the bank! Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast ! Today, we’re chatting with real estate attorney and fellow investor Bonnie Galam about the nuances of asset protection. The truth is that there are two sides to this coin, but most investors only focus on the defensive or “reactive” side . Bonnie will show you the keys to 360-degree protection —like setting up strong legal structures before problems arise and the essential documentation you should have from day one. You’ll also learn about the potential pitfalls of equity partnerships , how personal events can put your properties at risk, and why car insurance and prenups matter more for your portfolio than you might think. Asset protection doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be strategic, and this episode will help you prioritize what’s important now , what can wait, and how to create a legal framework that evolves as your real estate portfolio grows! In This Episode We Cover Two sides of asset protection to focus on when starting a real estate business Three actionable steps new investors can take to protect their assets today Why you need to create an estate plan (even if you don’t have rentals yet!) How much you should expect to pay for different types of legal protection Debt versus equity partnerships (and why one is better for asset protection) Revocable and irrevocable trusts explained (and which one you need) And So Much More! Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rookie-561 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices