Frank Forte Quite NYC Investment Banking to Build Something True to his Jersey Roots

I sit down with Frank Forte, Partner at Lucern Capital Partners, for a masterclass in consolidating the fragmented small bay industrial market . Frank has spent the last decade moving from high-level institutional banking to active ownership, raising over $100 million in equity and delivering project IRRs that most pro-formas wouldn't dare to show . We discuss the stark reality of the 2026 real estate market—what Frank calls a "long winter" for multifamily and storage—and why he believes the "middle 80%" of a deal (the operations) is where true wealth is created . From towing 85 cars off a distressed Charlotte site to helping small business owners find stability through five-year leases, Frank's approach is a blend of hard-nosed Jersey grit and sophisticated financial underwriting . Key Takeaways from this Episode: Contenders vs. Pretenders: Why you need to peel back the onion on who is actually owning and operating assets versus just posting on LinkedIn . The Insulation of NNN: How small bay industrial protects landlords from the "pound of flesh" tax assessors are taking from residential and multifamily owners . Unlocking "Tetris" Value: Creative ways to move tenants within a park to mark rents to market without losing occupancy<sup