“The whole point of the Academy Fund is to help people do great things in real estate. One of the things you desperately need in real estate is access to capital. We did a multi-million dollar deal recently, which The Academy Fund made possible and I don’t think we could have done it without them. It was an easy process from the borrower's side. It’s a massive family effort and that is way cooler than any return on investment!”
- Buddy Rushing (USNA ‘04)
Launched last year, the Academy Fund is a private real estate fund that invests in military veteran real estate operators. The first of its kind, the Academy Fund provides diligence, diversification, and access to the best Service Academy and military veteran real estate operators and their deals, and leverages relationships among Investors, Advisors, and Operators to facilitate the valuable “trust capital.” We believe that intelligence, integrity and grit are competitive advantages and key inputs to building wealth.
If you want to invest in people like you, look no further than the Academy Fund. But, don’t just take our word for it. Hear what our operators are saying! We’re excited to introduce you to the military veteran real estate operators the fund is supporting.
Meet Buddy Rushing
Real Estate Operator: Buddy Rushing (USNA ‘04)
Company: White Feather Investments
Buddy’s real name is Edward! He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2004 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering (if you can believe it) before commissioning in the U.S. Marine Corps. Joking aside, it’s impossible to describe the breadth of his career in a few sentences. His military service provided him with some amazing experiences, including leading Marines in training operations in Okinawa, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea, Guam and Bridgeport, as well as four deployments to Southeast Asia and Afghanistan. Buddy also attended Naval Postgraduate School.
His passion for Real Estate investing began after reading Rich Dad Poor Dad while leaning against a Humvee in Southeastern Afghanistan. Following a big real estate mistake, Buddy devoted ten years to learning, putting in late hours, tons of offers, and dozens of different types of deals, which sparked the idea leading to what his company, White Feather Investments, has become today. His original vision to create an entire generation of financially free military members is quickly becoming a reality! Ultimately, Buddy believes everyone who fought to defend the American Dream should have a shot at living it themselves. We couldn't agree more! Through education and experience, Buddy shows that this is not only possible, but that everyone can do it. He’s excited to continue spreading this message over the next few years.
Buddy values the Academy Fund for its security and flexibility, which transforms borrowing into a straightforward, no-nonsense process. Buddy is really excited about a recent Academy Fund-ed deal that enabled him to purchase twenty-two properties in Florida, which are cash-flowing single-family rentals. He’s incredibly thankful for all the Academy Fund investors who made one of his most exciting deals yet possible and he absolutely loves working with like-minded individuals who operate like a family. As far as he’s concerned, creating this opportunity with everyone involved being someone who served is far more rewarding than any return on investment.
Of course, Buddy is fiercely loyal to the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Naval Academy (yes!), but admits West Point and Air Force produce their fair share of awesome real estate investors. We can’t argue with that! We love working with Buddy and we are thankful for his knowledge, support and expertise.
Are you a real estate professional in need of funding? The Academy Fund is here to help! To complete a loan application, please click here.
Or, maybe you would like to invest? Click here to schedule a call with our team.