How to Verify Your Next Sponsor Before Investing: Pat Zingarella (Invest Clearly)
Thu Jan 22 2026
Is your money safe? In the world of private real estate syndication, trust is expensive—but transparency is free.
Private real estate investing can be opaque. You see the returns, you see the marketing, but do you really see the truth behind the deal?
In this episode, I sit down with Pat Zingarella, Founder and CEO of Invest Clearly, a platform launched in 2023 to bring radical transparency to private markets. He’s on a mission to ensure that bad actors are held accountable and that honest operators get the recognition they deserve.
We discuss how to properly vet General Partners (GPs), the dangers of investing based on hype alone, and the real-life stories of investors who wished they had done more due diligence.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:
The Problem: Why private real estate lacks transparency and how it costs investors millions.
The Solution: How Invest Clearly uses verified, LP-led reviews to vet sponsors.
The $100K Story: A cautionary tale of an investor who lost everything because they didn't understand the equity stack.
Vetting 101: The specific red flags every passive investor needs to look for before wiring money.
The Future: How marketing will matter less than credibility in the next era of private capital.
GUEST BIO:
Pat Zingarella is the Founder and CEO of Invest Clearly. Based in Clinton, Connecticut, Pat started the platform after experiencing personal frustration as an investor lacking reliable feedback on private sponsors. Previously, he co-founded Optimum Conversion and led sales programs at Gartner. He is passionate about shifting the private equity market from a "hype" model to a "trust" model.
CONNECT WITH PAT ZINGARELLA:
Website: https://investclearly.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pasqualezingarella
CONNECT WITH HOSTS:
Bryan Morris:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmorris7/
Chris Ward:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisward/
Website:
https://sevenpeakcapital.com/
Download Our Passive Income Guide for W2 Professionals:
https://sevenpeakcapital.com/guide/
About Seven Peak Capital:
Seven Peak Capital provides investment opportunities in multifamily properties to both accredited and non-accredited investors. Through our methodical research methods and strong strategic partnerships, our team specializes in acquiring properties through rigorous underwriting standards, improving operations with best in-class asset management techniques and intimate knowledge of local market dynamics to deliver attractive returns regardless of market cycle.
Our team personally invests capital in each property alongside our investors, enhancing the value of commercial multifamily properties and, in turn, generating passive income for our investors through cash flow.
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Is your money safe? In the world of private real estate syndication, trust is expensive—but transparency is free. Private real estate investing can be opaque. You see the returns, you see the marketing, but do you really see the truth behind the deal? In this episode, I sit down with Pat Zingarella, Founder and CEO of Invest Clearly, a platform launched in 2023 to bring radical transparency to private markets. He’s on a mission to ensure that bad actors are held accountable and that honest operators get the recognition they deserve. We discuss how to properly vet General Partners (GPs), the dangers of investing based on hype alone, and the real-life stories of investors who wished they had done more due diligence. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: The Problem: Why private real estate lacks transparency and how it costs investors millions. The Solution: How Invest Clearly uses verified, LP-led reviews to vet sponsors. The $100K Story: A cautionary tale of an investor who lost everything because they didn't understand the equity stack. Vetting 101: The specific red flags every passive investor needs to look for before wiring money. The Future: How marketing will matter less than credibility in the next era of private capital. GUEST BIO: Pat Zingarella is the Founder and CEO of Invest Clearly. Based in Clinton, Connecticut, Pat started the platform after experiencing personal frustration as an investor lacking reliable feedback on private sponsors. Previously, he co-founded Optimum Conversion and led sales programs at Gartner. He is passionate about shifting the private equity market from a "hype" model to a "trust" model. CONNECT WITH PAT ZINGARELLA: Website: https://investclearly.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pasqualezingarella CONNECT WITH HOSTS: Bryan Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmorris7/ Chris Ward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisward/ Website: https://sevenpeakcapital.com/ Download Our Passive Income Guide for W2 Professionals: https://sevenpeakcapital.com/guide/ About Seven Peak Capital: Seven Peak Capital provides investment opportunities in multifamily properties to both accredited and non-accredited investors. Through our methodical research methods and strong strategic partnerships, our team specializes in acquiring properties through rigorous underwriting standards, improving operations with best in-class asset management techniques and intimate knowledge of local market dynamics to deliver attractive returns regardless of market cycle. Our team personally invests capital in each property alongside our investors, enhancing the value of commercial multifamily properties and, in turn, generating passive income for our investors through cash flow.