#131 - SPVs: Predictable Passive Investing with Jeremy Neilson

If you thought investing in private deals was only for people with hundred-million-dollar venture funds and a team of lawyers on speed dial — this episode will change that. 

In this conversation on the Path to Passive podcast, host Steven Arita sits down with Jeremy Neilson, an attorney-turned-private-asset-investing specialist who has personally closed nearly 9,000 SPVs, processed over 10,000 tax returns, and helped onboard upward of 300,000 investors since getting a cold call from a 6-person AngelList in 2013 — while pushing his kid on a backyard swing. 

Jeremy breaks down exactly what a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is, why private assets are actually larger than public markets, and how the complexity hiding inside these simple-sounding structures is precisely why most people underestimate them. 

You'll learn how Jeremy built Sally (sally.co), his fifth-generation SPV software platform, to automate everything from entity setup and KYC compliance to document signing, wire reconciliation, and K-1 tax distribution — all in one place. 

He also shares a wild trend reshaping private investing: the rise of the "fund of one," where a solo investor can wrap their deals inside a $500 SPV and sell their seat in an OpenAI or SpaceX cap table without ever needing anyone's permission. 

Whether you're a W-2 tech professional exploring syndications for the first time or an operator trying to stop drowning in manual workflows, this episode gives you a clear picture of what happens behind the curtain — and why understanding it makes you a smarter, more confident investor.

Connect with Jeremy:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyneilson/
🌐 Company Website: https://sally.co/ 
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AllThingsSPVs

Episode Highlights:
[0:50] – Intro: Welcome to Path to Passive — building wealth through private asset investing for tech professionals.
[2:22] – Meet Jeremy Neilson, attorney-turned-SPV specialist with nearly 9,000 deals closed and a platform built from scratch.
[3:41] – SPV 101: Jeremy breaks down exactly what a Special Purpose Vehicle is and why it's simpler than it sounds.
[5:42] – Private assets are actually larger than public markets — most investors don't know this.
[12:13] – The AngelList cold call: Jeremy was pushing his kid on a swing when a 6-person AngelList changed the trajectory of private investing.
[27:33] – How Sally automates everything — entity setup, KYC, document signing, wire reconciliation, and K-1s — with one click.
[28:33] – 506C explained: how to legally advertise your deal to the entire world and what accredited investor verification looks like.
[37:27] – The "fund of one" concept: how solo investors can wrap deals in a $500 SPV and sell their seat in OpenAI or SpaceX without anyone's permission.
[44:22] – Jeremy's closer: "I'm the smartest, I have the best software, and I'm the best price. Trifecta."
[47:27] – Outro: Where to find Jeremy at sally.co and the All Things SPVs YouTube channel.
[47:27] – Outro: Thanks for listening — see you next week on Path to Pass

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Share this with your tech friends who you think would benefit from learning about passive income and alternative real estate investments. 

For more resources and guides, check these out:

Crack the Code https://www.aritacapital.com/crack-the-code/

Investor 101 https://www.aritacapital.com/investor-101-resource/

Due Diligence Resource https://www.aritacapital.com/dd-checklist-resource/

If you want to learn more, reach out at:

Email: steven@aritacapital.com

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/aritasteven/

IG:  https://www.instagram.com/the.real.arita