Ep. 82 | How to create a Mortgage Fund with Jonathan Lee

Are you curious about the legal side of private lending and fund formation in Canada? In Episode 82 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Neal Andreino and Ryan MacNeil interview Jonathan Lee, founder and principal lawyer at A.G. Truett Law Professional Corporation. Jonathan brings over a decade of experience working with major Bay Street firms and specializes in asset management law, securities regulation, and fund formation for mortgage investment corporations, mutual fund trusts, ETFs, and hedge funds. 

This episode discusses key legal structures for real estate investment funds, securities law exemptions, recent market trends, and the rise of entrepreneurial ventures in capital raising. Jonathan also shares his personal journey leaving big law to build his boutique firm and his unexpected crossover into children’s books focused on entrepreneurship. Whether you're a private lender, fund manager, or investor, this episode offers expert legal insights you won’t want to miss.

Show notes:
02:46 - Jonathan’s education background in law and business
04:09 - Why Jonathan chose asset management legal specialization
07:58 - Building client base through networking meetings
12:16 - Urgency in entrepreneurship and making swift decisions
20:04 - Key fund formation structures explained simply
23:02 - Differences between limited partnerships and mutual fund trusts
25:08 - Mortgage investment corporations and regulatory conditions overview
27:12 - Securities laws’ prospectus requirements and exemptions
30:16 - Accredited investor exemption and raising private capital
33:05 - Post-COVID growth trends in private asset markets
34:34 - US Sun Belt real estate investment interest
35:41 - Cautious optimism on Canadian real estate market
36:56 - Importance of financial literacy for children
40:44 - Future plans including restaurant investment in Toronto
42:41 - Bonus insights on rebuilding Toronto Raptors basketball team

Find Jonathan on:
Website: https://agtruett.com/

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn
E-mail: ryan@keycap.ca