Is the American Dream dying before our very eyes?

Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to put myself out there more.

And honestly, I am loving it. The conversations, the DMs, the article shares—they all remind me why I started this in the first place. Each post, each episode, each newsletter issue pushes me to think more deeply and grow sharper as an investor.

I want this platform to be a space where we connect the dots between data and real life, headlines, and our lived experiences. My website redesign is coming soon, and I cannot wait to make it easier to explore all of this in one place.

This week, I felt especially motivated to write about housing. As a homeowner myself, the growing conversation around “trapped equity” struck a chord.

After I bought my first house, I was so excited to tap into a HELOC. That was until I saw the rates and realized just how inaccessible that equity really is. I found myself wondering: why is no one talking about this?

So I did what I always do—I sought answers.

That’s what I hope to keep doing here: asking the questions that are on many of our minds, and making sense of the economic signals in plain language.

📝 My Latest Written Pieces: The New Rules of Real Estate & Revenue Forecasting

I’ve got three new Forbes articles out. I know, I can hardly believe it myself:

📊 Why Sales Teams Should Ditch Weighted Averages
As a VC investor, I’ve been seeing more and more early stage companies provide “weighted averages” for forecasting future sales. In my view, this is not the way to go. I break down three better ways to forecast than using WACV (weighted average contract value).

🏠 Why $35 Trillion in Equity for American Homeowners Is More Burden Than Boon
Homeowners are sitting on a ton of equity, but most cannot access it. I dig into some of the lesser discussed implications in this piece.

🏚️ How Aging Home Inventory Is Creating a Tipping Point in Real Estate
An overlooked yet crucial factor in the housing crisis? The age of our homes. I break down why America’s crumbling inventory is becoming a macroeconomic issue—and an opportunity for innovation.

🎙️ On the Podcast: Conversations That Matter

Money Memories is back with a new episode featuring Adam Silver, founder of Plural Energy. No, he’s not the NBA commissioner, but maybe if we dream big, he’ll be a guest on the show one day?

We get into how blockchain could play a role in the energy transition, and Adam was a super enthusiastic and down to earth guest (even my producer commented how on how engaged Adam sounded on the audio!) If you were waiting last week for the drop, you didn’t miss anything. Sorry for the delay, I hope you’ll find the episode worth the wait.

💡 On Why Growing Home Equity Isn’t as Great as It Seems

Homeownership has long been a cornerstone of wealth-building in America. But today, that $35 trillion in housing wealth feels increasingly out of reach, not just for would-be buyers, but for current owners, too. This chart is pretty wild:

I wrote about this growing paradox in my latest Forbes article, inspired by a recent Wall Street Journal piece that explored how aging homes are becoming financial burdens.

Here are three key reasons why the math—and mindset—around housing is changing:

1️⃣ It Costs More to Stay Put
Skyrocketing property taxes, insurance, and maintenance are eroding the financial upside of homeownership, even in paid-off homes. Some households are now cutting back just to afford staying where they are.

2️⃣ Equity Is Locked and Loaded...with Friction
High rates and capital gains taxes are discouraging equity access through refinancing or selling. Many homeowners feel “trapped” in place, unable to unlock wealth without costly trade-offs.

3️⃣ Your Equity Now Works Against You
When applying for student aid, home equity is suddenly counted against families, even if that wealth is illiquid. This hits middle-class households in high-cost areas the hardest.

As a VC investor, I feel a bit stuck on how technology can actually help individuals better access their homeowners’ equity.

As a home owner, all I can do is be glad that I my property value has increased, even if the wealth is only on paper.

The Bottom Line: Owning a home is no longer a guarantee of financial flexibility. There is a growing opportunity for fintech to rethink how Americans access—and actually benefit from—their largest asset.

🔗 Other Interesting Reads & Listens

📌 Leslie Odom Jr. Returns to Hamilton - Might have to consider seeing Hamilton a 3rd time. I mean this is what sinking funds are for, right?
📌 Roast chicken with schmaltzy cabbage – Not sure if you knew this but you can buy an entire chicken at Aldi for less than $8. I’m never going back to buying basic tenders again. Here’s one of my all time favorite recipes that I’ve been cooking lately, it’s shocking how little effort is required to yield such delectable results. Because in this economy, we could all use a little low cost comfort.

Until next time,

Ilona