For years, the advice for building a retirement plan in the United States has been simple: contribute to a 401(k), keep investing through the ups and downs, and let time do the work.
But for a growing number of working professionals, that plan no longer feels complete on its own. Rising costs, market swings, and uncertainty about what “enough” even looks like have pushed some people to look beyond traditional accounts and toward investments they can see, understand, and track month to month.
That is the backdrop Matisse Fitzpatrick points to when he describes what he has been hearing from prospective clients. Fitzpatrick leads Generational Wealth Plan, a real estate investment firm that works with individuals who want to buy rental properties without taking on the full burden of sourcing deals, coordinating renovations, and managing property operations by themselves.
“People are not necessarily abandoning retirement accounts,” Fitzpatrick said. “They are looking for additional strategies they can understand, with clear pros and cons, and a plan for how the investment will be operated.”
Real estate, of course, is not a new idea. It has been a wealth-building tool for decades. What is changing is the way everyday investors are trying to participate. Many do not want to become landlords in the traditional sense. They do not have time to study neighborhoods, run inspections, negotiate repairs, and oversee contractors, all while working full time and raising families.
Generational Wealth Plan is built around serving that kind of investor, Fitzpatrick said. The company sources properties, evaluates them, and offers clients the opportunity to purchase rentals with an operational plan already in place. In practice, that can include properties intended for conventional tenants, and in some markets, rentals connected to the federal Housing Choice Voucher program, commonly referred to as Section 8.
The appeal of tangible ownership, and the reality of risk
The draw is easy to understand. A house is a physical asset. It can be renovated, insured, rented, and tracked in a way that feels more concrete than a statement showing market gains or losses.
But the reality is also clear: real estate carries risk.
Vacancies happen. Repairs can be expensive. Tenants can be difficult. Insurance costs and property taxes can change. Local markets can cool quickly. Financing terms can shift with interest rates, employment changes, and lender requirements.
Fitzpatrick is direct about that. “I do not believe in presenting real estate as a shortcut,” he said. “It is work, even if you hire professionals. The difference is that we try to build a process that makes the work manageable and more predictable.”
That reminder matters for both compliance and credibility. Editors, regulators, and readers are wary of articles that imply easy outcomes or guaranteed returns. Fitzpatrick said his firm tries to keep the focus on process and planning rather than promises.
What “turnkey” means in real life
The term “turnkey” is used everywhere in real estate, sometimes loosely. In the context of Generational Wealth Plan, Fitzpatrick describes it as a workflow designed to reduce the number of decisions an investor has to make alone.
The firm’s team looks for properties, reviews the numbers, and assesses potential issues such as deferred maintenance, neighborhood demand, and likely operating costs. If a property needs work, the company coordinates the rehab plan before it is presented to a buyer, according to Fitzpatrick. The goal, he said, is to create clarity around what is being purchased and how it will be managed once the closing is complete.
Clients still need to do their own diligence and make their own decisions. They also need to understand that a pro forma is not a guarantee. Unexpected repairs and periods without a tenant can change outcomes quickly. Fitzpatrick said the firm encourages investors to plan conservatively and to keep adequate reserves.
“The moment a person assumes everything will go perfectly is the moment they take on too much risk,” he said.
Section 8, and what it is and is not
Among the options the firm may present are rentals connected to the Housing Choice Voucher program. In simple terms, the program helps eligible tenants pay rent by providing a subsidy. Landlords who participate agree to comply with program rules, inspections, and documentation requirements.
In some markets, investors are drawn to voucher housing because demand can be steady and because the subsidy component can reduce types of payment disruption. Still, participation also involves administrative responsibilities, and compliance issues can affect payments. Properties must meet required standards, and the process can vary by local housing authority.
Fitzpatrick said voucher housing is not a fit for everyone. “Some people want the simplicity of a conventional rental with fewer program rules,” he said. “Others like the idea of a structured system, but they need to understand the operational side. This is not passive in the way people sometimes imagine.”
The firm says it works to handle the operational details for participating rentals, but the investor ultimately owns the asset and bears the risk tied to that asset.
Fix-and-flip opportunities, without the DIY story
Some investors want long-term rentals. Others are looking for shorter-term projects. Generational Wealth Plan also works with value-add properties, commonly known as fix-and-flip investments, where renovation is intended to increase the sale value.
Fitzpatrick describes these as projects where the firm manages the renovation plan and the execution. That can include identifying the property, coordinating contractors, overseeing timelines, and preparing for resale.
He is careful about how he frames it. “The goal is to reduce chaos, not pretend there is no risk,” he said. Flips can be affected by construction delays, permit timelines, contractor availability, materials pricing, and market changes that can occur between purchase and resale.
In other words, it is not a guaranteed win, and it is not a strategy for someone who cannot tolerate the possibility of losing money. Fitzpatrick said the firm encourages investors to consider their time horizon, liquidity needs, and risk tolerance before choosing any approach.
The financing question that stops people early
For many would-be investors, financing is the first and biggest obstacle. Large down payments, liquidity requirements, and strict underwriting standards can make the idea feel out of reach.
Fitzpatrick said Generational Wealth Plan helps clients explore financing paths such as conventional mortgages, alternative lending options, and in some cases, business credit strategies for qualified borrowers. The company’s position, he said, is that investors should understand the true cost of capital and avoid overextending themselves.
He also emphasized that financing availability varies based on credit profile, income, existing debt, and lender criteria. “There is a lot of misinformation out there,” he said. “We try to ground the conversation in what a person actually qualifies for, and what the monthly obligations will look like in a realistic scenario.”
Any approach that involves leverage, he added, increases risk. That means planning for worst-case months, not best-case ones, and ensuring reserves are available.
Why the interest is showing up now
The firm’s growth, Fitzpatrick believes, is tied to a broader mood shift. People are increasingly skeptical that a single retirement vehicle will be enough, and they want options.
Some want diversification. Some want a clearer understanding of what they own. Some want exposure to housing without starting from scratch or relying on online guesswork.
Still, real estate is not a replacement for a full financial plan, and Fitzpatrick does not present it that way. “We tell people to talk to their CPA, talk to their financial advisor, and treat this as one part of a bigger picture,” he said.
That approach, he said, is also how the firm tries to stay in bounds with compliance expectations. The message is not that real estate guarantees financial independence. It is that real estate can be one strategy among many, and that outcomes depend on factors the investor needs to understand upfront.
A business built on operations, not hype
In an industry crowded with bold marketing, the most convincing signal is often operational clarity. Who finds the property. Who coordinates the rehab. Who manages leasing. Who handles maintenance calls. What happens when a tenant moves out.
Fitzpatrick said the firm’s job is to answer those questions before an investor wires a down payment or signs a closing document.
“Most people do not need more inspiration,” he said. “They need a plan and straight talk about what can go wrong.”
About Generational Wealth Plan
Generational Wealth Plan, led by Matisse Fitzpatrick & Associates, works with individuals who want to invest in residential real estate through a managed process. The firm sources and evaluates properties, coordinates renovations, and supports operational planning for rentals. As with any investment strategy, results vary, and real estate involves risk, including vacancies, repairs, market shifts, and financing constraints.
Written in partnership with Tom White
