Ryan Smith

Founder of @ThinkSBA @i1031HQ
@SoFarSoFunBrand | $250M+ Financed | Building Businesses | Buying Businesses | Sharing Lessons | Host: @MySBAPro @AnchoredDeepFM

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

From the mound to the ministry — a life redeemed by grace.

About Me — Ryan Smith

I was raised by divorced parents who loved me and did the best they could.

But we never went to church, and I never heard the name of Jesus Christ in our home.

I attended San Diego State University on a Division 1 baseball scholarship as a left-handed pitcher.

The highlight of my career came when I threw three scoreless innings against the 1996 San Diego Padres, facing legends like Rickey Henderson, Ken Caminiti, and Steve Finley.

After college, I signed with the Texas Rangers’ Minor League affiliate, chasing the dream every young player has.

But in God’s mercy, He had a greater plan.

My teammate invited me to attend Chapel by the Sea Baptist Church on Tybee Island. I wasn’t really interested but I went with him anyway.

I tried to persuade him to take me to a bar instead but he politely insisted we attend church.

What happened to me between the invocation and benediction is something that I cannot explain except to quote the words Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. ’The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

That warm summer evening the Great Shepherd brought me home. The next Sunday I was promptly given a Bible by my team’s Chapel Leader and announced to my teammates that I had placed my faith in Jesus Christ.

Just two weeks later, I found myself preaching the gospel alongside Sid Bream of the Atlanta Braves.

In 2005, I was ordained by Calvary Chapel and spent five years serving as Senior Pastor of Rolling Hills Community Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Then in 2010, through a providential appointment, God led my family back to San Diego, California, where I now live with my wife and three children.

Since returning, I’ve ministered to the homeless, preached on the streets, and Coached baseball at a Christian High School for two years.

In 2019, I founded my own finance brokerage, @ThinkSBA, and in 2024, partnered to acquire a trampoline park franchise.

My family and I attend Escondido United Reformed Church in Escondido CA.

I’m not here to build a platform, chase followers, or ask for money.

I’m here to share my story, my experiences, and the wisdom I’ve freely received from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you’re ever led to reach out, I welcome conversations on marriage, parenting, ministry, evangelism, and business ownership.

May the Lord richly bless you,
Ryan Smith

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

@PresidentsCup @BrandtSnedeker @PGATOUR @russhenleygolf @Samburns66 @Wyndham_Clark @collin_morikawa Professional golf is definitely in a down period but I grew up in 90’s so I’m probably spoiled 🤷🏻

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

@MattLepay Bring back those sleeves. Wes Chandler was poetry in motion.

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

@BradFritsch Exactly! My 3H OTOH is 🔥. Funny how that works.

[i1031 | Intelligent Exchange Platform @i1031QI]

We’re excited to sponsor the San Diego & Southern California CCIM event on August 27 at the Del Mar Racetrack.

@RyanPatryck, @BrandonKress1031 and Austyn from @i1031QI will be there, and we’re looking forward to meeting everyone.

We’ll have merch, business cards, and our Be A Hero postcards for attendees.

More importantly, you’ll get to hear the i1031 story, see what we’re building, and learn why your clients should choose i1031 to facilitate their next 1031 exchange.

Modern technology. Institutional-grade controls. A better experience for exchangors and their advisors.

See you at the track. 🏇

#CCIM #1031Exchange #CommercialRealEstate #SanDiego #i1031

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

@EBoKnowss Bro that kid got a call from AARP after that homerun 🤣

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

@MySBAPro @Skratch Center cut 330 yds

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

Your best years ar ahead if you eat right, exercise and enjoy the occasional indulgence. Live like you’ll die tomorrow. Stack cash but be generous and never listen to the naysayers. Failure doesn’t exist. Only lessons. And one last thing, optimize every relationship so you’re missed not forgotten.

[Ryan Smith @MySBAPro]

In 2024, I bought a business for $4.725 million.

Under the SBA guidelines taking effect October 1, my transaction would have required a Quality of Earnings report.

In my case, that would have been overkill.

I was buying into a franchise. I had access to the franchise system’s data, and what mattered most to me was the top line. I wanted to know how much revenue the location could generate.

I already understood the bottom line.

I knew the expense structure. I knew where costs could be controlled. And I knew the business I was going to operate would look completely different from the business the sellers were operating.

A QoE would have added significant cost, delayed the transaction, and potentially cratered the deal once the sellers realized a third party was going to scrutinize their accounting practices.

And that is what I think people are missing.

The big winner here isn’t necessarily going to be the Quality of Earnings industry.

I think the real result will be fewer SBA acquisition deals over $3 million.

Why aren’t more people talking about that?

Because most of the people analyzing these rules are lenders, brokers, and service providers.

They’ve never actually bought a business.

They’ve never sat across the table from a seller.

And they don’t fully appreciate what happens to a transaction when you introduce another expensive layer of diligence that can expose every questionable accounting practice before the deal closes.

[Ryan Smith @MySBAPro]

Very few things in life can compete with being an elite pitcher ⚾️

I’ve set records that still stand

I’ve dueled against against MLB Hall of Famers, All-Stars and MVP’s

I’ve K’d 6 in a row — feeling invincible

All before the age of 23

But shortly after my baseball career ended I discovered entrepreneurship and I was hooked

The same thrill but more stable and impactful to others 🔥

[i1031 | Intelligent Exchange Platform @i1031QI]

Trust your instincts and be a first mover 🚀

[i1031 | Intelligent Exchange Platform @i1031QI]

Coming soon 🧢

Because everyone needs a cool hat

DM me here or @RyanPatryck to be one of the first get one

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

When I built @i1031QI, I received a ton of positive feedback.

But almost no one wanted to be the first to refer a client.

The world is filled with unwilling admirers.

They admire what you’re building. They believe in what you’re doing. They’re just unwilling to go first.

I think it comes down to two things:

How much you trust your own instincts and how much you care about peer approval.

Elon trusts his instincts and cares very little about what other people think.

That’s why he keeps innovating.

Innovation requires someone willing to go first.

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

@GeniusGTX Where can I send you one of these? So Far So Fun…It’s not where you’ve been but where you’re headed that counts.

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

This is a great quote 👇🏻

They [Facebook] won because they committed before the answer was proven. Everyone else needed it proven first.

Zuckerberg: “People doubt new ideas before they come to fruition.”

I’ve given many presentations of @i1031QI with the same result

Looks good Ryan but complete an Exchange first and then come back to me

Most human beings lack vision and conviction

They ride the slide that is made for them not the one they carve themselves

That’s the beauty of creators who have the vision and conviction to act 🚀

[i1031 | Intelligent Exchange Platform @i1031QI]

Building in the open.

Another first for i1031.

An organic exchangor just found us, created their account, started their exchange and signed their exchange agreement without ever needing to speak with a human being.

That is exactly what we built the i1031 Intelligent Exchange Platform to do.

Make starting a 1031 exchange faster, easier and more transparent.

And the moment the agreement was signed?

We messaged them directly inside the platform to introduce ourselves and get the exchange moving.

Technology when you want it.

Human support when you need it.

This is what the next generation of 1031 exchanges looks like.

This is what real estate investors have been waiting for g for. 🥁

[Ryan Smith @MySBAPro]

The State Guarantee Program is designed to help businesses grow, which is why Juan Carlos emphasizes that they do not support speculative investments or initiatives that automate away jobs. Instead, he explains how they focus on productive businesses and work directly with lenders to offer flexible, fair terms that make sense for everyone involved.

🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://t.co/jIJiSD3iGw
🔗 Connect with Juan Carlos on LinkedIn: https://t.co/hQktFO1J7J

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

We’re taking off 🚀

But the best part is our Exchangors are validating the platform

We worked for over a year to build a frictionless SaaS platform to conduct a 1031 exchange 🤌🏻

[i1031 | Intelligent Exchange Platform @i1031QI]

Buzzword of the week at i1031

Frictionless

We’re perfecting frictionless 1031 exchanges through a combination of deep real estate knowledge and modern technology 🤖

[i1031 | Intelligent Exchange Platform @i1031QI]

i1031 In App Messaging To Stay Connected and Informed

Stay connected throughout your exchange with simple in app messaging. Ask questions, receive updates, and keep everyone informed without missed emails, delayed replies, or endless phone tag.
https://t.co/Cu6vJ2KdBi

[Ryan Smith @RyanPatryck]

@TomHicks2LCF Coming from Calvary Chapel it makes so much sense that we have solid historical confessions and catechisms that we can rely on, study and hand down to our children. New is rarely good when it comes to theological thought and dogmas.