April 1, 2025
Episode 216 – Craig Skauge – Your Hub for Smarter Real Estate Investing
“The thing about private securities and what the opportunity is, is that the value of your REIT doesn’t drop suddenly because there’s a sentiment that says maybe things are going to go bad. The value of your investment is based on how many people are in that building paying rent and what’s the forward look on interest rates. Your value is actually tied specifically to that asset not to the noise that’s going on in the marketplace.” – Craig Skauge
-
- Craig Skauge, recognized as a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2019, holds the positions of President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director at Olympia Trust Company.
- Moreover, Craig’s contributions to regulatory bodies are noteworthy, having served as a former member of the Alberta Securities Commission’s Exempt Market Dealer Advisory Committee, as well as the Ontario Securities Commission Exempt Market Advisory Committee, and Small and Medium Enterprises Committee. Craig was also instrumental in the founding of the Private Capital Market Association of Canada.
- Listen in as Craig offers insights into what Olympia Trust does, what it means for entrepreneurs and investors, and what opportunities exist to get educated and participate in the private securities world. Craig shares the trends and changes he has observed over the last 20 years, plus some of the common mistakes made by investors and entrepreneurs alike. We get to learn a bit about Craig’s background, why he chose working with his father over the music industry and the broad contributions Craig and Olympia Financial Group have made in this industry. If you’ve ever wanted to unlock the full potential of private investments, navigate the shifting regulatory landscape or capitalize on emerging wealth building opportunities, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!
- Show Notes
- [00:42] Patrick introduces his next TEDM guest Craig Skauge.
- [01:37] Craig and Patrick get rolling as Craig shares what he’s up to within the Olympia Trust family and as advocate for private capital markets
- [02:50] Sharing insights into what Olympia Trust does, Craig also touches on how they do it as custodians and who they serve in the framework of self-directed RRSP accounts and the exempt market.
- [07:32] Craig explains the role Olympia Trust plays in determining RRSP eligibility.
- [09:15] Exempt market definition and what are private securities anyways?
- [12:42] If one wanted to launch a real estate development deal and raise capital for the project, Craig explains how Olympia would, and would not have involvement with the deal.
- [14:22] Between 2018 – 2025, Craig describes the trends and opportunities he has seen in the private investment market including a closer look at the types of products their clients are choosing, to diversify their portfolio.
- [17:18] Craig explains the two sides of how Olympia works with clients: 1) investors who want to take control of their RRSP investment and place funds into private securities and 2) educate entrepreneurs on raising capital for projects of any size, covering regulatory requirements, securities rules, and compliance.
- [23:02] The evolution of Canadian regulatory bodies. With over 20 years of experience working in this industry, Craig offers his viewpoint on how the landscape changed after regulatory reform in 2010; good, bad, ugly or otherwise. Generally, it’s a more mature marketplace.
- [28:15] Time for some role play and Patrick is now a developer! He has a project he wants to do and needs to raise a few million dollars. Does he have to have an Exempt Market Dealer on the team? Does he need an Offering Memorandum? How the heck does he structure all of this? Short answer – go to an Olympia seminar! Craig offers some insights but acknowledges its not a cookie cutter process.
- [32:29] Without providing his opinion on what some of the “best” opportunities are, Craig does share some unique prospects out there beyond real estate investment (though that is the bread and butter.) Craig also offers that the value of private securities, while they may not have the sexy and wild upswings, are also not at the effect of the emotionality of the public market. They can even be boring! But typically, they provide steady, predictable income.
- [36:07] Along with an increase in younger investors, Craig describes the change in trends he’s observing in the private securities market and regulatory regime.
- [38:53] How about the wealth transfer trend – are impacts being felt there?
- [41:00] Craig offers similar guidance both for potential investors and potential capital raisers. Investors: do your homework upfront not the backend – there are many points you need to understand. Developers: do your research but don’t be afraid to raise capital – its not overly prohibitive.
- [43:56] Let’s shift the conversation to learn a bit more about Craig! After finishing university, Craig had two job offers: 1) work in the music industry which he loved but saw the writing on the wall with the decline of the retail music industry; 2) work with his dad in the company he created – Olympia Trust. He shares how that unfolding occurred over 22 years and how they changed the landscape with RRSP investing.
- [49:25] Patrick highlights the magic that Olympia Trust brings as a hub for entrepreneurs and investors in an educative community.
- [50:07] On a final note, Craig shares common mistakes entrepreneurs and investors make and bestows valuable guidance to each group.
- Selected links and people mentioned from this episode:
- Olympia Financial Group
- Equiton
- Connect with REIN Canada
- REIN Canada
- [email protected]
- REIN Channel
- X
