I Lost 6 Figures So You Don't Have To: Here’s How I Rebuilt My Wealth Safely

Marinella Nicolosi
Aug 11
3 min read

Updated: Aug 18

Canadian woman teaching safe real estate investing strategies after financial loss

By Marinella Nicolosi, Private Lending Queen

Let's get real, ladies!

If you're a mom juggling family and finances, or a woman nearing retirement worried about your savings, my story could save you from devastating losses.

My $100,000 Mistake

I lost six figures to:

A Ponzi scheme promising "high returns"
Smooth-talking mortgage brokers with 20+ years experience who became greedy and unprofessional
Borrowers who seemed perfect on paper but mismanaged my money

Here's the hard truth: It wasn't menopause brain fog (though that didn't help). It wasn't bad luck. It was me:

Trusting "experts" without verification as they came recommended
Falling for too-good-to-be-true returns (I should have known better)
Ignoring the lack of skin in the game

Why I No Longer Trust Mortgage Brokers Unconditionally (no blind trust)

After working with supposedly reputable mortgage professionals who:

Pushed high-risk deals for bigger profits
Failed to properly vet borrowers
Disregarded standard due diligence

I learned: Experience doesn't equal ethics. Now I verify borrowers myself.

My 3 Safety Rules for Private Lending

Borrowers must have skin in the game - Minimum 20% equity in the property
Real property as collateral - Only first position mortgages
Verified track records - I now check every reference and past projects

This system helped me rebuild with steady 8-12% returns through secured private mortgages across Canada - no tenant calls, no property management.

Learn From My Mistakes!

If you are a busy mom, you can build generational wealth without becoming a landlord or sacrificing family time, or if you are a woman, who is planning her retirement, you can create monthly cash flow from secured real estate debt investments to supplement your retirement savings.

This fall, I’m opening enrollment for two programs designed to help women invest with confidence:

Become the Private Bank - How to safely earn passive income through private mortgages

Spot red flags (the ones I missed)
Vet borrowers using my proven due diligence process
Structure deals with legal safeguards
Earn 8-12% without landlord headaches

Become a Capital Magnet - How to raise private money for your real estate deals

Raise private money the right way
Build credibility with lenders using my transparency framework
Best business practice set up
Distinguish yourself from other borrowers

Why This Works for You

Learn a hands-off strategy that fits your schedule
Create stable cash flow without stock market stress
Avoid the costly mistakes I made

I created these because no woman should learn these lessons the hard way like I did.

Free Resource: Download my Private Lending 101 Due Diligence Checklist

Published: August 11, 2025 - 3 min read

By Private Lending Queen

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If you’re dreaming of building wealth through real estate—whether as a confident private lender or a capital-raising investor—our Real Estate Investing Masterclasses are your gateway.

Whether you want to be hands-on or make your money work for you and earn through passive income, we’ll give you the step-by-step clarity, tools, and confidence you need to invest with purpose and power.