Meet Jay Cohen | Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jay Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Life is meant to be lived on our terms. I once had a mentor ask me, “Are you LIVING or merely SURVIVING?” His entire question, has shaped me as an entrepreneur. I sold my first company in 2015, and considered retirement at that time. I have now been blessed, to start companies, and align myself with businesses that allow my passion of seeing people grow, having a positive impact in my community, and giving my friends, families, and local community members opportunities. I am living life and doing business, mostly on my terms.
I love being challenged to solve problems, and am fueled by seeing the growth from those problems. So what makes me “happy” is giving back, to those around me. I am setting a foundation for my children, that will last through time.
Ultimate happiness, by my definition, is defined by seeing people in my circle win, and by how much I can impact those close to me. Seeing my wife, free to pursue her passions; seeing my children with opportunities I was never afforded, seeing an employee who may not be “qualified on paper”, prospering in that opportunity I afforded them… that is what happiness is to me.

What should our readers know about your business?
I currently am the head of multiple businesses that range mainly from logistics to real estate. I consider myself a full-time “day trader” with passive income that stems from a logistics partnership with Amazon, and an ever-growing real estate portfolio. I got my start in the mortgage lending business. As the market crashed in 2008, I decided to stick my flag in the mud and refuse to quit. I think that resiliency led to the success I would later find in 2015, when I sold that company for a significant amount.
I endured one of the toughest times in U.S. history, and focused on quality and steady growth, at a time when many people quit and were giving up. A lesson I learned during that time, was that the people who make it, are those who are willing to suffer through the times where the financials do not meet your goals. I learned that money, or wealth generation, is simply a lagging indicator of hard work. The work must come before the money, and success finds those who are willing to endure.
After selling my company, my original idea was to put those funds in a safe investment and live off the interest. I was only 35 and terrible at golf, so I knew I would be too bored to stop working. I was pointed to a logistics opportunity by my good friend, whom I mentioned here, James Waters. Diving into this business, I found success and discovered a love for logistics. Growing that business to an 8-figure revenue stream, I quickly learned that to legally offset taxes, I needed to invest in real estate as a strategy. My wife and I, quickly began grabbing up properties all over America, and making them passive revenue streams. I learned from the crash in 2008, to diversify anytime you had significant earnings, to provide yourself with a cushion when the inevitable pullbacks occur.
As of 2023, I learned to be a profitable day trader. The lesson I took was that, I could now consistently generate income without the nuances of business, that can often be cumbersome. I am able to sit in the comfort of my home for maybe an hour, and generate a significant amount of money without the pressures of employee related expenses and exposure, such as, insurance, workers compensation, lawsuits, payroll, culture, etc. It is the ultimate way to own your time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I recently relocated from my beloved state of California, to Houston, Texas. The state income taxes in California drove me to make another state my home of record. That said, I do often come “home” and maintain a stake in California. When I am back home, I have a pretty simple itinerary that allows them to safely indulge in Los Angeles culture. I always recommend they stay at The 1 Hotel, The Waldorf Astoria, or the Beverly WIlshire. My sleeper pick for a hotel that I really enjoy for its quaint luxury vibe is Mr. C Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The first thing I take my friend to do is partake in the amazing food of Los Angeles. I love Jon & Vinny’s on Fairfax, Nobu in Malibu, or you can always catch a vibe eating at the penthouse of Mastro’s in Beverly Hills.
Los Angeles is the ultimate city of something to do. So I personally love to show my friends the architecture and rich history of downtown, take in the amazing Broad Museum, or enjoy street tacos from hundreds of sites in that area. I think any good trip to Los Angeles, includes a day in Malibu. Brunch at Geoffrey’s, spending some time relaxing at the Cove,or shopping at the Malibu market, followed by dinner at Nobu, is a real treat for anyone. If someone wants to see the city “social media hotspots,” then, we can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on our way to eat at the Classic Cat, followed by a magic show at Black Rabbit Rose, and conclude the evening by having a nightcap at Harriet’s Rooftop inside The 1 Hotel.
Some places I personally feel are overrated or lack the expected punch and would tell them to avoid, is; Melrose & Fairfax, both of which have seen an increase in dangerous activity, and high rents have pushed out some of the best stores. Venice Beach is essentially a tourist packed, circus show, but if you want to see the coastline, I much prefer the boardwalk in Hermosa.
Navigating in Los Angeles could be difficult for out-of-town guests, as places that appear close on the map, could be hours to commute, depending on the freeway, route or traffic during certain times. Los Angeles has all the major sports teams, whether you want to take in the excitement of college football from the University of Southern California (USC), a basketball game from the Lakers, NHL match with the Kings, or watch Osani of the world famous Los Angeles Dodgers!
It is also very common to see GREAT celebrities using Los Angeles spots to tune up their act for the road. I once saw the great, late, Prince perform an unannounced concert at a hole-in-the-wall, simply because he wanted to work on new material. Walking into a comedy club and seeing Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld & other titans of the industry working out road material on stage is common. So I encourage people to really indulge in all that Los Angeles has to offer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
In my journey into entrepreneurship and wealth, there are 3 people I will always give ultimate credit to, outside of the head of my faith. In no order, I must give recognition to Nate Neal, who was a mortgage broker, and really laid the foundation to what I have become. He was the first example of a minority in my circle, who came from similar humble beginnings, who was making, what many would see as “life changing income.” He taught me what wealth was, he taught me what building a great business looked like, and he taught me about having your own “brand” within your business. It should reflect who you truly are, because people buy into the person in leadership, more than the job many times.
Next would be my great friend and “little brother” Andrew Diaz. Andrew is a full-time day trader, known on social media at @StockMarketWolf . This man helped me gain the freedom of time, by teaching me how to be a profitable trader. I have realized our connection, spans much further than trading mentors and mentees; we align on so many aspects of life, from how to be a good father, husband, and friend. The importance of mental health, physical health and personal growth. We have found our bond in those key facets of life, and do a great job checking in with each other and being accountable with each other, which is important in growth.
Lastly, but by far the most impactful, has been my “big brother,” James Waters. James has been the brother I always have needed. When I met James and his wife, Rhoda, they owned some franchises, and educational businesses. James & Rhoda were patient with me, as they are roughly 10 years my senior, they met a wild, emotional, ignorant 20-something-year-old named “Jay”. They never judged me. They instead took me under their wing. They taught me about the importance of credit and business credit. They taught me the importance of managing businesses based on numbers and not emotion. They taught me how to endure the trials of working with your spouse. I could go on and on but ultimately, they have a moniker that defines their main teaching, they always told me; “Stay focused on your NEXT MOVE!” I am forever indebted to all of these people and will love them forever for the freedom they helped provide for me.

Website: https://linktr.ee/jaydidthedeal

Instagram: @JayDidTheDeal

Youtube: @CoupleMovesAway

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