Money54 min

How to Make High-Stakes Decisions Without Emotion

With Jamil Akhundov, Managing Partner, Ploutos Associates

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Jamil Akhundov on 16 years in finance and debt advisory, 100-hour weeks in investment banking, hiring for drive over degrees and choosing concentration over diversification.

From the show notes

In this episode of Founders Mindset Unfiltered, we sit down with Jamil Akhundov, the Managing Partner of Plutos Associates and Plutos Capital. With over 16 years of experience in finance and debt advisory, Jamil shares his journey from starting a business in a bedroom to managing a specialist firm with 14 staff members.

We dive deep into the high-stakes world of investment banking, where Jamil once clocked 100-hour weeks, and explore the "white knight" strategies his team used to save real estate clients during the pandemic. Whether you're curious about the mechanics of bridging loans, the ethics of modern finance, or why entrepreneurs should choose "concentration over diversification," this episode is a masterclass in resilience and strategic decision-making.

Jamil also reveals his unique approach to hiring valuing "fire in the eyes" over Ivy League degrees and shares an incredible, century-spanning story of perseverance from his home country of Azerbaijan.

Email

j.akhundov@ploutas.co.uk

Website:www.jamil-akhundov.com/ www.ploutas-capital.co.uk

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

@ploutosassociates.ploutascapital

@jamil.akhundov

Timestamps

  1. 00:00:00Introduction
  2. 00:01:31Managing Stress and the 16-Year Journey
  3. 00:04:08Building a High-Performance Team
  4. 00:05:31The Hidden Costs of Outsourcing
  5. 00:08:50Why Motivation Beats Qualifications: A Success Story
  6. 00:13:24Scientific Decision-Making in Finance
  7. 00:15:05Learning from Failure: The 2020 Hotel Venture
  8. 00:17:16Concentration vs. Diversification
  9. 00:18:40The "White Knight" of Real Estate Finance
  10. 00:21:19Inside the Brutality of Investment Banking
  11. 00:26:08Plutos Associates vs. Plutos Capital
  12. 00:28:40Advice for Founders Raising Capital
  13. 00:31:40The Legendary 4.5-Year Dig: A Story of Perseverance
  14. 00:36:01Don’t Take Blind Risks: The Importance of a Cushion
  15. 00:36:56Why Private Lending is Faster Than Traditional Banks
  16. 00:39:12Understanding Bridging Loans and Property Refurbs
  17. 00:43:39Lending Against Crypto and Liquid Assets
  18. 00:44:53Using Language and Culture as a Competitive Edge
  19. 00:47:43Final Advice for Getting into Finance
  20. 00:51:47Jamil’s Current Business Pain Points
  21. 00:53:10Conclusion and Where to Connect

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