The fourth quarter is now upon us. I can’t believe that we are in October. Can you?  

We have much to look forward – deciding a new U.S. President (which had me fired up on the debates last week), participating in holiday festivities, executing on smart tax strategies, following those stock company earnings (for us market junkies), and enjoying the last days of 2016.

Now, let’s also remember that the last three months also offer reflection on your 2016 money goals and whether or not you have taken action like we’ve discussed. If your money situation is creating some anxiety for you, you’re not alone as money issue can be stressful!

One way to reduce stress, and especially money stress, is to practice mindful meditation. As I learned during my recent travels, the Japanese have a strong meditation culture and I was re-inspired to incorporate it into my daily routine. And this year, new scientific evidence has shown that mindful meditation has positive physiological ramifications.

Don’t know how? All good - check out these mindfulness techniques. My favorite is taking time out to breathe.

I had to do some breathing before I participated on the Real Cap Chicago’s real estate crowdfunding panel last Thursday. I also want to share several takeaways: (Read more to find out how you can make money in real estate crowdfunding)

3 Takeaways on Real Estate Crowdfunding.

1.Real estate crowdfunding offers an alternative way to invest in real estate. One of the biggest hindrances to direct real estate investing is the amount of time you can spend in managing the property. If you do not want to invest in REITs or other equity-like real estate investments, crowdfunding offers another option. Real estate crowdfunding allows development companies to raise funds through online platforms for private real estate deals, which should generate a return for you. Think of Kickstarter solely focused on real estate.

2. Non-accredited investors will get more access to private real estate deals. Under the 2015 JOBS Act, non-accredited investors, are allowed to participate in crowdsourced deals. Here is a list of the major real estate crowdfunding sites. If you’re in Chicago, you could not miss the opening of Whole Foods in Engelwood last week. Of the $15MM raised as part of the deal, $500,000 was crowdsourced.

3. Education is key. If you’re considering a crowdsourced deal, it’s important that you do your homework. You should be able to articulate why your are making the investment, how the investment fits in your overall portfolio, what’s the investment opportunity in the deal, and who are the people behind the company that is developing the real estate. If you have a financial advisor, ask them these questions and what deals would they recommend.

If you’re not ready to crowdfund, it’s OK as the opportunity must be right for you. In the meanwhile, please continue to share your investing successes and failures with the community below – we’d love to hear from you.