Back 9 Partners
Mitch Berke
Mitch founded Back 9 Investments in 2013 as an educational platform for professionals who’ve built rewarding careers yet want to understand how to convert active income into lasting, tax-efficient cash flow.
An investor since 2012, Mitch has owned and operated single-family rentals, participated in multifamily communities, and explored strategies such as sale-leasebacks, industrial assets, land entitlements, NNN (Triple Net leases) and build-to-rent development. Having personally navigated 1031 exchanges, depreciation strategies, and self-directed IRA investing, he focuses on how the tax code itself rewards ownership and real-asset investment, particularly in real estate and operating businesses that create jobs and essential services.
Over the past decade, Mitch has also learned from and invested alongside high-net-worth individuals who faced the challenge of redeploying capital after liquidity events, IPO’s, RSU stock pay outs, inheritances, or business sales. Those experiences have shaped his informed perspective on tax strategy, risk management, and capital deployment — insights he now shares through Back 9 Investments to help others think more clearly about their own next chapter.
Drawing from over 25 years in technology sales and consulting-engineering leadership, Mitch understands the unique financial realities of high-income professionals, particularly those compensated through RSUs and performance bonuses and the need to balance growth with tax efficiency and dependable income.
At work and in his personal investing, Mitch leverages AI tooling to analyze markets, model outcomes, and make more informed financial decisions. Through Back 9 Investments, he shares what he’s learning about combining technology, disciplined frameworks, and sound structure to build sustainable wealth.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin and continues to serve in technology leadership within the Fortune 500 sector.
Bill Portwood
Bill Portwood is the CEO of Financial Industry Consulting Services, LLC, a firm specializing in compliance, operational, and training solutions for the financial sector. With extensive experience in both regulatory and business aspects of finance, Bill founded the company to address industry needs with transparent, high-quality advisory services. His firm primarily serves broker/dealers and investment advisers, offering services such as audits, registration/licensing, and compliance program development. Prior to this role, Bill served as Chief Compliance Officer at Capital Investment Companies and as a Field Supervisor at FINRA. He holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Georgia.