Brick by Brick - Wealth Building Conversations

In this episode of Brick by Brick Wealth Building Conversations, Loren sits down with Neil Twa, CEO & Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings and host of the High Voltage Business Builders Podcast.

Neil walked away from a successful career at IBM in 2007 to pursue e-commerce full-time. Over the past 17 years, he has helped build brands that have generated $100M+ in collective Amazon FBA and omni-channel sales. His proprietary 5:5 product-launch playbook and “pay-as-you-profit” consulting model have guided founders from startup to 7- and 8-figure exits.

We dive into:

• How Neil left corporate America to take a risk on Amazon—and why it paid off.

• The 4 steps to building a real, profitable, and sustainable e-commerce business.

• The most common mistakes new Amazon sellers make—and how to avoid them.

• Why planning for exit from day one is key to building a valuable brand.

• A recent case study where a brand hit $3,000/day in sales within 20 days.

Whether you’re new to e-commerce or looking to scale your online business, Neil delivers actionable insights that demystify Amazon FBA and omni-channel selling.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

• Neil’s book: Almost Automated Income with FBA

• Podcast: High Voltage Business Builders

• Book a strategy call: voltagedm.com

📞 Connect with Neil Twa:

• Email: [email protected]

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/neiltwa

• Instagram: @neiltwa

• TikTok: @fbabusinessbuilders

• YouTube: Neil Twa Voltage

In this episode of Brick by Brick Wealth Building Conversations, I sit down with KC Chohan, Founder of Together CFO, to uncover how elite wealth strategies—like private foundations, complex trusts, and donor-advised funds—aren’t just for billionaires.

KC shares his journey from traditional CFO roles into creating a Beverly Hills–based firm that helps 7-figure entrepreneurs and family offices legally save millions each year through tax minimization, asset protection, and legacy planning.

We dive into:

• Why upgrading your financial structure matters more than just making more income

• How the wealthy avoid capital gains taxes while maximizing charitable impact

• The surprising, untold stories behind KC’s pivot into advanced tax planning

• Practical steps entrepreneurs can take today to set up structures the ultra-rich use

• How aligning financial strategies with personal values creates a true legacy

Whether you’re a high-income entrepreneur, investor, or simply curious how the top 1% structures wealth, this episode delivers eye-opening insights you won’t want to miss.

📌 Guest Contact Information:

• Website: togethercfo.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kcchohan

• Instagram: @togethercfo | @kc.chohan

• YouTube: @TogetherCFO

• Twitter/X: @KCchohan_

In this episode of Brick by Brick Wealth Building Conversations, Loren Wernette sits down with Kelli Garrett, a powerhouse entrepreneur and founding partner of Rehab Wallet, Consistent Capital, and Aspire Finance.

Kelli’s story begins on a farm, where she learned grit and work ethic early. She went on to become a four-time All-American basketball player at the College of Charleston, with her jersey #14 retired as the program’s all-time leading scorer. After college, she built a corporate career at UPS, rising through the ranks to an executive position before leaving to pursue entrepreneurship.

Today, Kelli has built a portfolio of more than 3,500 units, raised over $150M in capital, and funded $400M+ in loans through her companies. But her true passion isn’t just numbers — it’s about building teams, creating big visions, and empowering others through meaningful work and business growth.

We dive into:

• How Kelli’s farm upbringing and athletics shaped her mindset.

• The lessons she carried from UPS into entrepreneurship.

• What it really takes to raise $150M in under five years.

• The strategies she uses to balance multiple companies.

• Why building teams and relationships is at the heart of her success.

If you’re looking for inspiration on perseverance, leadership, and scaling businesses with purpose, this episode is for you.

Guest Contact & Links

• Facebook: Rehab Wallet

• Instagram: @kelli.garrett2

• LinkedIn: Kelli Garrett

• Website: rehabwallet.com

Guest: Mike Otranto – Author, Real Estate Investor, Entrepreneur, Founder of Wake County Home Buyers
Episode: Brick by Brick Wealth Building Conversations
Host: Loren Wernette

In this episode, Mike Otranto reveals how he’s blended the precision of digital marketing with the profitability of real estate investing. From his book Houseflow Formula: A High-Tech Path to Financial Freedom Through Real Estate, Mike breaks down how SEO, inbound marketing, and KPI tracking have helped him create a scalable, system-driven acquisition strategy.

You’ll learn:

• Why SEO is your digital “railroad” for finding motivated sellers.

• How to track the right KPIs to measure marketing ROI and acquisition success.

• Real examples of deals sourced entirely from online inbound leads.

• The difference between hustling for every deal and building a repeatable lead flow.

• How to modernize your real estate investing with tech-driven strategies.

Plus—meet Ruby the Beagle, Mike’s loyal “assistant” who keeps things lively at the office.

Connect with Mike Otranto
📘 Book: Houseflow Formula: A High-Tech Path to Financial Freedom Through Real Estate
🌐 Website: mikeotranto.com
📷 Instagram: @mike_otranto
📘 Facebook: Mike Otranto
▶️ YouTube: Mike Otranto Channel
🐦 Twitter/X: @WC_HomeBuyers

Episode: Brick by Brick Wealth-Building Conversations
Guest: Steve Csobaji, CISP – Senior Sales Executive / Business Development Manager, Inspira Financial
Host: Loren Wernette

• Why self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) matter now — and how they differ from traditional retirement accounts

• Real-world assets in tax-advantaged accounts: real estate, oil & gas, venture capital, and more

• The Quest Trust → Inspira Financial acquisition and what it means for SDIRA holders

• Common SDIRA misconceptions (and how to dodge them)

• Practical steps to roll over funds without triggering taxes

• Steve’s go-to resources for empowering new investors to retire successfully

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-csobaji

• Company: https://inspirafinancial.com

• YouTube: “Investing Beyond What You’ve Always Known with SDIRAs”

• NT Commercial Association New Broker Bootcamp

• Inspira white-paper on 1099-R rollover strategies

• Subscribe to Brick by Brick on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite player

• Follow Loren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-wernette

• Questions or feedback? Email [email protected]

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Always consult your professional advisors before making financial decisions.

In this episode of Brick by Brick: Wealth-Building Conversations, we dig deep into the world of land development with builder, developer, and systems expert Blake Anderson, founder of Envision Investor Solutions.

With over 20 years in construction and 17 as a licensed general contractor, Blake shares the real side of land development—from rookie mistakes and costly missteps to the proven processes that lead to profitable projects.

We cover:
✅ The do’s and don’ts of land development
⚠️ Horror stories that cost others big—and how to avoid the same traps
📍 The first steps every new land developer should take
🔧 Why systems and process are the key to long-term success

If you're curious about how to get started in land development, or if you're looking to tighten your systems as a current investor or builder, this episode gives you the roadmap to build smart.

🎁 Don’t miss Blake’s Free Land Evaluation Checklist—a must-have for anyone considering a land deal.

Connect with Blake Anderson:
🧰 Free Checklist: https://envisioninvestorsolution.myclickfunnels.com/free-checklist
📺 YouTube: Envision Investor Solutions
📸 Instagram: @envision.investor

In this powerful episode of Brick by Brick: Wealth Building Conversations, host Loren Wernette sits down with Michael "Mike" Russell—a real estate broker turned nonprofit founder—to explore how one man's financial collapse sparked a mission to rescue others from foreclosure.

Mike shares his journey from the top of the real estate game to losing it all—bankruptcy, divorce, foreclosure—and how he clawed his way back with purpose. Today, he’s the founder of Hope 4 Hardship, a nonprofit offering free foreclosure counseling and advocacy to homeowners in distress. No fees. No fluff. Just results.

We talk about:

• The real emotional toll of foreclosure—and how Mike’s lived it

• Why mindset shifts matter more than money

• His 80–100% success rate with engaged clients

• How banks are more flexible than most people realize

• What homeowners must do the moment they miss a mortgage payment

This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn. Mike proves that with the right guidance, you can turn things around—one decision at a time.

Michael "Mike" Russell
Founder, Hope4Hardship.org
President, Century 21 Signature Properties
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: (508) 501-5800
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mike-russell-3395baa
🌐 Website: https://hope4hardship.org

PR Contact: Steven Dubin
📧 Email: [email protected]

📇 Guest Contact Info

In this episode of Brick by Brick: Wealth Building Conversations, we sit down with entrepreneur, content creator, and private lender Bryce Matheson. Bryce takes us behind the scenes of his journey from software exits to building two powerful fintech and lending businesses—Holbrook Capital and Lendr.

We explore how he leveraged YouTube and Instagram to drive investor leads, what it really took to hit millionaire status by 28, and why the key to it all was ruthless focus. Bryce breaks down the systems he uses, the shifts he’s made in his lending business (like switching to monthly payments in 2025), and what he’s seeing in the world of fund compliance and lending automation.

Whether you're a real estate investor, a private lender, or a tech-curious entrepreneur, this episode delivers high-impact insights on building income, raising capital, and creating long-term wealth.

📌 Topics Covered:

• The real ROI of FOCUS

• Building and exiting software companies

• Using content to drive deal flow and raise capital

• Behind the scenes of the Lendr fintech platform

• Hitting 7 figures through house-hacking, OPM, and leveraged growth

🔗 Connect with Bryce Matheson:
Instagram: @brycematheson
YouTube: Bryce Matheson
LinkedIn: Bryce Matheson
Threads: @brycematheson
📧 Email: [email protected]

Failure isn’t the end—it’s the raw material of success. In this solo episode, Loren breaks down the 5 biggest myths people believe about failure, and how these beliefs are quietly sabotaging your ability to grow, pivot, and ultimately win. From stories of baseball legends and business experiments to real estate deals gone sideways, Loren shares personal insights and hard-won lessons to reshape how you think about setbacks.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why failing doesn’t make you a failure

• How successful people actually fail more often than you think

• The lie that you’ll fail less as you get richer

• Why failure isn’t a reason to quit—it’s proof you’re trying

• How to reframe failure as a teacher, not a label

📍 Whether you're just getting started or leveling up, this episode will help you embrace failure as fuel.

Contact Loren
Website: www.reihighyield.com/home
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @investwtihloren

In this high-energy episode of Brick by Brick: Wealth Building Conversations, we sit down with Jennifer "Jen" Josey — the powerhouse behind Jolific Homes and the Real Estate Investor Growth Network (REIGN). From rapid "5 Day Flips" to growing a rental empire, Jen brings her signature blend of humor, hustle, and heart to the mic.

Jen shares how she transitioned from a career in teaching and health insurance to full-time real estate investing alongside her husband, Vance. We dive into the mindset shifts that helped her grow multiple businesses, the systems behind her lightning-fast flips, and why she believes real estate is a team sport.

Whether you’re an aspiring investor, seasoned flipper, or just need a shot of motivation, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and lessons from one of the industry’s most dynamic voices.

Topics We Cover:

• How Jen and Vance started Jolific Homes

• The secret sauce behind her 5 Day Flips

• Running short- and long-term rental portfolios

• Building REIGN into a thriving investor community

• Embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth

Guest Contact Info:
🌐 Website: www.therealjenjosey.com
📷 Instagram: @therealjenjosey
🔗 LinkedIn: Jen Josey
📺 YouTube: The Real Jen Josey