The Wealth Elevator Podcast: Real Estate, Taxes, Investing

📚 Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything I’ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master🤝 Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/clubLane interviews economist Richard Duncan (author of The Dollar Crisis and The Money Revolution and publisher of Macro Watch) about how ending the gold standard in 1971 shifted capitalism into “creditism,” enabling massive US trade deficits, disinflation, falling rates, and explosive growth in debt and Fed balance sheet expansion that prevented depressions in 2008 and during COVID. Duncan contrasts post-2008 low inflation with post-COVID inflation driven by supply-chain blockages, and argues credit-driven liquidity has inflated asset valuations while accelerating AI breakthroughs and fueling China’s rise via persistent US deficits. They discuss the US–China AI and defense race, energy and nuclear power needs, and risks from higher inflation and rates amid stretched valuations. Duncan introduces “cognitism,” a coming system driven by exponentially expanding AI intelligence, and highlights sectors tied to AI, semiconductors, energy, data centers, robotics, and defense, plus key macro indicators to watch.00:00 Meet Richard Duncan00:44 Macro Watch Discount01:03 From Gold to Creditism05:09 Why Old Theories Fail06:28 Credit Growth and 200808:31 COVID QE and Inflation10:54 Debt Wealth and AI Boom14:00 China AI Arms Race17:12 Energy Nuclear and Chips22:07 Stretched Valuations Risks31:58 Cognitism Explained37:36 AI Skills and Sectors41:13 What to Watch Next47:40 Wrap Up and SubscribeConnect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevatorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevatorLane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of “Hui Deal Pipeline Club” which has acquired over $2.1 Billion AUM of real estate by syndicating over $200 Million Dollars of private equity and most importantly distributed more than $45M back to our investors since 2016. Check out our Top-50 Investing Podcast, The Wealth Elevator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

📚 Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything I’ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master🤝 Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/clubThe speaker reviews real-life (anonymized) multifamily deal examples to help investors spot misleading underwriting and marketing tactics. Key topics include “manufactured” IRR boosts from aggressive refinance assumptions, unrealistic exit/reversion cap rates (and the difficulty LPs have validating prevailing market cap rates), and mismatches between large CapEx plans and modest rent-bump projections that may signal weak market fundamentals or hidden reserves. They discuss how cap rate compression can inflate paper returns despite being uncontrollable, why comparing discounts to 2021 pricing can be irrelevant, and how debt structure (fixed vs floating, term length, IO, extensions, prepayment penalties) affects refinance and exit risk. Additional red flags include preferred equity ahead of common equity, side-letter complications in the capital stack, and early distributions funded from reserves rather than operations, which can mask weak DSCR.00:00 Cap Rate Question Setup00:42 Market Shift Overview01:21 Manufactured IRR Tricks03:32 Reversion Cap Rate Games04:22 Finding Real Cap Rates07:34 Rent Bumps Vs CapEx09:35 Discount Hype Reality10:48 Cap Rate Cycle Bets11:58 Debt Structure Risks13:24 Stacking Red Flags14:54 Preferred Equity Ahead17:23 Return Of Capital Trap19:11 DSCR And Fake Cashflow20:28 Cap Compression Review21:53 AI Deal Checklist24:52 Capital Stack Exceptions26:25 Final Q And WrapConnect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevatorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevatorLane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of “Hui Deal Pipeline Club” which has acquired over $2.1 Billion AUM of real estate by syndicating over $200 Million Dollars of private equity and most importantly distributed more than $45M back to our investors since 2016. Check out our Top-50 Investing Podcast, The Wealth Elevator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

📚 Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything I’ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master🤝 Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/clubThe episode features Jack Raines, author of “Young Money,” discussing how growing up with money provides insider knowledge about elite career paths, target schools, networks, and promotion moves that can lead to high incomes, while students from poorer backgrounds often must choose safer banking or consulting roles to repay large loans and can’t take startup risks. Raines shares his own path from South Georgia and Mercer University football to Columbia Business School and venture capital, emphasizing education, early “prestige stamps,” and intentional living that matches life stages. The conversation explores status pressure on wealthy kids, anxiety and expectations in elite environments, and how socioeconomic differences can complicate relationships and marriage. It closes with Raines promoting his book and the host warning investors to avoid inexperienced operators by relying on trusted networks and semi-institutional sponsors.00:00 Money Game Secrets01:22 Meet Jack Raines03:01 Small Town to VC03:51 Entrepreneur Family Roots06:58 Prestige and Network09:49 Leaving the Southeast11:31 Target Schools Reality13:11 MBA as Golden Ticket15:04 Pedigree for Family Firms17:21 Spectrum of Wealth18:32 Rich vs Poor Options21:24 Capital and Quarters22:36 Merit and Social Circles25:39 Status Pressure on Rich27:19 High Achiever Burnout27:59 Pressure of Privilege29:03 Expectations and Happiness Gap30:18 New York Norms Shift31:39 Parents and Independence32:59 Stage Specific Living35:30 Funding Kids Choices37:59 Socioeconomic Marriage Friction43:01 Money Mindsets in Couples45:08 Young Money Plug47:25 FOOM Investing Lessons51:16 Community and RelationshipsConnect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevatorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevatorLane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of “Hui Deal Pipeline Club” which has acquired over $2.1 Billion AUM of real estate by syndicating over $200 Million Dollars of private equity and most importantly distributed more than $45M back to our investors since 2016. Check out our Top-50 Investing Podcast, The Wealth Elevator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do a cost seg go to theWealthElevator.com/costsegLane hosts a monthly investor “lunch and learn” webinar replay on cost segregation with guest AJ Lyons of DIY Cost Seg, explaining how cost seg reclassifies non-structural property components into shorter 5- and 15-year lives to accelerate depreciation versus standard 27.5-year (residential) or 39-year (commercial) schedules, often pulling a significant portion of deductions into year one, especially when 100% bonus depreciation applies. They discuss who benefits (rental owners, short-term rentals, commercial, value-add renovations), timing (including doing studies after purchase via amended returns or Form 3115), CPA coordination, potential use cases like short-term rental material participation or real estate professional status, depreciation recapture considerations, pricing and fast report delivery, and audit defensibility and optional audit support. Lane also announces an accredited investor retreat Jan 15–17, 2027 and directs viewers to thewealthelevator.com/costseg and related resources.00:00 Depreciation Big Picture00:56 Retreat And Webinar Intro02:15 Lunch And Learn Setup03:37 Cost Seg Basics Explained06:27 Bonus Depreciation And CPA Fit09:39 Not A Loophole History17:35 Who Benefits And Pricing21:11 Fast DIY Process Walkthrough23:26 Audit Risk And Support28:01 Timing And Catch Up Rules30:24 Q And A Recapture Value38:39 Wrap Up And Next Steps Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

📚 Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything I’ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master🤝 Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/clubIn this webinar, asset protection attorney Douglass Lodmell explains how investors and high-liability professionals should structure entities to reduce exposure, contrasting inside vs. outside liability and why LLCs are commonly used to hold rental properties. He discusses when to silo “dirty” assets like rentals and operating businesses, noting janitorial or similar high-risk businesses are typically kept separate and often run as an LLC taxed as an S-corp, while safer assets (brokerage accounts, stocks/bonds, many LP interests) can sit under a holding company such as an asset management limited partnership (AMLP). Lomel gives a rule-of-thumb of roughly $250k–$500k equity per rental-property LLC and emphasizes insurance as the primary defense. He explains why passive LP investors generally have no personal liability beyond their investment, outlines jurisdiction choices for LLCs vs. holding companies, and details adding an asset protection trust—favoring a hybrid “bridge trust” that can convert offshore if needed—along with considerations for homes, life insurance, crypto, and avoiding fraudulent transfers and tax-scheme promoters.00:00 LP Liability Shield00:35 Webinar Setup01:18 LLCs and Liability Types02:57 Why Passive LPs Win04:21 Building a Holding Structure07:28 Best States for Entities09:20 How Many Properties per LLC13:45 Siloing LP Interests18:02 Dirty Assets and Side Silos20:25 Doctor Lawsuit Scenario21:40 Single Member LLC Tax Simplicity23:55 Trust Layer and Collection Defense27:03 Discovery Costs Reality27:48 Settlement Leverage Assets30:21 Negotiation Trump Card34:15 Trust Options Offshore38:04 Bridge Trust Sweet Spot40:57 Layering LLCs Over Time42:10 Insurance And Homestead47:24 Crypto Placement Protection49:17 Finding Hidden Crypto51:30 Avoid Tax Trust Scams55:12 Wrap Up And ContactConnect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevatorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevatorLane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of “Hui Deal Pipeline Club” which has acquired over $2.1 Billion AUM of real estate by syndicating over $200 Million Dollars of private equity and most importantly distributed more than $45M back to our investors since 2016. Check out our Top-50 Investing Podcast, The Wealth Elevator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.