Is your insurance policy building wealth or just a cost? In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan, founder of Vital Wealth, sits down with Wallis Wilkinson Tsai, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker, hedge fund investor, and co-founder of AboveBoard Financial. Together, they explore how insurance can become a powerful tool in your financial strategy, if it’s used correctly. Whether you're a high-level entrepreneur, CEO, or business owner, this conversation will show you how to turn insurance from a sunk cost into a high-leverage asset.

Wallis shares her expertise on everything from tax-optimized life insurance structures to often-overlooked tools like disability coverage and executive benefits. This episode will challenge what you’ve heard about “buy term and invest the rest,” and introduce you to strategies like Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs), Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI), and buy-sell agreements that can drastically improve your financial outcomes. If you’re looking to reduce taxes, preserve wealth, and make smarter decisions about your business and legacy, you’ll want to listen all the way through.

Key Takeaways:

• Why most insurance sales are misaligned with client goals

• How to use life insurance for tax-deferred and tax-free growth

• The hidden importance of disability insurance for business owners

• Estate planning strategies using Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) and survivorship policies

• How executive benefit carve-outs can retain top talent and reduce tax liability

• A breakdown of Whole Life, Indexed Universal Life (IUL), Variable Universal Life (VUL), and Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI), plus when to use each

• Why now is the time to reevaluate your insurance strategy

Learn More About Wallis:

Episode Exclusive Website

Official Website

Resources:

Visit www.vitalstrategies.com to download FREE resources

Listen to the podcast on your favorite app: https://link.chtbl.com/vitalstrategies

Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vital.strategies

Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VitalStrategiesPodcast

Follow on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricklonergan/

Credits:

Sponsored by Vital Wealth

Music by Cephas

Art work by Two Tone Creative

Audio, video, research and copywriting by Victoria O'Brien

Could AI your biggest untapped business partner? In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan is joined by Jonathan Mast, an AI prompting pioneer and seasoned digital innovator who’s been leveraging emerging tech since the earliest days of the internet. Together, they unpack how AI is transforming the way entrepreneurs operate, making it easier to save time, increase profits, and deliver more value without burning out or hiring more people.

From marketing strategies and SOP creation to customer service automation and building your own virtual board of advisors, Jonathan breaks down real-world use cases that anyone can implement, regardless of tech experience. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI or unsure where to begin, this episode gives you the roadmap. Tune in and discover how to start small, think smarter, and use AI to unlock next-level growth in your business.

Key Takeaways:

• Why AI isn't the future. It's now, and how to start using it without feeling overwhelmed

• The 3-part formula every entrepreneur needs: save time, make more money, add more value

• How to prompt AI like a pro using a simple 4-step framework

• The power of SOPs, customer support automation, and AI-generated marketing copy

• How to create your own virtual board of advisors using AI personas

• Why entrepreneurs who avoid AI risk falling behind in a rapidly evolving economy

Learn More About Jonathan:

Official Website

Resources:

Visit www.vitalstrategies.com to download FREE resources

Listen to the podcast on your favorite app: https://link.chtbl.com/vitalstrategies

Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vital.strategies

Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VitalStrategiesPodcast

Follow on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricklonergan/

Credits:

Sponsored by Vital Wealth

Music by Cephas

Art work by Two Tone Creative

Audio, video, research and copywriting by Victoria O'Brien

Is your wealth strategy stuck on the ground floor? Learn how Lane Kawaoka went from a civil engineer to managing over $2.1 billion in real estate—and how you can use the same framework to create your own wealth elevator.

In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan sits down with Lane Kawaoka, former civil engineer turned real estate powerhouse, bestselling author, and host of a top 50 investing podcast. Lane shares his journey from buying his first rental in Seattle to building a portfolio of over 10,000 units and founding The Wealth Elevator. If you're a high-income earner looking for scalable, tax-efficient ways to build passive income through real estate syndications and advanced private equity strategies, this conversation is packed with insights you can't afford to miss.

Lane breaks down the four key wealth drivers in real estate, demystifies syndications, and shares his powerful Wealth Elevator framework to help investors at every stage, from getting out of debt to leveraging alternative investments. You’ll also hear Lane’s candid take on current market conditions, what to watch out for in deal underwriting, and why multifamily remains a resilient asset class. Whether you're just getting started or navigating the complexities of accredited investing, this episode offers a roadmap to smarter, more strategic wealth-building.

Key Takeaways:

• The two best paths to building long-term wealth: business ownership vs. real estate investing

• How cash flow, appreciation, amortization, and depreciation work together in real estate

• Why syndications are a scalable and tax-efficient alternative to direct ownership

• Lane’s Wealth Elevator framework works for everyone

• How to vet syndication deals with conservative underwriting metrics

• Why Lane prefers single-asset deals over blind pool funds

• Economic trends affecting real estate in 2025 and beyond

• How private equity fits into a diversified, cash-flow-focused portfolio

Learn More About Lane:

• Official Website

Resources:

Visit www.vitalstrategies.com to download FREE resources

Listen to the podcast on your favorite app: https://link.chtbl.com/vitalstrategies

Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vital.strategies

Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VitalStrategiesPodcast

Follow on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricklonergan/

Credits:

Sponsored by Vital Wealth

Music by Cephas

Art work by Two Tone Creative

Audio, video, research and copywriting by Victoria O'Brien