Brick by Brick - Wealth Building Conversations

Loren Wernette
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Join Loren Wernette, Founder and CEO of REI Transactional, as he shares his journey of building a thriving real estate and hard money lending business from the ground up. Each episode dives into the strategies, challenges, and lessons learned while growing wealth in the real estate industry. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just curious about private lending and real estate, this podcast delivers actionable insights, inspiring stories, and mindset tips to help you succeed—brick by brick. Tune in weekly to start building your path to financial freedom and busine

  1. 3d ago

    The Hard Money Lender Built to Say Yes

    The deals banks say no to are where Ryan Hermansky says yes. Most hard money lenders are built to say no. Ryan Hermansky built a business around saying yes to the deals banks won't touch, and he explains exactly how he keeps it conservative, liquid, and profitable. Ryan, president of Private Money Funding, reveals how his Arizona-based team funds commercial real estate loans, pays investors 9% with no fees, and keeps capital accessible even though it's tied to illiquid assets. If you've ever wondered how a liquid private lending fund actually works, this conversation pulls back the curtain. You'll discover: Why private money lenders thrive in the gap banks leave behind How Ryan's team underwrites shopping centers, warehouses, raw land, and select residential-adjacent deals The role of loan-to-value, exit strategy, and worst-case foreclosure planning in protecting investor capital How a 506(c) fund changes the fundraising game for accredited investors Why no lockups, monthly compounding, and a line of credit make liquidity possible How IRA, 401(k), and even pension money can be moved into the fund through a custodian Ryan also shares how his path from banking to medical device sales to cannabis dispensaries led to private lending, and why that unusual background shaped a far more conservative approach than most hard money shops. Loren adds hard-won perspective on fund structures, compliance, and the real-world friction investors hit when moving retirement money. If you're an operator sitting on idle cash, a real estate investor looking for a passive allocation, or someone trying to understand how private credit can fit inside a broader portfolio, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. It's especially valuable if you want yield without becoming a landlord, and if you want to understand the questions that separate a strong fund from a risky one. To hear how Ryan and his team structure deals, manage liquidity, and protect downside in commercial real estate lending, hit play. #PrivateLending #HardMoneyLender #CommercialRealEstate #PrivateCredit #RealEstateInvesting #AlternativeInvestments #CREInvesting #SelfDirectedIRA #AccreditedInvestors #PassiveInvesting #RealEstatePodcast #WealthBuilding

    The Hard Money Lender Built to Say Yes

  2. Sep 25

    Why One Paycheck Is Riskier Than Most High Earners Realize

    Why One Paycheck Is Riskier Than Most High Earners Realize Most people treat their paycheck like a plan - and it leaves them one surprise away from panic. Carl Lenocker reveals the side-income, real-estate, and relationship strategy that helped him build wealth without betting everything on one job. From a $23,000 debt load and a dot-com crash wake-up call to a portfolio built on rentals, side hustles, and long-term thinking, Carl and Loren Wernette break down what actually works when you want more security, more optionality, and less dependence on your W-2. You'll discover: Why Carl says a single stream of income is a dangerous illusion How eBay arbitrage and thrift-store finds turned into real monthly cash flow Why rental real estate became his most resilient wealth-building tool The leverage lessons from Rich Dad, Poor Dad that still matter today How monthly financial reviews and quarterly planning meetings keep couples aligned Why most spouses never talk honestly about retirement, risk, or the life they actually want Carl also shares how his customer success background shapes his approach to personal finance: build a plan, review the metrics, and adjust before small problems become expensive ones. That framework shows up everywhere in the conversation, from buying your first investment property to deciding whether your side hustle should be active, passive, or somewhere in between. The stakes are real. Without a plan, people drift into higher expenses, vague retirement goals, and financial decisions driven by fear instead of strategy. With the right systems in place, you can build income outside your job, protect your downside, and design a life that fits your real priorities - whether that means more time with family, a better retirement, or simply more breathing room. They also get into the future of AI, and why technical tasks may become easier while relationship skills become even more valuable. If you want a practical, no-fluff conversation about income diversification, real estate, financial planning, and the mindset shift required to build lasting stability, this one is essential listening. Carl is the author of Success Plan for Life. You can find the book on Amazon and Audible, or at successplanforlife.com. His LinkedIn profile is rockstarcsm.com. 🎧 Full episode link in the comments 👇 #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveIncome #IncomeDiversification #SideHustle #FinancialFreedom #RentalProperty #WealthBuilding #PersonalFinance #RichDadPoorDad #PodcastEpisode

    Why One Paycheck Is Riskier Than Most High Earners Realize

  3. Sep 17

    The Culture Shift That Took a Business from 18 to 100 Million

    What Works at $18M Breaks at $100M — Here's Why In this episode, Loren Wernette sits down with David LaDue, owner of LA Management Consulting, Vistage Chair, and an entrepreneur with 35 years of executive leadership experience. David shares lessons from a career that includes helping grow a company from $18M to more than $100M, leading a $300M business unit, and driving 4x growth within a $1.5B North American operation. The conversation goes beyond numbers and gets into the leadership principles behind that growth, including: • Why leadership has to evolve as a company scales, and why what works at $18M may not work at $50M or $100M • Building a clear vision, mission, and winning culture to turn around an underperforming business • Identifying the top 20% of accounts that can drive a disproportionate share of results • Creating incentive plans around companywide net profit instead of individual silos • Using monthly financial reviews, gap-to-plan analysis, and industry benchmarks to create accountability • Why involving the people responsible for implementation can make or break a strategy • The Palm Springs Airport $120M deal and what it taught David about thinking bigger than conventional expectations • Building trust and psychological safety so teams can challenge ideas and surface blind spots • The shift from operator to consultant and Vistage Chair, helping CEOs make better decisions through structured peer discussion • Why great leaders don't always need to provide the answers, but need to ask better questions From culture and accountability to strategy, financial discipline, and decision-making, this episode offers practical lessons for leaders navigating the challenges of growth. Connect with David Ladue: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidladue/ #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #CompanyCulture #Entrepreneurship #Accountability #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipPodcast #Vistage #Podcast

  4. Sep 11

    From Family Legacy to Strategic Growth: The Power of Niche Insurance

    What if the secret to growth is going niche? Loren sits down with Cheri Martinen, owner of a family insurance brokerage in Oregon, for a conversation about building a business around specialization, strategic marketing, and a strong family legacy. Cheri shares her journey of growing up in the agency, taking over the business from her parents, building a niche serving wildland firefighters and other fire-related risks, and ultimately navigating the decision to sell the company. In this episode, they discuss: • Why finding the right niche can become a powerful growth strategy • How creative and consistent marketing can generate inbound opportunities • The importance of staying top of mind across email, video, social media, and other channels • The emotional and strategic realities of selling a family business • What happens after the sale and why the transition can be challenging • How business owners should think about insurance as both protection and a strategic tool • How AI is changing the insurance landscape and creating new coverage considerations Cheri also discusses her upcoming book, Covered: The Smart Buyer’s Guide to Home, Auto and Business Insurance, designed to make insurance easier to understand for consumers and business owners. Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, insurance professional, or entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable insights into niche strategy, business growth, succession, and building a company that lasts. Connect with Cheri Learn more about Cheri and her work, and follow along with her journey in the insurance industry. Facebook LinkedIn Instagram #Insurance #InsuranceIndustry #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #FamilyBusiness #MarketingStrategy #NicheMarketing #BusinessSuccession #Leadership #SmallBusiness #AI #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #EntrepreneurMindset

  5. Sep 4

    The Function of Wealth: Stop Chasing Returns and Start Planning With Purpose

    What if the key to building wealth isn’t chasing higher returns—but giving every dollar a purpose? In this episode of Brick by Brick, Loren Wernette sits down with Gary Preisser, Managing Partner of Stonebriar Wealth Advisors, to explore his powerful “Function of Wealth” philosophy. Gary shares why wealth should do more than simply grow—it should serve a specific purpose at the right time in your life. From short-term needs and long-term goals to legacy planning, this conversation challenges the traditional approach to financial planning by asking two important questions: Why does this money exist, and when will you need it? Loren and Gary also discuss how age, timing, and life circumstances can dramatically change the right financial strategy—even for two people with the exact same amount of money. They explore tax strategy, the different roles of taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth assets, and why understanding volatility, alpha, and beta matters when building a portfolio. Successful wealth planning isn't just about accumulating more. It's about making sure your money is positioned to support the life you want to live. Stop asking only how much your money can grow. Start asking what you need it to do. Connect with Gary Preisser: 🔗 LinkedIn 🌐 Stonebriar Wealth Advisors

  6. Aug 28

    Turn Your Expertise Into Influence: The Strategic Power of a Business Book

    Most experts think writing a book means spending years alone, trying to produce 100,000 words and hoping people will read it. Henry DeVries says that’s the wrong way to think about it. In this episode of the podcast, Loren sits down with Henry DeVries, publisher, ghostwriter, and co-founder of Indie Books International, to explore how the right business book can do far more than establish you as an author. It can become a tool for building authority, credibility, trust, visibility, and new business opportunities. Henry has helped ghostwrite, edit, and co-author more than 200 business books, and his experience gives him a unique perspective on what makes a business book actually work. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Turn expertise into authority and credibility • Use a book to attract clients, speaking opportunities, and media attention • Choose the right format and niche for your audience • Turn your experience into ideas that create real business value And perhaps the biggest takeaway: You may already have the material for your book. Your years of experience, lessons learned, mistakes, successes, frameworks, and stories can become the foundation for an idea that positions you as an authority. The book isn’t necessarily the finish line. It can be the beginning of your next level of influence. Connect with Henry DeVries 🔗 LinkedIn: Henry DeVries on LinkedIn If you’re an entrepreneur, consultant, CEO, speaker, or expert who has ever thought, “I should write a book someday,” this episode may change how you think about that book. Your expertise already has value. The question is: how can you turn it into authority? #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #ThoughtLeadership #PersonalBranding #BusinessBooks #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Author #Expertise #Storytelling

  7. Aug 21

    From Small to Scalable: Overcoming the Bottlenecks That Hold Businesses Back

    What truly prevents a business from scaling? In this episode of Brick by Brick, Loren sits down with Mark Lim, CEO and Founder of Magnetic Alliance, for an insightful discussion on the challenges businesses face as they move from early-stage growth to scalable operations. Mark shares his perspective on the critical bottlenecks that can limit growth, including financial visibility, underutilized CRM systems, sales infrastructure, siloed teams, leadership gaps, and founder capacity. The conversation also explores the role of company culture in successful acquisitions, why mindset can be just as important as expertise, and how smaller businesses can leverage their speed, adaptability, and existing strengths to compete more effectively. At the heart of the discussion is a simple but powerful principle: Don’t just do more. Do more with what you already do. 🎙️ Listen to the full episode of Brick by Brick to learn how business owners can identify growth barriers, strengthen their foundations, and build for sustainable scale. Connect with Mark Lim: 🔗 LinkedIn: Mark Lim

  8. Aug 14

    Using Debt to Build Wealth Without Losing Control with Phil Ganz

    How can real estate investors use debt to build wealth without letting leverage control the deal? 🎙️ In this episode of Brick by Brick, Loren Wernette sits down with Phil Ganz, President of Next Wave Mortgage, for a practical conversation about using financing strategically, managing risk, and building long-term wealth through real estate. Phil brings his experience in mortgage lending and real estate finance to the conversation, sharing insights into how investors can approach leverage with discipline rather than simply chasing bigger deals. Together, Loren and Phil discuss: 🏠 Using leverage wisely when purchasing rental and investment properties 📊 DSCR loans and financing — what they are and what lenders look for ⚠️ The risks of over-leveraging and why conservative financing can matter 💰 Building long-term wealth through discipline, experience, and strong partnerships 📈 Understanding the numbers before taking on debt or acquiring another property 🚀 Growing a scalable business through niche expertise and targeted domain marketing 🤝 Building the right partnerships and creating a financing strategy that supports long-term goals Phil also shares perspective from his work at Next Wave Mortgage, offering valuable insight for investors and borrowers who want to better understand how mortgage strategy can fit into their broader real estate plans. The key takeaway? Debt isn't inherently good or bad—it’s how you structure, manage, and use it that matters. Whether you're an experienced investor, a first-time borrower, a real estate entrepreneur, or simply curious about how financing can support wealth creation, this conversation offers practical lessons you can apply to your next deal. Connect with Phil Ganz🔗 LinkedIn: Phil Ganz 📸 Instagram: @askamortgageexpert 🌐 Next Wave Mortgage 📞 617-529-9317

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5
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Join Loren Wernette, Founder and CEO of REI Transactional, as he shares his journey of building a thriving real estate and hard money lending business from the ground up. Each episode dives into the strategies, challenges, and lessons learned while growing wealth in the real estate industry. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just curious about private lending and real estate, this podcast delivers actionable insights, inspiring stories, and mindset tips to help you succeed—brick by brick. Tune in weekly to start building your path to financial freedom and busine

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