The Wealth Elevator Podcast: Real Estate, Taxes, Investing

Lane Kawaoka, PE

๐ŸŽ“ Get free access to our 12-module Masterclass and start your journey today at TheWealthElevator.com/master. The Wealth Elevator is your ultimate guide to financial freedom. From my humble beginnings buying small rental properties in 2009 as an W2 working engineer to becoming a general partner in over $2.1 billion in assets, we reveal the three-step wealth-building system, covering: ๐Ÿš€ Alternative investments to diversify your portfolio ๐Ÿ’ฐ Tax income strategies for financial independence ๐Ÿฆ Infinite banking to maximize your wealth Join our community and get access to our free Masterclass - theWealthElevator.com/club Welcome to those who found us through the new book! Welcome to our Ohana! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2d ago

    Asset Protection for Accredited Investors: LLCs, Holding Companies, and Hybrid Trusts w Doug Lodmell

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club In 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 โ€œdirtyโ€ 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 $250kโ€“$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 trustโ€”favoring a hybrid โ€œbridge trustโ€ that can convert offshore if neededโ€”along with considerations for homes, life insurance, crypto, and avoiding fraudulent transfers and tax-scheme promoters. 00:00 LP Liability Shield 00:35 Webinar Setup 01:18 LLCs and Liability Types 02:57 Why Passive LPs Win 04:21 Building a Holding Structure 07:28 Best States for Entities 09:20 How Many Properties per LLC 13:45 Siloing LP Interests 18:02 Dirty Assets and Side Silos 20:25 Doctor Lawsuit Scenario 21:40 Single Member LLC Tax Simplicity 23:55 Trust Layer and Collection Defense 27:03 Discovery Costs Reality 27:48 Settlement Leverage Assets 30:21 Negotiation Trump Card 34:15 Trust Options Offshore 38:04 Bridge Trust Sweet Spot 40:57 Layering LLCs Over Time 42:10 Insurance And Homestead 47:24 Crypto Placement Protection 49:17 Finding Hidden Crypto 51:30 Avoid Tax Trust Scams 55:12 Wrap Up And Contact Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    Asset Protection for Accredited Investors: LLCs, Holding Companies, and Hybrid Trusts w Doug Lodmell
  2. Jul 7

    2026 Infinite Banking: How to Build Cash Value with Whole Life (90/10 vs 50/50) + Policy Loans

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club This webinar introduces infinite banking/accredited investor banking using properly designed whole life insurance as a liquid, asset-protected โ€œcash valueโ€ tool that can be borrowed against to invest while the full cash value continues to grow. The presenter explains why configuration mattersโ€”minimizing the insurance/base premium (often ~10%) and maximizing paid-up additions (PUAs ~90%) to reduce fees and commissions, improve early liquidity, and reach a faster break-even point. It contrasts a 90/10 design versus a 50/50 design, discusses dividends, tax-free loans/withdrawals, MEC limits, underwriting, policy loan rates (~4โ€“6%), and use cases such as funding deals, emergency reserves, education funding, retirement income, mortgage payoff decisions, and legacy planning. A licensed, non-captive agent joins to explain illustrations, funding flexibility, and scenarios like โ€œflash fundingโ€ after liquidity events. 00:00 Infinite Banking Overview 01:21 Why Replace the Bank 03:00 Whole Life vs Term 04:41 Core Policy Benefits 07:00 Loans and HELOC Analogy 10:43 Emergency Fund and Protection 11:28 Whole Life Scam Debate 12:08 Premium Split Secret Sauce 18:27 PUAs and MEC Limits 22:32 How to Use the Policy 30:49 Policy Illustration Break Even 33:02 Flash Funding New Setup 33:55 Choosing Carriers and Agents 36:10 Riders Underwriting and Timing 38:01 Advanced Triple Dip Ideas 38:38 Leverage With Safe Assets 39:13 Growth Years Deal Funding 40:42 Liquidity Uses And Expenses 41:13 Endgame Retirement And Protection 41:48 Funding Options For New Investors 42:34 Policy Loans Versus HELOC 47:41 Accredited Investor Banking 48:22 Courses Community And Trifecta 51:13 Advanced Home Purchase Strategy 53:12 Teaching Kids Controlled Debt 54:22 Break Even And Policy Review 55:43 Policy Design 10 90 Explained 01:00:57 MEC Limits And Flexibility 01:04:14 Costs Liquidity And Break Even 01:06:44 Carrier Choice And 50 50 Compare 01:09:23 Infinite Banking Fees 01:11:01 Policy Design Levers 01:11:52 Liquidity Versus Growth 01:13:15 Best Use Cases 01:20:21 Stacking Policies Strategy 01:24:12 Buy Borrow Die Explained 01:25:41 Loans Rates And Flexibility 01:28:01 Break Even Benchmarks 01:29:21 Windfall Funding Options 01:31:13 Qualifying And Insurability 01:32:52 Paid In Advance Premiums 01:35:58 Final Thoughts And Next Steps Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    2026 Infinite Banking: How to Build Cash Value with Whole Life (90/10 vs 50/50) + Policy Loans
  3. Jun 23

    Luxury Travel Thatโ€™s Actually Worth It: How Travel Advisor Creates Seamless, Memorable Trips w/ David Axelrod beckonaire.com

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club https://www.beckonaire.com/ david@beckonaire.com The host shifts from investing to spending on experiences through travel, referencing Bill Perkinsโ€™ idea of trading money for memories, especially after 40. He interviews David from Beckonaire, who designs bespoke luxury tripsโ€”hotels, villas, yacht charters, private tours, and complex logisticsโ€”explaining that travel advisors are typically paid commissions by hotels and can add perks like credits and upgrades without costing clients more. David argues advisors reduce risk and friction across transitions (transfers, visas, timing) and become essential as trip spend rises. They discuss typical five-star costs for a family of four, where luxury isnโ€™t worth it (overpriced hotels and buzzworthy destinations), the value of boutique hotels, and examples of upgrades like meet-and-greet services, private boats, and special experiences. David emphasizes upfront conversations, rapport, and long-term โ€œleisure timeโ€ planning across life stages. 00:00 Why Travel Matters 01:05 Meet the Luxury Planner 03:11 How Advisors Get Paid 04:56 DIY vs Pro Planning 06:24 What Luxury Costs 09:49 Easy Luxury Upgrades 14:50 When Luxury Is Not Worth It 16:44 Boutique vs Big Brands 18:49 How Pros Vet Hotels 21:00 Choosing the Right Advisor 24:42 Avoiding Instagram Traps 28:20 Designing Meaningful Trips 31:09 Thrill vs Comfort Balance 37:32 Hands On Family Memories 40:23 Exit Trips and Quick Getaways 44:22 Travel Before You Cannot 47:24 Travel as Time Investing 49:29 Where to Find David 50:10 Final Thanks and Goodbye Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    Luxury Travel Thatโ€™s Actually Worth It: How Travel Advisor Creates Seamless, Memorable Trips w/ David Axelrod beckonaire.com
  4. Jun 13

    I Got Into SpaceX Before the IPO. Hereโ€™s What Retail Investors Miss

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club The speaker discusses SpaceX going public and says he participated in a pre-IPO round, explaining how IPOs often surge initially before earlier employees and investors gradually sell, which can cause a pullback. He contrasts investing through the secondary market (public stocks, mutual funds, REITs, 401k products with fees and middlemen) versus the primary market (direct ownership, syndications, and earlier-stage access), arguing fundamentals favor investing in โ€œrailsโ€ or infrastructure businesses. He outlines three ways to access pre-IPO shares: direct VC-level entry (often requiring very large checks), getting an allocation through a larger investorโ€™s tranche (with carried interest), or buying tender-offer/secondary pre-IPO shares, which he cautions can be speculative. He shares his background in rental properties and syndications and emphasizes education, due diligence, and long-term risk in tech-style investing. 00:00 SpaceX IPO Hype 01:22 Primary vs Secondary Markets 02:47 Pre IPO Round Explained 03:43 IPO Pops and Pullbacks 04:58 Why SpaceX Wins Long Term 05:51 Elon as Capital Raiser 07:17 Building the Rails Analogy 08:48 My Investing Origin Story 09:58 How to Access Pre IPO Shares 13:05 Risks and Final Thoughts 13:51 Q&A and Book Plug Connect with me: LinkedIn:   / lanekawaoka   Facebook:   / thewealthelevator   Instagram:   / thewealthelevator   Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    I Got Into SpaceX Before the IPO. Hereโ€™s What Retail Investors Miss
  5. Jun 9

    Green Bay Football-Themed Airbnbs: PigskinJourneymanโ€™s Short-Term Rental Business

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club The host interviews Matt, a former arena football quarterback and investor, about turning a nest egg from an earlier retail venture (selling the โ€œwacky whistle,โ€ which expanded from Hawaii to Dubaiโ€™s Global Village) into a football-themed short-term rental business, PigskinJourneyman.com. Matt explains how he built and self-manages themed properties near sports destinationsโ€”starting near Lambeau Field in Green Bay, expanding to South Bend near Notre Dame (including a two-house โ€œRockne compoundโ€), and adding a pool property near the Pro Football Hall of Fame area in Massillon/Canton, Ohio. They discuss amenities and design, tools like Turno and PriceLabs, seasonality, platform reliance vs. direct bookings, operational workload, and regulatory risk. Matt shares 2025 plans to open a Jim Thorpeโ€“themed property in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, and considers future restructuring and possible expansion into boutique hotels or other ventures. 00:00 Podcast Twist Intro 01:18 Wacky Whistle Origins 02:00 Dubai Retail Chaos 03:59 Product Longevity Mindset 06:15 Real Estate Pivot Begins 06:54 Football Brand Story 09:20 Family Football Inspiration 10:29 No Guru Policy 14:21 Canton Market Strategy 17:26 Purchase Rehab Numbers 20:21 Revenue Ops Systems 22:26 Rockne Compound Expansion 24:18 Two Houses One Compound 25:14 Compound Pricing Strategy 27:13 Minimum Nights Party Risk 27:43 Dynamic Pricing With PriceLabs 29:29 Direct Booking Challenges 31:16 Next Market Jim Thorpe PA 33:17 Who Books These Stays 36:39 Scaling Risks And Diversification 37:35 Future Markets Hawaii Texas 39:13 Graduating Beyond STRs 42:13 Life Logistics And Time Zones 45:18 Wrap Up Links And Advice Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    Green Bay Football-Themed Airbnbs: PigskinJourneymanโ€™s Short-Term Rental Business
  6. May 26

    How Business Owners Use ESOPs to Reduce Taxes on an Exit w/ Vistage Speaker Steven Nicokiris

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club Lane hosts CPA Steve Nicokiris (connected via the Vistage Network) to explain leveraged ESOPs as a tax-advantaged way for small business ownersโ€”often with $5โ€“$10M exitsโ€”to monetize and diversify wealth that is frequently 80% tied to the business. They compare ESOPs with traditional M&A sales and leveraged dividends, emphasizing ESOP flexibility to sell minority stakes, keep control, preserve legacy, and avoid finding an outside buyer. Steve outlines how ESOPs work (ERISA plan, trust structure, independent annual valuation, payroll-based share allocations and vesting), typical candidacy requirements (meaningful EBITDA, payroll, employees, ability to handle leverage and ongoing costs), and key pros/cons. They discuss special advantages for minority/women-owned businesses, retention benefits, and major tax and estate-planning tools including C-corp conversion and the Section 1042 rollover to defer or eliminate taxes. 00:00 Why Exits Trigger Taxes 01:09 Meet Steve From Vistage 01:39 Where Owners Hold Wealth 03:21 Three Exit Options 06:34 Legacy And Your Why 07:22 ESOP Buyer Is Internal 08:47 Who Qualifies For ESOP 09:53 Minority Owned Advantage 12:41 What An ESOP Is 14:06 Valuation And Annual Costs 15:46 Funding And Share Allocation 20:21 Benefits Monetize And Retain 25:36 Downsides Complexity And Debt 27:23 Seller Notes Reality Check 27:46 Best ESOP Candidates 28:30 Ongoing Costs and Leverage 29:44 Dress Business ESOP Win 31:23 Estate Planning Value Drop 32:31 Professional Services Fit 34:06 Fair Market Value Explained 35:43 Owner Commitment Required 37:11 Engineering Firm Numbers 39:42 ESOP as Bridge Strategy 41:36 Tax Benefits and 1042 44:32 Gifting Exemptions Strategy 45:49 Trusts and Team Approach 46:58 1042 Rollover Mechanics 48:56 Wrap Up and Contact Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    How Business Owners Use ESOPs to Reduce Taxes on an Exit w/ Vistage Speaker Steven Nicokiris
  7. May 12

    The Sandwich Generation: aging parents and raising kids

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club The challenges of the โ€œsandwich generation,โ€ especially people 50+ balancing the financial and emotional demands of raising children while also managing aging parentsโ€™ care and sometimes their finances. It describes how caregiving responsibility often falls by default to the nearby, โ€œresponsibleโ€ sibling (โ€œCherylโ€), and how unclear family roles and poor estate planningโ€”like avoiding trusts or leaving illiquid assetsโ€”can create resentment and conflict. The pressure often forces people into a defensive, wealth-preservation mindset, delaying investing and diverting cash flow to education and parent-related needs. Many clients (often 55โ€“65) only pursue alternative, direct investments after parents pass away, freeing bandwidth and capital and reducing fear of making mistakes. The episode emphasizes that this struggle is common and highlights the value of community and relationships among like-minded investors. 00:00 Sandwich Generation Intro 01:21 Meet the Caregiver Cheryl 02:30 Estate Planning Pitfalls 04:09 Money Choices Under Pressure 05:40 Wealth Building to Preservation 06:19 Post Sandwich Investing 07:25 Fear of Taking Risks 09:04 Testing Alternatives Slowly 10:01 You Are Not Alone 11:08 Community and Relationships Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    The Sandwich Generation: aging parents and raising kids
  8. Apr 28

    Infinite Banking: 10/90 vs 50/50 Whole Life Policy, Cash Value, MEC Limits & Break-Even

    ๐Ÿ“š Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything Iโ€™ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master ๐Ÿค Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club Lane and Tyler discuss infinite banking using specially designed whole life insurance policies that minimize commissions and maximize paid-up additions to function like a liquid โ€œpseudo bank account.โ€ Using a $50,000 annual target premium over 10 years, they explain the 10/90 design (about 10% base premium, 90% cash value) versus a 50/50 design, covering funding duration, โ€œbucket size,โ€ annual minimums and maximums, rollover contribution room, and the IRS MEC (Modified Endowment Contract) limits. They compare early liquidity and break-even pointsโ€”about years 3โ€“4 for 10/90 versus around year 7 for 50/50โ€”and note agent commissions can be about five times higher on the heavier base-premium design. They also cover carrier selection, illustration realism, use cases (investors, business inventory financing, college planning, wealth storage), policy loans, and options for large windfalls including splitting funding or paying premiums in advance. 00:00 Break Even Hook 00:29 Infinite Banking Basics 01:31 Designing a 10 90 Policy 04:39 Minimums Maximums and MEC 09:02 Choosing Carriers Wisely 10:03 Year One Cost and Break Even 14:44 10 90 vs 50 50 Comparison 19:04 Use Cases and Strategy Fit 22:10 High Net Worth Use Cases 23:07 Parents Funding Kids Policies 23:58 Early Access And Loan Cycling 24:49 Comparing Container Size 26:10 One Policy Or Stack 26:36 Agent Incentives And Fees 30:00 Buy Borrow Die Explained 31:27 Policy Loans Versus HELOC 33:50 Breakeven And Flexibility 35:10 Windfall Funding Strategies 37:02 Qualifying And Insurability 38:41 Paid In Advance Premiums 40:53 Start Early And Use Spouses 41:47 Wrap Up And Next Steps Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of โ€œHui Deal Pipeline Clubโ€ 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.

    Infinite Banking: 10/90 vs 50/50 Whole Life Policy, Cash Value, MEC Limits & Break-Even
4.9
out of 5
464 Ratings

About

๐ŸŽ“ Get free access to our 12-module Masterclass and start your journey today at TheWealthElevator.com/master. The Wealth Elevator is your ultimate guide to financial freedom. From my humble beginnings buying small rental properties in 2009 as an W2 working engineer to becoming a general partner in over $2.1 billion in assets, we reveal the three-step wealth-building system, covering: ๐Ÿš€ Alternative investments to diversify your portfolio ๐Ÿ’ฐ Tax income strategies for financial independence ๐Ÿฆ Infinite banking to maximize your wealth Join our community and get access to our free Masterclass - theWealthElevator.com/club Welcome to those who found us through the new book! Welcome to our Ohana! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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