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 loren@reidoubleclose.com

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: c21russells@gmail.com
📞 Phone: (508) 501-5800
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mike-russell-3395baa
🌐 Website: https://hope4hardship.org

PR Contact: Steven Dubin
📧 Email: sdubin@prworkzone.com

📇 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: Bryce@holbrookcapital.com

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: loren@reidoubleclose.com
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

In this episode of Brick by Brick: Wealth Building Conversations, we sit down with Alexander J. Brown, Managing Partner at Beacon Venture Partners, to pull back the curtain on what really drives smart venture capital investing.

With over a decade of experience in startups, strategy, and venture, Alex breaks down the mythologies that dominate the VC world — from celebrity founders to billion-dollar unicorn dreams — and shares how seasoned investors can cut through the noise to find truly scalable opportunities.

We also dive into:

• How Alex blends agile methodology (Scrum) into venture operations

• Why hands-on leadership matters in early-stage investing

• A real-life story of stepping in to lead a struggling portfolio company

• Tactical advice for founders seeking capital the right way

Whether you're raising your first round or deploying your tenth, this episode is a masterclass in strategic investing and entrepreneurial leadership.

📍 Connect with Alex:
📧 Alex@beaconventurepartners.com
🔗 LinkedIn
🔗 Scrum Alliance Profile
🔗 Beacon Venture Partners

In this episode of Brick by Brick: Wealth-Building Conversations, host Loren Wernette welcomes Adam Williams, Founder and CEO of Elevest Capital, for an eye-opening conversation on strategic real estate investing in the multifamily sector.

Adam brings over 20 years of experience, having weathered market downturns and emerging stronger with a focus on value-driven leadership and crisis-era adaptability. He walks us through:

• Why multifamily is experiencing what he calls “the perfect storm”—and why that presents massive opportunity for investors

• How to vet a fund manager and protect your capital

• The importance of follow-up and consistency in long-term investing success

• Why real estate isn’t a “get-rich-quick” play—it’s a “get-wealthy-for-sure” blueprint

• His personal story of the 2007 crash and how it completely changed his investment philosophy

🔗 Watch Adam's Perfect Storm breakdown on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pO7J2NF2_8o

Whether you're a passive investor, aspiring syndicator, or seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on building sustainable wealth in turbulent times.

Guest Contact Info:
🌐 Website: https://elevestcapital.com
📸 Instagram: @awinvests
🔗 LinkedIn: Adam Williams
🐦 X (Twitter): @aw_invests
📱 TikTok: @awinvests
▶️ YouTube: Adam Williams Invests