Vital Wealth Strategies

What separates the entrepreneurs who build lasting, generational wealth from those who watch it disappear by the second or third generation? In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan sits down with DJ Van Keuren – Harvard educated family office real estate expert, founder of the Family Office Real Estate Institute, and a man who has personally managed real estate portfolios for some of the most prominent families in the country, including the Marriott family, to unpack the strategies, systems, and mindset shifts that turn entrepreneurial success into a lasting legacy. DJ brings decades of real-world experience navigating everything from luxury hotel acquisitions in New York City to distressed multifamily opportunities, and he doesn’t hold back on exactly where wealthy families go wrong and what to do instead. Patrick and DJ dive deep into the four pillars of real estate wealth building - appreciation, depreciation, amortization, and cash flow and why the average family office allocates roughly 24% of its portfolio to real estate. DJ reveals the single biggest mistake business owners make once they accumulate significant wealth (hint: it’s the same thing that made them successful in business, and they stop doing it), how to properly stress test a deal before you commit, why underwriting the operator matters far more than underwriting the deal itself, and why right now may be one of the most compelling buying opportunities in the 18.6-year real estate cycle. Whether you’re evaluating your first syndication or building a multi-generational real estate portfolio, this conversation gives you the framework, the questions to ask, and the perspective to invest with confidence. Key Takeaways: The average family office allocates ~24% of its portfolio to real estate, for good reason. Appreciation, depreciation, amortization, cash flow, and leverage all work together to build wealth in ways other asset classes simply can’t match The #1 mistake wealthy business owners make is applying zero structure to managing their own wealth, the same rigor (goals, strategy, quarterly reviews) that built the business needs to be applied to the portfolio An Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is the foundation, it defines what you’ll buy, what returns you’re targeting, and whether future generations are part of the picture Always underwrite the operator before the deal, a great property with a bad operator is a bad investment. Ask how they navigated the Great Recession, not just what returns they posted Stress test every deal, model the worst case scenario (higher cap rate at exit, higher refinancing rates) and ask if you can live with that outcome before you commit Real estate runs on an 18.6-year cycle, DJ believes we are currently at a prime buying point, with distressed multifamily assets hitting the market due to financial pressure, not property failure Multifamily has historically never exceeded 11.6% vacancy - the resilience compared to commercial or office makes it a core holding for cash flow and downside protection 70% of family wealth is lost by the second generation; 90% by the third - governance, family councils, and intentional planning are the antidote Real estate’s illiquidity is a feature, not a bug, it protects families from emotional decision-making and forces the long hold that builds real wealth The optimal number of properties in a family real estate portfolio is 15, per FORE Institute research, funds can be an efficient path to that diversification without the management burden Learn More About DJ: Family Office Real Estate Institute: fore.institute DJ Van Keuren’s personal website: djvankeuren.com

What if the real reason your business feels exposed isn’t your income, but your structure? In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan breaks down why so many successful entrepreneurs remain vulnerable to lawsuits, tax inefficiencies, and unnecessary risk due to poor entity planning and lack of privacy. Patrick is joined by Bobby Casey, founder of Business Anywhere, who shares hard-earned insights from decades of entrepreneurial experience helping business owners protect assets, reduce exposure, and build resilient structures that support long-term freedom. Together, Patrick and Bobby dive into the real-world mechanics of asset protection, including why insurance alone isn’t enough, why owning assets in a personal name can be dangerous, and how proper entity structuring can prevent a single lawsuit from wiping out years of work. Bobby explains his “castle” approach to asset protection, where privacy becomes the first line of defense, and highlights common mistakes entrepreneurs make when forming LLCs themselves. If you're an entrepreneur, real estate investor, or high-income business owner looking to create more peace of mind, protect what you’ve built, and gain flexibility for the future, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can implement immediately. Key Takeaways: Why most entrepreneurs are overexposed even when they’re financially successful The biggest mistakes business owners make when forming LLCs and structuring assets Why insurance is not a substitute for real asset protection How privacy reduces lawsuit risk and deters opportunistic litigation Why you should avoid mixing real estate, operating businesses, and liquid assets in one entity The importance of dissolving LLCs after selling an asset to avoid future liability How Business Anywhere simplifies entity management, registered agent services, and renewals Episode Resources: Business Anywhere: https://businessanywhere.io Vital Wealth Resources Hub: https://vitalwealth.com/resources Podcast Homepage (Vital Wealth): https://www.vitalwealth.com/ 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

What if hitting seven figures doesn’t make money easier… it actually makes every decision harder? In this kickoff episode of the “Designed to Last” series on the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan sits down with Michael Loki, a Vital Wealth advisor, for a conversation that challenges a common belief entrepreneurs have as they grow: that more income automatically brings more clarity. Instead, Patrick explains why success often creates more moving parts, more decisions, and more pressure and why financial confidence must be built intentionally, not hoped for. Throughout the episode, Patrick breaks down the real reason high-income business owners still feel uncertain about profitability, cash flow, and what’s “actually working” inside the business. He shares the three pillars that help businesses scale without becoming a stressful house of cards - profitability, financial reporting, and cash management and offers practical tools like monthly P&L tracking, accrual accounting awareness, accounts receivable reporting, and a 13-week rolling cash flow forecast. If you’ve ever wondered why you can have money in the bank but still feel behind, or why growth can trigger surprise tax problems and cash crunches, this episode is a must-listen. Key Takeaways: Higher income creates more complexity, not less and clarity must be built on purpose A profitable business is the first requirement for something truly “designed to last” Monthly P&L reporting (including year-over-year comparisons) is a non-negotiable tool Owner pay matters: underpaying yourself can create “fake profitability” and hurt valuation Cash flow problems can happen even in profitable businesses (especially with taxes + growth) A 13-week cash flow forecast helps owners lead proactively instead of reacting Episode Resources: Simple Numbers by Greg Crabtree QuickBooks Online Vital Wealth cash flow assessment: vitalstrategies.com/cashflow 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

What happens when your net worth grows faster than your liquidity and your tax bill keeps climbing along the way? Many founders and executives with equity in private companies find themselves asset-rich on paper but limited in flexibility, diversification, and tax efficiency. In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan explores one of the most overlooked challenges facing high-earning entrepreneurs: concentrated, illiquid private equity and the hidden risks that come with waiting on a future liquidity event. Patrick is joined by Brogger, Founder and CEO of Collective Liquidity and a pioneer in private market innovation. Greg shares how exchange funds, structured liquidity, and disciplined diversification strategies can help founders and executives reduce risk, access capital, and defer taxes without giving up long-term upside. Drawing from his experience building SharesPost and the NASDAQ Private Market, Greg breaks down why traditional approaches often fail private equity holders and how a more intentional strategy can create financial flexibility, peace of mind, and better outcomes for growing businesses. Key takeaways from this episode: Why over-concentration in private company equity creates both financial and tax risk How exchange funds work and why they are especially powerful in private markets Ways founders and executives can create liquidity without triggering immediate capital gains taxes The importance of diversification for long-term wealth preservation How proactive tax strategy supports smarter business and investment decisions Learn More About Greg: Collective Liquidity Official Website: About us | Collective Liquidity 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