27+ Years Helping Lawyers Build for Life After Law — Without Sacrificing Today | Clarity • Intention • Legacy | Founder, The Wealthy Lawyer

LET’S BE HONEST.
Law school likely didn’t teach you much about personal finance.

But then you’re thrust into a demanding career — often with a ton of student debt — and suddenly you have a second job:
👉 Managing your money.

Whether you're in your first year of practice or a senior partner, you’re busy building your practice and keeping clients happy.

That leaves little time (or energy) for the things you actually enjoy — time with family, travel, hobbies… let alone planning for your financial future.

And honestly?

Most of the lawyers I speak with have spent more time planning their next vacation than protecting the lifestyle they've worked so hard to build.


That’s where we come in.

Using our Wealthy Lawyer™ Program, we take the guesswork out of financial planning.

We help you:
✅ Protect your family and income from the unexpected
✅ Build wealth intentionally
✅ Prepare for Life After Law


Our clients typically reach out when they:

• Are worried about how their family would cope if they couldn’t work
• Don’t know whether to save or pay down debt
• Feel behind, despite earning well
• Know they need a plan — but don’t know where to start
• Realize they can’t do it all alone — and want trusted guidance


What they’re tired of:

• Being the sole/primary income earner without a backup plan
• Wondering if they’d need to change their lifestyle if a family member got sick
• Stressing about whether they’re saving enough for retirement
• Not knowing how to leave a legacy for their kids or grandkids


After just a few months in the Wealthy Lawyer process, our clients tell us they feel more:

✅ Confident about hitting their financial and lifestyle goals
✅ Prepared to face unexpected life events
✅ Assured that their spouse and family won’t be financially stressed
✅ Clear about the legacy they’re leaving behind


You’re in the business of law — not financial planning.
Let us take the worry off your plate so you can focus on what matters most…

Like that next vacation.

📩 Ready to take control of your financial future?
Let’s connect for a Virtual Coffee Chat —  no pressure, just a conversation

Jeffery M. Lamont

Most people think they don’t need insurance…
until life proves them wrong.

That's what I thought at 23.

Six weeks in a hospital changed that.

I’d just come back from playing pro baseball in Europe.
Best shape of my life.

Nothing could touch me…
or so I thought.

Then I got seriously ill.
Six weeks hospitalized.
Three months off work.

It was a wake-up call I never expected.

And it taught me something I’ll never forget:

Life is unpredictable.
And when things flip, they flip fast.

So here’s the real question:

If something unexpected happened tomorrow, do you have a plan to protect yourself and the people who rely on you?

Here’s the blind spot most people never see until it’s too late:
insurance isn’t about fear...
it’s about keeping your life stable when everything else feels shaky.

Here are three ways it does that:

➡️ Life Insurance:
Gives your loved ones financial stability — mortgages, debts, daily expenses covered.

➡️ Disability Insurance:
Replaces your income so your lifestyle doesn’t have to change if you can’t work.

➡️ Critical Illness Insurance:
Provides a lump sum so you can cover medical costs and focus on recovery, not money.

The best time to get insurance?
It’s when you’re young and healthy.

It’s more affordable…
and it guarantees you’re protected no matter what life throws at you.

Don’t wait for a wake-up call like I did.
 
👉 What’s one thing you thought was unnecessary when you were younger that makes a lot more sense now?

Share below 👇
 
────
I’m Jeffery, the wealth advisor who helps lawyers build, protect, and transition their wealth.

☕ If you ever want to talk through your options, I’m always happy to grab a quick virtual coffee.

No pressure. No pitch. Just clarity.

Helping Lawyers Build for Life After Law — Without Sacrificing Today | Founder, The Wealthy Lawyer

Three years ago, I started on LinkedIn…

And three years ago, I was ready to quit…

I was posting Googleable facts.
Zero personality.
Generic advice.
Safe takes.

And it showed.

That was, until I met Holly Crawshaw Joyner
She called me out…
then helped me find MY voice.

That was a little over year ago.

Since then, things shifted in a way I never expected.
Here’s the difference: 2023 vs 2025 (to date).

📈 Impressions: 100K → 2.2 Million
📈 Engagement rate: 1.1% → 5.1%
📈 Comments: 125 → 16,600

This year I’ve had 6 posts get more impressions — individually — than all of 2023.

But the numbers aren’t the part I’m most proud of.

It’s this:

→ People messaging me saying “It felt like you were talking directly to me.”
→ Real conversations with lawyers and professionals who feel seen — not sold to.
→ And the part I never saw coming: actual friendships with people in parts of the world I never imagined I’d be connected to.

If you’d told me three years ago that LinkedIn would introduce me to people I genuinely care about — mentors, peers, friends — I probably would’ve laughed.

But it has.
And it’s one of the best parts of this whole thing.

This reality is, this stopped being “marketing” a long time ago.
Now, it’s turned into a mission.

A mission to help people build wealth with more clarity…
less noise…
less shame…
and a whole lot less stress.

If you’ve been reading, commenting, DM’ing, supporting, or even just quietly lurking…
thank you 🙏

You helped me turn something small and uncertain
into something meaningful.

And if you’re still in the early stages of your own thing?
Stay with it.

Most good things don’t look good at the beginning.
But they become good because you stayed.


 👉 what’s one surprise you’ve experienced as a result of being on LinkedIn?


────
I’m Jeffery. I help professionals build wealth intentionally so they can live with more freedom and peace.

If you want more clarity heading into 2026, let’s grab a Virtual Coffee ☕

Find the “Become a Wealthy Lawyer” link in my profile.

I write your LinkedIn™ posts + your books || Top 20 LinkedIn™ Expert [Favikon, 2025] || New York Times + USA Today Bestseller

The real flex isn’t making $1M a year.

It’s making $1M a year without:

→ Missing every family milestone
→ Sacrificing your health
→ Living life on autopilot

That’s the real flex.

Jeffery M Lamont

I thought I understood gratitude… until one day changed everything.

As we head into American Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking about what gratitude actually is.

It’s not comfort.
It’s not ease.
It’s not the good years.

It’s perspective.

I didn’t understand that until 2019.

That was the year I lost my mom
and our house flooded
on the very same day.

One morning changed everything.
And it marked the start of one of the hardest chapters of my life.

But it’s incredible what living in a hotel with your wife, three kids, and a dog will teach you.

In the middle of the chaos, I found myself grateful
not for what was happening… but for what I still had.
My family.
Our safety.
And the lessons my mom left behind.

That’s when it finally clicked:

Gratitude isn’t a reaction to things going right.
It’s the anchor that gets you through what isn’t.

So today, I’m grateful for:

• Quiet mornings with Colleen and the kids (even if the house is a little quieter these days)
• Family, baseball, and the memories that outlast the seasons
• Clients who trust me to help them simplify and protect what they’ve built
• And this community — the conversations, connection, and support

Thanksgiving is a time to hit the pause button.
A moment to look around and realize that even in the mess…
there’s still so much to be thankful for.

From my family to all my American friends — Happy Thanksgiving.


🦃Who or what are you grateful for this week — even if life isn’t perfect right now?


📸 Our family’s tradition of writing what we’re grateful for on pumpkins. I’ve included a photo with one of my mom’s final inscriptions.

Simple. Honest. Lasting.

They say you only get 5% of their time after they turn 18...
Nobody prepares you for that.

I've known the stat.
I just didn’t want to feel it...
until this fall…

That’s when all three of our kids left for university, and the house finally became...
quiet.

And in that quiet, something became clear:

I spent 20 years making sure I was around while they grew up.

So, building the business took a backseat to being a dad first.

No regrets...
Not one.

But now they’re beginning to spread their wings…
and suddenly the space to think...
to really imagine what’s next...
what's possible...
is here.

And here’s the part that's caught me off guard:

I’m not just proud of them.
I'm excited for them...
And to see what they'll become.

At the same time...
I’m proud...
and excited...
for what I’m building too.

Not just Lamont Wealth and The Wealthy Lawyer as they are today…

... but for what they could become tomorrow.

Jack’s studying business and marketing...

Harry — yesterday's birthday boy — is crazy and is leaning into financial planning...

Bridget is a freshman psychology/sociology brain...
with an eye on law school.

Three different kids.
Three different futures lay ahead...

But then nights like last night happen.

It's midnight and Colleen and I were on a four-way FaceTime with them... all of us wishing Harry a Happy 20th Birthday…

Laughing.
Telling stories.
Ripping each other.
And still choosing... family.

Moments like that hit differently now.
They land deeper.
And they force a question:

If this next chapter is truly mine to shape… what do I want to build?

Here’s what I keep thinking:

The foundation is here.
The systems are built.
And now is the time to build:
• intentionally
• decisively
• ambitiously

Whether the kids ever step into it or not isn’t the point.

The point is knowing that the life I’ve built...
the work I’m building...
and the man I’ve become along the way…
is something I’m proud of.

Because when you finally slow down long enough to think, you realize:

The future doesn’t arrive all at once.
It shows up in the space you make for it.


👉 When was the last time you gave yourself real room to imagine what’s next?

If you feel behind at 41, you’re in good company...

Your income rises quietly…
and then, your lifestyle outruns intention even faster.

On my way home from the F1 in Austin a few weeks ago, I ended up in one of those easy airport conversations that starts as small talk… 
then goes a little deeper than you expect.

I was in the lounge half-working when the guy next to me noticed my F1 bag and said he was there for the race too.

We did the usual recap:
the heat, the crowds, the traffic.

He said he was heading home to NYC.
I said I was making my way back to Toronto.

Then he asked what I did.

I gave him the short version:
I help lawyers simplify their financial lives so money feels less chaotic and more intentional.

He nodded and said:

“Well… I practice at [he named a Top100 firm.]”

That opened the door.

We talked about the pace of practice, the hours, the pressure…
and how hard it is to juggle time and money when both feel scarce.

Then he hit me with something I wasn't expecting:

“This is my first full year as an Equity Partner. Still not making a ton yet, but definitely more than I ever thought I’d be making at 41.”

He paused, then admitted:

“And the worst part is… I still can’t get ahead. I thought by now I would be. But I'm not.”

No blown-out budget.
No crisis.

Just the quiet lifestyle upgrades that sneak in when income rises:

• a nicer hotel
• a faster flight home
• Paddock tickets because “why not?”
• and a handful of conveniences that feel harmless in the moment…

But they add up fast.

Then he said the line most lawyers eventually reach:

“I don’t think mine is a money issue…"

And he’s probably right.

Most lawyers don’t run out of money.
They just let lifestyle outrun the planning that’s supposed to support it.

Which is why tomorrow’s 1% Shift is all about timing…
and the tiny change that helps you finally feel ahead before life expands — not after.

More tomorrow.

☕ If you’ve ever hit that “I’m earning more… so why doesn’t it feel like it?” moment, let’s grab a Virtual Coffee.

You’re not the only one — and clarity comes fast once you have a structure.

Most lawyers don’t run out of money…
They just let their lifestyle outrun their structure.

And a conversation I had recently brought it right back into focus.

The partner I met wasn’t being reckless.
No blown-out budget.
No splurges.
No crisis.

Just the same quiet drift I see every single week:

A nicer hotel.
A quicker flight home.
Paddock tickets because “we might as well.”
Conveniences that feel harmless in the moment… and heavy later.

Then he said the line almost every lawyer eventually reaches:

“I’m earning more than I ever imagined…
but I still can’t get ahead. I thought by now I would be. But I’m not.”

And he said it quietly...
the way people talk when they’re tired of carrying it.

Here’s where most people get it wrong:

It’s not a money issue.
It’s a timing issue.

He wasn’t saving too little.
He was saving what was left after living life the way he wanted.
And that will always feel like you’re chasing something that keeps moving.

Savings before lifestyle?
That’s when things finally flip in your favour.

THE 1% SHIFT FOR TODAY

Set up one automatic transfer (15–20% of your net pay) that leaves your account the same day you get paid.

Put it in a TFSA, your RRSP, or a non-registered account
It doesn’t really matter.
The magic is in the automation.

When your money has a job,
your stress drops,
your decisions get cleaner,
and your lifestyle stops silently stealing your progress.

Tiny shift.
HUGE difference.

If you’ve ever asked yourself why you’re not ahead yet…
you’re not alone.

If you want the exact setup I walk clients through,
DM SHIFT.

No pitch.  No pressure.  Just clarity — and the feeling of finally getting ahead again.

Some weeks don’t hit you until Sunday night...

Not because anything dramatic happened.

But because you spent a week managing work, family, pressure, expectations…
and all the little things no one notices unless they’re the ones carrying them.

By the time Sunday night rolls around, the weight finally shows up.

If that’s you tonight, you’re not alone.

Here’s what I remind myself before a new week starts:

Most of us underestimate how much we're carrying…
until we stop long enough to feel it.

Progress rarely feels fast.
Most of the time it’s quiet, steady… almost unremarkable.

And here’s the part we forget:
Those quiet days —
the ones where you just keep showing up —
they’re the ones that move you forward.

Take the quiet win.
You handled more than you realize…
and you’re still here.

Let tonight be the reset.
Not the end of a long week...
but the chance to set yourself up for an even stronger one.


How do I get myself ready?
I keep it simple:

Three “result priorities” — the three things that, if I do nothing else, will make it a great week.

Three “activity priorities” — the actions that help me hit those results and move me toward my year-end goals.

Six lines.
Ten minutes.
A calmer Monday.

Tomorrow’s yours to set the tone.

Walk into it with clarity, conviction,
and a refueled tank, ready to win the week.


👉 What is one thing you want to accomplish this week to make it a real winner?


If financial clarity is something you want more of as we head into 2026, grab a quick Virtual Coffee using the link in my profile.

Nobody tells lawyers this…
but the quietest 20 minutes of your day might save your entire week.

This time of year moves fast.
December hits differently —
deadlines, year-end pressure, family stuff, expectations.

But here’s the shift I’ve seen work for partners, senior associates, and firm owners:

Build one quiet pocket of time each day.
Just one.

Even 20–30 minutes.
No meetings.
No emails.
No Slack.
No pressure to accomplish anything massive.

Something happens when you do that:

You stop reacting.
You start steering.
Your decisions get cleaner.
Your week softens around the edges.

Lawyers underestimate this.

They look for more hours…
when what they actually need is one intentional one.

So if this week already feels like it’s sprinting away from you, try this:

Choose the one 20–30 minute window that gives you breathing room.

Not to get ahead.
Not to catch up.
Just to get calm.

👉 When does that quiet pocket actually fit into your day?

—
I’m Jeffery, the advisor who helps lawyers build more margin, more control, and more calm in their financial life.

☕ Want help building financial breathing room? Grab a quick Virtual Coffee Chat (link in my profile).

Protect your income first…
Everything else depends on it

If you read my post from yesterday,
you saw how quickly life can flip…
and how painful it is to discover you’re underinsured at a time you need it most.

Every lawyer wants to build wealth…
but almost no one starts by protecting the thing all else depends on:

Your ability to earn an income.

If that stops, everything downstream gets shaky fast.

And the cracks usually show up in the same places:

• Group disability that barely covers half the lifestyle
• No critical illness plan
• Life insurance that was “temporary”… a decade ago
• Partners assuming success = invincibility

Here’s your 1% Shift for today:

→ Action: Review your insurance — or ask an advisor to run a quick Insurance Audit.

That’s it.

One audit.
One hour.
Massive clarity.

You’ll know what’s locked in…
and what needs attention before life forces your hand.


💭 When did you buy your first insurance policy?


If you want a quick check-up,
DM “Audit” and I’ll walk you through it.


No pitch.  No pressure.  Just clarity.

Most lawyers don’t have a money problem...
they have a “things won’t happen to me” problem.

Most lawyers I meet aren’t careless.
They’re just, shall we say...
optimistic.

• Optimistic that income will stay steady.
• Optimistic that health will hold.
• Optimistic that nothing unexpected will knock them sideways.

Until something does.

And that’s the moment
“I’ll get to it later”
turns into
“I should’ve done this sooner.”

Because it only takes one thing...
• one phone call
• one appointment
• one test result...
for “later” to become “too late.”

And here’s the part no one likes admitting:

Most lawyers aren’t reckless.
They're busy.
They’re overloaded.

And optimism is what fills the gaps they don’t have time to think about.

You don’t need paranoia.
don’t need perfection.

You just need to replace optimism with clarity.

Because the lawyers who feel calm?

They aren’t the ones earning the most.

They’re the ones who stopped assuming things would always stay the same.


👉 Does this sound at all familiar?

There’s a moment I see all the time with lawyers.

It usually happens right after we walk through the numbers...
the real ones.

They exhale.
Their voice softens.
Their shoulders drop.

And they say some version of:

“I didn’t realize how much this was weighing on me.”

Not the savings.
Not the insurance.
Not the tax structure.

The uncertainty.

I saw it again this summer.

A 41-year-old partner I first had a Coffee Chat with a couple years ago.
Back then, he was DIY’ing through a robo-advisor and felt he was “doing fine.”

Then July hit.
And suddenly “fine” wasn’t fine anymore.

Cash flow felt tighter.
Taxes were starting to mount.
And the gap between what he thought he had and what he actually had started to widen.

That’s usually when clarity becomes non-negotiable.

Because optimism works…
until it suddenly doesn’t.

And when you replace,
“I hope everything is fine”
with
“I know exactly where I stand,”
something shifts.

The noise quiets.
The pressure eases.
You make decisions faster.
Your family feels more stable.
You feel a lot more like yourself.

That’s the real benefit of clarity.
Not the spreadsheets.
Not the projections.
Not the policies.

It’s the calm that shows up once you stop relying on hope...
and start relying on structure.

────
I’m Jeffery, the advisor lawyers call when “doing fine” stops feeling fine.

If you want the same kind of calm and clarity...
find the Become a Wealthy Lawyer link in my profile and let's sit talk.

No pressure.  No pitch.  Just clarity.

Funny how the right people show up at exactly the right time...

I just got off a long call with a group that’s become one of the best parts of my Wednesdays this past year.

Beyond the Apex — led by Anthony Vicino — has pushed me in ways I didn’t even know I needed.

It’s helped me get clearer on how Lamont Wealth Strategies and The Wealthy Lawyer Podcast can support lawyers at every stage…
from the final stretch of law school to partnership, firm-building, retirement, and life after law.

And with American Thanksgiving tomorrow, it felt right to pause and acknowledge how much this work — and the people in it — mean to me.

While I’m not sharing details yet, I can say this:

2026 will see me expand what I offer so more lawyers — in Canada, the U.S., and beyond — can get the clarity, structure, and support they deserve.

From protecting their families…
to building wealth intentionally…
to planning for retirement…
to creating legacies that outlive them.

I’m excited for what’s coming…
and grateful for everyone who’s been in my corner along the way.

So to my American friends…
Enjoy a meaningful holiday with friends and family, tomorrow, wherever you’re celebrating.


👉 What’s one thing you’re grateful for heading into tomorrow?


—
If you’re a lawyer wanting to simplify your financial world before the new year hits, let’s connect for a Virtual Coffee.

No pitch. No pressure. Just clarity.

Helping entrepreneurs build a business that maximizes their Return on Life. | ADHD is my superpower | Bestselling Author | Keynote Speaker | DM “COACH” if you’re ready to scale.

Lamont Wealth Strategies

The Wealthy Lawyer Podcast

Most lawyers don’t fear money…
They fear not doing it right.

I see it all the time.
That quiet moment when a lawyer stops mid-sentence, looks down for a second, and finally says:

“I make good money…
but I don’t actually know where it all goes.”

And here’s the part no one tells you:

• It’s rarely overspending.
• It’s rarely a discipline issue.
• It’s almost never “not caring.”

It’s the uncertainty.

The sense that you’re one step ahead in your career…
but half a step behind in saving and building.

The uncomfortable feeling that no one ever taught you how to manage money at this level…
and somehow you’re still expected to “just know.”

But here’s the truth:

Clarity doesn’t come from making more.
It comes from understanding the flow of what you already have.

Because almost every lawyer I work with has a similar pattern:

About 10% of their income goes unaccounted for.
Not stolen.
Not wasted.
Just… drifting.

A few quiet upgrades.
Some convenience purchases.
A busy month where “I’ll check it later” turns into later never happening…

And — POOF — and it’s gone!

So we walk through cash flow together.
We find the leaks.

Then we give that money a job going forward,
so it starts working as hard for you as you did for it.

And once that starts to click?

• Stress drops
• Confidence rises
• Life finally feels a little less chaotic

That’s when money finally feels like an ally…
not another pressure.


👉 Where does money feel the most unclear for you right now?
(I ask because your answer helps me shape posts that actually help.)

And if you’d rather sort this out with a guide, you can book a virtual coffee anytime through the“Become a Wealthy Lawyer” link in my profile.

Yesterday reminded me of something important.
Every day can be great…

even when the Raptors lose 111–86.

The day was packed...
but in a great way.

• A few great client catch-up calls
• A The Wealthy Lawyer Podcast check-in with Kelly Margani
• A late lunch with my good friend Gary Chivers

Just good people, good conversations, and that quiet feeling of
“Yep… this is why I love what I do.”

And then the real hi-light of my day:
a date night with my beautiful wife at the Raptors game.

The score? Brutal.
The company? Perfect.

And with the kids coming home next week for the holidays, it was nice to squeeze in one more date night.

Really, it was one of those days I needed.

Not filled with noise or urgency,
but with the right people, the right moments...
and the space to actually feel grateful for them.

A great way to end the week…
and begin the weekend recharge.

Sometimes...
life just feels better when you leave room for it.


👉 What are you doing for yourself this weekend before the chaos of the holiday season really hits?

CEO at Southren Group Co-Founder, The Wealthy Lawyer Podcast

Chief Operating Officer, Hospitality

You think everything is fine…
until life proves you wrong.

A few years ago, I sat across from a lawyer who’d been blindsided.

Brilliant woman.
Mother of two.
Partnership-track.
Income only going higher.

But her world changed overnight…
and what hit her hardest wasn’t the diagnosis.

It was the realization that nothing she had in place was actually built to fully protect her family.

Here’s what we found:
• Group disability that barely covered the mortgage
• Life insurance worth maybe two years of income
• No critical illness coverage
• A lifestyle built on today’s income… with no backup plan for tomorrow

And I’ll never forget when she looked up and said:

“I just assumed I’d get to it later.”

That sentence has stayed with me for years.

Because the truth is, most lawyers aren’t reckless…
they’re overwhelmed.

They’re building careers, raising kids, keeping the lights on…
and trusting that whatever they set up ten years ago is probably good enough.

Until it isn’t.

And when that day comes, the reaction is almost always the same:

A sigh.
A shake of the head.
And a quiet, painful…
“Why didn’t I look at this sooner?”

It wasn’t a massive mistake.
It was a 1% blind spot.
The kind that hides in plain sight until life forces it into focus.

Tomorrow’s first 1% Shift for Lawyers is exactly about this:

Why income protection comes first…
not tenth.
Why the foundation matters more than the shiny stuff.
Why one small adjustment can protect everything you’re working so hard to build.

More tomorrow.


💭 Do you know someone who’s had a heart attack, been diagnosed with cancer, or had something else pull them out of work unexpectedly?


☕ If you want to make sure your safety net is actually a net, let’s grab a Virtual Coffee.

Been running around nonstop the last few days and almost forgot we had baseball practice tonight.

Thankfully, Coach Jeff from 2017 had his act together...
because present-day Jeff definitely needed the save.

Pulled out an old practice plan and, honestly?
Still holds up.

Turns out the fundamentals don’t age.

#NoSchoolLikeTheOldSchool

There’s a strange feeling that hits this time of year…

that quiet sense you’re becoming someone you weren’t 12 months ago.

Not because of resolutions.
Not because of some big life pivot.
But because life nudges you forward in the background while you’re busy living it.

And that’s me.
I turned 50 earlier in the year, and somewhere along my chilly walk with Rawlings by the lake yesterday, it kind of hit me.

For much of my 27 years in this business, I’ve taken the “comfortable” route.
Never really straying far from what I’d been doing…
or from what my dad had done before that.

But as I started reflecting on the first 11.5 months that brings us to today?

The biggest thing I now see…
is the change in me.

Not in what’s important.
Not in the outcomes I care about.
But in who I’m becoming as I chase them.

Some habits I’ve outgrown.
Some stories I’m setting down.
Some expectations I’m done carrying.

And here’s what I’ve learned:

You’re allowed to change the script as you grow.
You’re allowed to want something different.
You’re allowed to adjust the pace...
the priorities...
the way you show up.

Growth isn’t loud.
It’s that quiet permission you give yourself to move in the direction that fits who you’re becoming...
not who you were.

If you’ve been feeling that tug lately…
don't worry...
you’re right on time.


👉 Looking back on the year that almost was… what’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in yourself?

You think debt is the problem…
the real problem is what you don’t see.

You think debt is the problem…
it’s not.

A lawyer recently said to me on a Coffee Chat:
“I make too much money to feel this stressed.”

He wasn’t living beyond his means.
He wasn’t drowning in debt.
He wasn’t irresponsible.

He just had no structure.

No plan.
No clarity.
No sense of where his money should go — or why.

Every month looked like progress…
But every month felt like panic.

As we dug in, the real story came out:

He was doing what most high-income professionals do...
reacting to bills, shifting money around, trying to “clean things up”…
but never actually building anything.

His debt wasn’t the issue.
His approach to it was.

Here’s what we fixed first:
• where his income should go
• what his savings should do
• how investing fit in
• how debt supported (not stressed) the plan

And once it was all structured?
His shoulders dropped.

He didn’t need a raise.
He didn’t need a budget.
He didn’t need to “cut back.”

He needed a framework that gave evert dollar a job.

By the end he said:
“I feel like I can breathe again.”

Tomorrow, I’ll share the mindset shift that gives lawyers more calm
than any raise, any bonus, or any debt repayment ever will.


👉 Ever felt like you’re earning enough…
but still not feeling the peace that should come with it?

Most lawyers don’t run out of time…
They run out of margin.

And with three weeks until Christmas, everything feels tighter —
deadlines, year-end pressure, family stuff, expectations.

When margin disappears…
so does calm.

Here’s the question I’ve been asking clients this week:


👉 Which margin disappears first for you in December — time, money, or mental space?

Dream Believe Achieve Capital Group

• Advise family offices on due diligence, risk management, and governance structures.
• Consult passive investors to help them navigate through the complexities of the deal structure, offering documents, the underwrite, or capital call situations.
• Coach investors new to multifamily on how to effectively and efficiently underwrite deals.
• Manage ~$80MM AUM commercial real estate portfolio of active and passive real estate investments.
• Build strategic relationships with multifamily operators in markets with strong fundamentals and collaborate on curating, structuring, and sharing investment opportunities for passive investors. Personally underwrite each investment leveraging my prior commercial lending experience. Lead investor relations and additional operational/asset management projects during the investment hold.

Founder and Managing Partner

Wells Fargo

Results-driven and internationally minded finance professional with extensive industry experience in global markets, credit management, and international deals. Demonstrated success in commercial real estate, working capital lines of credit, cash flow lending and asset-based lending, structured trade finance(including Ex-Im), and acquisition finance. Clear communicator, team player, and leader.

• Oversaw and risk-managed a portfolio of international middle market clients and global commodity trading companies - $1.3BN in aggregate commitment. 
• Managed a team of Portfolio Managers. Developed & expanded the credit team’s skill set through training and coaching.
• Provided guidance and global credit expertise to in-market Global Advisors and local Commercial Banking Offices on underwriting new opportunities that are international in nature.

Senior Vice President - Loan Team Manager, Global Advisory - West

•	Oversaw and risk-managed a portfolio of 73 middle market clients/$750MM in aggregate commitment. 
•	Managed a team of Portfolio Managers and Financial Analysts (credit team).  Developed & expanded the credit team’s skill set through training and coaching
•	Led and actively participated in the underwriting, structuring, and completion of credit transactions.
•	Utilized direct and operating credit approval authority to approve transactions with credit risk.
•	Acted as risk control officer for credit and operational risk for the office and coordinate with Risk Asset Review (internal credit audit). 
•	Coordinated timely loan approval, credit review and workout functions.
•	Managed on-going dialog with Regional Vice President (RVP) and Loan Supervision on new loan opportunities and problem loan management.
•	Developed procedures and managed process to ensure that the office is adhering to the regulatory compliance requirements.
•	Partnered with senior management/loan supervision to develop and execute business plans, including meeting or exceeding the office's PTPP goal.
•	Assisted with business development efforts while exhibiting leadership and ownership of credit processes, underwriting, and portfolio management.

Loan Team Manager, Los Angeles-West Middle Market Banking Office

• Managed a portfolio of 40 middle market clients (30 credits), $280MM in aggregate commitment, and $5.1MM in PTPP.  
• Grew portfolio from $337.5M in 2009 to $3.5MM in 2014 and continuously met or exceeded PTPP growth targets. 
• Took initiative and was not afraid to be a trailblazer in unchartered territory for Global Banking: e.g. first cross-border deal, first UK formula line of credit and real estate term loan; booked the first OPIC deal under the new OPIC framework agreement.
• Responsible for loan structuring, negotiating documentation, monitoring credit quality, and cross-selling other banking products.
• Actively involved in profiling and negotiation of new business opportunities including pricing, deal structuring, covenant establishment, legal documentation/negotiation, preparation and submission of recommendations for approval and closing.
• Promoted an environment that supports teamwork, diversity and collaboration.
• Provided guidance to and mentor financial analysts.
• Completed timely and through evaluations or reviews of financial and operating risk for all credits.
• Analyzed and monitored credit risk based on financial statements, performance projections, cash flow, business and industry evaluation.
• Identified opportunities for cross-sell of other bank products and services, as appropriate, including treasury management, foreign exchange, insurance, financial and investment products.
• Maintained high standards of credit underwriting and monitoring across the existing client portfolio and completed thorough due diligence for new lending propositions.
• Ensured early identification of problem credit accounts and proper action on potential or existing problem accounts.
• Maintained quality service for all customers and manage relationship profitability.
• Ensured compliance and operational risk controls are in accordance with the Bank’s or regulatory standards and policies.

Vice President - Senior Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo International

Vice President - Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo International

Assistant Vice President - Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo International

Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo International

•	Participated in a four-month advanced credit management training program to enhance credit underwriting skills, client relationship management, and business development techniques
•	Performed credit analysis including: quantitative risk assessment, financial statement analysis and projections, industry and business risk evaluation, management assessment, and loan structuring

Credit Management Training Program Associate

Unilever

•	Analyzed and evaluated internal hurdle rates relative to customer expected hurdles. 
•	Developed recommendations for adjustment of hurdles and ways to improve profits and promotional effectiveness. Information was to be used as a guideline for decision making.

Finance Summer Associate

Nestlé Purina North America

•	Customer relationship management
•	Translated market and competitive trends into business insights
•	Co-managed the financials of the business
•	Evaluated all aspects of promotions, profitability, and pricing
•	Analyzed category trends and proposed recommendations for sales and profit growth
•	Collaborated with key operational divisions - marketing, supply chain, finance
•	Assisted with new item presentations

Business Development Manager

Real Estate Entrepreneur || Multifamily Investor || Private Lender || Commercial Loan Underwriting Specialist

I grew up behind the Iron Curtain dreaming of the life I would someday build if only I could get to America.

When I finally arrived, it was like stepping into a world of unlimited possibility and responsibility.

I followed the traditional path: school, corporate career, hard work, becoming a high performer. 

I climbed the corporate ladder, putting in 60+ hours a week.

But no matter how hard I worked, I was not actually getting ahead because at the end of the day, I was simply trading my time for money.

My future was tied to a single source of income and the volatility of the stock market.

It was not until I discovered real estate investing - and later, the importance of risk management and strategic investing - that everything changed.

Since discovering the power of real estate investing, I “retired” from my corporate job and now I am on a mission…

A mission to help other high achieving professionals create optionality, stability, and legacy in their financial lives.

Here’s how I serve investors and family offices:
1. I help high achieving professionals and business owners generate additional passive income streams and achieve tax efficiencies through well-vetted, cash-flowing investments in commercial real estate. To learn more, visit: www.dbacapitalgroup.com

2. I consult passive investors to help them navigate through the complexities of the deal numbers and structure, offering documents, or capital call situations. To learn more, visit: www.dbacapitalgroup.com

3. I help beginner investors in multifamily learn how to effectively and efficiently vet apartment deals in five easy steps even if they have never underwritten a deal before in order to minimize the risk of loss. To learn more, visit: www.MasteringMultifamilyUnderwriting.com

4. I advise family offices and private companies on strategic investment due diligence, risk management, and governance structures - helping them safeguard capital, optimize decision-making, and build sustainable multi-generational wealth.

Grounded in deep underwriting expertise and my former commercial lending background, my mission remains simple: 

Protect the downside. Grow the upside. And empower investors to build lasting financial security - on their terms.

Vessi Kapoulian

That 8% check you're getting? It might not be real.

If it is not from operating cash flow, it is just smoke and mirrors.

THE DISTRIBUTION ILLUSION
On paper, it looks like you are making 8% a year.

Checks are coming in.

Your dashboard is green.

Everything feels fine.

But under the hood?

Some sponsors are funding "preferred returns" from reserves or even new investor capital.

That is not income ... it is financial engineering.

And it is your capital being recycled back to you.

Here is the problem: 

False Security
 – You assume the asset is performing
 – But the property has not generated real cash flow
 – It is a distribution illusion

Ponzi-Like Risk
 – New investors fund old investor payments
 – It creates a fragile structure
 – The moment growth slows, the model collapses

No Margin of Safety
 – Reserves get depleted
 – There is no cushion for downturns
 – You are left exposed when the music stops

Want true passive income?
1. Ask the hard question: Is this funded by actual operating cash flow?
2. Follow the cash: Not the marketing decks.
3. Protect your downside: Because financial engineering doesn't pay the bills.

Real investors chase cash flow.

Not clever spreadsheets.

➡️ What red flags do you look for in a deal?

Real Estate Investments & Due Diligence Consultant || Family Office & Board Advisor || Commercial Loan Underwriting Specialist || Multifamily Investor

Not all “value-add” projects actually add value.

Too often, investors get excited by new cabinets, quartz countertops, and fancy lighting packages but forget to ask the most important question:

How much rent lift am I getting for the dollars I am spending?

If the math does not work, those upgrades are not “value-add.”

They are lipstick on a pig - good-looking, but bad business.

When I underwrite renovation projects, I always apply two simple benchmarks:
- ROI of at least 20%
- Payback period of 3–4 years or less

Why? Because if you cannot recoup your investment before the typical 5-year hold, your “value-add” is actually a value drain.

In my latest article (tap the link below), I walk through two real-world examples showing how the same deal can go from diluting returns to enhancing them - just by adjusting your CapEx budget and rent assumptions.

P.S. LIMITED TIME OFFER
Want to finally feel confident reviewing multifamily deals — without second-guessing every number?

Take advantage of the Thanksgiving Sale (link below):
🎁 Get 1 Year of Free Access to the Mastering Multifamily Community with the purchase of the Mastering Multifamily Underwriting Self-Paced Course.

This offer expires soon — do not miss it!

[Missed my last LI Live event on the Hidden Risks Of Multifamily Loan Data? You can catch the replay HERE.] [Want to finally feel confident reviewing 

Open article: The Renovation Reality Check: When Value-Add Becomes Value-Drain by Vessi Kapoulian • 3 min read

The Renovation Reality Check: When Value-Add Becomes Value-Drain

One of the biggest mistakes passive investors make is...

... assuming all operators are created equal. 

The truth? Who you invest with matters just as much as the deal itself.

Join me for an engaging discussion with Pasquale (Pat) Zingarella, founder of Invest Clearly, as we dig into what separates great operators from those you should avoid and tools you can use to vet them before you wire a dollar.

We will cover:
- What most passive investors overlook when vetting an operator
- Red flags that reveal poor alignment or weak execution ability
- How to distinguish substance from style in sponsor pitches
- Why due diligence on the operator is as important as diligence on the deal
- How LPs can now rate and review sponsors on Invest Clearly

 📆 When: November 12th, 2025 (Wednesday) at 5PM PT 

📌 Where: Virtual event (link to reserve your seat is below)

If you are a passive investor (or planning to become one), this is your chance to sharpen your due diligence process and gain an insider’s view of tools designed to protect your capital.

Want to finally feel confident reviewing multifamily deals, without second-guessing every number?
 
Most new (and even experienced) investors struggle with underwriting not because they lack intelligence, but because they lack structure.
 
That is exactly why I created Mastering Multifamily Underwriting (MMU) — a self-paced course and community designed to help you move from uncertainty to clarity.
 
Inside MMU, you will:
✅ Learn a proven 5-Step Framework to analyze deals from A to Z
✅ Access templates, checklists, and case studies used by real investors
✅ Join a private community with monthly live calls and underwriting tips
 
And, equally important, you will avoid:
⚠️ Overpaying because of aggressive assumptions
⚠️ Missing red flags buried in the numbers
⚠️ Relying solely on the sponsor’s spreadsheet without independent validation
 
If you have been meaning to level up your deal-review skills — now is the time.
 
🎁 Enrollment at this special rate is open for a limited time and will close after the Thanksgiving holiday. Spots are limited to the first five students who enroll!
 
💬 DM me if you have questions or click the LINK below to join and start mastering multifamily underwriting today.

👉 Go to https://lnkd.in/gZitVtDP for more information on the course or take a sneak peak into my students' success stories.

taplio

The Battle

Jeffery M. Lamont

Vessi Kapoulian

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreJeffery M. Lamont's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreVessi Kapoulian's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Jeffery M. Lamont

Vessi Kapoulian

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jeffery M. Lamont's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreVessi Kapoulian's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreJeffery M. Lamont's LinkedIn Performance