In this episode of The Lo-Down, Lorenzo Mercado sits down with Tony Hoong — better known as The CPA Dude — to break down practical, legal tax strategies that can help you keep more of what you earn in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you’re a W2 employee, side hustler, small business owner, or real estate investor, this episode is packed with actionable tips your CPA probably isn’t telling you. Stick around to the end so you don't miss any key strategies that could save you thousands of dollars.

We cover:

-The Building of the CPADude Tax Firm
-How W2 workers can reduce taxes
-Deductions most people miss and how to audit-proof your finances
-How to use the Augusta Rule to rent your home to your business — tax-free
-Real estate investor strategies like bonus depreciation and cost segregation
-Property Business & Entity Formation

Tony simplifies the complex and delivers strategies you can start implementing today.

Please give a 5 STAR REVIEW on Spotify or Apple Podcast and SHARE this episode.

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👥 Connect with Tony Hoong:
Website: https://thecpadude.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheCPADude_


🚀 Connect with Lorenzo Mercado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_
Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com

🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761
🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

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Share it with a friend who needs to hear it!

💡 Ready to stop overpaying the IRS? Hit play.

In this episode of The Lo-Down, Lorenzo Mercado sits down with Charles Lee, founder and CEO of Palmetto Superfoods — one of the fastest-growing açaí bowl brands in California.

What started as a single store in San Francisco has quickly become one of the most talked-about health food brands in California. Charles shares how he went from concept to execution, the mindset it took to scale brick-and-mortar, and why a focus on product quality over hype has been the key to long-term growth. From lessons in branding and leadership to scaling a brick-and-mortar business the right way, this episode is packed with insight for anyone looking to build a multi-million dollar brand from the ground up.

If you're an entrepreneur, real estate investor, or aspiring founder — this one's for you.

Topics Include:

• The early days of launching a food concept from scratch
• Why obsessing over the product is more important than marketing
• Lessons learned from opening multiple physical locations
• Branding vs. experience: how to get both right
• Building a team and company culture in food & beverage
• The biggest myths about starting a food business

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🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on Real Estate, Business, and Taking Action:

👥 Connect with Charles Lee:
Website: https://www.palmettosuperfoods.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/chacharleslee/

🚀 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_/

Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com

🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761

🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

💬 Like this episode?
Leave a five star review on your favorite streaming platform and share with a friend who would find value.

In this solo episode, Lorenzo Mercado pulls back the curtain on his latest moves in real estate. He shares real lessons from his recent house flips—including costly delays—and how those setbacks are shaping his mindset. Lorenzo also dives into his next big play: boutique hotel investing. He breaks down why he’s making the shift, what he’s learning, and how it fits into his long-term vision of building wealth and freedom. The episode wraps with a candid Q&A where Lorenzo answers listener questions on flipping mistakes, turning pro, and what success really looks like.

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Like what you hear?
Subscribe to The Lo-Down, drop a 5-star review, and share it with someone who would find value. Thanks for tuning in.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on Real estate, Business, and Taking Action👥

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🚀 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_/
Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com
Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761
Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

In this episode, Lorenzo Mercado sits down with Clay and Jonathan Velarde—brother entrepreneurs who turned a $15K investment into Parking Pros, a thriving valet and parking shuttle company.

They share how they went from working in their father’s valet business to launching their own operation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation dives deep into their growth journey, the challenges of standing out in a competitive industry, and the strategies that helped them scale.

Clay and Jonathan open up about the power of teamwork, customer service, and adapting to market shifts. They also talk about documenting their startup journey on social media, making smart investments, and the importance of marketing in business success. Plus, they share wild stories from the valet world—and a few game-changing books that shaped their entrepreneurial mindset.

If you're building a business, thinking about starting one, or just love real stories about grit and growth—this one’s for you.

Like what you hear?
Subscribe to The Lo-Down, drop a 5-star review, and share it with someone who would find value. Thanks for tuning in.

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🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on Real estate, Business, and Taking Action👥

Connect with Jonathan Velarde:
Website: https://valetparkingpros.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkingmogul

Connect with Clay Velarde:
Website: https://valetparkingpros.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clayvelarde

Listen to the Get After It Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2H4HRXUN8IEhs79vtgmcaU?si=7bdb6d0500574763

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🚀 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_/

Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com
Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761
Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

This week on The Lo-Down, we dive into the powerful journey of a Alex Kamenetsky, who went from heroin addiction and hitting rock bottom… to rebuilding his life with clarity, purpose, and action.

It wasn’t real estate that saved him—it was his brother, who stepped in when no one else could, and a rehab program in Israel that gave him a second chance. Once sober, he poured himself into learning the ins and outs of creative finance. That knowledge laid the foundation for where he is now: flipping houses, staying clean, and using his story to inspire others.

This episode is about more than real estate. It’s about redemption, second chances, and what’s possible when someone refuses to stay stuck in their past.

If you are someone who’s struggling with addiction, thinking about getting sober, or just ready for a change—this conversation is for you. You’re not alone. There’s hope, and there’s help. And no matter how far gone you feel, your story isn’t over.

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👥 Connect with Alex Kamenetsky:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexkamenetsky/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-kamenetsky-6a3611230/

🚀 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_/
Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com
🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761
🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3

💬 Like this episode?
Please leave a 5 star review and SHARE with someone who would find value.

In this episode of The Lo-Down, I sit down with Abbas Mohammed, founder of RemoteLeverage.com and a powerhouse real estate entrepreneur. Abbas shares his journey from humble beginnings as a real estate agent to becoming one of the top producers in the Bay Area, CA—all by working smarter, not harder.

We dive into how Abbas used virtual assistants (VAs) to multiply his productivity, build systems, and scale his business beyond what he could have imagined. He walks us through the exact ways VAs helped him gain back his time, increase efficiency, and ultimately grow a multi-seven-figure operation.

We also talk about the inspiration behind starting Remote Leverage, his VA staffing company, and how business owners across different industries can benefit from hiring VAs—whether it's for lead generation, admin tasks, marketing, or beyond.

If you're a real estate professional, entrepreneur, or just someone looking to optimize your business and reclaim your time, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won't want to miss. Please SUBSCRIBE, SHARE AND GIVE A 5 STAR REVIEW for the show if you found any value.


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👥 Connect with Abbas Mohammed:
Website: https://remoteleverage.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbasmohammedre

🚀 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_
Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com

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🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on Real estate, Business, and Taking Action:
https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761

🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3

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💬 Like this episode?
Please share or give a 5 star review on the listening platform of your choice!

In this episode of the Lo-Down, I sit down with Neil Shah, who brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and now owns 10 hotels. We dive into his journey from hotel management to ownership and what it really takes to build and operate successful hospitality businesses.
Neil breaks down the differences between independent, soft-branded, and flagged hotels, and shares the pros and cons of each. We also talk about the importance of guest experience, team retention, and having a long-term vision when it comes to portfolio growth.
He shares how his financing strategies have evolved over time, what he looks for in investment partners, and why treating real estate like a serious business is key. If you're interested in hospitality or want to scale in real estate, there’s a ton of value in this one.

💥 If you got value from this episode, please share it with a friend who's interested in real estate or hospitality, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. Please give a thumbs up or 5 Star Review for the Podcast.

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👥 Connect with Neil Shah:
Website: www.inntechhospitality.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nilang007/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilangs/

🚀 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_
Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com

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🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on Real estate, Business, and Taking Action:
https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

🎙️ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761

🎙️ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3

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Chapters
00:00
Introduction to Neil Shaw and His Portfolio
02:45
Understanding Hotel Branding: Independent, Soft, and Flagged
05:55
Pros and Cons of Different Hotel Types
08:48
Transitioning Between Hotel Types
11:59
Starting in Hospitality: Neil's Journey
15:08
Key Traits for Potential Hotel Partners
18:10
The Importance of Guest Experience
20:55
Mindset Shift: From Manager to Owner
24:06
Common Pitfalls for New Hotel Owners
26:12
Building a Serious Business Structure
27:32
Effective Management and Staff Retention
30:43
Challenges in Scaling Operations
34:48
The Importance of Patience in Growth
37:28
Evolving Financing Strategies
40:51
Navigating Market Opportunities
43:31
Long-Term Vision and Portfolio Management
45:09
Defining the Ideal Investment Criteria
47:38
Unique Experiences in Hospitality
50:09
Final Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Investors

In this episode of The Lo-Down, Lorenzo Mercado sits down with hotel investor and entrepreneur Alex Kang, who shares his inspiring journey from a 15 year career in consulting and tech into full time real estate and business ownership.

Alex opens up about his transition into short-term rentals 🏡, scaling into hotel acquisitions 🏨, and the critical lessons he's learned along the way—from raising capital 💰 through friends and family, building your business in public, navigating complex seller financing structures, and dealing with the realities of hotel operations.

Alex also dives into:

🔑 Why scalability matters in real estate investing
🤝 The power of trustworthy partners and broker relationships
🧠 The value of experienced mentors and teams
📢 Building in public and effective communication for fundraising
🕒Alex's bold leap into full-time entrepreneurship and how he manages time and focus to build wealth

If you're curious about hotels, this is your episode ! If you found value or loved the episode, please give a FIVE STAR REVIEW and SHARE the show. Thank you and enjoy!

Follow Alex Kang on instagram @s.alex.kang
https://www.linkedin.com/in/salexkang/

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Follow Lorenzo Mercado on instagram @lorenzo.mercado_