Season 2 Episode 001

The Secret to the Million Dollar Mountain: Why Alice Tang is Pulling Others Up

Alice Tang

In this special episode of Women’s Million Dollar Conversations, we’re flipping the script! My dear friend, Laura Salerno Owens, joins me as my fabulous guest host to turn the tables, with the interviewer becoming the interviewee.

Tune in as I reflect on the WMDC project and share how the last three years have shaped my views on financial freedom, building meaningful community, and leaving a legacy that lasts for generations to come.

Episode 63

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"Who has a burning desire to get herself on the same mountain of a million dollars? Grab onto the rope, I'm pulling you up."

Alice Tang - Financial Expert, Professional Speaker & Podcast Host

Clips

Find your role model

Welcome Laura

Money creates peace of mind

Financial stability creates freedom

Doing it for me

The top is flat

Make your dream have clarity

Honor what you want

Experiencing challenges is still a blessing

Micro mentoring

Make the decision

Transcripts

Alice: There are more women who are willing to look at that dream and say, “I can do it.” Because when you make a decision that you can do it, your hope will come. [music] I’m Alice Tang, the host of Women’s Million-Dollar Conversation. Today I’m sitting in a studio interviewing one of my best champion, Laura Seno Owens, my good friend, my comrade and my confidence. Um, a lot of you heard about women’s million-dollar conversation. We are here to create a lot of role models for our audience, woman audience to relate to so that they too can reach their million. Welcome, Laura.
Laura: Thank you so much. And Alice, I’m very excited that we are now flipping the script because you have now interviewed over 60 women, I believe, on this podcast, but I don’t know that anyone’s interviewed you. I haven’t had the pleasure yet. And you know, I’m a lawyer by training. So, are you ready for your cross-examination? [laughter]

Alice: I can try because I did no wrong. [laughter]

Laura: That’s what they all say. No. Um, actually I’m really excited to talk to you, Alice, because on this podcast and on this project, you’ve profiled so many women who’ve inspired others. Um, but I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that you have been inspiration for so many. So, I’m really excited to have this opportunity to ask you some questions. So, I will request permission to treat the witness as friendly. [laughter]
Laura: And um, let’s dive in. You know, Alice, I am curious um for you particularly someone who has a background in financial services and is an expert with money. How has the value of money changed for you as you now are in a different season of your life?

Alice: It has always been for my security. So having a lot of money or having the ability to accumulate money is really giving me a peace of mind so that I can sleep in night time. But even with that I may not be able to sleep because what is enough?

Laura: Absolutely. Mhm.

Alice: So in the past year I had somewhat I called a immobility event. It’s only 13 weeks I struggle to walk because one of my foot had a bone spur and then I have a lot of things uh that cause the uh sw uh the foot to be swollen. So money is there and there about earlier part of this year I think you are actually an inspiration to me. You have shown me the book die with zero and the book talk about the harmony amount time health and money. So being a financial advisor of course um we map out is there enough but when there is enough people still continue to accumulate not that is a bad thing but when are we going to leverage this money what we call a two to maximize our life experience knowing that we don’t always have the time our loved ones not necessarily always have the time even I live long until I age 100% Mhm. And um how about my health? Yeah. My today’s health is different from the health in my 20s. Mhm. I’m not climbing the Himalayas. Mhm. And I’m afraid of height. So, [laughter]
Laura: but I do love that concept in Die with Zero that basically is when is enough. And I also appreciated that the forward in that book says listen, if you’re someone who’s living paycheck to paycheck, this book isn’t for you. And I appreciate that recognition that having financial stability does give you a bit of freedom. And so I’m curious that for you when you felt that you had this financial freedom or this stability, how has that now impacted your choices?

Alice: It’s like what I call a like switch. If you remember, it’s not like these days like the clapper, the clapper or [laughter] my phone on and off. is really the switch. So having the switch in our hand means I have 100% complete control of my staying and going. Staying means I continue to do what I want to do because I love it. Yeah. But going might not mean anything for no reason or some reason. I have to take a break for my family. of take a break for my 13w week healing of my [snorts] food and many other things and I might really conquer my fear and climb the Himalayas.

Laura: So, well, and I think that analogy of mountain climbing, particularly here in the Northwest, [laughter]
Laura: is a helpful one. And um something I think about with when you’re climbing a mountain or going on a journey, is the concept of having the security to let certain things go so the journey is not so heavy. And I’m curious in this stage of your life, what do you feel like maybe you’ve had to shed to open things up in the next chapter?

Alice: for me. Um, you can call me very competitive like you. I love to win. Isn’t it the best? Yes. [laughter] Um, [clears throat] at the same time, I think it’s more about catching up with the Jones. Mhm. So, um, the simple example is if Laura has bought two homes and pay for it, I want to be there. Laura has um done this. I want to be there. But is this good for me? Am I doing it for me really or am I doing it for Laura? So if it’s doing it for me, if I really love to have two homes, go ahead, do that, right? But knowing me, I don’t even want to maintain my personal one home. [laughter] Buying two homes and have to, you know, make sure that the things are being done, you know, landscaping and everything is not my cup of tea. It may be a cup of tea for somebody else. So living somebody’s else perceived perfect life is what I want to shed.

Laura: I think that is really powerful. Sometimes I find myself saying they like what would they think or what would they say and then you have to pause and be like who’s the they and why am I living my life for they? Why am I buying a second house for they? [laughter]
Laura: Um so you know we’ve been talking about um money and legacy and you know the book Die with Zero is very big on different types of wealth and I think one of the ways you can be the most rich is to practice gratitude and so I’m curious for you what is something that you’re really grateful for?

Alice: Now I’m a woman I can change my mind [laughter]

Laura: obviously.

Alice: So today, what I’m grateful for is I wake up, I could walk, I could do my daily routine, including talking to my divine, and I can dress myself up. I drive myself here. That means I’m breathing oxygen.

Laura: Mhm.

Alice: And I get to meet with the team who is behind the scene. And then you arrive and then we have this conversation. I’m most grateful for the ability to still breathe breathing oxygen and have good friends like you who believe in what I said. You took it and run. You are my first guest

Laura: and I was very grateful to be your first guest and extremely grateful for these relationships which I think is the cornerstone of this project and what you’re doing.

Alice: Yes. Let’s get more women to be in our million dollar mountaintop because the top is flat. It’s not like you get there, I lost my position. No, we fight for each other in the room when one of us is not in there.
Laura: That makes me wonder if you were to be sitting down with a friend or a younger person and giving them some advice on how they could build financial freedom with intentionality, what’s some advice you would give to them?

Alice: First, I say know what you want, your desired dreams, and have a very good clarity of it. Think about it. How do you want it to look like, sound like, and feel like? Um, from then, I’m bold to say that majority of the things we want in life is having a direct or indirect relationship with money. So find out the number to take you there. And now life will flow as curve balls after curve balls. challenges happened. When you’re at a crossroad, you don’t know what to do. Go back to that vision and ask yourself, will making this decision, doing this action or reaction help me to get to my desire or my dream? Would that be helpful?

Laura: I think it would. And you know, one thing you mentioned was this concept of curveballs.

Alice: Yes.

Laura: which that’s life in a nutshell, right? So, I’m curious to know for you,
Laura: what struggles have you had to overcome or obstacles or lessons have you learned? Like what have been some of those curve balls for you?

Alice: Um, my age and my brought up majority of those curve balls is how people perceive me. So, I think there is a saying called societal pressure. You need to go along go along with the group. Um I still do a lot of that but I do ask myself [snorts] given the fact that I know um time and health is not permanent it could be taken away any time um the decision I make if I’m not honoring what I want will that be at the expense of the balance of time and health that I have for me and for my loved ones. After all, what money do is to buy time. Time with our loved one. Time to do things I want to do.

Laura: I completely agree. I think time wealth is one of the most undervalued forms of wealth. And I I couldn’t agree more with that. [laughter]

Alice: Yes. Yes. Totally. Because how much time do we do you have? Do I have? I don’t know. Laura: Well, one thing you say that I think is so impactful is that we all have the same amount of time and you have it down to the hours. What is it? Is it like 168 hours a week or something?

Alice: Yes, that’s right. That’s right.

Laura: You know, we all have the same set amount of hours, but what what do we do with it? How do we use it?

Alice: Exactly. And when you look back um on a daily basis, only if we do, sometimes we just too busy, especially for a successful mom like yourself. I mean, a super career woman, you don’t sit down and think about what have you done, but you think about, you know, what have I done today?

Laura: Yeah. Yeah. I I do think that that is one thing to kind of keep in the conversation, right, is time, wealth, and other forms of wealth. Um, so I’m curious, you now have set on this project, as I said earlier, you’ve talked to over 60 women who have hit
Laura: this milestone of a million dollars saved, sold, or earned in one year. Um, and other than mine, because I know that’d be the obvious answer, but what is the most memorable moment or interview from this project for you?

Alice: So, of course, other than Laura [laughter] today, I thought about Pamela Mack. Um, it’s nothing to do with money, but life is full of challenges. we just talked about in the darkest time or the most challenging time sometimes you felt it’s so hard to bear can I even move one step more um consider it a blessing that you can still feel it because only for those who are still breathing oxygen who’s trying to make life happen for herself and her family is able to feel the pain and the challenge the alternative is no, you’re up there.

Laura: It’s such a good point. I think sometimes we fall in the trap of wanting everything to be good. You know, we label it, this is good, this is bad, but often we don’t know what is good or bad until things come to pass. And I think you’re right, being able to feel that and go through that journey means to your point, we’re still alive. [laughter]

Alice: Well, it’s a precious moment today. Think about how busy we are. Mhm. We choose to square away some time to sit down and have this conversation. You could be helping three clients. Mhm. But you’re not. You see this is important.

Laura: Yeah.

Alice: Well, it’s me, too.
Laura: It’s community building. And I and I think that for me, it makes me wonder when you think about the future of this project, what does that look like for you?

Alice: Well, let’s talk about the present and then we can go to the future. The present is like if everybody can imagine that these guest that we have interviewed at women’s million-dollar conversation are standing of at the top of a million dollar mountain. They all saved, earned and made a million dollars. That’s where they share their insight, their skills and their tips with the people who’s looking up at this guest, this mentor and say, “I want to get to where you are at. I can relate to you. Tell me how.” So that’s the 1.0 version. The 2.0 version is all of us are still standing on the top of these million dollar mountain, but we are carrying a set of ropes. We said, “I’m flowing down the ropes.” Who has a burning desire in their mind to get to her same mountain of a million dollars? Grab onto the rope. I’m pulling you up. And that’s how I have the pleasure to partner with you. We are talking about mentors and mentees and it’s really about micro mentoring.

Laura: Yeah. the things that you’ve talked about with micromentoring, you know, the 15 minutes of time. I think that’s been so impactful because when we all are so busy, sometimes it feels like an hour coffee or whatever it might be, it’s too much. But to your point, sometimes all you need is 15 minutes and it can make a huge difference. And so given all of that, given that you’ve already talked over 60 women, you’re arming us with ropes [laughter] and you’re throwing them down. I want to close on um a vision. I want to know for you what’s the legacy that you hope to create and to leave with this project.
Alice: There are more women who are willing to look at that dream and say I can do it because when you make a decision that you can do it your hope will come. Everything land is when we are wishy-washy. Do I want it or do I not? Oh, maybe I’m not that good. Maybe it will take me a million years. Maybe I’m never going to retire. Maybe I have to work like 60 hours, 80 hours, which I had been. Mhm. Um for the rest of my life in order to make ends meet. No, the magic happen inside. You make that decision. There are a lot of these mentors at Women’s Million-Dollar Conversations and in the community who’s willing to give you that 15 minutes of advice. Just make a decision and go ask.

Laura: Well, thank you so much, Alice. This has been so fun and I hope you enjoyed being in the hot seat.

Alice: It was It’s really hot. [laughter]

Laura: Well, that’s just you. But thanks so much. It was wonderful chatting with you.

Alice: Thank you, Laura. [music]

Meet Alice Tang

Alice-Tang Cover Art (1)
Alice Tang knows what it’s like to start from zero. Growing up in Hong Kong and eventually immigrating to the United States without a network or a career path, she learned a fundamental truth early on: True wealth is built through the success of those around you. Alice believes that while your bank account measures your assets, your network measures your impact. As the host of the Women’s Million Dollar Conversation, Alice is a financial advising expert who has traded the traditional “transactional” business model for one built on radical generosity and deep connection.

From navigating the University of London with minimal English to immigrating to the U.S. with zero connections, Alice’s journey from “outsider” to 2023 Portland Business Journal Woman of Influence is a masterclass in resilience. Whether she’s facilitating a workshop or hosting the Women’s Million Dollar Conversation, Alice’s mission remains the same: to help individuals build wealth, cultivate value, and create a legacy of connection that lasts.
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