Podcasts about Asset

One of the realities of building wealth is that the more you have, the more you have to lose. Asset protection and estate planning aren't just legal technicalities—they're essential parts of safeguarding everything you've worked for.  The worst time to plan is when you actually need it. If you wait until you're facing a lawsuit, a creditor, or a sudden death in the family, it's already too late. Think of asset protection like insurance. Most of us wouldn't drive without auto insurance or own a home without homeowners' insurance. Yet many wealthy people operate businesses, hold investments, and build family wealth without putting legal structures in place to shield those assets. One lawsuit or one major life event can undo decades of hard work. On the estate side, not having a proper plan doesn't just cost money—it creates stress and hardship for your loved ones. Without a solid estate plan, your family could end up tied up in probate courts, fighting over assets, and losing valuable time and resources.  We've talked on this show before about basic steps everyone should take—like forming entities to protect your business or making sure you have not only a will, but also a living trust. Those are the starting points. But as your wealth continues to grow, your planning needs to grow with it. High-net-worth families have to think about more robust strategies—things like dynasty trusts, asset protection trusts, and the best jurisdictions to set them up.  These aren't just technical details. They're the difference between wealth that gets preserved and multiplies across generations and wealth that gets chipped away by taxes, lawsuits, and poor planning. To help us understand these tools at the highest level, I've invited perhaps the most respected attorney in this space—someone who is seen by other attorneys as the thought leader in asset protection and estate planning—Steve Oshins. Steve has pioneered strategies that are now industry standards, and his work has shaped how families across the country protect and grow their wealth. You're going to want to pay attention this conversation closely.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Is your agency's strategy diversified enough to withstand sudden algorithm changes? Today's featured guest—an SEO veteran—learned this the hard way. While he focused on client work, his own website grew outdated. Then one Google update hit and overnight his agency lost 80% of its organic traffic, its main source of leads. The agency eventually recovered, but not without leaving him with a powerful lesson: always invest in the three pillars of growth. In this episode, he shares his chaotic first encounter with SEO, the biggest lessons from a long career in the industry, and the “superpower” that helps him better understand and adapt to algorithm shifts. Chris Raulf is the founder of Boulder SEO Marketing and Chris Raulf SEO & AI Consulting. With decades of experience in SEO, dating back to before Google was even called Google, Chris specializes in hyper-focused SEO and content marketing strategies. He's worked with clients from local startups to major national brands, helping them dominate organic search. Fun fact: Chris is dyslexic and considers it his SEO superpower. In this episode, we'll discuss: The big mistake that led him to a career in SEO. The day 80% of his organic traffic disappeared. Why he now invests in the three pillars of growth. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. From Big Mistake to a Full-Blown Career in SEO Chris has been in the SEO game since before most of us knew it was a thing. Back in 1995, while working in Switzerland for an American company, he watched the birth of the search engine era. The US branch of the company created something called a “website” and hardcoded German text as images on it. His first “SEO problem” was figuring out how search engines could read that German text. That curiosity grew into a passion, and eventually a full-blown career. Fast forward to today, Boulder SEO Marketing is a hyper-focused SEO agency specializing in content strategies that win. But even with all that experience, Chris learned the hard way that no one is safe from the wrath of a Google core update. The Day Organic Traffic Disappeared In 2021, business was booming. Leads were rolling in purely from organic search. Then, overnight, a Google core algorithm update wiped out about 80% of their organic traffic. Why did this happen? Outdated content. Their own site had gone stale while they focused on client work. For an agency that relied almost entirely on inbound search leads, it was like someone padlocked the front door. Chris could have panicked, but after the initial shock, he collected himself and treated this crisis as an opportunity. He gave himself one weekend to create a comeback plan. The result was a proprietary approach he calls Micro SEO Strategies—laser-targeted content plays designed to quickly recover rankings and leads. Two Pages That Saved the Agency Chris rebuilt their inbound engine with just two key pieces of content: A location page targeting “Denver SEO” that shot straight to #1 in local search and started generating leads almost immediately. An SEO packages guide that became a go-to national resource for that search term, pulling in high-quality leads from across the U.S. Within 3–4 weeks, the phones were ringing again. Inbound was back. And Chris walked away with a hard-earned reminder—never let your own marketing go stale. Don't Put All Your Eggs in Google's Basket If you're getting all your leads from one channel, you're on borrowed land. Whether it's Google, Facebook, or any single source, an algorithm tweak or platform change can crush your lead flow overnight. Jason's advice on this is to build three pillars: Inbound (like SEO and content) Outbound (targeted outreach and prospecting) Strategic partnerships (referrals, collabs, and networks) That way, if one pillar crumbles, your agency can survive. Turning Dyslexia into a Superpower Like anyone who's struggled with dyslexia (like Jason, for instance) Chris had a hard time in school. Nowadays, however, he no longer sees it as a weakness and instead credits it with his ability to “feel” the algorithm and see patterns others might miss. It's helped him build a thriving agency, one that makes most of its money from content. Both agreed, what once felt like a setback in school became an entrepreneurial advantage later in life. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Thinking about tapping into your retirement accounts to buy a home or cover a big move? In this episode of Wise Money, we break down the pros and cons of using IRA or Roth IRA funds for non-retirement needs like down payments or relocation costs. We'll also answer listener questions on Roth conversions later in life, inherited IRA planning, and the five-year rule on Roth withdrawals. Season 11, Episode 2 Download our FREE 5-Factor Retirement guide: https://wisemoneyguides.com/    Schedule a meeting with one of our CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™: https://www.korhorn.com/contact-korhorn-financial-advisors/ or call 574-247-5898.   Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/WiseMoneyShow Listen on podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/WiseMoney  Watch this episode on YouTube: Submit a question for the show: https://www.korhorn.com/ask-a-question/   Read the Wise Money Blog: https://www.korhorn.com/wise-money-blog/    Connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WiseMoneyShow  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wisemoneyshow/    Kevin Korhorn, CFP® offers securities through Silver Oak Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Kevin offers advisory services through KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group. KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group and Silver Oak Securities, Inc. are not affiliated. Mike Bernard, CFP® and Joshua Gregory, CFP® offer advisory services through KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group. This information is for general financial education and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations. All investing and investment strategies involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Asset allocation & diversification do not ensure a profit or prevent a loss in a declining market. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

Tom Bodrovics welcomes Willem Middelkoop to the show. Willem Middelkoop is Author and Founder of the Commodity Discovery Fund. In this wide-ranging interview, Middelkoop discusses the evolving global financial landscape, emphasizing that the world is entering the "endgame" of the US dollar-centered monetary system that has dominated since World War II. Middelkoop argues that the Ukraine conflict and ongoing geopolitical tensions represent a broader struggle between the West and emerging powers like China and the BRICS nations. He believes the weaponization of the dollar has accelerated the shift away from US financial hegemony, with gold emerging as a strategic asset for alternative economic powers. Discussing market dynamics, Middelkoop suggests we are approaching a significant market top, potentially with a correction of 70-80% over the next decade. He recommends a diversified investment approach, suggesting investors allocate assets across physical gold, real estate, equities, and digital assets like Bitcoin. His Commodity Discovery Fund has survived and learned through challenging market conditions since 2008, positioning itself for what he sees as an emerging commodity boom. Middelkoop is particularly bullish on precious metals, especially silver, which he considers undervalued and potentially reaching $100 per ounce within five to ten years. He attributes this potential to fundamental supply constraints and increasing industrial demand. The ongoing debasement of currencies through continuous money printing provides further support for hard assets. Critically, Middelkoop warns that the real economic, sovereign, and currency crises are yet to unfold. He anticipates central banks will continue printing money to prevent social and political instability, which will further drive inflation and asset values. His perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding systemic changes and preparing accordingly, noting that financial stability can rapidly transform into chaos. The interview concludes with Middelkoop's optimistic view that patient investors in commodities and strategic hard assets will be well-positioned for the coming economic transitions.

Podcast host Mike Petrusky shares an update on his future plans for the show, industry conferences happening this fall, and the need for continuous learning in our asset and facility management journey. He discusses recent themes that have come up this past year, especially the impact of artificial intelligence and AI agents on the built environment and reminds us that we often overestimate short-term technological changes while underestimating long-term change. Digital Twins and BIM (Building Information Modeling) are key technologies that will enhance data management and provide a more holistic view of asset life cycles, so Mike recommends a philosophy of lifelong learning, networking, and participation in professional organizations for professionals in the FM industry. Upcoming conferences such as Autodesk University and IFMA's World Workplace offer valuable opportunities, so Mike shares his appreciation for recent recognition from the IFMA community and looks to continuously improve his podcasts as he tries to inspire you to be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/ Tune in to the “Workplace Innovator” Podcast: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Register for Autodesk University: https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/ Join Mike at IFMA's World Workplace: https://worldworkplace.ifma.org/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/  

In this episode of Nuggets On The Go, Melvin Lim from PropertyLimBrothers explains how to determine when it's the right time to switch to your Next Stronger Asset (NSA). With rising buyer interest and market shifts indicating a seller's market ahead, the timing of your property moves becomes critical.   Find out the three mechanics behind making this decision: identifying current trends, assessing risk in your existing asset, and spotting real opportunity on the ground. Different stages of a property journey—starting out, expanding, consolidating, or preparing for retirement—call for different strategies. He also shares how frameworks like PLB Disparity Effect help spot underpriced opportunities and emphasises why holding onto the wrong asset may limit your future flexibility.   Need advice on planning a portfolio restructure or considering an upgrade? This sharing offers grounded perspectives to help chart your next strategic move.   00:00 Intro 01:08 Action / Cost 02:55 "When" framework 03:29 Trends 05:54 Risk 11:44 Audience triangle 12:22 Investment season 14:22 Building healthy investment 16:46 Strongest season of your investment life 17:55 Opportunity 23:00 Creating a liquidity event 24:40 Closing 25:10 Outtakes

Legendary life insurance advisor Vince D'Addona shares his biggest insights from decades in estate planning, pensions, and working with top 1% clients. He reveals how permanent life insurance really works, why most people misunderstand its purpose, and how wealthy individuals use it completely differently than the average consumer.Want a Life Insurance Policy? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/bw-yt-aa-clarity Want FREE Whole Life Insurance Resources & Education? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/yt-bw-vaultWant Us To Review Your Life Insurance Policy? Click Here: https://bttr.ly/yt-policy-review______________________________________________ Learn More About BetterWealth: https://betterwealth.com====================DISCLAIMER: https://bttr.ly/aapolicy*This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.Financial Advice Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education, discussion, and illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice or recommendation. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of the information on this channel. Neither host nor guests can be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered.

For episode 591 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Violet Abtahi, Founder & CEO of Platonic. Violet Abtahi is a serial entrepreneur and investor with over two decades of experience in finance and blockchain technology. Under her leadership, Platonic is building enterprise-grade Layer‑1 blockchain infrastructure that bridges traditional and public blockchain ecosystems to enable secure, scalable issuance and distribution of real-world assets.  She also co-founded Enya Labs and Boba Network and has been recognized on Forbes' 40 Under 40 list for her impact in fintech. Violet is passionate about creating inclusive, privacy-first global financial systems that unlock abundance and human connection. Learn more about how Platonic is shaping the future of blockchain infrastructure and real-world asset tokenization by visiting platonic.io and connecting on X ( https://x.com/Platonic_io). ⏳ Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction(0:56) Who is Violet Abtahi?(5:26) Connecting Humanity with Infrastructure(7:00) What is Platonic?(12:52) Tokenizing Real World Assets(25:36) Platonic Use-cases(34:04) Platonic Roadmap(35:58) Platonic website, socials & community 

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Would you ever run two agencies at once? What if splitting your brand was the smartest way to protect and grow both? Today's featured guest spotted a booming opportunity in a regulated market—but knew that advertising those services alongside his work for conservative and tech clients could hurt his existing agency. His solution? Launch a separate brand. The move paid off as the regulated market surged during the pandemic. He shares what it's like to manage rapid growth, why he built a true people-first culture from day one, and how he stays optimistic even when agency life gets messy. Greg Peters is the founder of 4B Marketing and Hybrid Marketing in Denver, Colorado. 4B focuses on tech, energy, and government sectors, while Hybrid serves regulated markets—most notably the cannabis industry. A former tech sales pro turned serial entrepreneur, Greg's journey into agency ownership may have been accidental, but what's not accidental is how quickly he scaled. They hit $1M in revenue in their second year — and his people-first philosophy became the secret weapon behind his rapid growth. In this episode, we'll discuss: Why he chose to run two agencies. Growing to $1 million in just two years. Growing during the pandemic thanks to a controversial niche. Staying positive when agency life gets messy. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Running Two Agencies for Two Very Different Worlds Greg didn't set out to run two agencies. The split happened because of the cannabis side of the business. 4B's conservative government and tech clients wouldn't exactly appreciate a cannabis case study on the homepage. So Hybrid was born to serve the regulated, fast-growing cannabis market without spooking the more traditional side. This approach also positioned both agencies to thrive in their respective niches without brand confusion. For agency owners wondering when is it time to create new brands, separate brands aren't always about chasing new markets—they can be about protecting existing ones. If your positioning or client mix creates brand tension, a spin-off can give you room to grow in both spaces. From Accidental Agency Owner to $1M in Two Years Greg's path was a mix of corporate burnout and entrepreneurial curiosity. After years in tech sales and a detour into solar energy, he realized the big-company grind wasn't for him. So he launched a go-to-market consultancy for telecom.. Once creative work started flowing in—and his team started growing—he embraced the agency model. The real jump happened when he let go. In year two, Greg went from $600K to $1M by putting the right people in the right seats and empowering them to run their own “business units” within the agency. This is a shift most agency owners agree is vital to see true growth. However, it's usually uncomfortable and it takes time to make the decision to go all in. Greg made the leap quickly inspired by Richard Branson's philosophy in The Virgin Way. Years before starting the agency and as he read the book, he had already decided his mantra as a business owner should be putting people first and thus the people will put the client first. The result was a faster scale without burning out. The Pandemic Pivot: Cannabis Keeps Growing While many agencies hit pause in 2020, Greg's cannabis clients went into overdrive. With consumers stuck at home (and shopping local), demand spiked. That meant more competition, and suddenly the different cannabis providers needed more marketing to stand out. Hybrid Marketing doubled down on local search, “near me” campaigns, and brand differentiation—keeping clients top-of-mind while the industry boomed. For agency owners, this is a masterclass in following the growth. Greg didn't predict cannabis would save the year, but he positioned his agency to move quickly when the opportunity showed up. Sometimes the best growth strategy is staying close to your clients' markets and being ready to ride the wave. When the Org Chart Backfires Not every growth move is a win. One of Greg's biggest lessons came from rolling out an org chart he thought would streamline things—only to find it created confusion for clients and tension among the team. It was a gut punch, but also a turning point. He learned to check himself and remember this is only his first agency and there's still much to learn. Luckily, he was quick to strip out the toxicity created by that moment because culture eats strategy for breakfast. The goal isn't just to have a structure, it's to have one that actually works for your team and your clients. Staying Positive When Agency Life Gets Messy Greg has always naturally found himself on the more optimistic side of life. But his optimism isn't naive—it's built on grit, a strong support system, and relentless curiosity. From his wife's early encouragement (“It'll be okay,” even when the bank account said otherwise) to his own belief in learning every day, Greg credits mindset as much as skill for his success. For Greg, your network truly is your net worth and the more you can talk to people with the aim of creating a positive impact—whether that is on the financial business or helping somebody find a job or connecting them to a resource that'll help them—you put a lot of good stuff out into the universe without expectation, you'll get it back. Finally, curiosity is the most valuable trait an agency owner can have. Read widely, talk to people in and outside your industry, and always be asking, “What if?” It's that curiosity that fuels innovation, keeps you ahead of trends, and helps you navigate the inevitable ups and downs. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Carter's just pulled off what many retailers thought was impossible.  In only three months, the iconic children's apparel brand rolled out RFID technology across 700 stores:  improving accuracy on every item and making life easier for both store teams and customers. In this episode, Gina Maddaloni and Anna Marie Blackburn from Carter's join hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to discuss how RFID became central to Carter's retail operations, what it took to win buy-in across the company, and how it is improving both inventory management and customer experience. You'll also hear how Carter's uses RFID to cut payroll costs for year-end inventory by 50 percent, why the rollout became a recruiting tool for store teams, and where the company sees new opportunities to extend RFID into supply chain operations. In this episode, you'll learn: How Carter's achieved one of the fastest RFID deployments in retail Why RFID is no longer “too complex” or “too expensive” What's next as Carter's expands RFID use into its supply chain operations Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (01:29) Anna Marie and Gina's backgrounds (03:52) What RFID technology means for retail (06:47) The process of rolling out RFID across Carter's stores (13:21) RFID's impact on Carter's operational efficiency (17:49) RFID as a recruiting tool for store teams (18:54) Asset protection benefits and peace of mind (19:34) Expanding RFID into DC operations (21:35) What's next, Carter's move toward serialization (23:01) Advice for companies starting their RFID journey (24:02) Busting RFID myths: cost, complexity, and adoption (26:29) Favorite tech beyond RFID (29:22) What Gina and Anna Marie want to learn next Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn Connect with the guests: Gina Maddaloni on LinkedIn Anna Marie Blackburn on LinkedIn Check out Carter's Learn more about the GS1 US Solution Partner Program: https://www.gs1us.org/industries-and-insights/partners  

In a world where friendship costs roughly $250/month for Gen Z and millennials and nearly 60% say social spending impacts their financial goals, how do we balance wallets and relationships? Roger and Elias discuss how money dysmorphia is impacting our finances and what we can do to stay on track and find balance in our lives. Take control of your financial future: https://www.btwealthshow.com/start-planning Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this show are for general information purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, and financial or tax advisor prior to investing.  Premier Investments & Wealth Management and LPL Financial do not provide tax advice, please consult your tax professional.  Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. The purchase of certain securities may be required to effect some of the strategies. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.  All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible in the contribution year, with current income tax due at withdrawal. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax in addition to current income tax. A Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Qualified withdrawals of earnings from the account are tax-free. Withdrawals of earnings prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Consult your tax professional about eligibility to Roth and Traditional IRA contributions. Contributions and earnings in a Roth IRA can be withdrawn without paying taxes and penalties if the account owner is at least 59 ½ and has held their Roth IRA for at least five years. Traditional IRA account owners have considerations to make before performing a Roth IRA conversion. These primarily include income tax consequences on the converted amount in the year of conversion, withdrawal limitations from a Roth IRA, and income limitations for future contributions to a Roth IRA. In addition, if you are required to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) in the year you convert, you must do so before converting to a Roth IRA. Premier Investments & Wealth Management and LPL Financial do not provide specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.

Welcome to the fifth series in the annual podcast programme from Academic Archers, bringing you papers from our 2024 conference.This episode takes us beyond Ambridge, exploring the imagined history and real-world potential of the Felpersham Canal.The Felpersham Canal: An Asset Beyond Ambridge - Paul RodgersFor almost a decade in the author's imagination, the Felpersham Canal has taken shape as a living part of Borsetshire's landscape. This paper traces its story from its origins in the 18th century, through its heyday up to the 1920s, its years of decline, and the plans for its restoration and reconnection to the national waterways network via the River Severn.Drawing on the history of British canals, the presentation highlights the economic, social and environmental benefits of waterways, their transformative impact on communities, and what this could mean for Ambridge and its neighbours. Endorsements from waterways ambassadors including Sir David Suchet, Griff Rhys Jones, John Bishop, Sir Tim Smit, and Timothy Spall enrich the case for restoration.Following the conference, the Felpersham Canal Trust will launch as a Community Interest Company, creating a central hub for knowledge and resources to support over 50 restoration projects across the UK. It may even prove useful to The Archers scriptwriters.About the speakerPaul Rodgers is a passionate advocate for the UK's navigable canals and waterways. He has appeared on BBC Radio and Countryfile, and worked with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways to bring the sector's challenges to government attention. A former National Chair of the Inland Waterways Association, he hosted regular Waterways Webinars during the Covid period and leads hands-on restoration projects for volunteers of all ages. Beyond his volunteering, Paul is an entrepreneur, innovator, and community builder in the financial sector.If you enjoy our work and would like to support Academic Archers, you can Buy Us a Coffee - buymeacoffee.com/academicarchers. 

What is a writer's most important asset? A good teacher? A quiet room? An infinite book budget? An expensive pen? While all of these are nice, today I'm focusing on the one asset that everyone can access, freely and easily: their sense of curiosity. Even if you believe your curiosity has been stomped out long ago, we'll talk about how to rekindle and cultivate this amazing ability. Thank you for listening! For show notes and a full transcript of this episode, please visit: https://www.sarahwerner.com/the-ultimate-asset-for-writers-wn-169/  You can support the work I do here at the Write Now podcast on: Patreon: https://patreon.com/sarahrheawerner  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sarahwerner  PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sarahwerner  Or just share this episode with someone who might find it useful. :) Happy writing!
 — Sarah

How can People Analytics shift from being a cost center to being a profit center?Why is it critical for HR leaders to transform workforce insights into concrete strategic initiatives?My guest on this episode is Cole Napper, VP Research, Innovation, & Talent Insights at Lightcast and author of People Analytics: Using Data-Driven HR and Gen AI as a Business Asset”During our conversation Cole and I discuss:How generative AI is democratizing data-driven decision making in HR.Why Cole believes more People Analytics leaders could rise to the CHRO role in the next decade.Why people analytics teams need to intentionally link their work to tangible business outcomes.Why generative AI will disrupt traditional HR operating models.Why business acumen isn't just nice to have—it's the fundamental requirement for all HR professionals including people analytics. Connecting with Cole NapperConnect with Cole on LinkedInLearn more about Cole and his new book, “People Analytics: Using Data-Driven HR and Gen AI as a Business Asset”Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leadersHR Leader's Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

Troy Ericson is the owner of EmailMarketing.com and EmailDeliverability.com. Since 2020, Troy and his team have generated over $200M for clients through email copywriting, strategy, deliverability, and list management. His impressive client list includes Publishing.com, V-Shred, SmartMarketer, David Meltzer, Sam Ovens, and dozens more top brands. Ranked the #20 Copywriter in the world by Peter Tzemis, Troy is widely recognized as one of the top email marketers today. Outside of work, he's a musician and former college baseball player living in Colorado with his wife Julia.In this episode, Troy shares how musicians and entrepreneurs can transform their careers by mastering the fundamentals of email marketing and deliverability.Key Takeaways:Why every musician needs email to build lasting fan relationships and drive sales.How to fix deliverability issues that keep your messages from reaching inboxes.The sales mindset shift artists must embrace to sell more music and merchandise authentically. Discover more about Troy's work at EmailMarketing.com.---→ Discover more about Troy's work at EmailMarketing.com.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

The narrative of a global exit from U.S. assets has been loud this year, but the data tells a different story. In this week's episode of Market Matters, Lauren Goodwin and Julia Hermann explain why investor demand remains strong and what central bank flows reveal. 

Steven Bavaria, from Inside the Income Factory, discusses credit assets (0:30). Contextualizing PBDC's expense ratio (5:00). Clearing up confusion around Collateralized Loan Obligation, CLOs (7:00). Diving into Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (12:55). Ares Dynamic Credit Allocation Fund (15:15). This is an excerpt from last month's webinar, Investing For Income In An Uncertain Market.Show Notes:Steven Bavaria Takes Investors Inside The Income FactoryMPV And MCI: Great Funds, But Even Better With 'Dividend Holiday Trade'Episode transcriptsFor full access to analyst ratings, stock quant scores and dividend grades, subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium at seekingalpha.com/subscriptions

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training What happens when the agency you've built is just… stuck? Or when you hit a revenue ceiling, lose a major client, and start wondering if you've been playing the wrong game entirely? Those moments either break you or become the pivot points that redefine everything. In this episode, you'll hear from an agency owner who's lived through the grind growing his agency from scratch, riding out recessions, choosing a niche that would help him get out of “no man's land”. He'll discuss the strategic bet that broke through plateaus, why he still refuses to hire a COO, and the million-dollar risk that could have sunk him but ended up being a worthwhile bet on his vision. Alex Membrillo is the founder and CEO of Cardinal Digital Marketing, a 100-person specialist agency in healthcare performance marketing. Based in Atlanta, Alex launched Cardinal 16 years ago fresh out of college driven by equal parts ambition and desperation. Over the years, he's navigated economic downturns, client churn, plateaus, and tough hiring markets, ultimately transforming it from a generalist digital shop into a niche powerhouse serving multi-site medical and dental groups nationwide. In this episode, we'll discuss: Riding out recessions. Breaking plateaus and choosing a niche. Why he still prefers not hiring a COO. Alex's million-dollar bet on himself. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. Starting from Scratch (and a Hospital Room) Alex didn't start Cardinal with a polished business plan or a stack of VC cash — he started it the day after his first child was born. After watching his dad's business nearly collapse thanks to a terrible SEO agency, Alex vowed to do better. With a fraternity brother on board and the confidence of having built a website once at sixteen, they left the hospital, started cold-calling local businesses, and selling websites. That first chapter didn't exactly go as planned. The websites flopped, but an SEO win for a kayak tour company gave them the confidence (and proof) they needed to double down on search. From there, they expanded into paid ads and built a reputation on a simple promise: If we suck, we'll give you your money back. In the wild west of 2009 SEO, when big agencies were scrambling to go “digital” overnight, this direct, performance-focused approach gave them an edge. Riding Out Recessions & Staying Hands-On Recessions shaped Alex's early leadership style. In 2009, big agencies were struggling, but lean, hungry digital-first shops could move faster and win clients. That meant Alex was doing it all—account managing 20 clients, selling new business, running QuickBooks, and hiring unpaid interns just to keep things moving. In those early days, generalists are gold. If you're too small for deep specialization, having people who can juggle SEO, PPC, and client management was critical. Even now, with a bigger team, Alex stays close to clients—spending hours each week on calls. To him, the job never ends, and the size of the clients is the only thing that's changed thus far. Hence, staying in the work keeps his perspective sharp. Breaking Plateaus by Choosing a Niche By 2016, Cardinal had hit a wall at around $3.5M in revenue. At that stage, he realized what he had wasn't really a business. You're just a very good operator that probably has one or two big clients. The problem is that if those clients leave, as it happened to him when he was around $4 million, then you're down to zero again. They'd grown by targeting four sectors—higher ed, home services, healthcare, and legal—which did help propel the agency. However, growth stalled again at $7–8M. Then COVID hit, and Alex decided to stop playing the “variety” game. Inspired by Jim Collins' Hedgehog Concept, he asked: What can we be the best in the world at? What drives our economic engine? What do we actually love doing? The answer was healthcare. They rebranded, rewrote their site, published thought leadership, and even released a book to claim their spot in the niche. They didn't fire old clients—they just stopped marketing to non-healthcare prospects and let those accounts naturally roll off. Alex does wish he would've also kept a bit of focus on higher ed, another sector where the agency really shined. Nonetheless, the bet paid off: a laser focus on healthcare has helped them grow faster, build deeper expertise, and win larger multi-site provider clients. Why Alex Still Doesn't Have a COO Alex firmly believes you can grow out of most problems, so every time he felt the agency was stuck, he went right back to improving their marketing, getting bigger clients, and hiring talented people. It's a simple formula that has kept working for him throughout the years. However, here's where he breaks from conventional wisdom: even at 100+ employees, Cardinal has no head of operations or finance. Everyone, including him, is billable. “I've made the mistake 83 times of listening to experts who say ‘Go hire a COO,'” Alex says. In his view, it's just not worth it at that point in your growth. “Do as much as you can as the owner. Have all departments report to you. You don't need middle management pushing paper. You need smart, talented people actually doing the work.” That lean structure only works if you market hard and keep new business flowing. It gives you the freedom to walk away from bad-fit clients and double down on growth opportunities. AI as Your Board of Advisors Agency owners like Alex, who see no need to hire a COO or CMO while they can still manage things themselves, can now turn to AI as a resourceful solution, treating it like an in-house advisory board. Like fellow agency owner Chris Dreyer—who built custom GPTs for CFO and COO roles and used AI to better understand the business acquisition process—Alex is now considering feeding his P&L and monthly reports into AI to spot trends, explain fluctuations, and even validate assumptions. The takeaway: you don't need expensive consultants or bloated leadership teams to get strategic insight. With the right prompts, you can cut through the noise and focus on execution, the part AI can't do for you (yet). The Million-Dollar Bet on Himself One of Alex's biggest turning points came when he bought out his co-founder. His partner had lost interest in client work, and Alex saw no way forward without full control. After a year of negotiation, he signed a deal that left him $1M in debt. For three years, he funneled $35,000 a month from profits to pay it off, losing sleep and enduring massive stress. In hindsight, it was worth it, but it took “probably 30 years off my life,” Alex says. Still, it was a defining moment—proving to himself he was willing to bet big on his own vision. Thought Leadership as a Growth Engine Cardinal's healthcare niche dominance didn't just happen—it was engineered. Alex leveraged thought leadership to own the space. From content and events to industry-specific messaging, they positioned themselves as the go-to choice for multi-site healthcare providers. He's quick to point out this approach has pros and cons, but if you want his playbook, he's happy to share it—just reach out on LinkedIn. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Think you know taxes? Think again. In this episode of Wise Money, we uncover the most common tax misconceptions that could be hurting your financial plan. From mortgage interest myths to the truth about 401(k) contributions and gifting rules, we break down what's fact and what's fiction so you can keep more of your hard-earned dollars. Season 11, Episode 1 Download our FREE 5-Factor Retirement guide: https://wisemoneyguides.com/    Schedule a meeting with one of our CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™: https://www.korhorn.com/contact-korhorn-financial-advisors/ or call 574-247-5898.   Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/WiseMoneyShow Listen on podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/WiseMoney  Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YbBn_FsDioU  Submit a question for the show: https://www.korhorn.com/ask-a-question/   Read the Wise Money Blog: https://www.korhorn.com/wise-money-blog/    Connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WiseMoneyShow  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wisemoneyshow/    Kevin Korhorn, CFP® offers securities through Silver Oak Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Kevin offers advisory services through KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group. KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group and Silver Oak Securities, Inc. are not affiliated. Mike Bernard, CFP® and Joshua Gregory, CFP® offer advisory services through KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group. This information is for general financial education and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations. All investing and investment strategies involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Asset allocation & diversification do not ensure a profit or prevent a loss in a declining market. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

  Market rotation broadens beyond big tech, gold equities attract generalist capital, and energy stocks set up for future revaluations.   This weekend's KE Report...

On this episode of the Deal Farm®, Kevin and Ken talk with Ben Reinberg about his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Chicago to becoming a leader in commercial real estate. Ben shares the mindset, persistence, and smart investing strategies that helped him build a multi-billion-dollar hard asset empire. He dives into lessons from his new book, Hard Assets and Hard Money for Hard Times, offering practical advice for building and protecting wealth in any economic climate. Whether you're an aspiring investor or a seasoned entrepreneur, this conversation delivers valuable insights on discipline, focus, and creating generational success.

What does it really take to thrive as a real estate professional when the market collapses and short sales dominate? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Jacksonville native and seasoned agent Ethan Gregory, who has averaged 50+ transactions annually for over two decades. Ethan shares how he entered the industry after graduating from the University of Florida, beginning with flipping homes before the 2007–2008 crash shifted him into the world of short sales and REO properties. His adaptability, discipline, and problem-solving approach helped him thrive when many agents left the business. Ethan discusses how to navigate complex bank-owned transactions, manage distressed properties, and balance the demands of institutional clients. Beyond his professional expertise, he emphasizes the importance of industry involvement through leadership roles like serving as the 2025 president of Real MLS and contributing to Jacksonville's Historic Preservation Commission. His story is a roadmap for agents on resilience, strategy, and long-term success in volatile markets. If you're a real estate professional looking to strengthen your adaptability and learn from market veterans, make sure to subscribe to the Real Estate Excellence Podcast and share this episode with colleagues who want to prepare for the next market shift.   Highlights: 00:00 - 08:00 Early Career and Market Entry ·        Ethan's University of Florida background and sociology degree ·        Growing up around real estate with his father's influence ·        Getting licensed in 2004 and diving into flips ·        The market peak of 2006 and looming challenges ·        Transitioning from investing to being a full-time agent 08:01 - 16:30 Learning Short Sales and Surviving the Crash ·        Adapting to massive inventory post-2007 ·        Building expertise in short sales and REO ·        Coaching sellers and negotiating with banks ·        Partnerships with title companies and problem solving ·        Developing an analytical and detail-oriented approach 16:31 - 25:00 The REO Business Model ·        What makes REO agents different from luxury agents ·        Handling code violations, fines, and neglected properties ·        Working with cities on compliance and patience in deals ·        Asset managers and their expectations ·        The challenge of distressed home conditions 25:01 - 33:00 Market Cycles and Transaction Realities ·        Comparison of 2008 and today's market conditions ·        The importance of proactive pricing and repairs ·        Why inspections are the top deal-breaker today ·        Advice for agents handling REO sales ·        Buyer misconceptions about getting “deals” on foreclosures 33:01 - 42:00 Industry Shifts and MLS Leadership ·        Changes in regulations and processes since 2007 ·        Banks becoming better “neighbors” with foreclosures ·        Repair strategies for maximizing property value ·        Importance of involvement in MLS boards ·        Balancing personal business with industry service 42:01 - 50:00 Advocacy, Policy, and the Future of Real Estate ·        Why RPAC and legislative advocacy matter ·        Rising insurance costs and affordability challenges ·        The evolution of MLS data sharing across Florida ·        Breaking down “old guard” barriers to information ·        How agents can stay ahead of industry changes   Quotes: “Your real estate agent is like your advisor. Your professional that is going to help you through the transaction.” – Ethan Gregory “If there is a hundred thousand dollars in violations and the home is worth a hundred thousand dollars the city will negotiate and settle.” – Ethan Gregory There is no emotion in it for institutional sellers. It is all about their numbers and a clean contract.” – Ethan Gregory “The more you give the more you get back in return.” – Ethan Gregory   To contact Ethan Gregory, learn more about his business, and make him a part of your network, make sure to follow him on his Website, Instagram, and Facebook.   Connect with Ethan Gregory! Website: https://jaxhomesrealty.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethangregoryrealtor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EthanGregoryRealtor   Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com   Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com    SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best.   #RealEstateExcellence #EthanGregory #REO #ShortSale #Foreclosure #JacksonvilleRealEstate #CodeViolations #TitleClearing #InvestorTips #FirstTimeAgents #MLS #NEFAR #FAR #DataShare #MarketShift #HomeBuying #Inspections #Appraisal #PricingStrategy #FloridaRealEstate

Adam, Joanna, and Zach share some context and thoughts about the recent showing not just a noticeable decline in respondents who drink, but a particularly large drop in those who identify as Republicans. Has a new era of right wing political leaders and influencers really caused that kind of change in behavior, particularly among young people? Are there other factors at play? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and be well.Adam is reading: TVs in Cocktail Bars Are Divisive — but Can They Be an Asset?Joanna is watching: Places PleaseZach is reading: After Conquering the U.S. Open, Is the Honey Deuce Coming for Your Cooler?Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want to run a consulting business that feels lighter and more in your control, you need to start thinking like a million-dollar business owner, before your business is anywhere near that level.This is part two of my series on the Million Dollar Mindset. In part one (Episode 231), we covered the first two pillars of the million dollar consultant's mindset. Today, we finish the two-part series with the remaining four ways of thinking that separate a $200K consultant from one who can confidently generate and sustain a $1M consulting business.These aren't abstract concepts. You'll hear how to approach demand creation, pricing, IP development, and resilience in a way that keeps you utilized with fulfilling work, your fees aligned to value, and your confidence intact, even when the business throws you curveballs.What you will learn in this episode:[12:15] Demand ownership – taking full responsibility for lead flow instead of waiting.[18:44] Value-centric pricing – anchoring fees to the client's outcomes, not your hours.[24:58] Asset thinking – turning your expertise into repeatable frameworks, tools, and systems that build leverage.[29:45] Growth resilience – moving forward despite fear, rejection, or uncertainty.By the end, you'll know exactly which of the six pillars (from Episodes 231 and 232) needs your attention next, and how to start shifting into a million-dollar mindset today.Tune in to Episode 232 to hear the final four (of six) pillars of the $1M Independent Consultant Mindset and learn how to leverage this mindset to accelerate your consulting revenue growth and hit your business goals.Related ResourcesFull Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-232/Join the waitlist for Melisa's Business Brain Journal, https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products Related Podcast Episode: Episode 231 – The Million Dollar Mindset for Independent Consultants (Part 1), https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-231/ Work with Melisa: Apply for a Coaching Exploratory call at https://www.consultmelisa.com   Want More?Get Melisa's Book: https://www.melisaliberman.com/bookVisit with Melisa's Website: www.melisaliberman.com Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melisa-liberman Get Notified When Melisa's Products Launch: https://www.melisaliberman.com/growth-atlas-products Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.

In this conversation on "TAX ALPHA", Frazer Rice and BRENT SULLIVAN (of TAX ALPHA INSIDER) delve into the complexities of tax awareness in investing, focusing on capital gains, income tax, and various strategies for tax efficiency. They discuss the importance of tax loss harvesting, the challenges of managing concentrated portfolios, and the implications of estate planning. The conversation emphasizes the need for advisors and trustees to understand these strategies to optimize tax outcomes for their clients. https://youtu.be/pCIXFq4YoS0 Outline of Tax Alpha Quick Overview of Tax Rates Ordinary vs Capital Gain (Usually Income vs Asset based taxation) Short Term vs Long Term (Long Term Treatment) (we'll talk about Estate Later) Federal vs State (Can be important!) Netting Losses/Deductions vs Gains and Income Owning assets Taxable vs Non-Taxable vehicles https://open.spotify.com/episode/3uL924aOlPd2hgmC9s7KCI?si=hBS09OKDTd-uHhT8PAj7aA Tax Alpha in stock investing (Universe) Long Only Concentrated Positions Timing – Getting LT Capital Gain treatment Basis – increasing basis Exchange / 351 Funds to defer and diversify Dramatic foreshadowing with step-up later in estate context Blind Trusts for political appointees Diversified Positions Passive (Lower Cost, acceptable returns, “lower risk/tracking error”) Active (Now frowned upon – except in the after tax world w/ TLH) Deferral Carve-Outs like QOZ's Tax Lost Harvesting Owning an index vs owning a sample of the index Buying Coke and selling pepsi Wash Rules Loss Carry Forwards Capital Losses / Not Ordiany Losses Amplified Tax Loss Harvesting Own the sample of Index AND Borrow off those holdings to create long and short positions to generate capital losses while having beta of 1 Trends: Pre-Liquidity Event planning Storing Losses for the bulky sale Timing the event(s) to have the losses line up with the gains Pre-Diversification planning Pre Death Planning Integrating the Estate Planning with the Income/ Cap Gains Planning Step-Up Avoiding Estate Tax, But Prolonging the Cap Gains Tax exposure (and concentration risk?) Grantor Tax status and he swap power How does turbo charged loss creation look in an estate environment? Trustee/ Executor and Fiduciary / Beneficiary risk issues Vehicle evolution Funds SMA's 351 and other ETF vehicles (+/-‘s) PPLI,PPVA How did you develop this expertise? How do we find you? Transcript of Tax Alpha Frazer Rice (00:01.122)Welcome aboard, Brent. Brent Sullivan (00:03.035)Well, happy to be here, Fraser. Frazer Rice (00:04.558)It's fun to chat in person. I've been following it to call a blog I don't think gives it the proper respect because I think you're uncovering a lot of great information for advisors like me and wealthy people and other people generally speaking in terms of Really getting going on the tax alpha end of it Let's start a little bit with some basics because I think you know for someone new to the concept of Being particularly tax aware in terms of investing taxes can be, they're more than just income tax, that's for sure. How do you think about it? How do you get your framework around what people are trying to avoid when they're dealing with their investable portfolios? Brent Sullivan (00:45.723)Yeah, I mean, there are really just a couple of different ways to break it down, but I probably start with the concept of a capital gain as a distinct thing from income tax. so capital gains come in really like four different flavors. There's short-term capital gains, short-term capital losses, and then long-term capital gains, long-term capital losses. And then these things are different if you have collectibles or other types of instruments too. But the point is here that you've got those four quadrants that you're always sort of operating in.

In this episode, we explore the key geopolitical risks—from trade and AI to deficits and conflict—and their impact on markets. To read this week's Sight|Lines, click here. The views expressed in this podcast may not necessarily reflect the views of Stifel Financial Corp. or its affiliates (collectively, Stifel). This communication is provided for information purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against loss. © Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rahul Auradkar, executive VP and GM at Salesforce, grew up in India with a deep passion for cricket, where his love for the game sparked an early interest in data. This fascination with statistics laid the foundation for his current work leading Salesforce's Data Cloud and Einstein (Unified Data Services) team. Auradkar reflects on how structured data has evolved—from relational databases in enterprise applications to data warehouses, data lakes, and lakehouses. He explains how initial efforts focused on analyzing structured data, which later fed back into business processes. Eventually, businesses realized that the byproducts of data—what he calls "data exhaust"—were themselves valuable. The rise of "old AI," or predictive AI, shifted perceptions, showing that data exhaust could define the application itself. As varied systems emerged with distinct protocols and SQL variants, data silos formed, trapping valuable insights. Auradkar emphasizes that the ongoing challenge is unifying these silos to enable seamless, meaningful business interactions—something Salesforce aims to solve with its Data Cloud and agentic AI platform.Learn more from The New Stack about the evolution of structured data and agent AI: How Enterprises and Startups Can Master AI With Smarter Data Practices Enterprise AI Success Demands Real-Time Data PlatformsJoin our community of newsletter subscribers to stay on top of the news and at the top of your game.

TO BUY GOLD & SILVER, contact Andy's firm at info@milesfranklin.comPrecious metals expert Andy Schectman returns to answer all your precious metals-related questions.#goldprice #silver #preciousmetals __________________________________________________Thoughtful Money LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor Promoter.We produce & distribute educational content geared for the individual investor. It's important to note that this content is NOT investment advice, individual or otherwise, nor should be construed as such.We recommend that most investors, especially if inexperienced, should consider benefiting from the direction and guidance of a qualified financial advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state securities regulators who can develop & implement a personalized financial plan based on a customer's unique goals, needs & risk tolerance.IMPORTANT NOTE: There are risks associated with investing in securities.Investing in stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds, mutual funds, money market funds, and other types of securities involve risk of loss. Loss of principal is possible. Some high risk investments may use leverage, which will accentuate gains & losses. Foreign investing involves special risks, including a greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.A security's or a firm's past investment performance is not a guarantee or predictor of future investment performance.Thoughtful Money and the Thoughtful Money logo are trademarks of Thoughtful Money LLC.Copyright © 2025 Thoughtful Money LLC. All rights reserved.

As moms, it's easy to believe our limitations are holding us back. Not enough time, not enough energy, too much on our plates. But what if those very limits are the key to growth? In this week's Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, Stephanie Stutznegger shares how embracing her limitations as a mom of four transformed her family life from burnout and clutter to systems that actually work. We talk about: The unexpected gift of limits A surprising addition to the family chore chart How she made cleaning fun again The small shifts that created big change   Her story if full of simple wins and powerful reminders that we don't have to do it all, we just have to do it all, we just have to do it together.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you growing your agency with the goal of selling it one day? More importantly, are you taking the right steps now to ensure it's actually worth what you think it is? Today's featured guest has built and sold multiple agencies over the years, gaining hard-earned insights into the process. He shares what you need to know to prepare your agency for sale, the potential pitfalls and opportunities with non-competes and earnouts, and whether hiring a broker is really worth it. If selling your agency is on your horizon, or even just a long-term possibility, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you maximize your valuation and avoid costly mistakes. Sean Hakes has been building and selling digital marketing agencies since the early 2000's back when ‘SEO' wasn't a household term and websites were still coded in tables.. He's grown agencies from small side hustles into multi-million-dollar operations, navigated multiple acquisitions, and learned the hard way how to structure a deal and when to walk away. In this episode, we'll discuss: Getting savvier for his second agency sale. Not taking the highest bid, but picking the right buyer. Getting back to the game after a restrictive non-compete. Buying back his old agency. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. How a Major Mistake Started His Agency Journey Most agency owners start by accident, but in Sean's case, he accidentally broke a website. While working for another company, he took down their site and had to learn HTML on the fly to fix it. That crash course turned into a curiosity for web design, which turned into a small SEO and design shop in Denver around 2001–2002, back when keyword stuffing and white text on a white background actually worked. Sean's first agency wasn't huge—three or four people, a few hundred grand in revenue—but their search visibility was strong. That alone was enough to attract an out-of-state buyer. The deal wasn't life-changing money, and looking back he thinks (since he didn't know anything about valuations) that he probably gave it away, but it was enough to get Sean hooked on the idea of building, growing, and eventually selling agencies. The “Do It Better” Second Act After dabbling in landscaping, trucking, and even diamond brokering businesses following the sale of his first agency, Sean realized marketing was still his zone of genius. This time, he teamed up with a sales-savvy partner. Sean handled operations; his partner brought in a big book of business. That agency scaled to about $3 million in revenue before they decided to sell—but not before learning a hard truth about valuations: top-line revenue doesn't mean much without profit. When they first went to a broker, they were shocked to get a $100k valuation. Why so low? No recurring contracts, thin margins, and too much discretionary spending. So they spent the next year tightening up—signing contracts, cutting waste, and boosting profit. It's a lesson many agency owners dreaming of selling at some point have to learn. You may think that making millions in topline revenue means your business is worth a lot, and then you learn there are many factors that determine that price, and profit is a pretty big one in the agency space. Understanding Deal Structures (and Picking the Right Buyer) The second sale was a much more strategic process. Sean and his partner used a broker, entertained multiple offers, and discovered there are a million ways to structure a deal. The one they chose was about half cash up front, with the rest split between owner financing and an earnout. Here's the kicker: they didn't take the highest bid. Instead, they picked a private equity group that specialized in their industry and cared about their team and clients. They passed on flashier offers, like one from a New York club owner, because they valued long-term success over a quick payday. They also learned brokers are very expensive. In fact, if he could do it all over again with the knowledge he has now, Sean wouldn't use a broker. Playing the Earnout Game (and Winning It) Earnouts can be a trap, designed to look great on paper but structured so you'll never hit the target. Sean and his partner weren't having it. They stayed on the sales team, volunteered their time, and treated the earnout like a commission plan they could win. The trick for them was conservative projections. Instead of promising buyers a wild 50–100% growth rate (and setting themselves up to miss), they targeted a steady 10% growth. This set the earnout bar at a realistic level—and they smashed it. They even negotiated out their broker's cut of the earnout once they knew they'd hit it, keeping 100% of the upside. From Restrictive Non-Competes to Freedom Deals Sean's second agency sale came with a brutal seven-year non-compete—likely unenforceable, but restrictive enough to stress him out. Five years in, low on reserves, he approached the buyer with a proposal: let him start another company without poaching their clients. Instead of a fight, they offered to partner with him, gave their blessing, and even returned his old domains. That experience stood in stark contrast to another sale where the non-compete was simply, “Stay out of our 30-mile radius.” Takeaway: Non-compete terms can vary wildly. Negotiate them up front, and remember that relationships matter long after the ink is dry. The Cashless Merger That Led to a Full Cash Exit In 2011, Sean started another agency, Altitude. Five years later, he merged it with another company in a cashless deal to boost revenue and valuation. Within a year, an unexpected buyer came along with a full-multiple, all-cash offer—and only wanted one person to stay on. Sean took the deal, pocketed the money, and moved to the beach in South Carolina to run a fishing charter. “The old saying about boats, being happiest when buying and selling them, is true,” he laughs—but the experience checked a personal dream off his list. Buying Back His Old Agency In a very full-circle moment, the company that had bought Sean's agency in an earlier deal came back to him in trouble. Mismanagement, bad outsourcing, and unhappy clients had turned it into a sinking ship. Sean and his new partner jumped on the opportunity, bought it back for a fraction of what they'd sold it for, rehired many of the original team, and turned it around within months. Sometimes the best acquisition target is one you already know inside and out—especially if you can buy it back at a discount and restore its former glory. Sean's Advice to Agency Owners Thinking About a Sale Don't take the first “decent” offer. The buyer pool is bigger than you think—negotiate. Be strategic with brokers. Great ones exist, but remember that they get paid if you sell, so their advice may be biased. Control your earnout terms. Conservative projections give you room to exceed expectations and actually cash in. Relationships last longer than deals. Today's buyer could be tomorrow's partner — or seller. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

There are many theories that attempt to explain the "special" relationship between US imperialism and the Zionist entity. Listen in to this masterclass as Max Ajl explains and details the historical roots of this relationship   Max Ajl is a fellow at MECAM/University of Tunis, a Senior Fellow at University of Ghent and an associated researcher at the Tunisian Observatory for Food Sovereignty and the Environment. He is an associate editor at Agrarian South and Journal of Labor and Society, and has written for The Journal of Peasant Studies and the Review of African Political Economy. His book, A People's Green New Deal, was published in 2021 with Pluto Press.   I.G. @TheGambian Twitter: @maxajl @MomodouTaal

Show Highlights: Revisiting Ep. 111: Ag's Asset Problem and Rural Blight [00:38] How your feedback improves thinking and learning. [04:13] Outpaced, misaligned small country elevator challenges. [06:42] Hyper-local solutions to make antiquated assets work. [10:26] Discover a novel entrepreneurial use of defunct truck houses. [14:00] Explore a listener's elevator “checkoff” fund proposal. [15:13] A truck house retention criteria from a company successfully reducing them. [17:01] Why evolving opinions with new data and ideas matters. [23:24] Community participation shaping The Pacesetter Pod. [24:35] If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Retirement is often imagined as a season of freedom and fulfillment—but reality doesn't always line up with expectations. In this episode of Behind The Wealth, we explore surprising insights from recent studies on how retirees' actual experiences differ from workers' assumptions. We'll unpack: The mismatch between retirement expectations and reality  Why many retirees face unexpected challenges with income, healthcare costs, and lifestyle changes How to create a retirement plan that allows you to enjoy your savings without fear Strategies to balance longevity with living the retirement you've worked so hard for Take control of your financial future: https://www.btwealthshow.com/start-planning Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this show are for general information purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult with your attorney, accountant, and financial or tax advisor prior to investing.  Premier Investments & Wealth Management and LPL Financial do not provide tax advice, please consult your tax professional.  Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. The purchase of certain securities may be required to effect some of the strategies. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.  All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible in the contribution year, with current income tax due at withdrawal. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax in addition to current income tax. A Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Qualified withdrawals of earnings from the account are tax-free. Withdrawals of earnings prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Consult your tax professional about eligibility to Roth and Traditional IRA contributions. Contributions and earnings in a Roth IRA can be withdrawn without paying taxes and penalties if the account owner is at least 59 ½ and has held their Roth IRA for at least five years. Traditional IRA account owners have considerations to make before performing a Roth IRA conversion. These primarily include income tax consequences on the converted amount in the year of conversion, withdrawal limitations from a Roth IRA, and income limitations for future contributions to a Roth IRA. In addition, if you are required to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) in the year you convert, you must do so before converting to a Roth IRA. Premier Investments & Wealth Management and LPL Financial do not provide specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan interviews Maryssa Baron, Founder & CEO of BuildQ, an AI-powered platform transforming clean energy project development and finance. Maryssa shares her journey from pioneering early PPAs to becoming an attorney and COO at a global IPP, before launching BuildQ. She explains how AI is reducing risk, cutting OPEX, and streamlining due diligence and financing. They also discuss the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill, safe harbor challenges, and why unsubsidized solar remains competitive. Maryssa offers practical advice for entrepreneurs and insight into how AI is reshaping renewable energy.   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MW of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions.. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar.   Maryssa Barron Maryssa Baron is the Founder & CEO of BuildQ, an AI-powered platform streamlining clean energy project development, financing, and M&A. With a background spanning PPA advisory, project finance, law, and executive leadership at a global IPP, Maryssa brings a unique perspective on solving the industry's most complex challenges. She is also an attorney and passionate entrepreneur dedicated to accelerating the clean energy transition through technology and innovation.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Maryssa Barron Liinkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryssa-barron/ Website:  https://www.buildq.ai/ Email:  maryssa@buildq.ai   

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In this episode of Retire with Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau dive into key retirement planning topics, including sequence risk, the 4% rule, withdrawal strategies, and bond yields. They highlight the importance of a comprehensive financial plan that accounts for asset allocation, tax considerations- such as those related to TIPS and annuities- and the role of dynamic, risk-based guardrails. The discussion underscores how retirement income strategies must adapt over time to meet changing needs.   Takeaways Sequence risk is a critical factor in retirement planning. The 4% rule may not be applicable in all scenarios. Bond yields significantly impact sustainable withdrawal rates. Fixed percentage withdrawal strategies can mitigate sequence risk. Dynamic risk-based guardrails offer a flexible approach to spending. Financial planning is essential for effective retirement income management. TIPS are less tax-efficient than other bonds and should be placed in tax-advantaged accounts. Asset allocation should be tailored to individual risk tolerance and retirement goals. The traditional 100 minus age rule for asset allocation is a simplification. Retirement strategies should adapt as circumstances change.   Chapters   00:00 Introduction and Conference Insights 02:11 Exploring Sequence Risk and Spending Strategies 03:35 Understanding the 4% Rule and Bond Yields 10:19 Fixed Percentage Withdrawal Strategies 14:06 Dynamic Risk-Based Guardrails for Spending 20:06 The Role of Financial Planning in Retirement 27:18 Tax Implications of TIPS and Asset Location 29:56 Evaluating Stock-Bond Allocation Strategies   Links Join Our Next Live Q&A Session! We're hosting our next Retire With Style YouTube Live Q&A on Monday, August 25th at 2:00 PM ET. Wade and Alex will be answering your retirement planning questions live! ✅ Submit your question in advance at retirewithstyle.com ✅ Or join us live and ask your question in the chat Come be part of the conversation- your questions often inspire future episodes!

McAndrew Rudisill, Board Chair for ETHZilla, joined me to discuss ETHZilla's Ethereum corporate treasury.Topics:- 180 Life Sciences Corp rebrand to ETHZilla - Choosing Ethereum as a treasury asset - Ethereum staking and DeFi - Crypto Treasury strategy risks - Crypto Legislation & Market Outlook 

Are you looking at your business as an income source or an asset? Hopefully you said an asset. And, what if you could identify and predictably reduce taxes? Sound impossible? My guest, Justin D. Maxwell will tell you how to make this a reality. He'll also give you the 5D's that can kill your business. Justin is a partner at Big Life Financial who transforms high-performing business owners into true owner-investors, guiding them to integrate taxes, investing, protection, and exit planning for generational impact. Free P&L Statement and Balance Sheet https://tinyurl.com/2rjd6wxu Ruth King Twitter - @RuthKing LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthking1/   Podcast Produced by Nick Uttam https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-uttam-4b33a1147

In this episode of Beer and Money, Ryan Burklo and Alex Collins discuss the critical topic of how assets are taxed and the implications for financial planning. They explore the importance of understanding tax brackets, the different types of taxable buckets, and strategies for tax efficiency. The conversation emphasizes the need for tax diversification and the impact of cash flow versus asset shifting on retirement income. The hosts provide insights into how listeners can better prepare for their financial future by considering taxation in their investment strategies. Check out our website:  beerandmoney.net For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to: https://www.livingbalancesheet.com/lbsVision/lite/RyanBurklo Takeaways Many people overlook how their assets will be taxed. Understanding tax brackets is essential for financial planning. The effective tax rate can significantly impact retirement income. There are three buckets of money: fully taxable, partially taxable, and tax-free. Tax diversification is crucial for maximizing retirement income. Cash flow shifting can enhance tax efficiency. Asset shifting can have significant tax implications. It's important to work with both a financial advisor and a CPA. The earlier you start planning for taxes, the better. Retirement income strategies should consider tax implications. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Taxation of Assets 02:47 Understanding Tax Brackets and Income 06:02 The Three Buckets of Taxation 09:06 Visualizing Tax Implications on Assets 11:49 Strategies for Tax Efficiency 15:04 Shifting Cash Flow and Assets 17:52 Conclusion and Next Steps    

Today my guests are Arun Ananth, CCO and Tom Gallo, CFO from Proscia. What we discuss with Arun and Tom: Introduction to Proscia's Diagnostic Network Reshaping the economics of pathology Economic opportunities in digital pathology Data as an asset in biomarker discovery Clinical trials as use cases Compliance and security in digital pathology Pathology's central role in treatment Accelerating digital adoption and ROI Patient benefits and clinical trials Risks and barriers in digital pathology Advice for labs considering digital pathology Market adoption and future vision Links for this episode: The Path to PathA Pathologists' Assistant Shadowing Network Health Podcast Network  LabVine Learning Dress A Med scrubs Digital Pathology Club   Proscia Cements Leadership in Diagnostic Pathology with 400% Growth in Daily Cases Rewiring the Laboratory's Bottom Line: Moving Towards Digital Pathology as a Profit Center   People of Pathology Podcast: Twitter Instagram  

In this episode, we discuss economic/market headwinds, tailwinds, and resulting crosswinds, and how these create risks and opportunities in the current environment. View the Investment Strategy Brief slides related to this episode here Watch the video related to this episode here The views expressed in this podcast may not necessarily reflect the views of Stifel Financial Corp. or its affiliates (collectively, Stifel). This communication is provided for information purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or protect against loss. © Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com*See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training What happens when you stop chasing $30K projects and start solving real problems for smaller clients in a way that actually works? Today's featured guest had been building $32,000 websites for mid-market companies. On paper, it looked like success. But in reality, he felt stuck—unfulfilled and back in a corporate-style grind that didn't align with the kind of work or life he truly wanted. When he took a step back, he realized something important: the clients he really wanted to serve were already reaching out. These were smaller, $300K businesses with many of the same challenges agencies see across the board—but without the bloated complexity. So he made a bold pivot. He simplified his offer, created a productized service, and returned to his roots—helping people in a way that felt meaningful, scalable, and sustainable. The result? Less stress, more impact, and a business model built around freedom, not friction. Nate Freedman is the founder of TechPro Marketing and creator of MSP Sites, a productized service built specifically for Managed IT Service Providers. After years of working in high-ticket agency engagements, Nate made a bold pivot—focusing on volume, automation, and scalable coaching for small IT firms. That shift helped him grow from a $20K/month agency to a $2.5M+ business serving over 100 clients with a tight, dialed-in model. We'll explore his early missteps, the aha moment that changed everything, and the system he built to serve a niche audience at scale—without losing his soul. In this episode, we'll discuss: Pivoting to MPSs as the perfect fit. Creating a low-ticket offer. Productizing with a purpose. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. Impostor Syndrome and the Accidental CEO Nate's background wasn't in marketing strategy or enterprise consulting. He was a self-taught internet nerd who cut his teeth writing affiliate articles and selling photo recovery software online. He studied accounting, not realizing when he picked that career that being an online marketer was an option. Right out of college, his first job was at an accounting firm, an experience he promptly hated. He felt exposed and like a fish out of water. This is a feeling he recognized years later when, the more his agency took on large, complex clients like Salesforce, the more he felt like a fraud. He was working with large corporations and felt like an impostor. It just wasn't the right fit for him. “I was putting on a kind of a facade. Like, I was pretending to be someone I wasn't… and it just wasn't me.” That realization drove Nate back to his roots: helping people who reminded him of himself. From Big Clients to Bigger Misalignment Nate didn't start small. Like many digital agency owners, his early focus was on winning big projects—$10K, $20K, even $32K website and marketing packages. And sure, those checks looked great at first… until a very good client sent him the dreaded email: “Nate, when are we going to generate leads from this?” That one question—posed by a well-meaning client already $32K in—flipped the switch. Nate realized that delivering work isn't the same as delivering results. The more he moved upmarket, the more he felt like he was back in the corporate world he hated. High-maintenance clients. Long sales cycles. No real alignment. He wasn't building relationships. He was building a façade. Finding His People: MSPs as the Perfect Fit Nate's breakthrough came when he niched down into the MSP (Managed Service Provider) space. These were former tech guys turned business owners—scrappy, smart, and stuck in the same ways agency owners often are. They didn't need $30K marketing retainers. They needed help generating leads, converting visitors, and staying in business. Nate made a gutsy move. He ditched his high-ticket proposals and started sending BombBomb videos to leads who had previously ghosted him: “You turned down my $20,352 proposal. Here's my new one: $2,000 a month, and I'll help you generate leads. I don't even know exactly what I'll do yet. I just want to help you grow.” That transparency worked. Five early adopters signed on, and Nate never looked back. Scaling a Low-Ticket, High-Impact Model What started as a simplified offer became a flywheel. Over seven years, Nate scaled his agency to over 100 monthly clients, all paying around $4,200/month. But growth at that level brings churn. With just 3% monthly churn, he'd have to invest more on sales and onboarding and close three new clients a month just to break even. However, focusing on growing this way meant turning away 75% of leads who were not at least $1 million in revenue that could afford the expense. And most of the businesses reaching out to his agency were at 200K-300K. Nate felt he could service those clients without a big investment in human resources. This sparked the next evolution: MSP Sites. The new offer targeted those MSPs doing $200K–$300K/year. These folks couldn't pay $4K/month… but they desperately needed help. So Nate reverse-engineered a low-cost, high-value offer that started at $200/month and eventually grew to include: Custom-designed websites Human chat agents CRM and booking automations On-demand courses and live office hours Weekly coaching and a client-only community He went from being “just another agency” to becoming an all-in-one marketing partner for small MSPs—at a price they could actually say “hell yes” to. Productizing with Purpose: Lessons from the Pivot This shift to a productized offer came with unexpected lessons, as Nate was confronted with a question from his past work making $32K websites or a $200 website: “Where are the leads?” He realized that whether he was going after the high end or low end of the market, he still had to provide an end result for clients. Low ticket doesn't mean low impact. He has to answer that question while still providing an affordable service, so he started layering in automation, coaching, and a structured experience This slightly raised the price to $300/month, but clients not felt like they were part of a premium program. Nate wanted to help clients not just have a website, but also generate leads, drive traffic, and close the deal. By adding live calls, email support, and a live event, Nate turned MSP Sites into more than a tool—it became a tribe. Once the service was upgraded and clients could get their website set up even faster, the problem was that now they all looked the same. Nate knew his clients deserved better, so he removed the one-click deploy and now ensures each website is custom-designed to look amazing. Of course, this also led to a rise of the set up fee, but clients were more than happy to pay for a better design. Finally, on-demand courses and live office hours were the finishing touch for his new offer and he was finally helping clients much more and building the business he really enjoys. Market Share > Margins (When You're Playing the Long Game) At some point, most agency owners fantasize about selling. Nate's no different—but he's thinking a few moves ahead. Instead of relying on private equity, his bet is on strategic acquisition by a larger company in his own niche. “The best multiple I'm going to get is from someone who wants more market share.” That's why he's focused on volume at the low end. Every small client is a slice of market share. And if you can build community, coaching, and brand loyalty into your offer, you're not just a service provider—you're infrastructure. The Next Frontier: Launching a Mastermind With 300+ paying clients, Nate's building something many agency owners should be thinking about but don't: a mastermind for your niche. Why? Because clients already trust you. They're already getting value. And when you get them in a room together—virtually or physically—magic happens. Better yet, Nate doesn't need to be the guru. The best masterminds don't revolve around one person—they're facilitated, not taught. When the room is full of practitioners, the value is in the conversations. Do Right By People (and You'll Win) Scaling isn't just about tech, pricing models, or marketing hacks. It's about people. Nate credits a huge part of his growth to partnering with E2M Solutions, which removed the HR complexity of managing a dev team in-house. More importantly, it aligned with his core value: “Do right by people. If you do that, no one's going to say anything bad about you. Even when you make mistakes.” It's simple, but in a crowded industry full of overpromising and under-delivering, that integrity stands out—and scales. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Should you invest your HSA (Health Savings Account), and if so, how do you actually do it? In this episode of Wise Money, we're answering listener questions on some of the most important areas of your financial life. We kick things off with one of the most common questions we receive: Should you invest your HSA, and if so, how? We'll explain what a Health Savings account is, why it's such a powerful tool, and who should (and shouldn't) consider investing their HSA for long-term growth. We'll also tackle other listener questions. Season 10, Episode 52 Download our FREE 5-Factor Retirement guide: https://wisemoneyguides.com/    Schedule a meeting with one of our CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™: https://www.korhorn.com/contact-korhorn-financial-advisors/ or call 574-247-5898.   Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/WiseMoneyShow Listen on podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/WiseMoney  Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QWqJYzwO8x4  Submit a question for the show: https://www.korhorn.com/ask-a-question/   Read the Wise Money Blog: https://www.korhorn.com/wise-money-blog/    Connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WiseMoneyShow  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wisemoneyshow/    Kevin Korhorn, CFP® offers securities through Silver Oak Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Kevin offers advisory services through KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group. KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group and Silver Oak Securities, Inc. are not affiliated. Mike Bernard, CFP® and Joshua Gregory, CFP® offer advisory services through KFG Wealth Management, LLC dba Korhorn Financial Group. This information is for general financial education and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations. All investing and investment strategies involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Asset allocation & diversification do not ensure a profit or prevent a loss in a declining market. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

In this exciting episode of The Mentor Podcast, Ron LeGrand sits down with Ari Page, CEO of Fund & Grow and the man known in the industry as “The Money Man.” Ari reveals insider strategies for securing large amounts of business credit—quickly, legally, and without it impacting your personal credit report. Whether you're a brand-new investor or a seasoned pro, you'll discover how to use credit card stacking to access hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding, perfect for real estate deals, rehabs, marketing, and more while keeping your personal credit score intact. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Fund & Grow helps clients obtain $50,000–$250,000+ in business credit lines—often within 30–45 days. The “credit card stacking” method for increasing limits, extending 0% interest periods, and consolidating cards. Why using an LLC and an EIN keeps business debt off your personal credit report. The minimum credit score and profile needed to qualify—and how Fund & Grow's pre-qualification tool works. How to leverage business credit cards for down payments, closing costs, rehabs, marketing, payroll, and more. Why 0% introductory APR cards (6–22 months) can be a game-changer for short-term real estate projects. The role of third-party services like Plastic for paying vendors or escrow with credit cards. Asset protection benefits—how business credit cards can help resolve contractor disputes with chargebacks. Membership vs. pay-as-you-go pricing, and why Ron recommends the $3,500 annual membership over the 8% fee model. Long-term strategies for building corporate credit that doesn't require a personal Resources: Fund & Grow Pre-Qualification & Special Offer for Ron's Listeners: TheMentorpodcast.com/fund Sign up for a Free Mentor Panning Session: https://www.RonLeGrand.com/Plan Free Training: www.TheMentorPodcast.com/Terms181 Get Ron's $599 Wholesaling course for FREE when you join his Gold Club for ONLY $99 a month! – www.TheMentorPodcast.com/GC181

Ever find yourself lying in bed at night, replaying every parenting moment that went sideways that day? Yeah, me too. For years, I would literally drown in a sea of regret, beating myself up for every time I lost my cool, lectured instead of listened, or just plain missed the mark with my kids. But here's what I've learned: regret can either be your biggest parenting enemy or your secret weapon. The difference? How you use it. What We're Diving Into Today 

NBA and Miami Heat News featuring Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, Terry Rozier, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson, Kevin Love, Haywood Highsmith, Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson, Erik Spoelstra and more. Subscribe for more Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, NBA and NFL news. My YouTube Channel My Twitter Intro Song : Pine Island - RadixTheRuler Outro Song : Pull Up Freestyle - RadixTheRuler

Asset management is a key component of successful real estate investing, but what does that entail? How is it different from property or portfolio management? In today's episode, I breaks down the specifics of asset management and how it plays a critical role in commercial real estate investing. Join Our Investor Club: https://bit.ly/3IKd8s2  This episode was originally released on May 10, 2024.   

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you stuck chasing new clients while ignoring the goldmine in your past customer list? Does your agency feast on projects but starve for predictable revenue? Today's featured guest knows what it's like to hit a growth ceiling and being tired of the one-and-done client hamster wheel. He shares how he pivoted his agency after becoming a HubSpot partner, why he turned to project-based work after customer habits changed following the pandemic, and how he got out of the dreaded “no man's land”. Eric Baum is the CEO and founder of Bluleadz, a HubSpot Onboarding and Implementation Agency dedicated to transforming the way companies market, sell, and service their customers through the power of the HubSpot platform. He'll discuss his cash flow challenges, pricing mistakes that almost tanked the business, and how EOS helped him escape “no man's land.” If you're stuck in the fulfillment hamster wheel or scaling past $5M feels like pushing a boulder uphill... listen up. In this episode, we'll discuss: Reinventing his agency as a HubSpot partner. The real scaling struggle: cash flow. Why project-based doesn't mean profitless. Strategic partnerships are the future. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Accidental Founder, Intentional CEO Back in the Yellow Pages era, Eric was running two service-based franchises and needed a better way to market them. He brought marketing in-house for PPC, SEO, web dev, and that hire didn't just turn things around. It turned into a new business. Fast-forward a few months, and other franchise owners across the country started asking for help. Eric spun that in-house team into an agency, and had 50 clients out of the gate. As many owners before have admitted to, Eric started out charging way too low—$250 to $500/month. “I don't know how I didn't go broke right out of the gate,” he laughs. And if you've ever undercharged in the early days, you'll feel that one deep in your soul. Reinventing the Agency (and Himself) Around HubSpot The turning point came when Eric discovered HubSpot and pivoted Bluleadz to become a certified partner. That's when the “real” agency began, as he started to study the industry and figure out what he had to do to be profitable, take care of his team, and do it without necessarily doing all the sales work all the time. From there, Eric leaned into strategy, profitability, and systems. He stopped trying to be the everything guy and started building an agency that didn't need him in the trenches every day. Fifteen years later, his agency isn't just thriving. It's structured, profitable, and on track to hit 8 figures. Life in “No Man's Land” – The $1M to $5M Plateau After fifteen years in the industry and getting closer to the eight-figure mark, one of the things that most surprised Eric was getting stuck in the ugly middle: the zone between $1M and $5M where a lot of agency dreams go to die. Many call it “no man's land,” and if you've been there, you know the pain. “It was up, down, up, down,” he says. “I'd grow, then lose key employees. Revenue would spike, then tank. I kept asking, ‘What am I doing wrong?'” The answer: a lack of structure. So about nine years ago, Eric implemented EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System). That gave his agency the foundation it needed—vision, accountability, and a cadence to scale. It didn't fix everything overnight, but it got the business out of reaction mode and into growth mode. The Real Scaling Struggle: Cash Flow Even with all that success, Eric's biggest constraint today isn't clients or talent. It's cash. In the agency world, sometimes you can grow so fast that you can actually outpace your ability to fund it. As Eric explains, “Receivables stack up. You can't hire, build, or invest without the cash reserves in place to hit the down terms.” For instance, just this year his agency was down 20% compared to last year because of all the uncertainty for businesses. Sound familiar? So far, Eric's solution has been airtight payment terms. They moved away from waiting on client deliverables and toward milestone-based billing. They typically charge: 50% upfront 25% after month one 25% at month two or fixed date Not based on deliverables. Based on time. Why? Because waiting on clients kills momentum (and your margin). “We used to wait months to get that final 50%. Now we're often 100% paid before a project is even done.” Moral of the story? Set clear terms and stop letting clients hold your agency hostage. Project-Based Doesn't Mean Profitless If You Structure It Right Five years ago, 85% of Bluleadz's revenue came from retainers. Then COVID hit. Buying behavior shifted fast. Clients wanted results without long-term commitments. So Eric pivoted hard into project work—today, 80–85% of their revenue comes from one-off HubSpot onboarding and implementation projects. That means 50–75 new customers per month, each on 30 to 90-day timelines. The lesson: project-based doesn't have to mean chaos - if you systemize delivery and payment. However, Eric does admit he and his team had been failing to recapture clients for a second or third project. “We were just focused on getting new clients through the door.” Instead of nurturing clients post-delivery, they handed off the project and moved on. Meanwhile, past clients drifted—only to come back a year or two later in total chaos saying, “We lost our HubSpot guy. Can you help?” The opportunity cost was massive. They are currently working on recapturing these relationships. By reselling past clients, his agency could double or triple revenue in a year. The Triple-Team Model: Sales, CSM, Implementation In their efforts to start creating more lifetime value for customers, Eric's agency introduced Customer Success Managers (CSMs)—not just to check in, but to hunt for value. CSMs dig into each client's needs post-project, surface upsell or cross-sell opportunities, and feed them back to the sales team. Now they're farming the base, increasing LTV, and stacking wins without chasing cold leads. This third new role adds a new layer to his team's structure, which he now breaks down as: Salespeople close net-new deals and join key milestone calls.           Implementation Specialists own delivery and are the client's main point of contact. CSMs sit above delivery, watching for success gaps, retention issues, and upsell opportunities. “Salespeople are hunters, not farmers. Trying to make them farm didn't work. So we changed the model.” This layered structure gives clients clarity, keeps teams focused, and ensures no growth opportunity slips through the cracks. Strategic Partnerships Are the Future Another key reason Bluleadz is scaling so quickly is partnerships. They're one of HubSpot's top onboarding partners, and at one point this partnership drove most of his agency's net new leads. More recently, however, as they start to expand their efforts to engage past clients, only 40% of their leads come from HubSpot, while 30% comes from existing customers, and another 30% from their inbound marketing efforts, other strategic partners, and referrals. This makes for a more balanced pipeline: “Inbound, outbound, and strategic partnerships”. Those are the three pillars in the Playbook. You've got ‘em dialed in. As for Eric, he's all in on strategic partnerships, which he considers to be the way of the future. The One Thing Eric Would Do Differently If he could go back and give his younger self advice on agency ownership, Eric would say “Let go faster.” He held on too long to sales, finance, client services… all of it. And every time he finally let go, the agency grew again. Today, Eric has zero departmental responsibilities. His job is vision, strategy, and leadership—and it's paying off. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Content alone won't set you apart anymore. AI can create more words, images, and videos than you could in a lifetime—but it can't replicate your voice, your perspective, or the way you connect with people. That's why what you say, how you say it, and the stories you share are about to become your most valuable assets. I've just spent weeks deep in conversations with some smart entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders I know for my upcoming You Are the Brand AI Summit. One very common theme: the people who win in this next wave will be the ones who double down on authenticity, not automation. A few more shares from this episode: The “authenticity premium” that's making human connection more valuable than ever Why live, in-person events are exploding right now Why professional speakers aren't afraid of AI (this was cool) Why your unpolished, uncomfortable stories are often your biggest differentiator The summit kicks off August 25—and it's completely free. When you register, you'll get my personal field notes from every conversation, plus an exclusive 90-minute live workshop where my team and I will show you exactly how we built the summit using AI (and where we didn't). Secure your spot now at youarethebrand.ai and learn how to turn your voice into your ultimate competitive edge. Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook