Podcasts about Great Recession

Summary  In this episode of Gary's Gulch, dive into a heartfelt journey of personal growth, agency, and financial independence. Host Gary reflects on his childhood challenges, military career, and the lessons he's learned about true wealth and legacy. Highlighting Aaron Chapman's "Redneck Economics," Gary urges listeners to find their unique genius and use it to build a better future. Explore the power of entrepreneurship, parenting, and the pursuit of self-reliance in today's world. A must-listen for those seeking inspiration to take control of their financial destiny and personal growth..   Episode Highlights 00:00:13 - Launch of "Redneck Economics" 00:01:08 - Power of unconventional language 00:02:35 - Real estate vs. stock investing 00:03:15 - Agency and control over future 00:03:52 - Influence of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" 00:06:06 - Economic challenges in the 1980s 00:07:00 - Personal financial journey 00:11:05 - The choice for Naval Academy 00:15:00 - Impact of the Great Recession 00:16:25 - Realization on financial independence 00:18:21 - Importance of legacy and time 00:20:47 - Shift from materialism to family 00:22:02 - Significance of choosing time with family 00:23:05 - Personal story about father's impact 00:25:38 - Investing in self and God 00:26:48 - Final thoughts on agency and impact   Links and Resources from this Episode Connect with Gary Pinkerton https://www.paradigmlife.net/  gpinkerton@paradigmlife.net https://garypinkerton.com/  https://clientportal.paradigmlife.net/WealthView360     Keywords Gary's Gulch   Redneck Economics   Aaron Chapman   Passive Investing   Financial Freedom   Rental Real Estate   Cash Flow   Control Over Future   Atlas Shrugged   Ayn Rand   Self-Reliance   Agency   Entrepreneurship   Financial Journey   Family Legacy   Importance of Time   Business Owners   Philanthropy   Inflation   Interest Rates   Paul Volcker   2008 Recession   Dot Com Crash   Stock Market   Wealth Management   Human Agency   Charlie Kirk   Freedom Preservation  

Welcome to Dentist Money Two Cents, a look at the latest financial and economic news from the past week.
 On this episode of Dentist Money's Two Cents, Jake, Will, Lauren, and Rabih talk about what the best investment of 2025 really was and why staying invested matters more than timing the market. Then they discuss why boomers tend to have less retirement savings than millennials, unpacking the shift from pensions to 401(k)s, the lasting impact of the Great Recession, and how automatic enrollment and modern investing tools may give younger generations a long-term edge. Finally, they explore commonalities between dentistry and college football as private equity enters both spaces. Learn more about the Dentist Money Launchpad Program, join the waitlist to learn everything you didn't learn about money in dental school through a series of live courses built exclusively for D4s and recent grads! Book a free consultation with a CFP® advisor who only works with dentists. Get an objective financial assessment and learn how Dentist Advisors can help you live your rich life.

Michelle Warner took the “escapee avoidance” route — she planned to do the traditional MBA-to-consulting path… then graduated straight into the Great Recession (the day Lehman fell). That curveball pushed her into entrepreneurship early: a founder-for-hire role turning a multi-billion-dollar foundation asset into a business, followed by a mission-driven tech startup, and eventually her current work helping small business owners design the next iteration of their business.This is a tactical episode about what actually works when you're leaving corporate: why you should “throw spaghetti at the wall” early, how to stop doing random coffee chats, and how to use relationship marketing and audience borrowing to land clients faster — without turning into a sales robot.What you'll learn • Why “sequence over strategy” matters more than the perfect plan • The hidden risk of being too strict and narrow early on (and why it creates regret later) • How Michelle built her business through relationship marketing, not content churn • “Audience borrowing” as the fastest way to build trust and pipeline • How to approach connector conversations vs. client conversations • Why your early goal is simple: learn how to make money and stack wins • A practical way to think about packaging: repeatable frameworks, flexible middleKey moments / highlights • Graduating into chaos: the day Lehman fell and what it changed • Founder-for-hire: getting a salary while living the startup founder life • Affordable internet in inner cities — and what customers actually did with it • “Fractional CEO” before fractional was trendy • The rule: don't build with blinders on for too long • The shift from “networking for jobs” to networking as a long-term business asset • The line that matters: say something that people can't “unsee” after the callMichelle's core concepts (worth stealing) • Sequence over strategy: the order of moves beats the elegance of the plan • Throw spaghetti first: test offers, clients, and problems before you commit • Connection avatar: define who's worth meeting so networking doesn't waste your life • Trust transfer: get introduced through people/places your audience already trusts • Audience borrowing: build relationships with people who “own the room” your clients are inBest quote energy • “Learn all the rules so you can go break them.” • “It's more important the order you do things than how good you are at it.” • “I'm totally unemployable.” (Escapee anthem)Connect with Michelle • Website: themichellewarner.com • Podcast: Sequence Over Strategy (short, practical episodes; curated playlists on her site)Connect with Brett / The Escapee ecosystem • If corporate is broken and you're looking at an exit strategy, this is your sign. • Join the community: TheEscapeeCollective.com

Chris Cuomo breaks down what's actually behind Trump's sudden push around Greenland — and why it fits a familiar pattern in how power and pressure are used. Cuomo explains how disruption is often deployed as leverage, not something meant to fully play out, and why markets, institutions, and allies are rarely allowed to absorb the consequences people are told to expect. The rapid shift from tariff threats to talks with NATO reinforces the idea that escalation is part of the maneuver, not the destination. Placing the Greenland move in historical context, Cuomo points to moments like the Great Depression and the Great Recession to show why “let whatever happens happen” has never been true. Whether it's markets, trade, or geopolitics, he argues that chaos is frequently the tool, not the endgame — and that recognizing this pattern matters far more than reacting to the headline of the week. Follow and subscribe to The Chris Cuomo Project on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday: https://linktr.ee/cuomoproject Join Chris Ad-Free On Substack: http://thechriscuomoproject.substack.com Support our sponsors: Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos—get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/CUOMO. Application times and rates may vary. Reverse hair loss with @iRestorelaser and get exclusive savings on the iRestore Elite, use code CUOMO at https://irestore.com/cuomo! #irestorepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Gino Barbera shares his insights on the three essential steps to create meaningful change in both personal and professional life. He emphasizes the importance of perceiving the need for transformation, recognizing one's ability to change, and being ready to take action. Drawing from his own experiences, particularly during the Great Recession, Gino illustrates how he transitioned from being a 'pizza guy' to embracing a new mindset that allowed him to pursue real estate and personal growth. He encourages listeners to shift their perspective from merely wanting to change to actively transforming their lives by understanding their unique gifts and potential. Takeaways:Perceiving the need for change is the first step.You have the ability to change your circumstances.Being ready to change is crucial for transformation.Creating connections is essential for effective communication.You must stop being a victim and take responsibility for your life. Insights:"Don't think of the word change. Just think of the word transform.""I was the one who created those first circumstances.""Create the connection with that person." We're here to help create real estate entrepreneurs... About Jake & Gino: Jake & Gino are multifamily investors, operators, and owners who have created a vertically integrated real estate company. They control over $350M in assets under management. Connect with Jake & Gino here --> https://jakeandgino.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before there were Instagram likes, Twitter hashtags, or TikTok trends, there were bloggers who seemed to have the passion and authenticity that traditional media lacked. The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media (Princeton UP, 2023) tells the story of how early digital creators scrambling for work amid the Great Recession gave rise to the multibillion-dollar industry that has fundamentally reshaped culture, the flow of information, and the way we relate to ourselves and each other. Drawing on dozens of in-depth interviews with leading social media influencers, brand executives, marketers, talent managers, trend forecasters, and others, Emily Hund shows how early industry participants focused on creating and monetizing digital personal brands as a means of exerting control over their professional destinies in a time of acute economic uncertainty. Over time, their activities coalesced into an industry whose impact has reached far beyond the dreams of its progenitors--and beyond their control. Hund illustrates how the methods they developed for creating, monetizing, and marketing social media content have permeated our lives and untangles the unforeseen cultural and economic costs. The Influencer Industry reveals how, in an increasingly fractured and profit-driven communications environment, the people we think of as "real" are merely those who have learned to exploit the industry's ever-shifting constructions of authenticity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Before there were Instagram likes, Twitter hashtags, or TikTok trends, there were bloggers who seemed to have the passion and authenticity that traditional media lacked. The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media (Princeton UP, 2023) tells the story of how early digital creators scrambling for work amid the Great Recession gave rise to the multibillion-dollar industry that has fundamentally reshaped culture, the flow of information, and the way we relate to ourselves and each other. Drawing on dozens of in-depth interviews with leading social media influencers, brand executives, marketers, talent managers, trend forecasters, and others, Emily Hund shows how early industry participants focused on creating and monetizing digital personal brands as a means of exerting control over their professional destinies in a time of acute economic uncertainty. Over time, their activities coalesced into an industry whose impact has reached far beyond the dreams of its progenitors--and beyond their control. Hund illustrates how the methods they developed for creating, monetizing, and marketing social media content have permeated our lives and untangles the unforeseen cultural and economic costs. The Influencer Industry reveals how, in an increasingly fractured and profit-driven communications environment, the people we think of as "real" are merely those who have learned to exploit the industry's ever-shifting constructions of authenticity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

In this conversation, Brian Baniqued shares his extensive journey in the real estate industry, detailing his evolution from a young agent to a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of adapting to changes in the market, leveraging technology like AI, and the lessons learned from navigating the Great Recession. Brian emphasizes the significance of building financial independence through real estate and the strategies he employed to create multiple income streams.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

As agency owners settle into 2026, it’s easy to operate on autopilot—chasing the next tactic without reconnecting with what made the business work in the first place. In this episode, Chip and Gini make the case for looking backward before charging forward. Chip admits his first agency started because “consultant” sounded better than “unemployed.” But the real question isn’t just why you started—it’s why you decided to keep building. That motivation should be informing your strategy today. Gini shares how she once believed she wanted a large agency with hundreds of employees and global clients. When she hit 30+ people, she realized she’d built something she didn’t enjoy leading. She was buried in HR issues instead of doing the work that energized her. The Great Recession forced a reset, and she restructured the business around her strengths. Her advice: figure out what brings you joy in the business, and protect time to do more of it. Otherwise, you risk drifting into micromanagement or burnout. The episode also digs into practical growth tactics from the early days that still work. Gini recalls how she built her pipeline by developing relationships with business development leads at large agencies. When prospects came in below their fee threshold, they’d refer the work her way—a principle that remains just as relevant today. Both hosts encourage owners to revisit their “things I’d never do” list from when they started. It’s worth checking whether you’ve quietly drifted into those same patterns over time. Key takeaways Chip Griffin: “Agency owners often ask me, what should I do next? And the answer is very different depending on what you’re trying to accomplish with the business.” Gini Dietrich: “We say this to clients all the time, go back to the basics. It works. And it works for your agency, too.” Chip Griffin: “You need to do what’s right for you. And so, I think that the key to that is really going back to your roots, understanding what motivated you to get started, what drove that success in the early days.” Gini Dietrich: “You want to focus on the things that you are great at, and the things that make you the happiest, and the things that are most motivating to you, because that’s how your business will grow.” Turn Ideas Into Action Write down why you started your agency and what drove your early success. Block 30 minutes to identify patterns from those early days that you could leverage again for growth or business development today. Identify one thing that energizes you most about the work—then carve out time to do more of it. Even if it’s behind the scenes (like strategic brainstorming or quarterly client reviews), injecting that spark back into your role helps prevent burnout. Make a quick list of “things I swore I’d never do” when you started. Check whether you’ve drifted into any of those patterns on inertia—and decide if it’s a learned lesson or a habit worth breaking. Related Do you remember why you started your agency? Why one-size-fits-all advice doesn't work for agencies View Transcript The following is a computer-generated transcript. Please listen to the audio to confirm accuracy. Chip Griffin: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: And I am Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And Gini, I’m thinking way, way back, way back decades now to why I started my agency. Gini Dietrich: Oooh. Decades, huh? Chip Griffin: And I can’t remember ’cause I’m too old now, so. No, Gini Dietrich: you can too remember. Chip Griffin: Well, I mean, the honest answer is that I started my first agency was because I was unemployed. And it was better to describe myself as a consultant than unemployed. Yeah. Sure. And then than accidentally started accumulating business. Yeah. But I, but I do think it, it is a helpful exercise for us to go back and, and think about why we started the businesses or, or maybe not, in some cases, like mine, because I was unemployed, is not the greatest explanation. So you know more why did I decide to, to, to build it into an actual business. Gini Dietrich: Why? To keep going. Yeah. I think that’s good, especially as we’re, we’re thinking about starting out the new year and remind ourselves, you know, of the reasons that we started this. Some of us do it because we’re, we’re unemployed. Some of us did it because we found a better, we, we think we had a better way of doing things. Some of us did it because we have a problem with authority. Some of us did it ’cause we’d make terrible employees. I mean, there are lots of different reasons, but I think reaching back into our archives in our brains and thinking about why we did it or why we, I think that you’re right, why we continue to do it is a, is a really good exercise. Chip Griffin: Yeah, I mean, I, and, and I’ve said over and over again over the years that, that I think too many agencies operate on inertia, as opposed to any kind of a, a fundamental strategy. And so, you know, it’s very easy to say as, as I’m sure many people ask you as they do me, well, what’s the, what’s my next step? Here’s where my agency is now, what, what should I do next? And the answer is very different depending on what you’re trying to accomplish with the business. So trying to think back to those early days and what motivated you to start the business. Evaluate it because it, that may have changed, right? You, you may have started it because it served a particular need in the moment, and maybe it’s different today, but thinking about that and thinking about what you really want from the business is usually a better way to come up with strategic decisions than it is to say, well, what do other agencies like mine do when they get to this stage of growth or to this challenge? It’s, you really need to to match it up because otherwise, what’s the point of taking on all of that risk and stress of being a business owner? Gini Dietrich: Yeah. I mean, a really good example of that is I really thought I wanted to build a great big agency with hundreds of employees and, and clients around the globe and all of the, all of the things. And as I started to grow and we got to about 30 ish, 33, 32 people, I realized that’s not what I wanna do. Right. It was not enjoyable. I had built a company that I was not thriving in, that I didn’t enjoy leading. You know, I was dealing mostly with HR issues and not doing the work. And so the, the Great Recession did afford me the opportunity, unfortunately and fortunately to kind of take a step back and, and think about what kind of business do I want to have? And what kind of business do I want to lead? And while we’re back up to that same size, it’s a different structured business that allows me to focus in on the things that I do best and do the things that I enjoy versus HR ’cause that is not something I enjoy at all. Chip Griffin: I, I think I’ve yet to meet an owner who likes, enjoys doing HR or accounting or those sorts of things. Not fun. There are some who do it well. But don’t enjoy it. But I, I don’t think I’ve found any that actually enjoy doing it. So, but, but I think that, you know, as you think back to those early days and you think about what motivated you, it can often help you to figure out, you know, what is, what is that spark that you need in the business for you to either continue enjoying it for a longer period of time or bring back some of that, that joy that you had in those early days. Because I know a lot of agency owners these days are, are frustrated and, you know, trying to figure out how to change things for the better. And I think part of the way you inform yourself of that is by thinking back to those early motivations and figuring out how you can inject more of that into your business today. Gini Dietrich: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think it’s, I think it’s really important to do that. And I think there, you know, for me personally, I get really passionate and enjoy my job when I’m learning and doing new things. So artificial intelligence, of course, has been a great big thing for me because I’ve really enjoyed learning it and understanding it and implementing it into my business and then taking it to clients. You know, last month we launched the PESO operating system, AI edition, where the AI prompts you instead of you prompting it. So it will say, what are your business objectives? What are you trying to achieve? What are your audiences? What are your messaging? And then it builds a PESO program for you that’s fully integrated versus you saying I need you to act like a marketing director who can, who understands PESO and can build this and this. It’s that. So I like, those are the kinds of things that really get me excited. And building those kinds of things gets me excited and motivated. So it’s, it’s easy because I understand that about myself. It drives my team crazy ’cause they’re like, oh, she’s got something new. Or my, their favorite thing is, I had an idea. And they’re like, oh no, no, not again. But that’s what keeps me, yeah, that’s what keeps me motivated. So finding a way to understand what brings you joy in the business, I think is incredibly important. So that without exhausting your team, of course, but doing it in a way that keeps you motivated and, and not burned out. Chip Griffin: Yeah. One of the things that always used to, to drive my teams nuts was I would say, you know, over the weekend I was playing with this new thing. And, and you could just see the looks on their faces and they’re like, oh, this is a lot more work for me now. Gini Dietrich: This is gonna be fun. Yep. Chip Griffin: This is, yep. Yep. They, they never seemed to appreciate it the way that I had hoped they would when I came to them. Correct. With these, these brilliant brainstorms of mine. Gini Dietrich: Yes. Chip Griffin: I, and I think as, as you know, founders of agencies, most of us come in with some sort of that. Idea that, that we want to be creative or strategic or those kinds of things. And as we end up in more of a management role, we have less and less opportunities to do it. So I, I think that, that rather than giving up on that dream, we need to figure out how we can sprinkle enough of that in there to keep ourselves motivated. We can’t give up the, the management piece. We can’t give up the business development piece. Many of us would like to. But the, the reality is that, unless you’ve built a fairly large agency, you just don’t have the ability to pull yourself out of that, as a solo owner. But it doesn’t mean that you have to give up on those things entirely. You can carve out a piece of time to work on that, and if you are structuring your role in such a way that you’re enjoying what you’re doing, it also means that you’re frankly less likely to be doing the, the, the bad things that founders of businesses can do, which is micromanagement and tinkering with things that you don’t really belong in because you, because you’re not occupying yourself with the things that really motivate you. And instead, you’re continuing to try to do every aspect of the business. And that’s where you start to, to run into team morale problems quite often. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. You know, I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is that, yes, I can do the work, and yes, I can probably do it pretty well, but is it really something that I should be focused on? And if not, is it something that I can pay an expert to do because in the long run, it’ll cost me less money, less time, less resources, all of the things. And I know as small agency owners, it’s really hard to say, gosh, I’m gonna have to spend $2000 or $3,000 a month on an expert. When in fact it might save you, you know, 15 or 20 grand on the backend. So I think you have to think about these things as investments in your business and investments in your time so that you can focus on the things that, that you are great at and the things that make you the happiest and the things that are most motivating to you, because that’s how your business will grow. Chip Griffin: Absolutely. And if, if that happens to be being creative and strategic, then, then you can, you shouldn’t be doing it day to day in all likelihood for clients. Sure. But you should find ways to do it either as part of, you know, quarterly or annual client reviews. Or internal brainstorming sessions that you’re engaging in. There’s a lot of things you can do behind the scenes to be useful and, and to, to exercise those muscles in a way that that gives you satisfaction. But doesn’t put you on the front lines so that you’re, you know, now the, the one that the, the client decides they’re gonna call every time they’ve got an issue. Because that, that ends up eating up a lot of your time in a way that probably you’re not going to enjoy. So sometimes it’s doing things behind the scenes that gets you the, the most value, or doing annual in person with the client. But they understand it’s special that you’re here, this is not. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. This is not something they can or should expect every week. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. You know, I, I know I’ve talked about this before on the podcast, but we do quarterly planning with our clients. We do a quarterly look back, and then we, you know, say, okay, based on metrics and data and all that and your priorities, here’s what we’re suggesting for quarter two or in the next quarter. And that has afforded many opportunities. A, for me to, to work in my where I’m, where I’m strong, but it also almost always gets us more money. So when you’re, when agency owners are like, oh, should I do a cost of living raise every year? Should I increase by 10 or 15% every year? That kind of goes away because you are getting new projects every quarter based on the the plan and the strategic strategy and creativity that you’re providing to the clients every quarter, because they’re like, oh gosh, yeah, we should actually do that. And some, and sometimes they’ll say, we don’t have extra budget. Can we move some things around? Which is okay, but most of the time they’ll say, you know, we, we have a little extra budget. Let’s focus on doing that. We have to launch a new website. Here’s some extra budget for that. We have to do a series of webinars to maintain our CEUs. Let’s here’s a little extra budget for that. So there are things and opportunities for you to, for lack of a better term, term upsell when you’re doing these quarterly meetings versus waiting for the annual. Chip Griffin: Yeah. And, and so, you know, finding a way to, to inject yourself in those things is a valuable exercise. Absolutely. From that, look back to the early days. But the other thing that that can be helpful in looking back to your early days of your agency is, you know, what helps drive your early success? Because a lot of times when we’re trying to find solutions to our current growth issues, we can find clues in some of those early days and mm-hmm. A lot of that, you know, in the early days of, of most agencies, it may be that low hanging fruit from personal networks and things like that. But there are usually other patterns that you might be able to see there that might help you to understand what are, what are the basics that you need to go back to? How do you, how do you employ some of those rather than, than focusing on, you know, all of the fancy new things that you see, you know, some, you know, genius podcast hosts talking about as far as how to grow an agency and instead say, Hey, this is what worked for me. Yep. Because you may find something that works again today. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we say this to clients all the time, but going back to the basics. It works. And it works for you too, so absolutely you should think about those kinds of things. Chip Griffin: Yeah. I mean, you didn’t get here by accident. Well, maybe you got, maybe it’s a little bit of an accident sometimes that happens. Maybe, yeah. Some of it. But, if you’ve had any longevity at all, even a few years of longevity as an agency owner, there are patterns that you can find usually that started in those early days. That you can lean into for understanding and rather than trying to do something wild and different, focus on the things that you know, you’ve proved can work for your business. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. One of the things, if I were to dig back into the archives, one of the things that worked extremely well for us is I had developed relationships with people who did business development at the large agencies, and what I found is that if they had an RFP or a current client or a prospect come in and say, we only have a quarter of a million dollars to spend. They’re not even gonna look at that. And so they started just referring that business to us, which is how I grew the business. Mm-hmm. So if I think about that now, how could we replicate that kind of, you know, pipeline development? It was extremely effective. And I, I gift that to all the listeners too. Like there are larger agencies in all of your cities that they have a certain threshold, and if any something comes in below that, they are happy to refer business. So there is, there is one way for you to start thinking about how am I going to, you know, keep myself motivated? How am I gonna keep my pipeline full? How am I gonna keep cash coming in? That’s one of the things that you can think about. Chip Griffin: Yeah, and thinking those things through. I mean, sometimes it’s not a one for one where you did exactly the same way you did it originally, but you take that nugget of an idea. And you know, things like, finding other people who can refer you business that’s not quite a fit for, for them, but might be for you. It’s a good reminder to be out there and having conversations with your peers. With people even that you might perceive sometimes as competitors, because there are often opportunities. In the work that I do with agencies, it’s not uncommon for some of the other consultants in the space to refer clients to me that are a better fit for my background and the kinds of agencies that I work with and vice versa. Because you know, we all have our specialties. And as an agency you have your specialties, so it is very common for many agencies to have grown this way. So certainly something to be looking at today, particularly if you’re struggling to find that new business in 2026. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, I think I really love the advice of thinking back to how you got to where you are and some of the things that you did, and going back to basics a little bit, because those are the things that are going to continue to work. And to your point, maybe tweak a little bit to make a more, be more effective in ’26. Chip Griffin: I mean, it also puts you in the right mindset, I think, because if you’re thinking back to those early stages, that tends to be when many agencies have the most growth, when things are most exciting. And so if you can try to bring back even a sprinkling of that, that can be really helpful. Particularly when times are tougher, or you’re looking for the inspiration to take things to the next level or whatever challenge you may be facing today, those lessons can be extremely valuable and also motivating at the same time. Gini Dietrich: Absolutely. Yeah. I used to, I used to get mad at companies that would hire big PR firms for like brand awareness and, you know, sending news releases and they didn’t get any coverage. They didn’t get any results. And I would get, I would get angry and I would call the company and be like, you’re so stupid. I would never do that today. But I had such a, I was just so naive and passionate about what we were doing, that it didn’t bother me to call and be like, we can do this significantly better for you. And in some cases they laughed and hung up on me. And in some cases, like we became agency of record. Like we took AOR away from Fleischman Hillard one year from a big, big company with a big, big company. And it was because I made a phone call where I was like, I can’t believe that you’re spending this kind of money and getting these kinds, these lackluster results. They were like, all right, let’s listen. I don’t think I would do that today, but it worked. Chip Griffin: Right. But, thinking back to those things can help you do two things. One is to think some of the positive things that you can do or the affirmative steps, right. That you can take. But the, but sometimes looking back to, to how you got started can also be reminders not to do certain things. Gini Dietrich: Sure, sure. Chip Griffin: So, particularly if you’ve started an agency and maybe you worked at an agency previously when you started, you probably had this laundry list of things. I would never do these things as an agency. And I, I think back to my first agency and some of the agencies that I had worked with previously, you know, did a lot of what I felt was nickel and diming of you in terms of back in the day charging you for faxes and photocopies. Sure. Yes. And all sorts of little expenses. And so, you know, I was committed back then to making sure that my invoices were always clean and simple and fixed, and I just worked in the cost of all of these things. Into my total cost of doing business so that I never had to aggravate a client. Fast forward to today. If I found myself doing that, I, by looking back, I would say, wait a minute. Let me think about that. Am I, am I being true to what my vision was of the business? And if not, is that because I’ve actually learned something and it does make sense to do what I thought was wrong back then. Because I mean, you can learn and grow. There’s nothing wrong with that. Sure. Or have you just fallen into the trap because you walked around and you saw other people doing it. So you said, well, I’m gonna start charging for faxes too. And if you’re charging for faxes in 2026, by the way, Gini Dietrich: we have a problem, but Chip Griffin: we have a huge problem because, what the heck are you using that fax machine for? Let alone that you’re charging for it. And by the way, where did you find a fax machine? Because I haven’t seen a fax machine in person in a really long time, except maybe like at the back of a doctor’s office. The, you know, Gini Dietrich: the bank and the doctor’s office. Yeah, I think that’s it. Chip Griffin: Well, I haven’t, I don’t, I kind, I haven’t been inside a bank in a long time, but Gini Dietrich: yeah, Chip Griffin: everything’s, everything’s electronic now. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. There’s no need for that. Chip Griffin: But yeah, think, think back to those, those motivations that you may have had that rather than I want to do this, it was, I never want to be the kind of agency that does this. Because it, it is really so easy to fall down those rabbit holes over time without even realizing that you’re just, you’re doing the same things that, that you didn’t ever want to see when you started your business. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. And I think it’s so easy to sit on social media, and you’ll get served ads from experts who say this is the way that you should do things. And in some cases it might work. And in some cases you might be like, there’s no way. And I think it’s really easy to listen to somebody and say, yeah, but we went from $3 million in debt to making $3 million a day, like, you know, these wild claims. And then you kind of get sucked into that. I think if you’re really true to who you are and what kind of agency you want to build, that’s going to enable you to say, this just doesn’t feel right to me. I’m not, I’m just gonna… great if he’s really making $3 million a day, I need to just bypass this one. Chip Griffin: Because you need to do what’s right for you. And so, I think that the key to that is, is really going back to your roots, understanding what motivated you to get started, what drove that success in the early days. And by understanding the, the early months or years of your agency, the more that you can inform some of the decisions that you’re making going forward one way or the other. Gini Dietrich: Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Think about it. It’s a good way to start ’26. Chip Griffin: Nice positive way. We, we managed to get through an episode here without beating up on our listeners. We didn’t start the year on a negative note, did we? We started positive. We did. Think about, we think about what has worked for you previously. Yes. And do more of that. Do more. So we will do more of this on a future episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. But in the meantime, I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: I’m Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And it depends.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Trump is moving to ban large institutional investors from buying single-family homes—an issue I've been sounding the alarm on for years. Corporate buyers, especially in hot Sunbelt markets, swoop in with all-cash offers, buy entire neighborhoods at discounts, game the comps, and price real families out of the market. That part of the problem is very real.But here's the catch: this plan likely won't survive legal or congressional scrutiny—and even if it did, it ignores the hundreds of thousands of homes already owned by corporations. Meanwhile, Democrats are opposing Trump while pushing the same failed playbook: subsidies, giveaways, and policies that inflate demand without fixing supply—the same thinking that helped fuel the Great Recession.In this episode, Chris explains why banning corporate buyers by decree won't work, why “lower mortgage rates” won't fix affordability, and how property tax policy offers a clean, constitutional solution. Favor owner-occupied homes, make speculative ownership less attractive, and change the incentives instead of distorting the market. If we're serious about making housing affordable again, there's a smarter way to do it—and it benefits everyone.

For more than a decade, conceptual artists Jennifer Dalton and William Powhida have collaborated on sharp, often darkly funny critiques of the art world's economic and political machinery. One of their earliest projects together, a satirical telethon staged during the Great Recession, planted a seed they later returned to: What would happen if you ran an art fair where every work of art was free? That question eventually evolved into Zero Art Fair, a real, fully functioning event that uses a radically different contract to redistribute both artworks and power within the art market.Zero Art Fair invites participating artists to place selected works into a five-year “store-to-own” agreement with collectors who take the work home at no cost. During those five years, ownership vests gradually; if a collector later decides to sell the work, the artist receives half of the sale price as well as a 10 percent resale royalty. The result is a system that clears storage, builds new relationships across class lines, and asserts one of the Fair's core beliefs, namely that price does not equal value. So far, Dalton and Powhida have staged two editions — the first in a barn in the Hudson Valley as part of Upstate Art Weekend, the second this fall at the FLAG Art Foundation in Manhattan — together seeding more than 400 works of contemporary art into new homes.In this interview, Dalton and Powhida explain how the Fair's unconventional contract works, why prioritizing access for people who “need help to live with art” reshaped their second New York edition, and what kinds of unexpected relationships and ripple effects have emerged along the way.https://www.zeroartfair.com/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  In this episode of Watchdog on Wall Street, we dig into the data behind the headlines and explain why headline GDP growth is masking a growing economic problem.We break down:• Why a 4%+ GDP print doesn't mean the economy is healthy• The ISM data showing only 11% of U.S. industries are expanding• Why manufacturing is already in recession territory• How this compares to Great Recession–era readings• What companies are actually blaming for the slowdown• Why tariffs are showing up repeatedly in corporate commentary• The surge in small business bankruptcies nobody wants to discuss• How wages are really performing after inflation (spoiler: under 1%)• Why confusing GDP with wages is either ignorance or deceptionWe also call out the dangerous nonsense being said on television — including claims made on Fox News that GDP growth somehow means every American got a raise.

In this episode, Travis sits down with leadership expert and “Business Sergeant” Chris Hallberg to unpack how great sales and great leadership go hand in hand. From shoveling driveways in Minnesota to scaling and selling an energy‑efficient remodeling company during the Great Recession, Chris shows how disciplined systems, integrity in sales, and long‑term thinking can build serious revenue.​ On this episode we talk about: How Chris went from shoveling snow and working at McDonald's to military police, then into construction sales and six‑figure commission income The story of launching an energy‑efficient remodeling business in 2008–2010 using tax credits, ROI calculators, and “green” door‑to‑door canvassing to thrive while legacy contractors went under Why door‑to‑door is still “king” in certain home-services niches, and how to sell respectfully at the front door without being a stereotypical high‑pressure closer The mindset shift from zero‑sum “I win, you lose” sales to win‑win selling that focuses on impact, education, and walking away when you're not the best fit How Chris now helps leadership teams implement EOS and uses his GoExpand AI platform to build disciplined, accountable, highly profitable organizations​ Top 3 Takeaways The best salespeople think of themselves as problem solvers and educators, not manipulators; they're willing to walk away when their solution is not truly in the customer's best interest. In tough economies, differentiation plus math wins: pairing tax incentives, real energy‑savings ROI, and targeted canvassing allowed Chris's company to grow while others shrank. Long‑term success comes from systems and culture, not just charisma—frameworks like EOS and tools like GoExpand help leadership teams create repeatable, scalable performance. Notable Quotes “I look at people as helping people, not selling people. No one wants to be sold, but everybody needs help.” “If you serve other humans, you'll get your just rewards. If you're only trying to take, you'll only get what they'll let you have.” “Both models can work for six months, but only one works for ten years.” Connect with Chris Hallberg: Website (Veteran community): https://bizsgt.com​ Coaching & software: https://goexpand.com​ EOS Implementer profile: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/chris-hallberg​​ ✖️✖️✖️✖️

Keith explores why the real goal of building wealth isn't luxury—it's protecting yourself from the emotional and practical pain of money stress.  You'll hear how owning the right kinds of assets can change your lifestyle options over time, and why waiting on the sidelines can quietly erode your financial future. Keith also pulls back the curtain on a major, often overlooked force that has helped keep real estate values resilient for years, and what that means for anyone thinking about adding more property to their portfolio.  Finally, you'll get a sense of the kinds of opportunities and strategies listeners are using right now to move from just getting by to playing to win in their wealth building journey. Episode Page: GetRichEducation.com/587 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREinvestmentcoach.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  For predictable 10-12% quarterly returns, visit FreedomFamilyInvestments.com/GRE or text  1-937-795-8989 to speak with a freedom coach Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search "how to leave an Apple Podcasts review"  For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— GREletter.com or text 'GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript:   Keith Weinhold  0:01   Welcome to GRE I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, more important than building wealth is avoiding poverty. It's backed up by research. Learn about a force that constantly gives a boost to real estate values that you probably haven't considered before, and own assets or get left behind. I discuss a plan for doing it today on get rich education.   Speaker 1  0:29   Since 2014 the powerful get rich education podcast has created more passive income for people than nearly any other show in the world. This show teaches you how to earn strong returns from passive real estate investing in the best markets without losing your time being a flipper or landlord. Show Host Keith Weinhold writes for both Forbes and Rich Dad advisors and delivers a new show every week since 2014 there's been millions of listener downloads of 188 world nations. He has a list show guests include top selling personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki. Get rich education can be heard on every podcast platform, plus it has its own dedicated Apple and Android listener phone apps build wealth on the go with the get rich education podcast. Sign up now for the get rich education podcast, or visit get rich education.com   Corey Coates  1:14   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  1:30   Welcome to GRE from Dar es Salaam Tanzania to Darlington, South Carolina, and across 188 nations worldwide. I'm Keith Weinhold, and this is get rich education the voice of real estate investing since 2014 and it's a new year, part of the reason why you need to build durable wealth for yourself is actually not to be wealthy. It's really to avoid a lack of wealth. It's in order to pad yourself against poverty. Now, shortly, I want to talk to you more aspirationally if you are or soon plan to make 500k per year or more.    Keith Weinhold  2:15   But first, there are a number of studies that show that beyond a certain level, more wealth barely increases your happiness level. In fact, if you ask many people, they say that doubling their income or doubling their net worth is what they really want, like, that's their goal. Like, in their mind, that's the benchmark in which they've made it. And you know what, when they double their income, though, then they want to double it again. They think that that is the next benchmark. So there can be this endless amount of wanting, because once you've doubled, you just want to keep doubling. But what's really more important is padding against money problems, because if having a little more doesn't change your happiness much, well, it's poverty that can really diminish a level of happiness and fulfillment in your life. So money problems don't just hurt your wallet. They actually hurt your emotions. And this isn't just some motivational poster idea, the statistics are clear. Multiple studies show that when money is scarce, when paying the regular bills feels like a monthly street fight, people report more sadness, more worry and even depression, not just sometimes, but constantly. The reality is that about 71% of Americans say that money is a major source of stress. My gosh, more than seven out of 10. So that's not a fringe category. That's the norm that say money is a major source of stress. Another study found that 42% of adults say money negatively affects their mental health. So close to half of the people walking around you right now feel emotionally beat up by their financial situation, and the gap gets even wider when you compare groups, when people experience serious financial hardship, nearly half, 49% show signs of depression among people without any financial hardship, only about 11% of that group show signs of depression. And Northwestern Mutual did an extensive study on all this. So it's not just a small difference, it's a completely different emotional reality, almost like two separate worlds. To put it plainly. For you, money will not guarantee happiness, but a lack of money can absolutely fuel sadness, and this matters. Because financial confidence isn't just about dollars. It's about dignity. It's about feeling like you're able to breathe, and it's about believing that your future can be bigger than your past. I mean, the research also shows the relationship flows in both directions. Money stress can make mental health worse, and poor mental health can make financial decision making harder. So it's sort of this loop, this cycle. And what breaks the cycle? It's not luck. It's not hoping the economy magically fixes all of its problems. It is going on offense, taking steps that build security instead of surrender, for most people, that turning point comes when they start owning assets, not just paying bills. It comes when money stops being a source of fear and it starts being a tool. Because though we focus on real estate investing here at GRE but ultimately it is a lifestyle improvement show. And before we're done today, I'm going to talk about what you can actionably do to go on offense. Now, what if you already have a higher income, or you expect to make a high income in the near term, if you're earning roughly $500,000 per year or more, and you value time efficiency in making sure that you don't live a rough quality of life. You are on the threshold of a tier that helps ensure that you can avoid some misery. Yes, there is a step change here that can help ensure you have a higher standard of living. Do you know what I might be talking about? Any idea 500k of income is where it begins now. It's only beginning here. At this point, to make sense, where you tilt into starting to fly private instead of flying commercial. Yeah, private flights. Now your situation is going to depend on more than just the income. It's whether or not you're single or you have kids and more, but it's at this income level where you can start to cover a $10,000 flight without biting into your essential living expenses. It's most justifiable when your time savings or your productivity gains translate into real value. I'm talking about things like business deals, meetings and schedules and the benefits of flying privately are pretty significant. Time efficiency is the real superpower here, drive up to the plane, wheels up in minutes. The flexibility is there. You can leave pretty much when you want. You can change your flight plans mid trip if you need to. You get access to smaller airports. That means you can land closer to your final destination and skip big city traffic congestion. You've got privacy and security, no crowds, no TSA stuff. You've got quality of experience, comfort, quiet cabins, custom catering, no competing for overhead bin space. Now even affordable private is still pretty expensive. It is substantially more than first class commercial seats, and I have had limited experience flying private, but at 500k of income, flying private can still feel like a stretch, even though it's doable for you, a more comfortable range is a million dollars or more of annual income, that's when private flights feel much easier to justify for business or lifestyle. Now, with $2 million of annual income or more, most heavy private flyers live here in this range, the $2 million plus income level, they can charter, they can fractionally own, or they can use memberships, all with less stress. When you earn this much, and if you're ultra high net worth, we're talking about $5 million worth of income plus or $20 million worth of net worth plus, well, then private flying is really commonplace. This is where you often have a personal jet, concierge services and flexibility on demand. So as the first episode of the year here, I want to give you some opportunity to dream and goal set. Yeah, you need to stretch out and give space to your aspirations sometimes, and this is a good time to do that, really, though, a more important reason for increasing your income and net worth is that it helps you avoid the discomfort of poverty. But yeah, come on, if nothing else, can you believe that before every commercial flight you have to hear that nonsense about how to inflate a raft if you're. Plane crashes in the water, or you could use your seat as a personal flotation device. Come on your seat. Can't even support your back for a three hour flight. If there's ever been a reason to invest Well, it's so that you never have to hear that stuff again before every flight chase    Keith Weinhold  10:19   last week here on the show, you'll learn more about how stable real estate prices are, why prices have never crashed in your entire life, and also why they can't double in one year. Real Estate is too slow moving 30 days between you making your offer and you closing the deal, that's actually considered pretty fast. In fact, if national home prices ever crash, I will legally change my first name to Fabrice, yes, Fabrice, I would also do that if they doubled in a year. It is almost impossible for either of those things to happen. You learned about how these things have not happened in your entire lifetime on last week's show, yes, even in 2008 in the last 85 years, nominal home prices have risen every single year, except seven of them now. Why is that? Why are the prices of US housing so resilient and just keep going up up up, almost inexorably? Well, it's actually more than just the main well documented reasons that you know about and that we've talked about here. It's about more than these attributes, like population growth, household formation, wage growth, inflation, eroding the currency and land scarcity in desirable areas beyond all of those, one reason that home values just keep going up, up up and are expected to rise again this year is something that We have not discussed yet, and that is government intervention? Yes, in the US and a lot of world places, housing is not a free market. We have a free ish market that sort of comes with training wheels and support animals. Think about how the government helps ensure that home prices stay propped up even through most recessions. We're talking about attributes like ever expanding loan access and mortgage interest deductibility. Then there's depreciation in write offs for investors like us and property tax structures that lag market value when loans have lower down payment requirements or a lowering of credit score requirements and ever expanding loan limits in terms of dollar amounts, well, that increases the demand for those that have the capacity to pay, and it nudges up prices even more incentives, like deducting your mortgage interest in tax depreciation when you don't even have a real expense, but yet you get to write it off anyway. It all heaps on the government driven demand for real estate Now none of these individual things, these government interventions, raise prices overnight, they increase demand structurally. There's evidence that the government is doing even more in recent years to prop up housing demand than they have in the past. This is increasingly a propensity to not let housing fail like it did in 2008 I mean, just look at covid During 2020, and 2021, what a glaring example of how government will prop up home values and not let them fall down if you lost your job during covid. Oh, we'll give you mortgage loan forbearance. That's where you could skip. Oh, just say nine monthly payments, and then you can just tack those nine payments onto the end of your 30 year loan and make those payments decades from now. There was a foreclosure moratorium in effect then too, so you've got forbearance and low rates and stimulus checks and a ban on foreclosures. Well, all of that helped borrowers make payments, and that supported home price growth. There was no fire sailing, really, that could have taken place then, and you will recall that during that time period, in fact, the year 2021 national home prices soared 19% so housing is not a completely free market. You really don't have to look very far to know that. I mean, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are both still government sponsored and still in conservatorship. And here's the thing, so far, I've only talked about how government has propped up the demand side. Side of the market. I've only talked about half of it. Don't forget the sometimes unintentional supply restriction the governments induce as well keeping housing supply in check. Well, that helps drive price appreciation. I'm talking about the zoning spaghetti that new homebuilders have to navigate through the permit purgatory, minimum lot sizes that can seem larger than some European countries, environmental reviews that last longer than the movie Avengers. Endgame was that a three hour, two minute movie, all of these roadblocks limit new housing supply that makes it harder to build. So governments provide an ever present tailwind to housing values by both boosting demand and by crimping supply. Government amplifies these forces, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but the result is the same propping up housing values. If all these years since coming out of the Great Recession have shown us anything, and the 2020 pandemic reinforced it, it is to either own assets or get left behind. You've got to own assets or you will be left behind, and that's whether you're trying to stay away from poverty, like I talked about at the top of the show, or whether you're aiming to fly private instead of commercial, something more aspirational, really. That's the lesson I've got more straight ahead here. There will only ever be one get rich education podcast episode 587 and you're listening to it.    Keith Weinhold  16:43   You know, most people think they're playing it safe with their liquid money, but they're actually losing savings accounts and bonds don't keep up when true inflation eats six or 7% of your wealth. Every single year, I invest my liquidity with FFI freedom family investments in their flagship program. Why? Fixed 10 to 12% returns have been predictable and paid quarterly. There's real world security backed by needs based real estate like affordable housing, Senior Living and health care. Ask about the freedom flagship program. When you speak to a freedom coach there, and that's just one part of their family of products, they've got workshops, webinars and seminars designed to educate you before you invest. Start with as little as 25k and finally, get your money working as hard as you do. Get started at Freedom family investments.com/gre, or send a text. Now it's 1-937-795-8989, yep, text their freedom coach directly again. 1-937-795-8989,   Keith Weinhold  17:54   the same place where I get my own mortgage loans is where you can get yours. Ridge lending group and MLS, 42056, they provided our listeners with more loans than anyone because they specialize in income properties. They help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your prequel and even chat with President chailey Ridge personally while it's on your mind, start at Ridge lending group.com that's Ridge lending group.com   Dana Dunford  18:27   this is hemlane's co founder, Dana Dunford. Listen to get rich education with Keith Weinhold, and don't quit your Daydream. You Keith,   Keith Weinhold  18:45   welcome back to get rich Education. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, we're talking about new angles with respect to how the future belongs to asset owners. Every year, people say, This is my year, but only a few actually take the action to back that up and make it come true. One thing that I've learned is that people love saying, I want an opportunity, but what they really want is certainty. Unfortunately, certainty only shows up after opportunity is gone. History is full of people who walked past moments like this now owning more of an asset like real estate today, and instead they just look and say, Oh, it's probably nothing. Well, what about alternatives? What's your employer's plan for you? I mean, really, what's a typical employer's plan for employees spend 40 years here at this desk, and I guarantee that you'll become moderately comfortable with a nice 401K balance that you can start withdrawing from by the time you're age 65 at which time you'll start paying taxes on it too. So really, that's it. That's their plan for you. Yes, that's their plan for you. Though, as you know, I do not forecast mortgage rates. No one, not one analyst or rating agency, expects mortgage rates to fall substantially any time soon as we look at the real estate landscape, in fact, among 21 different major research groups, which include PNC Bank, Redfin, Moody's, wells, Fargo, the NAR totality, if you average what their forecasts are, one year from now, mortgage rates are expected to be at the same level that they are today, which is about 6.2% if you want to add more assets, prices are probably only going to be higher one year from now. The Fed is involved in QE like behavior again, which resumed last month, that gives the effect of more money printing, and it provides an environment for a continued price run up across not just real estate, but nearly every asset class. Current CPI inflation is 2.7% and long term inflation expectations are elevated. The Fed is cutting rates. The current Fed funds rate is about 3.6% and the President wants the Fed funds rate cut to 1% central banks are stockpiling gold, and the US dollar just had its worst year since 2017 so a lot is lining up to keep supporting housing values. Now, when we zoom out, starting back in 2012 us home prices have now risen 14 years in a row, and the average annual gain since that time is about 6% which is sustainable and close to historic norms. Year after year. Some people keep waiting for the right moment, and meanwhile, the right moment just keeps passing them by. And look, now here's a really interesting way for you to look at things from a long time investor like me, I have bought a wide variety of investment real estate over the years. I bought single family homes to both live in and single family homes to rent out vacant land, agricultural parcels, small apartment buildings and larger apartment buildings on every single one at the time when I purchased it, it was the most that anyone had ever paid for that property in that property's history, and if there were bids and I ended up getting the property, then I was the highest bidder as well. So on. Effectively, every single property purchase of my life, I paid more than anyone ever. And if someone had no understanding of the real estate market. They might think that that sounded bad, like I executed with a poor strategy or a lack of experience or direction, but that's just usually how it works in real estate, with the incessant postulation of almost unceasing appreciation and inflation, and years later, when it was time for me to sell the property, what were those conditions like? What happened then? You guessed it, I sold it for the most that it had ever sold for. So for that next buyer, that was the most then that anyone had ever paid for the property in history, yet again, and if it was a bidding situation, chances are I sold it to the highest bidder. So therefore, that has nothing to do with luck, that has nothing to do with timing, that is simply being an active participant in the real estate market and enjoying the leverage and all the other benefits all the while. So history shows that trying to time things based on market conditions or what you think market conditions are going to be, that does not work. What does work is owning more assets sooner. Every property that you purchase, expect to pay more for it than anyone ever has in that property's history. And then every property that you sell down the road, expect that you're going to sell it for more than what anyone has ever sold it for. Historically, that is normal. Now if your net worth is below $1 million or even below $5 million you really can't play the game not to lose. That's what keeps people stuck. You've got to play to win. The world already has your money. If you want access to it, you have simply got to go out. Out and get it. You play offense now, and you can play defense later, when your financial position is where you want it really and here's a huge insight, more money is lost trying to avoid a downturn than is lost actually being in the market when one finally happens, like I've discussed lately, real estate price downturns are uncommon. Sitting out and waiting is a wealth killer, because even if a downturn does happen, well, if you're already invested, you are positioned for the upturn. You're going to get the full measure of the upturn. That's where the real gains are, and this is where real estate is different. Leverage just keeps working for you. In the background, your 401, k does not do that. There's no leverage beyond maybe a two to one employer match, and then you get taxed when you finally touch the money. Some people like to gamble a little play a prediction market like poly market. Have something in Bitcoin, maybe even have exposure to a risky altcoin. I guess the NFL playoffs start this coming weekend. Some people want to bet on that and have their fun. Maybe even be invested in a high flying tech stock, or even the sp500. These vehicles rarely build wealth when you're actually young enough to enjoy it, because you're probably unleveraged there, you're exposed. You've only got your dollars working for you, not others, and you sure can do some of that day to day stuff. Go on polymarket and bet on when man will first land on Mars or something. Have your fun while the real wealth is built by the quiet, slow moving leverage of your larger real estate portfolio. In the background. Real estate, you can put 20 to 25% down on a 200k income property and control the whole thing. That's what investors are doing with our GRE marketplace properties right now, often in a low cost market like, say, Kansas City or Memphis, say that, for example, you're looking to add four doors this year, four rental units. Now that might take the form of one duplex and two new build Florida single family rentals. Now, with about 250k you can control $1 million of property adding assets this year. And here at GRE our nationwide provider network connects you with the real deals, and our providers often tell us about them before the public knows, for example, the properties where the builder still in this environment buys your rate down to perhaps four and a half percent. That is still happening. And why do the properties that our GRE investment coaches connect you with seem like such good deals at times? Well, there's a few reasons for that. Investor advantage markets just intrinsically have low prices. There's no agent that you have to compensate. It's a direct model that keeps the price down. These providers provide homes in bulk that helps keep the price down. And since we're dealing with investment properties, income producing properties, there are not any of these owner occupied emotions, so you don't get unreasonable sellers that hold out for a high price because there's some sentimental attachment there, or something like that.    Keith Weinhold  28:38   Let me give you three examples of real properties that our GRE investment coaching helps connect you with right now, and this is the place to be entry level homes, because entry level homes are few long term you are going to own a scarce asset that everybody wants. The first one is a brand new build single family rental in Cullman, Alabama. That's right between Birmingham and Huntsville, booming Huntsville. Now this property is currently vacant. However, it's in an A class neighborhood, so good appreciation potential, but less cash flow on this one, the rent is $2,100 the purchase price is 317k Yes, just 317k for this five bed, three bath, 2500 square foot rental, single family home. That's new build. One advantage Alabama has, and why we often have available Alabama properties is that really low property tax in that state you're going to benefit from a low fixed expense ratio over the long term. Alabama, property taxes are well under 1% per year as a percentage of the property value. In fact, at less than 410 Tax of 1% Alabama has the lowest property taxes in the entire continental United States. Only Hawaii has a lower one, where you're going to find a national average of 1% or a little more than 1% the second property is also brand new construction. It is a duplex in Goddard, Kansas, which is outside Wichita, each side of the duplex has three beds, two baths and 1300 68 square feet combined. Rents both sides are $3,500 and the purchase price is 447k and it is leased. Both sides are rented out. You can contact our free investment coaching and scoop up this or one like it today, and I'm looking at pictures of this really good looking new build duplex in the Wichita area. Looks like a two car garage on both sides, really attractive. And again, on these new builds, oftentimes the homebuilder is still buying down your mortgage rate for you, often under 5% the last one I'll mention, and I'm just giving you three samples to help give you an idea here. And if you're listening to this in a few years, you'll probably wish you could purchase these at prices this low. This last one is not new builds. Unfortunately, I can't quickly find the year of construction, but it looks older. It is a Kansas City single family rental, fully renovated. The cash flow numbers are super attractive. $2,100 rent on a purchase price of just $227,500 and free property management for two years is offered here on this renovated Kansas single family rental. Our investment coaching can answer questions about it for you. When something's renovated, you definitely want to see what the scope of work is. And there are also larger properties available. If you're looking to trade up some of your properties with accumulated equity into something else, we can help build an entire portfolio for you, or you might currently be only invested in one market, where we can help you determine what second market might make sense for you based on your time horizon and your own goals. Hey, maybe you've got a private plane in a decade kind of goal, or maybe we'll help you find out that adding more property does not make sense for you at this time in your situation, even though the opportunities are pretty good right now, because compared to two years ago, the inventory to select from is wider today, And the mortgage rates are lower now too GRE investment coaches are your free trusted advisors. It's like having a silent partner on your deal, someone who gives you insight but doesn't take any equity. There's no compensation for you to provide at all. It's about your portfolio, your goals and your direction. And our coaches also help you with services related to managing your real estate assets long term, like your tax and CPA questions, legal questions, though, that's pretty limited, because we're not attorneys here. For example, what happens if you have an appraisal surprise and the appraisal comes in lower than the amount that you've contracted to buy a property for, we help you with something like that, any inventory issues or inspection issues and property management guidance that you might need. In fact, if you've engaged with our free investment coaching in the past, even a few years ago, and we helped you find a property and say, now you have some sort of property management issue. Let us know. Keep in touch with your GRE investment coach. You tell someone like Naresh here, and he will step in. And when you set up a time to chat, which you can do at greinvestmentcoach.com There's really nothing special that you need to do to prepare if you can bring a 20% down payment. Now the ball is already rolling, and in today's environment with closing costs, that's usually about a 50k minimum. It helps if you're pre approved for a mortgage loan with Ridge lending group, or whomever your lender of choice is. What's interesting is that these deals are good. These are real estate pays five ways, properties that our coaches help connect you with. So sometimes we are buying these properties ourselves here at GRE. We have in the past, but there is no way we can buy them all, not even close. That means that an opportunity remains for you. Yes, we are real estate investors ourselves here at GRE, right now, there are better properties available than ones that we've bought ourselves recently, and there is more overall selection too. You can easily see the coach's calendar, select a time and then have a phone call or a zoom chat, whatever you like. If. From there. Our coaches usually give you their phone number, so then later, you can even text them. Our coach, Naresh, he responded to someone on Thanksgiving. That's the level of dedication here. So here's the next step. Book a time at GREinvestmentcoach.com you can do that now. That's where the calendar lives. There's no back and forth. Just pick a time right there that works. It's Free. Select a 30 minute time slot, and lately they've been available seven days a week. And you're going to walk away with clarity on your goals, your timeline and what's realistic for you, if you're tired of watching from the sidelines, tired of trying not to lose, tired of waiting for perfect conditions, and conditions are never perfect, well, this is your moment to play to win. It's pretty easy to remember to connect with a GRE investment coach. Visit greinvestmentcoach.com Until next week, I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, don't quit your Daydream.   Speaker 2  36:10   Nothing on this show should be considered specific personal or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC, exclusively.   Keith Weinhold  36:38   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth building, get richeducation.com  

If you're an interior designer who feels deeply creative but secretly anxious about sales, pricing, or talking about your value, this episode is for you.Too many designers believe that great work should “sell itself,” only to find themselves undercharging, overdelivering, and wondering why their business still feels financially fragile. If you've ever felt uncomfortable talking about money, struggled to raise your design fees, or worried that niching down will limit your opportunities, you are not alone.In this episode, I sit down with interior design business coach Donna Hoffman for a powerful, honest conversation about what it really takes to monetize creativity. We talk about sales strategy for creative brains, why marketing clarity matters more than talent, and how designers can confidently communicate their value without feeling salesy or inauthentic. Donna shares real-world examples from her own seven-figure luxury design firm and explains why selling design is just as important as designing itself.If your goal is to run your design business like a confident CEO while still honoring your creative sensitivity, this conversation will help you take that next step.Featured Guest:Donna Hoffman is a seasoned interior design business coach and the founder of a seven-figure luxury interior design firm launched during the 2008 Great Recession. Known as the “master of words,” Donna specializes in branding, sales strategy, marketing strategy, and mindset support for creative entrepreneurs. Her work helps designers clarify their niche, confidently communicate value, and build profitable, resilient businesses that honor both creativity and well-being.What You'll Learn in This Episode✳️ Why interior designers don't design for a living✳️ How to niche your interior design business without closing yourself off to opportunities✳️ The difference between being a generalist and having a compelling point of difference✳️ How to use a pitch deck to educate clients and increase project scope naturally✳️ Why creative sensitivity affects pricing confidence and sales conversations✳️ How to raise your design fees strategically without sabotaging your mindset✳️ The importance of selling furnishings and products as part of a profitable design businessRead the Blog >>> How Designers Build Profitable Design BusinessesNEXT STEPS:

What kind of wealth actually sustains you when life knocks you flat? In this episode of the Millionaire Mother Podcast, I am joined by one of the most profound voices in personal development and wealth consciousness. Patrice Washington is a multi-award-winning thought leader, bestselling author, transformational speaker, and the host of the top-rated Redefining Wealth. Named one of Success Magazine's Top 25 Influential Thought Leaders in Personal Development, Patrice has been seen on Good Morning America, CNBC, Essence, and more. But what makes her work so powerful is not just her success, it's the depth of wisdom forged through loss, surrender, and rebuilding. In this conversation, Patrice takes us deep into her personal story from becoming a millionaire in her early twenties, losing everything during the Great Recession, surviving profound grief, navigating nearly $400,000 in unexpected medical debt, and rebuilding her life and legacy from the ground up. Tune in to hear: Why becoming a millionaire didn't protect Patrice from loss and what ultimately did The pivotal hospital moment that reshaped how she defines success forever How surrender is not giving up, but releasing the illusion of control The Six Pillars of Wealth and how they create resilience when money disappears What it looks like to rebuild after humiliation, shame, and starting over Why wisdom (not income) is the most valuable form of capital How to move through rock-bottom moments without losing your identity or faith The inner work required to sustain wealth, not just create it Why resilience is the real currency behind long-term success Connect with Patrice: Download the Redefining Wealth App (available on iOS & Android) Learn more about Redefining Wealth Live at redefiningwealthlive.com  

Photos emerged over the weekend showing visibly bruising and bandages on BOTH of Donald Trump's hands, with one photo showing a puncture mark, likely from a needle, in the center of one of the bruises. This has completely destroyed the administration's talking point that these injuries are from shaking hands, and MAGA is losing their minds trying to defend Trump's visible decay. MAGA lunatics took to social media to downplay the new evidence, but no one was buying their garbage. Harmeet Dhillon, Donald Trump's assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's civil rights division, went on an unhinged and profane tirade against MAGA influencers for criticizing the Trump administration. Dhillon seems to have completely lost her mind over the fact that the people who blindly supported Trump for years are not as willing to do so now, so she used a derogatory slur to attack all of them. This didn't sit well with the people she insulted, and is probably going to have the opposite effect of what she intended. A proposed piece of legislation in California would impose a moderate wealth tax on billionaires in the state, forcing them to pay 5% on their net worth over $1 billion. In other words, this is a tax on excessive wealth that billionaires can easily afford. But the tech executives in California are freaking out over it, and they've banded together and are openly plotting ways to remove powerful California Democrats like Ro Khanna. They are going to spend more money trying to buy elections than they would in taxes.Overseeing record numbers of job losses is never something that a President wants to do, but Donald Trump actually seems to be enjoying it. He got on social media recently to BRAG about the record number of government jobs that he has cut since taking office, even though those job losses have helped exacerbate a growing problem of rising unemployment across the country. Republicans have zero empathy for the people whose lives are being ruined by these cuts, and that only makes the problem worse. According to multiple new polls, both domestic and international, Donald Trump is viewed by a majority of Americans and our closest allies as being weak, crazy, and a destabilizing force around the globe. These are not exactly the qualities that anyone - here or abroad - wants to see in the President of the United States, but that's where we are after nearly a year of having Trump back in office. The chances of things getting better are slim to none, so we can expect these already horrific numbers to fall even lower in the future. Donald Trump claims that filing for bankruptcy for his own personal businesses was a smart move (just like when he admitted not paying taxes,) but his penchant for causing bankruptcies is no longer limited to his own companies. Thanks to his trade war, bankruptcies for American businesses have now hit their highest levels in 15 years, putting us back at the levels we saw during the Great Recession. Businesses are closing their doors left and right, even as Republicans keep telling us that they care so deeply about small business owners. Those people are suffering, and Trump and his Republicans remain completely silent. Text and and let us know your thoughts on today's stories!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on all of Farron's content: https://www.youtube.com/FarronBalancedFollow Farron on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarronBalanced Twitter: https://twitter.com/farronbalanced Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farronbalanced TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farronbalanced?lang=en

In this conversation from 2024, Alex speaks with Kevin Erdmann about how zoning, the 2008 economic crisis, and the desire to live away from "those people" is effecting the state of housing.  Episode Notes: Kevin's page at the Mercatus Centre: https://www.mercatus.org/scholars/kevin-erdmann The Erdmann Housing Tracker: https://kevinerdmann.substack.com/  Kevin on X: https://x.com/KAErdmann?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor  Kevin's book "Shut Out: How a Housing Shortage Caused the Great Recession and Crippled our Economy" on Amazon Canada:  https://a.co/d/gIh82Og 

Advisors on This Week's Show Kyle Tetting Adam Baley Dave Sandstrom (with Max Hoelzl, Joel Dresang, engineered by Jason Scuglik) Week in Review (Dec. 15-19, 2025) Significant Economic Indicators & Reports Monday No major announcements Tuesday Employers continued to add jobs in November amid signs of a weakening labor market, including the highest unemployment rate in four years. The shutdown-delayed employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed 64,000 more jobs in November after a 105,000-job decline in October, the third drop in five months. Federal jobs led the October fall as total employment stayed flat since April. Temporary help — considered a harbinger of hiring trends — reached its lowest level outside of the pandemic since 2012, amid recovery from the Great Recession. Because of the 43-day government shutdown, household data was not collected in October and had a higher margin of error in November. That data raised the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, the highest since September 2021. The Commerce Department reported no change in retail sales in October. Eight of 13 major categories had higher sales. Decliners were led by car dealers, home-and-garden centers and bars and restaurants. Sales fell at gas stations because of lower prices. Excluding volatile car and gas sales, retailers generated 0.5 % more revenue than in September. About two-thirds of U.S. economic activity is driven by consumer spending, a majority of which is reflected in retail sales. Wednesday No major announcements Thursday The broadest measure of inflation showed a 2.7% annual pace in November. Because of the shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics skipped its October report, the first miss  since 1948, but showed a lower Consumer Price Index increase for the first time since April, when the year-to-year rate was 2.3%. Inflation stayed above the long-range Federal Reserve target of 2% but was down from a four-decade high of 9.1% in June 2022. According to the incomplete report, gas prices were up 11% from the year before and shelter costs rose 3%. Excluding volatile costs for energy and food, the core CPI rose 2.6% from November 2024. The four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row, the Labor Department reported. The gauge of employers' willingness to release workers was 40% below the long-term average and up 5% from the low just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Total jobless claims rose nearly 16% in the latest week to just below 2 million, up almost 2% from the year before. Friday Existing home sales rose 0.5% in November, a third consecutive increase, the National Association of Realtors reported. The annual sales rate of 4.1 million houses and condos was 1% below the year before; 2024 had the lowest sales in 30 years. An economist for the trade association said housing wealth was at an all-time high, so homeowners are in no hurry to list their properties. Low inventory has helped boost prices, rising to a median price of $409,200 in November, a 1.2% gain from the year before and the 29th consecutive increase. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rose marginally in December, though it was 28.5% lower than the year before. Conditions for buying durable goods fell for the fifth month in a row as 63% of consumers surveyed foresaw a continuing rise in unemployment. Inflation expectations fell but remained higher than they were in January. Economists follow consumer sentiment as a leading indicator of consumer spending. Market Closings for the Week Nasdaq – 23286, up 91 points or 0.4% Standard & Poor's 500 – 6837, up 10 points or 0.1% Dow Jones Industrial – 48254, down 204 points or 0.4% 10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 4.15%, down 0.04 point

In this episode of Investor Connect, host Hall Martin welcomes Darcy Bachert, Founder and CEO of Prolucid Technologies. Darcy shares the journey of Prolucid Technologies, a software engineering firm that specializes in designing and developing mission-critical systems for highly regulated industries such as med tech, nuclear, and industrial applications. Darcy explains how the company pivoted from industrial automation to focusing on more stable industries during the Great Recession and highlights the importance of quality, cybersecurity, and compliance in their operations. He also discusses the challenge investors face in understanding the longer timelines and higher costs associated with bringing regulated software products to market and explains the pros and cons of investing in such technologies. Hall and Darcy delve into the increasing role of AI in med tech, particularly in enhancing diagnostic processes and speeding up clinical decision-making, with Darcy mentioning Prolucid' role in transforming prototypes into production-ready systems. They also touch on the importance of advanced data analytics and ongoing monitoring in reshaping product value and post-market support. The conversation further explores the strengths and weaknesses of startups versus large strategics in the innovation landscape of regulated software products, and how choosing the right engineering partner is essential for success. Darcy offers practical advice on identifying credible partners and warning signs to watch out for, emphasizing the need for engagement and quality management systems. Visit Prolucid Technologies at www.prolucid.ca/ Reach out to at www.linkedin.com/in/darcybachert/, darcy.bachert@prolucid.ca _______________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https:/_/tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

Jason presented upcoming investment opportunities, particularly focusing on co-living properties and Empowered Investor Live events, while emphasizing the urgent need for housing solutions and providing contact information for investment counselors. He discussed Redfin's market predictions, including trends in mortgage rates, affordability, and home sales, while examining the impact of quantitative easing on credit availability and interest rates. The discussion concluded with an analysis of apartment rental trends, household changes, and regional variations in real estate markets, along with the potential for remodeling and policy responses to the affordability crisis. Market predictions: https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-market-predictions-2026/   Jason then interviews Aman Verjee, author of "A Brief History of Financial Bubbles," to discuss historical market bubbles and their relevance to current financial conditions. They examine various historical examples including the Tulip bubble, South Sea and Mississippi Company bubbles, and explore how government involvement and monetary policies have influenced these events. The discussion concludes with insights about modern market valuations, particularly regarding AI stocks, and Aman encourages listeners to learn from historical bubbles through his website. https://empoweredinvestor.com/ Connect with investment counselor today! (714) 820-4200 Ext. 2 or check out these amazing products https://www.jasonhartman.com/properties/ #CoLivingInvestment #RealEstateInvesting #CashFlowProperties #FinancialBubbles #QEIsBack #QuantitativeEasing #EasyMoney #MortgageRates #HousingAffordability #RedFinPredictions #InvestmentOpportunities #WorkingPoorCrisis #IncredibleROI #PropertyMarket #WagesOutpacingHousing #CreditAvailability #MultiDimensionalAsset #RealEstatePrices #RentGrowth #SingleFamilyMarket #ReshapingHouseholds #MoreRoommates #RefiAndRemodel #LockInEffect #RemodelingBoom #AIinRealEstate #GoodInventory #UnintendedConsequences #HomeSalesVolume #EmpoweredInvestor Key Takeaways: Jason's editorial 1:21 Big Opportunities in 2026 3:44 Housing predictions 2026    Aman Verjee interview 18:02 What is a bubble 20:52 Two companies, two countries 25:39 Government involvement and bubble 28:42 Dot.com and the LCTM 33:37 The Great Recession 35:11 Where are we now  39:50 https://www.bigbubbletrouble.com   Transcript HERE   Follow Jason on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM & LINKEDIN Twitter.com/JasonHartmanROI Instagram.com/jasonhartman1/ Linkedin.com/in/jasonhartmaninvestor/ Call our Investment Counselors at: 1-800-HARTMAN (US) or visit: https://www.jasonhartman.com/ Free Class:  Easily get up to $250,000 in funding for real estate, business or anything else: http://JasonHartman.com/Fund CYA Protect Your Assets, Save Taxes & Estate Planning: http://JasonHartman.com/Protect Get wholesale real estate deals for investment or build a great business – Free Course: https://www.jasonhartman.com/deals Special Offer from Ron LeGrand: https://JasonHartman.com/Ron Free Mini-Book on Pandemic Investing: https://www.PandemicInvesting.com

What does it take to lead a university for over two decades, and still love the work?In this special farewell episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with President Satish Tripathi of the University at Buffalo as he reflects on a remarkable 22-year legacy of leadership, innovation, and transformation. With retirement on the horizon, President Tripathi shares candid reflections on what's changed, what he's proudest of, and what it really takes to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change.From moving a medical school to revitalizing a city, to pioneering national research in AI and drug discovery, Tripathi's tenure is marked by bold vision and patient execution. But beyond the milestones, he shares what shaped his leadership, from growing up in a small Indian village to navigating crises like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also offers unfiltered advice for aspiring higher ed leaders, and a surprising answer about what he's looking forward to most after stepping down.Key Takeaways:Big change requires long-term vision: Transformational projects like relocating UB's medical school or launching NSF research centers took years, and a relentless commitment to mission.Naivete can be a secret weapon: Not knowing how hard something will be might just be the key to starting it at all.Legacy is defined by others: True leadership means focusing on impact, not recognition.Leadership evolves: Tripathi now leads with more listening, humility, and trust in his team than when he began.Great leadership isn't about the next job, it's about doing the current one with excellence.“If you're always thinking about the next job, you're not doing your current job well. Excellence now is what leads you forward.” – President Satish TripathiIf this conversation inspired you, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more wisdom-filled episodes, and take a moment to journal: what long-term impact are you building today?Learn more about the UIA by visiting:WebsiteLinkedInTwitterYouTubeFacebookThis week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

I started in the family manufacturing company in 1978 after being encouraged by my parents. Shortly after starting I began a formal, two years, machinist apprenticeship. I worked on the manual machines in the factory for about six years when my father tasked me with implementing CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinery in our company. It was highly successful. For the next decade, I worked and managed the operations of the family business and segued into administrative roles; Procurement, Quoting, HR, Business Development, Sales, Marketing and PR. I literally learned the family business from the back door to the front door. After years of encouraging my father to create a business succession plan, we did, and in 2004 I became President and sole shareholder. Running a small business is challenging as we wear a lot of hats in our day to day. I kept pushing through those roadblocks; recessions, employees, customers, vendors and more and in 2007 we had our most profitable year. But as we all know the Great Recession came along – it hit us in the 4th quarter of 2008 – and we had to layoff 60% of our workforce. It was not pleasant and it was gut-wrenching to one by one tell my veteran employees, who I cared about there was no work for them. I vowed I would never let that happen again so made a decision to start working on the business rather than in it. I reached out to our long-term manufacturing association – the TMA and started learning about marketing and networking. It was out of my comfort zone but knew if I pushed myself the rewards would come and they did. I was encouraged to join committees, peer groups and attend industry-specific networking events around Chicago. I met like-minded people that ironically all shared the same pains and stories of my decades in the business. I became friends with these peers and created a small, personal Board of Directors with them, people that I could trust and could ask anything. It was and still is one of the most rewarding experiences in my business career. I found I had an innate ability and passion for marketing and suddenly found myself mingling with these professionals too. We would share our frustrations, successes and technologies with each other which helped me grow my personal and business brand – which I found out are together as one. As my networking evolved, I was asked to join the exclusive TMA Board of Directors and in my third year was voted by my peers to move into the executive chairs, culminating into Chairman, the highest Board level position. I was humbled and accepted. Through this networking platform, I was presented with an opportunity to be interviewed on a local Chicago AM radio station and share my marketing savvy and wisdom with their audience about how I was using social media to brand my manufacturing company – nobody was doing it at that time. Also at my interview was Jason Zenger, the President of Zenger's Industrial Supply. My company was a premier vendor who was buying industrial cutting tools from his business for years. We had never met but knew of each other. Jason was there to add to the discussion about what he was doing differently as a third-generation business owner at his company. We hit it off. Shortly after our interview aired he called me to ask if I had heard of or listened to podcasts. I said yes, I knew of that media but was not actively listening. Jason said, “I think we have a deep knowledge of our industry, we are not competitors, are highly connected to the community, have a commanding presence and no one relevant in our industry was in that space.” Suddenly a light bulb in my head went off – that a-ha moment – I had felt that feeling when I started using social. I wanted to be the trailblazer and this seemed like a fairly low-risk proposition. I agreed. The only caveat was I would only do it if it was well structured, thought out and quality was the overwhelming key. We planned for a year doing research on the average American commute, joined online podcast communities to learn tips on what other successful podcasters were doing, hired professional voice talent and sound editors and at the onset of 2015 released our first show. It was immediately well-received and in two weeks we were on the iTunes New & Noteworthy List of Podcasts. A few major trade publications did some articles on us and of course, we used our social media savvy to target our audience. We were on our way. What we didn't realize is that although our mission was to equip and inspire manufacturing leaders, with the hope that we could garner some thought leadership and interest in our respective manufacturing companies, major brands that sold to our audience started to notice us and inquired about advertising on our show. We were excited but didn't know how to react. This was strictly a grassroots project and neither of us knew much about this space. Of course, we accepted and the rest is history. We are new an income-producing, bona fide brand, that is known among our community and we have lucrative contracts with some of the largest players in our industry. The next step. We are definitely busy people, me running my manufacturing company, conducting interviews and shows with Jason and to retain the level of networking that helped me grow into what I am today. It's not easy but as my father always used to tell me: “Jim, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it”. He couldn't be more right.

Today's guest is Nate Hankes – US Army drone operator turned soil scientist then sales engineer at a cutting-edge agricultural sensor manufacturer. Nate spent 14 months in Baghdad during the 2007 troop surge, watching chaos unfold from a screen thousands of feet above, feeling both omniscient, at times, and impotent. He came home carrying a weight of the war he didn't know he had, spent nine years writing a book to process it, and took five months to hike the Appalachian Trail to figure out who he was after the uniform came off. As Nate says, “I called it the Bagdad hangover. I lost a decade of my life to it.” His path into agriculture wasn't some romantic calling—it was practical advice from his dad during the Great Recession and a college program that didn't require calculus. But somewhere between a Monsanto internship at an Idaho phosphate mine, graduate research on a selenium-accumulating plant that killed livestock, and learning hydroponics in a Bob Marley-playing, barefoot California office, Nate found something he didn't expect: Purpose through Science. Now he's at Apogee Instruments in Utah, working with researchers and growers who are trying to do everything from grow plants in space to monitor the distribution of light in their greenhouses. The company was founded by his former graduate advisor, Dr. Bruce Bugbee, who's been manufacturing high-fidelity environmental sensors for nearly 30 years. In this conversation, we get into: The moral weight of remote warfare Leadership failures that push good people out, and Why the precision of measuring photons matters when you're trying to feed people Nate doesn't sugarcoat the hard parts, and he's not interested in wrapping his military service in nostalgia. He's just trying to do work that matters. Enjoy!

In this conversation, Benny Carreon and Dennis Jackson discuss the evolution of business, emphasizing the importance of customer service and the transition from white-collar to blue-collar industries. They explore how customer experience, communication, and training play crucial roles in building a successful service-oriented business. Chris Lalomia, a guest entrepreneur, shares insights from his journey in the handyman industry, highlighting the significance of creating a culture of service and the changing perceptions in the trades.Chris Lalomia is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started THE TRUSTED TOOLBOX: HOME REPAIR and PROJECTS in 2008. Yes, he started a business right before the Great Recession, so timing the market is not his strength. He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion dollar handyman and remodeling company which has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA.Contact information: Chris Lalomia-https://thetrustedtoolbox.com or chris@thetrustedtoolbox.comBenny Carreon- Velocity Technology Group- benny@velocitytechnology.groupDennis Jackson-WorX Solution- dennisj@worxsolution.comwww.wfhwith2guys.com

What happens when you give employees 25% of your company? Discover how Sleep Train soared 800%—and changed 1,600 lives in 4 years. Ever wondered if true ownership could transform a business? In this episode, Mark Kinsley sits down with Dale Carlsen, legendary founder of Sleep Train, who reveals how a daring decision—handing 25% ownership to employees—sparked an 800% surge in company value and created life-changing wealth for team members. If you're a retailer, entrepreneur, or sleep industry pro who's ever struggled with building a lasting culture, retaining talent, or finding your “why,” you'll want to hear Dale's inside stories. From the emotional moment managers learned they were the new owners, to the delivery driver who bought his mom a house in Mexico, Dale shares the secrets behind Sleep Train's explosive growth and heart-centered mission. We also dig into why focusing on just one charity (Ticket to Dream) not only helped thousands of foster kids—but became a powerful business filter, driving loyalty and brand love. Industry experts, iconic ad campaigns, and the power of social good—all in one episode.Curious about how media personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern unknowingly helped revolutionize mattress marketing? Or why Dale refused to cut advertising, even when banks demanded it? The answers might surprise you.Timestamps:- 00:45 – The surprising origin of Sleep Train's 25% employee ownership- 03:18 – How $117M changed employees' lives (real stories inside)- 06:00 – The emotional “mirror moment” that redefined company culture- 09:20 – From delivery driver to “owner”: Employee impact stories- 13:06 – Why Ticket to Dream became the only charity—and how it fueled business growth- 19:58 – The heartbreaking stats about foster kids (and what Sleep Train did differently)- 28:55 – How doing good drove Sleep Train's brand loyalty and retention- 37:44 – The jingle, the whistle, and the marketing moves no one saw coming- 46:31 – When everything almost collapsed: Lessons from the Great Recession- 56:47 – What Dale learned about trust, betrayal, and vendor relationshipsConnect with The FAM Podcast:

Despite its long-held place in history as the lynchpin of America's recovery from the Great Depression, what if the New Deal did more to hinder the country's recovery than help it? George Selgin is a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Georgia and former director of the Center on Monetary and Financial Alternatives at the Cato Institute. His books like, False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery and Floored!: How a Misguided Fed Experiment Deepened and Prolonged the Great Recession, examine macroeconomic theories through the lens of key moments in monetary history. In this conversation, Greg and George dive deep into the inner workings of The Great Depression, covering the biggest misconceptions surrounding the New Deal's role in ending the crisis, why many of President Roosevelt's policies were counterproductive, and how pre-existing, international factors impacted the U.S.'s recovery.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:The myth of New Deal wisdom47:17: The thing that people have to remember when they are inclined to think, oh, you know, we need to look back at the New Deal and all the wonderful things they did to end the Depression. They knew so much, you know, they had all these experiments. No. We know a lot more about how to fight recessions and depressions than they did because we know that fiscal and monetary stimulus are our best hopes. And those were two things that the Roosevelt administration did not put much, if any, emphasis upon. And that, of course, just hearing that should give a lot of people second thoughts about how helpful the New Deal was. They did a lot of stuff, but they did not do the main thing we rely on now. The main things, they did not promote monetary stimulus, and they did not promote fiscal stimulus except somewhat, reluctantly.Keynes vs. the New Dealers59:39: I certainly believe that if Keynes's advice had been followed instead of what the New Dealers did, that the Depression would have ended much sooner than it did in the United States. The downside of "bold experimentation"35:56: Roosevelt made two statements that were probably the least, the two main unambiguous things he said, one of which turned out to be a very accurate description of what his administration would end up doing. And the other one of which would be a very inaccurate statement. This is all in the course of the campaign. The accurate statement was when he said that his administration planned to go about addressing the Depression through bold experimentation. And that is absolutely true. There was a lot of trial and error. And the problem is, as I say in my book, you know, the problem with bold experiments is they often fail.On war clouds and gold flows45:41: What keeps gold flowing in for the rest of the decade, and more and more of it as time goes on, is Hitler's rise to power and the, the gatherings war clouds that eventually have many, many Europeans thinking, I do not think this is place, this place is safe for our gold. And as long as they could, taking it and shipping it to the United States, where now after the suspension of the gold standard and the devaluation, the treasury alone is buying all the gold.Show Links:Recommended Resources:John Maynard KeynesFranklin D. RooseveltHerbert Hoover Henry Ford Alexander J. Field James Bradford DeLong Guest Profile:Faculty Profile at University of Georgia Professional Profile at the Cato InstituteProfessional Profile on LinkedInProfile on XGuest Work:False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery, 1933–1947 Floored!: How a Misguided Fed Experiment Deepened and Prolonged the Great RecessionMoney: Free and Unfree Less Than Zero: The Case for a Falling Price Level in a Growing EconomyThe Menace of Fiscal QE  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textAlpha Coffee co-founder and retired Army lieutenant colonel Carl Churchill joins Joe for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build something that lasts after the uniform comes off.After serving more than two decades in the Army, Carl found himself facing an unexpected second career shaped not by careful planning, but by crisis. In the wake of the Great Recession, he and his wife Lori cashed out their savings and took an all-in leap to build Alpha Coffee from their basement—navigating years of uncertainty, near-misses, and hard-earned lessons before the business finally found its footing. Drawing on his military background, Stoic philosophy, and a refusal to quit, Carl shares how discipline, culture, and clarity of purpose carried him through nearly a decade of struggle.In this conversation, Joe and Carl explore what leadership looks like when there's no rank to hide behind: how military lessons translate into entrepreneurship, why culture matters more than strategy, and how leaders must adapt their style as contexts and generations change. Along the way, they reflect on stress, perspective, boundaries, and the quiet confidence that comes from having faced truly hard things before.In this episode, Joe and Carl also explore:Tips for making great coffeeWhy Carl chose to walk away from promotion to keep leading people, not staffsWhat “burning the boats” looks like when your family and future are on the lineHow military hardship inoculates leaders against stress and uncertaintyWhy culture—not strategy—is the true differentiator between great and failing teamsLeading younger generations without abandoning standards or expectationsThe challenge of setting boundaries when you genuinely love your workWhether you're navigating life after military service, building something from scratch, or leading people through uncertainty, this episode offers a grounded reminder that the habits forged in discipline, humility, and persistence still matter—long after the mission changes.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it's banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

Thursday on the News Hour, the Senate rejects proposed plans to address a spike in health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act, Ukraine pushes for security guarantees against Russia as international pressure to accept the peace plan grows and economists warn of major risks created by private credit that could pose as large a threat as the housing market did before the Great Recession. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Trump administration is reconfiguring a government watchdog that grew out of the Great Recession. The Financial Stability Oversight Council watches out for risks to the financial system to prevent the future need for government bailouts. Now, the Treasury Secretary says the watchdog will focus on boosting economic growth and easing regulations that he says impose “undue burdens." Plus, we follow the money from Machu Picchu and examine the appetite for "extended range" EVs.

The Trump administration is reconfiguring a government watchdog that grew out of the Great Recession. The Financial Stability Oversight Council watches out for risks to the financial system to prevent the future need for government bailouts. Now, the Treasury Secretary says the watchdog will focus on boosting economic growth and easing regulations that he says impose “undue burdens." Plus, we follow the money from Machu Picchu and examine the appetite for "extended range" EVs.

In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with renowned industry commentator and author Bob Veres to explore his sweeping new book, "A Behind the Scenes History of Financial Planning and the Profession: My 45-Year Journey as an Insider." Veres shares how he went from knowing almost nothing about financial planning in the early 1980s to chronicling the evolution of the profession from sales-driven roots to a true fiduciary calling, including vivid stories from the early IAFP days, the rise of NAPFA, and the ongoing tug-of-war between product pushers and client-centric planners. The conversation traces the profession's major inflection points, the collapse of limited partnerships, the tech wreck, the Great Recession, and the COVID pandemic, and how each crisis exposed weaknesses, tested advisor–client relationships, and ultimately elevated the value of real planning over pure asset management. Veres also offers candid views on regulatory capture, the SEC's treatment of fee-only advisors, and why higher, self-imposed standards remain the true engine of professionalism and public trust in advice. He reveals the "secret formula" he has observed among the most enduringly successful advisors: a willingness to think, read, and continuously adapt early to new realities, from fee-only models to modern planning standards and emerging technologies, rather than waiting until change becomes a threat. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or newer to financial planning, this conversation delivers a rich mix of history, hard truths, and hopeful direction for anyone who cares about where the profession has been and where it needs to go next. Get the book and learn more about Bob Veres at www.BobVeres.com.

“You are what you repeatedly do.” Start the New Year strong. Join my FREE 3 session Tiny Habits program.  Register here _________________________ What’s your most important project in 2026? Future You. Don’t wing it. Design it. Learn more here. _________________________ What happens when a financial columnist and CFP® professional suddenly becomes her mother’s caregiver? Beth Pinsker discovered that her expertise couldn’t prepare her for the relentless tenacity required to navigate Medicare mazes, fight for proper care, and manage the details of her mother’s financial life. In My Mother’s Money , a comprehensive practical and detailed resource, she shares the street-smart lessons that only come from boots-on-the-ground caregiving experience. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why financial caregiving requires perseverance to advocate effectively for your loved ones The critical difference between big-picture finances and knowing the granular details that matter How Medicare decisions made at age 65 can create enormous consequences for caregivers years later Why humanizing your loved one to healthcare providers changes the quality of care they recei Why “stuff” is such a complicated issue and how to prepare your own estate realistically _________________________ Bio Beth Pinsker is a financial-planning columnist at MarketWatch and has been a  Certified Financial Planner™ since 2018. She won a SABEW Best in Business award in 2023 for commentary for a series of columns about caring for her mother. She turned those into a book, “My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving” (Crown Currency, November 2025). Beth was previously the launch Money Editor for Buy Side from WSJ, providing advice and service on anything having to do with how people handle their money. Prior to that, she was a personal finance columnist and editor at Reuters for eight years. She covered all aspects of financial planning and decision-making, such as retirement strategies, selecting employee benefits, and saving money. In 2018, she was part of a team that won a Front Page award for Live Online Video from the Newswomen’s Club of New York. Beth worked at Fidelity during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, where she was an Editorial Director handling coverage of taxes and wealth strategies. She also was the editor of Walletpop.com, a personal finance website owned by AOL that launched in 2008 in the midst of the Great Recession and focused on frugality, budgeting and finding the best deals. Beth spent the first part of her career as a film critic and entertainment business reporter, writing for many publications, such as Entertainment Weekly, The Dallas Morning News, The Independent Film & Video Monthly, Variety and the New York Times. She had brief stints at “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and was an intern for “Late Night with David Letterman.” Beth has a B.A. in English from Harvard University. She is the mother of two humans and one dog and lives in Brooklyn. ______________________ For More on Beth Pinsker My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving Website MarketWatch columns ______________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like Is Your House in Order? – Adam Zuckerman What Matters Most – Diane Button ______________________ I'm Just Asking for a Friend Retirement brings so many tough questions. Share your question to be answered in an upcoming retirement podcast episode. Click here to leave a voice message or send me an email at joec@retirementwisdom.com _____________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master's degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He's the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. _______________________ Wise Quotes On Becoming a Financial Caregiver “I think what really matters when you’re trying to be a financial caregiver is that you pay attention to the details. Some people, most people in fact, never have the conversation with anybody that they’re caring for, their parents, aunt, uncle, whatever. Nobody knows how much money anybody has. Nobody knows what they’re spending their money on. Everybody keeps that information private. But even if you do step into the conversation, like my Mom and I stepped into it a little bit – big picture stuff. Can you afford two houses? No, we’re going to sell one. So you can’t have a summer place anymore kind of thing. When should Dad stop driving? Big picture stuff. But nobody ever gets down to the little stuff that you have to do when you fully take over for somebody. Like when I had to step in and take care of my Mom’s bills, it got down to such nitty gritty like, do you pay your electric bill on an automated schedule? Or how do you pay it otherwise? Do you mail in a check? Like nobody talks about that kind of stuff. But that is absolutely essential when you are a financial caregiver.” On Advocacy “One of the biggest things I did with my Mom and any care setting she was in was try to humanize her for the caregivers. They needed to see her as a person who was functional.  Now, because they all they saw was a little frail old lady who was out of it most of the time, they just assumed she had cognitive decline or dementia and they weren’t trying to get her back to any sort of baseline. And so what I did was primarily showed them like, Oh, isn’t this funny? I saw this video I took two weeks ago on my phone of my Mom playing Scrabble with us. You know my Mom was fine. And then she wasn’t and they just thought that she was always like she was in the hospital. And so to fight for services and fight for what you what you need out of them with an with a person who’s sick and aging is to constantly humanize them so that people in the medical industry want to help them.” On What To Do First “You need to make sure that you have the proper documents to help somebody. We are all legal adults and nobody can help us with certain things unless they have the proper authorization.  That’s a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy and some kind of will or trust for after the person dies plus beneficiary designations. You need to secure the person’s phone because so much today is run,  through our phones and if you don’t have the passcode, you’re going to hit a brick wall of no – and the brick wall of no is unmovable. So you need to secure that phone. You need two factor authentication. You need to know what banking apps, and you need to just know what’s in a person’s phone. Those are the two main important things. But the last thing is even more consequential. You need to know what the person wants. Their wishes matter. Having a conversation about what they want and what you’re able to do is absolutely essential both for your mental health, your wellbeing and for how much money you can spend on any particular thing. You just have to know what page everybody’s on.”

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, "What happened?" This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, Corey reacquainted us with Nepo baby libertarian Jason Reitman's sensitive and insightful examination (I'm being sarcastic, folks.) of the Great Recession... Up in the Air (2009). Like so much of the Obama administration, it seems like this project exists to put a smiling face (quite literally in this case) on the evils of neoliberalism, and this middlebrow slop fits right in with films like school privatization propaganda Waiting for Superman (2010) or torture apologia like Zero Dark Thirty (2012). As Corey says to Paul, "You REALLY hate this movie," and as you can tell by this synopsis, I do. Ultimately, the cast is very charming and talented, and maybe that is enough for a viewer.  

Brandi and Andrea from Sterling Federal Bank join Andy and Jenny in this episode of the Grow Clinton Podcast. Sterling Federal Bank - Member F.D.I.C.These two banking professionals provide updates on their upcoming podcast series, community events, holiday cheer, and their spring Charity Challenge. Sterling Federal Bank has been serving families through banking in Northwest Illinois (and, more recently, Northeast Iowa) since 1885. There were just 38 states when Sterling Federal Bank was born; Grover Cleveland was President of the United States; and the bank's hometown of Sterling, IL, was only about 50 years old.The financial institution started out as Whiteside County Building & Loan Association with a small office in the old Galt Hotel on Locust and East Fourth in Sterling when we were chartered on November 9, 1885. Today, after a lot of history and a name change, Sterling Federal Bank is a $450 million institution with 9 convenient locations.Many people call Sterling Federal a conservative bank. The team likes that description. Sterling Federal Bank has been here through two World Wars, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the Great Recession of 2008-10. They know how to weather the economic storms—and how to help their customers do the same!For more information and to set up an account, please visit Sterling Federal Bank online at https://www.sterlingfederal.com/.Grow Clinton is a proud 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization committed to fostering community, driving economic development, and promoting tourism in Clinton, Iowa.Subscribe to the Grow Clinton Podcast at the following locations:Grow Clinton WebsiteApple MusicSpotifyAmazon MusicBuzzsproutOvercastYouTubeFollow the Grow Clinton Podcast on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GrowClintonPodcast. Our mission? To ignite business growth, strengthen community ties, and advocate for the sustainable economic success of the Greater Clinton Region.Want to promote your business or upcoming event? Connect with Grow Clinton at (563) 242-5702 or visit our website at www.GrowClinton.com.Have an idea for a podcast guest? Send us a message!

Send us a textOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Linda Ta Yonemoto, financial literacy advocate and educator, about helping first-generation women build wealth, gain confidence, and create financial legacies.

Don't let anyone sugarcoat the GOP underperformance in the Tennessee special election. I offer deep and broad analysis of how last night's results fit into a clear pattern of the GOP bleeding suburban voters in a way that will result in an electoral slaughter next year. However, there is a silver lining of a red firewall to avoid a complete wipeout, but that will require Trump to change his economic message. One thing he must do is put forward a plan to reverse the hemorrhaging of American jobs. We're joined today by Amanda Goodall, a labor market expert, who offers an in-depth analysis of why this has been the worst job market for college graduates and how she fears this is a permanent dynamic. Unlike during the Great Recession, there are so many roles being abolished. She explains how the collapse of small businesses and the rise of major corporate monopolies have allowed companies to succeed without critical talent. She believes this is much deeper than simply AI eliminating jobs. We also discuss the continued trend of outsourcing and how Trump's decision not to cancel the H-1B program is indefensible.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Scott Lurie, a Milwaukee-based investor, developer, lender, and syndicator who has scaled from single-family flips to $700M+ in AUM. Scott explains how discipline, conservative leverage, and a long-term mindset helped him not only survive but aggressively buy through the Great Recession—including a 410-unit acquisition for $9K per door. He shares why he focuses on value-add industrial and multifamily development today, how he underwrites and syndicates vacant industrial buildings, and why transparency and investor trust are more important than ever in 2025. Scott also breaks down his syndication philosophy, the pitfalls created by “cowboy” operators, and his belief that real estate success comes from 20 years of consistent, disciplined work. Scott LurieCurrent role: Founder, F Street Group; Founder, The Hard Money Co.Based in: Milwaukee, WisconsinSay hi to them at: https://fstreet.com/ | https://thehardmoneyco.com/ | LinkedIn Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders' Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Justin Forman for a milestone conversation with Bill Yeargin, CEO of Correct Craft, as they celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. From refusing bribes that led to bankruptcy, to refusing to work Sundays during WWII, to growing from a $39 million company facing the Great Recession to surpassing $1 billion—this is a masterclass in values-driven leadership that stands the test of time.Bill shares the dramatic "God moments" that convinced him to become the fifth CEO in five years at a broken company, and how a controversial service trip to Mexico became the turning point that saved the culture. Discover why Correct Craft sends employees around the world on company-funded mission trips, how they navigate tough stewardship decisions while maintaining strong faith values, and what it takes to build for the next hundred years.Key Topics:The WWII story: Building 420 boats in 23 days without working SundaysSpending 20 years of profits to repay legally discharged bankruptcy debtsTwo unmistakable "God signs" that led Bill to Orlando: a house sale and a tutor's callWhy the Mexico service trip (that everyone opposed) saved the companyGrowing from $39M to over $1 billion through culture and strategic planningThe Culture Pyramid: Building Boats to the Glory of God, Making Life BetterBalancing stewardship excellence with faith values in difficult decisionsGlobal expansion to 70 countries—including surprising markets like NamibiaVertical and horizontal acquisition strategy without outside capitalMaking decisions for the next 25 years, not just short-term winsNotable Quotes:"I believe we're alive today as a company because of that first trip." - Bill Yeargin"We're not just trying to help the people that we're going to serve, we're trying to help our own team too. We've seen so many lives change on our own team over the years." - Bill Yeargin"You don't make it a hundred years by being over on God's side. You gotta do the things we're supposed to do. Trust God, honor him. Let him bless us." - Bill Yeargin

In this episode of The First Day from The Fundraising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by the philanthropic powerhouse himself, Gene Tempel, Ed.D., Dean Emeritus and founding father of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Together, they dive headfirst into a question that keeps many nonprofit leaders up at night: “Is this a bad time to launch a capital campaign?” The answer? Well, let's just say it's complicated, but not impossible. Gene reminds us that before we start counting pledges, we've got to answer the most basic question: What's the compelling case for support? It's not about shinier buildings or more vans, it's about fulfilling the mission and addressing urgent needs in society. Now, if you're waiting for a perfect economy, spoiler alert: you'll be waiting a long time. From the energy crisis to the Great Recession to COVID, Gene's seen it all, and fundraisers kept fundraising. Instead of running from uncertainty, nonprofits should focus on preparation. That means digging into the test for readiness, planning like it's a chess game (hello, “what-if” scenarios), and launching feasibility studies that give donors the mic. Because, as Gene points out, “not everyone is affected the same way” in tough times. Some donors are doing just fine and may even be more ready to give than you think. Gene takes us inside the anatomy of a capital campaign and zeroes in on the often-forgotten “middle of the gift range chart,” the fundraising Bermuda Triangle. We know our biggest donors. We love our annual givers. But what about those $2,000 donors who could be cultivated into $25,000 champions? “That's where it breaks down,” Gene says. Building systems to engage mid-level donors isn't just smart, it's essential. It's also okay to fail the readiness test, pause a campaign, or renegotiate pledge timelines. Flexibility is not a weakness. It's leadership. Gene offers some pop-culture perspective: as Billy Joel once sang, “We didn't start the fire,” and neither did you. History is full of crises, but capital campaigns still thrive. “If you have a compelling case, urgency, internal readiness, and donor validation,” Gene says, “then go forward.” And if things go sideways? Adjust, adapt, and keep your eyes on the mission. Because fundraising isn't just about money, it's about movement. And thanks to legends like Dr. Tempel, this movement's got a playbook for every season.

In the world of entrepreneurship, they say success takes 10 years and a lot of grit. For Van Carlson, Founder & CEO of SRA 831(b) Admin, it took 18 years to become the largest manager of self-insured 831(b) plans—a true testament to niche mastery and resilience.Van's journey was forged in fire: the 2008 Great Recession hit his commercial clients hard, forcing him to completely reinvent his approach to business risk. Out of that challenge, he built a company that re-engineered how small businesses protect their wealth and operations.If you're a high-growth founder looking to shield your company from economic turbulence and utilize advanced tax-advantaged strategies, this episode is essential listening.In this episode, Van breaks down:The 2008 Pivot: How a massive economic downturn forced him to rethink his entire business model, leading to the creation of SRA and the 18-year path to industry dominance.The Tax Advantage CEO: The powerful, often overlooked 831(b) strategy that allows small businesses to self-insure tax-deferred dollars, creating a financial fortress against economic dips, natural disasters, and unforeseen events.Becoming the Industry Leader: The specific market positioning, strategy, and dedication required to become the largest manager in a highly specialized financial niche.Navigating Headwinds: How Van helps clients tackle modern market challenges like increased tariffs and regulatory red tape by empowering them with self-insurance tools.Tune in to discover the strategic risk management that high-level entrepreneurs use to maintain market advantage and long-term financial security.Support the showRemember to subscribe for free to stay current with entrepreneur conversations. Want the episode freebie or have a question for our guest or Vincent? Interested in becoming a guest or show partner? Email us.This Episode is Brought to You By: Coming Alive Podcast Production: www.comingalivepodcastproduction.com Music Credits: Copyright Free Music from Adventure by MusicbyAden.

Laurie McCarty sits down with DwellSafe's Janet Engel, an occupational therapist and aging in place specialist, to explore what it really takes to make a home safer, more comfortable, and better suited for long-term living. From home safety assessments to fall prevention strategies and simple senior home modifications, Janet shares practical insights that help homeowners stay independent longer.Laurie also breaks down the recent spike in “help with mortgage” searches, what the data truly means, and how today's housing landscape compares to the Great Recession, offering a clear and steady look at the real estate market.Topics: aging in place, home safety assessment, senior home modifications, DwellSafe, occupational therapy, fall prevention, independent living, home accessibility, real estate market update.

The episode features brothers Billy and Tommy Hall of Halls Chophouse, sharing how their late father's “service before self” philosophy, honed in luxury hotels, became the backbone of a family-run steakhouse that launched in 2009 on a rough stretch of King Street in Charleston during the Great Recession and slowly grew into a 10-restaurant hospitality group across the Southeast. They talk about treating every guest like they're walking into their home: handshakes and hugs at the door, learning names and stories, grabbing Dr Peppers and pizzas from other businesses if that's what it takes, writing stacks of handwritten thank-you notes every night, and viewing each shift as a “battle” to change someone's day for the better. Along the way they dive into hiring for attitude over polish, leading by example on the floor, managing through brutal beef prices while protecting quality via long-term relationships with suppliers, balancing a 24/7 business with family life, and the deep gratitude they feel for guests who choose to spend their hard-earned money in a place that strives to make them feel seen, known, and validated.Key Takeaways Hospitality is in their DNA.Billy and Tommy grew up as “hotel brats,” moving 23 times while their dad ran iconic properties; service before self wasn't a training module, it was simply how their family lived. Halls started in the worst of times and places.The first Halls Chophouse opened in 2008–2009 on a then-boarded-up stretch of King Street during a severe economic downturn, and early nights saw as few as 17 guests. It's a true family business.Mom, dad, brothers, sister, and even grandma were all in the building at the start; their mother still works brunches and decorates for holidays, and Tommy's kids now grow up in the restaurants. Growth has been deliberate and values-driven.What started as one steakhouse has grown into 10 concepts, including Rita's Seaside Grill on Folly Beach, Halls locations in Greenville, Columbia, Somerville, Nashville, and a seafood concept, Halls Catch, all built around the same hospitality standards. They treat every day like game day.Drawing on Tommy's sports background, they see restaurant service as a daily battle; “you're only as good as your last steak,” and winning with guests (sales) fixes a lot of other problems. They hire for heart, not just skills.The focus is on good people with great attitudes and energy, then giving them freedom to be human and connect instead of reciting scripts; managers are expected to model that behavior. Old-school touches still win in a digital world.Handshakes, eye contact, remembering names, personally walking guests to the restroom, and sending 70+ handwritten thank-you notes a night are non-negotiables that make guests feel truly valued. “Yes” is the default answer.If a kid wants pizza or a guest wants Dr Pepper, they'll go down the street or across the way to get it; they refuse to hide behind “we don't have that” when a little extra effort can delight someone. They manage headwinds by doubling down on experience.Even as beef prices surge and costs climb, they stay committed to top-tier product through long relationships with suppliers like Allen Brothers, and make up for higher prices by delivering unforgettable service. They see guests as family and the journey as a marathon.To their regulars who visit multiple times a week and to first-timers alike, their message is simple: thank you, tell us when we fall short, and know we're in this for the long haul, not a quick hit.

In this episode of The Story of a Brand, I sit down with Christopher Wu, Co-founder & CEO of Paper Culture, a company that has quietly—and consistently—been redefining what sustainable, beautifully designed paper products can look like. From day one, Paper Culture has stood at the intersection of modern design and deep environmental responsibility, long before sustainability became a cultural talking point. What moved me most was hearing the origin story: four founders, a six-page website, no automation, and the sheer grit it took to hand-typeset every order until two or three in the morning—all fueled by a mission they believed in. Throughout our conversation, Christopher shares the early chaos, the lessons learned from starting during the Great Recession, and the unwavering North Star that kept the brand alive for 17 years.  We talk about the power of design, why sustainability should never require a sacrifice in quality, and how physical products—like holiday cards, photo books, and personalized gifts—remain meaningful in an increasingly digital world. Paper Culture doesn't just sell cards; they sell connection, joy, and a chance to make a small but real impact on the planet. Key Moments From the Episode * The gratitude moment that started it all: Christopher remembers friends and family working late into the night during their first holiday season—unpaid—simply because they believed in the mission and wanted to help. * Starting during the 2008 recession: With a wedding, a new home, a baby on the way, and no venture funding, the team built a fully bootstrapped brand by embracing long-term horizons and reduced competition.  * Where design meets sustainability: Paper Culture was born from the idea that consumers shouldn't have to choose—great design and climate-friendly choices can and should coexist.  * Their mission as a true North Star: After 17 years, fighting climate change continues to be the company's guiding objective, driving everything from materials to processes to planting over a million trees.  * The lasting power of physical products: Even in a digital world, a holiday card or personalized gift still stands out—and reconnects people in a way screens can't.  Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to the episode. If you love brands grounded in mission, craftsmanship, and real human connection, you're going to enjoy this conversation.  Christopher's story is a reminder that business longevity comes from purpose, not hype—and that even the smallest choices we make as consumers can leave a meaningful imprint on the planet. Tune in and discover the world of Paper Culture. For more on Paper Culture, visit: https://www.paperculture.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors:   Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they've generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million in annual revenue.   Use code "STORY OF A BRAND" and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning. 

Lupine Skelly, Retail Research Leader at Deloitte, joins Phillip and Alicia to dissect the stark reality behind this year's holiday shopping forecast. Consumer spending is projected to drop by 10%, and economic pessimism has reached its highest level since the Great Recession. As a result, retailers are facing a season where communicating value is key. This conversation explores the enduring vitality of Black Friday, the quiet revolution of private label brands, and how cultural rituals, AI integration, and brand loyalty are being fundamentally rewired. The Data Doesn't LieKey Takeaways:Shoppers expect to spend $1,595 this season as economic concerns peak57% expect the economy to weaken, the most pessimistic outlook recorded since 1997Black Friday remains vital despite two decades of obituaries24% of budgets are spent by October due to the Prime Day effectPrivate label gains ground as brand loyalty fundamentally shiftsKey Quotes:[00:02:10.14] Lupine Skelly: "57% of people are saying they expect the economy to weaken in the year ahead, and that's the highest we've seen since we started tracking that question in 1997. To put that in context, 2008 was probably the next highest at 54%—that was around the Great Recession. So [there's] a lot of uncertainty out there."[00:04:42.72] Lupine Skelly: "I feel like people have been trying to kill off Black Friday for 20 years. Is Black Friday dead? It's not dead."[00:13:17.91] Lupine Skelly: "In our study, 42% of consumers are saying they're going to use gen AI to find the perfect gift. And even more are saying they're going to use it to find the best deals."[00:25:49.24] Lupine Skelly: "Retail is always battling for share of wallet, but I think we're at a very different time period. Gaming, gambling—there's some big juggernauts taking what might have been the money you used to go to the mall years ago."Associated Links:Dig deeper into Deloitte data and insights hereCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thomas Nitzsche is a financial educator, media spokesperson, and Vice President of Media and Brand at Money Management International — the largest nonprofit credit counseling agency in the U.S. After facing his own financial struggles during the Great Recession, Thomas turned his hardship into purpose, helping thousands of Americans overcome debt, rebuild their credit, and regain control of their financial lives. On this episode we talk about: Thomas' journey from a small Illinois farm to becoming a national voice for financial literacy The emotional toll of debt and why financial shame keeps people stuck How to choose between debt management and debt settlement programs The biggest money mistakes people make when trying to get out of debt What Thomas learned after cashing out his 401(k) — and what he'd do differently today Top 3 Takeaways You can't budget your way out of shame. Financial freedom starts with removing the emotional barriers around money. Debt management isn't failure — it's strategy. Knowing your options can save you thousands in interest and fees. Financial health takes time. Getting out of debt is a process, not an overnight success story. Notable Quotes “You didn't get into debt overnight — you're not going to get out of it overnight.” “Hope is not a financial plan.” “Money doesn't define your worth — but understanding it can define your future.” Connect with Thomas Nitzsche: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspnitzsche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his 20's, working an office job he hated, Tom woke up in the middle of the night with a wild idea: why not take people on bike trips? No playbook. No investors. Just a sense that he could make a living doing what he loved. His first trip? Four guests riding through Death Valley, pitching their own tents. From there, Backroads scaled to hotels, while weathering a bike burglary, a van rollover in the desert, 9/11, the Great Recession, and a pandemic that brought tourism to a halt. Today, Backroads runs 5,000+ trips a year in 60+ countries.This is a masterclass in savvy cash flow, scrupulous quality control, and dogged iteration. If you care about travel, brand, or building a services business at scale—listen to this.What you'll learn:How a 5,000 mile solo bike trip laid the groundwork for Backroads The first guided trip in Death Valley: four people, high winds, 50 miles/day How to get your stolen bikes back: confront the thief yourself The “collect early, pay late” flywheel that powered growth without investorsHow Backroads survived 9/11, 2008, and COVID—and what changed after each shockAvoiding the Instagram trap and delivering peak, uncrowded experiencesTImestamps:7:24 – Tom's epiphany and the eight pages of notes that started Backroads10:15 – From cubicle to road bike: the solo trip that shaped the company's DNA12:46 – Trip #1: Making mistakes in Death Valley—and learning fast24:47 – Tom's DIY recovery operation after a warehouse burglary29:21 – Cash without capital: spend your deposits, pay hotels later 30:55 – The Nevada rollover: walking out of the ER…and running the next trips40:06 – Recovering after 9/11 and the financial crisis—and rebuilding the company's value prop45:46 – Post-COVID surge, and avoiding the tyranny of the travel selfie This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant. Our audio engineers were Patrick Murray and Jimmy Keeley.Follow How I Built This:Instagram → @howibuiltthisX → @HowIBuiltThisFacebook → How I Built ThisFollow Guy Raz:Instagram → @guy.razYoutube → guy_razX → @guyrazSubstack → guyraz.substack.comWebsite → guyraz.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textRetailers plan the lightest holiday hiring since the Great Recession, but spending is still projected to top $1T.We dig into:Why demand smoothing and e-comm shift cut seasonal rolesHow “slower” in-store flow can increase basket sizeWhat segmentation and channels mean for labor needsWhy tariff headlines often overstate price impactActionable takeaways for leaders on staffing, ops, and margin protection.Chapters00:30 Holiday Season Retail Trends06:12 E-commerce Impact on Retail Hiring11:51 Customer Experience and Retail Staffing18:42 Understanding Consumer Spending DynamicsConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.

Stephanie Miller discusses the GOP following their disappointing election performance. She's not just laughing at them, though—she's analyzing their full-blown post-defeat meltdown and figuring out what their frantic finger-pointing means for the rest of us. Looking at the economy, Stephanie draws some alarming, must-know parallels to the 2008 Great Recession, breaking down the recent surge in high-profile layoffs and what it signals for your bottom line. She also tackles President Trump's frankly bananas attempts to deflect blame after the election, putting his recent economic denialism under the comedy-driven microscope it deserves. With guests political strategist Mike Nellis and the hilarious comedian Dana Goldberg!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#654: Fights about money are common, but they're rarely about math. They're about power, shame, vulnerability, and trust. And no amount of data or fancy spreadsheets is going to fix it. What you need is a better system for fairness, more open communication, and a shared ambition. In this candid conversation with Heather and Doug Bonaparte, we explore how two partners rebuilt confidence, handled their six-figure student loans, and designed a rhythm for money talks that actually works. Together they share how early money stories, law school debt, and the Great Recession shaped their dynamic, plus the tools they used to find fairness at home and in their finances Key Takeaways Why 50/50 isn't always fair and how to do it better The small ritual that turned dreaded money talks into something they actually look forward to How borrowing a strategy from the office made household decisions way less stressful The surprising fix for resentment that had nothing to do with chores or budgeting Why tackling six-figure student loans together became a turning point in their relationship The mindset shift that helped them see debt not as a burden but as a shared opportunity Resources and Links Money Together, the book DoMoneyTogether.com, learn more about the book and project The Joint Account, weekly newsletter on joint finances at ReadTheJointAccount.com Fair Play by Eve Rodsky, a framework for dividing household responsibilities Share this episode with a friend, colleagues, and anyone who is part of a couple: https://affordanything.com/episode654 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices