Grow Your Business and Grow Your Wealth

Did you know that a typical retired couple can expect to receive over $1.4 million from Social Security? Yet over 90% of people are getting less money than they are eligible to receive. This isn’t just a small monthly check; it’s one of the most valuable retirement assets you have, and understanding how to unlock its full potential is critical.This conversation on Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth with Gary Held and guest, national Social Security expert Ash Ahluwalia, is a masterclass in retirement income planning. Ash demystifies the system's complexity, revealing the costly mistakes many people make and the surprising opportunities they miss. For any professional planning for their future, this episode offers a clear, actionable guide to making smarter decisions about their benefits.Ash Ahluwalia is the Head of Social Security Planning at OneTeam Financial. As one of the nation’s leading experts in retirement income strategies with credentials including CFP®, CSSCS, and NSSA®, Ash has spent nearly 30 years helping thousands of retirees navigate their benefits.Key Takeaways:  - Your Social Security benefits are a pension you cannot outlive. - There are over 500 possible filing strategies for most couples. - The strategy that pays the most money over time is not always the best one. - Planning for survivor benefits as a couple is essential - Recent legislation did not make Social Security tax-free for most seniors. - Business owners can strategically allocate income to enhance their future benefits.Listen to the full episode to gain the clarity and confidence you need to secure your financial future. It’s a conversation that could change the course of your retirement.To learn more from Ash Ahluwalia or to explore a complimentary consultation, you can connect with him at OneTeam Financial. His expertise can provide personalized guidance on your specific retirement income strategy.https://www.oneteamfinancial.com/team/ash-ahluwalia

What if the biggest problem in your business is not strategy, sales, or marketing… but the way your people systems are built?In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, Tom Healy joins Gary Heldt to break down why so many growing companies struggle with turnover, chaos, poor communication, and leadership bottlenecks.Tom explains how unclear roles, lack of accountability, missing training systems, and owner dependency quietly hold businesses back from growth and valuation. He also shares practical insights on leadership, AI, documentation, and building teams that can actually scale without constant firefighting.If you’ve ever felt like your business depends too much on you, this conversation will hit home.Key Takeaways.→ Why most “business problems” are actually people problems.→ The hidden danger of building a company around personalities instead of systems.→ How poor onboarding and missing training create turnover before employees even settle in.→ Why documenting processes increases business value and improves succession planning.→ The difference between owning a business and simply owning a stressful job.→ How AI can help employees become more valuable instead of replacing them.Connect with Tom Healy:LinkedInWebsite:PeopleOps360Email:Tom@PeopleOps360.comVisit Gary Heldt's website atSBA AdvisorsConnect with Gary on LinkedIn🎧 Like what you hear? Follow, share, and subscribe to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth for more conversations designed to help business owners grow smarter, scale stronger, and build lasting wealth.

What if the biggest threat to your business is growing too fast?This week on Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, host Gary Heldt sits down with franchise powerhouse Terry Blachek, Managing Director at Franvest Capital Partners and one of the original partners behind Orangetheory Fitness.With more than 35 years of experience scaling brands, building teams, leading sales and marketing, and making investment decisions, Terry shares the lessons that helped turn a bold boutique fitness concept into a global powerhouse with more than 1,500 locations across 23 countries.From evaluating unit economics and solving real customer problems to building advisory boards and avoiding costly growth mistakes, this episode is packed with real world advice for entrepreneurs, franchise owners, investors, and business leaders ready to scale smarter. In this episode, you will discover:→ Why the best businesses solve problems, not just sell products.→ The three things Terry looks at before investing in any company.→ Why undercapitalization quietly kills great businesses.→ How poor systems can destroy fast growth.→ Why documented processes are critical before opening location number two.→ The exact makeup of a powerful personal advisory board.→ How confidence grows when you surround yourself with the right people.→ Why perspective may be one of your greatest leadership tools.About Our GuestTerry Blachek is Managing Director at Franvest Capital Partners and a veteran fitness and franchise executive with more than 35 years of experience scaling businesses. As an original partner of Orangetheory Fitness, Terry helped shape the company’s signature pre sale model and later built Austin Fitness Group into one of the largest franchise groups in the system. Today he continues to influence brands as an investor, keynote speaker, advisor, and host of Tuesday with Terry, now more than 100 episodes strong.Connect With TerryConnect with Terry Blachek on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-blachek-78431a174/Listen to Tuesday with Terry on Apple, Spotify, and major podcast platforms.🎧 Like what you hear? Follow, like, share, and subscribe to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth so you never miss conversations designed to help you grow smarter, scale stronger, and build lasting wealth.Visit Gary Heldt's website at https://www.sbadvisors.cc/Connect with Gary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-d-heldt-jr/

Most business owners think valuation matters only when they are ready to sell. Bethany Hearn explains why that mindset can cost owners money, lead to avoidable disputes, and leave major risks hidden in plain sight.In this episode, guest host Jack Reeder sits down with Bethany Hearn, CPA, ABV, and CFF, to talk about business valuation, forensic accounting, succession planning, and the legal and financial blind spots that can hurt business owners when they least expect it. Bethany shares why valuation should begin years before a sale, how poorly written agreements can create costly conflicts, and what owners can do now to protect value, legacy, and peace of mind.Key Takeaways→ Valuation is not just for selling your business. It is critical for succession planning, estate planning, shareholder changes, and dispute prevention.→ Waiting until the last minute can reduce the value you are able to create or protect.→ Forensic accounting can uncover hidden risks inside your business, especially when too much financial responsibility sits with one person.→ Poorly written buy-sell agreements can create confusion, surprises, and costly litigation.→ Different industries require different valuation lenses, especially when capital needs, cash flow, and risk vary.→ Verbal agreements in family and farming businesses can become major legal problems when expectations are not clearly documented.This episode is guest-hosted by Jack Reeder, who leads a thoughtful conversation focused on helping business owners understand value, reduce risk, and make smarter decisions before problems arise.Connect with Bethany Hearn to learn more about business valuation, forensic accounting, transaction services, and how to protect your business before a transition or dispute puts pressure on the numbers.For more information on Guest Host: Jack W. Reeder, CLU®, ChFC®Chartered Financial Consultant978-335-2267

Ever feel like you can make good money and still lose the game because too much of it walks out the door?In this episode, Gary sits down with a multifamily investor who watched a massive real estate downturn up close, then rebuilt by learning how syndication works and how investors think about cash flow, taxes, and long-term ownership. They dig into cost segregation, bonus depreciation, and why mindset matters when you are running deals in a world you cannot control. 6 key takeaways → Market cycles are real, and over-leverage, plus building to sell instead of building to hold, can turn a boom into a brutal bust fast.  → Syndication is one way investors pool capital to buy apartments together, starting smaller to build a track record before scaling up.  → Know your role before you invest: general partners run the deal, limited partners stay passive, and the work plus risk profile is different.  → Cost segregation can compress depreciation into a shorter window, which can create large write-offs when the math makes sense.  → A resilient mindset is not motivational fluff; it is required because you do not control markets, interest rates, or tenant behavior.  → The wealth game is not only income, but it is also retention: it is not about the money you make, it is the money you keep.  If this episode sparked questions about real estate investing, syndication, or tax strategy, connect with Gary and share what you are trying to build. For more from the guest, start with YouTube by searching “Justin Brennan multifamily” and visit justincbrennan.com. 

What do you do when that dreaded letter from the IRS arrives? For many, the first instinct is to ignore it, hoping it will go away. But that is the single biggest mistake you can make.In this episode, guest host Jack Reeder talks with Felecia Dixson, an Enrolled Agent with over forty years of experience, about how to handle IRS issues with a clear head and a solid strategy. They discuss the most common reasons business owners face tax problems, why you should never try to solve them alone, and how to find the right professional help. This conversation is essential for any business owner who wants to understand the IRS better and protect their peace of mind.> Ignoring an IRS notice is the worst first step.-> Payroll tax issues are a major red flag for the IRS.> You should never try to handle an IRS issue on your own.-> An Enrolled Agent can represent you in all 50 states.-> Embarrassment should not stop you from seeking help.-> The sooner you act, the more options you have.If you have ever felt a knot in your stomach thinking about taxes, this episode is for you. Listen to the full conversation to learn how to face IRS challenges with confidence. Subscribe to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth for more conversations that help you grow smarter.To learn more about Felecia Dixson and her work, you can find her by searching her name, Felecia Dixson, or her business, Dixson Tax Resolution Services, online. Felecia is available on LinkedIn and Facebook and offers a newsletter with more information.

Deciding when to claim Social Security is one of the most significant financial choices you will make. The right strategy can mean a more secure and comfortable retirement, while the wrong one could leave you with less than you deserve. In this episode, we explore the nuances of Social Security and retirement planning to help you make the best decision for your future.Host Gary Heldt sits down with Bruce G. Kaserman, President of BGK Financial, to demystify Social Security. They discuss the factors that should inform your decision on when to start receiving benefits, the impact of working in retirement, and how to create a financial plan aligned with your life goals. This conversation is essential for anyone approaching retirement age seeking clarity and confidence in their financial future.Here are six key takeaways from the conversation: - Your Social Security claiming strategy should be tailored to your individual circumstances, including your health, marital status, and other sources of income. - Working while receiving Social Security benefits can impact the amount you receive, so it is important to understand the income thresholds. - Delaying Social Security benefits until age 70 can significantly increase your monthly payments. - Proper tax planning is crucial to minimizing the taxes you pay on your Social Security benefits and other retirement income. - For business owners, the way you structure your salary can have long-term consequences for your Social Security benefits. - A comprehensive financial plan can help you navigate the complexities of retirement and ensure you do not outlive your savings.If you are looking for expert guidance on your retirement strategy, this episode offers valuable insights. Listen to the full conversation to gain a deeper understanding of how to make your money work for you in retirement. Subscribe to our podcast for more insightful conversations and share this episode with anyone who could benefit from this valuable information.To learn more about Bruce G. Kaserman and his work, you can visit his website at bgkfinancial.com. As a fiduciary and National Social Security Advisor, Bruce is dedicated to helping professionals and business owners make informed decisions to secure their financial futures. You can also connect with him to learn more about his upcoming seminars on Social Security and retirement planning.

Did you know that a typical retired couple can expect to receive over $1.4 million in Social Security benefits? Yet over 90% of people are getting less money than they are eligible to receive. This isn’t just a small monthly check; it’s one of the most valuable retirement assets you have, and understanding how to unlock its full potential is critical.This conversation on Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth with Gary Held and guest, national Social Security expert Ash Ahluwalia, is a masterclass in retirement income planning. Ash demystifies the system's complexity, revealing the costly mistakes many people make and the surprising opportunities they miss. For any professional planning for their future, this episode offers a clear, actionable guide to making smarter decisions about their benefits. Ash Ahluwalia is the Head of Social Security Planning at OneTeam Financial. As one of the nation’s leading experts in retirement income strategies with credentials including CFP®, CSSCS, and NSSA®, Ash has spent nearly 30 years helping thousands of retirees navigate their benefits. Key Takeaways:  Your Social Security benefits are a pension you cannot outlive.  There are over 500 possible filing strategies for most couples. - The strategy that pays the most money over time is not always the best one. - Planning for survivor benefits as a couple is essential - Recent legislation did not make Social Security tax-free for most seniors. - Business owners can strategically allocate income to enhance their future benefits. Listen to the full episode to gain the clarity and confidence you need to secure your financial future. It’s a conversation that could change the course of your retirement. To learn more from Ash Ahluwalia or to explore a complimentary consultation, you can connect with him at OneTeam Financial. His expertise can provide personalized guidance on your specific retirement income strategy. ⁠https://www.oneteamfinancial.com/team/ash-ahluwalia