016: How to Make the Most of Your Required Minimum Distribution

Making the entrepreneurial leap and leaving Corporate America to create your own business is more than a leap of faith. Most new business owners face trials and tribulations along the way. But those who stick with it and believe in themselves can achieve the growth that makes them a success story worth celebrating. 

Today’s guest is Shannon Breen, and he has a success story that is definitely worth celebrating. Shannon is the Co-CEO and founder of FreightVana, a digital logistics partner powered by technology and built on trust and transparency. 

In this conversation, Shannon tells the story of how he fell in love with logistics, the two core components that have led to rapid and exponential business growth, and the power of building a great culture with employees who are empowered to be authentic on social media.

Key takeaways

• What makes the logistics industry so uniquely fragmented and complicated.
• Why Shannon took the entrepreneurial leap and left corporate America.
• The importance of trust, transparency and authenticity in a company with a great culture. 
• Why some people can launch their company as a side business, why Shannon needed to go all-in, and why so many entrepreneurs fail to even take the first step. 
• Shannon’s advice on creating a thriving company culture and the benefits of empowering staff to be authentic at home and at work.

Interview Resources

• FreightVana
• FreightVana on LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok | X/Twitter | Facebook
• Shannon Breen on LinkedIn
• John Gamero
• Denzel Washington
• Denzel Washington - Deathbed
• Swift Transportation
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization
• State Forty Eight Foundation
• Michael Spangenberg
• Joshua Brees
• Trainual

It’s very easy to rack up credit card debt. It’s much more difficult to pay it off and considerably tougher to set yourself up for long-term financial success, to make good long-term decisions, or to avoid falling into classic pitfalls managing debt–especially for younger generations entering the workforce. 

I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Anne Lester. Anne is a retirement expert, speaker, media commentator, and author of a new book titled How to Save Smart Now for the Future You Want. Anne was the Head of Retirement Solutions for JPMorgan Asset Management for 20 years, where she traveled the country and spoke to tens of thousands of investors.

In this episode, Anne shares how she fell in love with the world of finance, why poor financial decisions are often made, and the importance of automating your savings with a 401(k) and creating an emergency savings plan.

Key takeaways:

• How we’re programmed to spend, spend, spend–even when we already have debt we need to pay off and don’t need more stuff. 
• Why we’re so afraid of getting it wrong when it comes to retirement planning–and how doing nothing sets us up for failure most of all. 
• Why now’s a great time to build a robust emergency fund. 
• How to get your credit cards under control, centralized, and easily tracked. 
• How our peers’ luxury spending tricks us into spending more on things we don’t need. 
• Simple things you can do right now to start bringing down your spending. 

Interview Resources:

• AnneLester.com
• Anne Lester on LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
• Your Best Financial Life: Save Smart Now for the Future You Want by Anne Lester
• J.P. Morgan
• The Crash of 79 by Paul Emil Erdman
• The Silver Bears by Paul E. Erdman

Today, I’m joined by Joe Apfelbaum. Spoiler alert! This episode is jam-packed with energy and passion. If you’re interested in how AI, ChatGPT and LinkedIn can be used to its full potential to grow your businesses, this episode is for you..

Joe Apfelbaum is an accomplished author, speaker, Certified Google Trainer, and the Founder and CEO of Ajax Union. Joe is a B2B marketing and LinkedIn Expert who has helped over 1,100 clients with digital marketing and getting the most out of LinkedIn. 

In our conversation, you’ll hear why Joe believes all business owners should get to know how to use AI to their advantage, as well as the free tool he’s developed to increase your exposure and connections on LinkedIn. Above all else, you’ll also hear how passionate Joe is about why it’s important to show up with energy and enthusiasm and how the first step to making a positive change, personally and professionally, is making the commitment to yourself and finding ways to hold yourself accountable.

Key takeaways:

• The power and rewards of putting yourself out there and being vulnerable and authentic.
• The importance of leveraging the power of AI in your business so you don’t get left behind.
• How Joe used ChatGPT and AI to create a course which is used by thousands on LinkedIn.
• How to communicate effectively and prompt AI to get better responses.
• How evyAI helped a user increase their LinkedIn profile views by 1800%
• Why Joe believes that not reaching out to the authors of your favorite books is a huge mistake.
• Joe’s tips for achieving work/life balance and the importance of prioritizing yourself and your health above anything else.

Interview Resources

• Ajax Union
• Ajax Union on Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
• JoeApfelbaum.com
• Joe Apfelbaum on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter | YouTube
• evyAI
• High Energy Networking: Get anything you want in life while building meaningful relationships that last a lifetime by Joe Apfelbaum
• Evyrgreen AI
• Office Moving Alliance
• The 6 Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
• ChatGPT
• OpenAI
• Google Bard
• Pi.AI
• Reid Hoffman
• LinkedIn
• Anthropic
• Claude.AI

Anyone living in Arizona, Nevada, or Utah has likely seen the TV commercials and the billboards for Andrew The Home Buyer. Today, you’ll get a glimpse of the man who created the company that keeps growing year after year.

Kyle Wyloge is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder of Andrew the Home Buyer. After several years of grinding in real estate and building his sales team, he decided to create a TV commercial in 2019. This became a pivotal moment in their growth and marketing strategy with more leads coming to them versus the outbound sales model. Fast forward to today, Kyle has scaled the business to where he could purchase 318 properties last year without speaking to a single seller. 

In our conversation, you’ll hear how valuable it was to get started before the recession in 2008, how they use CRM to forecast future sales with a scoreboard for sales results in real-time, and why saunas and cold plunges have elevated the culture they’ve built, reduced stress and fosters a healthier and happier lifestyle. 

Key takeaways:

• The monumental decision to create a TV commercial as part of their marketing strategy.
• How their process was streamlined to make selling a home simple for homeowners.
• How increasing their inbound call answer rate to 94-96% led to more appointments and closed deals.
• Create the culture you want by listening to feedback and suggestions that incentivizes your team and allows them to thrive.
• The impact that elections have on the cost of marketing with TV commercials.
• The incredible results sauna and cold plunges have on reducing stress and building culture within the team.

Interview Resources

• Andrew the Home Buyer
• Andrew the Home Buyer on LinkedIn | Facebook
• Kyle Wyloge on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• The Big Short
• Lerner & Rowe
• Follow Up Boss
• Phoenix Open
• Ring
• The Price is Right
• Zapier
• Optimyze

It’s fair to say that our education system is flawed, but that’s especially true when it comes to educating kids about money. Financial literacy still isn’t being taught in schools no matter how much we talk about it–and what you do learn is the same stuff that was being taught 20 or 30 years ago. 

Today’s guest, Vince Shorb, is on a mission to change that. He’s the CEO of the National Financial Educators Council. After spending 15 years in financial services, he’s developed over 2500 financial education programs and is empowering students through financial literacy. 

Vince’s work has been featured in publications on USA Today, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, CNN Money, MarketWatch, Fox Business, Huffington Post, NASDAQ, and Business Insider.

In today’s episode, we explore why we have this problem with our education system, how families can teach financial literacy before their kids make major mistakes later in life, and why financial education is so much more than management and budgeting. 

Key Takeaways:

• Why financial education programs aren’t changing or improving. 
• The mistakes Vince made in his early twenties showed him the need for his life’s work.
• How to teach young people to shake the influence of advertising and live in alignment with their values. 
• What Vince is doing to take financial education beyond simply knowing how to balance a budget. 
• How moving to a cashless society encourages bad decisions. 

Interview Resources:

• Vince Shorb
• National Financial Educators Council
• National Financial Educators Council on Facebook | X/Twitter | LinkedIn
• Vince Shorb on LinkedIn
• The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness by Morgan Housel

Building online businesses is tough–and closing that first deal can make or break your business. So many of us have been there, but today’s guest found a way through–and he’s here to talk about how he did it. 

Brian is the co-founder of Rotive, a Salesforce partner that helps small businesses automate their processes through the power of Sales Cloud & Pardot. Brian started with Salesforce in his college days, working in sales and eventually becoming an account executive. 

In today’s episode, we get into how Brian positioned himself, with a unique focus on YouTube, to become an expert in the Salesforce space–and how you can use the same tactics to become an online expert in your field as you grow (or scale) your business.  

Key takeaways:

• What Brian learned from Salesforce’s sales-forward corporate culture. 
• How Brian broke through the noise to find his first clients after launching Rotive.
• How to incorporate YouTube into a marketing funnel to reach prospects.
• The tools Brian used to help Rotive cultivate authority in his niche. 
• Why a relatively small YouTube channel can still drive extremely high-quality leads–and why Brian has chosen to sell video courses instead of trying to succeed by monetizing his content on YouTube. 

Interview Resources

• Rotive
• Rotive on LinkedIn | YouTube
• Salesforce
• Dreamforce
• Loom
• Semrush
• Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (formerly Pardot)
• MrBeast
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

I’m thrilled to share this conversation with a truly remarkable guest, Travis Rosbach. Travis is a serial entrepreneur, author, coach, speaker and consultant.

From his humble beginnings, being raised in a home with very little money to the incredible entrepreneurial journey that has included time as a scuba diving instructor to driving yachts and flying planes, he’s come a long way.

Among his many accomplishments, Travis is the inventor and founder of Hydro Flask, one of the largest international brands in the industry today.

In this episode, you’ll hear what led Travis to pursue his passion in business, the origin story of how Hydro Flask was created, the early challenges they faced (even when business was booming), and why he believes entrepreneurs are the foundation for growth and prosperity in the US.

Key takeaways:

• How a neighbor’s estate sale planted the seed and set him on a path to be a serial entrepreneur.
• What led Travis to make Hawaii his home after experiencing burnout.
• Overcoming the challenges of getting Hydro Flask to the production stage.
• The challenges that are presented when business is skyrocketing with exponential growth.
• Why Travis ultimately decided to sell Hydro Flask, despite enjoying tremendous success.
• Where Travis finds motivation today and the types of business opportunities he’s pursuing.

Interview Resources

• Travis Rosbach
• Travis Rosbach on Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn
• Hydro Flask
• Brian Tracy
• Jim Rohn
• Pulp Fiction
• Seaborne Airlines
• Da Hui
• Stanley
• Redpoint Climbers Supply
• Mountain Supply
• Pine Mountain Sports
• Daniel Mcgarigle

On at least one occasion in your life, you’ve probably heard someone say “Your health is your wealth.” But in practice, what does that really mean? How does holistic health and spirituality impact our wellbeing, and what can we do to live longer, happier lives? 

I’m thrilled to have Dr. Meghana Thanki on the podcast to help answer these questions. Dr. Thanki is a naturopath who specializes in Ayurvedic medicine, a yoga teacher, the owner of Second Nature Clinic, and the author of The Ayurvedic Lens: Magnifying the Mysteries & Abundance of Life.

In today’s conversation, Dr. Thanki and I get into the basics of Ayurvedic medicine, how she works with clients with conditions ranging from skin disorders to cancer, and how embracing simplicity leads to happier and healthier lives. 

Key takeaways:

• What differentiates Ayurveda from other naturopathic practices.
• How Dr. Thanki works with first-time patients.
• How herbs, spices, and other medicines work in Ayurvedic medicine.
• The basics of starting your own meditation practice.
• Simple things anyone can do each day to focus on their mental and physical health even if they’re not ready to dive into Ayurvedic medicine. 

Interview Resources

• Dr. Meghana Thanki on LinkedIn
• Second Nature Clinic
• Second Nature Clinic on Instagram | Facebook
• The Ayurvedic Lens: Magnifying the Mysteries & Abundance of Life by Dr. Meghana Thanki
• How to Live to 100, Wherever You Are in the World by Dan Buettner
• Dan Buettner
• Peter Attia, MD
• Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD, Bill Gifford

A song is a powerful thing. In just seconds, it can take us back to extremely specific memories–where we were, who we were with, what we felt, and what mattered most to us in that very moment. 

And in our modern world, we’re always struggling to forge deeper, more emotional bonds with everyone around us. Today’s guest, Brian Mohr, understands that well–and is here to talk about his new startup, anthym. He’s working to use music to help culture-driven organizations create and nurture meaningful relationships amongst their people. 

The last time Brian was on the show, we talked all about what business owners can learn from the Grateful Dead. Today, we’re talking about the power of music, forging meaningful connections in the workplace, and how this powerful work (and the vulnerability it reveals) can make our lives, both in the office and at home, so much better. 

Key takeaways:

• How technology and distance have made it so difficult to build–or rebuild–company cultures.
• Why better work environments make for healthier, happier employees with more satisfying, better-rounded lives.
• What makes music such a powerful gateway to access extremely specific memories and forge connections between people.
• The benefits of talking about anything but business with the people you do business with. 
• The major challenges facing businesses as they work to create and establish great corporate culture in the post-COVID world.

Interview Resources

• Brian Mohr
• anthym.life
• anthym on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
• Brian Mohr on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
• YWB 040: What the Grateful Dead can Teach us about Business with Brian Mohr

Imagine that you’re a few years away from retiring, and you just found out that you’ve been laid off. You’ve been putting money away as best you can, and now you’re really not sure if it’s enough. What do you do?

In today’s episode, Andrew Rafal provides a quick list of actionable steps that you can take immediately to better understand what your financial situation looks like, what pre-retirees should consider after losing health benefits and how to get the most out of your 401(k) as you make the transition to the next phase of your life.

Key takeaways:

• Look at your living expenses, both fixed and discretionary.

• Take inventory of your assets including a 401(k).

• Understand what your unemployment, health insurance, Social Security benefits are.

• Things to consider if you have a company pension.

Interview Resources

• COBRA - Continuation of Health Coverage

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Music: The Whole World Crashes Down – Astral Orange

DISCLOSURE: Investment advice offered through Bayntree Wealth Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Insurance services offered separately through Bayntree Planning Group, LLC Bayntree does not provide specific legal or tax advice. Please consult with your tax advisor or legal professional for guidance with your individual situation.