Grow Your Business and Grow Your Wealth

Latest Episodes:

Episode 289: Conflict as a Catalyst for Growth Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

What if every workplace conflict could become a growth opportunity instead of a costly battle?💡

In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, Gary sits down with Ursula Taylor, a conflict resolution strategist with 17 years of experience as an attorney and business advisor. After years in litigation, Ursula saw how traditional legal systems often amplify disputes instead of solving them.

Now, through her firm Conflict Reimagined, she helps leaders and teams resolve disputes efficiently and humanely—by addressing the real drivers behind conflict: fear, emotion, and miscommunication. Ursula shares how emotional intelligence, awareness, and honest dialogue can prevent lawsuits, protect relationships, and create stronger businesses.

➡️ Key Takeaways:
→ Litigation is expensive, uncertain, and emotionally draining—most disputes stem from human emotion, not legal facts.
→ True resolution begins by identifying what you really need instead of focusing on being right or wrong.
→ Leaders can prevent conflicts by creating safe spaces for communication before issues escalate.
→ Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are critical tools for business growth and team cohesion.
→ The future of leadership lies in embracing what Ursula calls “the human age,” where emotional work meets strategy.

💬 Quote from Ursula:
“Every dispute is driven by human emotion. When you can face that honestly, conflict becomes a beautiful opportunity to grow stronger as a leader.”

📞 Call to Action:
Learn more about Ursula’s work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-taylor-b0ba4729/

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Episode 288: Unlock Predictable Sales Revenue Growth Oct 08, 2025

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What if scaling your business wasn’t about chasing the next “big idea” but about applying math, discipline, and strategy to your sales process?

In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, Gary welcomes Doug C. Brown, CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and a renowned expert who has built over 35 businesses and generated more than $900 million in sales.

Doug has served as President of Sales and Training for Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes, boosting close rates by 143% and driving a 4,150% increase in product sales. He now helps entrepreneurs and business leaders implement predictable, math-based systems to dramatically increase revenue and profits.

The conversation delves into why identifying your ideal buyer matters more than closing skills, how overlooked follow-up can lead to millions in lost revenue, and why anchoring your business in truthful numbers is non-negotiable.

5 Key Takeaways

→ Sales growth isn’t magic—it’s applying math to the right metrics.

→ The biggest mistake owners make is not identifying their ideal buyer.

→ Speed to follow-up can double conversion rates—sometimes within minutes.

→ Long-term success comes from relationship capital, not one-off transactions.

→ Anchoring goals to truthful numbers and measuring the right metrics prevents costly blind spots.

Quote from Doug

“Sales isn’t math, but sales revenue growth is how you apply math to the right metrics.”

Ready to strengthen your sales strategy and grow your wealth?

Connect with Doug on his website https://ceosalesstrategies.com/

Subscribe to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth for more expert insights each week, and don’t forget to share this episode with a business owner who’s ready to scale.

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Episode 287: Scaling Investment Firms and the Art of Client Retention Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

How did a commercial banker who lived just six blocks away from his future employer end up transforming a small investment firm from breaking even to nearly doubling its business in four years?

Brad Wheeler, President of Shaker Investments, shares his journey from commercial banking to leading a growing investment firm. With over 25 years in financial services, Brad has grown Shaker from seven employees and breaking even to eleven employees while nearly doubling the business in four years. He discusses the challenges of scaling a business, the importance of client retention over acquisition, and practical strategies for business development and client communication.

5 Key Takeaways
➤ Client retention is more valuable than acquisition because the hardest client to get is the one you lost.

➤ Balance sheet analysis reveals business blind spots that profit and loss statements miss.

➤ Strategic pivoting requires honest self-assessment and letting go of ego when strategies aren't working.

➤ Communication frequency must match individual client preferences to prevent attrition.

➤ Transparency during both market wins and losses builds stronger client relationships.

Quote by Brad:

"When we make a mistake, that's when you got to get on the phone, and it's when you can talk to people. And I would say most people, when you do that, they're unbelievable. They're understanding and they respect the fact that you picked up the phone and made that call."
Connect with Brad
Website: https://www.shakerinvest.com/
Email: brad@shaker-invest.com

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Bonus: Visual Workflows That Boost Efficiency and Cash Flow Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

What happens when your company’s processes are costing you more than they’re helping you?

In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, guest host Jack W. Reeder, CLU, ChFC sits down with Hugh Glazer, Managing Director of Winterview Group. Hugh shares why businesses—whether start-ups or long-established firms—must step back from daily operations and map their transaction flows. From uncovering inefficiencies to improving cash flow and creating better decision-making frameworks, Hugh explains how visual workflows can save money, strengthen performance, and reveal opportunities for growth.
Drawing on his decades of experience, including his work with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, Hugh talks about the most common mistakes companies make, real-world turnaround stories, and why entrepreneurs need to invest in infrastructure, data analysis, and forward planning to thrive.

📌 Key Takeaways
→ Creating a visual workflow helps leaders see inefficiencies, duplication, and costs that add no value.
→ Start-ups benefit from mapping workflows early, aligning operations with financial data for smarter cash flow management.
→ Established businesses often underinvest in marketing and internal infrastructure—two areas essential for growth.
→ Family businesses and succession planning require clear processes to avoid costly breakdowns.
→ Data-driven decision making is critical: understanding how money is made (and lost) determines long-term success.
🤝 Connect with the GuestHugh Glazer is the Managing Director of Winterview Group, where he helps organizations strengthen their business performance through process design, financial analysis, and operational improvements. With deep experience working with companies of all sizes, Hugh specializes in mapping business transaction flows that uncover inefficiencies, improve cash flow, and provide the clarity leaders need to make informed decisions.
🌐 Website: www.winterviewgroup.com
📧 Email: info@winterviewgroup.com
🎧 Call to Action
Don’t miss this insightful conversation on how visual workflows can transform your business operations. Subscribe to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you listen—and share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to streamline and scale.

John Reeder, Registered Representative and Investment Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), 160 Gould Street, Suite 310, Needham, MA 02494. Securities products/services and advisory services are offered through PAS, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, 781-449-4402. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian. The Bulfinch Group is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Life Insurance offered through The Bulfinch Group Insurance Agency, LLC, an affiliate of The Bulfinch Group, LLC. The Bulfinch Group, LLC is not licensed to sell insurance. The Bulfinch Group is not registered in any state or with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Advisor. John Reeder, CA Insurance License #OF11617; FL Insurance License #A216798. PAS is a member FINRA, SIPC.

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Episode 286: LinkedIn Marketing Strategies for Small Business Growth Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered why some small businesses thrive on LinkedIn while others struggle to get noticed?
In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, Gary Heldt sits down with Justin Vajko, founder of Dialog and a seasoned marketing strategist, to uncover the secrets behind social media success. Justin’s journey began with a childhood hobby of designing logos, which evolved into a career managing multi-million-dollar marketing initiatives before launching his own firm. Today, he helps founders amplify their pipeline, strengthen their personal brand, and position themselves as thought leaders with smart video and LinkedIn strategies.

Whether you’re a solopreneur or running a growing business, Justin’s insights will help you avoid marketing pitfalls, leverage your personal brand, and turn LinkedIn into a lead-generating machine.

🔑 Key Takeaways
→ Why personal branding matters more than company branding on LinkedIn.
→ The most common mistakes business owners make with social media—and how to fix them.
→ How to use online reviews and testimonials to build trust.
→ Why consistency in posting (even once a week) is better than perfection.
→ A simple framework for creating LinkedIn content that connects with your audience.
💬 Quotes from Justin Vajko
"Businesses die on the altar of ‘more people should know about me’—but not enough people do."

"Your audience doesn’t buy the drill, they buy the hole in the wall."
📌 Connect with Justin Vajko

LinkedIn: Justin Vajko

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Episode 285: Grow Your Business One Monthly Change at a Time Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

❓What if one small change each month could double your business revenue in two years?

In this episode, Gary sits down with Karl Maier, a seasoned CFO and business growth advisor who has helped five companies double their sales in just 24 months. As the founder of Abunden, Karl reveals the surprising reasons companies stall—and how to fix them with smart systems, cash flow forecasting, and people-focused strategies.

Forget the usual "cut costs" advice. Karl brings a fresh, empowering perspective for business owners looking to scale with sanity, strategy, and sustainability. From solving payroll chaos to securing the right kind of funding, this conversation is a must-listen for any entrepreneur ready to get out of the weeds and into growth mode.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
➤ Your biggest bottleneck may be you: Many owners unknowingly block growth by refusing to delegate or improve their management style.
➤ Cash flow is your oxygen: Karl shares his 12-week forecast method that prevents disasters before they happen.
➤ Build the system before scaling: Without repeatable processes, every new client feels like chaos.
➤ Your CPA isn’t your CFO: They serve different purposes—know the difference so nothing falls through the cracks.
➤ AI isn’t scary—it’s your new assistant: From forms to forecasting, Karl shows how simple AI tools can boost productivity and decision-making.

🗣️ “If we make one change each month—even just nine in a year—the impact is phenomenal. Sales don’t move at first, but six months in, something clicks. And by year two? You’ve doubled revenue.”
— Karl Maier, Founder of Abunden

✅ Call to Action:
🎯 Want to find out how close you are to your first (or next) $10 million?
Take Karl’s free $10 Million Growth Map Quiz and start building your roadmap today at abunden.com.

📲 Connect with Karl on LinkedIn for more insights and real-world business tips. https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlkmaier/

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Episode 284: Why 5% Could 10x Your Wealth Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

How are digital assets transforming the way entrepreneurs and business owners build wealth for the future?

In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, host Gary Heldt welcomes Jake Claver, Founder and CEO of Digital Family Office. Jake’s firm specializes in bringing the sophisticated financial tools once reserved for ultra-high-net-worth families to business owners and professionals. With a tech-forward approach, he helps clients minimize tax liabilities, optimize financial operations, and build sustainable wealth in today’s digital economy.
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Key Takeaways
➔ Digital assets are no longer fringe — family offices are using them as a serious wealth strategy.
➔ Institutional custody and $100M+ insurance give clients peace of mind in a volatile market.
➔ Smart portfolio allocation keeps crypto exposure low while still unlocking asymmetric upside.
➔ Tax planning and regulatory awareness are critical as laws tighten around digital currencies.
➔ Jake’s entrepreneurial journey proves that solving your own financial challenges can scale into solutions for others.

Call to Action
Discover how digital assets and family office strategies can help you grow and protect your wealth.

Listen now to Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth with Gary Heldt for insights that blend innovation, security, and long-term financial success.

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Episode 283: Wealth Comes from Discipline and Mindset, Not IQ Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Are you running your money like a great business—or is your business running you?

This week, host Gary Heldt welcomes Greg Luken, founder of Luken Wealth Management and author of Unleash Your Financial Superpowers: How the First-Generation Wealthy Do It (and You Can Too). With nearly four decades in the industry, Greg shares how his unconventional path—from biology student and musician to math-based wealth advisor—shaped his fresh approach to financial management.

Greg reveals the three financial superpowers every entrepreneur and wealth builder needs: purpose, planning, and disciplined execution. He also introduces the two villains sabotaging financial success—FinPorn (financial pornography) and the Lever Denier.

This conversation is packed with stories, mindset shifts, and actionable wisdom for first-generation wealth creators navigating the balance between business, family, and life.

Key Takeaways:
→ Purpose is your North Star—without clarity, wealth drifts.
→ A concrete, step-by-step plan saves mental energy and drives results.
→ Discipline to execute turns theory into lasting wealth.
→ Beware of “FinPorn”—financial noise that seduces with false certainty.
→ First-generation wealth requires mindset shifts: serve your business, don’t become its servant.

Quote from Greg Luken:
"It’s not about intelligence. It’s not about having all the information. It’s about those simple disciplines—just being faithful and consistent with them."

Learn More & Connect:
🌐 Visit Greg’s website: www.luken.pro
📖 Get the book: Unleash Your Financial Superpowers (available wherever books are sold)

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Episode 282: Exit Ready Secrets for Family Businesses Aug 27, 2025

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Are you a family business owner who thinks you can just snap your fingers and sell your business for top dollar when you're ready to retire?
In this eye-opening episode, Gary Heldt sits down with Lowell Mora, President of Impact CFO, who brings 35 years of financial leadership experience to small and medium-sized businesses. Lowell shares his journey from Arthur Andersen to helping family-owned businesses prepare for successful exits.

Lowell reveals the shocking statistic that nearly half of all family-owned businesses end up in bankruptcy within two years of the founder's death due to lack of planning. Lowell discusses the critical differences between traditional accounting/tax services and strategic CFO work, emphasizing the importance of 3-5 year exit planning, building strong management teams, and viewing your business as an asset rather than just an income stream.
Key Takeaways

➤ Nearly half of all family-owned businesses go bankrupt within two years of the founder's death due to lack of succession planning.

➤ Most family businesses suffer from dangerous customer concentration (often 70% with one client) and lack strong autonomous management teams - both major red flags for potential buyers.

➤ You need 3-5 years of strategic preparation before selling your business, including professionalizing accounting records, conducting margin analysis, and building operational systems.

➤ There's a crucial difference between your tax-preparing CPA and a fractional CFO - one looks backward for tax compliance, the other looks forward for business growth and exit strategy.

➤ Business owners must shift their mindset from viewing their company as an income stream to seeing it as an asset that needs to be optimized for maximum value.
Notable Quotes from Lowell Mora
"I've never met a business owner who thought their business was worth less than what it was. Typically, they are amazed that there's no real intrinsic value from an EBITDA perspective at a point in time - there's work that needs to be done."
"What happens if you get hit by a bus? Your spouse will be okay because you have life insurance, but you have nobody to run this business. All these employees you treat as family will be grieving you AND dealing with a business crisis."
How to Reach Lowell Mora
Email: Lowell@impact-cfo.net
Phone: 847-212-4081
Website: https://www.impactcfo.net/

Visit his website for free consultation scheduling, 13-week cash flow samples, and additional resources for business owners planning their exit strategy.

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Episode 281: Stop Playing Checkers With Your Money—Start Playing Chess Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Are you playing checkers with your finances while the wealthy are playing chess?
In this episode of Grow Your Business & Grow Your Wealth, host Gary Heldt dives into a wealth-building conversation with Freddie Rappina, founder of Opta Financial, Chartered Financial Consultant, Accredited Investment Fiduciary™, and Retirement Income Planning Specialist.

With a rare background as both a retired Fairfax County police officer and seasoned wealth advisor, Freddie explains why traditional “just save and invest” advice keeps most people stuck in the middle class. He reveals how strategic debt, real estate, and business investments can transform your financial future, why taxes can be leveraged to your advantage, and how to shift your mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance. This conversation challenges conventional wisdom and provides a blueprint for building wealth like the affluent.

5 Key Takeaways:

Mindset Matters: The wealthy approach money like a chess game—strategically leveraging resources—while most people are taught to play checkers.
Debt Can Be a Tool: When used to purchase income-producing assets, debt can enhance cash flow and reduce tax liabilities.
Assets Over Hours: Wealth isn’t built by working more; it’s built by owning assets that work for you.
The Tax Advantage: The tax code rewards those who invest in ways that benefit the economy, such as real estate and business ownership.
Saving Alone Isn’t Enough: Savings are essential, but they should be a stepping stone to investments that generate income and wealth.

Quotes from Freddie:
“Saving money by itself is not a good idea—it won’t make you wealthy.”

“The middle class is being taught to play checkers while the wealthy are playing chess.”

How to Reach Freddie:
Visit OptaFinancial.com and click the top right corner to schedule a consultation.

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