As another tax year comes to a close, many successful business owners are undoubtedly asking themselves the same question: How do I keep more of what I've earned away from Uncle Sam this year?

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Bayntree's Director of Corporate Development, Brian Hartstein, to break down year-end strategies to help entrepreneurs and high-income earners make the most of their pre-tax dollars and reduce their biggest expense: Taxes.

With over 30 years of experience collaborating with business owners, CPAs, and plan administrators, Brian has seen firsthand how many companies wait until the fourth quarter to address tax planning. He emphasizes the benefits of proactive planning and how it leads to significant savings and long-term wealth creation through strategies such as SEP IRAs, 401(k)s, profit-sharing plans, and cash balance pension plans.

We'll also walk you through the Retirement Plan Pyramid, and demonstrate which tools make the most sense for different business stages—from solo entrepreneurs to companies with dozens of employees.

Whether looking to shelter high income before year-end or looking for ways to use retirement plans as a competitive advantage to recruit, retain, and reward top talent, this episode will help you identify smart, actionable ways to keep more of what you earn and build your retirement wealth strategically.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• Why most business owners wait too long to plan—and how to avoid the "fourth-quarter fire drill."
• The most overlooked pre-tax opportunities that can save tens of thousands in taxes.
• How to choose between a SEP, SIMPLE, 401(k), or cash balance plan based on your business structure.
• The power of the Retirement Plan Pyramid and how each layer fits your financial goals.
• How to use retirement plans as recruitment and retention tools for key employees.
• Why being proactive—not reactive—with your CPA and advisor can make all the difference.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/118

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

The stress and anxiety of high-pressure careers can take a heavy toll on mental health, relationships, and physical well-being. Many business owners and professionals live with constant overwhelm, numbing themselves through long days instead of finding actual relief. But what if there was a practice that could calm the nervous system, ease stress, and even spark personal transformation without years of training or expensive therapy?​

After decades of working in demanding corporate roles, Cary Ballou experienced burnout, loss, and a sense of disconnection from her authentic self. Her turning point came when she first experienced a sound bath, a centuries-old healing practice using vibration and frequency to restore balance. That moment set her on a new path, founding Shanti Sound and dedicating her life to helping others heal, reset, and reconnect with purpose.​

In our conversation, Cary shares her journey of reinvention, the science behind sound healing, and how practices once dismissed as "alternative" have gained popularity and are helping people reduce stress, release trauma, and live healthier, more purposeful lives. ​

From corporate wellness programs to intimate healing sessions, Cary shares what it takes to follow your passion and build a mission-driven business around it.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• How chronic stress and repressed emotions manifest in the body—and why traditional medicine often overlooks them.
• The transformational moment when Cary discovered sound healing.
• Why sound baths work as "meditation without having to learn how."
• How sound healing can help with stress, trauma, and even chronic illness.
• The challenges and rewards of turning a passion into a sustainable business.
• Why companies are bringing sound healing into the workplace to reduce burnout and boost productivity.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/117

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

For most entrepreneurs, building a business is the dream — but exiting successfully is often an afterthought. Most business owners pour their lives into creating a company only to face regret, financial gaps, or a lack of purpose when it's time to transition. Today, we'll uncover what it takes to align your business, personal, and financial goals, so your exit leads not just to financial security, but to significance and fulfillment.

​Joining me is Scott Snider, President of the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) and a nationally recognized leader in exit planning. Scott started his first business at 17, sold it by 24, and now helps entrepreneurs create transferable value and prepare for life after business ownership. He and his father have grown EPI into a global organization that educates thousands of advisors and empowers business owners to look beyond profit.

​In our conversation, Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey, including the lessons learned from selling his first company, the emotional hurdles of defining identity outside of business, and why so many owners fail to prepare for what comes next. We discuss the Value Acceleration Methodology™, the importance of building enterprise value through structural, human, social, and customer capital, and why personal planning is just as critical as business strategy.

​Whether you're years away from a sale or facing one sooner than expected, this episode will help you reframe your approach to leadership, value creation, and long-term wealth.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• The three "legs of the stool" that every business owner needs to align before an exit.

• How CEPAs help business owners prepare for a successful and profitable exit.

• Why many business owners grow profitable companies but fail to create transferable value.

• The Four Intangible Capitals that account for 80% of a company's value and how to improve them.

• How Scott uses the Family Business Blueprint to encourage communication in family owned businesses.

• Why Scott believes Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is an emerging trend for exiting a business.

• How AI will be a net positive for the advisor industry if you're willing to learn and adapt.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/116

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist!

AI is transforming business at breakneck speed and most entrepreneurs are struggling to keep up. From clunky chatbots to overwhelming tech stacks, many founders and CEOs are wasting time and money chasing trends instead of building real, scalable solutions. And today's guest is here to explain how the future of AI is already reshaping the way we do business—and how to stay ahead of the curve.

Andrew Amann is a serial entrepreneur who has founded 14 companies and successfully exited three of them. He's the CEO and co-founder of NineTwoThree Studio, an award-winning AI agency serving major brands like Consumer Reports, SimpliSafe, and Experian. With a background as a nuclear submarine engineer, Andrew brings a unique systems-thinking approach to helping business owners cut through the noise and implement AI solutions that drive real results.

In this conversation, we explore why most companies are missing the mark with chatbots, the evolving landscape of content creation, and how leaders can harness AI agents to streamline operations, personalize services, and build lasting value. From managing global development teams to staying ahead of emerging trends, Andrew shares what it truly takes to scale with purpose in today's rapidly changing digital world.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• The four phases of AI—and why most businesses are stuck in the wrong one.
• How workflow automation is replacing chatbots and changing the future of work.
• Why the most valuable skills come from working for someone else first.
• How CEOs should think about integrating AI to avoid costly mistakes.
• Why every CEO needs to understand MCPs and how to integrate them in their business.
• What the rise of AI means for content authenticity, deepfakes, and future-proofing your brand.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/115

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist!

With 80% of new businesses seemingly destined to fail, the odds are stacked against most entrepreneurs. But today's guest is on a mission to shift that equation. From overcoming financial hardship and a lawsuit that nearly bankrupted him to reshaping his leadership style and creating a winning team culture, today's conversation is all about what it takes to build and scale a thriving business.

Mike Konrad is the founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies, a public speaker, podcast host, and author of The Reluctant Entrepreneur. Mike shares his 40-year journey in the electronics manufacturing industry, from leaving his corporate job in the early 90s to create an innovative business through dedication and a core belief that reliability matters.

In this conversation, you'll hear how Mike navigated the operational challenges of entrepreneurship and underwent a profound transformation as a leader. He shares how building a sustainable company required evolving from naivety to knowledge, from arrogance to savvy, and from poor risk assessment to awareness.

One of his biggest breakthroughs came when he recognized the need to set aside his ego—the very trait that helped launch the business—to empower others, hire smarter, and scale with intention.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• Why the traits that help start a business often sabotage its long-term growth.
• The costly lawsuit that nearly ended Mike's company—and how his ego and tenacity helped survive it.
• How naivety and bad risk assessment fueled his early success.
• Why company culture and team fit are critical for new hires in a growing company.
• How counterintuitive ideas from a mentor helped shift his mindset and achieve greater success.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/114

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist!

Big-box pet stores may offer convenience, but they often fall short when it comes to personalized service, expert nutrition advice, and a deeper overall commitment to pet wellness.

Today's guest recognized this gap in the industry and set out to build a franchise model that delivered on all fronts—without sacrificing community values or sustainability. His goal: to empower local pet store owners with the tools and support to thrive in a competitive market where natural food and nutrition are expected from pet owners.

Michael Seitz is the CEO and Chairman of EarthWise Pet, one of only four national pet retail franchisors in the United States. Since joining his family's business in 2005, Michael has grown the brand from a handful of stores into a nationwide operation with over 200 retail locations and a rapidly growing mobile grooming platform. His unconventional journey has shaped a unique, people-first approach to scaling a multi billion dollar franchising business in the pet industry.

In this episode, Michael shares how EarthWise Pet has differentiated itself through holistic nutrition, pet services, and sustainable sourcing. He shares his expertise on what it truly takes to scale a successful franchise, why mobile grooming services are now a multi-million-dollar growth engine.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• Why Michael left dental school to rejoin the family business.
• How EarthWise scaled from 3 stores to over 200 locations.
• The evolution from natural pet food to sustainable sourcing.
• How grooming services have become a huge growth driver, especially for new franchises.
• How EarthWise Pet uses AI to improve marketing and efficiency.

Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/113

Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist!

After years of service in the U.S. Navy, and a successful career in the corporate world, Michael Roviello found himself battling crippling neck and back pain. This led to a less-than-successful surgery and self-medicating with alcohol and prescription pain meds.

When faced with the prospect of having another surgery, he embarked on a healing journey that didn't come with more prescriptions or procedures, but through nature, ancient healing traditions, and deep introspection.

Today, Michael is the co-founder of Optimyze, a wellness studio in Phoenix, Arizona. Optimyze has become a community that empowers others to take personal responsibility for their physical, mental, and emotional health through natural healing methods.

In our conversation, Michael shares how his search for answers led him to meet Wim Hof and leave his corporate job to explore plant medicine, the science, and the benefits of cold plunges, breathwork, and energy practices. This experience ultimately reshaped his view of wellness and how the human body is equipped to deal with stress and health issues naturally and holistically.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• Michael's journey from the U.S. Navy to become an entrepreneur.
• How plant medicine and ceremonial practices transformed Michael's life.
• The benefits of cold therapy and exercise as a way of stressing our body to improve wellness.
• The link between technology and common health issues and autoimmune diseases.
• The importance of setting boundaries with staff and customers as an entrepreneur.

More resources and info > https://www.bayntree.com/112

Are you feeling stuck in your personal or professional life, unable to break free from limiting beliefs that hold you back? Many high achievers struggle to find balance and fulfillment, often feeling overwhelmed by stress and self-doubt. In this episode, we dive into proven strategies for transforming your mindset and taking control of your future.

Michael Kohan, a certified life coach, speaker, and host of the Your Wellness Yogi podcast, has spent years helping individuals shift their perspectives and cultivate meaningful success. With a background in yoga, mindfulness, and personal development, Michael specializes in guiding entrepreneurs and professionals toward greater clarity and purpose. His work has empowered countless individuals to implement daily habits that drive lasting change.

In this conversation, we explore how self-awareness plays a critical role in personal growth, the science behind habit formation, and practical techniques to overcome self-imposed limitations. You'll also learn how to develop resilience, enhance productivity, and align your daily actions with your long-term goals. If you're ready to take the next step toward unlocking your full potential, this episode is for you.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• How self-awareness plays a crucial role in achieving success and fulfillment.
• The impact of daily habits on mindset and long-term growth.
• Practical steps to shift limiting beliefs and create empowering routines.
• Why personal development is the key to thriving in both life and business.
• Strategies for maintaining motivation and focus in the face of challenges.
  

Interview Resources:

• Elevate Life Project
• Michael Kohan on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
• BetterHelp
• Thumbtack
• Bark