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Almost everyone gets a little nervous at the word audit, even people who've done everything right. Add in a growing wave of scams pretending to be the IRS, and it's easy to see why the fear is often bigger than the reality. In this episode of Your Wealth and Beyond, Andrew Rafal sits down with Jason Silver, a tax attorney and former IRS trial attorney with 31 years of experience, to separate what's real from what's a scam, and to walk through exactly what to do (and not do) if you ever get that letter. They also dig into what's different when a business owner gets audited, from worker classification to reasonable salary requirements to digital assets. This conversation is meant to feel like advice from a friend who happens to know the IRS inside and out, not a sales pitch. If anything here hits close to home, give us a call, we're happy to help. In this podcast interview, you'll learn: How the IRS actually initiates an audit, and the biggest signs that a call, text, or email claiming to be the IRS is a scam. The first call to make if you get a real IRS letter, and why calling the IRS yourself is almost always the wrong move. Why S corporation owners who don't pay themselves a reasonable salary are one of the most common audit triggers. What separates a legitimate independent contractor relationship from a worker classification problem. Why documentation, not just having receipts, but showing who, what, and why, matters more than almost anything else in an audit. What's changed with digital asset reporting since 2025, and what to do if you can't find the cost basis on old stock. Why amending a tax return the moment you spot a mistake can sometimes create a bigger problem than it solves. Find All Episode Resources Here: www.bayntree.com/128 Jason Silver's Contact Information: Silver Law, PLC Website: www.taxcontroversy.com Phone: 480-429-3360 This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. Bayntree Wealth Advisors and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. Jason Silver is an independent tax attorney and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bayntree Wealth Advisors; his contact information is shared for the listener's convenience only. Nothing discussed in this episode should be construed as legal or tax guidance specific to your situation. Please consult a qualified attorney and/or tax professional before making any decisions about your specific situation. Investment advice is offered through Bayntree Wealth Advisors LLC, a registered investment advisor. Insurance and annuity products are offered separately through Bayntree Planning Group LLC.

Most business owners have some kind of retirement plan in place. They set it up years ago, they contribute every year, and they move on. What most never do is go back and ask whether that plan is still the right one for the business they're running today. In this episode of Your Wealth and Beyond, Andrew Rafal and Brian Hartstein open the fourth and final corner of the Four Corners of Business Owner Planning series: owner benefit planning. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation, and it's built around one core idea. A 401(k) is just one of many ways to use pre-tax dollars to build personal wealth alongside your business, and the right approach changes as your business grows. Brian walks through the "pyramid" of pre-tax planning, from a basic 401(k) or SEP at the base, up through profit sharing plans, to defined benefit pension plans at the top for owners who need to put away significantly more. He and Andrew also get into non-qualified planning, the cost-benefit math behind these decisions, and how to know if your plan is actually staying compliant. In this podcast interview, you'll learn: Why almost every strategy in this corner comes back to one idea: using pre-tax dollars as effectively as possible. The "pyramid" of retirement plan options, from a basic 401(k) or SEP to profit sharing plans to defined benefit pension plans. Why qualified plans are sometimes called "employee plans," and where their contribution limits come from. The cost-benefit question worth asking before contributing more: roughly how many cents of every dollar you actually get to keep. How your age and your employees' ages affect what a defined benefit plan can actually accomplish. What a non-qualified plan is, and why it can be layered on top of a qualified plan rather than replacing it. Why plan design, not just plan structure, deserves a regular second look. The fork in the road every business owner eventually faces: keep reinvesting in the business, or start building personal wealth outside it. Find All Episode Resources Here: www.bayntree.com/127 Download the free Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist: www.bayntree.com/download/entrepreneurs-financial-planning-checklist This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. Bayntree Wealth Advisors and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. Nothing discussed in this episode should be construed as legal or tax guidance specific to your situation. Any references to retirement plan design, tax code provisions, or planning strategies are general in nature and may not apply to your circumstances. Please consult a qualified attorney and/or tax professional before making any decisions about your specific situation. Investment advice is offered through Bayntree Wealth Advisors LLC, a registered investment advisor. Insurance and annuity products are offered separately through Bayntree Planning Group LLC.

The moment you open your doors, you take on risk. Most business owners put basic coverage in place when they started the company and haven't given it a real look since. Meanwhile the business has grown, the exposures have changed, and the broker who sold the policy only calls at renewal. In this episode of Your Wealth and Beyond, Andrew Rafal and Brian Hartstein continue the Four Corners of Business Owner Planning series with the Risk Management Corner. They cover property and casualty coverage, cybersecurity, workers' comp, business interruption, and the quiet items like the 401(k) plan bond that someone on your team should be watching. Like the CPA and the attorney, insurance brokers are event-driven. This conversation is about who fills the monitoring role, what questions to bring to your broker, and how to make sure your coverage fits the business you run today rather than the one you started. In this podcast interview, you'll learn: Why coverage needs shift as a business moves from startup to growth to established, and why the package you bought at formation may not fit anymore. Why a lighting company and a financial firm have completely different cybersecurity and business interruption priorities. How to think about the choice between a large national brokerage and a boutique specialty firm. Why renewal quotes are usually similar across brokers, and why service is the real differentiator. How to approach the decision between filing a claim and handling a small loss inside the business. Why deductible levels should be a strategic decision rather than a default setting. How workers' comp modification factors work and why an inaccurate rating can cost a business for years. The 401(k) ERISA bond gap that shows up as plans grow, and who should be monitoring it. Find All Episode Resources Here: www.bayntree.com/126 Download the free Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist: www.bayntree.com/download/entrepreneurs-financial-planning-checklist This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. Bayntree Wealth Advisors and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. Nothing discussed in this episode should be construed as legal or tax guidance specific to your situation. Any references to tax code provisions, entity structures, or planning strategies are general in nature and may not apply to your circumstances. Please consult a qualified attorney and/or tax professional before making any decisions about your specific situation. Investment advice is offered through Bayntree Wealth Advisors LLC, a registered investment advisor. Insurance and annuity products are offered separately through Bayntree Planning Group LLC.

Most business owners have worked with an attorney at some point. Usually it was to set up the business entity. Then it was done. What they do not always realize is how much gets left behind when the legal piece stays event-driven and disconnected from the rest of the plan. Entity structure, liability protection, exit strategy, benefit plan compliance — the legal corner of a business owner's financial picture touches nearly everything. And if nobody is coordinating it with the accounting, the investments, and the overall plan, the gaps quietly compound. In this episode, Andrew Rafal and Brian Hartstein dig into the Legal Corner of the Four Corners of Business Owner Planning. They cover when one attorney is enough, when you need more than one, and how to figure out which questions you should be asking in the first place. Brian walks through entity structure decisions, the difference between corporate and estate planning attorneys, when multiple entities make sense, and what business owners need to understand about exit planning well before they are ready to sell. In this podcast interview, you will learn: What functions a business attorney actually covers and why one may not be enough The difference between a corporate attorney and an estate planning attorney When single entity vs. multiple entity structure makes sense for your business Why the building your business owns may be a liability and a missed opportunity How Section 1202 and Section 1042 elections factor into business exit planning What affiliated service group rules mean for service-based businesses How often you should actually be talking to your attorney Why avoiding the call because of hourly fees is the most expensive mistake you can make Find All Episode Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/125 Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. Bayntree Wealth Advisors and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. Nothing discussed in this episode should be construed as legal or tax guidance specific to your situation. Any references to tax code provisions, entity structures, or planning strategies are general in nature and may not apply to your circumstances. Please consult a qualified attorney and/or tax professional before making any decisions about your specific situation. Investment advice is offered through Bayntree Wealth Advisors LLC, a registered investment advisor. Insurance and annuity products are offered separately through Bayntree Planning Group LLC.

Most business owners leave their planning meetings feeling good about the conversation. But if nobody follows through on what was discussed — and nobody knows who is supposed to — the whole year gets wasted. In this episode, Andrew Rafal and Brian Hartstein pick up where they left off in Episode 123, going deeper into the Tax Corner of the Four Corners of Business Owner Planning. This time it is about the roadmap — the specific planning areas every business owner should be asking their advisory team about, and the real-world examples that show what happens when those questions go unasked. Brian walks through multiple entity planning, entity type analysis, benefit plan design, and the compliance details that quietly cost business owners money every year. From C corp versus S corp decisions to 401(k) eligibility mistakes to the 2026 Roth catch-up rule — this episode is where the strategy gets real. In this podcast interview, you'll learn: The difference between design and structure in business planning How multiple entity planning works and who the rules apply to Why the building your business owns could be a liability and a missed opportunity What non-qualified plans are and when they make sense How a wrong eligibility setting in your 401(k) is costing you money right now The 2026 Roth catch-up rule and what business owners need to do before it is too late Find All Episode Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/124 Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

Most business owners have a CPA, an attorney, and a financial advisor on their team. But if nobody is driving the plan, the best opportunities get missed — not because the team is bad, but because nobody knows who is supposed to be doing what. In this episode, Andrew and Brian dig into the Tax Corner of the Four Corners of Business Owner Planning — starting with the question most business owners never think to ask: Does everyone on your advisory team actually know their role? With decades of experience working with business owners across complex planning scenarios, Brian and Andrew breaks down the difference between tax strategy and tax execution, why CPAs are built to be event-driven rather than proactive, and how the monitoring gap quietly costs business owners money every single year. You will also learn why December scrambles happen, what can still be done before your 2025 business return is filed, and how the right advisory team structure sets the stage for a strong rest of 2026. In this podcast interview, you'll learn: Why your CPA is focused on execution — and who should be driving strategy The difference between event-driven advising and proactive monitoring What a well-built planning triangle actually looks like How the Roth catch-up rule change affects business owners with 401(k) plans in 2026 What you can still do right now to maximize pre-tax dollars before year-end Find All Episode Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/123 Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

Most business owners spend their time focused on growth — revenue, employees, and operations. But the biggest opportunities to build wealth often aren't in the day-to-day. They're in how the business is structured, how advisors work together, and how efficiently profits are turned into personal wealth. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Bayntree Wealth's Director of Corporate Development, Brian Hartstein, to introduce the Four Corners of Business Owner Planning — a framework for identifying where businesses are losing money and where untapped opportunities exist. With over three decades of experience working with business owners, Brian breaks down how risk protection, employee benefits, structure and compliance, and owner wealth strategy all need to work together to create a more efficient and valuable business. You'll also learn why most advisory teams operate in silos, how that disconnect costs business owners money, and how proactive coordination can unlock opportunities that often go unnoticed. In this podcast interview, you'll learn:  The Four Corners framework and how it applies to your business Where business owners are unknowingly losing money How to use pre-tax dollars more effectively Why most advisors fail to communicate — and what that costs you How proactive planning can create better long-term outcomes Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/122 Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

Choosing the right CPA is one of the most important decisions a business owner will ever make, yet it's also one of the most misunderstood. Many entrepreneurs assume their CPA is proactively looking for opportunities to reduce taxes and improve efficiency throughout the year, only to realize too late that most planning happens in hindsight. Today, I'm joined once again by Bayntree's Director of Corporate Development, Brian Hartstein, for a deeper conversation about how business owners can evaluate whether their CPA is truly the right fit. We break down the different types of CPA firms, the services they provide, and the gaps that often exist between expectations and reality. We also discussed how entity structure, compensation planning, retirement strategies, and long-term business goals all intersect and why silos between professionals often lead to missed opportunities. Whether you're questioning if your current CPA is serving you at the right level, considering a change, or simply want to understand how the best advisory teams work together, this conversation will help you ask better questions, avoid costly blind spots, and build a smarter, more coordinated planning team around your business.  In this podcast interview, you'll learn: The key differences between tax preparers, business CPAs, and proactive advisory firms. Why most CPAs focus on reporting, not a forward-looking strategy. How to evaluate whether your CPA truly understands your business complexity. What questions should business owners ask when hiring or reviewing a CPA? Why communication between your CPA and financial advisor is critical. How proactive planning can reduce tax risk and improve long-term outcomes. Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/121 Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

Many business owners reach a point where sheer grit and hard work are no longer enough to keep growing. What once fueled success can eventually become a ceiling if structure, systems, and leadership don't evolve alongside the business. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Brad Levkowitz, co-owner of Sun Lighting, to explore his journey of growing a multi-generational family business. Brad shares how early lessons from working alongside his father and grandfather shaped his work ethic, leadership style, and approach to long-term growth. We dive into the realities of building through economic cycles, wearing every hat in the early years, and learning when to let go of control. Brad shares the mindset shift required to move from survival mode to intentional scaling, including investing in systems, people, and professional leadership. Whether you're running a family business, leading a growing team, or trying to break through the next growth plateau, this conversation offers practical insights into building structure without losing culture and creating a business that can thrive for generations. In this podcast interview, you'll learn:  Why grit alone eventually limits business growth without structure and systems. How Brad expanded a legacy family business into new markets and industries. Lessons learned from scaling through economic downturns and market shifts. The importance of hiring, investing in your team, and letting go to grow. The challenges of navigating family dynamics while growing a multi-generational business. How clarity, culture, and long-term vision drive sustainable success. Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/120 Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

Many entrepreneurs reach a point in their careers where the traditional corporate path no longer aligns with their values, energy, or passions. For today's guest, that moment came when he realized the culture surrounding him no longer reflected the performance-driven lifestyle that fueled his passions and motivated him.  Today, I'm sitting down with my longtime friend and serial entrepreneur, Blake Uptain, founder of  Moxie Bike Shop and Caffeine & Watts. Blake shares how his journey began with a passion for fitness, a talent for building relationships, and an instinct for creating environments where people feel like they belong.  From growing a small race team into a powerful marketing engine and turning a business that started in his garage into a high-end performance retail brand, Blake reveals the pivotal decisions that shaped his entrepreneurial path.  Whether you're an entrepreneur searching for direction or someone considering turning a personal passion into a professional pursuit, this conversation offers valuable lessons in resilience, authenticity, and embracing the unknown. In this podcast interview, you'll learn:  Why following your passion often reveals business opportunities others overlook. How performance-driven communities create trust, loyalty, and long-term brand growth. Lessons Blake learned transitioning from corporate sales to entrepreneurship. The challenges of scaling a retail business and adapting to industry changes. Why authenticity, consistency, and community remain the foundation of his success. Find All Interview Resources Here - www.bayntree.com/119 Download your copy of The Entrepreneur's Financial Planning Checklist

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!