Welcome to What Works Wednesday! Today, we're covering the Fed's recent decision to lower interest rates by 50 basis points in September 2024. We'll quickly explain why rates change, how they impact borrowing and saving, and what this means for you. Let's dive in!

My guest on today’s podcast is Aakash Shah. He is the founder of Wyndly, an at home allergy testing and treatment company, designed to provide personalized immunotherapy treatment plans from real doctors delivered to your door. In this episode Aakash shares his journey which is truly remarkable. He shares about his struggle with allergies and realizing that much of the current healthcare system is not available to many people struggling with allergies, because it is hard to get into see an al...

In this episode of What Works Wednesday, Leland discusses how elections historically impact the stock market. Without diving into party politics, he explains the unpredictability of markets and shares insights on making informed investment decisions during election years, while emphasizing that no one can predict the future.

My guest on today’s podcast is Briar Baughman. Briar is the owner and founder of Off-Load Moving, a moving company based out of Hampton Roads, Virginia. What’s unique about Briar is the level of success he has achieved in such a short time, being only 24 at the time of this recording. In this episode Briar shares his story. He details how his family moved 19 times in the first 18 years of his life and how that deeply shaped him. He had developed a dread for moving and realized that this...

Welcome back to What Works Wednesday! I’m Leland Gross, and today we're covering an often overlooked but crucial investing strategy: tax location. While asset allocation (diversifying investments) is well-known, tax location ensures you're maximizing after-tax returns by placing investments in the right accounts. It’s not just about what you make, but what you keep. So make sure your portfolio is optimized for both asset allocation and tax location to grow and keep more of your wealth!

My guest on today’s podcast is Melissa Broughton. Melissa is the founder of Busy Bee Advisors, a bookkeeping, accounting, and tax advisory firm for busy entrepreneurs and small businesses. What I love about Melissa is her own story of entrepreneurship. In this episode she shares about how she knew from a young age that she wanted to be an accountant and as an adult had a great career in accounting, but how eventually the long weeks and the requirement to ask for time off grew to be too much, ...

Welcome to this weeks What Works Wednesday! Today, we're breaking down three common personal finance mistakes self-employed pros make—starting with the myth that you can deduct everything on your taxes. Tune in to avoid these costly mistakes!

My guest on today’s podcast is Garrett Delph. Garrett is the founder of Clarity Ops, a company that provides process and performance consulting and implementation for high impact organizations. What is unique about Garrett is his unique ability to help businesses navigate the complexities of expansion, due to his own experience running businesses and having his chairman of the board tell him that he was the issue due to his own micromanagement that was hindering the business’ growth. In this ...

Welcome to What Works Wednesday! Today, we're highlighting a crucial concept: Information without implementation is useless. It’s not enough to have a solid financial plan or business strategy—what really matters is turning that knowledge into action. Without implementation, even the best advice or plan becomes wasted effort. Let’s focus on taking actionable steps to ensure that information drives real value in our lives.

My guest on today’s podcast is Kate Moore. Kate is the founder of Melted and Moved, a boutique, luxury travel advisor business that provides travelers with tailor-made travel itineraries that deliver both luxury and a local touch world-wide. In this episode Kate shares her entrepreneurial journey. She shares how building a staffing agency from the ground up gave her 10 years of business experience in a 4 year period, and how when they rolled the staffing agency up under a larger conglomerate,...

Welcome back to What Works Wednesday! Today, I’m sharing why personal finance is more personal than just numbers. In my work with LLCs and other closely held businesses, I focus on how life’s transitions—like moving homes, starting a family, or managing aging parents—impact financial decisions. These personal moments shape our financial strategies and the freedom entrepreneurship offers. Let’s dive into how connecting with these personal aspects can enhance our financial planning.

My guest on today’s podcast is Daniel Shear. Daniel and his wife are the founders of Seasons Yield Farm, a Bakery & Farm in the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that offers organic, wood-fired, wild-leavened sourdough breads and pastries, whose mission is to connect their community with nourishing products, wonderful people, and the crafts of talented local artisans. In this episode Daniel shares his journey from being in special operations in the army to making a stark transiti...

Welcome to this week's What Works Wednesday! Today, we're diving into passive income. Despite the hype, there's a lot to unpack about what it truly means. We'll explore the definitions, pros and cons, and the differences between passive and active income. From real estate rentals to selling courses, we'll clarify misconceptions and highlight the real work involved. Join us to understand how passive income can fit into your financial strategy.

My guest on today’s podcast is Nic Johnson. Nic is the founder of Listwise, a business designed to help home owners sell their home for the highest price possible, by creating incentive compensation for the real estate agent beyond the typical flat 3% model that has been in place for the last 100 years. They do this by aligning incentives, encouraging competition among agents, and therefore fostering a win win for both parties, because as the agent delivers more value, they make more money. I...

Welcome back to What Works Wednesday with your host, Leland Gross, and today we’re simplifying how investments make money. Investments typically generate returns in three ways: Dividends: Companies share profits with shareholders.Interest: Earned from lending money through bonds or savings accounts.Appreciation: Increase in the value of assets over time.Understanding these can help you make smarter investment choices and grow your wealth effectively. Tune in to learn more!

My guest on today’s podcast is JB Anderson. JB is the founder of Taxus Street Coffee, a local coffee shop and roastery located in Chesapeake Virginia. In this episode JB shares his story of entrepreneurship. Straight out of high school he started working as a personal trainer. After moving to Chesapeake Virginia to start a job with a ministry called Young Life, JB lived with some guys who taught him that “not all coffee is made the same”. It was there that he fell in love with coffee and deci...

Welcome back to another episode of "What Works Wednesday" with your host, Leland Gross. This week, we're diving into a crucial topic for many parents: saving and planning for your kids' future. Whether it's college, trade school, or just ensuring they have a solid financial foundation, the options can be overwhelming. Leland breaks down three main methods to set up savings, highlighting the pros and cons of each and touches on tax implications and the importance of maximizing your investments...

What does financial planning and photography have in common? More than I thought before this episode. Welcome to the Self-Employment Success Podcast. My guest on today’s podcast is William Leaton. William is the founder of William Sumner Photography, a wedding photography business located in Virginia. What’s unique about William is that he is only 3 months into running his business full time. In this episode you can sense the freshness, vibrance, and vitality that William has for his business...

Welcome to What Works Wednesday. Today, we're exploring health savings accounts (HSAs)—what they are, why they're important, how to qualify, and how to maximize their benefits. HSAs are powerful yet underutilized tools that offer triple tax advantages: tax-deductible contributions, tax-deferred growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses. Let's dive into how to make the most of your HSA.

My guest on today’s podcast is Hannah Johnson. Hannah is the founder of Delightful Deliveries, a business providing personalized pop-by services to businesses trying to stay top of mind with their clients, prospects, and referral partners. In this episode Hannah shares her journey of Self-Employment. She started by helping her husband create and deliver pop-by’s and in doing so found that other services over charge to just drop off raw supplies that you then had to assemble and deliver yourse...