Guests: Rhonda Shear & Alan Porter
Neil opens the show live from the Grotto and introduces Rhonda Shear, much remembered for her hosting of USA Up All Night, now reinventing herself with a major new venture. Neil recounts his prior interview with Rhonda on New Year’s Eve, how she recognised him, and the early days of her show on college radio and blog-talk.
Rhonda dives into the evolution of her intimate apparel business — 23 years in, still strong on home shopping networks worldwide, with her signature “Ahh Bra” product having sold millions of units. She explains how retailing has shifted: from traditional TV shopping to live streaming via social platforms like TikTok and Amazon, and how that informs her current strategy.
Next, Rhonda discusses the creative side of her story: rebooting Up All Night (with permission-type distribution through a company like Blue Sky out of Prague) and building a production studio in St. Petersburg, Florida, to handle television, film, podcasts, influencer content—and to leverage her manufacturing base as well. She explains how this means she doesn’t need to wait on a network deal anymore.
Then Neil shifts gears into financial territory with Alan Porter. They talk about “the great wealth transfer” — the $84 trillion+ shift expected from baby-boomers to younger generations over the next two decades, and how many high-net-worth families and business owners are unprepared. Alan outlines common mistakes: procrastination, weak tax strategy, lack of planning for business succession and legacy. He explains how tools like cash-value life insurance and fixed indexed annuities can protect and transfer wealth efficiently.
Alan goes further on business sale planning in light of upcoming tax changes in 2026: the sunset of key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, potential loss of the 20 % qualified business income deduction, shrinking estate tax exemptions, and rising capital gains and estate taxes. He emphasises the need for business owners to act now, to build plans including installment sales, life insurance funded buy-sells, and trusts before the changes bite. The show ends with Alan’s contact information and a call to get your team together.