Why building a business feels like a climb

Why building a business feels like a climb

So it’s December 23. Most business owners I know are trying to do two things at once right now: finish the year strong, and somehow be fully present at home. And the truth is, that’s a hard gear shift. You’ve got year-end bills, tax thoughts in the back of your mind, maybe a few jobs you’re trying to squeeze in, and then on top of that, you’ve got family events, travel, gifts, and all the extra holiday pressure. And this is when the “autopilot” kicks in, right? You just keep grinding because that’s what you do. Which is why this…

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Building Wealth for Kids: Accounts Every Parent Should Know

Building Wealth for Kids: Accounts Every Parent Should Know

In this episode, Andrew Barnhardt and Brett Herron explore various strategies for saving for children’s futures — whether it's for education, retirement, or general financial support. They break down the pros and cons of different account types, including 529 plans, custodial Roth IRAs, UTMAs/UGMAs, and saving in a parent’s name. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how to align financial tools with their goals and ensure they’re setting up the next generation for success — without putting their own financial health at risk. Tune into this episode to also learn: The tax benefits and flexibility of 529 college savings…

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Newsletter: Effective Strategies to Enhance Your Retirement Plan

Newsletter: Effective Strategies to Enhance Your Retirement Plan

In today’s evolving benefits landscape, retirement plan success could hinge on effective strategies. This quarter’s newsletter highlights three areas plan sponsors can’t afford to overlook:       5 Advanced Tax Strategies for Employers Explore advanced savings vehicles designed to support your most valued employees as they prepare for retirement. From cash balance plans to tax strategies and plan structure alignment, there are numerous options that align with executive needs and tax efficiency.       Protecting Your Employees from Bad Financial Advice With more employees seeking financial advice from digital sources like TikTok and Reddit, it’s never been more…

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Why Most Entrepreneurs Stay Trapped in Their Business (and How to Break Free)

Why Most Entrepreneurs Stay Trapped in Their Business (and How to Break Free)

If you’re a trades entrepreneur you know how it goes. Most of your time, energy, and money are all tied up in one thing: the business. And that makes total sense. You built it from the ground up. It provides for your family. It takes care of your team. In a lot of ways, it is your identity. But the challenge we see over and over is that for most business owners (that we meet), 80 to 90 percent of their net worth sits inside the business.  And the “retirement plan” usually sounds like this: “One day, I’ll sell —…

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3 Questions That Drive Marketing Growth in the Trades

3 Questions That Drive Marketing Growth in the Trades

Michael Pallozzi sits down with Phil Risher, founder of Phlash Consulting, about how trades business owners can grow revenue by turning marketing from a black box into a measurable system. Phil shares how his unique path—from pest control ride-alongs to enterprise fleet sales to featured finance blogger—led him to help home service companies scale from $1M to $10M+ and even exit to private equity. You’ll hear the three key questions private equity buyers ask (and how to build systems around them), why tracking your return on ad spend is essential, and how to use automation to convert leads and re-engage…

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2026 Contribution Limits

2026 Contribution Limits

The new Retirement Plan Contribution Limits are official! The following limits are going up for 2026:         Maximum contributions for 401(k), 403(b) and 457 increased to $24,500         Maximum contributions for SIMPLE retirement accounts increased to $17,000         Maximum contributions for Defined Contribution Limit increased to $72,000         Super Catch-up for Age 60-63 remained the same at $11,250 Review the full list of contribution limit changes below and share with your plan participants! 2026 Contribution Limits!   102 WEST HIGH STREET, SUITE 200 GLASSBORO, NJ 08028 HFM Investment…

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What entrepreneurs easily miss about their finances

What entrepreneurs easily miss about their finances

For most entrepreneurs, the hardest part about money isn’t the numbers, it’s the coordination. Most business owners deal with money every single day. They’re managing cash flow, paying bills, taking care of payroll. They've got this.  But when it comes to the bigger questions, like “What should I actually do with my money?” and “How do I make the right choices out of all the options out there?”, that’s where it gets intimidating.  And when people get intimidated, they often end up doing nothing. What we see all the time is: business owners have a collection of strategies, not a…

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Breaking the Silence: Mental Health in Blue Collar Workplaces

Breaking the Silence: Mental Health in Blue Collar Workplaces

In this episode, Michael Pallozzi is joined by Jessica Hallahan, founder of Journey to Yourself, who specializes in stress management and suicide prevention training within the blue collar workforce. Jessica shares her unconventional path from women’s empowerment speaker to a sought-after facilitator for trades-focused mental wellness. Together, they explore the communication gaps between generations in the trades, the hidden emotional toll of fieldwork, and how small mindset shifts can ripple from jobsite to home life. This episode sheds light on the importance of building emotional intelligence and support structures for workers who are often overlooked. Tune into this episode to…

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Is Your Retirement Plan Ready for Today’s Cybersecurity Threats?

Is Your Retirement Plan Ready for Today’s Cybersecurity Threats?

Let’s talk practical steps to help protect your employees’ and plan participants' data protected while meeting all your fiduciary duties. As a retirement plan sponsor, you're juggling plenty of responsibilities. Investment oversight, fee monitoring, participant education… we could go on and on. But there's another item we need to put on your plan priority list: cybersecurity. If you're thinking "cybersecurity is an IT issue," you're not alone, but you’re also not thinking broadly enough. Many plan sponsors assume data protection falls outside their wheelhouse. But when it comes to your 401(k) plan, cybersecurity is very much a fiduciary responsibility, and…

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Climbing the BuiltWealth™ Ladder

Climbing the BuiltWealth™ Ladder

Most trades entrepreneurs we meet didn’t start their company thinking about ‘seven steps of wealth’, acquisitions or big exits. They wanted to do great work, take care of their people, and make a living doing something they were proud of. But as the business grows, so do the stakes. At first, everything depends on that single engine: if the business thrives, you thrive.  But if it slows down, everything else slows down too. How to get out of that cycle isn’t always clear. The advice you often find at this stage of life and business is generic, with advisors pushing…

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