[Top Giver Series] The Smart Tax Strategies Every Business Owner Should Know With Courtney Epps

Courtney Epps, EA, PhD, is the Founder of OTB Tax and a nationally recognized tax strategist, international speaker, and TEDx speaker. With nearly 20 years of experience, she helps entrepreneurs and businesses — from startups to $100 million companies — use strategic tax planning to legally reduce taxes and drive financial growth. She is also the Founder of Tax Rebels, an educational platform and community that teaches entrepreneurs how to use proactive tax strategies to keep more of what they earn. Courtney is the best-selling author of More Relaxing, Less Taxing and What's Your Plan B?. In this episode… Taxes are often treated as an unavoidable cost of doing business, something entrepreneurs simply accept each year. But what if many business owners are paying far more than they legally need to? The real question is: are you using the strategies that allow you to keep more of what you earn? For Courtney Epps, a recognized tax strategist and financial educator, many entrepreneurs miss key opportunities to legally reduce their tax burden. She explains that common mistakes, such as improper business structure, incorrect salary payments, and overlooking eligible deductions, can cost business owners tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Courtney highlights strategies such as the Augusta Rule, which allows business owners to rent their homes to their companies tax-free, and hiring children in the business to shift income into lower tax brackets. When used correctly, these strategies help entrepreneurs keep more of their income and accelerate long-term wealth building while making tax planning a critical financial priority. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Courtney Epps, Founder of OTB Tax, to discuss smart tax strategies every business owner should know. They explore common tax mistakes entrepreneurs make, how strategies like the Augusta Rule and hiring your kids can reduce taxes, and why tax planning should be a top financial priority. Courtney also shares real-world examples of saving clients millions through advanced charitable tax strategies.

Raghu Bala is the CEO and Founder of Synergetics AI, a firm helping enterprises design and deploy agentic AI systems to drive growth, operational efficiency, and lasting competitive advantage. A serial entrepreneur with four startup exits, he has led Synergetics AI in developing cutting-edge solutions in autonomous and agentic AI, collaborating with organizations like MIT and HPE. Raghu previously held senior roles at Yahoo, InfoSpace, and PwC and holds degrees from The Wharton School and Stanford University. In this episode… Imagine a world where your digital twin shops for you, makes payments, and even negotiates on your behalf. Could AI agents transform both businesses and daily life by bringing seamless automation, security, and personalization? How are innovators building the infrastructure for this future? Raghu Bala, a seasoned entrepreneur and AI innovator, explains that agentic AI is redefining how enterprises and consumers interact with technology. He highlights that AI agents — autonomous digital entities — can automate workflows, manage transactions, and act independently across complex systems. With tools like LangTrain, AgentFlow, and AgentVM, these agents enable secure, efficient operations while paving the way for the agent economy. Raghu explains practical applications, from digital twins automating e-commerce purchases to AI supporting real-time addiction counseling in healthcare, illustrating how these systems can streamline tasks and unlock new opportunities. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Raghu Bala, CEO and Founder of Synergetics AI, to discuss building the agent economy, the evolution of autonomous AI, and the integration of digital twins in business. They explore secure AI workflows, real-world applications across industries, and the future of agent-driven commerce. Raghu also shares his favorite productivity tools and insights on aligning technology with company culture.

Dale Renner is the Founder and CEO of Redpoint Global, a software company that helps businesses collect, organize, and use customer data to improve marketing, customer experiences, and business decisions. Since 2006, he has led the company's vision of enabling marketers to orchestrate meaningful customer interactions across channels using advanced data capabilities. Dale brings more than 25 years of experience in CRM consulting, data processing, and analytics software. Earlier in his career, he was a global managing partner at Accenture, where he founded the firm's Global CRM practice. In this episode… Clean data rarely gets the spotlight in AI discussions, yet it often determines whether AI succeeds or fails. Companies invest heavily in analytics and automation, but fragmented data can undermine even the most advanced systems. What happens when organizations finally unify and master their customer data? Dale Renner, a veteran enterprise software entrepreneur and data strategy expert, explains that AI only works when the underlying data is reliable and unified. He emphasizes that companies often rush toward analytics and machine learning before fixing foundational data issues, which leads to faster but flawed results. Clean, governed data enables organizations to personalize experiences, make accurate decisions, and scale engagement across millions of customers. He also notes that industries with massive datasets — like healthcare, finance, and insurance — especially benefit from strong data architecture. Without that foundation, even the most advanced AI tools struggle to deliver meaningful outcomes. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Dale Renner, Founder and CEO of Redpoint Global, to talk about how clean unified data powers AI and better customer experiences. They discuss the origins of the customer data platform, transforming fragmented data into actionable insights, why regulated industries rely on robust data governance, and how AI is shaping enterprise sales and marketing.

Corey Ganim is the Founder of Return My Time, a company helping small business owners identify operational bottlenecks and reclaim time through practical AI tools and workflow-intelligence solutions. Paul Feith is the President of Paul Gregory Media, an award-winning digital marketing agency serving nonprofits, specializing in branding, campaigns, and social media that drive impact. Phil Herrington is the Owner of The Connector Community, a business networking platform focused on connecting professionals and facilitating relationship-driven introductions and collaborations to help entrepreneurs grow their network and referrals. In this episode… Looking to reclaim hours in your week, reduce stress, and unlock new opportunities without expensive courses or complicated setups? What if you could leverage AI and smart tools to automate tedious tasks, cut costs, and work more efficiently than ever before? How do top entrepreneurs make this happen while still building strong relationships? Corey Ganim, Paul Feith, and Phil Herrington reveal how they're transforming productivity, operations, and business growth using AI and innovative strategies. Corey highlights real-world examples like slashing photo staging costs and using AI to pinpoint bottlenecks for instant results. Paul explains how integrating AI with workflow systems can automate repetitive tasks, optimize team efficiency, and track key metrics. Phil emphasizes done-for-you networking systems and strategic tools that help entrepreneurs grow relationships and scale without wasting time. Together, they demonstrate how smart technology and strategies enable business owners to focus on high-value work and unlock new opportunities. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Corey Ganim, Paul Feith, and Phil Herrington to discuss how to boost productivity and reclaim time with AI. They cover streamlining workflows, automating repetitive tasks, and optimizing team efficiency. They also share practical tools, content strategies, and tips for building better business relationships.

Seth Deutsch is the Founder and Managing Partner of Samson Partners Group, a strategic advisory firm that helps founders build investor-ready companies and maximize value before a private equity exit. He has managed teams in over 80 countries, acquired more than 70 companies, executed four recapitalizations, and operated businesses with revenues from $25 million to $2 billion. Seth is the author of The Owner's Manual and the creator of the Exit Value Realization System™ (EVRS), a framework that helps owners reduce risk, increase valuation, and prepare for successful transitions. In this episode… Building a business is one thing. Turning it into a valuable, investor-ready asset is another. What separates founders who scale successfully from those who leave millions on the table at exit? Seth Deutsch, a seasoned dealmaker who has acquired more than 70 companies and led multiple recapitalizations, believes strong exits start with intentional value creation long before a sale. He emphasizes de-risking the business by reducing key-person dependency, improving financial visibility, and strengthening margins. The shift from operator to investor — focusing on predictable future cash flow — is critical. In The Owner's Manual, he outlines specific value levers to help founders scale strategically and exit stronger. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Seth Deutsch, Founder and Managing Partner at Samson Partners Group, to discuss scaling and preparing a business for a successful exit. They explore the seven levers of value creation, how to reduce key-man and client concentration risk, and why investor readiness should start years before a sale. Seth also shares how his personal journey shaped his philosophy on leadership and value creation.

Bart Fanelli is the CEO and Co-founder of Skillibrium, an AI-driven revenue operating platform that aligns learning, execution, and coaching to help organizations scale high-performance revenue teams. With more than 25 years of revenue leadership experience, he has played key roles in scaling enterprise software companies, including Splunk, during a period of significant hypergrowth. He has worked with organizations from pre-IPO through post-IPO stages and is the co-author of The Success Cadence. Bart is recognized for building structured coaching frameworks that combine operational discipline with human-centered leadership. In this episode… Scaling high-performance revenue teams while keeping sales, customer success, and leadership aligned is challenging. Fragmented training, slow onboarding, and the Forgetting Curve weaken momentum. How can AI and structured coaching build a unified, continuously improving revenue engine? Bart Fanelli, a revenue operations leader and enterprise sales strategist, faced these challenges while scaling high-growth technology companies. With more than two decades of field and leadership experience, he has built repeatable systems that align sales, customer success, and executives around a shared cadence. Bart champions role-based playbooks and daily reinforcement within real workflows. He focuses on aligning "skill and will." He explains that consistent coaching rhythms and candid conversations drive accountability, adoption, and measurable growth. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Bart Fanelli, CEO and Co-founder at Skillibrium, to discuss scaling revenue teams through AI and operational discipline. Bart shares the Magnificent Nine discovery framework and practical ways to beat the forgetting curve. He also explains how to build a coaching culture that sustains long-term growth.

Ken McLoud is the Founder of Laconic Technology, a technology company focused on helping businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence and custom software to streamline operations, boost efficiency, and unlock growth. Drawing on his experience in AI engineering and strategic consulting, he partners with clients to design solutions that integrate smoothly with existing systems and deliver measurable business results. Prior to founding Laconic Technology, Ken worked as a Design Engineer at Ruger Firearms, where he leveraged his technical expertise to develop innovative products. In this episode… The world of AI-powered tools is evolving rapidly, offering businesses unprecedented opportunities to streamline processes and amplify results. But how can agencies specifically leverage these innovations to boost their lead generation and automation efforts? Can AI truly replace traditional methods, or does it simply enhance them? As a leading expert in AI technology, Ken McLoud explains how AI is transforming businesses by automating tasks that were once time-consuming and manual. He highlights the rise of AI-powered lead magnets as one of the most impactful applications, where agencies can automate the process of attracting potential clients. By using AI to analyze websites, run audits, and generate detailed reports, agencies can both engage users and identify new opportunities with greater precision. The power of these tools lies in their ability to scale processes that were previously bottlenecked by human limitations, enabling agencies to capture more leads with less effort. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Ken McLoud, Founder of Laconic Technology, to talk about AI-powered lead generation and automation for agencies. They discuss how AI is revolutionizing lead generation, the role of AI in solving complex business problems, and how AI-powered lead magnets can increase client engagement. Ken also shares his thoughts on the future of agentic tools and automation.

David Rothstein is the CEO and Co-founder of Newsmatics, a next-generation news technology company dedicated to transforming the way organizations collect, analyze, and distribute information. Under his leadership, Newsmatics has grown to 70 employees and launched products like EIN Presswire, which processes 175,000 press releases annually, and Perspectify, a media bias tool.  David's career spans from pioneering internet publishing in 1990s Prague to building a network of 3,900 news sites and partnering with universities on innovation hackathons. He is passionate about using technology to promote transparency, combat misinformation, and help people navigate today's news landscape. In this episode… What does it take for a news technology company to survive three decades of disruption and still lead in the age of AI? From the early days of the internet to today's data-driven landscape, the rules of media have constantly changed. How do you stay relevant while the entire industry reinvents itself? David Rothstein, a pioneer in digital publishing and news technology, explains that longevity comes from listening obsessively to the market and evolving before you are forced to. He highlights the importance of shifting business models — from advertising to subscriptions to self-serve DaaS press release distribution — based on real customer demand. That adaptability allowed the company to remain independent and consistently profitable. By leveraging a massive news index, his team expanded into affinity publishing and media bias detection tools, pairing distribution with transparency. He also emphasizes building talent from within and partnering with universities through hackathons to fuel continuous innovation. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with David Rothstein, CEO and Co-founder of Newsmatics, to discuss transforming news delivery in an AI-driven world. They explore bootstrapping through the dot-com crash, pioneering self-serve DaaS press release models, and building tools that detect media bias and propaganda. David also shares insights on fostering internal talent and staying profitable while scaling innovation.

Ben Altman is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Altman Advisors, a multi-family office he co-founded with his father in 2016 that serves high-net-worth families. The firm provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and legacy planning services. Under Ben's leadership, Altman Advisors has built a multi-generational client base, established a ten-year investment track record, and is pursuing GIPS® certification to uphold global best practices in investment performance reporting. An active member of YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) and EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization), Ben is focused on integrating AI to enhance client service and internal operations. In this episode… What separates financial advisors who consistently thrive from those struggling to keep pace in a rapidly evolving market? How do top advisors build enduring client relationships while navigating volatility, risk, and accelerating technological change? Increasingly, the answer lies at the intersection of legacy thinking, economic discipline, and AI-driven efficiency. Ben Altman, a wealth management expert with multi-generational advisory experience, exemplifies how disciplined investment strategy, rigorous diversification, and thoughtful technology adoption define modern financial advisory success. Drawing on lessons from past market cycles, Ben emphasizes the importance of avoiding concentrated risk. He also highlights the value of leveraging AI tools, such as voice-to-text dictation and context-driven prompting, to streamline workflows and enhance real-time client responsiveness.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Ben Altman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Altman Advisors, to explore how family legacy, economic strategy, and AI converge in modern wealth management. They discuss how Ben utilizes AI to scale operations and the principles behind proactive client engagement. They also explore practical frameworks for building resilient, long-term relationships that prioritize personalized care, which is essential for trust.

Ghazenfer Mansoor is the Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, a software company developing HIPAA-compliant web, mobile, and cloud-based healthcare software applications. As a seasoned advisor and investor in technology and healthcare, he has fulfilled roles as an architect, programmer, software engineer, user experience specialist, product developer, growth hacker, and chief technology officer. In this episode… Ever wondered why some apps become part of your daily routine while others disappear after a single use? Creating technology people truly love requires mastering retention, trust, and thoughtful AI integration. So what separates indispensable apps from the rest? According to Ghazenfer Mansoor, a seasoned healthcare SaaS builder and author, the apps that endure are those designed around a single, essential user need and built with security and trust at their core. He highlights the importance of protecting sensitive data through privacy-first AI approaches such as retrieval-augmented generation and zero-retention language models. The impact is clear: when users feel safe and understood, they stay. He also stresses avoiding feature bloat, embedding feedback loops early, and iterating continuously based on real user behavior.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Ghazenfer Mansoor, Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, to discuss building secure, user-loved apps in healthcare and SaaS. They dive into designing for retention, avoiding common product pitfalls, and selecting the right tech stack to scale effectively. Ghazenfer also shares how AI tools and book recommendations shape his productivity and decision-making.