AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0

Inside Real Estate Syndication Investing: Returns, Risks, & Opportunity Zones w/ Adam Gower of GowerCrowd

- AZ TRT S06 EP17 (279) 9-7-2025

What We Learned This Week:

• Real estate syndications let accredited investors pool money with a sponsor to buy large properties.
• Investors earn preferred returns, dividends, and tax perks like depreciation and 1031 exchanges.
• These deals are illiquid, locking up money for years in exchange for long-term gains.
• Adam Gower showed how trust and consistent marketing are key to raising capital.
• High interest rates are squeezing deals, creating both challenges and distressed opportunities.

Guest: Adam Gower of GowerCrowd

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gowercrowd/

Per Adam:

I help real estate syndicators raise equity capital online. We integrate AI into everything we do so you have a competitive advantage. Our clients have raised $100's of millions using our proprietary Investor Acquisition System. I share all our secrets in my free newsletter.

Bio:

Adam Gower is a bilingual, 30-year veteran in real estate, banking, and finance who earned his Ph.D. in banking history at the University College London. He has held senior management positions at some of the largest companies and institutions in the world and is recognized as an industry thought leader on the impact of crowdfunding on real estate.

During the 1990's he lived in Japan, working as the President and CEO of a major Hollywood studio developing their real estate portfolio throughout the Asia Pacific Region. After the financial crisis of 2008 had taken hold, Dr. Gower was recruited to advise the largest regional bank in California on their asset disposition strategy, assisting them to divest of a large portfolio of real estate collateralized loans, and subsequently in doubling the institution's size.

He subsequently went on to work at Colony Capital, one of the world's largest private equity real estate firms, where he worked on assets acquired with the FDIC as a result of the global financial crisis.

When the JOBS Act of 2012 was passed, Dr. Gower had been actively engaged in tech startup angel investing. He quickly realized that commercial real estate finance would be transformed by the new regulations by permitting equity to be raised online. Seeing that this would bring about a revolution in the industry he formed GowerCrowd, an agency geared to assisting real estate developers raise money for their projects, and to educating investors how to invest online.

Dr. Gower lives and works in California and has taught the only fully accredited university course in the country that focuses on how to raise money by and invest in crowdfunded real estate syndications. The course was a 'flipped course' allowing students to study the primary curriculum online, while engaging in practical learn-by-doing exercises in class.

He is host of an internationally syndicated podcast focused exclusively on real estate crowdfunding, The Real Estate Crowdfunding Show, Syndication in the Digital Age, and publishes one of the most popular real estate investing blogs on the web. Dr. Gower is author of several books focused on the history of real estate crowdfunding, real estate investing, and risk mitigation, and his educational courses have been sold worldwide.

Books Link – HERE

https://gowercrowd.com/about

We help you find more high-net-worth investors so you can raise more equity, faster.

GowerCrowd is a team of digital marketing professionals with deep, multi-cycle real estate syndication experience.

We build digital marketing systems (aka 'crowdfunding' platforms) for seasoned real estate sponsors so they can find more investors, raise more capital, and scale faster. Our clients handle in excess of $35bn in AUM and have raised upwards of $1bn using our systems with minimum investments as low as $25,000.

Reference Info: https://gowercrowd.com/real-estate-investing/guides

Segment 1: Real Estate Syndication Basics

• Definition & Structure
• Syndication: a real estate professional pools investor money to purchase assets (apartments, offices, car washes, medical buildings, etc.).
• Typical structure: 70% financed with a bank loan, 30% down from investors.
• Investors: Accredited investors (SEC-defined high-net-worth individuals).
• Deals: Can involve dozens or even hundreds of private investors.
• Returns & Profit Sources
• Investors may receive:
• Preferred return (commonly around 8% ROI).
• Dividends from rental income (net operating profit).
• Profit share from property appreciation and sale.
• Liquidity: Funds are locked in for years—these are illiquid investments.
• Tax Treatment
• Investors receive a K-1 for pass-through tax benefits like depreciation.
• Depreciation is recaptured upon sale.
• Unearned income is taxed as normal income.
• 1031 Exchange: Allows deferral of capital gains taxes by rolling profits into another property (45-day identification rule, 180-day purchase rule).
• Step-Up in Basis: Heirs inherit property at its appreciated value, avoiding taxes.
• Opportunity Zones: Investments in designated areas can defer or eliminate capital gains taxes (deferred for 5 years, no tax after 10 years).

Segment 2: Guest – Adam Gower & GowerCrowd

• Background
• Started as an electrician in the 1980s.
• Raised capital in California; lost money in the late-1980s Savings & Loan crisis.
• Worked in Japan running a film division.
• Later handled real estate deals and worked at a bank during the 2008 financial crisis, cleaning up distressed portfolios.
• In 2012, launched GowerCrowd, a consulting and marketing platform for real estate syndicators.
• GowerCrowd Approach
• Helps sponsors raise capital by building marketing and investor trust.
• Develops content-driven marketing strategies over ~6 months.
• Leverages a network of real estate investors.
• Breaks down industry silos—shares best practices across deals and sponsors who would normally compete.
• Belief: Test strategies first, then scale proven best practices across clients.
• Opportunity Zones
• Defined on city or state real estate maps.
• Require minimum investments (often starting at $25,000).
• Provide tax incentives for investors.

Segment 3: Interest Rates & Real Estate Market Impact

• Current Market Conditions
• Interest rates in 2023–2024 remain higher than recent years.
• Higher rates = higher debt service costs on properties.
• Many past deals were underwritten with variable-rate loans, which have now reset higher.
• Long-term fixed-rate investors are in stronger positions.
• Consequences of High Rates
• Refinancing challenges: Many deals no longer work financially at today's higher rates.
• Distressed deals: Properties may be foreclosed or sold at discounts (sometimes 30% lower).
• Some properties, especially office buildings, are hardest hit.
• Example: A deal structured with 85% debt at 3% interest doesn't work if rates jump to 7%.
• Market Outlook
• Bond rates and interest rates remain uncertain.
• Debt continues to be the central driver of real estate.
• Investors with cash could benefit from discounted opportunities.
• For deals to work, proper structure and capital stack are critical.

Real Estate Shows:

https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Real+Estate-Construction-Land-Farming

Investing Shows:

https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Investing-Stocks-Bonds-Retirement

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AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

The New Wave of AI-First SaaS Companies Serving SMBs w/ Cooper Simson of Martell Ventures

- AZ TRT S06 EP16 (278) 8-24-2025

What We Learned This Week:

· Political & product risk can kill a business overnight.

· AI is lowering barriers to software creation while eliminating low-value roles.

· SMBs are ripe for AI adoption, especially in workflow automation & marketing.

· The best AI businesses solve real problems — not just add shiny features.

· Future-proofing means building where the "puck" is going, not where it's been.

Guest: Cooper Simson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-simson-896957b1/

Website: https://martellventures.com

Contact Cooper - Instagram: @Coop_Doggy_Dog

Dan Martell's portfolio manager and business partner at Martell Ventures. Cooper talks about what they're building around AI and SaaS software, companies they work with, and the products for SMBs.

Show Notes Guest: Cooper – Entrepreneur & AI Venture Builder

Bio

· Started with a finance degree but never pursued traditional finance.

· First venture: lead-gen & marketing agency (failed when partner left).

· Pivoted through freelance work → launched a business helping people apply for government grants using AI.

· Business collapsed overnight due to political risk when U.S. policy changed.

· Backed by Dan Martel, who later brought Cooper into Martel Venture Studio AI.

· Lessons learned: Always maintain control of the product and build businesses that can withstand outside risks.

Segment 1: AI + SMB Software Companies

· Martel Ventures works with AI-first SaaS companies solving real business problems for SMBs (0–100 employees, $1M–$50M+ in revenue).

· Examples of portfolio companies:

o Precision Connect – cleans and organizes business data dashboards.

o Atlas AI – AI voice agent that can call leads, nearly indistinguishable from a human caller.

o Hero – recruitment tool powered by AI.

· AI is the middleman killer → entry-level tech jobs (SDRs, data analysts) most at risk.

· Core question for any AI product: Does it solve a real problem, or is it just an AI feature?

Segment 2: Dan Martel & Martel Ventures

· Dan Martel: 27+ years in tech, 3 major software exits, 5M+ followers.

· Founder of SaaS Academy (coached 6,000+ students).

· Author of Buy Back Your Time.

· Martel Ventures (founded 2024):

o Invests in and advises AI SaaS startups.

o Target: 10–12 portfolio companies per year.

o Provides equity, funding, and advisory services to accelerate growth & marketing.

· Martel Ventures' niche: AI + SaaS companies with clear use cases and revenue potential.

· Cooper's biggest takeaway: "Skate to where the puck is going" — build for future AI demand, not yesterday's.

Segment 3: The AI Shift in Business

· Cost transformation: AI drastically reduces software development and coding costs.

· AI enables SMBs to:

o Automate workflows & reduce repetitive tasks.

o Boost employee efficiency → turns "C players" into "B+ players."

o Increase ROI per employee by shifting them to higher-value work.

· SMB Examples: Local service providers, agencies, or firms generating $1M–$50M annually with 5–200 employees.

· Key insight: If you can't identify the customer and the problem solved in 5 seconds, the product likely won't succeed.

AI Use Cases in Marketing & Ops

· Lead research automation.

· Retargeting: AI can read your website, identify IPs, and find who visited.

· Ad research: analyze competitor ads with AI agents.

· Campaign automation: compresses timelines from weeks to days.

· Contact management: AI can segment and organize lists for sharper targeting.

Cooper Philosophy:

Frameworks & Systems

· The "Founding 50" framework walkthrough

· How to diagnose bottlenecks and build fast paths to MRR

· Distribution engine strategies that accelerate growth

Contrarian Takes

· "Distribution beats capital — especially when your offer hits"

· Why founders waste time perfecting products instead of selling

· Red flags he spots instantly in founders

AI Market Insights

· What makes AI-first companies different from traditional SaaS

· Why SMBs are the sweet spot for AI products right now

· How venture landscape is changing for AI companies

Leadership & Scaling

· "Lighthouse, not tugboat" guidance approach

· Speed over perfection in execution

· People-first, action-oriented leadership style

Dan Martell – Bio info

https://www.danmartell.com/ventures/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmartell/?originalSubdomain=ca

https://www.saasacademy.com/author-dan-martell

Dan Martell is a renowned coach and founder of SaaS Academy, celebrated for his expertise in scaling B2B SaaS businesses and significant contributions as an angel investor.

Dan Martell is a Canadian entrepreneur, angel investor, and coach known for his expertise in the SaaS (Software as a Service) industry. He's founded, scaled, and successfully exited three technology companies. He's also a prominent figure in the SaaS coaching space, having founded SaaS Academy. Additionally, Martell is an Ironman athlete, philanthropist, and author.

Book – Buy Back Your Time

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'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT

Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

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Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

Cybersecurity & Compliance w/ Paige Hanson of Secure Labs

- AZ TRT S06 EP15 (277) 8-17-2025

What We Learned This Week:

• A cybersecurity breach can cost more than just data—it can damage infrastructure and destroy client confidence.
• Even smaller companies (50–100 employees) need structured safeguards, compliance, and often outside MSSPs to stay secure.
• Secure Labs provides a roadmap for companies to meet regulatory standards like HIPAA, ISO 27001, and SOC 2, helping them win bigger clients.
• AI-driven threats like voice cloning and deepfakes make personal and business digital security more important than ever.
• Compliance isn't cheap—outside audits can run $5,000–$50,000 annually, while Big Four audits may exceed $100,000.

Guest: Paige Hanson, Co-Founder of Secure Labs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hello-paige-hanson

Founder of SecureLabs | Helping businesses meet their security compliance standards | Fractional GRC | 🎤 Keynote, Moderator & Speaker | Identity Theft & Cyber Safety Expert | Volunteer | Wife + Mama

Speaker Info: https://speakerhub.com/speaker/paige-hanson

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeonCyber

Secure Labs Website: https://securelabs.ai/

Fortify Your Company's Future: Expert GRC Solutions

SecureLabs empowers organizations to navigate the complex landscape of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) with ease. Our cutting-edge platform and expert services simplify critical processes, helping you achieve and maintain compliance while effectively mitigating risks.

Podcast Notes:

Segment 1: The Reality of Cybersecurity Risks

• What's at stake in a breach?
• Data loss
• Infrastructure damage
• Loss of client confidence
• Common Cyber Terms: hack, breach, ransomware.
• Compliance & Budgeting:
• Every company must include cybersecurity and compliance in their budget.
• Company Example (50–100 employees):
• Usually 1 internal cybersecurity employee (legal + security).
• Outsource parts of the process to MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers).
• Use SaaS tools to defend/alert against threats.
• Cyber risk insurance often included.
• Safeguards & Processes:
• Passwords, mobile device policies, website usage, software downloads.
• Security parameters for access and usage within the company.
• Company-issued laptops/phones are common, but personal device use may create security risks.
• Oversight:
• Department manager responsible for implementation, oversight, and quality control.

Segment 2: Secure Labs & Paige's Journey

• About Secure Labs:
• Provides an app/platform for companies to outsource cybersecurity.
• Offers compliance, oversight, and process validation.
• About Paige (Founder Bio):
• Accidentally entered the cybersecurity industry.
• 17 years at LifeLock, building ID theft programs for law enforcement.
• Co-founded Secure Labs with two partners.
• Runs a remote global team.
• Common Client Question: "Where do I start?"
• Frameworks & Compliance:
• NIST Protocols: Best practices baseline for cybersecurity.
• GRC Platform (Secure Labs): Handles regulated industries (HIPAA, ISO 27001).
• SOC 2 Reports: Validation for security compliance.
• Why It Matters:
• Businesses must prove strong cyber/data protocols to win bigger clients.
• Medium/large companies demand strict security from partners.
• Interconnected SaaS & cloud systems increase risk.
• Validation & Auditing:
• Small companies seeking larger clients often need validation.
• Outside auditors review processes for compliance & insurance.
• Secure Labs provides both the platform and the roadmap for this.

Segment 3: Budgets, Tips, and Best Practices

• Key Practices:
• GBLA compliance (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act).
• Onboarding & offboarding client data securely.
• Regular security team meetings (quarterly).
• Ongoing record upkeep and compliance tracking.
• Social Media Risks:
• What info are you sharing?
• Photos, posts, public/private profile settings.
• Timing of posts – avoid real-time "check-ins."
• Businesses also need to monitor their public digital profile.
• AI Threats:
• Voice cloning & deepfakes possible with as little as 10 seconds of audio.
• Reinforces importance of strict security protocols.
• Ongoing Monitoring:
• Secure Labs sends periodic alerts on major breaches (e.g., AWS, Microsoft, Amazon).
• Budgets & Costs:
• Outside auditors: $5,000 – $50,000/year.
• Big Four audits: $100,000+.
• Compliance budgeting is critical for long-term protection.
• Where to Learn More:
• Website: securelab.ai
• LinkedIn: Paige's profile
• YouTube: Paige on Cyber

Biotech Shows: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Biotech-Life+Sciences-Science

AZ Tech Council Shows:

https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=az+tech+council

*Includes Best of AZ Tech Council show from 2/12/2023

Tech Topic:

https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Tech-Startup-VC-Cybersecurity-Energy-Science

Best of Tech: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=best+of+tech

'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT

Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

Podcast on Google: Click Here

Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

Voxify: AI Voice Assistant for Small Business w/ David Duguan

- AZ TRT S06 EP14 (276) 8-3-2025

What We Learned This Week

• AI Assistant software Aurora for phones
• Small Business are overwhelmed with many aspects of business from sales to customer service
• Bad Customer Service costs $ in lost revenue
• AI Adoption by business is growing as they go from not knowing, to known
• David is from Ghana in Africa, & tried Soccer, then a DR, to finally land a Tech career

Guest: David Duguan, CEO of Voxify,

https://hellovoxify.com/

About David Duguan

David Duguan is a Ghanaian born and raised entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Voxify. A human innovation company focused on automating and increasing business performance serving the 16 trillion dollar small to medium business market. He was formerly the CTO of a seven-figure tech startup, Visual Solution Nexus. With experience spanning technical leadership, product management, and team-building, he balances big-picture strategy with focused execution.

He attended Ball State University and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and studied science. He is also highly skilled in building scalable and efficient technology infrastructure and is a Certified AWS Cloud Architect. He is multilingual with fluency in English, Twi, Fanti and conversational in French, and has a passion for music, good African food, cars, golf, design, art, and cigars.

Voxify focused on empowering small business to accelerate growth with an AI Powered phone assistant, Aurora. The platform has proven to fuel new revenue streams for business. In fact, one of Voxify's customers, a small window cleaning company recovered $90,000 in previously lost revenue within a few months.

The AI-powered voice automation company transforms how small and mid-sized businesses stay competitive in a fast-moving world. Ultimately the company is redefining business communications for small to medium business which is an addressable US$130billion dollar market opportunity.

Aurora Hub ensures businesses never miss a call, automatically handles customer inquiries, and helps owners focus on what matters most—growing their business. Whether it's capturing leads after hours, streamlining

• Respond to Customer Instantly: Keeps businesses connected 24/7 so every call, lead, or inquiry is captured—no more lost business.

• Boosts Revenue and ROI: Converts missed calls into booked jobs, helping businesses grow without increasing overhead.
• Personalized and Customizable AI: Aurora adapts to each business, acting as a seamless extension of staff—not just a tool, but a trusted liaison with real sentiment supporting 29 languages.
• Delivers Confidence and Control: Owners gain peace of mind knowing communications are handled professionally, even outside of business hours with phone, SMS, web and email.
• Data at your fingertips: Aurora real-time actionable insights to better understand your business opportunities.
• Save Time and Money: By handling routine tasks and follow-ups automatically, Aurora reduces the need for extra staff, minimizes scheduling mistakes, and frees up owners to focus on what matters most
• Keep your customers happy: Aurora ensures prompt, friendly, and accurate responses every time—no hold music, no missed calls. With human-like sentiment and multilingual support, customers feel heard and valued, increasing satisfaction and loyalty across every channel

Aurora AI Assistant - has proven to fuel new revenue streams for business and for one small window cleaning company

Notes:

Voxify

Segment 1

Sam Walton, who started Walmart, said the business has only one boss, the customer.

Every business needs good customer support, but it rarely gets the attention it needs. Many small businesses are overwhelmed, and allways need to make more revenue.

Solution to this problem, introduce Voxify, the AI assistant, that can also help with your internal data. In 2025, data is crucial to a business and helps keep you organized.

There is an adoption level in AI that Voxify needs to get their clients to. Part of the problem is just education and awareness. It's not the fault of the business market. They're overwhelmed and unaware of what solutions are out there.

Voxify product Aurora is easy to use, and gets over the gap of education.

Average business with a solo operator loses calls. They also do not have enough customer insight which creates gaps in their business. Voxify tool solves this. You get the best customer support and you eliminate things customers hate like back-and-forth or voicemail tag.

Clients see the outcome fast, and so to their customers.

Voxify's real customers, are actually the customers of their customers.

Company size of a typical client could be an HVAC, home, plumbing or some type of consultant company.

Outcome from their service is an average ROI of 430%, you make more money and stem lost revenue.

Services is like a virtual employee that answers the phones and can book a meeting.

Educate businesses on the use of AI, need for better customer support and how not having this technology means lost revenue.

Segment 2

How Voxify got started:

David was working in an architecture startup firm on visuals. The firm had bad customer support. The way their projects worked for payment is half upfront and half at the end. Many payments were late and it was causing internal issues.

They had an assistant and a VA answering the phones. This particular architecture firm was a niche market, hard to train on the phones.

David had a thesis you could use AI and ChatGPT to build the technology for what they needed.

He did this and then validated it with a 200 customers pre-launch. They did lots of research to improve the product.

Voxify is a three-year-old company, and they created their main software Aurora in the spring of 2024.

David is an immigrant, originally from Ghana, West Africa. Had no formal training in technology or business and had to learn of money as he went. Originally thought about playing soccer, then started to train to be a heart surgeon. Neither of these happened so he went into business.

Segment 3

David joked that to succeed in life he was taught you had to be one of three careers, engineer, doctor, or attorney.

He spent time working in biotech, and there learned his love to work on things and do research.

Then he got the job as the CTO at the architecture visual startup, as a cloud architect.

Cloud Architects design technology architecture for virtual machines or databases or software.

"Invent our way out of the box, outside the box, outside the status quo.'

Ask questions based on intention.

Testing Software - Check the text spelling vs the Voice or phonetics.

Had to handle customer complaints, check in 24 hours, and provide good customer service. The data portion is very important.

Example: window cleaning company.

AI assistant has to collect info and see what the customer wants. It's hard for these companies to do a customer baseline price. But customers want an estimated service price, and also what expedient fees would cost to do it fast faster. AI service can help with all of this.

Voxify is chasing impact and change to bring down tech barriers.

Solve problems with small to medium business and service based companies. Small business is 50% of the GDP in the US.

Bring education on AI to the business community.

Adoption needs two things:

Going from you don't know, to you know.

Once they know, and have been educated, easier to adopt the technology.

Voxify AI software is $99 a month to start.

Software can be trained very fast within a few minutes, just by scraping a client's website and learning the business. Then over time you talk to the AI and you make changes to the info and answers said on the phone.

Create an SOP doc / standard operating procedure, outline the process of how the assistant needs to talk to your customers

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https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=az+tech+council

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https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Tech-Startup-VC-Cybersecurity-Energy-Science

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'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT

Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

Podcast on Google: Click Here

Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

Business Lessons from the Movies - The Founder & the Start of McDonalds

- AZ TRT S06 EP13 (275) 7-27-2025

What We Learned This Week:

• Speedee Service System - assembly line approach invents the fast-food industry, replicated to this day
• What Business Are You In? - McDonald's is a Real Estate Company w/ an estimated $42B in Real Estate Holdings
• It's the Name, McDonald's - Branding - from The Founder
• McDonald's is the New American Church - Positioning

Notes:

Seg. 1

The Founder

What Business are you in? – McD in real estate biz, largest in US

Power of the Name – branding, McDonalds is New American Church

Systems – Speedee System, speed and lean, like a factory in the kitchen

Bonus * - Perseverance – Kroc was 52 when he met McDonalds brothers, selling milk shake machines

You're not in the burger business you're in the real estate business. You don't build an empire selling $.15 hamburgers. You build an empire on the land that those hamburgers are made of.

Power of the name, branding, McDonald's is the new American church on main street. A vision of a wholesome America, families go to eat share values. Branding see that name lit up on the sign. McDonald's sounds like America.

Would you eat at a place named Crocs? Guy eats at McDonald's he's never going to get pushed around.

Great book on McDonald's, and the industry called Fast Food Nation by Eric S

Speedee system, bring factory component to a kitchen.

Redesign a kitchen for speed and efficiency, orders in 30 seconds like a conveyor belt. No plates all paper throw it away when done. You have a service window people walk up and get their food immediately.

The idea of being is to go lean. Initially there was a learning curve with customers but soon it caught on and it was the model for all fast food restaurants. They did practice runs to test their system with no customers see it in action and let the data dictate how the plan should be.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+founder+movie+clips

** Clips from past show:

Moneyball, Boiler Room, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Founder

- Business Lessons from the Movies

- BRT S03 EP42 (141) 8-28-2022

Full Show: HERE

Seg. 2

The Founder, the story of Ray Kroc and McDonald's.

What Business Are You In? - McDonalds is a Real Estate Company

Replay Clip from 2/9/20, where Matt talks about the biggest franchise of all, and what their real business model is. McDonalds has built a business empire thru Real Estate, not burgers.

The Dollar Menu is designed to get customers in the door. McDonalds loses $ when people purchase from the dollar menu, it is a Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC). This is also called a 'Loss Leader', selling a product at a low cost to get customers. McDonalds then makes money when people buy more, and off return business.

McDonalds is one of the biggest Real Estate companies in the world. The stock is valued on the $37 Billion in Real Estate they own. They make money as a landlord, because the franchisee is their tenant.

The Founder – business movie biography of Ray Kroc. Kroc started as a milk shake salesmen to the McDonalds brothers in California, then went on to create the franchise system we know today. The first President of McDonalds Franchise (Harry Sonneborn) helped Kroc create the real estate model that the franchise was base on, and used to scale to a billion $ company. Internally McDonalds used the Brother's Speedee Service System created pre-Kroc.

The Question 'What Business Are You In?' comes from business consultant Peter Drucker. Business owners need to understand what problem or service they really offer their customers.

Ie – Starbucks is in the Customer Experience business, not coffee, but the atmosphere of drinking the coffee

** Clips from past show:

McDonalds, Apple, Disruption, 80/20 - Best of Host Matt on Business Topics

- BRT S03 EP10 (109) 3-6-2022

Full Show: HERE

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AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

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More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

Tech Productivity to AI to Cybersecurity to Sports Cars -

Best of Tech 1st half 2025

- AZ TRT S06 EP12 (274) 7-6-2025

What We Learned This Week

• ChatGPT is an AI chatbot, developed by OpenAI, that can engage in human-like conversations
• Obvious Future is building Machine Learning (AI) programs to be used onsite for a business
• Oilstain Lab creates high end retro futuristic designer sports car - in EV models
• ACTRA - Cyber threats affect everyone from Gov't to business to private and growing

Clips form podcasts focused on tech in the 1st Half of 2025 Notes: Segment 1:

Tech Productivity - AZ TRT S06 EP06 (267) 3-23-2025

What We Learned This Week

• ChatGPT is an AI chatbot, developed by OpenAI, that can engage in human-like conversations
• ChatGPT can read docs, edit docs, answer Qs, and transcribe
• Elevenreader – app that turns any document into audio
• Google Drive – office suite of tools for spreadsheets, docs, powerpoints, & more
• Todoist – task management program
• Pocket – web research tool that saves & organizes links

Guest: Denver Nowicz, President - Wealth For Lifehttp://wealthforlife.net/

Denver is an advisor with nearly 20 years experience working with clients in investments and insurance, designing retirement plans with a combo of both. He takes us through different strategies for clients to get the best allocations for their money over the long term. It is the Combo Strategy of both Offense and Defense, the synergy of the mix, not 'All or Nothing'.

Full Show: HERE

Segment 2:

Cybersecurity Response Plan w/ Frank Grimmelmann of ACTRA

- AZ TRT S06 EP03 (264) 2-9-2025

What We Learned This Week

• ACTRA Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance
• Cyber threats affect everyone from Gov't to business to private and growing
• Companies need to be responsive with speed to be effective + share information of attacks
• ACTRA has members from both government and private sector
• ACTRA helped create a state cybersecurity response model that other states can use

Guest: Frank Grimmelmann

https://www.actraaz.org/actra/leadership

President & CEO/Intelligence Liaison Officer

Mr. Grimmelmann also serves as Co-Chair (together with Arizona's Chief Information Security Officer) for the Arizona Cybersecurity Team ('ACT'), created through the Governor's Executive Order signed in March 2018. He also serves as a Founding Member of the National Leadership Group for the Information Sharing & Analysis Organization Standards Organization ('ISAO SO') at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA), created under the President's Executive Order 13691 in February 2015. As ACTRA's leader, Mr. Grimmelmann was invited as the first private sector representative in the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) and served as its first private sector Executive Board representative from 2014-2019. He presently acts as ACTRA's designated private sector liaison to ACTRA's Key Agency and other non-Member Stakeholders.

Full Show: HERE

Segment 3:

Futuristic EV Designer Sports Car w/ Nikita Bridan of Oilstainlab

- AZ TRT S06 EP02 (263) 1-26-2025

What We Learned This Week

• Oilstain Lab creates high end retro futuristic designer sports car - in EV models
• EV Car Designers for Gearheads who hate EVs
• All the capabilities of a sports car, on a liteweight carbon fiber frame, + sound & an electric motor
• Inspired by the race cars of Italy & classic 1960s sports cars

Guest: Nikita Bridan, Co-Founder, CEO

Nikita Bridan is co-founder & chief executive officer of Oilstainlab. A car design strategist with 15 years of OEM and startup experience, Nikita has worked with world-renowned brands including Lyft, Cruise, GM, Toyota, Genesis, ONE, and more on electrification, platforms, and strategy. In 2019, Nikita co-founded Oilstainlab with his twin brother, Iliya, as an automotive design consultancy service and playground, and developed it into a boundary-pushing, custom vehicle manufacturer. Nikita lives his life as fast as the cars he builds, once being pulled over at 140mph in Arizona and getting off with a warning. Nikita earned bachelor's degrees in Transportation Design from the Istitudo Europeo di Design in Italy and the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he now serves as an instructor to the next generation of designers.

Leading a New Generation of Automotive with Oilstainlab Co-Founder Nikita Bridan

The future of automotive design is in the hands of twin brothers, Nikita and Iliya Bridan.

The founders of Oilstainlab have turned heads worldwide with their automotive creations, most notably the Half-11, its half Porsche-half Formula 1 race car that pays homage to the golden age of motor racing.

Full Show: HERE

Segment 4

Machine Learning (AI) Onsite w/ Eddi Weinwurm of Obvious Future

- AZ TRT S06 EP01 (262) 1-5-2025

What We Learned This Week

• Obvious Future is building Machine Learning (AI) programs to be used onsite for a business
• Corporate Data is too sensitive to be in the cloud / internet
• Business cannot use cloud AI programs like ChatGPT, Google Cloud, etc because of IP and privacy concerns
• Large Language Models are not necessary, have more data than needed, can have smaller AI programs tailored for business

Guest: Eddi Weinwurm

AI is top of mind for most enterprises…but most don't know the risks especially in the cloud.

https://obviousfuture.com/#

Eddi Weinwurm is a co-founder and CEO of Obvious Future an AI company with a new approach to keeping AI local and secure.

Eddi Weinwurm has many years of experience in both the development of media management software and AI. As a visionary he formed the company to address critical enterprises in the growing AI market.

ObviousFuture Resident AI: Faster, Safer, and Transforming Enterprise AI

Eddi Weinwurm co-founder and CEO of ObviousFuture is on a mission to make AI safer and faster for enterprises.

ObviousFuture, a trailblazer in secure and private AI solutions, will be unveiling a disruptive AI solution for the enterprise on December 18—Resident AI.

This solution empowers enterprises to harness the full potential of AI while safeguarding their data locally, marking a critical evolution in the AI landscape.

ObviousFuture's Resident AI operates entirely on-premise, solving a $500 billion market problem by addressing vulnerabilities like data privacy risks, compliance challenges, and vendor lock-ins. The company is focused on key sectors such as government, defense, surveillance, medical, and media.

Early adopters, have achieved ROI within just two months of deployment of the Resident AI platform.

Full Show: HERE

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AZ Tech Council Shows:

https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=az+tech+council

*Includes Best of AZ Tech Council show from 2/12/2023

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Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

Podcast on Google: Click Here

Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

LiquidTrust: A New Era of Cross-Border Payment Protection for Small Business w/ Saujin Yi

- AZ TRT S06 EP11 (273) 6-29-2025

What We Learned This Week

· SMBs Face Major Risk in Cross-Border Payments Small businesses are exposed to significant risk when dealing with international suppliers, lacking the same protections that consumers receive.

· Traditional Bank Wires Are Outdated for Global SMB Transactions Bank wires, SWIFT networks, and intermediary banks remain the default but are slow, costly, and offer limited recourse if something goes wrong.

· Digitized Escrow Can Level the Playing Field A modernized escrow system, like Liquid Trust, can serve as a trusted middle layer in transactions, enabling secure, conditional fund releases.

· Banks Are Adopting Fintech Tools for SMB Clients Liquid Trust is expanding by partnering with banks, offering them technology to better serve small businesses with secure payment processing.

· A Major Gap Exists for SMB Payment Protections There's a growing opportunity to provide insurance-style protections, dispute resolution, and cash flow tools for smaller, international transactions.

Guest: Saujin Yi, Founder - LiquidTrust

LKIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saujin/

Tech entrepreneur, investor, and advisor focused on fintech, future of work, and backing women/minorities. Personal mission is to create a #newplayingfield.

Saujin Yi has been talking to founders and bankers who are watching a payment crisis unfold in real time— small business owners wiring full payments to overseas suppliers, only to have their goods withheld or renegotiated because tariffs shifted mid-transaction. These aren't hypothetical's. Inventory is being held hostage, and most of these businesses have no recourse.

Saujin is the founder of LiquidTrust, a fintech platform helping SMBs protect themselves. She talks about:

· The tariff whiplash hitting cross-border supply chains

· Why small businesses are exposed to all the payment risk

· How new tools like LiquidTrust's Micro Escrow Pay are helping level the playing field

With LiquidTrust, small businesses can wire to 175 countries with built-in counterparty verification, or opt for a holding account that only releases funds when terms are met. It's a timely conversation and offering that I think SMBs would benefit from learning about.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/liquidtrust/

https://www.liquidtrust.io/

43% of US SMBs make global payments but 75% are unsatisfied with their current options. LiquidTrust is an innovative global pay solution tailored for the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses that also safeguards their transactions from fraud and loss.

We offer 2 global payment methods:

1) Direct Pay - Fast global payments to 175 countries within 1-2 days. Safer than traditional wires, with counterparty verification for enhanced security.

2) Pay by Trust ("micro-escrows") - Escrow-like protection against fraud and loss. Offers peace of mind without complexity and high costs of traditional escrows.

Of the $6.9T US import/export payment volume, 2/3 goes unprotected because current payment protection products like letters of credit are too complex and expensive. 9 out of 10 SMB owners constantly worry about fraud and loss because non-payment or non-delivery would be devastating to business survival.

We partner with banks to make our self-serve, white-label solution available to their current and potential customers and capture the $9B+ revenue opportunity and related deposits.

LiquidTrust builds on the foundation established by Liquid (est. 2019), evolving to meet new opportunities.

Notes: Segment 1: Solving Cross-Border Payment Risk for SMBs

In early 2025, small businesses began feeling the pressure of rising tariffs and payment complications with overseas vendors. For many SMBs, cross-border transactions are a daily reality—but the tools available to them haven't kept pace with the global nature of modern commerce.

The Traditional Payment Model

Historically, payments to overseas partners have relied on the banking system as the intermediary. This means:

· Transactions typically occur via international wire transfers.

· These wires use the SWIFT network, involving multiple intermediate banks.

· Funds are converted between currencies, often with unpredictable fees or delays.

While this may work for large enterprises, small businesses often bear more risk in these transactions, lacking sufficient tools for protection or recourse. Many SMBs today operate a "borderless" business model—based in the U.S. but with 50% or more of their partnerships overseas.

The Need for Simplicity and Trust

Small businesses need a solution that is:

· Reliable for both sides of the transaction

· Simple to use without requiring financial expertise

· Built on trust, with built-in mechanisms to reduce risk

Liquid Trust introduces a new payment model for SMBs—simplifying cross-border payments through a system built around "micro escrow."

Segment 2:

Micro Escrow: Modern Protection for Small Deals

Much like real estate uses escrow accounts to protect both buyers and sellers, Liquid Trust applies the same principle to small business payments.

Traditionally, escrow has only been available for large deals. Liquid Trust brings this to small transactions by digitizing the process. Here's how it works:

· A buyer can invite and verify a vendor into the platform.

· Funds are held in escrow, not released until pre-set conditions are met.

· A built-in dispute resolution and arbitration system ensures fairness.

· The process is as simple as a "Buy Now, Pay Later" model.

This transforms the transaction dynamics. Instead of the buyer taking on 100% of the risk with a wire or upfront deposit, both parties share risk more equitably—improving trust, satisfaction, and cash flow for SMBs.

The Bigger Problem: Why Change the System?

In the traditional system, there are "winners" and "losers":

· Winners: Vendors who receive payment up front with little risk.

· Losers: Buyers who send money and hope everything works out.

But smart SMBs realize that keeping vendors happy is also good business. Building long-term trust and smoother cash flow on both sides of a deal can elevate all partners.

There's a clear gap in the market: SMBs have no access to tools like consumer credit protections, and banks often don't want to get involved in smaller payments like a $20,000 invoice. It's not profitable for them.

Liquid Trust fills this gap.

Segment 3:

Bank Partnerships: Scaling Trust and Access

Initially, Liquid Trust served SMBs directly. But a strategic pivot is now enabling banks, attorneys, and accountants to offer Liquid Trust's technology to their small business clients.

Why banks?

· They are already trusted advisors for SMBs.

· They need better digital tools to serve modern business clients.

· They lack solutions for smaller, international transactions.

With this new model, banks integrate Liquid Trust into their ecosystem, giving small businesses access to tools they never had before: protections, conditional payments, and streamlined digital processing.

The Vision Behind Liquid Trust

Liquid Trust was founded by an engineer with a background in finance and technology startups. Originally designed as an accounts payable solution, the platform pivoted after identifying massive friction and risk in global SMB payments.

Key insights:

· SMBs struggle with payment protections across borders.

· Legal recourse is impractical—lawsuits are expensive and hard to enforce internationally.

· Many vendors are in regions where you simply can't "go knock on the door."

Liquid Trust, now evolving under the name Escrow Pay, has raised a seed round and is expanding into:

· Financial institutions and banks

· Online marketplaces

· Business-to-business platforms

The future of SMB payments lies in trust, transparency, and built-in protections—all delivered through easy-to-use financial technology.

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AZ Tech Council Shows:

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*Includes Best of AZ Tech Council show from 2/12/2023

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Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

Podcast on Google: Click Here

Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

Health Insurance is Rigged & Controlled by the Big Companies

w/ Donvan Ryckis of Ethos Benefits

- AZ TRT S06 EP10 (272) 6-15-2025

What We Learned This Week

• Health Insurance is primarily run by the Big 4 - BUCA: Blue Cross United Healthcare, CIGNA, Aetna
• To Insurance Co's – Premium = Revenue, and they are not going lower profits, so no incentive to lower costs
• Health insurance employer group plans can be broken down into 4 Parts
• Network PPO is what people typically think of when they think of health insurance
• There have been revisions to the Healthcare Act passed in 2021

Guest: Donovan Ryckis, Ethos Benefits

https://ethosbenefits.com/

https://ethosbenefits.com/documentary/

https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/

Our Ethos is Simple: Fiduciary First.

Act in the best interest of those we serve—no matter the cost.

'Ethos' represents the guiding principle, character, or spirit of a person or organization. It's the 'why' that drives decision-making and fuel's purpose.

Our Ethos is deeply rooted in the story of our Founder, Donovan Ryckis.

Over a decade ago, Donovan, a fiduciary Series 65 securities advisor specializing in retirement and pension planning, was approached by a client facing a dire situation. The client's publicly traded broker claimed there was no solution for a staggering 37.5% health insurance renewal increase—a cost that threatened the business and its employees.

With no prior experience in health insurance markets but guided by his unwavering fiduciary principles, Donovan took on the challenge. The result? He mitigated the risk entirely, delivering a solution 12% below the current rate. This allowed the business to thrive and ensured hundreds of employees wouldn't have to choose between basic necessities and skyrocketing health premiums.

That moment sparked a revelation. The fraud, waste, and abuse Donovan had fought in retirement planning paled in comparison to the challenges in healthcare. He saw an opportunity to bring transparency and fiduciary principles to an industry in desperate need of change.

Donovan pivoted his career, becoming one of the first fee-based health insurance advisors in the nation. By removing all conflicts of interest in broker compensation, he laid the foundation for what is now the leading innovative employee benefits agency in the country, delivering higher quality care at a significantly lower cost to employers nationwide.

Notes:

Ethos Benefits deals with employee benefits, with a primary focus on group health insurance

Per Donovan 'Employee benefits are rigged'

Insurance company premium equals revenue. There is no incentive to lower cost, as it would lower profits.

ACA Obamacare passed in 2010, and it capped profits for insurance companies at 20%

Insurance Co's are working to expand their pool to make more profit

Health Insurance guarantees inflation keeps going up, so family of 4 could spend 35K a year

For a business, healthcare cost and employee benefits are a top 3 P&L expense

Ethos strategies can create a 30 to 40% reduction on premium impact to lower costs for a business

The HQ is in Florida, but they are a virtual office with agents and clients nationwide

Healthcare finance and delivery + Improving employee benefits

Seg 1

Donovan's bio, he was a financial advisor with a Series 65 license before he got into health insurance. Around 2014 he moved into health insurance seeing an opportunity for better service.

Typically you see agents who are working for the health insurance company and not really working for the employer companies they are selling to.

Health insurance is primarily run by the Big 4 – BUCA: Blue Cross United Healthcare, CIGNA, Aetna.

Health insurance employer group plans can be broken down into 4 Parts:

1. TPA or third-party administrator

2. Network PPO or HMO

3. Pharmacy benefit RX

4. Insurance that covers the caps the limits on the stop loss

PPO is your primary network and open on using referrals

HMO is a non-preferred network typically has less offerings and tight on referrals

Ethos Benefits helps employers to break up the four parts of a group plan and customize

Network PPO is what people typically think of when they think of health insurance.

Network and the Big 4 health companies have a tighter deal with doctors and contract prices. A lot is pre-negotiated with a set of rates, which is the point of a PPO. This is where you get larger claims and they run in the system of healthcare.

Seg 2

Pay more for healthcare in the U.S. than the rest of the world

The biggest pharmaceutical companies are in the US

Pharmaceutical companies in flight prices, and also set the prices

They make money through spread pricing

Employers can actually pick up their own Pharma benefit and get the rebates that the big health insurance companies are not giving them

Healthcare system is a rigged game

The fraud waste and abuse extremely high in health

401(k) and retirement benefit industry is actually tighter with more disclosure than the healthcare industry

Regulated better since the creation of the Securities Act in the 1930s and updates that ran through the 1970s and beyond with things like ERISA

There have been revisions to the healthcare act passed in 2021 - started in Jan.2022

Actions had 3 disclosures:

· Brokers comp and bonus

· Data with gag, clauses, and full access to data upon request

· Benchmarking for drug cost

Further Notes via Google:

The revisions you are likely referring to are part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA). While the CAA was passed in late 2020, many of its provisions, including those related to transparency in healthcare, became effective on January 1, 2022.

The three key areas of disclosure you mentioned are directly addressed within these regulations:

1. Broker's Compensation and Bonuses: The CAA amends ERISA Section 408(b)(2) and requires service providers, including brokers, to disclose specific information to group health plan fiduciaries.

2. Data Transparency (Gag Clauses and Full Access to Data): The CAA prohibits gag clauses, which prevent plans from providing access to their data. It also requires health insurance carriers to attest annually to their compliance with this prohibition. Moreover, the Health DATA Act, a proposed bill, would further reinforce the right of employers to access their data and hold service providers accountable for non-compliance.

3. Benchmarking for Drug Costs: The CAA includes provisions regarding pharmacy benefit and drug cost reporting, which aims to provide greater transparency and potentially lead to better benchmarking of drug costs. The Build Back Better Act, a separate piece of legislation, also included provisions for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, further impacting drug costs and potential benchmarking.

These revisions aim to increase transparency in healthcare pricing and empower consumers and employers to make more informed decisions about their healthcare coverage.

Seg 3

Ethos works with Employers to create business plans usually with a 3 to 5 year time horizon. The goal is long-term to lower healthcare cost.

Example would be a company with 100 employees with 50 to 80% of them on the health plan (does not include dependents).

Ethos wants to keep the demands of a company low, easy transition.

Ethos handles employee Qs and healthcare navigation. Ethos is full service.

Risk handled 1 of 4 ways -

Reduce, avoid, retain, transfer - Transfer to insurance

Broker wants to transfer risk

Company can control costs

Careful not to have too much disruption with a switch to a new company

Ex - start with pharmacy part

NDC National Drug Code

Run report vs costs

Pharmacy benefit mgr

Pre packaged health plan

Gets co approved pharmacy benefit

Save 5 - 15% on costs (30%)

Separate - parts of group plan

Seg 4

Brokers comp - incentives from big insurance companies

Opening move - edit pharmacy benefit piece

State by state - regulators and rules

Employers / employees

Know the network and PPO

Nationwide covers insurance part – Stop-loss Insurance

30-40 major stop loss companies

Ex: Allstate Met Life Sun Life

Stop-loss insurance for group health plans acts as a financial safety net for self-funded employers, protecting them from large, unpredictable medical claims. It is a form of additional insurance.

Healthcare risk is incredibly predictable on group basis

Overall predictable w stats, actuarial analysis

Gag clauses look at dataset from current carrier

Prescription database sets

3rd party admin are less of a concern, lots of claims

Average of 18 claims per employee per year, includes dependents

Data - review

AI Claims analytics software

AI claims analytics software is transforming how insurance companies handle claims by leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze data, automate tasks, and improve decision-making.

30 - 40% reduction in premium w Ethos

Further Notes via Google:

Group Medical Plans

Breakdown of the common components of a comprehensive employer group health plan, particularly within the context of a self-funded model.

Here's a more detailed explanation of each part:

1. TPA (Third-Party Administrator): A TPA is a company that provides administrative services for self-funded health plans. This includes processing claims, handling enrollment, and managing other administrative tasks that would typically be done by an insurance company.

2. Network (PPO or HMO): This refers to the group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that the health plan contracts with to provide services to its members. The network defines where employees can go to receive care and often dictates the level of coverage they will receive (e.g., in-network vs. out-of-network benefits).

· PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): Offers more flexibility, allowing members to see out-of-network providers, though with higher out-of-pocket costs.

· HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Typically requires members to stay within the network for covered services, except in emergencies.

Pharmacy Benefit (RX): This component manages the prescription drug coverage for the plan. It includes negotiating drug prices, processing claims for prescriptions, and managing the plan's formulary (list of covered drugs).

Stop-Loss Insurance: This is a crucial element for self-funded employers. It protects the employer from catastrophic claim costs. If an individual employee or the entire group's claims exceed a certain threshold (the "attachment point"), the stop-loss insurance kicks in to cover the excess costs, limiting the employer's financial liability.

Additional Considerations:

· Data Access: Self-funded plans often provide employers with greater access to claims data, which can be used to analyze healthcare costs, identify trends, and implement strategies to improve employee health and manage costs.

· Benchmarking: Employers can use claims data and industry benchmarks to compare their plan's performance to similar organizations and negotiate better rates with providers and other vendors.

· Wellness Programs: Some employers offer wellness programs to encourage employees to adopt healthy behaviors and potentially reduce healthcare costs.

· Essential Health Benefits (ACA Compliance): Group health plans must comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires them to cover a list of essential health benefits, such as outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, and prescription drugs.

· Other Benefits: Group plans can also include other benefits, such as dental, vision, life insurance, and long- and short-term disability insurance.

Understanding these different parts is essential for employers to effectively manage their group health plan, control costs, and provide valuable benefits to their employees.

Investing Shows: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Investing-Stocks-Bonds-Retirement

'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT

Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

Podcast on Google: Click Here

Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

5 Types of Income to Create Infinite Income

- AZ TRT S06 EP09 (271) 5-25-2025

What We Learned This Week

• Multiple Streams of Income strategy
• 5 Types of Income – Career, Investment, Retirement Account, Pension, Tax Free
• Diversification of income provides you security and freedom
• Build Infinite Income thru initial investment, and profits pay off loans, then go on forever
• George Lucas created the Star Wars IP one time, and gets infinite returns from the movies & merchandise
• Real Estate, Business, and Insurance products are good assets for infinite income

Notes:

Segment 1: The 5 Types of Income – Why One Stream Isn't Enough

Opening: The Economic Shift

· The economic landscape has changed dramatically over the last 50 years.

· While business and technology have advanced, personal finance education and systems haven't kept pace.

· Inflation has significantly eroded purchasing power.

· It's no longer the 1950s where one income could support a family of four. Now, two incomes are often required—and even then, many people have a third gig.

The New Normal: Side Hustles & Financial Reality

· According to recent stats, 70% of people need an additional income stream, often from a side business or freelance work.

· 30% of Americans hold a second job.

· Among millennials, that number rises to 50%.

The Lesson from Robert Allen & Rich Dad, Poor Dad

· Robert Allen's Multiple Streams of Income advocated for income diversification to gain safety and freedom.

· Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad emphasized acquiring income-producing assets—his favorite being real estate.

The 5 Types of Income

1. Career or Business Income Your primary, day-to-day W-2 income—pays the bills and covers monthly expenses.

2. Investment Income Comes from appreciating or income-producing assets like real estate, stocks, or Bitcoin.

3. Retirement Accounts Tax-deferred income sources like IRAs or 401(k)s—subject to rules and penalties but critical for long-term planning.

4. Guaranteed Income Comes from pensions, annuities, or Social Security. Designed for lifetime income and stability.

5. Tax-Free Income Generated through Roth IRAs or cash value from life insurance. You pay tax on the seed, not the harvest.

Call to Action:

· Make a list of which of the five types of income you currently have.

· Strategize how to build the remaining ones for a balanced, resilient financial future.

Analogy: Just like a business has multiple products or a sports team has multiple ways to score, individuals should have diverse income sources to win financially.

Segment 2: Infinite Income – Building Streams That Never Run Dry

What Is Infinite Income?

· Infinite income is ongoing, residual income that continues long after the original work or investment.

· It's the financial holy grail: put in work or money once, get paid over and over.

Key Assets That Can Generate Infinite Income:

· Tangible Assets: Real estate, businesses, stocks

· Intangible Assets: Skills, knowledge, intellectual property (IP), network

Examples of Infinite Income in Action 1. Real Estate

· Buy a $250K property with 10% down ($25K).

· Renters pay the mortgage; property appreciates.

· Refinance later, pull out your original investment tax-free.

· Continue collecting rental income even after loan is paid off.

· Use refinance funds to buy more properties → Repeat → Scale.

2. Business Ownership

· Start or buy a business using a loan.

· Profits pay off the loan, then continue to generate revenue.

· Later, use the business as collateral to expand or acquire another.

3. Life Insurance (IUL Strategy)

· Fund a policy over time; cash value grows tax-deferred.

· Take loans against the policy tax-free—used as supplemental retirement income.

· Policy can also be a legacy tool, passing on wealth tax-free.

4. Intellectual Property (IP)

· George Lucas with Star Wars—created once, profits for decades from merchandise and licensing.

· Jeff Bezos still profits from Amazon stock, 30 years later.

· Microsoft, McDonald's, Coca-Cola—IP and systems built once, revenue continues for decades.

· DC Comics still profiting off Superman IP created in the 1930s.

Key Principles for Building Infinite Income

· Choose the Right Assets: Real estate, businesses, IULs—not just assets that appreciate, but ones that cash flow.

· Leverage and Scale: Use debt wisely to scale income-producing assets. Wealthy individuals and private equity firms use this strategy constantly.

o Example: PE firms acquire HVAC companies, funeral homes, rental properties—assets that provide consistent 10%+ returns.

· Use Tax Strategy to Your Advantage:

o Tax-free income is more efficient.

o Lowering your tax burden increases your net income immediately.

o Wealthy individuals use loans, Roths, and life insurance to optimize tax efficiency.

Mindset Shift:

· Don't chase just "buy low/sell high" assets. Instead, acquire harvestable assets—ones that generate regular income and can appreciate.

· Build cash flow now, use it to reinvest in more assets—repeat the cycle.

Closing Thought:

· Control three things: Assets, Income, Taxes.

· Master those, and you create not just wealth—but infinite income.

Investing Shows: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Investing-Stocks-Bonds-Retirement

'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT

Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

Podcast on Google: Click Here

Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – how the Algorithm Connects Us All Revisited

AZ TRT 2.0 – S06 EP08 (270) 5-11-2025

What We Learned This Week:

• AI is inter-connected with so many technologies & you use AI often on a daily basis
• AI is a part of almost all industries from Healthcare, Finance to Defense
• Human in the Loop - humans will always be needed to Interpret the Data, but AI will assist
• Software Teams must be managed so the product is integrated properly in the bigger picture
• Moore's Law – Each year computing power grows 2x as fast, but cuts the cost in half

Guests: Naru (Narendran Muraleedharan), CEO / Founder of StaxAI

– formerly Inventives & Aptus AI

https://stax.ai/

linkedin.com/in/naru95

Bio:

At Stax.ai, we empower retirement plan TPAs to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and deliver exceptional client experiences. Our innovative platform automates census data collection, payroll integrations, trust accounting, and client communication, all while providing actionable insights through AI-driven tools. Trusted by TPAs managing thousands of plans, Stax.ai transforms administrative burdens into seamless workflows, enabling you to focus on what matters most—growing your business and strengthening client relationships.

Past Bio:

Inventives / Aptus AI is a software solutions and artificial intelligence development and consulting firm. They provide aerospace, mechanical, and software engineering services to companies around the world. The Team is strong, and well-rounded consisting of engineers, developers, and physicists that focus on solving problems at the root. They help take ideas or concepts and build prototypes and deployments in very short periods of time with tight budgets while maintaining the best quality and client satisfaction. The main fields of expertise are RPA, Web App Development, Solutions Architecture, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, and Simulation Systems.

Note**: This interview was recorded in Oct. 2021 (S02 EP 43 (90) 10-24-21), since then Naru has changed the company name. Also, the BRT podcast has changed to AZ Tech Roundtable.

Notes: Seg. 2 - 4

Naru returns to the show talking tech, software, and AI. His team is always developing new applications with AI in healthcare, finance, biotech, & aerospace. Naru shows how so many technologies are connected and what the future of business looks like.

Inventives is the new company, with the same core technology team, but focusing the business into a venture studio by creating new AI projects for companies not yet using AI. Inventives new projects can become spinoff companies with this new technology. They work with B2B clients and also Investors for these types of companies.

Radiology is a current project to enhance the patient experience using AI – called SKIP. This project is on the Operations side to make the patient process of paperwork, payments, etc. to be automated (& efficient) with AI working with the patient. This will be stand alone, but if adopted by other medical offices over the long term can streamline the healthcare industry.

Naru and his team are working on document management, where their AI program will be able to read documents and determine what the info is. Rising Cloud is another project they are building that manages a company cloud usage to improve costs.

Moore's Law – Each year computing power grows 2x as fast, but cuts the cost in half

Cloud Computing happens in the cloud and internet for your programming vs Edge Computing that happens right on your phone and does not need to go out to the cloud. Bigger the data request or process determines if Cloud or Edge is the best choice.

People interact with AI (Artificial Intelligence) daily on their phone, email, internet search and beyond. User Agreements in your phone or websites you use say they can take your search data and use it to enhance your experience.

AI Search uses past searches by you, vs what are the popular other searches by other people on the internet. It happens so fast and has the best / popular search options loading before you are even done typing. This is called a Recommendation Engine, just like Netflix or Amazon find shows or products you may like. These recs are similar to what you have watched or bought previously, or in similar genres.

The downside is you may not see different options, just more of the same. AI determines what you see daily on the internet, and can create a silo effect. Inventives uses a common solution, called Human in the Loop to review what the AI is doing. Then the searches or recommendations are reviewed to see how accurate they are.

Healthcare AI is assisting doctors, and even finding issues that humans have missed in a radiology study. AI has no bias, and does not get tired. The computer can repeat processes and be consistent.

Key technologies of the day are constantly overlapping – AI, Big Data, Cloud, SaaS Software, etc. This tech can work with each other, and new software can build on top of these applications. Open AI created a product with AI that builds AI software.

Naru's Software Teams have different backgrounds of math, engineering or physics who are self taught on software and think more about the solution vs thinking in terms of coding. There are small groups of 2 to 4 people in a team with a Solutions Architect running the small team and determining how the software interacts in the bigger picture.

Often some of the best software involved very small teams. Lot of testing and compliance control goes into to creating big software projects that can involve multiple teams. Same issue if building an upgrade to a software that merges with the previous version.

Rewind Clip (Seg. 1) – Replay of a segment from Naru's last appearance on BRT in 11/2020

He talks AI and the morality of the technology. How can a programmer control their product, and what it will be used for in the real world. Naru chose the name Aptus because it is Latin for Apt or Appropriate – design products that works for the clients

Chaos Theory / Jurassic Park – Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should

Aptus gets defense contracts as sub-contractor of companies partnered with military. Aptus studies the end applications for what they are requested to build, to determine if they will take the project. Morality is considered, but not always applicable to see where a product may go until it is built.

AI software is programmed to build more software, AI building more AI. Per Naru there are companies trying to develop AI weapons that can kill on their own, and robots being controlled by AI already. Aptus has Liability Insurance to protect their projects.

'Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT

Thanks for Listening.

Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.

AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia

The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.

AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.

Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…

AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/

'Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here

Podcast on Google: Click Here

Podcast on Spotify: Click Here

More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/

KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.