If your business is generating seven figures, you’d assume a bank would happily hand you a line of credit. But revenue alone doesn’t make you bankable. I’ve seen profitable businesses walk into a bank asking for $300,000—only to get rejected. Why? Because entrepreneurs speak the language of growth. Banks speak the language of risk. And if you don’t understand that difference, you’ll keep hitting walls.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I break down what banks are actually looking for when they review your financials. I walk through how your profit and loss statement is essentially your business resume—and how messy bookkeeping, revenue concentration, unstable margins, and aggressive tax strategies can quietly label you “high risk.” We also dive into debt service coverage ratios, rolling forecasts, contract renewals, and how to prepare before you ever apply for a loan. If you’re planning to scale and need capital, this episode is your blueprint.

If you want access to capital, you need to stop thinking like an operator and start thinking like an underwriter. Your financials should make a banker feel calm—not curious.

Connect  

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionahnguyen/. Learn more about Balannx: https://balannx.com/.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro

1:30 – Revenue vs. risk: speaking the bank’s language

2:30 – How banks stress test your financials

3:00 – Revenue concentration and industry risk

3:40 – Gross margin stability and predictability

4:30 – Lifestyle spending and messy P&Ls

5:00 – Tax optimization vs. loan readiness

6:40 – Contract length and future revenue gaps

8:00 – Debt Service Coverage Ratio explained

9:00 – Add-backs and reclassifying expenses

9:30 – 12-month rolling forecasts

11:00 – Why you need more than just a bookkeeper

12:00 – Prepare before you apply

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the reason your marketing isn't working... isn't the algorithm?

In a world obsessed with visibility, reels, and going viral, most business owners are missing the real lever: clarity. Not more content. Not more platforms. REAL strategy.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Gardella, founder and CEO of The Gardella Group, to unpack what actually drives traction in today's digital world. We talk about the shift from academia to entrepreneurship, the myth of marketing ROI, why credibility matters more than visibility, and how AI is changing the way clients find experts. Jennifer shares why transformation (not credentials) is what converts, and why so many high-achieving women are held back by fear of being seen.

This conversation is about building the plane while flying it, and choosing courage anyway.If you've been busy but not gaining traction, this episode will recalibrate how you think about growth.

Guest Links

• The Gardella Group - https://www.gardellagroup.com/
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses - https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/
• LinkedIn (Jennifer Gardella) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergardella/

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.

Timestamps

• 0:00 - From academia to entrepreneurship
• 8:36 - "Building the plane while flying it"
• 15:12 - Why most marketing messaging is misaligned
• 21:10 - The ROI myth in marketing
• 26:00 - How AI and ChatGPT are changing lead generation
• 30:02 - The one-hour-a-day social media strategy
• 33:00 - Credibility vs. visibility
• 40:16 - The fear of being seen (and the fear of success)
• 45:00 - What real leadership looks like
• 50:00 - Slow down to scale
• 53:44 - Growing with the right clients

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I want to talk about the work most founders don’t see—until something breaks. The kind of work that doesn’t feel urgent when revenue is growing, but becomes unavoidable when banks, the IRS, or cash flow start asking harder questions. If your numbers look “fine” but don’t actually make sense, you’ve got some work to do.

Today I sit down with my team member Aries to unpack what really happens when businesses outgrow standard bookkeeping. Aries is a member of our internal team at Balannx, working closely with me to translate complex financial concepts into real-world business conversations.

Off camera, Aries asks the questions founders are often afraid to ask themselves.We talk about why founders rely on delegation without verification, how sloppy financial systems quietly distort profit, and why the balance sheet always tells the truth eventually. 

You don’t hire a company like Balannx for bookkeeping.

You hire us for certainty.

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionahnguyen/.

Learn more about https://balannx.com/.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Why accounting fails founders as businesses scale
• 1:10 – Architecture, foundations, and why metaphors matter
• 2:30 – What it actually looks like when financial systems break
• 3:15 – When “not knowing your numbers” becomes negligence
• 5:10 – Delegation without verification (and why trust isn’t control)
• 6:30 – What forensic financial restoration really involves
• 8:00 – Paying for bookkeeping vs. paying for certainty
• 9:20 – Who this level of financial work is actually for

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If your company holds an SBA 8(a) AA certification, December 2025 quietly changed the rules—and missing the details could cost you your status. Many firms assume this only applies once you’ve won a contract. It doesn’t. And the deadline is closer than most business owners realize.

On this episode of Become Sensible, we break down the new SBA 8(a) AA financial audit requirements that went into effect in December 2025. We cover exactly what documents the SBA now requires, why general ledger data must be submitted in CSV format, and how the agency is using multi-year financial reviews to assess continued economic disadvantage. We also walk through common bookkeeping mistakes that trigger red flags, even when there’s no fraud involved, and explain why profit & loss statements alone are no longer enough. If you want to protect your 8(a) AA certification and remain eligible for future contracts, this episode is essential listening.

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionahnguyen/

Learn more about Balannx: https://balannx.com/

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro

1:24 – New SBA 8(a) AA audit requirements explained

2:10 – Why audits apply even if you haven’t won a contract

2:48 – CSV general ledger uploads and multi-year lookbacks

3:42 – Real example: how bookkeeping errors trigger SBA issues

5:26 – Owner equity, loans, and personal net worth risks

6:00 – Zero-revenue years and undocumented transfers

7:24 – Why profit & loss and balance sheets must align

7:50 – January 19 deadline and consequences of noncompliance

8:12 – When to bring in professional help before submitting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year winds down, there’s a particular kind of tension founders feel—part reflection, part pressure, part quiet awareness that something is shifting. This moment isn’t loud or dramatic, but it matters. What you do here determines how you enter the next year.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I slow things down to talk about how to intentionally close 2025—personally and professionally. We explore why misalignment can hide inside “successful” seasons, how your body and resistance offer useful signals, and why time—not money—is the real asset shaping your future. This conversation is an invitation to notice what no longer fits and to choose what you’re carrying forward with clarity.

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.

Timestamps  

- 0:00 – Closing the year with intention  

- 2:00 – When success no longer feels aligned  

- 4:45 – Resistance as useful information  

- 7:00 – Time, repetition, and where life actually goes  

- 10:00 – Staying connected to the work as a leader  

- 12:00 – What to leave behind vs. what to carry forward  

- 15:00 – Why change starts before January  

- 17:00 – Resilience, progress, and doing the work again  

- 19:30 – A grounded close to the year

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On paper, planning for a new year sounds simple: set goals, make a plan, stick to it. But most people don’t get stuck because they don’t know what to do. They get stuck because the version of themselves required to do it isn’t fully formed yet. That’s where most planning breaks down.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I walk you through the exact framework I use before I plan goals, strategies, or habits. We start with identity, then move through emotion, action, repetition, and only then outcomes. I share how this approach helped me sustain intense seasons of business growth, endurance training, and leadership — without relying on motivation or willpower.

“Your plans will never outgrow your identity.”

If you want change that actually sticks in 2026, this episode will help you build it from the inside out.

Connect

• Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.

Timestamps  

0:00 - Why traditional planning fails  

5:30 - Identity before goals: the missing step  

6:20 - The full framework: identity → emotion → action → repetition  

9:30 - Why intrinsic motivation lasts longer  

12:30 - Identity integration across business and life  

14:40 - Emotion, safety, and sustainable change  

18:20 - Action repetition vs. outcome obsession  

22:30 - Building systems before excellence  

26:50 - Money identity and decision-making  

32:00 - Why today matters more than 2026  

37:00 - Choosing your 2026 identity pillars

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tax season shouldn’t feel mysterious or reactive—especially not in a year with major law changes. When the July 2025 tax bill passed, most business owners had no idea how much it would shift their budgeting, hiring, and investment decisions for the coming year. If you want to grow wisely, the real question is: how do you use these new rules in your favor?

On this episode of Become Sensible, I walk you through the biggest tax updates that matter for entrepreneurs and small business owners in 2025–2026. I explain why 100% bonus depreciation is back, how the expanded Section 179 deduction can help you control taxable income, why R&D expenses are fully deductible again, and what the new 1099-K thresholds mean for anyone using platforms like PayPal or Stripe. I also share the limits you need to prepare for—like shrinking meal deductions and rising healthcare costs for small teams. No politics, no jargon, just practical strategy you can apply immediately.

My goal is simple: to help you use the tax code as a strategic growth tool rather than something you only think about at year-end. “Smart business owners don’t just file taxes—they use taxes to guide better decisions.” If you want clarity on how these changes affect your budgets, investments, and long-term planning, this episode will give you exactly what you need.

• Bonus Depreciation – IRS Publication 946
• Section 179 Deduction – IRS Depreciation Guidance
• Domestic Research & Experimental (R&D) Expenditures – IRB 2025-38 / §174A
• Form 1099-K – Understanding Your Form
• Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction – IRS FAQs
• Employer-Provided Child Care Credit – About Form 8882

• Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Balannx.

• 0:00 – Why the 2025 tax law matters more than you think
• 1:30 – Bonus depreciation returns to 100%
• 3:00 – How Section 179 became more powerful
• 5:20 – R&D and experimentation expenses fully deductible again
• 6:40 – Better rules for interest deductions
• 8:40 – QBI deduction becomes permanent
• 10:00 – Expanded childcare credits for employers
• 12:00 – 1099-K reporting rollback
• 14:10 – Key limitations: loss caps, energy credit changes
• 16:00 – Meal deductions disappear in 2026
• 18:00 – Rising healthcare costs and planning ahead
• 20:00 – Final guidance for using tax strategy intentionally

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most founders aren’t actually afraid of their numbers—they’re afraid of what those numbers might confirm about them. In this episode, I take you beneath the spreadsheets and tax forms to the deeper truth: money fear is a safety problem, not a financial one. And until you feel safe, no strategy will ever stick.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I break down why avoidance around money is so universal, why women entrepreneurs in particular face systemic financial gaps, and why your nervous system—not your bookkeeping—drives so much of your financial stress. We explore how identity wounds shape your reactions to IRS letters, unread bank statements, and messy bookkeeping. Then we shift into how to build safety, clarity, and control so your numbers become tools—not threats—for making confident decisions. I also share four small habits that completely transform your relationship with money over time.

When you understand your numbers, you rise differently. “Safety gives you clarity. Clarity gives you control. Control gives you power. And power gives you growth.”

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.

• 0:00 – Why this episode goes deeper than tactics
• 0:54 – What founders are really afraid their numbers will reveal
• 2:00 – Money fear as an identity wound, not a math issue
• 3:24 – Why avoidance happens (and why it’s logical)
• 4:58 – How lack of financial education, especially for women, feeds overwhelm
• 6:26 – When your nervous system interprets money as danger
• 7:52 – Why safety must come before strategy
• 9:54 – How understanding numbers shifts decision-making power
• 11:44 – Using data and instincts together as a founder
• 12:42 – Four simple habits that build financial safety (Track one number weekly, 15-minute weekly review, One simple tax-year folder, Rewrite your money identity)
• 16:28 – Why founders rise when they feel safe, not shamed
• 18:10 – A reminder: you’re doing the best you can with the capacity you have
• 19:36 – Invitation to take the first step toward money safety

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we close out Q4, many of us can feel the noise and pressure rising. When your numbers feel unclear or unstable, that’s your business telling you it needs attention. Before we start dreaming about big launches or expansion in 2026, we need a foundation strong enough to support it. Most founders skip the exact steps that make next year predictable—and it shows up as chaos later.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I walk you through the three phases of financial architecture you must complete before January 1. I share why validated numbers—not emotions—are the only responsible way to plan, how to stress-test your margins for rising costs, and how to stop the capital leaks that silently drain profit. We also break down what a real cashflow map looks like, the layers that create stability, and the owner-compensation strategy too many entrepreneurs ignore. This is about entering 2026 with confidence and clarity.

You’ll finish feeling grounded and ready to build—not just run—your business.

“Bad data leads to bad decisions. Validate your foundation before you draw the blueprint.”

Links

• Learn more about Balannx: https://balannx.com/

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionahnguyen/

Learn more about Balannx: https://balannx.com/

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Why Q4 anxiety is a signal from your business
• 1:00 – Phase 1: Validation (bookkeeping, tax footprint, compliance)
• 7:00 – Phase 2: Strength Testing (margin stress test & capital leaks)
• 11:45 – Phase 3: Drawing Your 2026 Blueprint (cashflow map & allocation)
• 18:00 – The real reason founders fail: unmanaged cashflow

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So many founders hit the end of the year with a knot in their stomach. Numbers feel foggy, the tax reminders pile up, and suddenly every notification becomes existential. But the panic isn't because you've failed. It's because you're flying blind without the systems that keep your money working for you instead of quietly slipping away.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I break down the seven most common (and costly) year-end financial mistakes founders make—and how to fix them before December 31st. From ignoring margins to guessing your tax bill to scaling on a shaky foundation, we’ll go over why these issues show up, how they compound, and the exact steps to regain control. This is a practical, no-drama reset for anyone who wants to enter 2026 with clarity, confidence, and cleaner books than ever.

Connect

• Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.

Timestamps

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:50 - Mistake #1: Waiting until tax season to look at your numbers
• 6:22 - Mistake #2: Guessing your tax bill
• 9:18 - Mistake #3: Ignoring contractor payments (1099 prep)
• 10:38 - Mistake #4: Not reviewing margins before 2026 pricing
• 12:38 - Mistake #5: Silent spending that drains profit
• 14:45 - Mistake #6: Assuming growth - financial health
• 16:56 - Mistake #7: Skipping a proper year-end close
• 19:30 - Why clarity beats avoidance every time

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.