Today's episode features Christopher E. Shockowitz, COO and lead Tax Strategist at DeferTax.com, a premier advisory firm helping high-income earners, business owners, and investors dramatically reduce, defer, or even eliminate federal taxes legally and sustainably.

With more than a decade of experience and thousands of clients served, Chris shares powerful, lesser-known tax strategies designed specifically for individuals earning over $500K annually—strategies that put you back in control of your wealth instead of handing it over to the IRS.

If you're a high-income professional, entrepreneur, or real estate investor looking to protect your capital and accelerate long-term wealth-building, this episode is a must-listen.

What You'll Learn

• Why most high-income earners dramatically overpay in taxes

• The difference between CPAs who calculate taxes vs. strategists who control them

• IRS-approved methods to reduce or eliminate federal tax liability

• How tax deferral multiplies wealth faster than traditional strategies

• Real-world case studies: business sales, real estate exits, capital gains events

• The myths and misconceptions that prevent people from using these strategies

• How to keep control of your funds while legally deferring taxes

• The first steps high earners should take today to lower their tax bill

About Today's Guest

Christopher E. Shockowitz Chief Operating Officer & Lead Tax Strategist DeferTax.com

Chris specializes in high-income tax mitigation, large-transaction tax strategies, wealth preservation, and advanced deferral structures. His custom frameworks have saved clients millions and transformed how entrepreneurs, executives, and investors build generational wealth.

Guest: Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT

Are you growing your business — or just getting busier? In this high-impact episode, entrepreneur and therapist Gordon Brewer reveals what it really takes to scale a company sustainably, profitably, and without burning out.

We break down the core shifts that separate small businesses that stall from those that scale into 8-, 9-, and even 10-figure enterprises. Gordon shares actionable strategies for building systems, delegating effectively, shifting your mindset, to strengthen operations, and create long-term vision clarity.

If you're an entrepreneur, founder, coach, or small business owner looking to scale smarter — not just faster — this episode delivers the mindset, operational tools, and financial discipline required to unlock next-level growth.

Key Takeaways • How to build a scalable business vision

Learn the signals that your business is ready to grow, how to set a clear strategic direction, and why scaling starts with clarity — not more hustle.

• The essential systems every business needs to scale

Discover the three core systems (operations, marketing, finance) that create freedom, consistency, and sustainable growth — plus Gordon's top mistake to avoid when growing a business.

• The mindset required to go from founder to CEO

Understand the leadership habits, delegation strategies, and personal growth required to scale beyond yourself and build a team that takes ownership.

• How to scale profitably, not just generate more revenue

Gordon explains the financial metrics that matter and the biggest money mistakes entrepreneurs make when growing too fast.

• Gordon's top 3 pieces of advice to scale your company today

Learn the do's and don'ts from someone who has owned and scaled three successful businesses himself

In this powerful episode of Wealth Unfiltered, host Samantha Parrinello sits down with Alex Gill, Viking Capital's first-ever President, to explore his 25-year journey through the highs and lows of real estate development and multifamily investing.

From building the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland to leading over $1.5 billion in multifamily projects, Alex shares lessons learned across multiple market cycles — from the Savings & Loan crisis to today's post-2024 real estate reset.

Together, they discuss how institutional discipline and entrepreneurial grit shaped his career, why 2025–2026 may be the best buying window since the Great Financial Crisis, and how Viking Capital plans to bring institutional-level reporting, transparency, and opportunity to its investors.

Alex also gives practical advice for new investors, breaking down how to evaluate market fundamentals, structure deals, and think long-term in uncertain times.

Whether you're an investor looking for insight into market dynamics or a professional curious about the mindset behind billion-dollar portfolios, this episode delivers real perspective, actionable wisdom, and inspiration from one of the industry's most seasoned leaders.

Key Takeaways

1. Patience Pays in Development Alex explains why successful development requires patience and precision — with some projects taking years from land acquisition to exit, but offering exceptional long-term rewards when timed right

2. The Market is Ripe for Opportunity With cap rates compressing and price discovery underway, 2025–2026 may mark one of the strongest entry points for multifamily investors since the Great Financial Crisis

3. Institutional Reporting Meets Retail Access Alex's goal for Viking Capital is to blend institutional-quality financial oversight with retail investor transparency, enhancing confidence and engagement for every investor

4. Focus on Fundamentals — Not Headlines Market noise comes and goes. Alex emphasizes focusing on job growth, population trends, and location quality — the fundamentals that drive sustainable performance

5. The Power of Relationships and Reputation Two decades of broker, lender, and partner relationships fuel Viking's deal flow, creating off-market opportunities that strengthen its investment pipeline

In this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, host Samantha Parrinello sits down with Jackie Ware of Pegasus Residential to uncover one of the most overlooked drivers of multifamily profitability: tenant satisfaction.

What if your biggest opportunity to grow NOI and asset value isn't in raising rents — but in creating happier residents? Jackie shares how tenant experience directly impacts returns, why many owners still underestimate the business case for satisfaction, and the simple systems that can turn every building into a thriving, high-retention community.

Drawing from her deep experience across both the tenant relations and investor strategy sides, Jackie breaks down actionable ways to reduce turnover, streamline operations, and uncover hidden profits hiding in plain sight. Whether you're a seasoned operator, passive investor, or self-managing owner, this episode delivers practical insights that help you improve performance — without adding major expenses.

You'll learn how to turn tenant happiness into financial performance, build stronger communities, and position your properties for long-term success in a changing multifamily landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• Tenant satisfaction = profitability. Happier tenants reduce turnover, stabilize income, and protect your returns.

• Quick wins drive big results. Small improvements in responsiveness, communication, and community engagement lead to measurable NOI growth.

• Don't leave money on the table. Operational inefficiencies often hide profit potential that's unlocked by focusing on the tenant experience.

• Self-managing owners can compete. Smart systems, consistent follow-up, and a people-first mindset help smaller operators thrive.

• The future is experience-driven. Modern renters expect value, flexibility, and connection — not just a place to live.

In this power-packed episode of Wealth Unfiltered, host Samantha Parrinello sits down with business strategist and coach Chad Ackerman to uncover the critical metrics that can make or break your company. Chad shares insider strategies for tracking the right KPIs, avoiding common business pitfalls, and building a thriving company culture that drives results.

Discover the exact framework successful entrepreneurs use to scale sustainably while avoiding burnout. Whether you're a solopreneur struggling with growth or a business owner looking to optimize operations, this episode delivers actionable insights on financial management, hiring strategies, and the power of focusing on your strengths.

Learn why most entrepreneurs track the wrong metrics, how to identify red flags before they become disasters, and the surprising truth about revenue as a vanity metric. Chad's practical approach to goal-setting and accountability will transform how you think about business growth and create lasting success.

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on Strengths, Not Weaknesses: Hire people who excel in areas where you struggle rather than trying to improve your weak points - it's more energy-efficient and profitable

• Revenue is a Vanity Metric: Don't get caught up in top-line revenue numbers; dig deeper into profitability, cost of goods sold, and specific industry metrics that actually drive growth

• Goals Must Be Measurable and Time-Bound: Vague goals like "grow my business" are useless - create specific, actionable KPIs with clear deadlines to drive real results

• Culture Drives Performance: Engaged employees directly impact safety, productivity, and bottom-line results - invest in building ownership mentality within your team

• Start with Goal-Setting: Before tracking any metrics, spend serious time defining what you actually want to achieve - this prevents chasing shiny objects and wasted investments

• Hire for Engagement: Personnel issues are the #1 problem most business owners face - focus on finding engaged people who complement your skill set rather than duplicating it

In this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, hosts Samantha and Chris Parrinello tackle a timely question: What happens when headlines drive markets more than fundamentals?

From the Fed's latest rate cut to talk of tariffs, AI disruption, and even viral reactions to major news events, they unpack how emotion, fear, and FOMO can send stocks and investors on a rollercoaster ride. Chris explains why savvy investors who stick to fundamentals, and think long-term, often come out ahead when the noise fades.

You'll also hear insights from recent CEO roundtables on AI in real estate, how investors can navigate volatility without panic, and why conviction and strategy matter more than the day's news cycle.

Key topics:

• How fear and greed shape investor behavior

• The hidden power of headlines vs. market fundamentals

• Lessons from tariffs, Fed cuts, and the AI gold rush

• Building a portfolio with guardrails: cash flow, growth, and tax mitigation

• Why stability — not low rates — is what investors should really want

🎧 Headlines may spark the movement, but fundamentals sustain the momentum.

On this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, Chris and Samantha sit down with Travis Smith, CEO & Founder of TribeVest, to talk about the five things he wishes he knew before aggregating capital to invest in real estate deals.

Travis shares how pooling money with his brothers led to the idea for TribeVest, the challenges of raising capital as a group, and why "Super LPs" are changing access to private markets. He breaks down how TribeVest removes friction with transparency, compliance, and technology—while making community-driven investing more accessible than ever.

If you've ever considered raising capital with others, starting a fund, or joining forces to unlock bigger deals, this episode is your roadmap.

On this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, we sit down with Kristin Burton—PA, entrepreneur, mom, and the powerhouse behind Millionaires in Medicine. Kristin's journey is one of transformation: from graduating with over $150,000 in student loan debt to building a net worth of over $1 million by age 31.

She shares the pivotal mindset shifts that fueled her financial independence, the common money mistakes she sees medical professionals make, and the strategies she used to pay down debt, invest with confidence, and diversify her income streams.

We also dive into why financial education is missing from medical training, how Kristin is filling that gap through her teaching and mentorship, and the real success stories emerging from her community. Plus, she opens up about balancing wealth-building with the realities of burnout, family, and the demanding world of medicine.

Whether you're a med student just starting out, a physician looking to gain control of your finances, or simply someone who wants to learn how to build wealth with intentionality—this episode delivers practical steps, fresh perspective, and a dose of inspiration.

On this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, Samantha Parrinello sits down with Dana Cornell, CEO of Cornell Capital Holdings, to unpack his bold philosophy: "Run your finances like the business they are."

Dana shares why traditional one-size-fits-all advice often leaves investors exposed—and how high-income professionals can instead prioritize cash flow, tax efficiency, risk management, and legacy-building to create lasting wealth. From turning speculation into reliable income streams, to uncovering hidden tax inefficiencies, to preparing for liquidity events and generational planning, Dana walks us through the elite strategies that give investors true financial control.

If you've ever felt like your wealth plan is too generic or reactive, this conversation will challenge you to break the mold and start managing your money with the discipline and precision of a thriving business.

Most retail investors think they're playing the same game as the ultra-wealthy — but they're not. Family offices, which manage billions in generational wealth, invest with a mindset and playbook that the average investor rarely sees.

In this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, host Samantha Parrinello sits down with Bob Fraser of Aspen Funds to pull back the curtain on how family offices actually approach wealth building. From sourcing institutional-quality deals to balancing income with growth, Bob explains the strategies family offices rely on — and why retail investors often miss the mark.

You'll hear insights on:

• Why family offices prioritize private credit and cash-flowing real estate over public markets

• How institutional due diligence and risk management differ from retail investing

• The real tradeoffs behind liquidity — and why patience often wins

• The biggest mistakes retail investors make when trying to grow wealth

• How Aspen Funds gives everyday investors access to strategies once reserved for the ultra-rich

Whether you're building your first passive income portfolio or managing millions, this conversation will challenge how you think about wealth, risk, and opportunity.

🎧 Tune in and learn how to start thinking — and investing — like a family office.