What’s Kenner French Thinking!

Did you know that Sam Darnold reportedly faced a $250,000 tax bill just for playing in the Super Bowl? Despite the glory of the game, the reality of "duty days" and interstate tax laws means that professional athletes often owe more to the state of California than they actually earned during the championship game itself.

But here is the kicker: This isn't just a problem for NFL quarterbacks.

If you are a business owner with a second home, a consultant traveling for work, or an entrepreneur taking meetings in states like California, you could be triggering the exact same tax liabilities. In this episode, R. Kenner French breaks down how "nexus" and state tax laws can catch you off guard and—more importantly—how you can use Artificial Intelligence to fight back. From proactive tax projections to automated bookkeeping that tracks your location, we explore the modern tools every "Modern Millionaire" needs to protect their wealth from predatory state tax audits.

What You’ll Learn

• The Sam Darnold Lesson: Why earning $178k in a Super Bowl can lead to a $250k tax bill due to "duty days."

• The Sneaky Second Home Trap: How working from your summer home or taking business meetings in high-tax states creates an unexpected tax nexus.

• AI vs. The State: How states like California are already using AI to track athlete and celebrity earnings—and why you must use the same tech to defend yourself.

• Proactive vs. Reactive Tax Planning: Why starting your tax strategy on January 1st is the only way to mitigate year-end surprises.

• The Power of Domicile: Strategies for positioning your corporate headquarters to legally and ethically reduce your state tax exposure.

• Deduction Discovery: Using AI-driven bookkeeping to ensure every expense in a high-tax state is captured to lower your net taxable income.

Who This Episode Is For

• High-Net-Worth Individuals with properties in multiple states.

• Traveling Professionals & Athletes who earn income across state lines.

• Business Owners looking to automate their bookkeeping and tax projections using AI.

• Entrepreneurs interested in the intersection of wealth management and emerging technology.

Follow the podcast for future episodes on making, saving, and protecting your millions.

In an era where artificial intelligence is leveling the playing field for both innovators and bad actors, small business owners are finding themselves on a new kind of battlefield. Many entrepreneurs operate under the dangerous assumption that they are "too small to target." However, as cybersecurity expert Mike Armistead explains, the "bad guys" are currently ahead, using automated tools to turn small businesses into a high-volume target-rich environment.

The reality is that a single breach can shut down operations overnight, making digital defense not just a technical necessity, but a vital part of business continuity and brand reputation. This episode dives into the practical, high-impact steps every business owner must take to put a "deadbolt" on their digital front door.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• The AI Arms Race: How artificial intelligence is changing the frequency and sophistication of attacks on small businesses.

• The Four Pillars of Cybersecurity: A simplified framework to protect your most valuable assets without a massive budget.

• Access Control Mastery: Why the "long and complicated" password rule has replaced the "change it every two weeks" rule.

• Asset Ranking: How to identify which parts of your business would "shut you down tomorrow" if compromised.

• The Power of Practice: The role of ethical hacking and AI defenders in modern business strategy.

📈 Who This Episode Is For

• Small Business Owners who feel overwhelmed by technical jargon and need a clear starting point.

• Solo-preneurs managing their own digital infrastructure and cloud-based tools.

• Established Entrepreneurs looking to protect their customer lists and order processing systems from ransomware.

• Non-Technical Founders who want to understand the "ROI" of investing in a security consultant.

🌱 Take Action

Security isn't an optional add-on; it is the foundation of a growing business. By implementing a password manager, backing up data daily, and ranking your assets, you move from being an easy target to a resilient enterprise.

Follow the podcast for future episodes on technology, business growth, and entrepreneurship.

Most entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals celebrate their "gross" earnings—the big, flashy numbers shared at cocktail parties. But as R. Kenner French, author of Modern Millions + AI, points out in today’s episode, it’s not about what you make; it’s about what you actually keep. If you are making millions but losing a massive percentage to the IRS because you’re looking in the "rearview mirror," you aren’t just paying taxes—you’re suffering from a lack of strategy.

In this episode, Kenner and co-host Elaine Mingus dive deep into why taxes are the silent killer of wealth and how Artificial Intelligence is the ultimate tool to stop the bleed. Kenner, a prominent voice in the Bainbridge Island business community, argues that the traditional way of doing taxes—waiting until April to see what you owe—is a recipe for financial stagnation. Instead, he advocates for "prognostication," using AI models to work backward from future liabilities to mitigate tax hits before they happen.

We also tackle the controversial future of the tax industry and how local leaders on Bainbridge Island are looking toward AI and quantum computing to stay ahead. The role of the CPA is shifting from a data-entry historian to a strategic advisor—and eventually, those who don't adapt may find themselves obsolete. Whether you’re a real estate investor, a business owner, or a resident looking to impact your local city government, this episode provides a roadmap for using technology to protect your net income.

What You’ll Learn:

📈 The "Rearview Mirror" Trap: Why most tax advisors are looking at the past instead of prognosticating the future.

🤖 AI as a Tax Shield: How AI can "ruffle through" thousands of pages of tax code to find loopholes and strategies humans miss.

🛡️ The Power of Qualified Plans: Why IRAs, 401(k)s, and defined benefit plans remain the most missed deductions.

⚠️ The Future of CPAs: Why Kenner believes the tax industry as we know it will be unrecognizable in 20 years.

🌱 Early Adoption: Why setting up tax-efficient structures today—even at lower income levels—pays off exponentially later.

Who This Episode Is For:

Entrepreneurs looking to maximize their take-home pay and minimize liabilities.

High Earners who feel they are overpaying the IRS despite having professional help.

CPAs & Tax Professionals who want to understand how to stay relevant in the age of AI.

Bainbridge Island Residents interested in how AI is being introduced to local government and city efficiency.

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Most entrepreneurs and business owners operate in a state of "financial chaos." They have a CPA in one city, a financial advisor in another, and an estate attorney who hasn’t spoken to either of them in years. When your advisors aren't communicating, you aren't just losing time—you are losing significant capital to inefficiency and unnecessary taxation. This "silo effect" is exactly what the wealthiest families in the world, like the Rockefellers and the Hiltons, solved decades ago through the Family Office model.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Miller, a business financial consultant and partner at Hilton Tax and Wealth Advisors. Working alongside Brad Hilton (grandson of Conrad Hilton), Mark is on a mission to bring "smart money" institutional strategies down to Main Street. We dive deep into how the Virtual Family Office (VFO) model allows even "mom and pop" successful business owners to access elite-level coordination, advanced tax mitigation, and legacy planning without the overhead of a massive staff.

What You’ll Learn

• The Origin of the Family Office: How John D. Rockefeller doubled his wealth in five years by centralizing his advisory team.

• Virtual vs. Traditional: Why the Virtual Family Office (VFO) is the 21st-century solution for outsourcing to "best-in-class" talent regardless of geography.

• The "One-Handed Economist" Problem: How to eliminate conflicting advice from different advisors that leads to investor paralysis.

• Advanced Tax Mitigation: Why proactive tax planning is a year-round strategy, not a year-end expense scramble.

• The Human Element of Wealth: Navigating the complexities of succession planning and why including spouses and heirs in the conversation is vital for legacy preservation.

• The Safety-First Philosophy: Why the wealthiest investors focus on protecting the principal before chasing high-risk returns.

Who This Episode Is For

This conversation is essential for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and entrepreneurs who feel they have outgrown traditional "retail" financial advice. If you are looking for a cohesive team approach to manage $1M to $50M+ in assets, or if you simply want to understand the tax strategies used by American dynasties, this episode provides the roadmap.

Follow the podcast for future episodes as we continue to reveal business secrets for elite entrepreneurs.

Many business owners in 2025 are still paralyzed by the same fear: that artificial intelligence is too difficult, too expensive, or destined to replace them entirely. This hesitation creates a massive opportunity cost, as competitors leverage automation to reclaim their time and scale their revenue. The reality is that AI isn't a technical hurdle; it’s a strategic investment that is more accessible than most realize. 

In this rapid-fire episode, Elaine Mingus sits down with AI expert and Amazon bestselling author R. Kenner French to demystify the world of machine learning for entrepreneurs. Kenner explains why the biggest misunderstanding about AI is its perceived difficulty and how a simple $100 investment can yield nearly unlimited returns. From tax credits for R&D to the rise of AI agents, this conversation provides a roadmap for staying relevant in an automated economy.

Kenner also dives into the intersection of AI and finance, revealing how "asset allocation" and portfolio optimization are being revolutionized by smart models. Whether you are looking to automate your social media funnel or protect your career from displacement, Kenner’s "learn-it-don't-shun-it" philosophy offers the practical advice you need to thrive. 

What You’ll Learn

• The $100 AI Starter Kit: Why a small investment in a pro-tier model like ChatGPT or Claude is a high-return business write-off.

• The Real ROI: How AI helps entrepreneurs secure tax deductions and open doors that have been closed for years. 

• Beyond Emails: Why failing to "push the envelope" with automation is the number one way companies waste money.

• The Rise of AI Agents: Understanding how job functions are shifting and how to become the "AI person" in your industry.

• Financial Optimization: How AI is being used in the tax and investment space to manage asset allocation and growth.

• Humanity vs. Machines: Why AI will never replace the human connection of love and genuine relationship-building. 

  
  

  Who This Episode Is For

• Small Business Owners looking for low-cost, high-impact ways to start using AI today.

• Entrepreneurs who want to automate their social media, email, and lead-gen funnels.

• Financial Professionals interested in how AI is changing portfolio management and tax strategies.

• Career-Oriented Individuals seeking to future-proof their roles by adopting AI tools early.

  
  

  
  

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Most business failures aren’t caused by bad math or poor market conditions—they fail because of people. Whether it’s an unethical partner, a struggling employee, or a leader paralyzed by imposter syndrome, the "human element" is the most volatile variable in any venture. But how do you develop the instinct to see a bad deal before it signs?

In this episode, R. Kenner French sits down with Andre Norman, the "Ambassador of Hope." Andre didn't get his business degree from an Ivy League school; he earned it by rising to the top of the prison hierarchy and later refining those skills at Harvard and the London Business School. Andre shares the raw, unfiltered lessons he learned while navigating the most dangerous environments on earth and how those same principles apply to 250-billion-dollar companies and family dynamics alike.

What You’ll Learn 🎧

• The Superpower of Reading People: How to spot trauma, addiction, and lack of integrity in seconds to protect your business.

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Andre’s journey from a "nerdy trumpet player" to a prison leader and world-class speaker, and how you can find the confidence to lead.

• Crisis Management Without Leverage: Lessons on managing chaotic situations in high-stakes environments like Liberia and South Carolina’s maximum-security prisons.

• The Family-First Framework: Why your business success is irrelevant if your home life is in shambles and how to get your kids back on track.

• The Power of Giving Without Expectation: How a "servant first" mentality opened doors to the Genius Network, YPO, and multi-trillion dollar associations.

Who This Episode Is For 📈

This episode is a must-listen for real estate investors, entrepreneurs, and C-suite executives who feel like they are winning in the boardroom but losing at home, or those who want to sharpen their "gut instinct" when vetting partners and deals.

Follow the podcast for future episodes as we continue to dive into the minds of the world's most dynamic leaders.

The global workforce is standing on the edge of an AI explosion, yet many local governments and traditional industries are still operating on "business as usual" manual processes. As leadership roles open up in cities across the country, a provocative question arises: Could an artificial intelligence model outperform a human city manager?

In this episode, R. Kenner French—bestselling author of ModernMillions.ai—and co-host Elaine Mingus dive into the controversial proposal of "Joel," an AI candidate for the vacant City Manager position on Bainbridge Island. They explore why niching down AI applications into the government sector is the next frontier for tech integration and why local leaders must adopt these tools now to avoid becoming "digital dinosaurs."

Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to scale or a civic leader curious about the future of infrastructure, this conversation challenges the status quo of how we run our communities and our businesses. 🎧📈

What You’ll Learn:

• The Case for "Joel": How AI can handle the mundane tasks and big-picture data analysis required for Bainbridge Island city management.

• The "Dinosaur" Risk: Why professionals in the 40–50+ age demographic must bridge the gap between their life wisdom and new AI efficiency.

• Strategic Niching: Why focusing AI solutions on specific industries (like pageantry or local government) creates faster adoption and higher value.

• Current Adoptions: Real-world examples of AI integration in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and the proposal for Bainbridge.

• The Wisdom Gap: How to ensure AI is guided by human experience rather than replacing it entirely.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Entrepreneurs looking for ways to lower tax liability and protect assets using AI models.

• Government Officials interested in making city operations more efficient and cost-effective.

• Tech-Forward Professionals who want to stay ahead of the "whippersnappers" entering the workforce with native AI skills.

Follow the podcast for future episodes as we continue to explore what Kenner French is thinking.

In a world dominated by filtered social media and highly polished corporate PR, authentic connection has become the ultimate business currency. Many entrepreneurs and real estate professionals feel they are "missing the boat" by not leveraging the power of their own voice. Whether you are looking to jump from $100k to $200k in revenue or simply want to establish yourself as a go-to expert, the traditional media path—TV and print—is often gated, filtered, and difficult to scale. 📈

In this episode, R. Kenner French sits down with Liz Brooks of Interview Valet to discuss the transition from traditional PR to the high-impact world of podcast marketing. Liz shares why "better is better than bigger" when it comes to audience reach and how appearing on the right niche shows can lead to immediate conversions and long-term brand equity. We dive into the "why" behind podcasting, the importance of consistency, and the tactical steps you can take to turn a single interview into a month’s worth of content. 🎧

What You’ll Learn

The "Horse’s Mouth" Advantage: Why the unfiltered nature of podcasting builds deeper trust than traditional PR.

🎯Niche vs. Reach: Why targeting a specific, smaller audience (like "Wellness over 40") often outperforms a "spray and pray" approach on massive shows.

The ROI of Guesting: How one high-quality lead from a podcast appearance can pay for an entire marketing campaign.

Content Repurposing: Strategies for turning one 20-minute conversation into a multi-platform content engine.

⚠️The "Backlog" Rule: Why you should record a dozen episodes before you ever hit "publish" on your own show.

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is a must-listen for real estate entrepreneurs, B2B business owners, and aspiring thought leaders who want to expand their "share of voice" without the gatekeepers of traditional media. If you've ever felt intimidated by the technical side of podcasting or wondered if the time investment actually leads to revenue, Liz provides the roadmap to get started. 🌱

Next Steps

Ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your industry?

Follow the podcast for future episodes on business growth and entrepreneurial secrets. 🎧

Many small business owners fall into the trap of believing that "not enough income" is their primary hurdle. However, seasoned financial expert and bestselling author R. Kenner French argues that the true silent killer of entrepreneurship is burnout. When you are buried in manual bookkeeping, complex tax planning, and the day-to-day grind, your growth hits a ceiling. The solution isn't just working harder; it’s implementing artificial intelligence to transition from a "small" business owner to a "big" business owner.

In this episode of What’s Kenner French Thinking? Elaine Mingus sits down with Kenner to discuss the practical integration of AI in the small business sector. From his background at Wells Fargo and ING to authoring Modern Millions.AI, Kenner shares how automation creates the path to passive income and mental clarity. We dive into the world of automated bookkeeping, tax prognostication, and how AI acts as an emotional-less "mentor" to help you make objective investment decisions. 📈

What You’ll Learn

🎧The Burnout Solution: Why automation is the key to preserving your energy and scaling your operations.

AI-Driven Bookkeeping: How to use tools like VastBookie.ai to maintain clean financial records for free.

⚠️Tax Prognostication: Moving from being a "tax historian" to a "tax predictor" using AI calculations.

Objective Decision Making: Using AI as a sounding board to remove ego and emotion from high-stakes business investments.

🌱The Path to Big Business: Shifting your mindset from manual labor to automated systems that build true wealth.

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is essential for new entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed by the "lonely road" of business ownership, as well as established owners looking to lower their tax liability and increase efficiency. If you want to stop paying for outdated software and start using technology as a competitive advantage, this conversation is for you.

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What happens when a person with unlimited potential is fueled only by trauma? For Andre Norman, the answer was a trajectory that led straight to maximum-security prison. In this powerful episode, Andre joins R. Kenner French to discuss the thin line between being a "natural leader" in the streets and becoming a man of civic pride and international influence.

Andre candidly shares how a chance encounter in a high school auditorium—and a surprising initiative by the Reagan administration—sent him to Europe as a teenager, providing a brief "flower on the way down" before he ultimately faced a 100-year prison sentence. We dive deep into the psychology of a "top-tier" inmate, the realization that he was ruling a kingdom nobody cared about, and the mentorship that finally taught him how to be a human being. 🎧

What You’ll Learn

🌍 The Power of Exposure: How a seven-week trip to Europe at age 17 planted the seeds of an "American" identity and global mindset.

⚠️ Talent vs. Trauma: Why supporting a child's gifts isn't enough if you aren't addressing the underlying pain driving their behavior.

📉 The "King of Nowhere" Epiphany: The moment Andre realized his status in the prison system was a dead end and how he pivoted toward Harvard University.

🌱 The Impact of Mentorship: The role of Rabbi Natan Shaffer in teaching accountability, servanthood, and the "Teshuvah" (the turnaround).

🏛️ Civic Pride: How a kid from the "hood" ended up at the Pentagon advising on veteran suicide prevention.

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is for anyone interested in radical personal transformation, leaders looking to understand how to reach "at-risk" talent, and those who believe that no one is ever truly lost. Whether you are a business leader or someone seeking a "turnaround" in your own life, Andre’s journey offers a masterclass in resilience and the impact of a single caring adult.

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