In episode 11 of Built By Margin, Laurie Chen welcomes tax strategist Tony Hoong, the Founder and CEO of The CPA Dude, as he shares insights into the biggest misconceptions about taxes, emphasizing that they don’t have to be a dreaded obligation. Instead, he explains how taxes can be used strategically as a wealth-building tool.

Tune in for valuable insights on how to navigate tax season and make smarter financial decisions for your business.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:21] Tax misconceptions and wealth building.

[00:04:48] Ideal clients for tax strategies.

[00:06:44] Decision-making and risk framework.

[00:10:35] Investing in coaching programs.

[00:14:11] Powerful tax strategies for clients.

[00:18:50] Common tax strategy mistakes.

[00:20:47] Value of investing in quality.

[00:25:26] Relationship building in finance.

[00:28:56] R&D expenses tax reversal.

[00:34:09] Taxes as a financial weapon.

[00:35:40] Reasonable compensation and audits.

QUOTES

• "The tax is actually going to be like a weapon if you know how to use it." -Tony Hoong
• “That human aspect of working between the client and the tax strategist or tax planner is a key piece of what they're paying for.” -Laurie Chen
• “A lot of real estate folks, and after a while, like once they kind of get good at it, it also becomes like a game to them, just like entrepreneurship.” -Tony Hoong

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Laurie Chen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriechencpamba/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriechencpamba

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriechen/

Tong Hoong

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecpadude_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecpadude

WEBSITES

Built By Margin: https://www.builtbymargin.com/

Advanced CFO: https://www.advancedcfo.co/

The CPA Dude: https://thecpadude.com/

In episode 10 of Built By Margin, Laurie Chen shares exciting updates about her journey, including her upcoming book titled "Risk Worthy," set to be published in 2026. Laurie dives into the complexities of decision-making in life and business, introducing her unique risk-worthy framework that goes beyond conventional wisdom.

Tune in for insights that can help you make smarter financial choices and move forward confidently in your entrepreneurial journey.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:04 - Introduction to Built by Margin

00:00:27 - Episode 10 and Guest Acknowledgements

00:00:49 - Upcoming Guests for July

00:00:59 - Mid-Year Reflection

00:01:11 - Announcement of Upcoming Book: Risk Worthy

00:01:32 - Overview of Risk Worthy Framework

00:02:04 - Conventional vs. Risk-Worthy Approach

00:02:27 - Defining Risk-Worthy

00:02:49 - Subscribe and Follow the Journey

00:03:00 - Closing Remarks

QUOTES

• "What makes something risk-worthy is its ability to create the best version of yourself and your best possible future."
• “The conventional wisdom is that what makes something risk-worthy is that the potential upside justifies the uncertainty.”

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Laurie Chen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriechencpamba/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriechencpamba

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriechen/

WEBSITES

Built By Margin: https://www.builtbymargin.com/

Advanced CFO: https://www.advancedcfo.co/

In episode 9 of Built By Margin, Laurie Chen interviews Samuel Crane, President & CEO at Desert Rivers Credit Union, and Franchise Owner of Cinch I.T., as he highlights the importance of financial planning, the lessons learned from startup capital, and the balancing act of growth versus profitability.

Tune in to learn about the intersection of finance, technology, and community impact.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:25] Startup capital for new businesses.

[00:06:39] Growth vs. scaling in business.

[00:10:33] Custom core software in credit unions.

[00:15:01] Tough business decisions with friends.

[00:19:22] Hiring a CPA early on.

[00:24:28] Global expansion.

[00:27:17] Mind shift in business growth.

[00:32:31] Underrated financial growth metrics.

[00:35:01] Love for the backcountry.

QUOTES

• "Always get more startup capital than you think you're going to need… And so you have to learn how to balance risk with what regulators are comfortable with." - Samuel Crane
• "It takes a lot of time to troubleshoot. So... You've got to buy back your time as the founder or the CEO, and you want to spend your time on the things that actually makes the business money." - Laurie Chen
• "And talk about a mind shift. If you're ready for it, I would just say, be open-minded about some of the concepts because sometimes the whole idea around scarcity versus abundance, that one took me some time to get around." - Samuel Crane

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Laurie Chen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriechencpamba/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriechencpamba

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriechen/

Samuel Crane

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuelcraneceo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.crane.35/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-crane/

WEBSITES

Built By Margin: https://www.builtbymargin.com/

Advanced CFO: https://www.advancedcfo.co/

Desert Rivers Credit Union: https://www.desertriverscu.com/

Cinch I.T.: https://cinchit.com/