Systems Simplified

Charles Warren is a Partner and Retirement Plan Consultant at Pacific Retirement Partners. He entered the financial services industry in 1998 after serving 10 years with the US Marine Corps. In 2005, Charles established an independent investment advisory firm with three other partners. He later sold his interest to form Pacific Retirement Partners with the goal of working exclusively with corporate retirement plans. He holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P), and the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designations. In this episode: If you want to put a retirement plan in place for your employees, then there are certain fiduciary duties that you must uphold to do so. While there is no right or wrong way to go about it, there are some key things to keep in mind when finding the right plan for your organization. According to Charles Warren, the quality of the investments, the cost of the plan, and the partnerships with your financial advisors are some of the most important factors to consider when building a retirement plan. And, perhaps most importantly, he explains that having a repeatable and documented process is the key to fulfilling your fiduciary duties. So, what is Charles' advice to business owners looking to create or improve their retirement plan process? In this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit interviews Charles Warren, a Partner and Retirement Plan Consultant at Pacific Retirement Partners, about the value of implementing effective systems and processes when building a retirement plan. Charles talks about the benefits of having an investment policy statement, how businesses can measure the quality and performance of their retirement plans, and his tips for working with financial advisors. Stay tuned.

Raynette Yoshida is the Executive and Personal Assistant in charge of customer service at Mario's, a premier specialty clothing store in the Pacific Northwest. Raynette has also been an active Board Member for the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) for over 20 years. In addition to this, Raynette volunteers for the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon, and is a Board Member of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon and a Member of Toastmasters International. In this episode: What does it take to be a successful event organizer or productive volunteer? How can you implement systems to make the process easier and more rewarding? Raynette Yoshida, who has been a volunteer for many years, strongly encourages people to give back to the community through volunteering. As she says, the key to volunteering and hosting unforgettable events is relationship building. She believes that by starting with a purpose, implementing simple systems, and making connections, you can create time for a noble cause. In this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit sits down with Raynette Yoshida, an Executive Assistant at Mario's and a Board Member at IMA, to talk about the rewards of volunteering and the importance of systemizing the process. Raynette discusses her strategies for organizing successful volunteer events and explains how she helps people network. Stay tuned.

Bob Paskins is a corporate consultant, sales coach, and keynote speaker. He consults with companies looking to elevate their sales people, processes, and overall performance. Leveraging over 20 years of industry experience, Bob developed his own comprehensive sales system called the Growth Matrix, which he uses to help clients drive sales growth and unlock their full potential. He currently lives in Oregon with his wife Danielle and three children. In this episode: Has your business been experiencing a dip in sales? Do you need help developing the right sales strategy and system for your business? If so, Bob Paskins can provide you with the solutions you need. As a sales consultant and coach, Bob Paskins works with businesses to help them drive growth and increase sales. With Bob's expert sales strategy, business leaders can identify their ideal clients, implement an effective sales system, convert more prospects into clients, and ultimately unlock their full potential. On this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit interviews Bob Paskins, a sales consultant, coach, and keynote speaker, about the six key components of his comprehensive sales strategy. They talk about the benefits of implementing a sales CRM, the importance of documenting your sales process, and how you can benefit from hiring an accountability coach. Stay tuned.

Ryan Redding is an experienced business consultant and marketing strategist. He is the Owner of DP Marketing Services, a digital marketing firm for HVAC, plumbers, and other home service industries. Ryan is also the Owner of Hippie Cow, LLC, a web design and SEO agency for small businesses. Ryan has an MBA from Northeastern State University and a background in business development. He was previously the Acting Director of the Center for Technology Commercialization at Oklahoma State University. In this episode: Do documented processes stifle creativity, or promote it? How does marketing differ for plumbing and HVAC contractors? Why are systems crucial for companies in any industry? Ryan Redding is here to tell you. Ryan Redding is the Owner of DP Marketing Services, a digital marketing agency for HVAC, plumbers, and other home service industries. With a background in business development, Ryan has been on both sides of the table when it comes to running and marketing a business. Today he's here to share his approach to systematizing his business and help you get your creative juices flowing for your next marketing strategy. On this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit has a conversation with the Owner of DP Marketing Services, Ryan Redding, about marketing in the plumbing and HVAC industries. They discuss the relationship between creativity and systems, why processes can make or break your business, how marketing differs in various industries, and much more.

Josh Alballero is the Co-founder and CEO of ioogo, a technology-first company that simplifies accounting and tax preparation using revolutionary software. With a background in strategic advising, Josh uses his entrepreneurial mindset to help startups and other entrepreneurs grow. He is a Startup Mentor at Impact Ventures and a Member of the Board of Advisors for Lifestyle Learning, Jivati, and Parentfile. He is also a Member of Capital Factory, a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and corporates. In this episode: Are you a business owner struggling to keep up with your taxes? Do you feel like you have a strong grasp on every facet of your company except for accounting? Josh Alballero is here to help. Josh Alballero is the Co-founder and CEO of ioogo, a company that uses software to make accounting and tax preparation ridiculously simple. As an entrepreneur, Josh knows the annoyance and frustration that taxes and finances can cause when running a business. That's why he created a revolutionary technology that helps both individuals and businesses do their taxes with ease. Today he's here to tell you all about it. On this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit talks with the Co-founder and CEO of ioogo, Josh Alballero, about how to transform your tax preparation using technology. Josh discusses the importance of knowing your financials, how his software can improve tax strategy, his tips for simplifying the accounting process, and much more.

Jody Grunden, CPA, is the Co-founder and CEO of Summit CPA Group, a company providing virtual CFO and accounting services to help businesses maximize profits, minimize taxes, and build cash flow. Jody started Summit CPA in 2002 and has had a long career as a Tax Accountant for companies including BKD CPAs & Advisors and Crowe LLP. Jody is also an Official Member of the Forbes Finance Council. In this episode: How did one company successfully transition to a fully remote workplace — before it was trendy? What is the TTP model of success? And, how does having the right team and processes create harmony, especially in the accounting industry? Jody Grunden is just the man to ask. Jody is the Co-founder and CEO of Summit CPA Group, a fully remote company offering virtual CFO and accounting services. After making the jump to working from home back in 2013, Jody and his team now know the ins and outs of what makes remote work so successful. Today, he's here to tell you all about it — and give you tips on improving your processes along the way. On this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit talks with the Co-founder and CEO of Summit CPA Group, Jody Grunden, about the importance of systems and processes when working remotely. They discuss the benefits of remote work, the intersection between team, technology, and processes, and the key to maintaining company culture and collaboration with a virtual team.

David Cristello is the Founder and CEO of Jetpack Workflow, a workflow software that helps accountants and bookkeepers hit deadlines and improve their task management. David has a background in marketing and was previously a Technical Marketing Consultant at his own firm. David is also the host of the Growing Your Firm Podcast and co-author of the book Double Your Accounting Firm. In this episode: Millions of companies in a variety of industries use some form of workflow software. However, one industry was getting overlooked that may have needed it the most. That's where David Cristello comes in. David Cristello is the Founder and CEO of Jetpack Workflow, a workflow software for accountants and bookkeepers. After seeing the need for task management software in the accounting industry, David created Jetpack Workflow to help thousands of accountants with their productivity and management. His company has rocketed to the top, and today he's here to tell you all about it — and share some of his favorite applications along the way. On this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit talks with the Founder and CEO of Jetpack Workflow, David Cristello, about the importance of workflow applications. They discuss why David created his workflow software for accountants, what you should look for in task management software, and the importance of using the right application for your business. You won't want to miss this jam-packed episode!

Lewis Schiff is the Chairman of the Board of Experts at Birthing of Giants, a fellowship program that helps business owners create, nurture, and scale companies. Lewis also founded Inc. Magazine's Business Owners Council, where he interviewed some of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in the world. Over the past two decades, Lewis has built — and sold — two media businesses to publicly traded companies. In addition to this, he is the author and co-author of several books, including The First Habit and Business Brilliant. In this episode: What does it take to build a strong company? How can you take hold of your entrepreneurial vision and increase your growth potential? Lewis Schiff helps entrepreneurs across various industries turn their business brilliance into leadership brilliance. According to Lewis, business owners need to do more of what they're good at and less of what they're bad at. As he says, this will help them take their careers and companies to the next level. Want to learn more? In this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit talks with Lewis Schiff, Chairman of the Board of Experts at Birthing of Giants, about how to become a brilliant leader and grow a strong business. Lewis discusses his strategies for scaling while avoiding burnout, the traits of a successful entrepreneur, and the importance of putting systems in place when building your business. Stay tuned!

Sunny Sassaman is the Founder of ADR Group NW, a firm that provides conflict management and dispute resolution services. She is a Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution Consultant who began mediating professionally in 1999, and she is also the Founder and Owner of Common Ground Mediation Services LLC. Sunny has a Master's in Negotiation and Conflict Management, and Peace Building from California State University Dominguez Hills. In addition to over 20 years of private practice, her resume includes teaching for the University of Hawaii and Washington State University-Vancouver, associate director for a non-profit, and conciliation counselor. Her clients include federal and county governments, health care organizations, non-profits, K-12 schools, small businesses, and individuals. Sunny is a past President of the Association for Conflict Resolution and she is currently on the Board and serves as the Vice President for Oregon Mediation Association. In this episode: Do you have a toxic work environment? Do you often find yourself trying to resolve conflicts among your employees? More importantly, do you have a good system in place for dispute resolution within your company? Sunny Sassaman, the Founder of ADR Group NW, believes that there is no one size fits all when it comes to developing a good dispute resolution system for a workplace. Company culture is always the main consideration when building out this system because it helps determine how well team members relate to one another and how issues can be resolved within the team. But Sunny explains that it is always best for organizations to have a neutral and trustworthy third part to help mediate conflict. Why? Because this not only helps put things into perspective, it also makes the conversation more inclusive and offers potential solutions that the team might otherwise miss. On this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit is joined by Sunny Sassaman, the Founder of ADR Group NW, to talk about developing a good dispute resolution system in organizations. Sunny differentiates between a toxic and non-toxic work environment, discusses the importance of getting an outside mediator, and shares examples of conflicts she has helped resolve. Stay tuned.

Ashley Micciche is the CEO of True North Retirement Advisors, an independent financial advisory firm managing over $300 million in client assets. She specializes in designing, building, and implementing custom exit plans to help business owners effectively exit their businesses and retire with financial security. Ashley is on a mission to successfully transition 300 small business owners into retirement in the next 10 years. She also hosts the One Minute Retirement Tip podcast and runs True North Retirement Advisors' YouTube channel. In this episode: Are you a business owner looking to exit your business and successfully retire in the near future? If so, do you know the right ways to prepare your business for a smooth and successful exit? Ashley Micciche, the CEO of True North Retirement Advisors, helps business owners effectively prepare to exit their businesses and retire with financial security. As she says, it's important for business owners to prepare early. This way, they can identify how much their businesses are worth before making an exit and establish an exit date that works for them. Today, Ashley is here to share her exit strategies and tips for successfully preparing for a meaningful retirement. On this episode of the Systems Simplified podcast, Adi Klevit is joined by Ashley Micciche, the CEO of True North Retirement Advisors, to discuss Ashley's step-by-step exit strategy for business owners who are looking to retire with financial security. Together, they talk about how to find a business successor, Ashley's tips for establishing an exit date, and the benefits of financial planning before making an exit. Stay tuned.