In this episode, Cheryl Knowlton and Dan Mullen discuss:

• Planning ahead to avoid self‑employment tax "surprises."

• Using S‑corp elections to reduce self‑employment taxes

• Properly documenting travel, meals, and vehicle deductions

• Regular, proactive check‑ins with your accountant

• Investing in your own product: real estate for long‑term wealth

Key Takeaways:

• Proactive tax planning is non‑negotiable for agents who don't want to be blindsided at tax time.

• The S‑corp election can dramatically cut self‑employment taxes when structured correctly, and setting a reasonable salary and letting the rest flow as distributions is where much of the savings happens.

• Travel, meals, and vehicle deductions are powerful but highly audited, so documentation is everything, but clear board minutes, mileage logs, and receipts turn "red flag" categories into audit‑proof benefits.

• Treat quarterly taxes like a standing business appointment rather than an optional chore, with calendar reminders and regular check‑ins with your accountant keeping you out of panic mode and in control of cash flow.

• Truly wealthy agents don't just sell real estate—they own it.

"Real estate builds so much wealth. It does for even people living in their own homes. It certainly does for investors."
- Dan Mullen

About the guest, Dan Mullen:

Dan Mullen is a mortgage advisor and a partner at a tax firm, a combination that gives him a unique advantage in helping self-employed clients qualify for mortgages. Because these borrowers are underwritten using tax returns rather than W-2s and paystubs, Dan's deep understanding of tax documentation allows him to navigate the process more effectively. Having seen firsthand the pain and frustration caused by mortgage letter requests, he is on a personal crusade to help tax preparers avoid them and to bridge the gap between mortgage underwriters and tax professionals.

Connect with Dan Mullen:

Website: https://www.futureandmain.com/

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

CONNECT WITH CHERYL:

Website: www.cherylknows.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwvWKXBC6fKn1dLGY11hxIg

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

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

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

Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Cheryl Knowlton and Dave Rosenberg discuss:

• Radical accountability's three elements: mechanics, mindset, and modeling

• Importance of clear job descriptions, processes, and formal training with testing

• Counseling and curiosity instead of yelling when mistakes happen

• Leadership's impact on safety: fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses to toxic behavior

• Leaders must "walk the talk" to build trust, accountability, and high-performing teams

Key Takeaways:

• Radical accountability rests on three legs: mechanics, mindset, and modeling, and when any one of these is missing, performance, trust, and culture all suffer.

• Clear job descriptions, documented processes, and written policies remove "I didn't know" as an excuse.

• Training must be formal, repeatable, and include testing and practice (like role plays) because without proof of competence, leaders can't fairly hold people accountable or diagnose whether problems are systemic or personal.

• When leaders yell, they trigger fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses, not learning or growth, and the alternative is a calm "counseling" conversation that looks for either broken systems or misaligned behavior.

• Team members watch what leaders do more than what they say.

"If you want your team to grow, we need to grow as leaders. It's just that simple."
- Dave Rosenberg

About the guest, Dave Rosenberg:

Dave Rosenberg is a professional keynote speaker and leadership development consultant. He guides teams and leaders to foster a culture of accountability that accelerates results.

As a leading authority on high-performance leadership, accountability, and team dynamics, Dave Rosenberg is frequently hired as a leadership speaker, accountability speaker, and change management speaker. Dave's engaging, interactive, and insightful speaking style makes him a preferred keynote speaker for businesses aiming for the best conferences and events.

After 30+ years in leadership positions, Dave's leadership experience is practical, not theoretical. He has been the president of 4 organizations and has consulted with hundreds of companies across the United States. His clients represent a large cross-section of industry, from manufacturing, retail, construction, engineering, farming, trucking, communications, and service.

Connect with Dave Rosenberg:

Website: https://lockedonleadership.com/about-dave-rosenberg/

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lockedonleadership

CONNECT WITH CHERYL:

Website: www.cherylknows.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwvWKXBC6fKn1dLGY11hxIg

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

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

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

Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Cheryl Knowlton and Dirk Zeller discuss:

• Timeless fundamentals of real estate: persuasion, communication, and objection handling

• Time management and focus are the biggest challenges for agents and entrepreneurs

• Importance of daily lead generation and prioritizing high-value, dollar-productive activities

• Power of practice and role play to master listing presentations and objections

• Building long-term wealth by investing in real estate, not just selling it

Key Takeaways:

• Time management is the core constraint for most agents, such as too much $25/hour work, not enough high-value, dollar-productive activity.

• Skill in persuasion, communication, and objection handling will always matter more than being good at social media trends because reels and TikToks may open doors, but it's your ability to guide clients through fear, anxiety, and decision-making that actually wins the business.

• Treat scripts, listing presentations, and objection handling like athletes treat drills—repetition off the field so you don't practice on live prospects.

• Focus is a competitive advantage in a world of constant pings, dings, and notifications, and turning devices off, setting clear boundaries, and creating distraction-free blocks of time is often the only way the compound effect of your actions can actually kick in.

• Real estate sales should be viewed as the engine that funds long-term wealth, not the end goal, and using your commissions to acquire and hold investment properties creates compounding, generational benefits that far exceed a single closed transaction.

"We're on the front lines of wealth creation, friends, in the real estate industry. And you got to get you some, and owning it is better than selling it."

- Dirk Zeller

About the guest, Dirk Zeller:

Dirk Zeller is recognized internationally as one of the premier speakers and coaches on sales, success, time management, and peak performance. Dirk's proven systems and strategies take ordinary performers and transform them into extraordinary performers. Zeller's strategies on wealth and success enable anyone to achieve financial independence in their life.

Connect with Dirk Zeller:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-zeller-a481b83a/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/RealEstateChampions/?_rdc=1&_rdr#

https://web.facebook.com/dirk.zeller1/?_rdc=1&_rdr#

CONNECT WITH CHERYL:

Website: www.cherylknows.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwvWKXBC6fKn1dLGY11hxIg

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

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

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

Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.