Built by Margin with Laurie Chen

In episode 24 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . — In this episode, Laurie breaks down one of the core ideas from Risk Worthy : your Best Possible Future — and why it’s the missing filter most people need when making high-stakes decisions. You’ll learn the difference between Best Self and Best Possible Future : Best Self is about the thoughts,...

In episode 23 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Sean Travis, a former firefighter-paramedic turned entrepreneur and founder of Ecom for Heroes, based in Hermosa Beach, California, as he discusses the challenges he faced, including burnout and personal loss, that led him to take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. Tune in to hear valuable insights on entrepreneurship and the intersecti...

In episode 22 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Kelly Jedele, the owner of a multi-million dollar residential cleaning company based in Austin, Texas, as she discusses her company's growth, her financial A-team, the importance of community engagement, and her unique customer acquisition strategies, including the power of word-of-mouth referrals and goodwill advertising.  Tune in to...

 In episode 21 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Fraser Bayley, the founder of Elite Nutrition, as he shares his incredible journey from struggling with mental health issues to becoming a sought-after performance strategist for high-achieving entrepreneurs, executives, and athletes.  Tune in for an engaging conversation that promises to bring value to your personal and professional life....

In episode 20 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Jim Emerich, Founder of Backbone CFO, as he reflects on the invaluable lessons learned while helping others build their enterprises and emphasizes the importance of taking risks to achieve one's own entrepreneurial dreams. Tune in to learn about the challenges and rewards of starting a business and how Jim's experiences have shape...

In episode 19 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Joseph Dunaway, Founder of VICI Financial, as he discusses how technology and AI are transforming the accounting landscape, allowing for more personalized and efficient services. Tune in to hear Joe’s insights on building a business with integrity and the importance of adapting to the future of accounting. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:04] Future of ac...

In episode 18 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . — This episode shares a never-before-read excerpt on why “Fail Fast” is essential to growth. Laurie reframes failure as deliberate experimentation: define your hypothesis, read the signal, and plan the next iteration you’ll start by Monday.  QUOTES " Fail fast. It is better to experience fa...

In episode 17 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . She discusses risk, regret minimization, and decisions that compound—covering practical risk tolerance (why many successful founders start as side hustles), lowering uncertainty through iteration, and using your “80-year-old self” as a filter, echoed by lessons from Jeff Bezos and Dharmesh Shah....

 In episode 16 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares key insights from her upcoming book Risk Worthy . She explains how to define your best possible future, focus on meaningful returns—not just quantitative returns—and take intentional steps to make your vision inevitable. She also offers a simple action prompt and invites listeners to join her early reader list. Tune in for valuable strategies...

In episode 15 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Nnamdi Oparanozie, a strategic CFO and purpose-driven entrepreneur, who shares how he integrates faith, fitness, and finance into both business and life, and why serving others is at the core of his mission. Tune in to discover how to build a profitable business while staying true to your core values. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:58] F5 core values fr...

In episode 14 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Kelsey Daingerfield, a Powerhouse in Operations and a Fractional COO, as she shares her journey across industries—from aerospace to higher education—and how she discovered her passion for operations and change management. Tune in to discover insights on how to work smarter, not harder, and the value of operational excellence in driving busi...

In episode 13 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares insights from her upcoming book, "Risk Worthy", emphasizing the importance of making choices that align with the best version of oneself and prioritizing qualitative returns on investment over purely quantitative measures. Tune in for valuable strategies on becoming your best self and making risk-worthy decisions. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:33...

In episode 12 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen shares insights from her upcoming book, "Risk Worthy", exploring the concept of risk beyond just numbers. Discover how to evaluate risks in your life and business through a new framework that emphasizes qualitative outcomes. Tune in to discover how to navigate the complexities of risk and make smarter financial decisions. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:1...

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...

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...

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. TIME...

In episode 8 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Byron Wolfe , a Certified Public Accountant and Founder of The CFO-AF , as he shares his insights on the importance of combining tax strategy with Fractional CFO services, emphasizing how understanding both sides can lead to significant savings and increased business valuation. Tune in for insights on optimizing cash flow and navigating the...

In episode 7 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Sharleen Cheung, a Nutrition and Perimenopause Health Coach, to discuss the importance of improving energy through healthy habits, the link between founder health and business success, and the mindset shifts that led her to measure the KPIs and financial metrics that actually helped to reenergize her profits. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:15] Nutrition...

In episode 6 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Antonio Green, Author, Public Speaker, and Director at James H. Cole Home for Funerals . From modernizing operations to navigating the financial complexities of building a new location, Antonio reveals the lessons he learned about financial discipline and the importance of relationships in business. Tune in to discover how effective financia...

In episode 5 of Built By Margin , Laurie Chen interviews Breanne Benson, a Digital Creator, also known as The Coupon Queen , as she discusses her journey in building a successful affiliate marketing business through social media. Breanne also talks about her evolution from teaching others how to save money through couponing to coaching women on monetizing their social media without needing to crea...

In episode 4 of Built By Margin, Laurie Chen interviews Kim Sutton, the Principal at Vintage Sign & Light, as they explore the importance of having a solid financial foundation, the impact of processes on business scalability, and the significance of understanding your numbers. Tune in to learn how the right coaching can inspire new perspectives and strategies for financial success. TIMESTAMPS...

In episode 3 of Built By Margin, Laurie Chen interviews Alexander Mair, Founder and CEO at Fabricant Ops , as he discusses the common challenges startups face and the importance of templatizing solutions to alleviate pain points for future leaders.  Tune in to hear valuable insights on entrepreneurship and financial lessons learned along the way. TIMESTAMPS [00:02:43] Revenue operations challenges...

In this first-ever episode of Built By Margin, Laurie Chen, a Certified Public Accountant and the Founder of Advanced CFO , shares her journey from CPA to working with startup founders and small business owners, revealing how her passion for numbers and strategy has helped countless entrepreneurs achieve profitability and peace of mind.  Tune in to discover the inspiration behind the podcast'...

In episode 2 of Built By Margin, Laurie Chen interviews Robyn Penner Thiessen, a Leadership Coach and the Founder of RPT Consulting, as she discusses her vision of supporting leaders to effectively lead their teams and the challenges she faced while navigating the world of entrepreneurship.  Tune in to hear insights on building a profitable business and making smarter financial decisions. TIMESTAM...

Built By Margin is the no-fluff, straight-talking financial podcast for entrepreneurs who are ready to go beyond revenue and start building real profit. Hosted by Laurie Chen, Fractional CFO and Tax Strategist, each episode pulls back the curtain on the financial strategies that actually drive business growth. From mastering cash flow and decoding your financial statements to uncovering hidden tax...