Wealthyist

Most owners know they should have an exit plan. Fewer than half do, usually because they do not know where to start. Brian Lambourne talks with Amy Kiiskila, Director of Wealth Strategies for Annex Private Client, about the do’s and don’ts of selling a business. The starting point is a decision tree, not a signed deal. Internal sale to key employees or family, third-party buyer, or private equity....

This week on Wealthyist, Kent Haleen sits down with Jenny Jesse, manager of Annex’s financial planning team and lead author of the firm’s year-end guide, Turning the Page on 2026. Jenny traces her path from intern to planning lead and gets to the point: OBBBA locked in the TCJA rates, so high-net-worth families are no longer planning against a sunset. The work this year is using the code that is a...

Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs), created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, let investors roll capital gains (from stocks, a business sale, real estate, or other assets) into a Qualified Opportunity Fund within 180 days and defer the tax. The original 10-year window ends in 2026, so deferred gains become taxable this year even if the investment is not sold—creating a liquidity pinch for some ho...

In this replay of Wealthyist Episode 44, host Anthony Mlachnik sits down with Andy Oliver, a 30-year finance veteran, two-time business founder/exiter, and partner at Oak Hill Business Partners, a boutique consulting firm that helps lower-middle and middle-market owners dramatically increase enterprise value and prepare for a successful exit. Key highlights and takeaways: Andy’s Unusual Journey  ...

On this week's Wealthyist, Tom Parks of Annex Wealth Management talks with Matt Reimer, U.S. director of Nerpa Travel, about how high earners can use travel as more than a reward or a padded escape.  Nerpa is named after the freshwater seal of Russia’s Lake Baikal — a nod from Welsh founders Kevin and Tom (one of whom is married to a Russian). The company sells small-group trips that keep luxury l...

Kent Halleen, wealth manager for Annex Private Client, sits down with Bret Achtenhagen, president and CEO of Seasonal Services, the Wisconsin landscaping firm he launched in 1994 with a truck, a tractor, and a newly announced first child on the way. Brett walks through that first $70,000 year, the farm-kid love of dirt and seasons that pulled him out of an office, and 32 years of steady growth bui...

In this episode of Wealthyist, host Deanne Phillips talks with Griselda Aldrete, founder and CEO of Star Sports Consulting Group and Andretti Law and Consulting. Aldrete’s work sits at the intersection of law, business, athletics, and family advising, helping high-school, collegiate, and professional athletes (and their parents) navigate the modern sports landscape. The conversation centers on how...

On this episode of Wealthyist, host Anthony Mlachnik (senior wealth advisor) sits down with Mike Chirchirillo—certified trainer, functional medicine health coach, co-owner of Collective Flow Milwaukee, and manufacturing consultant—for a conversation that bridges business performance and personal vitality. Mike traces his path from joining a family metal-stamping and sheet-metal fabrication busines...

In this episode of Wealthyist, financial planning manager Tom Berkholtz sits down with senior wealth strategist Brian Lamborne of Annex Private Client to demystify Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) What an ESOP really isAn ESOP lets a business owner sell the company to its employees. Employees rarely have cash to buy it outright, so a trust/fund is created that purchases the owner’s stock. Ov...

In this episode of Wealthyist, host Brian Lamborne (Senior Wealth Wtrategist) sits down with Tom Berkholtz (Manager of Financial Planning at Annex Wealth Management) for a clear, practical breakdown of restricted stock units (RSUs)—one of the most common forms of equity compensation. They start by defining RSUs as a company grant (a promise of stock value) that vests over time, aligning employee a...

In this episode of Wealthiest, host Anthony Mlachnik sits down with Gunnar Crowell, Senior Advisor of Charitable Estate Planning for the American Heart Association. Gunnar shares his journey from college football defensive lineman and practicing attorney to helping high-net-worth families create meaningful, tax-efficient legacies. The conversation dives deep into practical philanthropy: why health...

In this episode of Wealthyist, host Austin Grandinetti sits down with Amber Kolacki-Hake, designer at Wise Design Builders, to explore how affluent homeowners in the Lake Country area (and beyond) are thoughtfully redesigning their homes to match evolving lifestyles. Key highlights include: The rise of multi-zone kitchens — entertainment/show kitchens with clean, streamlined islands for gathering,...

The episode of Wealthyist (the podcast exploring the lifestyles, choices, and strategies of the wealthy, produced by Annex Wealth Management) features host Tom Parks , Director of Retirement Plan Services, interviewing his colleague Deanne Phillips , Managing Director of Client and Community Engagement. The focus is on "passion assets" —personal items acquired out of genuine love and passion rathe...

In this episode of Wealthyist , host Kent Halleen sits down with Freddie Hoppe, co-owner and sales manager of Hoppe Tree Service and a third-generation arborist whose family business dates back to 1972. They explore how professional tree care and landscape management serve as essential services for high-net-worth properties and estates, where owners often invest six figures annually in maintenance...

In this episode of Wealthyist , host Greg Batiansila sits down with Tom Parks, Director of Retirement Plan Services at Annex Wealth Management. Tom leads Annex’s 401(k) advisory team and brings over 25 years of experience helping business owners optimize their retirement plans. The conversation challenges the common view of 401(k) plans as just another compliance checkbox or “fine for now” employe...

In this episode of Wealthyist , hosts Tom Berkholtz (CFP®, EA, ECA) and Eric Strom (CFP®, EA) break down the critical difference between tax preparation and tax planning — and why the distinction matters more than ever for high-net-worth individuals in 2026. Tax preparation is the annual filing process: gathering documents, accurately completing your return, and avoiding penalties. Tax planning ,...

Are Beneficiary Designations Undermining Your Estate Plan? Beneficiary designations are contractual instructions you give to financial institutions about who receives assets in accounts like: IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s Checking and savings accounts (often called Payable on Death - POD or Transfer on Death - TOD) These are legally binding contracts between you and the financial institution. They gene...

In this episode, host Austin Grandinetti sits down with Ashley Kuehnel of Midwestern Bride and Koryn Bennett   of Ivy Lane Photo Company . The conversation dives into the evolving world of luxury and premium weddings, particularly in the Midwest. Key highlights include: What "luxury" really means : It varies wildly by couple—some prioritize an intimate experience with 10 guests and heavy investmen...

In this engaging Wealthyist episode, host Kent Haleen and co-host David Panitzke (both proud new owners of the same-year manual-transmission Corvettes) welcome Jay Shiek , aka Jay the Car Guy — a passionate collector, appraiser, broker, and key figure reviving the Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance. Jay shares his origin story: a lifelong car enthusiast who turned his passion into a business helping cl...

In this episode of The Wealthyist , Kent Halleen sits down with John Choate — former Navy SEAL officer, successful entrepreneur, and founder of Apogee Travel , a transparent hotel booking platform that supports veteran causes and charities like St. Jude. John shares hard-earned leadership lessons from the SEAL teams that translate directly to building high-performing businesses and living a wealth...

In this engaging episode of Wealthyist , host Anthony Mlachnik (Senior Wealth Advisor at Annex Private Client) sits down with Joan Nesbitt , Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). With over 30 years in higher education fundraising—including more than a decade in a similar role at Missouri S&T—Nesbitt shares insights from the front lines of pa...

In this remote episode of Wealthyist , recorded live from Jet OUT’s new hangar in Waukesha, Wisconsin, host Anthony Mlachnik (Senior Wealth Advisor at Annex Private Client) sits down with Evan Rossiter , Sales Director at Jet OUT — a Milwaukee-based private aviation company. Evan clearly explains Jet OUT’s co-ownership model : it’s not traditional fractional ownership (like NetJets), not a jet car...

In this episode of Wealthyist , host Anthony Mlachnik interviews Jim Villa , CEO of NAIOP Wisconsin (the Commercial Real Estate Development Association). With 35 years in public policy, politics, and economic development—including roles under Governor Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker—Villa offers a grounded, insider perspective on commercial real estate as a vehicle for wealth creation and communit...

In this episode of Wealthyist , host Anthony Mlachnik(senior wealth advisor at Annex Private Client) interviews Dr. Tim Murray, an anesthesiologist and founder/CEO of Solstice Health. Murray launched the company in 2012 after witnessing pricing practices in traditional hospital systems, noting that medical bills remain the #1 cause of bankruptcy. Core Business Model: Solstice Health combines Direc...

The episode of Wealthyist (the podcast exploring the lifestyles, choices, and strategies of the wealthy, produced by Annex Wealth Management) features host Tom Parks , Director of Retirement Plan Services, interviewing his colleague Deanne Phillips , Managing Director of Client and Community Engagement. The focus is on "passion assets" —personal items acquired out of genuine love and passion rathe...