The Ignorance Surcharge is the most expensive tax you’ll ever pay. In this high-stakes episode of the 2nd Look Services podcast, Michael Jesse and Don Zavis perform a Forensic Sweep of the massive 800-page bill shifting the financial landscape for 2026. Whether you are a CEO managing a billion-dollar entity or the "Family CFO" managing your household's balance sheet, the 2nd Look Theology is your competitive advantage.We stop the "unconscious incompetence" that bleeds your capital. Learn how to Earn, Return, and Retain more of your wealth by leveraging the strategies elite firms often overlook.In this episode, we expose:✅ Corporate Recovery: Why 100% depreciation on in-use equipment like CNC devices is a game-changer for 2025.✅ R&D Amortization: The immediate window to claim held-back tax credits in one shot.✅ The Family CFO: Why treating your household as a business is the only path to generational wealth.The Financial Equalizer: How our contingency-based model removes the risk of forensic recovery.Stop being a victim of the "Safety Net" mentality. Be serious about you. Chapter Timestamps[00:00] – The 2nd Look Theology: 2026 New Year Reset [01:34] – Unconscious Incompetence: Breaking Financial Habits [04:37] – The Done-For-You vs. DIY Recovery Solution [05:43] – [CORPORATE] R&D Amortization & Forensic Review of the 800-Page Bill [06:24] – [CORPORATE] 100% Depreciation & Cost Segregation Hacks [08:58] – [WEALTH] Defining the Family CFO: Your Household is a Business[11:10] – Generational Wealth: Why You Can Ask for More [17:15] – Resourcefulness is the Win: How Elon Musk Built SpaceX [21:12] – Eliminating the Ignorance Surcharge: Be Serious About You [27:45] – Medical Billing Errors & Financial Recovery AMA

🚨 Stop accepting the loss. We are 2nd Look Services, the Financial Equalizer. We use proprietary tech and elite experts to find and reclaim the capital the system unjustly withholds from your business. In this episode, we show you how to perform "Financial Triage" to unlock immediate cash flow and navigate acute financial stress without panic.About This Episode:This week, hosts Don Zavis and Michael Jesse break down the concept of Financial Triage—finding immediate liquidity within your existing assets when you need it most, rather than relying on the "six-month emergency fund" myth.We reveal the playbook to combat The Unfair Advantage in complex financial recovery, including:The Mortgage Swap Strategy: How to defer a mortgage payment to immediately pay off high-interest credit card debt.The "Partial Payment" Shield: How to negotiate with utility companies and avoid collections by managing consistent, smaller payments.Hidden Forgiveness Programs: The specific triggers that can wipe out student loan debt for public servants and the disabled.Episode Chapters (Timestamps):[00:00] Introduction[01:13] The Mortgage Skip Strategy: Finding $1,000 Instantly[06:30] Negotiating Utilities: How to Avoid Shutoffs[08:19] Why Emergency Funds Are a Myth (Financial Triage[12:12] The Forced Savings Loan Strategy[14:25] Michael’s Journey: Eliminating $60k in Debt[16:08] Student Loan Forgiveness Hacks[18:53] Avoiding Collections: The Weekly Payment Method[23:45] The 32-Point Recovery Checklist[25:39] Leveraging Your Tax Refund EarlyWork with The Financial EqualizerOur Mission: To empower business owners and individuals by recovering hidden funds. The Difference: We combine an AI-powered analysis engine with elite human expertise for unmatched results. Our model is 100% contingency-based for Recovery Services—Zero Risk. We only get paid when you do.Ready to Reclaim Your Capital?Book Your Free Financial Assessment: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4Visit Our Website: www.2ndlookservices.comConnect with 2nd Look ServicesLinkedIn (Primary Channel for CEOs/CFOs): https://www.linkedin.com/company/107150293Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576614189080/YouTube (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJx4a1oDc4V-o5vAt5wMROw

🚨 Stop accepting the loss. We are 2nd Look Services, the Financial Equalizer. We use proprietary tech and elite experts to find and reclaim the capital the system unjustly withholds from your business.In this episode, we show you how to eliminate the "Ignorance Surcharge" and trust experts to recover your hard-earned cash . 👉 Find the Fuel to Grow. Book your Free Financial Assessment today: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4About This Episode:This week, hosts Don Zavis and Michael Jesse, along with our special guest Dr. Steven Clauson, break down the hidden costs of trying to do it all yourself and why "trusting but verifying" is the key to success in 2026 . We reveal the playbook to combat The Unfair Advantage in complex financial recovery, including:The Pilot Philosophy: The secret to maximizing your time by trusting professionals to "fly the plane" while you focus on the destination .The Ignorance Surcharge: How to avoid the costly mistake that causes 80% of businesses to miss deductions and overpay simply because they are overwhelmed .Buying Back Time: The power of turning recovered capital into freedom—how saving money today allows you to "buy back" the last 10 years of your life .Episode Chapters:[00:00] Intro: The Financial Equalizer Mission[01:44] Resilience: Why Learning to Grind Matters[03:08] Pivoting After Career-Ending Failure[06:16] The 80% Stat: Missing Deductions[06:52] The Ignorance Surcharge: Why You Overpay[09:28] The Pilot Analogy: Stop Trying to DIY Your Taxes[11:29] The "Have vs. Want" Marketing Framework[12:47] Overcoming Skepticism: Is Financial Recovery Real?[16:02] Bogus Assertions vs. Irrefutable Truth[18:18] Trust in 2026: Why Relationships Matter Again[21:25] Assault Marketing: The Value of Brutal HonestyWork with The Financial EqualizerOur Mission: To empower business owners and individuals by recovering hidden funds. The Difference: We combine an AI-powered analysis engine with elite human expertise for unmatched results. Our model is 100% contingency-based for Recovery Services—Zero Risk. We only get paid when you do.Ready to Reclaim Your Capital?Book Your Free Financial Assessment: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4Visit Our Website: www.2ndlookservices.comConnect with 2nd Look ServicesLinkedIn (Primary Channel for CEOs/CFOs): https://www.linkedin.com/company/107150293Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576614189080/YouTube (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJx4a1oDc4V-o5vAt5wMROw

🚨 Stop accepting the loss. We are 2nd Look Services, the Financial Equalizer. We use proprietary tech and elite experts to find and reclaim the capital the system unjustly withholds from your business. In this episode, we show you how to unlock our "Total Recovery Roadmap" to find over 30 distinct ways to recover lost revenue.👉 Find the Fuel to Grow. Book your Free Financial Assessment today: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4About This Episode:This week, hosts Don Zavis and Michael Jesse break down the "Total Recovery Roadmap"—a comprehensive strategy that has identified 32 specific points where businesses and individuals are leaving money on the table. We reveal the playbook to combat The Unfair Advantage in complex financial recovery, including:The "Penny Saved" Multiplier: How a single property tax appeal can save you tens of thousands of dollars with just one hour of work.The 10-Year Lookback: How to legally reclaim sales tax paid on raw materials and equipment going back a full decade.The Hidden Category Killers: Unlocking specific grants and credits available to Veterans, Minorities, and Women that are hiding in plain sight.Episode Chapters (Timestamps):[00:00] Intro: The Financial Equalizer Mission[00:40] The "Total Recovery Roadmap": 32 Points of Lost Revenue[02:16] Property Tax Appeals: Earning $30,000 in One Hour[05:25] The 10-Year Sales Tax Lookback Strategy[07:08] Case Study: The Florist & Raw Material Exemptions[11:38] "Category Killers": Unlocking Veteran & Minority Benefits[15:00] Why Government Programs Are Hiding in Plain Sight[24:06] The 2026 Outlook: Why You Must Act Before the ResetWork with The Financial EqualizerOur Mission: To empower business owners and individuals by recovering hidden funds. The Difference: We combine an AI-powered analysis engine with elite human expertise for unmatched results. Our model is 100% contingency-based for Recovery Services—Zero Risk. We only get paid when you do.Ready to Reclaim Your Capital?Book Your Free Financial Assessment: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4 Visit Our Website: www.2ndlookservices.comConnect with 2nd Look ServicesLinkedIn (Primary Channel for CEOs/CFOs): https://www.linkedin.com/company/107150293Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576614189080/YouTube (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJx4a1oDc4V-o5vAt5wMROw

🚨 Stop accepting the loss. We are 2nd Look Services, the Financial Equalizer. We use proprietary tech and elite experts to find and reclaim the capital the system unjustly withholds from your business. In this episode, we show you how to stop overpaying on workman's comp premiums and identify phantom medical billing charges. 👉 Find the Fuel to Grow. Book your Free Financial Assessment today: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4About This Episode:This week, hosts Don Zavis and Michael Jesse break down the hidden costs within workman's compensation policies and the rampant billing errors that drain business capital. We reveal the playbook to combat The Unfair Advantage in complex financial recovery, including:Employee Misclassification: The secret to lowering premiums by accurately defining employee roles (e.g., distinguishing warehouse managers from forklift operators).The Payroll Trap: How to avoid the costly mistake of including overtime, bonuses, and vacation pay in your premium calculations.Forensic Bill Review: The power of our Integrated Model to identify phantom medical charges—like ambulance fees for rides that never happened—and recover those funds.Episode Chapters (Timestamps):[00:00] The Financial Equalizer Mission[00:53] The Equity Trap: Why 50-Year Mortgages hurt wealth building[05:21] The Reality of Workman's Comp Premiums[07:23] Case Study: The Cost of Employee Misclassification[16:20] Tactical Tip: Excluding Overtime & Bonuses from Audits[18:43] Medical Billing Nightmares: Phantom Charges[23:40] How Forensic Review Recovers Your Capital Work with The Financial EqualizerOur Mission: To empower business owners and individuals by recovering hidden funds. The Difference: We combine an AI-powered analysis engine with elite human expertise for unmatched results. Our model is 100% contingency-based for Recovery Services—Zero Risk. We only get paid when you do.Ready to Reclaim Your Capital?Book Your Free Financial Assessment: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4 Visit Our Website: www.2ndlookservices.comConnect with 2nd Look ServicesLinkedIn (Primary Channel for CEOs/CFOs): https://www.linkedin.com/company/107150293 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576614189080/ YouTube (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJx4a1oDc4V-o5vAt5wMROw

In this episode, we dive into the critical but often overlooked "second settlement"—the battle to keep your money after a big legal win—and how common retirement pay packages can become "golden handcuffs" due due to adverse tax treatment. Join Don Zavis and Michael Jesse, co-founders of 2nd Look Services, as we break down complex legal and financial concepts into actionable steps you can implement today to minimize your IRS intervention and maximize your take-home amount. They also discuss the "Founders' Exit Trap" and how business owners can leverage things like seller financing and personal goodwill to achieve a more advantageous exit.

In this episode, we dive into the critical importance of financial self-sufficiency, especially in times of governmental uncertainty like a shutdown, and how to master the 'Earn, Return, Retain' philosophy. Join Don Zavis and Michael Jesse as we break down complex financial concepts into actionable steps you can implement today, challenging the entitlement mindset and urging listeners to take proactive control of their financial destiny. We cover everything from finding overlooked money (unclaimed assets, grants) to leveraging resources like crowdfunding when you absolutely need a 'hand up,' not just a handout.

Are you ready to transform your financial future? Welcome to the 2nd Look Services Podcast, where we reveal the secrets to earning more money, recovering funds you're owed, and building generational wealth that lasts!In this episode, we dive into the hidden reasons why businesses and individuals often leave money on the table, especially regarding taxes, accounting, and legal structure. Don and Michael of 2nd Look Services welcome Carol, a former SCORE Director, to discuss why essential financial maintenance is so often avoided, and the dangers of settling for "good enough" on major financial decisions. We break down the crucial role of trust in your professional financial relationships and uncover strategies to revisit past decisions—like unoptimized tax returns—to claim the money you rightfully deserve.Whether you're looking to increase your income, reclaim lost funds, or lay the foundation for lasting prosperity, our expert insights and proven practices will guide you every step of the way. Don't just work hard; work smart, and let us show you how to build the financial legacy you deserve!🔑 Key Takeaways & Discussion Points:[00:00] Introduction to 2nd Look Services and the importance of a "second opinion" for your finances.[06:00] Why business owners prioritize sales and marketing over critical legal and accounting tasks.[10:00] The "Fear Factor" and the lack of investment in professional accounting and legal expertise.[13:00] Unlocking potential funds: Understanding tax amendments and why you should review past tax returns for missed deductions.[17:00] Protecting your personal wealth: The critical importance of the corporate veil and avoiding mistakes that risk your personal assets. An actionable first step: How to begin reviewing your business finances today by just focusing on your last month of activity.🚀 Ready to take the next step?Visit our Website: Discover more resources, services, and expert insights at 2ndlookservices.com.Get Your Free Consultation: Book a personalized session to discuss your financial goals! https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/meetings/michael4🔗 Connect With Us:Subscribe to our Channel: Never miss an episode! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJx4a1oDc4V-o5vAt5wMROwFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107150293Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576614189080/