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The Financial Operator

The Financial Operator

Written by: Jen Fizer
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About this listen

 I've spent over a decade in finance and operations, including seven years as an Operational CFO helping businesses through everything from growth to Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I've owned, scaled, and sold my own company, so I understand firsthand the pressure, risk, and grit it takes to be a business owner. Now, as CEO of MKB, I help entrepreneurs get clear on their numbers so they can scale with confidence and stop feeling stuck in the chaos. On this podcast, I sit down with real business owners to talk about the financial challenges they've faced, and the strategies that got them through. From cash flow stress to hiring decisions and growth setbacks, nothing's off the table. The Financial Operator is here to make finance feel doable, empowering, and dare I say—exciting.Fair Use Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Why Entrepreneurs Burn Out, and How to Think Differently About Stress

    Why Entrepreneurs Burn Out, and How to Think Differently About Stress
    Jan 19 2026
    Why Entrepreneurs Burn Out, and How to Think Differently About Stress | The Financial Operator Podcast | Episode 75 What if stress isn't the problem, but the story you're telling yourself about it is? This is Part 2 of Jen's conversation with Suzanne Boehs of Kool Foam LLC, and it goes even deeper. In this episode of The Financial Operator: Cash In, Chaos Out, Jen and Suzanne continue their candid, unscripted discussion about stress, entrepreneurship, partnership, and the mental side of building a business that lasts. This isn't a tactical episode about spreadsheets or KPIs. It's about the human side of business. How entrepreneurs and their partners navigate pressure, comparison, decision-making, and long seasons of growth without burning out. In Part 2, Suzanne shares insights from 18 years in business, including: Why stress comes from every angle, and what you can control How fueling your body affects decision-making and emotional regulation The danger of comparison culture and social media highlight reels Why fast decisions still require intention How past failures create resistance to future growth Reframing stress as adventure instead of dread Why meaning matters just as much as money If you're building a business, supporting an entrepreneur, or feeling overwhelmed by the weight of "doing it right," this episode offers perspective, grounding, and clarity. 🎧 Watch Part 2 now and continue the conversation on stress, success, and sustainability. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Back & Why This Conversation Matters 02:13 The Reality of Stress in Entrepreneurial Households 05:36 Fueling Your Body to Reduce Stress and React Better 09:04 Comparison Culture, Social Media, and Unrealistic Expectations 12:49 18 Years in Business: Why You Can't Compare Journeys 16:18 Fast Decisions vs. Intentional Decisions 20:15 Revenue Goals, Meaning, and Motivation 24:26 Why Money and Fulfillment Must Co-Exist 28:57 Stress vs. Adventure: Changing the Narrative 34:55 Supporting Each Other Through the Hard Days 43:16 Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Suzanne Boehs To connect with Suzanne Boehs & Kool Foam LLC.: 🌐 Website: https://www.koolfoamllc.com/ 📌 Don't forget to subscribe for the latest podcast episodes and insights from @mkbcfo Do you have your own financial or business growth questions for MKB? Visit: 🌎 Website: https://mkbcfo.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkb_cfo/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkbcfo �� LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkbcfo #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessOwnerLife #StressManagement #BehindTheBusiness #WomenInBusiness #FamilyBusiness #MentalFitness #EntrepreneurJourney #KoolFoam #TheFinancialOperator
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    44 mins
  • From CPA to Business Owner: Lessons You Only Learn the Hard Way

    From CPA to Business Owner: Lessons You Only Learn the Hard Way
    Jan 5 2026
    From CPA to Business Owner: Lessons You Only Learn the Hard Way | The Financial Operator Podcast | Episode 74 What does it really take to build a sustainable business—and stay sane while doing it? In this episode of The Financial Operator: Cash In, Chaos Out, Jen sits down with Samantha Besnoff, CPA and founder of Your Financial Maven, for a candid, practical conversation every business owner needs to hear. With over 30 years in accounting and more than a decade running her own firm, Samantha shares the real lessons that don't show up in spreadsheets, how long success actually takes, why boundaries matter more than hustle, and how understanding your numbers protects both your business and your sanity. In this episode, we cover: What it really looks like to leave a stable job and start your own firm Why most small businesses struggle in the first 2–3 years Setting boundaries with clients (and why it's not optional) Pricing, retainers, and getting paid before the work is done When—and how—to fire clients without blowing up your cash flow What business owners need to know heading into tax season The biggest bookkeeping and tax mistakes Samantha sees over and over This conversation is a must-watch for: ✔ Small business owners ✔ Service providers & consultants ✔ Anyone tired of guessing with their finances If you want fewer surprises, better cash flow, and a business that actually supports your life, this episode delivers. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Guest Welcome 02:49 Samantha's Journey Into Entrepreneurship 07:15 Why the First 2–3 Years Are the Hardest 10:07 Getting Paid, Pricing Right, and Setting Boundaries 15:04 When (and How) to Fire Clients 20:02 Major Tax Changes Business Owners Should Know 26:50 Filing Deadlines, Extensions, and Tax Season Reality 34:45 What Business Owners Actually Need for Their Taxes 41:15 Who Samantha Works With & How to Get Started 44:37 Final Thoughts & How to Connect To connect with Samantha M. Besnoff, CPA & Your Financial Maven: 🌐 Website: Your Financial Maven® 📌 Don't forget to subscribe for the latest podcast episodes and insights from @mkbcfo Do you have your own financial or business growth questions for MKB? Visit: 🌎 Website: https://mkbcfo.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkb_cfo/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkbcfo 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkbcfo #SmallBusinessOwner #Entrepreneurship #FinancialClarity #TaxTips #CashFlowManagement #BusinessFinance #WomenInBusiness #CPAAdvice #FractionalCFO #TheFinancialOperator
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    46 mins
  • The Side of Business No One Talks About (Spouses, Stress & Survival)

    The Side of Business No One Talks About (Spouses, Stress & Survival)
    Dec 22 2025

    The Side of Business No One Talks About (Spouses, Stress & Survival) | The Financial Operator Podcast | Episode 73

    What happens behind the scenes of a business when the owner is hanging on by a

    thread?

    In this episode of The Financial Operator: Cash In, Chaos Out, Jen sits down with

    Suzanne Boehs, co-owner of Kool Foam and the often-unseen force behind nearly

    two decades of entrepreneurship. After hearing Cory's side of the story in a previous

    episode, this conversation explores the other half of the equation—the spouse,

    supporter, "momager," and margin-maker who keeps the business (and the family)

    standing.

    Suzanne shares what it was really like to:

    • Start a business with two babies and zero experience

    • Support a company through near-bankruptcy and emotional burnout

    • Separate money from self-worth

    • Create emotional margin when everything feels urgent

    • Know when to cheerlead—and when to bring logic to the table

    • Support not one, but two business owners (her husband and her daughter)

    This episode is a must-watch for:

    ✔ Business owners navigating pressure and uncertainty

    ✔ Spouses and partners carrying the emotional weight

    ✔ Anyone who's ever thought, "We're working nonstop, why does this still feel so

    fragile?"

    The core takeaway:

    Support roles matter. Margin matters. And clarity changes everything.

    Watch now to hear the side of entrepreneurship that rarely gets airtime, but

    changes outcomes.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction & Why This Conversation Matters

    02:49 Starting Kool Foam with Babies, Chaos, and No Experience

    05:58 What Startup Life Really Looked Like

    10:07 The Emotional Role of Supporting a Business Owner

    13:41 Discovering Financial Clarity with a Fractional CFO

    17:31 Emotional Attachment to Money (and How It Holds You Back)

    22:25 From Bankruptcy Fear to Clear Direction

    26:50 Hiring, Growth, and Removing the Owner as the Bottleneck

    33:17 Rediscovering Confidence and Joy in the Business

    51:11 Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Suzanne Boehs

    To connect with Suzanne Boehs & Kool Foam LLC.:

    🌐 Website: https://www.koolfoamllc.com/

    📌 Don't forget to subscribe for the latest podcast episodes and insights from

    @mkbcfo

    Do you have your own financial or business growth questions for MKB? Visit:

    🌎 Website: https://mkbcfo.com

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkb_cfo/

    📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkbcfo

    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkbcfo

    #Entrepreneurship

    #BusinessOwnerLife

    #BehindTheBusiness

    #SpouseSupport

    #EmotionalMargin

    #WomenInBusiness

    #FamilyBusiness

    #FinancialClarity

    #FractionalCFO

    #TheFinancialOperator
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    53 mins
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