Unbalanced

Unbalanced

di Candy Bellau, Sam Hallburn, Anchor
Imprenditoria
Stagione 2

Caregiving, culture, and the pivot to advisory with Tracy Brantingham

What happens when you build a firm on purpose, not by accident? In this raw, candid episode of Unbalanced, Sam and Candy sit down with Tracy Brantingham, founder of Building Profits, who’s balancing life as a nighttime caregiver and a daytime CEO. Tracy shares why she’s stepping out of client deliverables, how a former client-turned-coach is becoming her minority partner, and the hard lessons behind moving from “bookkeeping” to financial ops and advisory. We get into pricing (and boundaries), why “press your own buttons” isn’t a strategy, and the reality of running a small-but-mighty team of eight in the office. Powered by Anchor.
S2 · E23
7 ott 2025
54:06

Find your people: teams, pricing, and the cannabis niche with Monique Swansen

Sam and Candy sit down with Monique Swansen, founder of Automated Accounting Services and Accounting for Green, to talk about what it really takes to build and sustain a firm. Monique breaks down the realities of serving cannabis operators (hello, seed-to-sale and inventory), why hiring before you think you need to can save your sanity, and how short-term disability and cross-training became essential after real team crises. They get candid about pricing like you already have a team, documenting everything, and rethinking advisory so you’re not chained to nonstop calls. They also tackle the AI hype, capacity ebbs, ideal clients, and the power of community in an industry that can feel isolating. Powered by Anchor.
S2 · E22
30 set 2025
43:25

The man in the arena mindset with Marit Burmood

Tax pro and educator Marit Burmood, CPA, aka the Extroverted Accountant, joins Sam and Candy to talk about why credentials don’t magically fix broken pricing or shaky self-worth. She walks through the moment she shifted from hourly work to advisory (and lost her biggest client), how speaking at Taxposium and training with TOPS rewired her confidence, and why vulnerability builds real community in a guarded profession. We get into value pricing, feedback without spiraling, and the mindset work it takes to stop giving away what lives in your head for free. If you’ve ever felt “alphabet soup” after your name still isn’t enough, this one’s for you. Powered by Anchor.
S2 · E1
14 ott 2025
43:55

Beyond the highlight reel: community, boundaries, burnout with Candy Bellau and Sam Hallburn

In our season two opener, hosts Candy Bellau and Sam Hallburn sit down with producer Haley Kershner to look back on twenty-plus episodes of raw conversations and the ripple effects they’ve had across the accounting community. We revisit the moments that hit hardest, from parenting and missed milestones to lawsuits, employee heartbreak, and the quiet costs of running a firm, as well as the laughs that kept us going. Themes that kept resurfacing included the power of community and conferences, setting boundaries to prevent burnout, the reality of partnership, and why “presenting well” can mask a world of pain. Together, we map what’s ahead for season two, including deeper conversations on mental health, home life behind the highlight reels, and more part twos with guests who have more to say. Powered by Anchor.
S2 · E1
23 set 2025
42:28
Stagione 1

Build a firm that funds your life, not burns it with Nick Boscia

Unbalanced welcomes The Balanced CPA. Nick Boscia joins Candy and Sam for a raw conversation about transforming a legacy family firm into a modern, sustainable practice—and why balance isn’t a finish line but a daily recalibration. Nick traces the shift from manual workflows and marathon hours to clear standards, upfront billing, and a tech stack that gives his team back their time. He talks through client pushback, raising prices without apology, and the moment “no payment, no work” became a promise to protect the firm, not a threat to the relationship. Powered by Anchor.
S1 · E20
16 set 2025
41:04

Sequins, lawsuits, and letting go with Jennifer Devine

In this episode of Unbalanced, Sam and Candy sit down with Jennifer Devine of Devine Consulting for a raw and unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to run a firm. From the early days of check-signing clients to leading a 10-person virtual team, Jennifer shares the unexpected twists of her journey, including being pulled into lawsuits, the weight of client loyalty, and the hard choices around firing both clients and employees. Powered by Anchor.
S1 · E19
9 set 2025
31:31

The cost of growth: Burnout, family, and finding balance with Dan Luthi

What does it really take to build a thriving accounting firm while raising a family, teaching the next generation, and still showing up at conferences with energy to spare? In this episode of Unbalanced, Candy and Sam sit down with Dan Luthi, Partner at Ignite Spot Accounting, to uncover the truth behind the highlight reel.Dan shares how he rose from bookkeeper to partner over 15 years, the toll of working 18-hour days while finishing his master’s, and the hard lessons he’s learned about leadership, partnerships, and listening to the quiet voices on his team. He opens up about the guilt of missing family moments, the high of finding his people at conferences, and the constant struggle of chasing balance in an industry that glorifies the grind. Powered by Anchor.
S1 · E18
2 set 2025
41:16

Remember your why: Building a $5M vision with Jennifer Anderson

When Jennifer Anderson launched her firm in April 2020, at the height of COVID, she turned uncertainty into opportunity. From cashier at CompUSA to founder of Tru Financial Solutions, Jennifer’s story is one of grit, tech-savvy innovation, and an unwavering commitment to her “why.” In this raw and unfiltered conversation, she opens up about launching a business at the height of uncertainty, leading through change, embracing AI, and planning a $5 million exit strategy. Powered by Anchor.
S1 · E17
26 ago 2025
38:10

Mental health, leadership, and ditching the 80-hour badge of honor with Kristy Short

“Eighty to one-hundred hour weeks are not a badge of honor,” says Dr. Kristy Short, and she’s on a mission to get the accounting world talking about it. In this raw and candid conversation, Kristy shares the personal spiral that led to her first-ever medical leave in 25 years, the dream that sparked her book Civil Warrior, and why she refuses to split her personal and professional selves. If you’ve ever felt guilty for working less than 50 hours a week, or caught yourself calling yourself a “loser” at 2 a.m., this episode will remind you that you’re not alone, and that there’s a better way forward. To order a copy of Kristy's book, click here. Powered by Anchor.
S1 · E16
19 ago 2025
40:47

Humbled, amplified, and unapologetically real with Kenny Harper

What happens when a former rock musician turned marketing pro dives headfirst into entrepreneurship… and hits rock bottom? In this episode of Unbalanced, Candy and Sam sit down with Kenny Harper of Growth Amplifiers to unpack the real story behind the resume. From creative dreams and financial freefalls to business breakups and identity crises, Kenny gets radically honest about what it really takes to rebuild, reframe, and rise. They talk imposter syndrome, the difference between coaching and consulting, the limits of hustle, and why asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s a power move. Whether you’re a firm owner, small business leader, or someone simply trying to figure it all out, Kenny’s story is a must-listen reminder that success isn’t always loud… but it is earned. Powered by Anchor.
S1 · E15
12 ago 2025
34:01
6 di 8