On Life With Helen

Most people think of reverse mortgages as a last-resource option, but what if your biggest asset could provide financial freedom without selling or downsizing?In this episode, the first of a two-part series interview with Mitchell Cooper, we discuss reverse mortgages' potential to transform your retirement planning and unlock financial security. Mitchell is one of the 200 Certified Reverse Mortgage Professionals in the country, with almost a decade of experience helping retirees and educating homeowners on the hidden potential of their home equity.Listen to episode 63 of On Life With Helen and learn everything you need to know about the often misinterpreted world of home equity in retirement planning. You'll also hear why most financial models ignore the massive role of housing in retirees' portfolios' wealth, the psychological barriers homeowners face when looking at their homes as assets, why waiting until late retirement to tap into home equity is a mistake, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Mitchell explains the problem of "getting into that conversation" too late (3:10)All about housing wealth and retirement planning (6:00)Mitchell talks about the emotional barriers when thinking of homes as an asset (9:10)Why do some people see reverse mortgages as some sort of failure (13:30)Reverse mortgages and family dynamics (17:30)Connect with Mitchell CooperLinkedInLet's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham

For some business owners, thinking about their company's marketing feels a lot like stepping into a cluttered storage unit — they have no idea where to start, what to move first, or what will actually work.In today's episode, Ann Bouchard unravels the secrets and benefits of crafting simple, honest, and solid marketing strategies. Ann is the Founder and President of Bouchard Communications Group, a full-service marketing agency with over three decades of experience crafting customized and integrated marketing solutions.Listen to episode 62 of On Life With Helen and learn more about the evolving world of marketing, what outsourcing your business' marketing should look like, and how to define your brand's unique value. Ann also shares real-world examples of how strategic marketing can take your business to the next level, talks about the intersection between PR and marketing, AI, how non-profits can increase their influence through customized marketing campaigns, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Is your marketing agency working for you, or the other way around? (6:10)What makes your business stand out? Apart from excellent customer service? (9:20)Ann shares real-world examples of successful marketing campaigns (16:00)Can non-profits can increase their impact through marketing? (18:50)Can marketing agencies help if you or your business gets canceled? (21:20)AI is your intern, not your partner (24:40)Connect with Ann Bouchard:LinkedInInstagramVisit the Bouchard Communications Group's websiteLet's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham

Do insurance costs leave you stressed and uncertain about your business's future? Do you have a strategy to manage employee benefits while ensuring a healthier workforce? Did you know there is a way to turn insurance expenses into a financial asset?If any of these questions keep you up at night, you can't miss today's episode! We have the opportunity to chat with Roland Guillen, a seasoned insurance professional with over 15 years in the industry, who is currently the Director of Captive Growth Strategy at Bender Insurance Solutions.Listen to episode 61 of On Life With Helen and discover new strategies to optimize coverage and reduce costs, from adapting to a changing market to exploring alternative risk solutions like captive insurance, and actionable insights for cost management and transparency. Roland also shares his thoughts on the role of AI in enhancing workplace safety, the importance for business owners to keep a student mentality, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Roland talks about current challenges in the insurance industry (5:40)How to turn insurance expense into an asset (12:00)What do you need to know as a business owner about what to expect in 2025 and 2026? (17:30)Roland talks about the impact of AI in the insurance industry (20:10)Connect with Roland:LinkedInBender Insurance Solutions websiteBender Insurance Solutions LinkedInBender Insurance Solutions InstagramBender Insurance Solutions FacebookCaptive Insurance Times article on Roland GuillenLet's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham

Can the CHIPS Act tackle the nationwide workforce shortage? Is $53 billion enough to jumpstart a "U.S. semiconductor renaissance"? Can America reshape the global semiconductor landscape? Can we end our reliance on overseas chip production?These are some of the questions Dan Marrujo answers in this special take-two on the CHIPS Act Initiative. Whether you are a tech enthusiast, a job seeker, or a business owner, today's episode is your ticket to a deeper understanding of the massive shifts happening in the semiconductor industry.Dan Marrujo is the President and Manager Director of Trusted Strategic Solutions, a Silicon Valley-based consulting firm. He is also the co-founder of the Trusted American Insurance Agency and the creator of The Marrujo Foundation, which supports research in astronomy and astrophysics.Listen to episode 60 of On Life With Helen and dive deep into this transformative moment for the U.S. economy and technology landscape. Discover how the CHIPS Act is set to reshape America's workforce, address critical shortages, reduce our country's reliance on overseas production, generate educational opportunities, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the education and career opportunities (4:40)What are America's plans to "fix" workforce shortages (8:10)Dan talks about future funding and the semiconductor industry's growth (14:20)The impact of Tariffs on the semiconductor industry (16:10)Dan's predictions (and wishes) for the following years (18:30)Connect with Dan Marrujo:LinkedinEmail: dmarrujo@tss.llcPhone: 916-778-7402Trusted Strategic SolutionsThe Marrujo FoundationTrusted Strategic Solutions LinkedInThe Marrujo Foundation LinkedInDan Marrujo in the media:https://www.eetimes.com/gf-contract-meets-high-mix-of-dod-needs-expert-says/https://www.calpoly.edu/news/astronomy-research-fellowship-will-map-one-billion-stars-milky-way-beyondhttps://tignis.com/2022/11/09/tignis-engages-daniel-marrujo/Let's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham

Do you know how to increase your business valuation and appeal to potential buyers?In this episode, we explore succession planning for business owners guided by the expert business broker, Randy Hendershot. Randy is the Founder and CEO of Evolution Advisors, a company specializing in helping entrepreneurs sell or buy businesses, get an accurate valuation of their company, and create a smooth exit strategy.Listen to episode 59 of On Life With Helen and get valuable insights on preparing your business for sale, identifying risks, and understanding valuation methods. You'll get Randy's actionable advice on building a transition team and planning to maximize profits and minimize stress. If you are thinking about selling your business or want to learn how to plan for it, you can't miss today's episode!In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Randy's background and entrepreneurial journey (1:50)Why early planning is crucial when thinking of selling your business (3:40)Randy explains the evaluation and valuation process of selling a business (5:30)What are the key drivers of business value (7:00)Randy shares success stories and challenges he had throughout his career (18:10)How long does it take to sell a business (24:00)Connect with Randy Hendershot:Evolution AdvisorsLinkedInTwitterFacebookLet's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham

Do you remember what you did with the flyers you went home with after the last conference or entrepreneurial event you attended? Maybe this statistic will refresh your memory: 66% of promotional items are thrown away.In this episode, Marcie Shelton joins us to talk about an eco-friendly, impactful, and efficient marketing solution, Give2Lead. Marcie is a Leadership and Strategic HR Consultant, with a knack for sustainability and community, and the Founder of Give2Lead.Listen to episode 58 of On Life With Helen and learn more about Marcie's innovative platform that transformed traditional event swag for non-profit donations, while creating meaningful connections between businesses, their owners, and the communities they belong to. You'll learn how Give2Lead works, why it is ideal for building deeper connections with customers, and why it is the ideal alternative to traditional giveaways.In This Episode, You Will Learn:What is Give2Lead (4:50)Marcie explains the importance of quality interactions over quantity of interactions in events (7:20)How Give2Lead can help new businesses promote themselves and grow (14:00)About Give2Lead's environmental and community impact (20:30)Connect with Marcie:LinkedInEmail: Marcie@give2lead.com Phone: 916-755-2402Give2Lead websiteGive2Lead LinkedInLet's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham

Do you know anything about microelectronics? Tune in and discover why something so small produced so far from America can affect national security, military defenses, and daily life.In this episode, Dan Marrujo joins us to unravel the pivotal role of microelectronics and AI in defense and daily technology. Dan is the Founder of Trusted Strategic Solutions and former Chief Strategist at the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA). He has over a decade of experience in national security technology, specializing in microelectronics strategy, supply chain resilience, and innovation.Listen to episode 57 of On Life With Helen and join Hellen and Dan as they discuss the transformative impact of microelectronics and AI in our daily lives and global industries. You'll also hear about dual-use technologies, why the CHIPS Act has a crucial role in America's future, the lessons learned from the supply chain disruptions in the last three to four years, how AI can help reduce food waste and improve sustainability, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:What are defense microelectronics, and why are they so important (2:20)About American's government role in microelectronics development (7:00)Why the last couple of years had a massive impact on the supply chain of microelectronics (9:10)Why America should be working on becoming a world leader in microelectronics manufacturing and distribution (14:20)How AI and microelectronics are shaping our future (19:40)Why embracing new technologies is the smartest thing to do (23:50)Connect with Dan Marrujo:LinkedinEmail: dmarrujo@tss.llcPhone: 916-778-7402Trusted Strategic SolutionsThe Marrujo FoundationTrusted Strategic Solutions LinkedInThe Marrujo Foundation LinkedInDan Marrujo in the media:https://www.eetimes.com/gf-contract-meets-high-mix-of-dod-needs-expert-says/https://www.calpoly.edu/news/astronomy-research-fellowship-will-map-one-billion-stars-milky-way-beyondhttps://tignis.com/2022/11/09/tignis-engages-daniel-marrujo/Let's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham

As a business owner and leader, how prepared are you to de-escalate conflicts and mediate during disagreements in the workplace?In this episode, we learn about the art of addressing polarization and promoting team harmony in the workplace from the brilliant Geoff Hash. Geoff is an experienced employment lawyer and workplace mediator with over 20 years of experience defusing conflicts in professional environments. Relying on open dialogue and trust among team members, he develops creative solutions to complex work-related challenges.Listen to episode 56 of On Life With Helen and learn how to recognize the need for mediation, create neutrality in conflict resolution, and address underlying personal traumas as the reason behind conflict manifestation in the workplace. Geoff also shares his thoughts on navigating workplace tension due to polarizing issues, the stigma on mental health and therapy that stands in the way of the importance of mental health awareness, how to communicate effectively, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Geoff's professional background (1:40)Why Geoff is someone you want to have on speed dial (3:20)How to establish trust and neutrality in mediation (5:20)Navigating social and political disconnect in the workplace (6:50)How traumatic experiences influence conflicts in the workplace (11:10)How do generational conflicts affect succession planning in business? (19:00)Why having no plan is planning to fail and how Geoff can help with this (23:20)Connect with Geoff Hash:LinkedInVisit EiroBridge's websiteFollow EiroBridge on XLet's Connect!EmailLinkedInWebsite - Ornellas InsuranceFacebook Page - Ornellas & Associates Insurance ServicesFacebook Profile Helen Ornellas Lanham