Smart-ish Episode 3: Steve Fretzin – The Roots of ACA and the Business of Growth

Smart-Ish Episode 8: Meet Erin Zylka – Redefining What Wealth Really Means

In this episode of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off, Tom, Chris, and Scott are joined by surprise guest Erin Zylka, founder of Kona Financial Planning and co-founder of WHealthy Empowerment Network (WHEN).   What begins as a conversation about financial planning quickly evolves into a broader discussion about values, relationships, and what it truly means to build a wealthy life. Rather than focusing on investments or financial advice, Erin shares her perspective on the human side of money—why financial conversations are often emotional, how trust shapes financial decisions, and why aligning money with personal values can lead to greater confidence and fulfillment.   The conversation explores entrepreneurship, independence, networking, and the challenges of building a business centered around meaningful client relationships. Erin also discusses the inspiration behind WHealthy Empowerment Network and how healthier businesses can create healthier outcomes for both professionals and the people they serve.   As with most Smart-ish episodes, the discussion goes beyond business tactics and into the real conversations that happen after the meeting ends—covering trust, success, relationships, and what truly matters.   This episode is a reminder that wealth is about more than numbers—it’s about creating a life that reflects your values and priorities.   👤 Guest Bio: Erin Zylka Erin Zylka has worked as a financial planner since 2009, combining technical expertise with a relationship-focused approach. She believes true wealth begins when your money aligns with your values. In 2021, she founded Kona Financial Planning, an independent firm dedicated to helping clients feel confident and empowered in their financial lives. In 2024, she co-founded WHealthy Empowerment Network (WHEN), an operations, technology, and coaching platform designed to support independent financial advisors and encourage a broader conversation around true wealth.   Erin Zylka, CFP®, AIF®, MBA Owner, Kona Financial Planning   Erin@konafp.com (419) 340-6462 https://konafinancialplanning.com/   🔑 Episode Highlights: • Why true wealth goes beyond money and financial metrics • The role trust plays in financial and business relationships • How personal values influence financial decisions • The emotional side of money conversations • Building an independent business around relationships and service • Networking, referrals, and creating meaningful professional connections • Why success looks different for everyone • The mission behind WHealthy Empowerment Network (WHEN) • Common misconceptions about financial planners and wealth • How aligning your values and goals creates greater confidence   🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who could use a fresh perspective on success, relationships, and what wealth really means. Subscribe & Share: Catch new episodes of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off every month as we sit down with real ACA members to talk business, life, and the stories that don’t get told during the meeting. Follow, subscribe, and share with other ACA members. Know someone who should be a guest? Nominate them. Produced by: ACA Schaumburg Business Club Hosted by: Tom Gosche, Chris Prestegaard, and Scott Weinberg Recorded on Zoom. Lightly edited, never scripted.

Smart-ish Episode 7: Meet Hutch Hutchinson – B2B Marketing

🎙️ Episode: Meet Hutch Hutchinson – Making Your Marketing Actually Work Podcast: Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off Description: In this episode of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off, Tom, Chris, and Scott are joined by surprise guest Hutch Hutchinson, founder of HUTCHINSON., a Chicago-area communication design firm specializing in branding, websites, and SEO. What starts as a conversation about branding quickly shifts into a deeper discussion about clarity—what businesses are really trying to say, and why so many struggle to say it well. Hutch brings a practical, no-nonsense perspective on marketing, explaining the difference between looking good and actually communicating effectively. The conversation explores why visibility alone isn’t enough, how unclear messaging holds businesses back, and why being easy to understand is one of the most valuable advantages a company can have. Hutch also shares how branding shows up in everyday interactions, especially in networking, and how better communication leads to stronger referrals and real growth. As with most Smart-ish episodes, the discussion moves beyond tactics into how people connect, how trust is built, and why clarity drives better business relationships. This episode is a reminder that marketing isn’t about making things look nice—it’s about making them work. 👤 Guest Bio: Hutch Hutchinson Hutch, also known as Jerry “Hutch” Hutchinson, is the founder and president of HUTCHINSON., a communication design firm specializing in branding, website design and development, and SEO. For more than 25 years, Hutch has helped businesses show up clearly, look credible, and grow with purposeful, results-driven design. Known for his strategic thinking, strong creative direction, and refreshingly honest approach, Hutch focuses on work that performs in the real world—not just work that looks good. 🔑 Episode Highlights: • The difference between looking good and communicating clearly • Why most businesses struggle with messaging before marketing • Visibility vs. effectiveness in branding and marketing • How clarity impacts referrals and networking conversations • Why the best marketing isn’t flashy—it’s understood Subscribe & Share: Catch new episodes of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off every month as we sit down with real ACA members to talk business, life, and the stories that don’t get told during the meeting. Follow, subscribe, and share with other ACA members. Know someone who should be a guest? Nominate them. Produced by: ACA Schaumburg Business Club Hosted by: Tom Gosche, Chris Prestegaard, and Scott Weinberg Recorded on Zoom. Lightly edited, never scripted.

Smart-ish Episode 6- Blair Woerfel – Event Planner

🎙️ Episode 6: Meet Blair Woerfel – Creating Experiences People Remember Podcast: Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off Description: In this episode of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off, Tom, Chris, and Scott are joined by surprise guest Blair Woerfel, founder of BW Studio + Events. What starts as a conversation about event planning quickly turns into a broader discussion about experiences — what makes them memorable, why details matter, and how creating the right environment can completely change how people connect. Blair shares how she built a business around designing events that feel more like the best dinner party you’ve ever attended than a traditional gathering. The conversation also touches on how her natural ability to plan and host started early, and how that has translated into her work today. As with most Smart-ish episodes, the discussion moves beyond business into relationships — how shared experiences (whether events, conversations, or even small moments) are often what people remember most. This episode is a reminder that whether it’s an event, a meeting, or a networking group, the goal isn’t just to show up — it’s to create something people actually enjoy being part of. 👤 Guest Bio: Blair Woerfel Blair Woerfel is the founder of BW Studio + Events, a Chicago-based wedding and planning company known for creating celebrations that feel like the best dinner party you’ve ever been invited to. A lifelong planner, Blair turned her love of themed parties and nonprofit galas into a career designing customized events across the Midwest and beyond. When she’s not planning events, she enjoys reading and spending time with her two cats, Max and Misha. 🔑 Episode Highlights: * Why the best events feel intentional, not overproduced * How small details shape big experiences * Turning a natural skill into a business * Why people remember how something felt more than what happened * The overlap between events, networking, and relationship-building  Subscribe & Share: Catch new episodes of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off every month as we sit down with real ACA members to talk business, life, and the stories that don’t get told during the meeting. Follow, subscribe, and share with other ACA members. Know someone who should be a guest? Nominate them. Produced by: ACA Schaumburg Business Club Hosted by: Tom Gosche, Chris Prestegaard, and Scott Weinberg Recorded on Zoom. Lightly edited, never scripted.

Smart-ish Episode 5- Meet Jeff Beck- Financial Advisor

🎙️ Episode 5: Meet Jeff Beck Podcast: Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off Description: In this episode of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off, Tom, Chris, and Scott are joined by surprise guest Jeff Beck from COE Financial Group for a conversation that’s less about spreadsheets and more about relationships. While Jeff does share a bit about his work helping individuals and families think through retirement and major life transitions, the heart of this episode is about connection — from golfing with two of the hosts to why he chose to get involved with the ACA Business Club in the first place. The group talks about how professionalism doesn’t have to be stiff, why trust is built through shared experiences, and how ACA creates an environment where business conversations can be both meaningful and genuinely enjoyable. This episode is a great example of what Smart-ish is all about: real people, real stories, and the kind of conversations that happen when you relax, have fun, and let the name tags come off. 🔑 Episode Highlights: * What pre-retirees should be thinking about before the “10-year window” * Common financial blind spots Jeff sees with high earners * How life transitions impact financial planning * Why comprehensive planning beats one-off financial decisions * The value of trust and long-term relationships in financial advising 👤 Guest Bio: Jeff Beck Jeff Beck is a Financial Advisor at COE Financial Group, working with individuals and families across the Chicagoland area to develop customized, comprehensive financial plans. His focus includes retirement planning, investment management, estate planning, and tax minimization. Jeff typically works with pre-retirees planning to transition into retirement within the next 10 years, individuals navigating or recently completing a divorce, and young professionals who are high earners and disciplined savers. 📇 Connect with Jeff Beck Jeffrey Beck Financial Advisor COE Financial Group Northbrook’s Riverpark 1466 Techny Rd Northbrook, IL 60062 Office: 847-444-9444 Mobile: 847-737-3281 Fax: 847-444-9445 Website: https://www.coefinancial.com/ [https://www.coefinancial.com/] Email: jeff@coefinancial.com Subscribe & Share: Catch new episodes of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off every month as we sit down with real ACA members to talk business, life, and the stories that don’t get told during the meeting. Follow, subscribe, and share with other ACA members. Know someone who should be a guest? Nominate them. Produced by: ACA Schaumburg Business Club Hosted by: Tom Gosche, Chris Prestegaard, and Scott Weinberg Recorded on Zoom. Lightly edited, never scripted.

Smart-ish Episode 4- Meet Jessica Lee – Fractional COO

Episode 4: Jessica Lee – When Growth Outpaces Structure Podcast Name: Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off Description: In this episode of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off, Tom, Chris, and Scott are joined by surprise guest Jessica Lee, Founder & CEO of OptimizedExecs. Jessica brings powerful insight into what happens when founder-led companies start scaling faster than their structure can support. She shares how her team provides COO-led fractional leadership to bring clarity, accountability, and fast-impact results to growing organizations. The hosts explore not only Jessica’s unique business model but also how her approach to leadership, systems, and operational thinking can benefit entrepreneurs and executives alike. As a newer member of the ACA Schaumburg Business Club, she also shares her impressions of the community and how it supports high-level professionals who want real connection alongside business growth. This episode is packed with actionable takeaways on leadership, structure, and why leveraging the right fractional support at the right time can transform a business. 🔑 Episode Highlights: * What it looks like when a growing business hits the “structure wall” * The difference between a VA, project manager, and COO * Why clarity and accountability are more important than just hustle * Jessica’s approach to partnering with founders as a fractional leader * Her early impressions of the ACA Business Club and what makes it different 👤 Guest Bio: Jessica Lee Jessica Lee is the Founder & CEO of OptimizedExecs, where founder-led companies go when growth starts to outpace structure. OptimizedExecs delivers COO-led fractional leadership—either one trusted Fractional COO or a fractional team—to drive clarity, accountability, and results that show up fast. Fractional leverage, full-time impact. Contact: Jessica Lee Jessica Lee- Founder & CEO, OptimizedExecs (630) 802-1565 Email:  jlee@optimizedexecs.com [jlee@optimizedexecs.com] Website:   www.optimizedexecs.com [http://www.optimizedexecs.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557630665989 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557630665989] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimizedexecs/ [https://www.instagram.com/optimizedexecs/] Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlee-il/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlee-il/] Subscribe & Share: Catch new episodes of Smart-ish: After the Name Tags Come Off every month as we sit down with real ACA members to talk business, life, and the stories that don’t get told during the meeting. Follow, subscribe, and share with other ACA members. Know someone who should be a guest? Nominate them. Produced by: ACA Schaumburg Business Club Hosted by: Tom Gosche, Chris Prestegaard, and Scott Weinberg Recorded on Zoom. Lightly edited, never scripted.