Brian Pearson is the President and CEO of American Benefits Exchange, a firm that designs and distributes insurance and annuity solutions for federal, military, and civil-service markets. In his role, he oversees agent recruitment, carrier relationships, and strategic growth. With nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Brian previously owned and operated Pearson & Associates, which specialized in servicing active-duty military members.

Most small- and medium-sized businesses focus on keeping up with tax deadlines, but few realize how much money they're leaving on the table. Misconceptions, overworked CPAs, and fear of audits cause many to miss out on tax credits and incentives designed to help them grow. How do you know which credits you qualify for?

According to tax credit expert Brian Pearson, the answer lies in understanding the tax system. He notes that most accountants don't proactively bring credits to their clients and that changes in the law opened doors for small businesses — not just tech or pharmaceutical firms — to claim the R&D tax credit. Brian emphasizes the importance of documentation, preparation, and having a team ready to defend claims if needed. Proactive tax strategies can unlock growth, protect profits, and accelerate retirement planning.

Welcome back to Destination Business Freedom as Pat Mancuso talks with Brian Pearson, President and CEO of American Benefits Exchange, about how tax credits fuel business growth. Brian explains why the 2026 tax deadline creates urgency for businesses, the culture of the accounting industry, and how to recover money through tax credits.

Pat Mancuso is the CEO of Mancuso Consulting Group and a highly recognized thought leader dedicated to helping CEOs, business owners, and entrepreneurs maximize their potential through coaching and consulting. Having spent over 30 years working with company owners, leaders, and sales teams, Pat has over 25,000 hours of coaching and consulting experience. As a serial entrepreneur who has launched multiple successful companies, Pat understands how to sustainably scale a business. He helps businesses improve their leadership and performance through a proprietary system, RSTMM® — Recruit, Select, Train, Manage, and Motivate, which enables companies to select, train, manage, and motivate the right people in the right positions.

Many entrepreneurs launch their businesses with the end goal of creating wealth and gaining financial freedom. Generating wealth from your business requires strategic planning and calculated operational management. What strategies can you leverage to propel yourself and your business to freedom?

Five business builders in various disciplines have created proprietary methods for scaling your company to the next level. B2B podcaster Dr. Jeremy Weisz maintains that by creating a comprehensive referral partner list, reaching out to them, and producing a podcast and other content with them, you can generate substantial ROI. When requesting capital or a business loan, Marc Cove suggests building prior relationships with bankers so you can remain top of mind, while Ryan Deiss highlights setting aside funds to pay taxes and other expenses to maintain long-term sustainability. Business consultant Pat Mancuso emphasizes the importance of conducting due diligence on your future business partners, ensuring skill compatibility and goal alignment. Real estate professional Chris Prefontaine says that the real estate market is ripe for investing, so he recommends developing strategies that can adapt to a changing market.

In this special episode of Destination Business Freedom, Pat Mancuso reflects on his most notable podcast episodes. Featuring memorable guests like Ryan Deiss and Chris Prefontaine, these professionals delve into cash flow management, navigating relationships with bankers and business partners, and preparing your business for market fluctuations.

Grant Teeple is the Founder and Senior Partner of Teeple Hall, LLP, a full-service commercial law firm. He oversees the firm's Litigation Group and participates in the Corporate & Transactional Group's Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Area. Before founding Teeple Hall in 1992, Grant worked as a civil litigation defense attorney and has litigated complex, multi-jurisdictional matters in business litigation, intellectual property disputes, fraud cases, real property disputes, and entitlement matters. He has also handled numerous acquisitions and company sales in sell-side and buy-side transactions exceeding $100 million.

As business owners engage in M&A transactions, a crucial piece of legislation threatens steep fines and — in extreme cases — jail time for those who fail to comply. What new federal regulations must businesses navigate during the M&A process?

After the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), requiring businesses to disclose information about their owners and controllers to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The law applies to any LLC or corporation and includes operators like CPAs, lawyers, and bankers. If you fail to comply or provide FinCEN with inaccurate or outdated information, you may be charged $500 for each day of non-compliance. Corporate M&A and compliance expert Grant Teeple recommends hiring an attorney to help you update ownership information regularly, maintaining compliance while ensuring privacy through attorney-client privilege.

In this episode of Destination Business Freedom, Pat Mancuso welcomes Grant Teeple, the Founder and Senior Partner of Teeple Hall, LLP, to discuss compliance regulations for M&A transactions. Grant also talks about common mistakes buyers and sellers make during the M&A process, how to involve an attorney in business sales, and how to navigate due diligence.