Join Kristin Gallatin as she sits down with Jacquee Adams, owner of Vantage Virtual Services and a dedicated LEAD Network professional. Jacquee specializes in providing administrative, bookkeeping, and advisory services to small-to-midsize businesses.

This episode is a valuable twofer, fitting perfectly into both the Money Series by demystifying small business finances and the Stories Behind the Business Series by exploring Jacquee's unique journey and operational strategy. Jacquee shares why her approach is to meet business owners "mid-chaos," her belief that numbers are naturally simple, and how she maximizes her productivity as a virtual entrepreneur—even thriving at night!

Learn about:

• [01:03] - The "Aha" Moment: Jacquee's journey from a childhood love of numbers to starting Vantage Virtual Services after helping a family business untangle their books.
• [04:04] - Why Numbers Make Sense: The personal story behind her passion for accounting and the fulfillment of bringing chaos to clarity for business owners.
• [06:57] - Her Guiding Principle: No Shame in Messy Books: Jacquee explains her welcoming approach to clients who come to her at their breaking point, assuring them that "nothing is an emergency."
• [10:33] - Why She Chose Main Street Over Wall Street: The reason Jacquee chose to focus on small businesses instead of the traditional CPA or public accounting route—it's about the fulfillment of helping the "smaller guys" succeed.
• [13:08] - From P&L to Prosperity: The three key financial reports every business must analyze (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows) to move from short-term demands to long-term vision, including the importance of job costing for project-based businesses.
• [18:23] - The Virtual Leader's Secret: Systems & Flow: How Jacquee maintains focus and productivity as a solo entrepreneur by relying on systems (like ClickUp and Keeper) and specific weekly rhythms.
• [24:11] - Working with Your Natural Rhythm: Jacquee's honest discussion about her productivity as a "night person" and letting go of the 9-to-5 box.
• [33:52] - The Biggest Compliance Challenge: Key pain points small businesses face today, focusing on the complexity and compliance of adding payroll (including the new paid family leave changes in Minnesota).
• [39:08] - The Future of Financial Advisory: Jacquee's plans to expand offerings with Xero and use AI to pivot from manual data entry to deeper advisory and analytical work.
• [43:29] - Advice for New Business Owners: The number one thing to avoid: overcomplicating your Chart of Accounts—keep it simple!
• [48:48] - Must-Have Tech Tools: A deeper dive into the two crucial software platforms she uses to run her business: ClickUp for task management and Keeper for the client portal.

🔗 Resource Links

Vantage Virtual Services - Bookkeeping & Advisory | www.VantageVS.com

Podcast Host | The Savvy Leader Podcast | www.SavvyLivingNetwork.com
LEAD Network | Learn more about the LEAD Network | www.LEADnetwork.Pro
Jacquee's Tool 1 | ClickUp (Task Management Software) | https://clickup.com/
Jacquee's Tool 2 | Keeper (Client Portal Software) | https://keeper.app/

In this insightful episode of The Savvy Leader Podcast, Host Kristin Gallatin sits down with LEAD member Isaac VanLoon, Regional Vice President at Primerica, for a special two-part discussion covering both our "Money Series" and "LEAD Member Stories Behind the Business Series."

Isaac, who has been with Primerica for 23 years, shares his unique journey from a part-time ACT essay scorer to a full-time leader running a business with multiple locations. He dives deep into the non-traditional qualities Primerica seeks in a representative and the surprising personal challenges he had to overcome, including learning how to build strong, empathetic relationships.

This episode is a must-listen for new leaders, entrepreneurs facing variable income, and anyone looking for a simplified, long-term strategy to achieve financial independence. Isaac shares a fresh perspective on what financial success truly requires—and it’s simpler than you think.

Key Timestamps & Topics

• 00:01:06 | Isaac’s journey from scoring ACT essays to a 23-year career in finance.
• 00:02:22 | Why Primerica focuses on transferable skills and character over academic background.
• 00:04:58 | Isaac’s biggest personal roadblock: The surprise of not being "naturally good" at sales and the tough feedback that changed his career.
• 00:06:24 | Dealing with a "resting contemplative face" and learning how to intentionally build welcoming relationships.
• 00:10:39 | How to build authenticity and confidence (even when it’s "cringey" to watch yourself on video).
• 00:16:17 | Isaac’s philosophy on work-life balance and the destructive cycle of work guilt.
• 00:19:00 | The importance of the Sabbath: Why you must work hard for six days and truly rest on the seventh.
• 00:23:17 | Primerica’s unique focus on average, ordinary people—and why they need financial coaching the most.
• 00:25:24 | The difference between a general goal (retirement) and a specific "Financial Independence Number."
• 00:33:52 | Financial strategy for variable income/entrepreneurs: How to triage and ensure you're always "playing offense."
• 00:38:19 | Isaac’s system for maximizing big months and ensuring progress during slow months.
• 00:41:15 | The leader’s role: Carrying belief for your team until they are strong enough to carry it themselves.
• 00:47:35 | Why it’s crucial to be a strategic thinker, not a tactical thinker in finance.
• 00:48:30 | The often-overlooked value of diversifying your income—especially for W-2 employees.
• 00:51:20 | Book Recommendations for Leaders and Salespeople (Donald Miller, Arbinger Institute, etc.).
• 00:53:59 | Isaac’s ambitious future goal: Multiplying impact by opening a half-dozen more offices.
• 00:57:38 | The most important lesson: Setting process-oriented goals over result-oriented goals.

Relevant Mentions & Links:

• Isaac VanLoon (Guest): Regional Vice President, Primerica
• 
  
  • Website: www.primerica.com/IsaacVanLoon
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-vanloon/
• Kristin Gallatin (Host):
  • The Savvy Leader Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWFo8LeeqUU
  • LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristingallatin1
• Recommended Reading:
  • Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
  • Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute
  • Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink

Welcome to the start of our new Money Series! We’re kicking it off with the brilliant and hard-hustling Molly Nadeau Peterson, a top 1% mortgage broker with Neighborhood Loans and a great friend. Molly is the woman we turn to for all things real estate and finance.

Molly shares the incredible, personal story that ignited her passion for mortgages—a $20,000 lesson learned the hard way (01:50). She explains how that experience turned her into an educator for her clients, dedicated to showing them the powerful tool that is real estate.

In this must-listen episode, we dive into:

• The Power of Coaching: How 15 years under authority with a coach multiplied her income by 10x and transformed every area of her life (01:00-08:00).
• Hustle with Grace: Molly's disciplined approach to work-life integration, including the importance of a scheduled time to "turn it off" (14:10).
• Real Estate as the Bedrock of Wealth: Compelling statistics from the Federal Reserve proving why owning is the ultimate superpower for generational wealth building, especially for young people (16:15).
• The Tax-Free Superpower: Understanding the immense and often overlooked benefit of the $250,000 tax-free gain on a primary residence sale (21:13).
• Market Insight & Strategy: Why buying in a higher-rate, balanced market is a strategic move that saves you time, money, and mental energy (31:55).
• First-Time Buyer Resources: Piles of money and assistance available to help first-generational buyers get into a home for as little as $1,000 (37:50).

Molly is a true savvy leader, balancing her business success with deep faith and a commitment to helping the next generation. Don't miss her powerful closing thoughts on faith and business (42:57).

Connect with Molly Nadeau Peterson: Website: [mollynadeau.com] NMLS #308436 | Neighborhood Loans

Up Next in The Money Series:

• A Personal Financial Planner
• A Business Bookkeeper/Accountant
• Money Mindset with your host, Kristen Gallatin

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