What do entrepreneurs and business owners do when the traditional path stops working?

Sometimes a “no” isn’t the end of an idea. It’s information that helps you find a different way forward.

In this episode, Dan Paikin and Robert Schlesinger sit down with filmmaker, writer, director, and producer Jeremy Garelick. Jeremy shares how childhood comedy obsessions became a filmmaking career, why rejection helped shape American High, and how taking his son to Rolling Loud inspired his latest movie. He also explains how social media became part of his business, what he learned from betting on his own ideas, and why his father’s confidence helped him pursue an unconventional career.

Jeremy discusses:

• How a childhood love of comedy gradually developed into writing, directing, producing, and entrepreneurship
• How hearing “no” from studios pushed him toward buying a high school and building American High independently
• How taking his son to Rolling Loud provided the personal experience that became the foundation for a movie
• How American High uses social media to test original ideas, build audiences, and support new film projects
• How his father’s belief gave him the confidence to pursue his career and keep moving when plans changed
• And more!

Connect with Tempus Financial Group:

• Tempus Financial Group
• LinkedIn: Daniel Paikin, RICP®
• LinkedIn: Robert Schlesinger
• LinkedIn: Tempus Financial Group
• tempusinfo@tempus-financial.com
• 516-672-0784

Connect with Jeremy Garelick:

• LinkedIn: Jeremy Garelick
• Website: American High

About our Guest:

Jeremy Garelick is a filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and entrepreneur whose career spans comedy, film production, and entertainment ventures. His credits include work on The Break-Up, The Hangover, The Wedding Ringer, and Murder Mystery. He is also the founder of American High, a production company built around a former high school in upstate New York that serves as a hub for developing and producing comedy projects. Jeremy has expanded American High into social media and original content development, using audience response to test new ideas and characters. His latest project, Rolling Loud, was inspired by attending the hip-hop festival with his son and grew into a theatrical film produced with Live Nation.

Business owners often spend years growing revenue, hiring teams, and building value, but what happens if a partner dies, becomes disabled, or wants out?

In this episode, Robert Schlesinger and Dan Paikin speak with Howard Koh, Partner at Meister Seelig & Schuster, about why operating agreements, buy-sell planning, key person coverage, and clear valuation rules matter before problems appear. Howard explains how written agreements can reduce costly disputes, how funding can protect continuity, and what owners should review before a future sale.

Howard discusses:

• Why business owners should plan for partner death, disability, retirement, and disagreements early
• How operating agreements create rules when partners no longer agree on the next move
• Why funded buy-sell agreements can reduce delays, conflict, and pressure on the business
• How key person coverage helps address revenue loss, payroll, rent, and replacement costs
• What owners should review before a sale, from books and contracts to HR and IP ownership
• And more!

Connect with Tempus Financial Group:

• Tempus Financial Group
• LinkedIn: Daniel Paikin, RICP®
• LinkedIn: Robert Schlesinger
• LinkedIn: Tempus Financial Group
• tempusinfo@tempus-financial.com
• 516-672-0784

Connect with Howard Koh:

• LinkedIn: Howard Koh
• Website: Meister Seelig & Schuster

About our Guest:

Howard Koh has built his career on one principle: when businesses face high-stakes real estate disputes in New York City, they deserve a relentless advocate in their corner. Known as The Guardian of Real Estate Rights, Howard has spent more than 30 years protecting and enforcing the real estate rights of business clients across the full spectrum of disputes: commercial landlord-tenant conflicts, commercial mortgage foreclosures, mezzanine debt, mechanic’s liens, construction disputes, and partnership disagreements.

Howard represents both sides of the table with equal command. Whether advocating for landlords or tenants, lenders or borrowers, owners or contractors, Howard brings a strategic, aggressive approach that consistently delivers results. Howard’s clients trust him not only to fight hard in the courtroom, but to negotiate with precision and advise with clarity.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell Law School, Howard began his career at Proskauer Rose, an AM Law 100 firm, and now practices at Meister Seelig & Schuster, where he has built his practice and reputation over the past 25 years.

Strong communication shapes how people trust you, understand you, and decide whether to move closer or pull away.

What helps someone connect in a room, calm their nerves, and speak in a way people actually remember?

In this episode, Dan Paikin and Robert Schlesinger speak with Rachel Hanfling, Communications Coach, about how better communication can improve public speaking, interviews, sales conversations, and client relationships. They explore why communication is a trainable skill, how to meet people where they are, why simple language creates a stronger connection, and how listening, clarity, and steady practice help people build trust and make a lasting impression.

Rachel shares:

• Why public speaking nerves are normal, and how honesty and reframing can help people handle them more calmly
• How meeting people where they are creates a stronger connection in interviews, sales talks, and presentations
• Why simple language builds trust faster than jargon when people need clarity, direction, and confidence
• How listening with full attention can make others feel valued, understood, and more open to connection
• Why verbal habits, posture, and delivery improve only through steady practice in everyday conversations
• And more!

Connect with Tempus Financial Group:

• Tempus Financial Group
• LinkedIn: Daniel Paikin, RICP®
• LinkedIn: Robert Schlesinger
• LinkedIn: Tempus Financial Group
• tempusinfo@tempus-financial.com
• 516-672-0784

Connect with Rachel Hanfling:

• LinkedIn: Rachel Hanfling
• Website: Rachel Hanfling
• TikTok: @rachelhanfling

About our Guest:

Rachel Hanfling is an Emmy-nominated media and public speaking coach with three decades of experience helping individuals command attention and deliver their message with authority in high-visibility settings.

She works with leaders, founders, authors, sales professionals, and purpose-driven individuals on media training, public speaking, executive presentations, and high-stakes communication.

Rachel has prepared clients for appearances throughout major media including Today, Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, Shark Tank, and QVC, as well as podcasts, live events, major stages, board presentations, investor meetings, and critical professional conversations.

She is known for creating clarity out of chaos and guiding impact and influence. While her clients span industries, her primary objective is for each to confidently show up with speech, body, voice and energy to achieve what they want.

Rachel is the creator of multiple courses, including Own the Power of Your Story, Confident and Worthy, Media Power Plan, Your Impact Rising, Listening for Impact, and Comfortably Living in the 1%.

Rachel teaches at Harvard and works with clients internationally.

She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a certified high-performance trainer, and lives in New York City with her twins.