The LIPN Podcast

When I started using LinkedIn in 2007, I first used it for job-hunting. It then became an extraordinary networking program, keeping me updated with everyone in my business circle. LinkedIn kept evolving, and, as a B2B Marketing consultant, it remains one of my more important resources. But there is still so much more I can use it for. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, I spoke with Nick Pititto, President of Astor Magnus. Nick and his team use an automated lead generation program that uses LinkedIn to target potential clients and collaborators for his clients. Not only can you reach a specifically targeted audience via LinkedIn DM, but your message can be an email, a text, even a video. To talk to Nick directly to learn more about how to use LinkedIn as a lead generation tool, call 917-960-2936 or email him at info@astormagnus.com For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your organization, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

There is a lot more to renters insurance than you may realize. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Leo Fernandez of The Fernandez Agency to learn more about what exactly renters insurance covers. Everyone knows that renters insurance protects your “stuff”, but did you know it also comes with liability protection? That it can pay your additional living expenses if your home becomes damaged? That it covers your kid’s stuff in a college dorm? To talk to Leo directly to learn more about renters insurance, call (516) 292-5100 or email him at Leofernandez@allstate.com For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your organization, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

If your business has contracts with the US Department of Defense, you know that there is a new cybersecurity mandate that your company must follow. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Thomas Nohs of DataSoftNow to learn more about these CMMC protocols. Tom and I discussed what this new certification is, what roadmaps and timelines companies need to follow, and how to get the process started to ensure your own company is fully certified in order to win your next bid. To talk to Tom directly about how to get CMMC certified, call 646-206-7857 or visit his website at http://www.datasoftnow.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

Everyone who owns a home has homeowners insurance. Not everyone knows exactly what their policy covers – or more importantly – doesn’t. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Leo Fernandez of The Fernandez Agency. He gave us a great overview of what most homeowners insurance plans do and do not cover, the importance of personal liability, and how to keep your premiums under control. To talk to Leo directly about your home or property insurance needs, call 516- 292-5100 or visit his website at https://agents.allstate.com/leo-fernandez-westbury-ny.html For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

When you think of employee benefits you usually think it’s something only large companies can offer. But did you know, that businesses with only two employees can offer affordable benefits? In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Diane Santonino from Allied Wealth Partners. How can my small business offer insurance benefits? What options are available? And what do I need to do to make sure my staff is taken care of without breaking the bank? For more information about employee benefit programs, contact Diane Santonino at Allied Wealth Partners – call 516-705-9760 – email dsantonino@alliedwealthpartners.com. For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

If you live in suburbia, you probably have a lawn. And if you have a lawn, you know the joys of trying to keep it watered. Then what about all your other plants and shrubs and trees? Dennis Realmuto has been in the irrigation business for decades. He can tell you if the brown spots in your lawn are from under watering, overwatering, a fungus, or just the type of grass. He knows which of your plants need more moisture, and which need a lot less. So much more than “just a sprinkler guy”, Dennis and his team custom design irrigation systems to meet the unique needs of your property. And this makes all the difference in maintaining your investment into your landscape. To contact Dennis about scheduling a consultation, call 631-789-0500 or visit his website at http://professionalirrigation-ny.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

With student loan debt at an all-time high, more and more parents are looking for ways to help their kids cut college costs. But how do you find your way through the maze of loans, scholarships, and the various other forms of financial aid? In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Vicki Vollweiler of College Financial Prep. We talked about how to apply for financial aid, what tricks and traps to look out for, and what help is out there for overwhelmed parents. To contact Vicki about help with college financial aid, call 516-225-5224 or visit her website at www.collegefinancialprep.com For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit smithdouglass.com

Whether it’s a catastrophic storm or that mysterious stain on your ceiling, just about everyone with a home on Long Island has dealt with one form of water damage or another. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we asked Phil DePaul of United Water Restoration of Long Island what to do about it. We covered the various causes of water damage (including fire), how to recognize it when you see it, and what to do about it once it happened. To contact Phil about handling water damage in your house, call 631-494-4764 or visit his website at http://uwrgislandiany.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/ United Water Restoration of Long Island Call: 631-494-4764 Email: phil@unitedliny.com Web: http://uwrgislandiany.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uwrglongisland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/united_water_li_ny/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedliny

So you’ve just invested in updating your landscaping. Everything looks great… during the daytime. Now what? In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Dennis Realmuto of Professional Irrigation. Listen in as we talk about everything from landscape lighting, security lighting, entertainment lighting, and even holiday lighting. Something to think about next time you’re outdoors wrestling with Christmas lights on a ladder in January. To contact Dennis about painting your property with light, call 631-789-0500 or visit his website at http://professionalirrigation-ny.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

Insurance is something everyone with a car has to deal with. Most of the time, we just look for the cheapest possible options. Which can then come back to bite us when we actually need to make a claim. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Leo Fernandez of The Fernandez Agency. He gave us a great overview of what most auto insurance plans do and do not cover, how your premiums are determined, and how policies deal with teenagers, the elderly, Uber drivers, snow birds, and rental cars. To talk to Leo directly about car insurance, or any other home or property insurance needs, call 516- 292-5100 or visit his website at https://agents.allstate.com/leo-fernandez-westbury-ny.html For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

The breakdown of a relationship is never easy. And with a marriage, you not only have all the emotional things to deal with, you have a lot of legal details to handle. And if there are children involved, it gets even more complicated. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Kristen Devaney, a family law attorney with Keith, Shapiro & Ford. We wanted to know more about how divorce is handled in New York, what is the process and the pitfalls, and what people needed to know before taking that first step. To contact Kristen directly, call 516-222-0200 or visit the firm’s website at https://long-island-divorce-lawyers.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

After the recent recession, your credit score may have taken a serious hit. Or maybe you’re dealing with medical bills or credit card debt. Either way, if you have a low credit score you could end up paying thousands of dollars more in interest than you have to. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Angela Kim of Credit Repair Boss to find out if there is anything you could do. Listen to find out the five ways they determine your FICO score, why you should check your credit reports at least once a year, and what you can do on a regular basis to grow a great credit history. To learn more about how Angela and her team can help you, call 516-698-4303 or visit their website at https://www.creditrepairboss.com. For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

Trouble communicating is often the first sign of a larger problem. Who do you turn to in order to not only find out what’s wrong, but how to fix or mitigate it? In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Eileen Devany, the Director and Owner of SEEDS of the Willistons. A licensed speech-language pathologist, Eileen has spent over 30 years working with clients with speech disorders. From children with Autism to adults recovering from a stroke, speech-language pathologists work to give the power of communication back to their patients. To learn more about how Eileen and her team can help you, call 516-742-5243 or visit their website at https://www.seedsofthewillistons.com. For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

When you want to sell your house, you call a real estate broker; when you want to sell your company, you call a business broker. There can be a LOT of pitfalls out there for those trying to sell their businesses on their own. Tell the wrong people that you are selling, and you end up with employees fleeing, vendors panicking, and your competition having a field day. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we talked with Hal Fuchs of The NYBB Group on what business owners need to know when thinking about selling, why people sell and to who, and some of the most common mistakes that people make in the process. To talk to Hal directly about selling, or buying, a business, call 631-390-9650 x111 or visit the NYBB Group website at https://nybbinc.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

If you live in New York State, you have probably heard that Governor Cuomo is working on legislation to legalize recreational marijuana. The Cannabis Act is actually an incredibly complex program that not only allows the legal sale of marijuana, but includes a wide array of taxes, licenses, and other governmental oversight. Even if it passes this season, it will take years to actually implement. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, I spoke with criminal attorney Daniel Johnston of Johnston Law to get his take on this bill. Not only would the Cannabis Act be a vast governmental undertaking, there would also be incredible commercial opportunities available. But more importantly, it should update New York’s (what can only be charitably called byzantine) marijuana laws. Seriously – the laws about edibles are jaw-dropping. To talk to Dan directly about current or upcoming marijuana laws, or if you simply need an experienced criminal attorney, call 516-388-7611 or visit the Johnston Law website at http://johnstonlawny.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

If you own an insurance agency, mortgage brokerage, bank, or any other organization that answers to the New York Department of Financial Services you have surely heard of 23 NYCRR 500 by now. Also known as NY DFS Cybersecurity Regulation, these set of rules are now in full effect after a two-year transition period. But there are still a number of small business who are confused about what needs to be done, overwhelmed by the technology involved, and unnerved by the potential cost. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we speak with cybersecurity expert Tom Nohs from DataSoftNow about why compliance with NY DFS 500 is so important and the catastrophic repercussions that could happen if you ignore these regulations. To talk to Tom directly about your business’s data security needs, call 646-206-7857 or visit the DataSoftNow website at http://www.datasoftnow.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

For someone who’s never gone on a cruise, the choices out there can be a bit overwhelming. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we sat down with Nancy Bauman of Dream Travel by Nancy to find out what’s new in the cruising industry (rollercoasters? really?), what first-time cruisers need to know, and why you should always, ALWAYS, bring your passport with you. We also discuss that yes, travel agents still exist, and how they can save you time, money, and be there for you if something goes wrong (like, say, missing the boat). To speak with Nancy directly about booking a cruise or any customized vacation package, call 516-581-5726, email nancy@dreamtbn.com, or visit https://www.dreamtravelbynancy.com. For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

There is a lot of advice out there for first time home buyers. But what about first time home sellers? In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we spoke with Lynda Leone of RealtyConnectUSA to learn the best way to get your house ready to for market. What are the three biggest mistakes people make when trying to sell? What makes selling in New York unique? What is the least expensive thing you can do to make the biggest difference? To speak with Lynda directly about selling, or buying, a home on Long Island, call 516-317-4265, email lyndaleone@gmail.com, or visit https://www.lyndaleone.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

If you don’t live near the shore it’s easy to think you don’t need flood insurance. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we chat with Leo Fernandez of The Fernandez Agency, to discuss the ins and outs of the federal flood insurance program, the limitations of your homeowner’s policy, and what exactly a flood is (it may not be what you think). To talk to Leo directly about flood insurance, or any other home or property insurance needs, call 516- 292-5100 or visit his website at https://agents.allstate.com/leo-fernandez-westbury-ny.html For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/

It’s scary to realize that one of the main targets of hackers these days are small businesses. In this episode of The LIPN Podcast, we speak with cybersecurity expert Tom Nohs from DataSoftNow about why small businesses are such easy targets and what you need to do to protect yourself and your assets. To talk to Tom directly about your business's data security needs, call 646-206-7857 or visit the DataSoftNow website at http://www.datasoftnow.com/ For more information about how podcasts, and other forms of business storytelling, can help grow your business, call Merrill Loechner at Smith Douglass Associates at 203-628-2606 or visit http://smithdouglass.com/