A lot of business owners spend time trying to get everything right before they make a move. The plan, the structure, the tools, the details. But in reality, most of the progress comes from starting, learning as you go, and adjusting along the way.

In this episode, Miguel sits down with Zohaib “Zo” Peti to talk through his path from early hustles to building and scaling multiple businesses. He shares how taking action, even when things aren’t fully figured out, helped him learn faster and create opportunities that wouldn’t have come from waiting.

Zo also shares what he’s seen working with thousands of businesses. From disconnected tools to overly complicated systems, he explains where a lot of companies lose momentum and how simplifying the way you operate can make a bigger difference. He’ll also touch on how AI is starting to play a role in all of this and what that could mean moving forward.

Insights from this episode include:

• Why overthinking and “analysis paralysis” stop more businesses than lack of opportunity

• How starting before you feel ready can accelerate learning and momentum

• Why most businesses struggle with disconnected tools, systems, and operations

• How simplifying your approach can remove friction and improve execution

• Why mindset, persistence, and adaptability matter more than getting everything right upfront

About Our Guest

Zohaib “Zo” Peti is the founder of Leapify, an AI operating system designed to help businesses run more efficiently, and Lead Origin, a digital transformation and marketing agency. He has built and scaled multiple companies across e-commerce, services, and technology, working with thousands of businesses from small startups to enterprise organizations.

If you’re interested in Zo’s other companies:

LeadOrign

WithPort

SnapWeb Services

Connect with Zoe on X (Twitter): @ZOPATOLI

Connect with Miguel on LinkedIn or reach out at media@centurionfirm.com

In this episode of Under the Hood, Miguel and Ashton talk about how they approach events today. From ski trips and small group settings to panels and tech week, they get into what actually makes these experiences valuable. Over time, they learned that it’s less about formal agendas and more about building real relationships, having honest conversations, and creating the kind of environment where people open up. They also share how those connections naturally turn into opportunities for all, and why some of the most meaningful insights happen outside the structured setting.

Today Miguel and Ashton discuss stories and lessons learned from events, including how it’s better to be less formal…and more relaxed and conversational.

Why Fit Matters in Sales

In this episode of Under the Hood, Miguel and Ashton talk about how their approach to sales has evolved. From chasing every opportunity to slowing down and figuring out if it’s actually the right fit, they get into how they open calls, why rapport matters, and what happens when sales and onboarding stay connected. It’s a candid look at how they think about selling today and why sometimes the best decision is walking away.

How to Reduce Taxes on Your Rental Properties

You bought a rental property years ago. Maybe decades ago. It’s appreciated significantly, you’ve depreciated it down to almost no basis, and now the thought of selling makes you nervous because of the tax bill. Additionally, you’re also tired of the maintenance calls, the liability, the capital expenditures that always seem to hit at the worst time.

In this episode, Miguel sits down with Ari Rubin, founder of Flock Homes, to walk through the 721 exchange. It’s a lesser-known section of the tax code that lets you contribute your property into a partnership, receive shares in return, and defer all capital gains and depreciation recapture without triggering a taxable event. Ari explains who this works for, how Flock operates at scale with over 1,100 homes, and why younger investors are using this strategy just as often as retirees.

Insights from this episode include:

• Why you can’t just retire from being a landlord, and how the 721 exchange lets you step away from management, liability, and surprise expenses while keeping your equity intact
• How the 721 exchange differs from a 1031 exchange and why it’s been used in equities for decades to diversify concentrated stock positions
• The three ongoing benefits: continued income distributions, exposure to housing market appreciation across a diversified portfolio, and ongoing depreciation from new CapEx
• How redemptions work and why taking cash out of the fund is treated as a reduction in basis (like a cash-out refi) rather than a taxable sale
• When cost segregation makes sense for rental property owners (and when it doesn’t)

About Our Guest

Ari Rubin, Founder of Flock Homes, a platform that helps landlords exit their rental properties and transition to passive ownership through the 721 exchange, deferring capital gains while maintaining exposure to real estate income and appreciation Visit flockhomes.com to learn more .

Email Ari directly at ari.rubin@flockhomes.com

Connect with Miguel on LinkedIn or reach out at media@centurionfirm.com

In this episode of Under the Hood, Miguel and Ashton talk about culture at Centurion - what it looks like when it’s working and what it looks like when it’s not. They discuss a hire that forced them to rethink what really matters, why respecting people’s time is non-negotiable, and how real feedback is one of the most important ways to honor someone’s work. It’s an honest conversation about how culture shows up in the day-to-day and why it ultimately impacts the bottom line.

Before Miguel and Ashton worked on bringing tax credits and advisory strategies to small and medium sized businesses, they were debated partners at South High School in Torrance, CA. This is their origin story of how a whiteboard strategy in Miguel's LA apartment and a three-month trial period turned into seven years of scaling a 7-figure tax advisory business together at Centurion Firm. They also break down the tactics they've developed for running client calls as a duo, including how their old high school debate team dynamic translates directly to making sure they're solving for what the client actually needs.

Many business owners are watching their website traffic drop without understanding why. Miguel experienced this firsthand when Centurion Firm's blog traffic plummeted from 88,000 to 3,000 unique visitors.

The culprit? AI overviews are changing how people find information online.

In this episode, Miguel sits down with Ryan Russell, founder and CEO of BizIQ, to get answers. If you're seeing similar drops or wondering how to stay visible as AI changes search, this episode breaks down what's actually happening and what to do about it. Ryan Russell, founder of BizIQ, shares findings from asking AI platforms directly where they source their business recommendations and the answers point to clear actions you can take.

Other insights from this episode include:

• Where AI platforms actually get their business information (spoiler alert: your Google Business Profile matters more than you think)
• Why AI search and traditional search work together, not against each other
• The ranking factors that determine if you show up in AI recommendations
• Practical tactics for optimizing your Google Business Profile, including the underutilized Products & Services section
• Content strategy in the AI era: quality vs. quantity and what's actually working
• The truth about using AI-generated content on your website
• Three actions you can take this week to test and improve your AI visibility

About Our Guest

Ryan Russell, Founder & CEO of Biz IQ, a search optimization expert whose team researches how businesses can adapt to AI-driven discovery.

Visit biziq.com/contact for a free audit or consultation

Connect with Miguel on LinkedIn or media@centurionfirm.com

🎙️ Maximizing Tax Efficiency in 2026: Cost Segregation & 721 Exchanges

In this podcast episode, we bring you our recent webinar focused on advanced tax strategies for 2026. If you’re a real estate investor, founder, or business owner looking to preserve capital and improve cash flow, this conversation breaks down two powerful tools: cost segregation and Section 721 exchanges.

We explore how cost segregation can accelerate depreciation and reduce taxable income, and how 721 exchanges may allow you to defer capital gains when exchanging real estate assets — all within the context of current and upcoming tax rules.

This episode is packed with practical insights, real-world considerations, and strategic guidance to help you plan smarter and stay ahead in 2026.

🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:
• How cost segregation works and when it makes sense
• Cash-flow and tax benefits of accelerated depreciation
• An overview of Section 721 exchanges and how they differ from 1031 exchanges
• Key planning considerations and common mistakes to avoid
• How these strategies fit into a long-term real estate or business tax plan

🎯 Who This Episode Is For:
• Real estate investors
• Founders and business owners
• CFOs and finance leaders
• Anyone planning ahead for 2026 tax efficiency

📩 Stay Connected:
Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations on tax strategy, capital planning, and building smarter financial systems for growth.