Most business owners struggle with retention, and labor shortages, what if the most dependable hires in America were hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Money Isn’t, John Smallwood is joined by retired Army Colonel and workforce strategist Bernie Hyland. Bernie has helped major brands like Audi and Mercedes-Benz solve workforce gaps by tapping into one of the most underutilized resources in America: military veterans. He now leads ERS Elite and the Kia VTAP program, a national initiative connecting highly-trained veterans with companies that need talent they can count on.

This episode is essential for business owners, investors, and high-income professionals who see talent acquisition as a core pillar of long-term wealth preservation. Bernie lays out the exact systems that reduce turnover, lower hiring costs, and build elite loyalty into your team. You'll walk away with a new lens on hiring strategy, the ROI of apprenticeship models, and why veterans may be the most overlooked advantage in the modern economy.

Chapters:

(00:00 ) Introduction

(06:09 ) Understanding “Post-9/11” Veteran Opportunity

(11:03 ) Underemployment: The Hidden Financial Risk

(15:54 ) Military Leadership as Corporate Gold

(22:17 ) How Kia VTAP Revolutionized Technician Training

(29:31 ) The Turnover Crisis and How ERS Elite Solved It

(36:12 ) The Financial ROI of Apprenticeship Hiring

(45:26 ) How ERS Is Expanding Beyond Automotive

(55:44 ) Final Takeaways: Building Talent to Protect Wealth

To work with Smallwood Wealth Management visit ⁠⁠http://Go.oncehub.com/swconcierge⁠⁠ to schedule a call today!

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