The End-of-Year Tasks You're Dreading (And How to Actually Get Them Done)
Nov 11, 2025The calendar flips to October and that familiar dread sets in. Tax planning. Compensation reviews. Strategic planning meetings. License renewals. That property tax bill you don't understand. And somewhere in there, you're supposed to run your actual practice and maybe—just maybe—take some time off for the holidays.
Anna and Kendall dive into the unsexy reality of year-end planning for wellness practice owners, offering both practical strategies and hard-won wisdom about what actually deserves your attention.
The episode opens with Anna's cautionary tale about becoming "completely blasé about taxes." Her CPA's text on April 14th serves as a wake-up call: "Have you got any inclination towards filing your taxes this year?" Anna's response? "It hadn't even crossed my radar. Hadn't even. It wasn't even a blip on my radar." The lesson isn't about being hands-on with every detail—it's about staying engaged enough to know what needs attention.
Both hosts emphasize the critical importance of having a great CPA, with Kendall noting: "Having a really great CPA, it just makes a huge difference. I mean, we've had great experiences. We've had horrible experiences... and people can really mess up your stuff." But even with excellent support, owners need enough understanding to catch what's being missed.
The conversation tackles the surprisingly complex world of taxes and fees. From property taxes to per-employee fees to new sales tax requirements for educational workshops, the regulatory landscape keeps shifting. As Anna notes about keeping up with "these ever changing rules," constant vigilance is required—or at least a really good CPA who stays on top of changes.
One of the most valuable segments addresses compensation planning. Kendall shares how they shifted from individualized raise timelines to a structured January approach: "Employees would just come throughout the year and ask for raises all the time... really based on their life situation. Like I could use some more money so I'm going to ask for a raise." The solution? Clear eligibility criteria and a consistent timeline that employees understand.
The tension between wanting to reward excellent team members and maintaining sustainable profit margins runs throughout this discussion. As Kendall reflects: "We have amazing providers... And you and I, if we could give them the world, we would... but we have to look at profit margin and give raises that are realistic and that are sustainable."
But the episode isn't all spreadsheets and stress. Both hosts discuss the more energizing aspects of year-end planning—strategic visioning and goal-setting. Anna shares how she processed concerns about economic uncertainty: "I went for a walk and I thought, you know what? We've done three big economic downturns we've managed to get through. In fact, we've grown every time. How did we do it?" This reflection led to creating a strategic vision that empowers her leadership team without causing panic among the broader staff.
Kendall emphasizes the delicate balance of who to include in strategic planning: "There is a delicate line of who do you plan that strategy with? Because it can instill quite a bit of fear." Most team members have "the luxury of living more in the moment, of their everyday work"—and protecting that luxury is part of good leadership.
The episode concludes with Kendall's encouragement about taking time off: "It's easy to feel like as business owners that we have to... do it a certain way and there's just no possible way that we could take time off. And I'm here to tell you, I've been taking... the whole week of Thanksgiving off and I take two or three weeks off in December to January every single year for the last 10 years. And the world keeps spinning."
If you're feeling overwhelmed by everything on your year-end plate, this episode offers both validation and practical strategies for getting through it—without losing your mind or your holidays.
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About Anna Rudel
Anna Rudel, L. Ac is the owner and founder of Lokahi Acupuncture Clinic in San Jose California, founded in 2003. Anna is a master organizer and clinician, and as a Coach she specializes in working with Clinic Owners in the state of California, and Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Clinic Owners, or groups wanting to add Acupuncture worldwide, as well as teams that need support with employee retention and satisfaction. Born in the UK, Anna has traveled extensively in Asia and now has a thriving multi-practitioner clinic in the US!
Anna's Website and Links
- Website: https://lokahiacupuncture.com/
- Learn Group Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/group-coaching
- For info about Individual Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/individual-coaching
About Kendall Hagensen
Kendall is a Somatic Mental Health Therapist, Multidisciplinary Clinic Owner and Business Coach. She specializes in, and is passionate about, working with healthcare professionals to create the businesses of their dreams. Big goals always have a psychological component beneath the surface, so Kendall uses her background in Somatic Psychotherapy and EMDR Therapy mixed with Business Coaching tools to help clients develop a healthy relationship with their business and their strength as a leader.
As someone who lives with a chronic illness herself, Kendall feels that health happens best within community, which is why she takes a holistic, integrative, and collaborative wellness approach to her personal and professional life.
Kendall’s Web/Social Links