Podcasts about Sequence

The Couple With $8.5 Million… and One Salad “Bruce, I'm afraid we're going to run out of money.” He had over $8.5 million across different accounts. They were in their early 70s. On paper, they were far ahead of where most people ever get. https://www.youtube.com/live/L4phmdaJydw But his fear was so real that when they went out to dinner, his wife shared a salad instead of ordering her own—because he was afraid they “couldn't afford” it. This is what we see over and over again. People obsess over the question “how much do I need to retire?”They chase a number.They hit that number—or get close to it.And still feel anxious, fragile, and uncertain. The problem isn't just the money.The problem is the model. The Couple With $8.5 Million… and One SaladWhy “How Much Do I Need to Retire?” Is the Wrong First QuestionHow Much Do I Need to Retire? Why That Question Is MisleadingRetirement Cash Flow vs Nest Egg: What You Really NeedSequence of Return Risk in Retirement: Why Timing Matters More Than AveragesBuilding a Retirement Buffer Account to Protect Your PortfolioHow a buffer account protects your retirement portfolio:The LIFE Acronym for Retirement Planning: Liquid, Income, Flexible, EstateProblems With Traditional Retirement Planning and the 4 Percent RuleRedefining Retirement: Gradual Retirement vs Traditional “Out of Service”Cash-Flowing Assets and Alternative Investments for Retirement Cash FlowUsing Whole Life Insurance in Retirement for Guarantees and FlexibilityHow Much Do I Need to Retire? Rethinking the Real QuestionListen to the Full Episode on How Much Do I Need to RetireBook A Strategy CallFAQ: How Much Do I Need to Retire?How much do I need to retire comfortably?How do I know if I have enough to retire?What is sequence of return risk in retirement?What is a retirement buffer account?Is whole life insurance good for retirement income?How can I create guaranteed income in retirement without a pension?How much income do I need in retirement each month?How can my retirement plan serve future generations? Why “How Much Do I Need to Retire?” Is the Wrong First Question If you've ever typed how much do I need to retire or how much money do I need to retire into Google, you're not alone. The financial industry has trained us to believe that the right “number” equals security. But that question is incomplete. It ignores: How long you'll live How much you'll actually spend How many emergencies will show up What taxes and inflation will do What sequence of returns your investments will experience In this article, Bruce and I will help you: Understand why “how much do I need to retire” is the wrong question to start with See the difference between retirement cash flow vs nest egg Grasp sequence of return risk in retirement with simple examples Learn how a retirement buffer account can protect you Use the LIFE acronym for retirement planning (Liquid, Income, Flexible, Estate) Explore cash flowing assets, alternative investments, and whole life insurance in retirement Rethink retirement itself—from an “out of service” event to a purposeful, gradual transition My goal is to empower you to take control of your financial life with clarity, not fear. How Much Do I Need to Retire? Why That Question Is Misleading The classic commercial asked, “What's your number?” People walked around carrying a big orange figure that supposedly represented what they needed to retire. Here's the problem: That number assumes: A set rate of return A set withdrawal rate No major disruptions And that you won't touch your principal But real life is not a straight-line projection. When you ask how much do I need to retire, you're usually really asking: “How can I have enough cash flow for as long as I'm alive, without living in fear?” The issue is not just how much you have—it's how that wealth behaves under stress and how it converts into dependable income. Retirement Cash Flow vs Nest Egg: What You Really Need Traditional planning focuses on accumulation: “If I can just get to $X million, I'll be fine.” But what you actually live on is cash flow, not the size of your account statement. You need to know: How much income do I need in retirement each month? Which part of that income is guaranteed and which part is variable How that income will behave if markets drop or inflation spikes If you have $2 million but no idea how to turn that into reliable, sustainable cash flow, you will feel fragile. If you have a mix of guaranteed income in retirement plus flexible cash flowing assets, even a smaller nest egg can feel much more secure. The question isn't just how much money do I need to retire, but how do I design cash flow that will last? Sequence of Return Risk in Retirement: Why Timing Matters More Than Averages The industry loves to tell you that “the market averages 10% over time.” That's nice trivia—but it's not how your life works. If you're accumulating, you can ride out the ups and downs.If you're retired and pulling money out, the sequence of returns can make or break you. Here's a simple illustration: Start with $100,000 Year 1: -20% → now you have $80,000 Year 2: +20% → now you have $96,000 The average return is 0% (-20 + 20 / 2).But your actual money is down $4,000. Now imagine that on top of the losses, you're pulling out 4–6% per year to live. Suddenly, the portfolio has to recover the market loss and everything you withdrew. That's sequence of return risk explained with examples—and why relying solely on averages is dangerous. Building a Retirement Buffer Account to Protect Your Portfolio One of the most powerful ways to address sequence of return risk in retirement is using a retirement buffer account. The idea is simple: When markets are down, you do not take distributions from your volatile assets. Instead, you live off a separate, safe buffer of liquid capital. This buffer could be: Cash in the bank CDs or other stable vehicles Cash value in a well-designed whole life insurance policy How a buffer account protects your retirement portfolio: It gives your market-based assets time to recover It reduces the risk of selling low during downturns It lowers emotional stress when headlines scream “market crash” You're no longer forced to sell when everything is on sale. The LIFE Acronym for Retirement Planning: Liquid, Income, Flexible, Estate To make this practical, we often walk clients through the LIFE acronym for retirement planning: L – LiquidHow much “15-minute money” do you need to feel comfortable? This is money you can access quickly for emergencies or peace of mind—not dependent on your cash flow plan. I – IncomeHow much income do you need each month? How much of that would you like guaranteed? This is where retirement income planning really happens. F – FlexibleThis is liquid money that's not earmarked for emergencies or core living expenses. It's for things like trips, special projects, and helping kids or grandkids. It's the “I can do this without stress” bucket. E – EstateHow much do you want to leave behind, and in what form? This is where how to make your retirement plan serve future generations becomes part of the design. A well-designed mix of cash, whole life insurance, and other assets can touch every part of LIFE: Liquid, Income, Flexible, and Estate. Problems With Traditional Retirement Planning and the 4 Percent Rule Traditional planning often rests on: A withdrawal rule (4% or 5%) Market-based portfolios Historical averages and Monte Carlo simulations But as Bruce mentioned: A 100-year average doesn't matter if you're retired for 20 years Inflation erodes real purchasing power Market volatility plus withdrawals increase fragility Focusing only on accumulation creates emotional anxiety This is why cash flow vs accumulation in retirement planning is such an important shift. When you're not dependent on markets going up every year just so you can eat, your whole experience of retirement changes. Redefining Retirement: Gradual Retirement vs Traditional “Out of Service” Nelson Nash used to remind us: Retirement, by definition, means “taken out of service.” Most of us don't want to be taken out of service; we want to stay useful, engaged, and purposeful. Instead of a hard stop at 65, consider redefining retirement as a gradual retirement vs traditional retirement: Negotiating part-time work or consulting Reducing hours instead of walking away completely Staying in the game mentally, physically, and relationally We've seen engineers move to 10 hours a week, seasoned professionals mentor younger staff, and business owners step back from daily operations while still contributing. Purposeful work, even part-time, can: Supplement your retirement income Reduce pressure on your portfolio Keep you sharp and connected Retirement doesn't have to mean being benched. Cash-Flowing Assets and Alternative Investments for Retirement Cash Flow Another powerful way to support retirement is shifting some focus from growth-only assets to cash flowing assets for retirement. Examples include: Dividend-paying stocks Real estate (direct ownership or funds) Private lending Certain alternative investments for retirement For accredited investors, there are a variety of alternative investments for retirement cash flow: Multifamily apartment funds Industrial and distribution center funds Certain energy or infrastructure programs Technology and telecom infrastructure (like tower or data assets) These are not guaranteed and require careful due diligence, but they're often backed by real underlying assets and designed with yield in mind.

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Here's a problem that'll make your head spin: What do you do when you can sell way more than your company can produce? That's the question posed by Dylan Noah from Toronto. Dylan sells craft cider to bars and restaurants across his territory. He's the only salesperson for a small producer, working with limited tools (no proper CRM), and here's the kicker: he could sell a million dollars' worth of product, but production isn't enough to meet that demand. If you're shaking your head thinking this is a champagne problem, you're half right. But for Dylan trying to hit his income goals through commissions, it's a real constraint that's costing him money every single day. The CRM Obsession Is a Distraction Let's tackle the first issue head on. Dylan is worried he doesn't have the right CRM tools to manage his accounts and hit his numbers. Here's the brutal truth: at one point in time, salespeople sold a lot of cider, beer, wine, liquor, and all kinds of other stuff without any CRM at all. They used index cards in a box. They had lists on paper. And they crushed it. You're a small business with one salesperson working with 3,000 to 7,000 potential accounts in your territory. The last thing you should worry about right now is a $40,000 CRM system. Could you use automation for email sequences and promotions? Absolutely. Should you eventually invest in something like HubSpot or Pipedrive? Yes. But right now, what you need is a simple system to identify your best accounts and focus your time there. You're not going to hit $1 million across 3,000 accounts. You're going to hit it across 500 accounts that are the biggest restaurants and bars, where they like you, their customers like cider, and where you can create events and experiences that spike sales. Use a spreadsheet. Use index cards. Use whatever basic tool you've got right now. Create a 30-60-90 day system where you know who you're calling on in the next 30 days, the next 60 days, and the next 90 days. Build a list of your top 250 accounts that buy the most from you. That's where you live. Stop obsessing over tools you don't have and start maximizing the opportunity in front of you. Scarcity Is Your Secret Weapon This brings us to the real issue: production capacity. Dylan can sell it, but his company can't make enough of it. The bourbon distillers in America are dealing with this exact problem right now. They ramped up production years ago based on projected demand, and now they're sitting on excess inventory that's aging out. It's a delicate balance, and if you make too much, it goes bad and you lose everything. Here's what most salespeople don't understand about scarcity: it's actually a competitive advantage if you manage it right. When you have limited product, you're always going to be in an ebb and flow situation. Sometimes you'll have an abundance of one product type. Sometimes you'll have high demand products in short supply. The key is building a system that lets you move fast when opportunity strikes. This is where building buying profiles for every single customer becomes essential. You need to know which accounts buy which types of products, what their purchase patterns look like, and what their potential is (high, medium, or low). Think about it like your account coverage pyramid. When you have product available, you start at the top with your highest value accounts and work your way down. You're not treating all 150 accounts the same. You're prioritizing based on potential. When you have an abundance of one product type, you go directly to the customers who buy that product and say, "Hey, I've got product right now. Do you want to buy?" You can run specials. You can offer incentives (within legal limits). You move it fast. When your high demand products come in, you call your best accounts first and say, "I've got ten cases of this. I'm calling you first. How many do you want?" Then you go down your list. Most of the time, you'll sell out before you even leave your office. But if you've got 150 accounts and you're treating them all the same, it gets overwhelming fast. Segment them. Prioritize them. Work them strategically. Making Your Number When You Can't Control Supply The income issue is where this gets really interesting. Dylan wants to double his sales and earn more commissions, but he can't because the company keeps running out of product. Here's my take: if you're supposed to sell $1.5 million but your company only produces $750,000 worth of product that you could sell, they should pay you for the $1.5 million. Production was the reason you couldn't make your number, not your sales ability. Now, I know there are people in operations reading this who are going to say I'm full of it. But from a sales standpoint, if you've sold out of everything available, you've done your job. The constraint isn't you, it's production capacity. That's a hard conversation to have with ownership, I get it. But here's how you make that case: sell out of the other stuff that people don't want as much. Figure out how to move all of it. Put yourself in a position where you own the moral high ground when it comes to sales performance. If you do that and they still can't or won't pay you for what you could have sold, then you've got a decision to make. But at least you'll have learned how to sell in a resource-constrained environment, how to build relationships, how to manage your territory, and how to work a manual system. Those are skills that transfer to any sales role, especially ones that give you all the bells and whistles and unlimited product to sell. The Power of Old School Discipline Let's go back to 1985 for a minute. In 1985, you would have had a Rolodex with tabs for H (high potential), M (medium potential), and L (low potential) accounts. When product came in, you'd open to H, pull out the cards, and start dialing. "I've got ten cases of your favorite cider. I'm calling you first. How many do you want?" If they don't want any, click. Next card. By the time you hit the tenth account, you're usually sold out. That's the power of segmentation combined with discipline. Systems beat moods. Sequence beats sporadic effort. Process creates momentum. You don't need fancy technology to do this. You need clear priorities, good segmentation, and the discipline to work your system consistently. The Bottom Line If you're in Dylan's situation with limited tools and limited product, here's your game plan: Stop worrying about what you don't have and focus on maximizing what you do have. Build a simple segmentation system using whatever tools are available. Create detailed buying profiles for all your accounts so you know exactly who to call when specific products become available. Work your account coverage pyramid from top to bottom, always prioritizing your highest value customers. Sell out of everything, even the less popular products, so you have leverage when talking to ownership about compensation. The reality is that most sales challenges aren't about having the perfect tools or unlimited resources. They're about having the discipline to work a proven system consistently, even when conditions aren't ideal. That's how you win in sales. That's how you hit your numbers. And that's how you build a foundation of skills that will serve you for your entire career, whether you stay in a resource constrained environment or move to a role where the sky's the limit. Ready to master the fundamentals of prospecting and account management? Check out Jeb Blount's latest book with Brynne Tillman, The LinkedIn Edge, and learn how to build systematic, relationship-driven sales processes that work in any environment.

00:00:28 Opening00:02:18 Best Moment or Sequence01:06:57 Wish I Liked It More01:18:17 Touchy Feely of the Year01:36:56 Chase's Best Hack01:49:08 Best Strand Game01:58:04 Best Debut02:07:32 Best #202:21:54 Day 2 recap + outroDay 2 of our 2025 GOTY deliberations. We dig into Best Moment or Sequence, Wish I Liked It More, Touchy Feely of the Year, Chase's Best Hack, Best Strand Game, Best Debut and Best#2. Gaming's Odd Couple kill their darlings, but not their friendship as they wrap up this years Casual Categories!// T W I T C H  &  Y O U T U B E------------------------------------------------------------------------------------M W F @ 9 PM CST⁠twitch.tv/thecasualhour⁠⁠youtube.com/thecasualhour⁠// S U B S C R I B E------------------------------------------------------------------------------------⁠https://www.youtube.com/thecasualhour⁠We post Casually Considereds and VODs from previous streams weekly!// F O L L O W------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One link to rule them all:⁠ www.thecasualhour.com⁠// T H E   C A S U A L   H O U R------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bobby Pease -⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/bob_ombyChase Koeneke -⁠ http://Linktr.ee/chase_koeneke⁠// M U S I C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Love our theme music? It was created by Patric Brown. You can follow his antics on Twitter⁠ @insaneanalog⁠ or check out more of his music and download our theme at⁠ www.insaneanalog.com⁠

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In this episode of the Wharton FinTech Podcast, host Vaibhav speaks with Riya Grover, co-founder and CEO of Sequence, an AI native revenue platform that unifies quoting, billing automation, and receivables so finance can finally run at the speed of sales. Riya shares her journey from investment banking and Harvard Business School to exiting her first startup and then launching Sequence to fix one of the most neglected parts of the CFO stack, quote to cash and accounts receivable. She goes deep on what it really takes to find product market fit in a saturated software world, why AI native entrants can out execute incumbents, and how Sequence is using agents to automate complex finance workflows. They also unpack Riya's recent Series A fundraise, the story that resonated with investors, and her candid advice for founders building in a noisy, AI heavy, but more competitive than ever venture environment. In this episode, we learn about: - Why quote to cash and revenue operations have lagged behind AP and spend in automation - How Sequence uses AI agents to read contracts, generate invoices, and support finance teams - What investors really cared about in Sequence's Series A, from logo quality to 190 % NRR - How Riya stays close to customers while scaling a fast growing infra company - Her advice for aspiring founders on standing out in today's crowded AI landscape

David Stifter spent 20 years as head of technology at Colony Capital, managing systems for a $60 billion private equity real estate firm. When a longtime AP specialist retired, the company lost its institutional knowledge for coding complex invoices across thousands of entities and tenant relationships. After a year evaluating RPA, template-based approaches, and early OCR solutions, David recognized that structured historical data—invoices paired with their coding—could train AI models to capture implicit business rules. Five years ago, at 40 with young children, he left his executive role to build PredictAP. The company now processes tens of thousands of invoices monthly for firms including Bridge Investment Group, demonstrating how operational expertise combined with AI can solve problems that pure technology approaches miss. Topics Discussed Identifying AI use cases with structured annotated data and human feedback loops  Moving from CTO buyer to vendor founder and discovering which networks actually convert  Building repeatable sales motion after exhausting warm introductions  Technology adoption barriers in real estate and the domain expertise requirement for vertical SaaS  Hiring sales leadership to scale from founder-led to systematic pipeline generation  Solving complete workflow integration challenges beyond isolated technical problems GTM Lessons For B2B Founders Match technical approach to problem structure, not trend: David identified three critical elements for his AI application: structured annotated data from historical invoice coding, recognizable patterns in implicit business rules, and human review as a feedback mechanism. He notes many founders "try to shove AI, the AI hammer to smash any nail, but they're not always the best use case." Six years ago, before modern LLMs, he used historical invoice-coding pairs as training data—solving the annotation problem that plagued early machine learning. Founders should evaluate whether their problem has the structural characteristics that make a given technology approach viable, rather than applying trending solutions to force market fit. Network quality reveals itself when you need something: David contrasts two early investors: a former acquisitions executive who promised extensive connections but delivered "not a single callback" after leaving their role, versus an asset manager who generated "hundreds" of leads through genuine relationships. The acquisitions person experienced "an existential crisis" realizing "my network was based upon my ability to have a massive checkbook behind me." Founders should recognize that network strength isn't tested until you're asking rather than giving—those who built relationships through consistent helpfulness rather than transactional power will see different response rates when they launch. Architect the founder-led to systematic sales transition: After two years of founder-led sales, David "hit that wall" and brought in Steve Farrell, prioritizing experience scaling from $3-5M to $20M ARR over industry-specific expertise. He notes warm intro calls are "very to the point" while cold outreach "starts hostile or skeptical"—requiring entirely different trust-building approaches. The shift required adding BDRs, AEs, and systematic content generation. Founders should hire sales leadership with specific stage experience before network depletion forces reactive hiring, and expect to rebuild positioning for skeptical buyers who lack pre-existing trust. Integrate solutions into existing workflow infrastructure: David emphasizes the failure mode of optimized point solutions: "They have a perfect solution from the technical problem but it's not going to work for this firm because it's not going to fit into their workflow." He maps the complete experience including integration with existing systems, training requirements, user experience, consistency, and speed. Technical superiority in isolation leads to "problems with adoption and retention." Founders should map every system, process, and stakeholder their solution touches, designing for workflow integration rather than isolated problem-solving. Sequence customer sophistication as you scale beyond innovators: David's initial customers were "leading edge folks" from his technology network who understood AI potential. As PredictAP matured, sales cycles became "much longer" with more conservative firms requiring higher proof thresholds. He learned that "initial sales have to be very successful and you have to have customers that advocate for you" because mainstream buyers need extensive social proof. Founders should recognize that early adopter ICP differs fundamentally from mainstream buyers—what closes innovators (technology potential) differs from what closes pragmatists (proven ROI and references), requiring distinct positioning and sales approaches for each segment. // Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co // Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM

In this episode—the 100th Lozano Smith Podcast episode—host Sloan Simmons joins Partners Alyse Pacheco Nichols and Crystal Pizano to discuss strategic planning and best practices for responding to requests under the California Public Records Act. Alyse and Crystal's respective expertise in Governance and Municipal practice areas lends a practical discussion useful for local educational agencies and municipalities faced with the ever-increasing number and complexity of public record requests. Show Notes & References 2:02 – Sequence of events when Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) receive requests for information 5:12 – Unclear requests and seeking clarification 6:39 – The value of understanding who a requester is and the motivations behind any requests 10:21 – Contextual clues to help LEAs know what types of records to identify for disclosure 12:28 – Requests that may relate to anticipated litigation or politically sensitive subjects 15:48 – Large-scale email PRA requests and how to go about gathering documents 19:04 – Best practices for large requests 22:48 – Partnering with legal counsel For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast

In this episode, we are highlighting a presentation given at IFI’s 2025 annual Worldview Conference, which was held at Belmont Bible Church in Downers Grove. Scott Phelps, head of the Abstinence and Marriage Partnership organization, shares the Success Sequence program with the audience in the first half of the program, and in the second, demonstrates how the sex education programs in government schools codify the sexual revolution to the detriment of America.   Attend IFI’s 2026 Worldview Conference by registering here!… Continue Reading

In this episode, we are highlighting a presentation given at IFI’s 2025 annual Worldview Conference, which was held at Belmont Bible Church in Downers Grove. Scott Phelps, head of the Abstinence and Marriage Partnership organization, shares the Success Sequence program with the audience in the first half of the program, and in the second, demonstrates how the sex education programs in government schools codify the sexual revolution to the detriment of America.   Attend IFI’s 2026 Worldview Conference by registering here!… Continue Reading

Some AI projects in your organization feel weirdly easy. Others feel impossible. In this solo workshop-style episode, host Susan Diaz introduces the Four AI Cliff Archetypes - Divers, Pathfinders, Operators, and Bridge Builders - and shows how understanding your mix of people (not just your tools) explains most of your AI momentum or lack thereof. Episode summary Susan opens with a familiar problem: in the same organization, some AI projects glide and others grind to a halt. The difference, she argues, isn't the tech - it's how different types of people respond when they hit a "cliff" moment, where the familiar path disappears and AI represents a big, unknown drop. Drawing on personality and operating-style frameworks like Kolbe for inspiration, she introduces the Four AI Cliff Archetypes: Divers - jump first, learn in motion, create raw experiments and speed. Pathfinders - map risk and opportunity, research, and ask the hard questions. Operators - take a plan and run it, turning ideas into executed workflows. Bridge Builders - turn chaotic experiments into systems, documentation, and "this is how we do it here" Listeners are invited to score themselves 0-10 on each type as Susan walks through how each archetype behaves at the cliff, what sentences give them away, and how they help or hurt AI adoption if unmanaged. She then moves from personal reflection to organizational design: how to sequence work so each type shines in the right place - especially across the AI flywheel of audit, training, personalised tools, and ROI. She closes with a "cliff to bridge" sequence - Divers jump, Pathfinders map, Operators ship, Bridge Builders scale - and a practical homework exercise for mapping real people on your leadership team to each archetype so you can stop fighting human behaviour and start designing with it. Key takeaways The friction isn't just tools, it's temperament. AI feels like a cliff: the path ends, the map is unclear, the bottom is invisible. People respond to that uncertainty in patterned ways - and those patterns shape your AI projects. The Four AI Cliff Archetypes: Divers - "Let's just try it." Early experimenters who move fast, download tools before memos, and learn by motion. They create velocity and risk (shadow AI, lack of documentation, burnout). Pathfinders - "Hold on, what does this do?" Risk scanners who research, ask for evidence, and think about policy and edge cases. They prevent disasters but can get stuck in analysis. Operators - "Tell me the plan and I'll run it." Execution machines who thrive on clear outcomes, ownership, timelines, and metrics. They build powerful machines… which can be pointed at the wrong target if leadership is vague. Bridge Builders - "No one should have to jump this every time." System designers who create repeatable workflows, playbooks, and training so experiments become infrastructure. They can over-engineer too early if they don't have real-world data. No one type is "best" - you need a mix. A team full of Divers = chaos. Pathfinders-only = analysis paralysis. Operators-only = beautifully executed wrong things. Bridge Builder-only = process with no proof. Balance beats dominance. Sequence the humans, not just the tasks. Susan offers a simple sequence for AI initiatives: Divers jump - generate raw experiments and discover real use cases. Pathfinders map - assess risk, compliance, and opportunity. Operators ship - turn what works into pilots and deployed workflows. Bridge Builders scale - standardize, document, and build bridges so others can cross safely. Map archetypes onto your AI flywheel. In audit, Pathfinders and Bridge Builders lead with Divers exposing shadow systems. In training, Bridge Builders and Operators lead while Divers provide examples. For personalized tools and ROI tracking, all four types play different roles - from prototyping to governance to metrics. Design for behaviour, don't fight it. You can't force Divers to become Pathfinders or Operators to become Bridge Builders. You can design projects, governance, and sequencing so each type does the work they're naturally wired for - reducing friction and accelerating adoption. Episode highlights [00:02] Why some AI projects feel easy in your org—and others feel impossible. [00:26] "It's not the tools. It's the people." Setting up the archetype model. [01:16] The cliff metaphor: the path ends, the map is unclear, and AI = the drop. [01:57] Inspiration from Kolbe and operating modes for creating these archetypes. [03:11] Introducing the four types: Divers, Pathfinders, Operators, Bridge Builders. [04:14] How to play along: scoring yourself 0–10 on each archetype. [04:53] Deep dive on Divers: language, strengths, and how they accidentally create shadow AI. [06:41] The "sandbox plus guardrails" playbook for managing Divers (including burnout protection). [08:02] Pathfinders: risk scanning, research, and how to avoid permanent evaluation mode. [09:37] Two-week sprints and one-page memos as tools to keep Pathfinders moving. [11:02] Operators: "tell me the plan and I'll run it," and why goals matter more than tools. [13:04] Translating AI into workflows and metrics Operators can own. [14:22] Bridge Builders: turning chaos into infrastructure and culture ("this is how we do it here"). [15:40] Pairing Divers + Bridge Builders, and Pathfinders + Bridge Builders, to avoid over-engineering. [17:27] Why a team full of any single archetype breaks your AI efforts in predictable ways. [18:35] Mapping each archetype onto the AI flywheel: audit, training, tools, ROI. [21:28] Applying the model to your leadership team: spotting overloads and missing roles. [22:37] The "cliff to bridge" sequence: Divers jump, Pathfinders map, Operators ship, Bridge Builders scale. [23:38] Homework: map one current AI initiative against the four archetypes and adjust who does what. Use this episode as a mini workshop for your next AI initiative: Score yourself across Diver, Pathfinder, Operator, Bridge Builder. Pick one real AI project and write actual names next to each type on your team. Ask: "Where are we overloaded, where are we missing a type, and how can we re-sequence the work so each archetype shines at the right moment?" That's how you stop treating AI like a terrifying cliff - and start treating it like a crossing your whole team actually knows how to make. Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn to get a conversation started. Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here.

In this episode, Warren Ingram and Pieter de Villiers speak about the essential strategies for managing investments during retirement. They touch on the importance of understanding investment risks, maintaining stock market exposure, and creating a balanced asset allocation. The conversation also covers the significance of local versus offshore investments, managing cash reserves, and the psychological aspects of spending in retirement. TakeawaysRetirement is a new phase, not the end of investing.Cost of living increases are a significant concern in retirement.Managing emotions is crucial for investment strategies.Investing too conservatively can lead to financial struggles later.Sequence of return risk can impact long-term capital.A balanced asset allocation is essential for retirement.Stock market exposure is necessary for inflation protection.Cash reserves can mitigate risks during market downturns.Spending in retirement should be planned and intentional.Lifestyle changes should be considered in retirement planning.Learn more about Prescient Investment Management here.Send us a textHave a question for Warren? Don't forget to voice note your questions through our WhatsApp chat on (+27)79 807 8162 and you could be featured in one of our episodes. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Financial Freedom content: @HonestMoneyPod

The advent calendar arrived nine days ago. No sender. No explanation. Just twenty-four numbered doors and a carved face with empty eyes that seemed to know exactly who Matthew Klein used to be.Since then, Marshport has become a graveyard.Three people are dead. A teenage boy has been twisted into a puppet for murder. A phantom child wrapped in ash and embers stalks the shadows, demanding obedience. And Matthew Klein — the man who ran while his family burned thirty years ago — has been branded with a wound that will not let him forget.He tried to destroy the calendar. The ocean spat it back. He refused to open a door. His youngest son woke screaming, wrapped in the coils of a python that should not exist.Now a mysterious hooded figure haunts the edges of Matthew's world. A bearded man who appears at funerals and vanishes into crowds. Someone who knows the rules of this game — perhaps even someone who wrote them.Pastor Russell Hart has offered to help – but has made a caveat… don't open the next door until he's in the room with the calendar to see it for himself. Get the print version of the novel: https://weirddarkness.com/AdventOfEvil#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #HolidayHorror #SupernaturalThriller #HauntedCalendar #DarkChristmas #HorrorStory #DemonicEvil #CreepyTales #YuletideTerror

The Momentum Equation: Why Effort Alone Won't Grow Your Cash PT Clinic In this episode, Doc Danny Matta uses a simple physics concept—momentum—to explain why some cash practices take off and others stall out. He breaks down his "business momentum equation" (effort × accuracy), shows why hard work on the wrong things keeps you stuck, and explains how to aim your effort at the right tasks so your clinic actually moves forward. Quick Ask If this episode helps you see your business more clearly, share it with another clinician who's grinding but not gaining traction—and tag @dannymattaPT so he can reshare it. Episode Summary Physics meets practice: Danny borrows the momentum formula (mass × velocity) and adapts it to business. The new equation: In business, momentum = effort × accuracy. Effort isn't the issue: Most cash PT owners work hard; the problem is where that effort goes. Accuracy is the multiplier: Working on the right tasks, in the right order, is what creates real momentum. Wrong work, no progress: You can row 80 hours a week and still go in circles if your strategy is off. Foundations first: Just like rehab progressions, business skills must be built in sequence. Clarity relieves stress: Knowing "what's next" eliminates the anxiety of guessing your way forward. Get help when stuck: Coaching and proven frameworks improve accuracy and speed up results. Lessons & Takeaways Momentum is earned: It shows up when focused effort stacks on top of clear priorities. Hard work isn't rare: What's rare is hard work applied to the right problems. Sequence matters: Don't skip from "no leads" to "advanced funnels" without basic sales and marketing skills. Self-awareness is a skill: Admitting what you don't know is the first step to changing your results. Help = faster, safer growth: Guidance reduces mistakes when your business is how you feed your family. Mindset & Motivation Stop blaming effort: If you're already grinding, your problem is almost always accuracy, not hustle. Reframe "stuck" as mis-aimed: Feeling stalled usually means your work is pointed at the wrong targets. Accept that it's hard: Building a clinic that changes your life is supposed to be difficult—and that's why it's meaningful. Decisiveness beats drift: Endless learning with no action is purgatory; pick a plan and move. Pro Tips for Clinic Owners Audit your week: List your tasks and circle only the ones that directly drive revenue, retention, or referrals. Kill "busy work": Offload or eliminate tasks that don't move you toward your goals. Set one main target: Focus your effort on a single primary objective for the next 90 days. Use tech to free capacity: Tools like Claire can take documentation off your plate so you can work on higher-value projects. Get outside eyes: A coach or advisor can quickly spot where your accuracy is off and help redirect your effort. Notable Quotes "Momentum in business isn't mass × velocity—it's effort × accuracy." "Most entrepreneurs aren't lazy. They're just rowing hard in the wrong direction." "If nothing changes, nothing changes. Learning without implementation doesn't move your life forward." "The stress comes from not knowing if you're doing the right things, not from hard work itself." Action Items Review your last two weeks and identify where most of your effort is going. Circle 2–3 tasks that truly drive growth (new evals, follow-ups, referrals, key projects). Eliminate or delegate at least one "busy" task that doesn't impact revenue or retention. Define your next 90-day priority and align your calendar to it. Schedule a strategy call with PT Biz to get a second set of eyes on where your effort and accuracy are misaligned. Programs Mentioned PT Biz Part-Time to Full-Time 5-Day Challenge (Free): Get crystal clear on your numbers, pricing, and plan to go full time in your practice. Join here. Resources & Links PT Biz Website Free PT Biz 5-Day Challenge Book a PT Biz Discovery Call MeetClaire AI – AI scribe for PTs with a free 7-day trial About the Host: Doc Danny Matta is a physical therapist, entrepreneur, and founder of PT Biz and Athlete's Potential. He's helped over 1,000 clinicians start, grow, and scale successful cash practices and is on a mission to help PTs build businesses that create both time and financial freedom.

Send us a textIn this episode I explore a question so many spiritually aware creators and entrepreneurs quietly hold: Can your authentic self really be enough to attract moneyExplore the Sequence Here: https://pages.michaeledwardslive.com/thesequenceThis conversation was sparked by a client message that opened a much deeper inquiry into authenticity, abundance, and the real mechanics of manifestation. I recorded this from the jungle in Costa Rica, in a moment where the creative impulse was alive and I followed it without resistance. The perfect metaphor for what unfolded.We explore what authenticity truly is beyond personality or performance. How dissolving the not self allows your divine frequency to flow through your human experience without distortion. Why abundance is your natural state, yet mental money patterns can still block your receiving. And how the architecture of energy, mind, and matter shapes everything you create.I share the behind-the-scenes story of undervaluing my work, running a twenty two dollar membership, overgiving to the point of financial struggle, and the moment I realized it wasn't others who failed to value me. It was me. That recognition became the catalyst for redefining my pricing, boundaries, and energetic standards, ultimately leading to the ease, prosperity, and aligned clients I now experience.Inside this episode we exploreLiving in authentic frequency and why it changes everythingDistinguishing energetic blocks from mental money scriptsThe role of self-value in pricing your workWhy aligned three D structures matter just as much as five D intentionHow to build pathways for money to flow with clarity and coherenceIf you are a healer, creator, coach, or leader on the path of soul-led prosperity, this episode will give you both the energetic reframe and the practical structure needed to expand.Toward the end, I share The Sequence — a trio of programs designed to elevate your frequency, dissolve limiting beliefs, and anchor the material choices that bring your highest timeline into form.If this conversation resonates, I'd love to hear what opened for you. Share it with someone who needs this reminder, and make sure you're subscribed for the next episode.Join us for our free Lunar Activations: https://pages.michaeledwardslive.com/lunar Explore Michael's World:https://bio.michaeledwards.live/

In this episode of Retire With Style, Alex Murguia and Wade Pfau explore core themes in retirement planning, including the 4 percent rule, sequence of returns risk, and how to balance discretionary and essential spending. They discuss how these factors shape retirement income strategies, the role of reliable income sources, and when a rising equity glide path can be beneficial. The conversation highlights why retirees may need a more flexible and adaptive approach rather than relying on traditional rules of thumb.   Takeaways The 4% rule is not a constant and can vary based on market conditions. Sequence of return risk is a real concern but may be overstated for average investors. Discretionary spending in retirement should be carefully planned to avoid future regrets. Variable spending strategies can help manage sequence risk effectively. Reliable income sources are crucial for covering essential expenses in retirement. Investors should consider the implications of longevity risk on their withdrawal strategies. The rising equity glide path can be a useful strategy for managing investment risk in retirement. Dividend income should not be the sole focus for retirement income planning. The retirement planning community often relies on outdated paradigms that may not serve current needs. Education on retirement income strategies should start early, even in high school. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning Themes 06:11 Understanding the 4% Rule and Withdrawal Strategies 12:03 Exploring Sequence of Return Risk 17:59 Discretionary vs. Essential Spending in Retirement 24:13 The Role of Dividend Income in Retirement 30:06 Rising Equity Glide Path Strategies 36:04 The Shift from Traditional Drawdown Paradigms   Links    Explore the New RetireWithStyle.com! We've launched a brand-new home for the podcast! Visit RetireWithStyle.com to catch up on all our latest episodes, explore topics by category, and send us your questions or ideas for future episodes. If there's something you've been wondering about retirement, we want to hear it! The Retirement Planning Guidebook: 2nd Edition has just been updated for 2025! Visit your preferred book retailer or simply click here to order your copy today: https://www.wadepfau.com/books/ This episode is sponsored by Retirement Researcher https://retirementresearcher.com/. Download their free eBook, 8 Tips to Becoming A Retirement Income Investor at retirementresearcher.com/8tips

Thursday 4th December: An Advent Sequence by St Martin's Voices

Welcome to Friday Coaching Clinic Episodes. These are LIVE coaching session snippets where you have the opportunity to learn as both client and coach. I encourage you to think about how you might coach through this topic as a coach or how this situation may support you as a client. A reminder about these episodes: This snippet is just one way of coaching through this topic. Each coach has their own unique voice, personality and confidence to best support their clients and I invite you to find yours.  This week: Your Email List Isn't Broken, Your Welcome Sequence Is

This is AI x Multilateralism, a mini-series on The Next Page, where experts help us unpack the many ideas and issues at the nexus of AI and international cooperation.   AI has the dual potential to transform our world for the better, while also deepening serious inequalities. In this episode we speak to Dr. Rachel Adams, Founder and CEO of the Global Center on AI Governance and author of The New Empire of AI: The Future of Global Inequality. She shares why Africa-led and Majority World-led research and policy are essential for equitable AI governance that's grounded in the realities of people everywhere.  She reflects on: why the work of the Center's flagship Global Index on Responsible AI and its African Observatory on Responsible AI are bringing much-needed research and evidence to ensure AI governance is fair and inclusive.  her thoughts on the UN General Assembly's 2025 resolutions to establish an International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance, urging true inclusion of diverse voices, indigenous perspectives, and public input why we need to treat AI infrastructure as an AI Global Commons and, the power of local-language AI and public literacy in ensuring we harness the most transformative aspects of AI for our world.  Resources mentioned:  The Global Center on AI Governance The Center's Global Index on Responsible AI The Center's African Observatory on Responsible AI, and its research series Africa and the Big Debates on AI Production:    Guest: Dr. Rachel Adams Host, production and editing: Natalie Alexander Julien  Recorded & produced at the Commons, United Nations Library & Archives Geneva  Podcast Music credits: Sequence: https://uppbeat.io/track/img/sequence Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/img/sequence License code: 6ZFT9GJWASPTQZL0 #AI #Multilateralism #UN #Africa #AIGovernance

Buy-and-hold has a place—but retirement brings new risks like sequence-of-returns, required withdrawals, and tax considerations. In this conversation, Ken and the team break down how market downturns can affect lifetime income, why diversification alone may not limit losses, and where a rules-based “sell discipline” can fit into a retirement plan.We cover:• Sequence-of-returns risk and why early losses can sting in retirement• Where diversification helps—and where it doesn't• The role of a rules-based sell discipline alongside long-term investing• How cash flow planning and tax awareness influence portfolio choices• Practical next steps for people in or near retirementIf you're within five years of retirement (or already retired), this episode will help you think more clearly about risk, withdrawals, and staying retired—through up and down markets.Ready to chat with a Retirement Planner? Visit www.rpoa.com/meet-with-an-advisorRPOA Advisors, Inc. (d/b/a Retirement Planners of America) (“RPOA”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement by securities regulators and does not imply that RPOA has attained a certain level of skill or training.This podcast has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. RPOA does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax and legal advisors before engaging in any transaction or strategy.Opinions expressed are those of RPOA as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Statements regarding the ‘Invest and Protect' strategy (formerly 'Buy, Hold, and Sell') or recommendations made prior to 2011 refer to strategies collectively employed and recommendations collectively made by RPOA's principals while employed at Eagle Strategies, LLC. RPOA was created in 2011 and uses the same exit strategy. Like all investment strategies, the Strategy is not guaranteed. It is possible that the sell signal can incorrectly predict a bear market, and affected investors would not participate in gains they could have realized by remaining invested. Implementing the Strategy may also result in tax consequences and transaction costs

Derek Moore is joined by Shane Skinner and Mike Snyder to talk about the coming Fed decision and what the market is telling us. Plus, CNN's Fear and Greed Index is almost at extreme fear so why are most markets near all-time highs? Then, looking at the economy through the lens of Michael Kantro's HOPE theory and whether the recent ADP employment report is giving mixed messages. All this and more this week.   HOPE = Housing Orders Profits Employment Russell 2000 Cup or Vase with Handle pattern? Fed interest rate cut now at 94% probability Are small caps telling us more rate cuts coming? Earnings expectations on the Russell 2000 Index? CNN Fear and Greed Index showing almost extreme fear Disconnect between Fear and Greed Index vs the stock market Soft data vs hard data disconnect Bitcoin and MicroStrategy or Strategy catches a bid on Vanguard news ADP soft private employment data     Mentioned in this Episode   Rob Arnott on "The Bubble You Can't Short" episode of Excess Returns podcast https://excessreturnspod.com/podcast/excess-returns/episode/the-bubble-you-cant-short-rob-arnott-on-what-you-can-do-instead   Derek Moore's book Broken Pie Chart https://amzn.to/3S8ADNT   Jay Pestrichelli's book Buy and Hedge https://amzn.to/3jQYgMt   Derek's book on public speaking Effortless Public Speaking https://amzn.to/3hL1Mag   Contact Derek derek.moore@zegainvestments.com        

Chart patterns won't save accounts built on shaky foundations. Most traders fail because they skip essential market structure, risk management, and emotional discipline. The profitable few understand fundamentals before ever touching technical analysis. Sequence matters more than skill.Learn more: https://whitehat.zone/ White Hat Zone City: De Quincy Address: House of Francis Website: https://whitehat.zone/ Email: support@whitehat.zone

TWiV explains the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of pre-mRNA splicing, and engineering bacteriophage to deliver proteins to the human intestine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Immune 100 live at the Incubator Spliced segments of adenovirus mRNA (PNAS) An amazing sequence in adenovirus mRNA (Cell) Nobel Prize for mRNA splicing (Nobel) A predominant undecanucleotide in adenovirus late mRNAs (Cell) Splicing RNA with Phillip A. Sharp (ASM) Protein production in the gut by engineered phage (Nat Biotech) Engineered phage T4 (Curr Op Virol) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Can You Identify These Lines from Classic SciFi Novels? Kathy – Saturday Morning Physics, Photograph 51 and JCE article Rich – Wikipedia:Wiki Science Competition 2025 in the United States Jolene – Data visualization workshop Vincent – Transformer: The Deep Chemistry of Life and Death by Nick Lane Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Two halves of the same coin. Light and dark. Day and night. The husband and the wife. Scripture contains the idea of two parts being unified when they come together, two parts equating to one. The same is true when we consider our being. Mankind is less than a whole when separated from God.Genesis 1 says that God's creation exists as the heavens and the earth, two parts in one. In this message, we examined the last piece of God's creating efforts from Genesis 1:1, the earth, and explored the purpose it serves in God's grand scheme.Pastor Matt McCarter

As a property management business owner, you likely work with seasoned investors who are always looking for new ways to build and preserve their wealth and assets. In this episode of the #DoorGrowShow, property management growth expert Jason Hull sits down with Alan Porter to discuss how to reveal the powerful financial strategies the wealthy and large financial institutions use and how you can apply them. You'll Learn [01:09] Alan's Inspiration for Uncovering Financial Secrets [08:38] Learning Financial Planning Strategies 90% of People Don't Know [12:25] How to Get Started on the Path to Tax-Free Retirement [15:43] Strategies For Property Managers and Their Clients Quotables "The one thing you can always trust is for everybody to look out for their own self-interest." "If your own self-interest is in alignment with their interests, then that's a win-win. Otherwise, someone's gonna lose." "If you don't have a plan, make one. But you've got to have a plan and improve on it all the time." Resources DoorGrow and Scale Mastermind DoorGrow Academy DoorGrow on YouTube DoorGrowClub DoorGrowLive Transcript Alan Porter (00:00) I teach people to think outside the box, conventional financial planning, and show them the strategies that the wealthy and banking institutions have been using for years. Now, I show people how to become their own bank. Jason Hull (00:10) All right, welcome everybody. I am Jason Hull, the founder and CEO of DoorGrow, the world's leading and most comprehensive coaching and consulting firm for long-term residential property management entrepreneurs. For over a decade and a half, we have brought innovative strategies and optimization to the property management industry. We have spoken to thousands of property management business owners, coached, consulted, cleaned up hundreds of businesses. Alan Porter (00:26) Thank Jason Hull (00:35) helping them add doors, improve pricing, increase profit, simplify operations. And we run the leading property management mastermind in the industry. At DoorGrow, we believe good property managers can change the world and that property management is the ultimate high trust gateway to real estate deals, relationships, and residual income. We are on a mission to transform property management business owners and their businesses. We want to transform the industry. eliminate the BS, build awareness, change perception, expand the market, and help the best property management entrepreneurs win. Now, let's get into the show. So my guest today is Alan Porter of Strategic Wealth Strategies. Welcome, Alan. Alan Porter (01:16) Well, thank you for having me on. Jason Hull (01:18) Yeah, glad to have you. And we're going to be talking about, he's going to be sharing how to reveal the powerful financial strategies, the wealthy use, how you can apply them to. Alan will be uncovering the IRS approved playbook for retiring completely tax free, explain the millionaire tax strategies business owners use to keep more of what they earn and break down Wall Street myths to show how to build lasting wealth without market volatility. So Alan. Again, welcome to the show and why don't we kick things off by give us a little bit of background on you. How did you get into entrepreneurism, into business and give us a little bit of backstory so we understand how this all came to be. Alan Porter (02:00) Well, I never thought I'd be doing this. I retired from the military back in 1993. I was a Blackhawk instructor pilot and I told everybody I had a safe landing for every takeoff and I dodged all the bullets and I had a great career. And I got enrolled in the real estate mortgage business after that up till about 2008. I've had some tragic things happen to my family. In 2009, live in Little, mean Fayetteville, North Carolina. My son lived in Little Rock, Arkansas with his wife, Lynn. She was 39 and they had two little girls that were seven and four. Jason Hull (02:19) in 2009. Alan Porter (02:28) Well, we went down there for Christmas in 2009, but my son had been 100 % disabled for three years and still not getting the disability. And January 5th changed my entire life. His wife, Lynn, called me up. said, Alan, I've been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and they've given me six months to live. Of course we were all devastated, but there's a huge financial problem that's developed in my son's family because there's no money coming in. Jason Hull (02:28) Well, we went down there for business in 2009, but my son had been 100 % disabled for three years and still not in a disability. Wow. And January 5th changed my entire life. His wife Lynn called me up, she said, Alan, I've been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and they've given me six months to live. Of course, we were all devastated. Yeah, I bet. there's huge financial problem that's developed in my son's family because of the money coming in. Alan Porter (02:55) I'm helping them out, but I don't know for how long Jason Hull (02:55) I'm helping him out, but I don't help him. Alan Porter (02:56) until I'm gonna have to sell my house or do something. But I was like 99 % of the people out there, Jason, that thought life insurance was a death product that you had to die to benefit from it. Well, little did I know she had a terminal illness right or her life insurance policy that she could access within one year of diagnosis of this deadly disease and was completely tax free, which I knew nothing about. It was hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jason Hull (02:58) Yeah. Really? Alan Porter (03:21) And if it had not been for that, my son would be bankrupt and it took a huge financial strain off of me. Jason Hull (03:25) Yeah. Well, long story short, died a year later, so I moved my son back here to Fayetteville, North Carolina. But about a year after that, my daughter's an oncology nurse, and her husband's a doctor at Woodbrook and Raleigh, North Carolina, and just gave birth to my third grandson. And she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it was very bad. We didn't think she was going to live. Well, now in 2023, she's been 12 years cancer free, but she also was diagnosed with Graves' disease, thyroid eye condition. Alan Porter (03:26) Well, to a long story short, she died a year later. So I moved my son back here to Fayetteville, North Carolina. But about a year after that, my daughter, who's an oncology nurse and her husband's a doctor, they live up in Raleigh, North Carolina, had just given birth to my third grandson. And she was diagnosed with breast cancer and it was very bad. We didn't think she was going to live. Well, now in 2023, she'd been 12 years cancer free, but she also was diagnosed with Graves disease and thyroid eye condition. There's only one treatment for it. It's not a cure-all for anything, but Jason Hull (03:51) And there's only one treatment for it. It's not a cure-all. Alan Porter (03:55) it's a treatment. It's an infusion, eight infusions of this drug is called Tepezza I believe. The first one was like $32,000. The last one was almost a quarter of a million dollars. That was in May of 2023. On January of 2024, the thyroid eye condition came back. In February, she went to the doctor. The doctor said, Nicole, I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do until you go blind and then we can operate. I'm thinking, man, what a prognosis. Jason Hull (03:55) my Yeah. ⁓ Alan Porter (04:21) So we tried to get her a study at Duke. She didn't qualify for that because she had already taken the Tepezza But April did get her into the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. But basically there's nothing they can do for her. She was up there for about four days for testing and consultation. But basically, like I said, there's nothing they can do for her. They got a drug that may be 50 % effective. It's not improved by insurance. And believe it or not, it's even more expensive than the Tepezza is. And it's just, I mean, so. Jason Hull (04:39) Yeah. Yeah. Alan Porter (04:51) So both of my kids are living day to day in misery. And when I got started in this, knew, like I said, these things, because I was to have a very successful real estate mortgage business. And I said, these financial strategies that the insurance companies have, why don't people know about this? These are the greatest financial vehicles out there. People tell me, well, listen to Suzy Orman and Dave Ramsey, insurance is not a good investment. Well, first off, it's not an investment. Jason Hull (04:54) When I got started in this, knew, like I said, these things, because I was very successful in estate in my early years. I said, these financial strategies that the insurance companies have, why don't people know about this? These are the greatest financial vehicles out there. People tell me, listen, as soon as you arm it today, Ramsey, insurance is not a good investment. Well, first off, it's not an investment. Alan Porter (05:18) It's an asset class all of its own. There's no other financial product that can Jason Hull (05:19) It's an asset class all of itself. There's no other financial product that... Alan Porter (05:23) provide the protection, performance, and benefits of cash value life insurance when properly structured and fixed and fixed indexed annually. And I'll give you one big point. They eliminate or mitigate the risk in retirement that a stock portfolio only compounds. That's absolutely... Let me ask you this. Have you ever heard of sequence of returns risk? Jason Hull (05:23) could provide the protection, performance, and benefits of cash, money, or life insurance. Yeah. if you have one big point, they eliminate or mitigate the risk in retirement that a stock portfolio only compacts. That's absolutely, let me ask you this, have you ever heard of sequence of returns risk? Sequencing returns? Sequence of returns risk. No.   Alan Porter (05:46) Sequence of returns risk. Well, don't feel lonely because 99 % of the people I talk to, to include multi-millionaires that have fee-based advisors. And let's say that you're 65 years of age and you go to retire and you got a million dollars in your stock portfolio. They used to say a 4 % distribution rate was a safe distribution rate to last for 30 years, index for inflation at 3%. Well, my plans go to age 120. They don't cut off in 30 years. Jason Hull (05:50) Well, don't feel lonely because 99 % of the people I talk to include multi-millionaires that have fee-based advisors. let's say that you're 65 years of age and you go to retire. You have a million dollars in your stock portfolio. They used to say a 4 % distribution rate was a safe distribution rate to last for 30 years, index for inflation at 3%. Well, my plans go at age 120. They don't cut off in 30 years. But the problem with that 4 % distribution rate Alan Porter (06:15) But the problem is that 4 % distribution rate, that's Jason Hull (06:19) That's $40,000 a year. And that stock portfolio, that's not guaranteed. What if you have a 10 % loss the first year? now your million dollars goes down to $900,000 minus the $40,000 you took out minus the fees you paid on financial advisor whether you make money or not. And then the next two to three years, 2008 happens again, where you lost 38 to 52%. You never got the money in the fifth year. And when I tell people about this, they're financial advisors, Alan Porter (06:19) $40,000 a year. And that stock portfolio, that's not guaranteed. What if you have a 10 % loss the first year? So now your million dollars goes down to 900,000 minus the $40,000 you took out minus the fees you pay that financial advisor, whether you make money or not. And then the next two to three years, 2008 happens again, where you lost 38 to 52%. You're going to be out of money in the fifth year. And when I tell people about this and their financial advisors, Don't tell them, I mean, they're said, I said, why do you think that is? Jason Hull (06:45) don't tell them. I made letters, I said, why do you think that is? Alan Porter (06:48) It's because they make a fee whether you make money or not. The number one fear in retirement is running out of money before you run out of money. I can eliminate that. Jason Hull (06:49) Because they make a fee, well, if you make money or not. The number one fair return is 20,000 dollars. Yeah, compensation structures are incentive models. And so if their incentive is not to tell you, it's because they're getting paid to not tell you. Well, they're supposed to be fiduciary looking out for their best interest clients. I'm a certified financial financial advisor. Yeah, but regardless, the one thing you can always trust is for everybody to look out for their own self-interest. Oh, you're right there. Alan Porter (06:59) Yeah, exactly right. Well, they're supposed to be fiduciaries looking out for their best interest clients. I'm a certified financial fiduciary. you're right there. Jason Hull (07:18) So if your own self-interest is in alignment with their interests, then that's a win-win. Otherwise, someone's gonna lose. Yeah. It's always the clients. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, well, that's quite the story. how is everybody doing now? Alan Porter (07:26) Yep. And it's always the client. My son looks like he's 85 years old and my daughter's living day to day in pain. Jason Hull (07:43) Yeah, yeah. So you have this burden of trying to figure out how do I take care of them? How do I make sure that, you know, taking care of your kids and, you know, nothing's more stressful emotionally or more motivating for us as a parent than our own kids having it going through a tough time. Yeah. I remember my oldest daughter, she was born with a birth defect that there was a rotation in her gut and she was just always sick, throwing up, stuff like this. Well, she almost died. We didn't know this. got, went and got a scan. Everything was inflamed. They're like, we have to do emergency surgery immediately. And yeah, it was pretty scary as a parent. And they had to like pull her guts out, do surgery, put them back in. And she was a little kid, you know? Now she's my oldest. I mean, she's still my oldest, but now she works for me. and in DoorGrow which is great. But yeah, I remember those times. That's really scary. And I can imagine that's just really a big load on your shoulders. So did this kind of spark you creating the strategic wealth strategies then? Alan Porter (08:30) No. Absolutely, that's my passion for this. I'm very passionate about what I do. It's all about education because people don't know. Jason Hull (08:49) Explain the passion, like what gets you excited about this? Alan Porter (08:53) Well, educating people. That's what I did in the Army. I was an educator. I taught people how to fly. it's just like this, educating people. I teach people to think outside the box, conventional financial planning, and show them the strategies that the wealthy and banking institutions have been using for years. Now, I show people how to become their own bank. I've been doing this for a decade and a half. And why don't everybody doesn't do this? I don't know why. mean, you borrow money from yourself, you pay yourself back compound interest. Jason Hull (09:16) you Alan Porter (09:20) and not the financial institutions and you eliminate the effective interest cost that you pay on the money that you borrow. And people, are you aware of what effective interest cost is? Banks love it. I had a gentleman who wanted to do my debt free for life plan. And I said, well, how much debt do you have? He says, well, we bought a new house a couple of months ago, a couple of car payments, a loan and a credit card. I said, what's the interest rate on your mortgage? He said 2.75. Jason Hull (09:20) Yeah. And people, are you aware? No, what is that? Alan Porter (09:46) I said, what's your effective interest cost on that? He says, well, I don't know what you're talking about, Alan. I said, don't fill it, only most people don't. Fill out my form, we'll do a Zoom conference the following week. I said, you got $461,000 in debt. That's not your problem. The problem is the 49.76 effective interest cost, you're paying on that 2.75 % mortgage. His eyes got real big and he said, Alan, how is that possible? I said, it's not going to get down to the 2.75 until the last couple of months of the mortgage. Jason Hull (10:10) Yeah. ⁓ Alan Porter (10:14) You've got a credit card here that's over 90 % effective interest cost. And even though you've got great credits, your average effective interest cost is over 46%. So my next question to him was, what financial vehicle are you investing in, your 401k or anything else, that gives you a 46 % return on your money? Because 46 cents of every dollar that you pay out goes to compound interest for some financial institution, and that money's gone for you forever. Jason Hull (10:17) and ⁓ Alan Porter (10:38) He said, well, nothing. In fact, I lost 10 % of my 401k. Jason Hull (10:40) Yeah, that'd be hard to find that much. And then my last question was how long does it you to your debts off? I said with my cap three buck of money and a whole lot of insurance policy, 14.17 years past, saving $73,000. And in the 10th year it would be 52 years of bids, and there's over $149,000 in cap Alan Porter (10:43) And then my last question was, how long can it take you to pay your debts off the way you're doing it? I 20 some years. I said, with my tax-free bucket of money and a whole life insurance policy and our software, we're paying all your debts off 14.17 years faster, saving you $73,000 in interest. And in the 10th year, you'll be 52 years of age and there's over $139,000 in a tax-free bucket of money that you can use ⁓ to buy a new car, whatever, college education for your kids. Jason Hull (11:06) you can use uh buy a new car whatever college education for your kids at that point your debt benefits will be $400,000 in tax-free money from the federal bank but think about this you don't have to any more money in this by the time you're 65 there'll be over $400,000 in tax-free money that you can use to supplement your income that does not affect the taxation of social security or the tax and community care part which will be in the thousands per year Alan Porter (11:13) At that point, your debt benefits over $400,000 of tax-free money to protect your family. Think about this. You don't have to put any more money in this. By the time you're 65, there'll be over a quarter of a million dollars in a tax-free bucket of money that you can use to supplement your income that does not affect the taxation of Social Security or the means testing for Medicare Part B, which will be in the thousands per year. You're protected from lawsuits, liens, and judgments, and it eliminates or mitigates all the risk in retirement. This is absolutely great for real estate investors. Jason Hull (11:35) Yeah. Yeah ⁓ Alan Porter (11:42) Because once they build that money up in the cash value of their policy, they can take it, go buy a property, and pay themselves back. I do this all the time. I just bought two new cars in last two years. I pay myself back. I'm going to have tens of thousands of dollars more because I compounded interest for me instead of some financial institution. Jason Hull (12:03) So you said multiple times, like why aren't people doing this? Well maybe you could answer your own question, why aren't people doing this? Alan Porter (12:10) It's lack of education. It ought to be taught in high school, but it's not. I've got college professors with PhD degrees in accounting and finance. They have no idea what I'm talking about. They ask me to teach their classes. Jason Hull (12:20) Yeah, got it. So it was just a lack of education on this. Alan Porter (12:24) That's exactly what it is. Jason Hull (12:25) So, yeah, well, I mean, it sounds like something that everybody should be doing. So how does somebody get started with this or how do they become aware of this or what would you say are the first steps? Alan Porter (12:38) Well, give me a call. I don't charge for my consultation services. That's free. It's an education. I think everybody needs to know these things because it will change their financial future, not only for them, but for their family also and possibly generations to come. at 9-8-5. Jason Hull (12:52) So Alan, it sounds like you've kind of found a passion in this. You really enjoy helping people to be able to figure this out and do this. Alan Porter (13:00) Absolutely. Jason Hull (13:01) So yeah, I think that's noble. I think this is pretty awesome. So for those that are listening to this point, I'm going to read a quick word from our sponsor and then Alan, I'm going have you share your phone number so they can get in touch with you and we can keep talking about it. So this episode is sponsored by KRS Smart Books. So if you're a property manager, are you tired of getting tangled up in numbers? KRS Smart Books has your back. They specialize in property bookkeeping. for small to mid-sized managers who'd rather focus on, well, managing. With over 15 years of experience in real estate accounting, their pros in AppFolio, Yardi, and all the top property management software, trust them to make your monthly reports hassle-free so you can get back to what really matters running your business. Head over to krsbooks.com to book your free discovery call. All right, so Alan, what's the number that they should get? to get in touch with you or to reach you to find out about this. Alan Porter (13:59) You can call me at 910-551-1046, email me at strategicwealth, the number zero at gmail.com. And you can always go to my website, which is www.strategicwealthstrategies.com and you can book appointment there. And I've got a plethora of information on that website. Jason Hull (14:18) What? Great, thanks for sharing. So for those that are listening, some people might listen to this and go, well, that's nice, but Alan probably can only work with people that maybe have a million dollars or that are ultra wealthy or have lots of savings. People will listen to this and say, that's probably not for me. What would you say to that? Alan Porter (14:39) Well, quite frankly, bull I work with everybody. know, I'm for the military. Military people don't make a lot of money. Okay. And I work with them, but I work with regular, regular working people that I mean, I'll give you a perfect example. I asked people, said, why do you contribute to a 401k? They said, well, it's a tax deduction. I said, no, it's a tax compounder. And I thought you don't think tax is going to be higher when you retire. I got another thing coming for you. Jason Hull (14:43) Okay. Right. Alan Porter (15:07) But see, thing is people don't understand. 1 % of people out there don't even think there's a fee in a 401k. A 1 % fee over a 30-year period will reduce your income by one-third. The average fee in a 401k is 2.99%. Now that's by Forbes Magazine and the Laptimes. People have less than two-thirds of their money and then they get hit with taxes anywhere from 20 to over 55%. And they're not prepared for it. They're not prepared for long-term care, which costs right now between $50,000 to $200,000 a year. I can get money for that's tax free for pennies on the dollar. It's just a matter of education. Jason Hull (15:43) So for the property management business owners listening, a lot of them will have sometimes hundreds of clients that are investors and they're wanting to maximize their investments, how would this maybe benefit the property management business owners to be better educated on this and have a strategic partner like you? Alan Porter (16:03) Well, the thing is, you've to have a plan.   If you don't have a plan, make one. But you've got to have a plan and improve on it all the time. But it's just like, you know, building up your cash value and borrowing from yourself to buy a property and paying yourself back. That's an absolutely great thing for a real estate investor. And these property managers, I've got health and wellness programs. If you've got employees over 10 employees, understand this. The employer will save anywhere from $500 to $700 a year in FICA taxes. The employee and the employer have 1,100 drugs, prescription drugs, at zero copay. That's 20 to 30 % of healthcare costs. Jason Hull (16:37) Yeah Alan Porter (16:50) I mean, and they also have an accidental indemnity program and that's not for the employer, but they have a revolution health app. They've got the number one telehealth app according to JD Power and associates. It's a plethora of benefits. We have legal club, we have identity shield. It's just all at no net cost to employer and no net cost to the employee. It's the section 125 of the tax program. Jason Hull (17:06) This is all at no net cost reported at no net cost reported. Got it. Got it, interesting. Okay, well cool. Well what else would people generally ask about this or should we make sure that the listeners are aware of related to this? Well, are you... Alan Porter (17:26) Well, are you risk averse? Are you conservative? You know, it's just like when you go to retire and you've got that million dollars in stock portfolio, a 4 % distribution rate, $40,000. If you had a property constructed fixed indexed annuity at, say, age 65, you'd only need approximately $650,000 of that stock portfolio to give you the same $40,000 a year. That's guaranteed for the rest of your life. we're guaranteed. Jason Hull (17:53) New York Heat. ⁓ Alan Porter (17:53) Never to have a loss through the market because we're not tied to the market for our gain. We use indexing strategies and every time that indexing strategy goes up we have increasing income and the older you get the higher the distribution rate is. You can't do that with a stock portfolio. It's not even comparable. Jason Hull (17:59) And every time that index of strategy goes up, we have increasing income. And the older you get, the Yeah, yeah. Well, Alan, I appreciate you coming on to the DoorGrow show and bringing this to light for those listening that are not aware you're doing your purpose of educating. So appreciate that. And to wrap up what final words do you have? And then again, why don't you go and share how people can get in touch with you one more time. Alan Porter (18:31) Okay, well I've got a best-selling book out right now on Amazon. It's called Tax-Free Retirement Solution. Again, Tax-Free, Tax-Free Retirement Solution. Jason Hull (18:38) It's called tax, tax free. Retirement solution, okay. Got it. Alan Porter (18:45) And again, you can call me at 910-551-1046. My email is strategicwealth, the number zero at gmail.com. And you can go to my website, which has a plethora. I've got videos, I've got blogs, I've got everything there. And you can book an appointment there at www.strategicwealthstrategies.com. Jason Hull (18:51) email is strategicwealth0 at gmail.com and you can go to my website which has a cluster. I've got videos, I've got blogs. book an appointment there at www.strategicwellscladagy.com. Awesome. Alan, appreciate you being on the show and thanks for your service. You mentioned your former military. Yeah, I appreciate it. So for those watching, if you've ever felt stuck or stagnant in your property management business, you want to take it to the next level, reach out to us at doorgrow.com. Also be sure to join our free Facebook community, Just for Property Management Business Owners at doorgrowclub.com. Alan Porter (19:13) Well, I appreciate it. Jason Hull (19:31) And if you would like to get the best ideas in property management, join our free newsletter at doorgrow.com slash subscribe. And if you found this even a little bit helpful, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review. We'd really appreciate it. And until next time, remember the slowest path to growth is to do it alone. So let's grow together. Bye everyone.  

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth Most retirees worry about whether their money will last—but few understand the real variables that determine success. In this episode, we go beyond the usual “spend less, earn more” advice and unpack the math that truly drives a sustainable retirement: the rate of return you actually need, how to stress-test your portfolio against bear markets, and why flexible withdrawals can extend the life of your nest egg. Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, walks through how a real financial plan uses Monte Carlo simulations, withdrawal sourcing strategies, and tax-smart distribution planning to give you confidence—even in volatile markets. If you want your money to last as long as you do, this episode will give you the framework to make smarter decisions today and a stronger plan for tomorrow. Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

Edwin Mays is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor-CRPC™ - MaysGroup Advisors is an independent financial services firm, specializing in helping individuals and families prepare for, plan, and live in retirement. Their approach focuses on tailored retirement planning strategies and insurance solutions to provide our clients with guaranteed lifetime income, asset protection, and achieve tax efficiencies in support of a holistic approach to their finances. With over 30 years in the financial services industry—including leadership roles at firms like Thomson Reuters, Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, and Transamerica—Edwin Mays brings deep institutional experience and unmatched insight to every client engagement. As a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC), Edwin specializes in designing retirement strategies that guarantee lifetime cash flow and protect against the most serious threats retirees face today: market risk, longevity, and rising costs.At MaysGroup Advisors, Edwin's mission is simple: replace uncertainty with strategy and give clients the confidence to retire on their terms—with income they can count on, no matter what the market does.Learn more: https://maysgroupadvisors.com/The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. We take protecting your data and privacy very seriously. As of January 1, 2020 the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) suggests the following link as an extra measure to safeguard your data: Do not sell my personal information.Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-edwin-mays-with-maysgroup-advisors-discussing-sequence-of-returns-risk

Curtis Cottle is a Certified Financial Fiduciary, visionary growth strategist and cofounder of one of Michigan's fastest-scaling financial services firms. He specializes in retirement planning, estate planning, and strategic tax strategies designed to help families and business owners protect and grow their wealth.At the core of his firm's approach is a deep emphasis on strategic tax planning as it relates to retirement, helping clients keep more of what they've earned and build long-term financial confidence.He's the creator of the Wealth Wellness Checkup, a planning experience that uncovers hidden financial blind spots and helps people make smart, informed decisions. The firm is built to simplify complexity, bring structure to planning, and deliver personalized strategies that work in the real world.With nearly two decades of experience, Curtis is known for cutting through the noise, building lasting relationships, and helping people create long-term security without the guesswork.When he's not driving growth or designing new campaigns, you'll find him investing in his team, building partnerships, or spending time with his family, living the same values his business is built on: fun, unity, and getting things done.Learn more: http://www.gosbc.net/DISCLAIMERThe content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. We take protecting your data and privacy very seriously. As of January 1, 2020 the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) suggests the following link as an extra measure to safeguard your data: Do not sell my personal information. SBC Financial Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where SBC Financial and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. This website is solely for informational purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by SBC Financial unless a client service agreement is in place.Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-curtis-cottle-founder-of-sbc-financial-discussing-social-security-timing-strategy

Curtis Cottle is a Certified Financial Fiduciary, visionary growth strategist and cofounder of one of Michigan's fastest-scaling financial services firms. He specializes in retirement planning, estate planning, and strategic tax strategies designed to help families and business owners protect and grow their wealth.At the core of his firm's approach is a deep emphasis on strategic tax planning as it relates to retirement, helping clients keep more of what they've earned and build long-term financial confidence.He's the creator of the Wealth Wellness Checkup, a planning experience that uncovers hidden financial blind spots and helps people make smart, informed decisions. The firm is built to simplify complexity, bring structure to planning, and deliver personalized strategies that work in the real world.With nearly two decades of experience, Curtis is known for cutting through the noise, building lasting relationships, and helping people create long-term security without the guesswork.When he's not driving growth or designing new campaigns, you'll find him investing in his team, building partnerships, or spending time with his family, living the same values his business is built on: fun, unity, and getting things done.Learn more: http://www.gosbc.net/DISCLAIMERThe content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. We take protecting your data and privacy very seriously. As of January 1, 2020 the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) suggests the following link as an extra measure to safeguard your data: Do not sell my personal information. SBC Financial Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where SBC Financial and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. This website is solely for informational purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by SBC Financial unless a client service agreement is in place.Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-curtis-cottle-founder-of-sbc-financial-discussing-social-security-timing-strategy

Edwin Mays is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor-CRPC™ - MaysGroup Advisors is an independent financial services firm, specializing in helping individuals and families prepare for, plan, and live in retirement. Their approach focuses on tailored retirement planning strategies and insurance solutions to provide our clients with guaranteed lifetime income, asset protection, and achieve tax efficiencies in support of a holistic approach to their finances. With over 30 years in the financial services industry—including leadership roles at firms like Thomson Reuters, Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, and Transamerica—Edwin Mays brings deep institutional experience and unmatched insight to every client engagement. As a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC), Edwin specializes in designing retirement strategies that guarantee lifetime cash flow and protect against the most serious threats retirees face today: market risk, longevity, and rising costs.At MaysGroup Advisors, Edwin's mission is simple: replace uncertainty with strategy and give clients the confidence to retire on their terms—with income they can count on, no matter what the market does.Learn more: https://maysgroupadvisors.com/The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. We take protecting your data and privacy very seriously. As of January 1, 2020 the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) suggests the following link as an extra measure to safeguard your data: Do not sell my personal information.Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-edwin-mays-with-maysgroup-advisors-discussing-sequence-of-returns-risk

On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Anne Kirk, cereal specialist for Manitoba Agriculture and Dr. Aaron Mills, researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada PEI, to discuss crop sequence — what do we know about the impact of order crops are grown in? How is crop sequence different from rotation?... Read More

The Hidden Investment Risks Pre-Retirees and Retirees Don’t See Coming: Kentucky Retirement Planning Insights Are you approaching retirement and concerned about protecting your life savings from market volatility? In this comprehensive episode of the Tom Dupree Show, Kentucky retirement planning advisors Tom Dupree and Mike Johnson explore the multidimensional nature of investment risk and why personalized investment management is essential. Unlike mass-market approaches from large firms, Dupree Financial Group provides direct access to portfolio managers who understand your specific retirement goals and risk tolerance. This financial education episode delivers timeless wisdom on risk assessment, portfolio protection strategies, and why understanding what you own is critical before retirement. Whether you’re working with a local financial advisor in Kentucky or managing investments on your own, these insights will help you make more informed decisions about your retirement security. Key Takeaways: Investment Risk Management for Pre-Retirees Risk is multidimensional: Investment risk extends beyond simple volatility—it includes sequence of returns risk, concentration risk, and the risk of falling short of your retirement goals The Capital Asset Pricing Model misconception: More risk doesn’t automatically mean more return; it means a wider range of potential outcomes, both positive and negative The danger of false security: Long periods of strong returns can create complacency, causing investors to unknowingly take on excessive risk right before retirement Personalized portfolio analysis matters: Your investment strategy must align with your specific retirement timeline, income needs, and risk capacity—not just market averages Understanding beats panic: Clients who truly understand their portfolio holdings don’t panic during market downturns because they know their strategy is designed for their goals Active risk identification: Professional Kentucky retirement planning involves continuously identifying and monitoring specific risks to each holding, not just following the crowd Howard Marks on Investment Risk: Wisdom from a Market Legend The episode draws heavily from Howard Marks’ influential 2006 memo on risk, which Tom and Mike have studied extensively. Marks, co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management, challenges conventional thinking about risk and return relationships. “If more risk always meant more return, it would cease being risky. The risk would be riskless,” explains Mike Johnson, highlighting the fundamental misunderstanding many investors have about the risk-return relationship. The discussion emphasizes that bearing risk unknowingly represents one of the biggest mistakes pre-retirees can make. This is particularly relevant for those who have experienced strong market performance for years without understanding the volatility embedded in their portfolios. The Real-World Cost of Ignoring Investment Risk Tom Dupree shares a cautionary tale that every pre-retiree should hear: “There was a man that came to me years ago who had been at UK for a number of years. He had invested in Fidelity and TIAA-CREF, good funds, great returns. He had something like 1,000,006 and he had averaged 13 and a quarter percent return per year for like 23 years. He extrapolated that he could take 10% a year, which was $160,000, live on it and be okay because it was gonna keep doing that. The sequence of returns turned around and bit him good.” This example perfectly illustrates sequence of returns risk—a critical concept for anyone approaching retirement. Even with excellent average returns, the timing of market downturns relative to when you need to withdraw funds can devastate a retirement plan. This is why personalized investment management from a local financial advisor who understands your specific timeline is so valuable. Why Volatility Isn’t the Only Risk Pre-Retirees Face The episode challenges the traditional definition of investment risk as merely volatility. For pre-retirees and retirees specifically, Mike Johnson explains: “The base case that we’re trying to solve here? We’re speaking specifically to near retirees and retirees. Volatility is gonna be your friend or your foe the day you need to take your money out. That’s gonna be your definition of risk—what has the volatility done to my money the day I need it.” Additional Risk Dimensions for Kentucky Retirement Planning Falling short of goals: The risk that your portfolio won’t produce sufficient income for your desired retirement lifestyle Concentration risk: Over-exposure to single stocks or sectors, especially common with company stock or recent tech winners Unconventionality risk: The professional risk advisors take when thinking independently rather than following the crowd—but this can benefit clients long-term Underperformance risk: Short-term underperformance relative to indices, which requires conviction in your strategy and understanding your goals Hidden risk exposure: Unknown risks embedded in portfolios, particularly index funds that provide no true diversification strategy The False Sense of Security: Why Long Bull Markets Are Dangerous One of the most powerful concepts discussed is how prolonged positive market performance can numb investors to risk—exactly when they should be most vigilant. Mike Johnson references Nassim Taleb’s “Fooled by Randomness” to illustrate this danger: “Reality’s far more vicious than Russian roulette. First, it delivers the fatal bullet rather infrequently, like a revolver that would have hundreds or even thousands of rounds instead of six. After a few dozen tries, one forgets about the existence of a bullet under a numbing false sense of security. One is thus capable of unwittingly playing Russian roulette and calling it by something alternative: low risk.” This perfectly describes the situation many pre-retirees face today after years of strong market performance. The analogy to driving at 90 mph—where you stop feeling the speed—resonates powerfully. You’re taking significant risk, but you’ve become accustomed to it and no longer perceive the danger. Direct Access to Portfolio Managers: The Dupree Financial Difference Unlike large firms where you’re assigned an investment counselor who may change frequently, Dupree Financial Group provides direct access to portfolio managers Tom Dupree and Mike Johnson. This relationship-focused approach enables: Deep understanding of your specific retirement timeline and goals Customized portfolio construction based on your unique risk capacity Ongoing education about what you own and why you own it Proactive risk identification specific to your holdings The ability to think unconventionally when it serves your interests “When our clients understand what’s in their portfolio and why, they don’t call us panicking when the market drops,” Tom Dupree emphasizes, highlighting the value of education and transparency in financial relationships. Why Index Funds Aren’t a Complete Investment Strategy The episode delivers a sobering message about the limitations of index fund investing for retirees: “If you don’t like risk and you think that you’re not taking any risk by investing in the S&P 500, sweetie pie, you need to get in the money market fund and just hope you got enough money to ride through it because you are taking risk that you don’t know about. And that is a problem because you’re gonna find it out in a very uncomfortable way at some point.” This doesn’t mean index funds have no place in portfolios, but rather that they shouldn’t be confused with a comprehensive retirement income strategy. Personalized portfolio analysis considers: Your specific income needs in retirement Time horizon until you need to access funds Concentration risk in popular stocks or sectors The difference between the accumulation and distribution phases Tax efficiency of different investment approaches Building a Foundation: From Stocks to Portfolio For younger investors just starting out, Mike Johnson offers this perspective: “If somebody’s in their late twenties, early thirties and they have a few stocks here and there, that’s great. You’re ahead of the curve from a lot of people, but that is not a portfolio. What you want to do is lay a foundation that’s more sturdy, more solid than just having a few stocks here and there.” This guidance is equally relevant for pre-retirees who may have accumulated individual positions over time without a cohesive strategy. Kentucky retirement planning requires transitioning from an accumulation mindset to a distribution strategy—and that requires professional portfolio architecture. The Retirement Risk Equation: It’s About Income, Not Just Account Balance One of the most important insights for pre-retirees: “Remember, it’s not just the accumulation, it’s not the dollar amount, it’s what it’s gonna produce for you and how long can it produce that to sustain you. Retirement has the normal set of rules plus other variables that you have to take into consideration.” This shift in perspective—from portfolio value to sustainable income—is where personalized investment management becomes critical. Every individual’s situation differs slightly, and those differences matter enormously in retirement planning. Faith, Risk, and Investment Philosophy Tom Dupree introduces an often-overlooked dimension of investment risk: the role of faith. Not just faith in markets or historical returns, but a deeper consideration of existential risk and what you ultimately trust. “Underpinning any investment scheme is faith. At the base of everything related to risk is faith. You cannot get away from it. One of the things about the God factor is that it takes certain elements of risk that you’re willing to take on for yourself and transfers them to a higher power.” While this dimension is personal and not emphasized in typical financial planning, it reflects Dupree Financial Group’s holistic approach to understanding clients as people—not just portfolios. Frequently Asked Questions About Investment Risk and Retirement Planning What is the biggest investment risk for pre-retirees? The biggest risk for pre-retirees is sequence-of-returns risk—experiencing market downturns just as you begin withdrawing from your portfolio. Even with strong average returns over time, poor returns in the years immediately before and after retirement can devastate your retirement security. This is why personalized retirement planning in Kentucky focuses on more than just average returns. How is investment risk different for retirees versus younger investors? For retirees, risk is primarily defined by volatility’s impact on withdrawals. When you need to take money out during a market downturn, you crystallize losses and reduce your portfolio’s recovery potential. Younger investors have time to recover from volatility. As Tom Dupree explains, “Volatility is gonna be your friend or your foe the day you need to take your money out.” Are index funds safe for retirement portfolios? Index funds are not inherently “safe” for retirement—they carry significant volatility and concentration risks (especially in large-cap tech stocks right now). While they can be part of a retirement strategy, they should not be confused with a comprehensive income plan. Local financial advisors can help design strategies that balance growth needs with income stability. How much can I safely withdraw from my retirement portfolio annually? There’s no universal answer—withdrawal rates depend on your portfolio composition, risk tolerance, retirement timeline, and income needs. The gentleman in Tom’s example assumed 10% annual withdrawals based on historical 13.25% returns, which proved disastrous. Personalized portfolio analysis determines sustainable withdrawal rates specific to your situation. Why should I work with a local Kentucky financial advisor instead of a large national firm? Local advisors like Dupree Financial Group provide direct access to portfolio managers who personally manage your investments, rather than being assigned to a counselor who may change. You receive personalized service, education about your holdings, and strategies tailored to your specific goals—not mass-market approaches. Tom emphasizes: “When our clients understand what’s in their portfolio and why, they don’t call us panicking when the market drops.” What does it mean to “know what you own” in my portfolio? Knowing what you own means understanding not just the names of your holdings, but the specific risks each position carries, how they work together, and why each was selected for your situation. It means knowing what could go wrong with each investment and having conviction in your overall strategy during market volatility. How often should I review my retirement portfolio risk? Pre-retirees should review portfolio risk at least annually, and more frequently as retirement approaches. Risk tolerance, time horizon, and income needs change as you near retirement. Kentucky retirement planning professionals continuously monitor holdings for emerging risks and rebalance as needed. What is concentration risk, and why does it matter? Concentration risk occurs when your portfolio has too much exposure to a single stock, sector, or asset class. Many investors have unknowingly accumulated concentration in large technology stocks through both index funds and individual holdings. If that sector declines, your entire portfolio suffers disproportionately. Diversification addresses concentration risk. How do I know if I’m taking too much risk before retirement? Signs you may have excessive risk include: heavy concentration in stocks after years of strong returns, high portfolio volatility relative to your withdrawal timeline, lack of income-producing assets, or simply not understanding what you own. A complimentary portfolio review with Dupree Financial Group can identify hidden risks: call 859-233-0400. What makes Dupree Financial Group’s investment philosophy different? Dupree Financial Group focuses on building long-term relationships with people—not just managing money. The team conducts their own research, provides comprehensive education, thinks independently rather than following the crowd, and designs portfolios around your specific goals. Learn more about their investment philosophy. Schedule Your Complimentary Portfolio Risk Analysis Don’t Wait for a Market Downturn to Discover Hidden Risks in Your Portfolio If you’re retired or approaching retirement, understanding the specific risks in your portfolio is critical. After 47 years in the investment business, Tom Dupree has seen countless retirees discover they were taking far more risk than they realized—often at the worst possible time. Dupree Financial Group offers Central Kentucky residents a complimentary portfolio review to help you: Identify hidden concentration risks in your current holdings Understand the sequence-of-returns risk as you approach retirement Evaluate whether your portfolio aligns with your retirement income needs Learn what you actually own and why it matters Develop a personalized strategy for your retirement timeline Call 859-233-0400 to schedule your complimentary consultation Or visit us online: Schedule Your Personalized Portfolio Analysis Learn About Our Investment Philosophy Listen to More Market Commentary Read Client Testimonials Explore Kentucky Retirement Planning Services Dupree Financial Group serves clients throughout Central Kentucky, including Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Winchester, Richmond, and surrounding communities. About the Tom Dupree Show The Tom Dupree Show provides timeless financial education for investors approaching and in retirement. Hosted by Tom Dupree, Jr., founder of Dupree Financial Group, and portfolio manager Mike Johnson, each episode delivers practical insights on investment management, retirement planning, and portfolio risk assessment. Unlike generic financial advice, the show focuses on the specific challenges facing Kentucky retirees and pre-retirees. Tom Dupree founded Dupree Financial Group on the principle that creating long-term relationships with people—not just their money—is the key to successful wealth management. With direct access to portfolio managers and personalized investment strategies, Dupree Financial Group delivers the attentive service of a local advisor with the knowledge of a seasoned investment team. Episode Type: Evergreen Financial Education Primary Topics: Investment Risk, Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management, Sequence of Returns Risk Featured Guests: Mike Johnson, a member of the team at Dupree Financial Group Listen to More Episodes: Market Commentary Archive Share This Episode Help others understand investment risk by sharing this episode: www.dupreefinancial.com/podcast The post The Hidden Investment Risks You Don’t See Coming: Kentucky Retirement Planning Insights appeared first on Dupree Financial.

We're back with the second instalment of our three-part Wicked: For Good takeover of The West End Frame Show!Spoiler alert: In this episode, Andrew Tomlins and Lisa Martland dive even deeper into their thoughts on the new Wicked movie.They unpack the brand-new songs “There's No Place Like Home” and “Girl In The Bubble,” and share their reactions to the film's opening sequence. Andrew and Lisa also discuss Ariana Grande's performance of “Thank Goodness / I Couldn't Be Happier,” the reworked version of “Wonderful,” and the expanded storyline for Nessarose and Boq, including how “Wicked Witch of the East” has been changed for the movie.The conversation continues with a closer look at Glinda's expanded character arc, as well as the intentions of Madame Morrible and The Wizard and how their dynamic with both Elphaba and Glinda plays out differently in the film.And all sorts of other stuff pops up along the way!Having spent many years at The Stage – including five years as Deputy Editor – Lisa Martland is a theatre journalist who has worked for theatrical publications such as Musical Stages, Musicals Magazine, Stage Faves and My Theatre Mates. She is the Founding Editor of www.MusicalTheatreReview.com.This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a young boy growing up in artsy little Homer, Alaska I too caught the bug and wondered about my ability to make it as an artist. At the ripe old age of nine I drew a pencil sketch of the Space Shuttle Discovery in the upright position and attached to its external tanks. My sketch was approximately 30 inches tall and was of such high caliber, it was temporarily displayed in the Pratt Museum… along with all the other submitted artwork by the Homer elementary age crowd.But it didn't matter. I remembered walking down the hall of the Pratt and seeing my artwork hung on the wall with a name placard below. It was stunning. I couldn't believe that now thousands upon thousands of art lovers would behold my work. I felt such unspeakable pride.And that was the nature of us humans. We wanted our handiwork to be appreciated, to be noticed, to be ooh'd and aah'd over. We liked to see and be seen.As it turned out, God was of a different nature. Most of His glory was completely hidden from our eyes. This week we peeked through the curtain at the vast expansiveness of the hidden glory of God and asked “Why should it matter?” If you have a minute, before you watch, read Genesis one.Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Joel Keith is CEO & Managing Partner of ASP Helping Local Brands Scale Through Smart Marketing, Real Relationships & Strategic Use of AI Join my PodFather Podcast Community https://www.skool.com/podfather/about Start Your Own SKOOL Communityhttps://www.skool.com/signup?ref=c72a37fe832f49c584d7984db9e54b71 Join our Brain Fitness SKOOL Grouphttps://www.skool.com/brainfitness/about #podcasting #JoelKeith #podcastingtips====================Join Podmatch ⁠⁠ https://www.joinpodmatch.com/roy⁠Speaking Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts ⁠ https://bio.link/podcaster ⁠====================Bio of Joel Keith Joel Keith is a partner and CEO of ASP, a digital advertising agency dedicated to helping local businesses scale to their next tier of growth. From home service professionals to law firms and specialized local brands, Joel and his team combine cutting-edge AI tools with time-tested marketing strategies to create simple, effective systems that drive real results.At ASP, AI isn't just a buzzword—it's embedded into the way they operate. From internal automations to enhanced ad performance, smarter content creation, and real-time data analysis, Joel leads with innovation while keeping things grounded in what actually works for small business owners. His mission is to demystify digital marketing and provide clients with actionable strategies they can trust. What we Discussed: 0:00 Who is Joel Keith 01:00 What is his company ASP01:45 Joel's Career03:30 Podcast Clients04:15 Social Media Strategy for a Podcaster05:55Are you Penalized if you put your YouTube video on other video Platforms08:29 Keyword to Use on YouTube10:05 Does the Episode No. in the Podcast title hurt you12:12 Thumbnail tips14:15 Can a Trend effect what previously worked15:54 Tik Tok Hashtags17:20 For You Page meaning on Tik Tok18:45 Organic Vs Paid Advertising22:00 Advertising Your Business on Social Media23:40 What % of your Coaching Revenue should go to ads25:45 Lead generation Funnels27:40 Email Marketing28:30 Sequence of emails30:30 Branding Marketing32:55 Landing page and Website34:40 Podcast Mic & Camera recommendations How to Contact Joel Keith https://www.aspbranding.com/https://www.youtube.com/@aspbrandinghttps://www.facebook.com/joel.keith.9https://www.instagram.com/joelckeith/ https://x.com/joelckeithhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-keith-594290187/___________________

Wendy Mackenzie Pease, President of Rapport International, interviews Alain Tranchemontagne, CEO of Alleviate, whose 30+ years in medical devices spans start-ups to Fortune 50 organizations. He has led teams across 5 continents, has held commercial and general management positions, and brings significant global experience in the areas of product and market development. He shares practical, battle-tested ways to enter new markets, build culturally diverse sales engines, and lead with data (and humility) across continents. You'll learn how to: Build global demand the right way: Identify and activate credible KOLs, hire a local “anchor” leader, measure activity early, and make fast keep/replace decisions—while respecting culture and language on the ground. Run a 90-day turnaround playbook: Weeks 0–12 = listen widely (patients, clinicians, data), co-create objectives with the team, then double down on what works using “data density” (lots of signals to see real patterns). Go international without missteps: Sequence markets, map regulations and evidence needs, prioritize IP/trademarks, and treat translation as a regulated, technical task for pros—because “good enough” localization will bite you.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Watkins interviews D'wayne Louard about the space between receiving a prophecy and its fulfillment.  They discuss how the waiting period can be challenging but also transformative, as it requires patience, faith, and personal growth. Dwayne also says a powerful prayer for all who listen. D'wayne's prayer serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance and trust in divine timing. It encourages listeners to embrace the challenges of the waiting period, knowing that growth and transformation often occur in the midst of uncertainty. To find out more about D'wayne you may reach him here: https://dwaynejlouard.com/  

Anatomy holds a special place in my heart, and in this episode, I share how I teach it and why I designed the It's Not Rocket Science® Anatomy curriculum the way I did. I focus on sparking curiosity, weaving in three big themes, and prioritizing breadth over depth (hot take!). You'll hear how this hands-on, student-centered curriculum engages learners with discovery stations, model-building, and real-world skills, all designed to make students fall in love with the human body.➡️ Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode209Resources Mentioned:Anatomy FULL YEAR CurriculumAnatomy UnitsAnatomy Discovery Stations Bundle Anatomy Scope and Sequence Blog Post FREE - Get the Anatomy Pacing Guide  Download your FREE Classroom Reset Challenge.Take the Free Labs When Limited virtual PD courseSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com  Follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts.Follow, rate, and comment on Spotify.Related Episodes and Blog Posts:Episode 36, Teaching Anatomy: 5 Tips for the Best Year Ever!Episode 80, Strategizing Your Sequence: Curriculum Design Part 1Episode 99, How to Teach the Nervous and Endocrine Systems in Your Anatomy ClassBlog Post: 5 Reasons It's Not Rocket Science® Anatomy Curriculum Rocks!

Continuum is solving the multi-party return problem in B2B supply chain—a transaction involving distributors, manufacturers, and end users that previously took 30-45 days and now completes in 30-45 seconds. In this episode of Category Visionaries, we sat down with Alex Witcpalek, CEO and Founder of Continuum, to unpack how he's building what he calls "reverse EDI" in a market of 1.5 million distribution and manufacturing companies across North America. After 13 years selling technology into this space, Alex is now growing 8x year-over-year by turning customers into the primary acquisition channel through network effects. Topics Discussed: Why multi-party returns require replicating order management, warehouse management, and procurement systems simultaneously The tactical sequencing of building network businesses: solving for independent value, achieving critical mass, then activating network effects How Continuum navigates deep ERP integrations (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Epicor) plus bespoke business logic across multiple supply chain tiers Facebook retargeting, BDR outbound, events, and customer referrals as the four channels driving growth in a non-PLG market Why business model differentiation is the only remaining moat when technical barriers collapse Building domain expertise distribution systems using AI-powered LMS fed by sales call recordings GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Choose problems where you can capture 100% of addressable market, not fractional share: Alex deliberately avoided competing in CRM, sales order automation, or accounts payable—categories where even dominant players cap at 25-30% market penetration. Instead, he targeted multi-party reverse logistics, a greenfield problem no one else was solving. This strategic choice eliminates competitive displacement risk and allows every prospect conversation to focus on change management rather than competitive differentiation. Founders should map their TAM against competitive saturation: markets where you can own the entire category create fundamentally different growth trajectories than fighting for fragments. Sequence network businesses: independent value → critical mass → network activation: Alex was told by investors 18 months in that network effects "weren't going to work." His insight: "When you don't have a network, you don't sell the network. It's just in your plans and how you're building." Continuum sold P&L impact, manual labor reduction, and customer experience improvements to early adopters while building network infrastructure invisibly. Only after achieving density in specific verticals (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) did they surface the network value proposition. This sequencing prevents the cold-start problem—founders building marketplace or network businesses must design standalone value that makes the first 100 customers successful independent of network density. Exploit high pain thresholds in legacy industries as competitive barriers: Supply chain companies accept 30-45 day return cycles, manual warranty claims on paper, and playing "guess who" by phone to find inventory across distributor branches. Alex notes they have "extremely high pain threshold" from living with broken systems for decades. While this creates longer education cycles, it also means competitors won't enter (too hard) and once you prove ROI, switching costs become prohibitive. Founders should reframe customer inertia: industries tolerating obvious inefficiencies offer category creation opportunities with built-in moats, not just sales friction. Business model architecture is the only defensible moat—technical differentiation is dead: Alex is building his own e-signature platform (Continue Sign) and AI LMS using vibe coding to prove technical moats no longer exist. Continuum's defensibility comes entirely from network lock-in: displacing them requires disconnecting manufacturers like Carrier, Daikin, and Bosch plus their entire distributor ecosystems simultaneously. He references EDI (1960s technology still dominant today) as proof that network effects create permanent advantages. Founders must architect switching costs, network density, or proprietary data advantages into their business model—technology alone provides zero protection in the AI era. Match channel strategy to actual ICP behavior, not SaaS conventions: Continuum's top lead source is customer-driven network growth—distributors recruiting manufacturers and vice versa. Facebook retargeting works because their 50+ year-old supply chain buyers "are trying to comment on their grandkids' pictures," not scrolling LinkedIn. BDR outbound still delivers high win rates in an industry where business happens on handshakes, making events critical. This channel mix would fail for PLG products but works perfectly for enterprise cycles with $40K ACVs and 90-day sales processes. Founders should ethnographically research where their specific buyers actually spend attention rather than defaulting to LinkedIn, content marketing, or PLG based on what works in adjacent categories. Use 90-day enterprise cycles and multi-stakeholder complexity as qualification, not friction: Continuum runs enterprise sales motions for $40K deals because multi-party returns touch 16 constituents across sales, customer service, fleet, supply chain, warehouse, purchasing, and finance. Rather than trying to simplify buying, Alex uses this complexity as a filter—companies willing to coordinate VP of Supply Chain, COO, and CFO alignment are serious buyers. He layers three value propositions (P&L impact, labor reduction, customer experience) knowing different stakeholders weight them differently. Founders selling into complex environments should embrace multi-threading as a qualification mechanism that improves win rates and reduces churn, not overhead to eliminate. //  Sponsors:  Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co // Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire  Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM  

When Maranatha and I got married we decided to narrow the scope of what was important on our wedding day. We were going to have a beautiful wedding, but we were determined not to blow the bank account. In the process of making those decisions, I had the bright idea to make our wedding cake. My future wife and my immediate family gave me THE LOOK. You know THE LOOK. It's a look full of skepticism and negativity and so they said, why don't you do a test run. I agreed and after about a day, I arrived at the same conclusion, we'd be better off spending the money. There are certain things left in more capable hands, those who are worthy to design such things as “cakes”. With this message we start a new series in Genesis and together we will declare that there is only one who is worthy to be called The Creator. Pastor Matt McCarter

Bill Bengen, the creator of the 4% rule, joins us to revisit one of the most important ideas in financial planning and retirement research. In this conversation, he explains the origins of the 4% rule, how his thinking has evolved over 30 years, and why he now believes retirees can safely withdraw closer to 4.7% — or even more — under certain conditions. We explore the data behind his findings, how to think about inflation, valuations, longevity, and sequence of returns risk, and the philosophy of living well in retirement.Topics covered:The origins and evolution of the 4% ruleHow Bill discovered the worst-case retirement scenario (1968)The role of inflation and market valuations in withdrawal ratesWhy he now recommends 65% equities instead of 55%How diversification increases sustainable withdrawalsThe logic behind a U-shaped equity glide pathSequence of returns risk and how to mitigate itThoughts on the permanent portfolio and goldBucket strategies and cash reservesDynamic vs. fixed withdrawal methodsHow longevity and FIRE affect planning horizonsWhy retirees should spend and enjoy moreThe philosophy behind “A Richer Retirement”Timestamps:00:00 The origins of the 4% rule03:00 The 1968 retirement “buzz saw” scenario07:00 Common misconceptions about the 4% rule10:00 Inflation and valuation adjustments13:00 Diversification and higher withdrawal rates15:00 Longevity, FIRE, and extended retirements16:00 The U-shaped equity glide path18:00 Rebalancing and allocation timing19:00 The permanent portfolio and gold20:00 Sequence of returns risk explained22:00 Cash reserves and bucket strategies23:00 Dynamic withdrawal approaches24:00 Why the rule is now closer to 4.7%27:00 The changing market environment29:00 Key charts and frameworks from the book31:00 The eight essential elements of planning33:00 Withdrawal strategies and asset allocation34:00 Required minimum distributions36:00 Reflections on creating the 4% rule38:00 Bill's philosophy on life and retirement40:00 Closing thoughts and where to find his book

Linktree

What a year so far!! The Soul Sequence – A Year of Becoming Through Presence, Breath & Light: If you've ever wondered what Soul embodiment really looks like—not as a concept, but as a lived, daily experience—these classes offer a way in. They are tools. They are language. They are structural harmonics translated into human form.For years, I would say the phrase Light in physical form. It resonated, even when I didn't fully understand it. Looking back, I see those words were more than an affirmation—they were a signal. They were a signal from my Soul and Oversoul to my Human. They were the beginning of this journey… and the work you see here is the result. A quiet agreement to begin sequencing the pathway I hadn't yet seen.And if someone had told me at the start of 2025, “Your main work this year will be creating a living path for Oversoul-to-Soul embodiment—through class sequences, harmonic entrainment, and energetic architecture,” my Human self would've tilted her head and said with a grin, “Wait, what? Beautiful words… but ummm, how? And also, I have a bridge you can buy...wink wink.”

This is AI x Multilateralism, a mini-series on The Next Page, where experts help us unpack the many ideas and issues at the nexus of AI and international cooperation.   What does it mean to be AI literate, especially for the world's diplomats leading negotiations on behalf of their countries? We're joined by Dr. Jérôme Duberry, Senior Lecturer of International and Development Studies, Co-Director of Executive Education and the Head of the Tech Hub at the Geneva Graduate Institute. There, his research includes AI literacy across society, including among diplomats, and why this is critical to understanding the impact and potential of these technologies in our world.  Jérôme shares what AI literacy means for diplomats, and why both a technical and societal understanding of these technologies is critical for mitigating the risks of exclusion of many parts of society in AI development and deployment. He also shares the importance of culturally sensitive and accessible AI training, and the role of science and technology diplomacy to ensure all countries can participate fairly in AI governance.  Resources mentioned:    - The ITU AI Skills Coalition: https://aiforgood.itu.int/ai-skills-coalition/  - AI 2027 report, from the AI Futures Project: https://ai-2027.com/  - Elements of AI, a series of free online courses created by MinnaLearn and the University of Helsinki: https://www.elementsofai.com/ Content    Guest: Dr. Jérôme Duberry Host, production and editing: Natalie Alexander Julien  Recorded & produced at the Commons, United Nations Library & Archives Geneva  Podcast Music credits: Sequence: https://uppbeat.io/track/img/sequence Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/img/sequence License code: 6ZFT9GJWASPTQZL0 #AI #Multilateralism #UN #Diplomacy  

In this raw, unfiltered episode of Built for the Edge, Kehla dives into what it really looks like when you outgrow relationships that can't come with you in your evolution. After recently ending a long-term friendship, she turns to her Venus Sequence and Pearl Sequence from the Gene Keys to unpack the unconscious patterns that kept her small — people-pleasing, over-explaining, rescuing — and how those same dynamics mirrored how she led in her business. You'll hear Kehla break down how emotional codependency translates into over-marketing, unclear boundaries, and leadership stagnation — and how releasing misaligned relationships directly expands your prosperity frequency. This episode is a masterclass in emotional maturity, energetic sovereignty, and authentic leadership through the lens of Human Design and Gene Keys. If you've ever felt torn between staying loyal to who you were and rising into who you're becoming — this conversation will give you permission to let go, rebuild, and lead yourself higher. You'll learn: How the Venus Sequence reveals patterns in love, connection, and leadership The link between emotional patterns and income ceilings What happens energetically when you stop over-explaining and start embodying truth How to navigate slow seasons of business as a portal for deeper prosperity

Allison Hardy, founder of Emails That Sell and host of the 6-Figure Secrets Podcast, who helps online entrepreneurs sell through email without feeling sleazy or burned out.Through her membership program and done-for-you funnel services, Allison teaches simple, effective strategies to automate sales so her clients can focus on what really matters.Now, Allison's story of getting laid off from her “dream job” while six months pregnant sparked the fire that built her business – one that now brings in consistent revenue while letting her be fully present for her family.And while scaling her membership in the messy middle of big wins and big failures, she's showing women what's possible when you build a business around your life, not the other way around.Here's where to find more:www.allisonhardy.comwww.instagram.com/allison_hardy_________________________________________________Welcome to The Unforget Yourself Show where we use the power of woo and the proof of science to help you identify your blind spots, and get over your own bullshit so that you can do the fucking thing you ACTUALLY want to do!We're Mark and Katie, the founders of Unforget Yourself and the creators of the Unforget Yourself System and on this podcast, we're here to share REAL conversations about what goes on inside the heart and minds of those brave and crazy enough to start their own business. From the accidental entrepreneur to the laser-focused CEO, we find out how they got to where they are today, not by hearing the go-to story of their success, but talking about how we all have our own BS to deal with and it's through facing ourselves that we find a way to do the fucking thing.Along the way, we hope to show you that YOU are the most important asset in your business (and your life - duh!). Being a business owner is tough! With vulnerability and humor, we get to the real story behind their success and show you that you're not alone._____________________Find all our links to all the things like the socials, how to work with us and how to apply to be on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/unforgetyourself

What if the next 10 years bring just 3% returns from the S&P 500?In this episode, we turn that forecast into a real-world retirement plan—not panic. You'll learn how to stress test your portfolio, build flexibility into your spending, and design a withdrawal strategy that can survive tough markets.Listen as Ari and James break down:Sequence-of-returns risk — why bad early years hurt more than bad averages.The modern 4% rule — how to use it as a guardrail, not a guarantee.Diversification that actually works — adding small caps, value, international, and bonds to reduce risk from overexposed tech-heavy portfolios.Tax-smart moves — Roth conversions, cash buffers, and dynamic withdrawal rules that adapt to changing markets.Whether you're planning to retire early or just want peace of mind through an uncertain decade, this guide gives you a clear, flexible framework—so your lifestyle isn't dictated by Wall Street's forecasts.-Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy HereGet access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy hereAri Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

What if the next 10 years bring just 3% returns from the S&P 500?In this episode, we turn that forecast into a real-world retirement plan—not panic. You'll learn how to stress test your portfolio, build flexibility into your spending, and design a withdrawal strategy that can survive tough markets.Listen as James and Ari break down:Sequence-of-returns risk — why bad early years hurt more than bad averages.The modern 4% rule — how to use it as a guardrail, not a guarantee.Diversification that actually works — adding small caps, value, international, and bonds to reduce risk from overexposed tech-heavy portfolios.Tax-smart moves — Roth conversions, cash buffers, and dynamic withdrawal rules that adapt to changing markets.Whether you're planning to retire early or just want peace of mind through an uncertain decade, this guide gives you a clear, flexible framework—so your lifestyle isn't dictated by Wall Street's forecasts.-Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here.Join the new Root Collective HERE!