Metcalf Money Moment the Podcast

Ep 37 - Stop Leading Alone: Peer Groups That Transform Business with Dan Cooper

What if the most powerful tool for growing your business was simply being in the right room? Peer advisory groups are changing how business owners lead, grow, and connect. On Metcalf Money Moment, Jeb, Ethan, and Eric sit down with Dan Cooper, CEO of Acumen, to unpack the real value of executive coaching and mastermind groups for today's leaders. Dan shares how bringing diverse professionals together sparks a personal renaissance through what he calls the Medici Effect. From accountability partnerships to faith-infused leadership development, this conversation goes beyond profit and digs into the whole person. Whether you run a startup or scale a billion-dollar operation, there is a peer group built for your season. What you will learn in this Episode: ✅ How peer advisory groups create powerful accountability that drives real change in your business and personal life, moving leaders from isolation to intentional community built on trust and shared experience. ✅ Why executive coaching combined with mastermind group dynamics produces the Medici Effect, helping business owners collect best practices across industries to accelerate their own business growth. ✅ How Acumen's faith-infused approach to leadership development encourages whole-person conversations covering family, health, and faith alongside profit and business performance. Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment [https://www.youtube.com/@metcalfpartnerswealthmanag8485] podcast for expert insights on wealth management and retirement planning! Join Jeb, Ethan, and Eric for practical Estate Planning strategies that you can implement to unlock financial clarity and confidence. Listen now to inspire your financial journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Dan Cooper on why executive leadership feels isolating and the power of peer advisory groups 02:25 Meet Dan Cooper, CEO of Acumen, and the mastermind group model 03:52 What makes a great peer advisory group member: ownership, decision-making, and business stage 05:23 How Acumen's faith-based leadership approach creates a safe space for whole-person conversations 08:30 Real stories of business owners tackling family, toxic employees, and business challenges together 14:26 Acumen's business growth expansion into Denver, St. Louis, and Phoenix and what cities share KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 Leadership at the top is not lonely; it is isolating, and the antidote is a trusted peer advisory group where you receive as much as you give. Dan Cooper built Acumen on this truth. 💎 The most valuable outcome of mastermind groups is not one great idea but ongoing accountability. When you commit to something in front of peers, real and lasting change follows in your business performance. 💎 Faith-based business communities like Acumen create permission for deeper conversations. When one person is vulnerable about a hard challenge, it opens the door for everyone to bring their full selves to the table. ABOUT THE GUEST: Dan Cooper co-founded ej4, a video-based online training company, in 2003 and served as its CEO until its sale in 2012. During his time with ej4, he grew the company from a startup to a nationally-recognized firm, serving clients including Pepsi-Cola, Dr. Pepper Snapple, Honeywell, Monsanto, and Syngenta. Channel partners included SAP and Oracle. As of 2012, ej4 was serving 1,000+ customers, delivering millions of program views, was highly profitable, and debt-free. Today, he is the CEO of Acumen, a mastermind community platform for CEOs and Owners of strong, growing companies. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancooper2/ Podcast: https://acumenimpact.com/sharpen-podcast DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We recommend discussing your particular situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Metcalf Partners - Website [https://www.metcalfpartners.com/] Jeb Graham - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeb-graham-cfp%C2%AE-5253896_curious-about-whats-happening-in-the-activity-7270098939343749120-jnc1] Ethan Hutchison - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-hutcheson-aams-b3540138] Eric Wymore - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wymore-aif%C2%AE-2a50205a]

Ep 36 - What Wealthy Families Do Differently With Their Money

Many people think wealth building is about a lucky break. Jeb, Ethan and Eric of Metcalf Money Moment the Podcast prove otherwise. In this episode, they unpack the financial habits that quietly separate millionaires from everyone else: early investing, tax diversification, estate planning, and treating money as a tool for freedom rather than status. Whether you earn six figures or are just starting, these strategies are not exclusive to the ultra-rich. They are disciplines anyone can adopt, starting today. Tune in for a conversation that could change how you think about money for good. What you will learn in this Episode: Why wealth-building habits like paying yourself first and early investing matter more than any lucky windfall, and how starting in your 20s, even with limited cash flow, creates dramatically different outcomes over decades. How tax diversification strategies such as Roth conversions, after-tax savings accounts, and smart asset allocation help high earners avoid unnecessary tax burdens and build long-term financial freedom. Why truly wealthy families maintain organized systems, surround themselves with a professional team including CPAs and attorneys, and regularly review their estate planning to protect and grow generational wealth. Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment [https://www.youtube.com/@metcalfpartnerswealthmanag8485] podcast for expert insights on wealth management and retirement planning! Join Jeb, Ethan, and Eric for practical Estate Planning strategies that you can implement to unlock financial clarity and confidence. Listen now to inspire your financial journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to wealth-building habits and common careers of millionaires 04:21 The role of early investing, discipline, and long-term investing in building real financial freedom 06:01Tax diversification, Roth conversions, and saving outside your 401 (k) for smarter retirement planning 09:06 How wealthy families approach asset allocation, diversification, and avoiding get-rich-quick traps 13:14 Using money as a tool: experiences, philanthropy, estate planning, and generational wealth conversations and book recommendations 17:12 Final thoughts on building wealth KEY TAKEAWAYS: Wealth building is not about hitting a lucky investment. The wealthiest families Jeb, Ethan and Eric work with built their net worth through decades of consistent saving, long-term investing and disciplined financial planning, not windfalls or market timing. Tax diversification is one of the most overlooked tools in wealth management. Balancing pre-tax, post-tax, and Roth accounts helps protect families from excessive tax burdens in retirement, especially when required minimum distributions come into play. Wealthy families do not just accumulate money. They use it with purpose, funding experiences, practicing philanthropy, teaching their children about money, and building generational wealth through intentional giving and strong estate planning. DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We recommend discussing your particular situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Metcalf Partners - Website [https://www.metcalfpartners.com/] Jeb Graham - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeb-graham-cfp%C2%AE-5253896_curious-about-whats-happening-in-the-activity-7270098939343749120-jnc1] Ethan Hutchison - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-hutcheson-aams-b3540138] Eric Wymore - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wymore-aif%C2%AE-2a50205a] The Richest Man in Babylon - Book [https://www.amazon.com/Richest-Man-Babylon-George-Clason/dp/1505339111] Die With Zero - Book [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=die+with+zero&i=stripbooks&crid=2AYGP6K0QF5EC&sprefix=Die+with+%2Cstripbooks%2C262&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_ci_hl-bn-left_1_9] The Millionaire Next Door - Book [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+millionaire+next+door&i=stripbooks&crid=2BU9ZQ8FT6NYV&sprefix=The+milli%2Cstripbooks%2C173&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_ci_hl-bn-left_1_9]

Ep 35 - Is Long-Term Care Insurance Worth It? Aaron Clark Has Answers

Most people spend decades building wealth, yet a single extended stay in a nursing home can erase it within months. On Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric sit down with long-term care insurance specialist Aaron Clark to discuss the real numbers behind nursing home costs, the power of a hybrid policy, and why retirement planning without an extended care strategy is incomplete. Aaron brings personal experience and industry data to show how protecting your financial plan now can mean the difference between leaving a legacy and leaving a burden. What you will learn in this Episode: Why your mid-50s is the optimal window to purchase long-term care insurance, how waiting until your 70s makes coverage nearly unattainable, and how rising premium payments can price out even motivated buyers who delay the decision. How a hybrid policy solves the biggest objection to long-term care insurance by converting unused benefits into a death benefit for your heirs, ensuring that 100% of your policy value pays out to someone at some point. Why you do not need to insure for the full nursing home cost, and how coordinating Social Security, pensions, and other assets to bridge the gap makes long-term care coverage far more affordable for those on a fixed income. Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment [https://www.youtube.com/@metcalfpartnerswealthmanag8485] podcast for expert insights on wealth management and retirement planning! Join Jeb, Ethan, and Eric for practical Estate Planning strategies that you can implement to unlock financial clarity and confidence. Listen now to inspire your financial journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Long-term care insurance statistics show a 70% chance of needing extended care after turning 65 02:15 Nursing home costs average $9,000 monthly, and memory care can push costs even higher 05:40 The best age to buy long-term care insurance and why your 70s may be too late to qualify 08:25 How a hybrid policy eliminates use-it-or-lose-it fears through death benefit conversion for heirs 12:05 Finding policies that fit a client’s needs 15:58 Overfunded life insurance as a tax-free income tool when Roth IRA limits restrict high earners KEY TAKEAWAYS: Families do not need to insure for the full nursing home cost. By accounting for existing income sources and assets, a well-designed long-term care insurance plan can cover the gap at a far more manageable premium level. A joint plan built on a hybrid policy chassis is the most cost-effective structure for couples, requiring only one death benefit while giving both spouses full access to extended care coverage throughout their lifetime. Estate planning for high-net-worth individuals depends heavily on life insurance as the most reliable tool for preventing estate tax from consuming the legacy a family has spent decades working to protect and preserve. ABOUT THE GUEST: A graduate of Kansas State University, Aaron Clark knew that when things didn’t work out to become a rapper or a point guard for the Chicago Bulls or the LA Lakers, the financial services industry was where he needed to be. Having been an agent for over 20 years, Aaron enjoys and appreciates the opportunity to work with other agents because he can relate to them. He has field sales experience, which gives him a competitive advantage and shows that OCI is more than a typical IMO. Aaron has been married to his high school sweetheart, Abie, for over two decades. They have 3 children: Jameson, Meredith, and Garret, and spend each day teaching them that being a KU fan is just not ok. https://www.linkedin.com/company/oci-insurance https://www.facebook.com/ociservices https://www.ociservices.com/ DISCLAIMER: This material contains only general descriptions and is not a solicitation to sell any insurance product or security, nor is it intended as any financial or tax advice. For information about specific insurance needs or situations, contact your insurance agent. This article is intended to assist in educating you about insurance generally and not to provide personal service. They may not take into account your personal characteristics such as budget, assets, risk tolerance, family situation or activities which may affect the type of insurance that would be right for you. In addition, state insurance laws and insurance underwriting rules may affect available coverage and its costs. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company. If you need more information or would like personal advice you should consult an insurance professional. You may also visit your state’s insurance department for more information. Aaron Clark, and OCI Insurance is not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial and Metcalf Partners Wealth Management RESOURCES MENTIONED: Metcalf Partners - Website [https://www.metcalfpartners.com/] Jeb Graham - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeb-graham-cfp%C2%AE-5253896_curious-about-whats-happening-in-the-activity-7270098939343749120-jnc1] Ethan Hutchison - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-hutcheson-aams-b3540138] Eric Wymore - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wymore-aif%C2%AE-2a50205a]

Ep 34 - The Silent Tax Bomb That Could Cost You in Retirement

Most people think their financial advisor's job is picking winning investments. Jeb, Ethan, and Eric of Metcalf Money Moment want to change that. In this episode, they expose the silent tax bomb, the stealth costs that inflate your tax bill in retirement without warning. From capital gains tax on appreciated accounts to required minimum distributions that push you into a higher bracket to Medicare premium surcharges and the social security tax trap, the hosts walk through every major risk and the strategies that defuse them, including tax-loss harvesting, Roth conversions, and donor-advised funds. Your biggest lifetime expense is taxes. This episode shows you how to fight back. What you will learn in this Episode: How capital gains tax works inside non-retirement accounts, including the critical difference between long-term and short-term gains, and why holding mutual funds in a taxable account can trigger tax drag you never saw coming. Why required minimum distributions can silently push retirees into a higher tax bracket and how strategic early withdrawals, Roth conversions, and account sequencing can shrink that future burden before it hits. How the social security tax trap and Irma Medicare premium surcharges work together to punish higher earners in retirement, and why coordinating with your advisor on income timing is one of the most valuable moves you can make. Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment [https://www.youtube.com/@metcalfpartnerswealthmanag8485] podcast for expert insights on wealth management and retirement planning! Join Jeb, Ethan, and Eric for practical Estate Planning strategies that you can implement to unlock financial clarity and confidence. Listen now to inspire your financial journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Retirement tax planning and the silent tax bomb concept 03:51 Ethan breaks down capital gains tax, long-term vs. short-term rates, and unrealized gains in taxable accounts 07:02 How tax loss harvesting and asset location protect your non-retirement portfolio from unnecessary tax drag 10:13 Eric explains the three-leg retirement income model and how each bucket affects your tax-efficient retirement income 12:57 The required minimum distribution trap: how RMDs can spike your tax bracket and what to do before age 73 14:07 Social security taxation, Irmaa Medicare premiums, and why your income level determines your retirement costs 18:20 Jeb wraps up with Roth conversions, qualified charitable distributions, and what to expect from a comprehensive wealth manager KEY TAKEAWAYS: Asset location matters as much as investment selection. Placing tax-inefficient assets, such as actively managed mutual funds, outside taxable accounts and using ETFs strategically within them can meaningfully reduce your annual capital gains tax exposure without changing your overall investment risk. The gap between ages 65 and 73 is your most powerful window for Roth conversion planning. Moving money from pre-tax accounts into a Roth before required minimum distributions kick in can dramatically lower your lifetime tax bill, even if it costs a little more in taxes today. Donor-advised funds and qualified charitable distributions are two underused tools that offer a double tax advantage, letting charitably inclined investors reduce both their taxable income and their embedded capital gains tax liability at the same time. DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We recommend discussing your particular situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Metcalf Partners - Website [https://www.metcalfpartners.com/] Jeb Graham - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeb-graham-cfp%C2%AE-5253896_curious-about-whats-happening-in-the-activity-7270098939343749120-jnc1] Ethan Hutchison - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-hutcheson-aams-b3540138] Eric Wymore - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wymore-aif%C2%AE-2a50205a]

Ep 33 - Maximize Your Business Valuation Before You Exit with Stephen Hilborn & Timothy Hosie

Most business owners spend decades building something valuable and far too little time planning how to actually leave it. On Metcalf Money Moment, Jeb, Ethan, and Eric sit down with Stephen Hilborn and Timothy Hosie of Planned Exit Partners to explore business exit strategy from every angle. Whether it is a private equity deal, an ESOP, or a management buyout, the guests reveal what truly drives business valuation, how to reduce key-man risk and customer concentration, and why starting exit planning at least 5 years out creates the most options and the most value. What you will learn in this Episode: Why business exit strategy planning should begin well before the five-year mark and how starting early opens up more exit planning pathways. How reducing key man risk and customer concentration directly increases your EBITDA multiple and makes your company more attractive to private equity buyers and strategic acquirers. What tools, like exit readiness assessments, business valuation reports, and discovery checklists, can help owners understand where gaps exist in their business transfer plan so they can close those gaps before going to market? Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment [https://www.youtube.com/@metcalfpartnerswealthmanag8485] podcast for expert insights on wealth management and retirement planning! Join Jeb, Ethan, and Eric for practical Estate Planning strategies that you can implement to unlock financial clarity and confidence. Listen now to inspire your financial journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Planned Exit Partners frame the conversation around exit planning 03:45 Why starting exit planning early creates more options and better business valuation outcomes 05:53 The team discusses the scale of business transfer demand and how the Exit Planning Institute data reveals owner readiness gaps 07:00 Breaking down ESOP, management buyout, and family succession 12:23 Private equity fund structure and why lower middle market buyers typically offer higher EBITDA multiples to business owners 17:30 Breaking down the three risks that drive business valuation KEY TAKEAWAYS: Succession planning is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that requires years of intentional effort to strengthen management, improve financial reporting, and reduce owner dependency, so the business can stand on its own before it ever goes to market. Seller financing and installment structures are common across nearly every business transfer pathway, including private equity, family succession, and management buyouts, meaning structure and payment terms matter just as much as the headline valuation number. Enterprise value is built or lost long before the sale conversation begins. Owners who address customer concentration, document processes, and secure key leadership years in advance. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Timothy Hosie is the Founder and Managing Director at Planned Exit Partners, advising lower-middle-market business owners through exit planning and sell-side M&A transactions. With over eight years of experience across transportation, construction, marketing, and industrial services, Tim helps owners navigate the sale process with clarity while aligning outcomes to their financial and personal goals. Stephen Hilborn is Managing Director at Planned Exit Partners, supporting business owners through every stage of ownership transition. He leads sell-side, corporate development, and exit planning engagements, guiding owners through exit options, readiness assessments, and succession planning. His industry expertise spans aviation, construction, engineering, and manufacturing. Planned Exit Partners - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/planned-exit-partners-llc/posts/?feedView=all] Planned Exit Partners - Website [http://plannedexitpartners.com/] DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We recommend discussing your particular situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Metcalf Partners - Website [https://www.metcalfpartners.com/] Jeb Graham - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeb-graham-cfp%C2%AE-5253896_curious-about-whats-happening-in-the-activity-7270098939343749120-jnc1] Ethan Hutchison - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-hutcheson-aams-b3540138] Eric Wymore - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wymore-aif%C2%AE-2a50205a]