Career Acceleration Without Personal Burnout (Ep. 24)

Career Acceleration Without Personal Burnout (Ep. 24)

Career success can look great from the outside while quietly costing you more than you realize. In this episode, Sara Bell shares what happened when years of high performance, constant responsibility, and perfectionism finally caught up with her, and how she rebuilt a life and career that felt more aligned with who she truly wanted to be. Danton Troyer and Kyle Luetters sit down with Leadership and Wellbeing Strategist Sara Bell, Founder of Strive to Thrive Coaching, to talk about burnout, leadership, identity, and the pressure many high achievers place on themselves. Sara opens up about her journey from chemical engineer to biotech executive, to eventually leaving corporate leadership to build a fitness franchise and a coaching business focused on helping leaders thrive without sacrificing themselves. The conversation explores why burnout often has less to do with workload than with values, boundaries, and self-worth, especially for executives who feel responsible for everything around them. Key Takeaways: * Why burnout is often tied to compromised values, lack of control, or blocked impact * The difference between time management and energy management * Why high performers struggle to transition into effective leadership * How perfectionism and people-pleasing quietly erode capacity * The role financial planning played in Sara’s ability to leave corporate life with confidence * And more! Connect With Danton Troyer: * GFT team page [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Danton Troyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stlouisfinancialadvisor/] * dtroyer@monetagroup.com [dtroyer@monetagroup.com] * (314) 735-9087 Connect With Kyle Luetters: * GFT team page [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Kyle Luetters [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleluetters/] * kluetters@monetagroup.com [kluetters@monetagroup.com] * (314) 536-8297 Connect With Sara Bell: * Strive to Thrive Coaching [https://www.strivetothrivecoaching.net/] * LinkedIn: Sara Bell  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-bell-thrive/] About Our Guest: Sara Bell is a leadership development consultant, executive coach, and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry. After building a successful corporate career in biotech and commercial leadership roles, Sara experienced firsthand the pressure and burnout that often come with high performance and constant career acceleration. Today, she helps leaders and organizations develop healthier, more sustainable approaches to leadership, growth, and performance through her coaching and consulting business, Strive to Thrive Coaching. Sara is also the owner of a Hotworx fitness franchise in Massachusetts, where she continues to build community and advocate for wellness, resilience, and intentional living.

Why Success Can Be Your Biggest Risk (Ep. 23)

Success can feel like the finish line, but it’s often where the real risk begins. When everything is going right, it’s easy to lose focus on what actually matters most. In this episode, Danton Troyer and Kyle Luetters explore what happens when life and career are going well, and why that’s exactly when intentional planning matters most. Using real-life client experiences and relatable analogies, they unpack how success can lead to complacency, distraction, and missed opportunities if left unchecked. They also share how thoughtful reflection, clear priorities, and flexible planning can help executives stay aligned with their long-term goals, even as life evolves. Key Takeaways: * Success can create new opportunities, but not all opportunities are worth pursuing * Complacency is one of the biggest risks when things are going well * Regular reflection helps you stay aligned with your values and long-term goals * Financial planning should prioritize flexibility to adapt to life’s unexpected changes * Intentional living requires filtering out distractions and focusing on what truly matters most to you And more! Connect With Danton Troyer: * GFT Team [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Danton Troyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stlouisfinancialadvisor/] * dtroyer@monetagroup.com [dtroyer@monetagroup.com] * (314) 735-9087 Connect with Kyle Luetters: * GFT Team [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Kyle Luetters [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleluetters/] * kluetters@monetagroup.com [kluetters@monetagroup.com] * (314) 536-8297

Preparing for Retirement While Still at Peak Earnings (Ep. 22)

What if the biggest financial mistake high earners make isn’t what they invest in, but when they start paying attention? What if the habits you build early quietly shape everything about your future freedom? In this episode, Danton Troyer and Kyle Luetters sit down with Ciaran Brady, Vice President of Manufacturing, Science, and Technology at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology leader with decades of experience across both startup and global pharmaceutical environments, to explore what it really means to prepare for retirement while you’re still in your peak earning years. Ciaran shares a real-world perspective on how mindset, career evolution, and small financial decisions compound over time. From navigating equity compensation and career transitions to managing risk, removing emotion from investing, and aligning money with life priorities, this conversation goes beyond numbers. They unpack how high earners can avoid common pitfalls, build sustainable habits, and start thinking more intentionally about what “enough” really means, both financially and personally. Key Takeaways: * Why earning more doesn’t automatically lead to better financial outcomes * The power of starting early, even with small, consistent savings habits * How to think about risk, diversification, and equity compensation * Why emotional decision-making can quietly derail long-term plans * How your mindset shifts as retirement moves from a general idea to a real horizon * And more! Connect With Danton Troyer: * GFT page [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Danton Troyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stlouisfinancialadvisor/] * dtroyer@monetagroup.com [dtroyer@monetagroup.com] * (314) 735-9087 Connect With Kyle Luetters: * GFT page [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Kyle Luetters [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleluetters/] * kluetters@monetagroup.com [kluetters@monetagroup.com] * (314) 536-8297 Connect With Ciaran Brady: * Vertex Pharmaceuticals [https://www.vrtx.com/] * LinkedIn: Ciaran Brady [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-brady-b2262aa/] * LinkedIn: Vertex Pharmaceuticals [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Vertex%20Pharmaceuticals&origin=SWITCH_SEARCH_VERTICAL] About Our Guest: Ciaran Brady is a biotechnology executive with a background in science and engineering, currently working at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston. Originally from Ireland, he has spent over two decades building a career across emerging biotech firms and large pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb. His expertise spans product development and manufacturing, where he helps bring life-changing therapies to patients facing serious diseases. Throughout his career, Ciaran has navigated the complexities of compensation structures, career transitions, and long-term financial planning, offering a thoughtful perspective on how professionals can balance growth, risk, and future security.

The Conversations That Shape Family Wealth(Ep. 21)

Family conversations about money are rarely just about money. They’re about expectations, relationships, and decisions that can shape generations. In this episode, Danton Troyer and Kyle Luetters share real stories from guiding families navigating complex financial and emotional dynamics. They explore what separates families who move through these situations with clarity from those who struggle, and why communication, flexibility, and respect often matter more than any strategy. Key Takeaways: * Clear, early communication helps avoid confusion and family conflict later * Family meetings create space for alignment, not just decision-making * How wealth is built often shapes how decisions are made * Flexibility is essential; plans should evolve as life changes * Respect and shared understanding are critical in multi-generational planning * And more! Connect With Danton Troyer: * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Danton Troyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stlouisfinancialadvisor/] * dtroyer@monetagroup.com [dtroyer@monetagroup.com] * (314) 735-9087 Connect with Kyle Luetters: * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Kyle Luetters [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleluetters/] * kluetters@monetagroup.com [kluetters@monetagroup.com] * (314) 536-8297

The Psychology of Spending After Success (Ep. 20)

What happens to your mindset about money after you’ve achieved career success? In this conversation, retired global biotech executive Tony Bower, PhD, shares how ambition, family, and financial clarity reshape the way we think about spending and purpose in retirement. This episode explores the psychology of spending after success. Tony reflects on growing up in a family shaped by Depression-era frugality, building a career in economics and the pharmaceutical industry, and navigating the transition into retirement. Together, Tony, Danton, and Kyle discuss how early money beliefs shape our financial habits, why retirement requires emotional preparation as well as financial planning, and how parents can pass meaningful financial lessons to the next generation. The conversation highlights the balance between enjoying financial success today and remaining thoughtful about long-term goals, family, and what truly matters most. Key Takeaways: * Early money habits often reflect family history and can shape how we spend and save throughout life. * Retirement decisions involve both numbers and emotions, and financial planning tools can help bring clarity and confidence. * Teaching children about money early, through jobs, responsibility, and transparency about costs, builds long-term financial awareness. * Ambition can be a powerful tool early in life, but purpose and relationships often take center stage later. * Financial success creates opportunities to focus on what truly matters most, including family, faith, relationships, and meaningful experiences. * And more! Resources: * Monte Carlo financial planning simulations [https://lumivero.com/campaign-ppc/leverage-monte-carlo-simulation-now/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search_paid&utm_campaign=ar_ROW_go_acq_leadgen_software&utm_content=ar_ROW_go_acq_leadgen_feature_montecarlo&utm_ad=708328936768&utm_term=monte%20carlo%20analysis&matchtype=p&device=c&GeoLoc=9001266&placement=&network=g&adset_id=160898293810&ad_id=708328936768&kw=monte%20carlo%20analysis&cpn=21099701471&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=21099701471&utm_medium=ad&utm_content=708328936768&utm_term=monte%20carlo%20analysis&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21099701471&gbraid=0AAAAApXyeA9BUjnMQNGLLtq8Pivk3nWNP&gclid=CjwKCAjwyMnNBhBNEiwA-Kcgu69U6EdnZEbhnbc1YDooFtB_hOjjf8h1sNl37aWoBfwyYYhDwmpbIBoCrzEQAvD_BwE] Connect With Danton Troyer: * GFT Team [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Danton Troyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stlouisfinancialadvisor/] * dtroyer@monetagroup.com [dtroyer@monetagroup.com] * (314) 735-9087 Connect with Kyle Luetters: * GFT Team [https://team.monetagroup.com/team/gast-freeman-troyer/] * Moneta Group [https://monetagroup.com/] * LinkedIn: Kyle Luetters [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleluetters/] * kluetters@monetagroup.com [kluetters@monetagroup.com] * (314) 536-8297 Connect with Tony Bower, PhD: * LinkedIn: Tony Bower [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-bower-phd/]   About Our Guest: Tony Bower, PhD, is a retired global biotech executive with a background in applied mathematics and economics from Stanford University. Over the course of his career, Tony worked in consulting, research economics at the RAND Corporation, and held leadership roles in the global pharmaceutical industry, including work in market access, health economics, and pricing for rare disease treatments. After decades of professional success, Tony now focuses on family, mentorship, and thoughtful financial decision-making in retirement. His perspective blends academic insight, real-world leadership experience, and a reflective approach to what matters most in life after a demanding career.