Category: Investments

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A Navy SEALs Entrepreneurial Journey with Mack Alexander (Ep. 48)

A Navy SEALs Entrepreneurial Journey with Mack Alexander (Ep. 48)

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Transitioning from the Navy SEALs to a civilian can be physically and emotionally hard. 

For some, finding a passion can help bring them a sense of peace and create a path toward their next phase in life.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by Mack Alexander, the founder and CEO of Macks Belts™ and a retired Navy SEAL. Mack reveals his journey from a Navy SEAL to a business owner while diving into the life lessons he learned as a Navy SEAL, how they translated into his daily life, and how he helps others (like him) through his business. 

Mack discusses:

  • Why he decided to join the Navy SEALs
  • How his experience with the Navy SEALs impacted his motivation and perseverance
  • The financial and personal struggles he faced after returning home from duty
  • How he started selling dog collars and grew that business into a belt company
  • Why he markets his products on LinkedIn instead of other social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Mack Alexander serves as the CEO, Owner, and Founder of Macks Belts™, headquartered in Tampa, FL. The company specializes in steel and leather manufacturing and is one of the largest producers of American-made belts. Previously, Mack served as a Navy SEAL Assaulter and Breacher deploying to Africa and Yemen. He retired early after sustaining a major TBI while deployed. He is devoted to supporting all who have served and has been an advocate for many military, first responder, and law enforcement charities and is an official partner and advisor to Support Our Troops®.

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Trailblazers: Jamil Coury’s Journey in Ultrarunning and Business (Ep. 47)

Trailblazers: Jamil Coury’s Journey in Ultrarunning and Business (Ep. 47)

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Organizing large events is already a task, but what about outdoor events? Have you thought about what it looks like to plan them out?

From public versus private properties as well as uncontrollable factors such as the weather. These are some of the items outdoor event planners need to be aware of when planning marathons.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by Jamil Coury, the CEO and founder of Aravaipa Running. Jamil dives into the world of trail running and entrepreneurship while revealing what it really looks like to organize substantial outdoor events.

Jamil discusses:

  • His experience in building Aravaipa Running, an outdoor event-planning business
  • The logistics behind organizing trail-running events
  • The risks involved with outdoor events and the importance of flexibility
  • Ways his business grew despite the shutdowns of the pandemic
  • Risk management tools and insurance coverage when it comes to planning outdoor events 
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Jamil Coury started running ultramarathons in 2005 and instantly fell in love with the sport. He took over the direction of the Javelina Jundred in 2008 and started Aravaipa Running in 2009. Jamil has been competing in ultras around the world since and is currently on a quest to finish five loops at the Barkley Marathons.

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Revolutionizing Estate Planning: AI, Digital Assets, and Beyond with Rilus Dana (Ep. 46)

Revolutionizing Estate Planning: AI, Digital Assets, and Beyond with Rilus Dana (Ep. 46)

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Estate planning has changed over the years, from writing client information on paper and filing it to sending emails and having meetings online. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is looking to take the next step in estate planning and change how the next generation will interact with their estate planners.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh speaks with Rilus Dana, an estate planning attorney at Rilus Law, about how AI will be incorporated into digital asset planning and creating estate plans for the next generation. Rilus shares his experience as a lawyer while revealing how estate planning and client communication have switched with the rise of technology and how it will continue to evolve.

Rilus discusses:

  • What estate planning looked like when he first became a lawyer in the early 2000s
  • Ways his generation understands and uses technology
  • The importance of creating a plan for digital assets as well as physical assets
  • Reasons the human element will always be necessary with the rise of AI 
  • And more!

Connect with Rilus Dana:

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About Our Guest:

Rilus Dana is a sixth-generation native of Arizona and received a degree in business management from Arizona State University, all while working part-time as an estate planning law clerk for his dad. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Rilus recognizes that clients are busy and want a legal plan that just works and is easy to understand.

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Stakeholders Versus Shareholders: The Politics and Economics of ESG with Matt Cole (Ep. 45)

Stakeholders Versus Shareholders: The Politics and Economics of ESG with Matt Cole (Ep. 45)

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A few years ago, investors wanted to make sure their investments were in companies focused on positive environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) efforts. Today, that term has become politically charged, causing investors to shift their views.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh speaks with Matt Cole, the CEO and CIO of Strive, about ESG investing and how it shifted from one of the most important factors to a hot-button issue for investors and individuals. 

Listen in as Matt explores the difference between the public’s view of the term ESG compared to its role in investment planning and the reasons ESG investing will likely continue without any label.

Matt discusses:

  • How the shift between shareholder capitalism and stakeholder capitalism impacted investment planning for businesses
  • The importance of having values that allow investments to adapt to an increased need for profit
  • How the politicization of ESG has shifted investors away from the term while maintaining their values
  • Ways Strive continues to differentiate itself from other businesses without competition
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Matt Cole is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Strive. He’s also the Portfolio Manager for Strive’s existing passive equity ETFs and will be the lead portfolio manager of the firm’s upcoming actively managed Fixed Income ETFs. 

Before joining Strive, Matt was a portfolio manager at CalPERS, where he oversaw more than $70 billion in actively managed and beta replicating fixed income portfolios. 

During his 16 years at CalPERS, the actively managed portfolios Matt directed were among the best performing in the investment industry and did not underperform their benchmark in any single year.

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Inside Arizona’s Property Market: A Conversation with Andrew Beardsley (Ep. 44)

Inside Arizona’s Property Market: A Conversation with Andrew Beardsley (Ep. 44)

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Everyone has similar questions when it comes to the real estate market:

“Should I buy?” 

“Should I sell?” 

In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by Andrew Beardsley from Silverleaf Realty. Andrew reveals how the real estate market has shifted over the past five years due to a change in homeowner needs.

Andrew discusses:

  • How environmental and political factors impact homeowner needs when looking at the housing market
  • How retirement planning influences long-term real estate purchases
  • Why business planning matters as much as personal lifestyle when looking into real estate options
  • The future of housing and real estate
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Andrew Beardsley has been involved in real estate in Arizona for nearly two decades. Prior to joining Silverleaf Realty in 2010, he worked as a senior financial analyst for the Phoenix office of Johnson Capital, a commercial mortgage brokerage that specialized in retail, office, industrial, and multifamily financing. 

Having worked directly on over $500,000,000 in debt placement, Andrew brings with him extensive knowledge and understanding of both the financial and real estate aspects of every transaction, ensuring his client’s personal and financial needs are taken care of.

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Direct Indexing: The Next Big Thing in Investing? with Sirion Skulpone (Ep. 43)

Direct Indexing: The Next Big Thing in Investing? with Sirion Skulpone (Ep. 43)

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With tax season being over, you know how much your investments cost in terms of tax losses.

Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate those losses next year.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh speaks with Sirion Skulpone, the managing director at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Sirion explains everything you need to know about direct indexing, tax management, investment planning, and capital gains.

Listen in as Sirion shares the strategies you need to leverage acceptable losses and focus on future gains while shedding light on the role of technology and data when it comes to supporting different investment alternatives.

Sirion discusses:

  • The truth about tax management
  • How investors can benefit from market volatility
  • Ways business owners can decrease the taxation on the future sale of their business through existing losses
  • Ways to incorporate existing stocks within your investment plan without a high taxation
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Sirion Skulpone serves as the managing director at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. She’s also the head of client portfolio management, custom equity, and direct indexing. 

Sirion is highly focused on client engagement and education, portfolio customization, business strategy, and product development.

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Mastery in the Air, Leadership on the Ground: Ron Higgs Takes Flight (Ep. 42)

Mastery in the Air, Leadership on the Ground: Ron Higgs Takes Flight (Ep. 42)

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Changing careers after years of hard work can feel like walking away from what you have built. 

But those experiences can help build a foundation for the next phase of your career.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh speaks with Ron Higgs, the founder and owner of Wolf Management Solutions, about his journey from being in the US Navy (as a naval flight officer, aerospace engineer, and technical program manager) to now being a business consultant. 

Listen in as Ron uncovers the experiences he gained along the way and the strategies he uses to share them with CEOs and business owners.

Ron discusses:

  • Why he joined the Naval Academy
  • How his graduation transformed the next phase of his life
  • The priorities of pilots and how they help maintain focus when experiencing fear or loss of control
  • How he shifted away from flying planes to becoming a leadership and business consultant
  • Valuable lessons he has learned from working in startup environments 
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Ron Higgs is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served in the US Navy as a Naval Flight Officer, Aerospace Engineer, and Technical Program Manager. There are four primary skills, along with many others, that were forged and refined while he served our country that he now uses to help business owners and CEOs seeking to scale their businesses:

  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Teamwork
  • Adaptability

As a veteran, engineer, business executive, and published author, Ron has more than 25 years of experience in leadership, operations, engineering management, and program management. He has worked in several industries and held leadership positions in startups, small companies, and large corporations.

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The Leadership Advantage: Proven Techniques for Creating a Culture of Success with Mark Herbert (Ep. 41)

The Leadership Advantage: Proven Techniques for Creating a Culture of Success with Mark Herbert (Ep. 41)

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You are only one part of your business and its growth.

Growth starts from the talent you acquire and your employee’s contributions to building and moving your business forward.

How to encourage growth within the workplace while balancing professional and personal lives inside and outside the office? Do you know?

In this episode, Mark Herbert from New Paradigms, LLC joins Brent Mekosh to talk about tangible leadership skills business leaders can start applying to take their workforce to the next level. Listen in as Mark covers the value of creating a company environment that promotes growth opportunities through effective management and a comprehensive leadership style.

Mark discusses:

  • What’s an executive privilege, and how it impacts employee communication
  • What you should know about the Management by Wandering Around (MBWA) leadership style 
  • The value of boundaries and balance between your employee’s personal and professional lives
  • The importance of maintaining employee happiness and its role in creating a positive work environment
  • His experience in blending cultures after a merger or acquisition without losing profit or talent
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Mark F. Herbert has over 30 years of combined corporate management and consulting experience in industries ranging from high technology and financial services to healthcare and ecotourism. His most recent corporate role was as Chief Operating/Relationship Officer for one of Oregon’s largest credit unions.

Mark is a Principal for New Paradigms, LLC, a management consultancy specializing in helping organizations effectively and successfully embrace change and engage their workforces.

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The Art of Business Transition: Maximizing Value in Your Company Sale with Jeffrey Feldberg (Ep. 40)

The Art of Business Transition: Maximizing Value in Your Company Sale with Jeffrey Feldberg (Ep. 40)

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Business owners, it’s no secret that you will exit your business eventually, whether you sell or pass it on.

So, how to ensure your company is at peak performance when you plan your exit?

In this episode, Brent Mekosh speaks with Jeffrey Feldberg, the co-founder of Deep Wealth. Jeffrey talks about optimizing your business value when building your exit plan and selling your business. Listen in as Jeffrey reveals how building a narrative outside of the standard evaluation can increase the value of your company and get you a nine-figure sale. 

Jeffrey discusses:

  • Deep Wealth’s nine steps to building a business roadmap 
  • The biggest pitfalls business owners encounter when looking to sell their business
  • How understanding the buyer’s mindset creates effective seller strategies
  • When (and why) to build your exit strategy
  • The role of team well-being and financial freedom when it comes to planning your business exit
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Most business owners make the fatal mistake of believing the skills that built the business are the same ones to sell it. Jeffrey Feldberg shares from first-hand experience that the skills are entirely different. While running his eLearning company, Embanet, full-time, he dove into the crazy and wacky world of mergers and acquisitions. Jeffrey focused on business owners who either won big or lost big. He learned what to do and what not to do in the process. Countless hours and dollars went towards creating the 9-step roadmap of preparation. What was the result? He increased Embanet’s value 10X even though he had the same team and service.

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Fast-tracking Diagnostics with Ceribell’s EEG Headbands: A Conversation with Nate Hill (Ep. 39)

Fast-tracking Diagnostics with Ceribell’s EEG Headbands: A Conversation with Nate Hill (Ep. 39)

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Most electroencephalogram (EEG) machines require trained technicians and electrodes placed directly on the patients, usually with their heads shaved. The time it takes to prepare, do the test, and understand the results takes time away from the patient’s treatment.

But it doesn’t have to be like that anymore.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh speaks with Nate Hill, the territory manager at Ceribell, about the innovative EEG technology the firm focuses on and its future within the neurology industry. Nate reveals the problem with existing EEG machines and Ceribell’s approach to creating ease of use while considering the patient’s needs.

Nate talks about:

  • Ways Ceribell focuses on making EEG widely accessible, more efficient, and more cost-effective to improve the patient’s diagnosis and treatment
  • The problem with current neurological testing outside of banking and office hours
  • From a medical standpoint and the patient’s experience: Ways the firm differentiates itself from existing EEG machines 
  • The lessons he learned from working in a startup company
  • And more!

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About Our Guest:

Nate Hill is a Territory Manager for Ceribell, covering Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas. He has extensive sales experience in Technology and Healthcare.

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