Jeb, Ethan, and Eric from Metcalf Money Moment reveal why the personal CFO model is transforming wealth management. Rather than segmenting your financial planning into separate silos, a personal CFO integrates investment management, tax planning, and estate planning into one cohesive strategy. Learn how Roth conversion timing affects Medicare premiums, why tax-efficient investing matters as much as returns, and how proper beneficiary designation protects your legacy. The hosts share actionable strategies, including opportunistic rebalancing during market volatility and coordinating life insurance with your overall financial picture for maximum family protection.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

How a personal CFO coordinates investment management, tax strategies, and estate planning to create a comprehensive wealth management approach that goes far beyond traditional financial advice and maximizes your family's long-term financial goals.

Advanced tax management techniques, including Roth conversions, capital gains harvesting, and tax-efficient asset location strategies that reduce your tax burden now and create tax-free legacy wealth for your beneficiaries in the future.

Why understanding your portfolio risk tolerance and implementing opportunistic rebalancing during market volatility matters more than chasing returns, and how proper risk tolerance alignment eliminates anxiety during market corrections.

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 What is a personal CFO, and a discussion of the three pillars of comprehensive wealth management

04:00 Tax management strategies beyond April filing

07:36 Mindset shift: supporting real-life financial goals over chasing portfolio returns

10:33 Understanding portfolio risk through Nitrogen scoring and managing market volatility

14:50 Estate planning essentials: beneficiaries, life insurance, disability insurance, and legacy tax planning

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

A personal CFO acts as your financial quarterback, coordinating all aspects of your wealth management, including investment management, tax strategies, and estate planning.

Strategic tax management requires year-round planning, not just April meetings. Implementing Roth conversions, tax loss harvesting, and capital gains management during optimal windows can save thousands annually and create tax-efficient legacy wealth for heirs.

Proper estate planning extends beyond wills and trusts to include beneficiary designations, life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care 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

Jeb Graham - LinkedIn

Ethan Hutchison - LinkedIn

What if you could cut your property tax bill by hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars? Eric Owens from Swartz + Associates reveals the insider tactics that most property owners never discover. On this episode of Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric dive deep into real-world victories, including a stunning $10 million reduction on a Florida hotel and a $600,000 savings on Connecticut retail property. You'll learn why Jackson County's 2025 assessment chaos devastated businesses with 10x increases, how triple net lease tenants often miss their appeal rights, and the exact documentation strategy that wins cases. Whether you manage a multimillion-dollar portfolio or own a single investment property, Eric breaks down the appeal process from informal negotiations to district court settlements, plus reveals the critical mistake that causes new buyers to go underwater financially within their first year of ownership.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

Master the art of property tax appeals by gathering comparable sales data from your neighborhood and focusing exclusively on valuation evidence.

Navigate state-specific assessment year cycle requirements, including Kansas's annual January 1st effective valuation date versus Missouri's odd-year schedule, ensuring you meet critical filing deadlines for informal and formal board of equalization hearings.

Understand how sale price disclosure laws in both Kansas and Missouri trigger automatic valuation increases after property purchase, potentially rendering investment properties unprofitable when buyers fail to account for reassessment impacts on cash flow projections.

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 Property tax consultant Eric Owens discusses the services of Swartz + Associates

02:45 Examples of clients for whom a property valuation reduction occurred

06:07 Business property owners versus residential homeowners and discussion of Jackson County property tax increase crisis

10:31 Appeal process stages: informal appeal process through the board of equalization to district court appeals settlements

14:48 To lower valuations, documentation is essential for winning cases

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Evidence trumps emotion in property tax appeals. County assessors require comparable sales data, financial projections, and documented reasoning tied to the effective valuation date, not complaints about rising tax bills or payment hardships.

Contingency fee basis consulting eliminates upfront risk. Firms like Swartz and Associates only collect payment when they achieve actual real estate tax reductions, making professional representation accessible even when appeals stretch over years through the district court.

Sale price disclosure requirements in Kansas and Missouri automatically trigger reassessments. Investment properties purchased without factoring in next year's valuation increase relative to the purchase price can quickly become unprofitable cash flow disasters.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Eric is a licensed Certified General Appraiser and serves as a Director for Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI). SAI is a full-service property tax consulting firm that specializes in the review, analysis, and appeal of commercial real estate and business personal property tax valuations. SAI has experience across a wide range of property tax matters and serves multiple industries.

Understanding the gift tax exclusion is essential for anyone looking to transfer wealth to family members. On this episode of Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric break down the most popular gifting strategies, including UTMA accounts, 529 college savings plans, and structured gifting through trusts. Learn how married couples can gift up to $38,000 per person annually without gift tax reporting, explore the new Trump savings accounts that offer government contributions, and discover how to use purpose-based distributions to maintain control over gifted assets. Whether you're funding education through a 529 plan with Roth IRA rollover options or setting up a revocable trust with age-based distributions, this episode covers everything you need to know about tax-free gifting strategies.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

How the annual gift tax exclusion allows you to gift up to $19,000 per person ($38,000 for married couples) without any tax reporting requirements or liability

The differences between UTMA accounts, 529 college savings plans, and new Trump savings accounts, including contribution limits, FAFSA impact, and withdrawal rules

How to use revocable trusts with age-based distributions and purpose-based distributions to maintain control over gifted assets and prevent large windfalls to young adults

The Roth IRA rollover strategy that allows up to $35,000 from a 529 plan to be transferred tax-free into a retirement account for the beneficiary

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 Gifting strategies and common questions and answers about gift tax exclusion

05:00 Deep dive into UTMA accounts and UGMA accounts, including ownership rules, FAFSA impact

08:50 The new Trump savings accounts with government-matched contributions

12:26 Comprehensive overview of 529 college savings plans, including contribution limits, beneficiary designation flexibility, and the Roth IRA rollover option for unused funds

21:03 How to structure gifts using revocable trusts with age-based distributions and purpose-based distributions

24:32 Addressing the common concern of overfunded UTMA accounts and how to transition them into trusts with beneficiary consent for better long-term control

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The new Trump savings accounts launching in 2026 offer a $1,000 government contribution for children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, with annual contribution limits of $5,000 and potential employer matching of $2,500, creating a powerful tax-deferred savings vehicle that converts to the child's IRA at age 18

UTMA accounts and UGMA accounts are counted as the child's assets when filing FAFSA for student aid, which can significantly reduce eligibility for financial assistance, making 529 college savings plans a better option for families prioritizing federal student aid qualification

The five-year gift tax averaging rule for 529 plans allows you to contribute $95,000 in a single year (5 years × $19,000) without triggering gift tax reporting, enabling grandparents and parents to front-load education savings and maximize tax-free growth potential

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:

Innovative tax planning strategies start with understanding your options before tax season arrives. In this episode of Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric welcome enrolled agent Christine Nosbush to discuss essential tax deductions, HSA benefits, and planning opportunities for 2026. Christine explains the difference between an enrolled agent and a CPA, shares insights on avoiding IRMAA Medicare surcharges, and reveals why tax extensions can actually reduce audit risk. Whether you're a high-income earner looking to optimize Roth IRA conversions or simply want to understand current tax code changes, this conversation provides actionable strategies for working with your financial advisor to minimize tax liability and maximize retirement planning success.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

The key differences between an enrolled agent and a CPA, and why tax planning strategies require specialized expertise in tax code rather than just accounting knowledge.

How to maximize HSA benefits with triple tax advantages and use them strategically to avoid IRMAA Medicare surcharges while creating tax-free retirement income.

Why tax extensions don't increase IRS audit risk and can actually improve accuracy, plus essential tax deductions that high-income earners often miss.

Smart strategies for Roth IRA conversions, 529 plans, and account consolidation to work effectively with your financial advisor for optimal retirement planning.

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 Christine, an enrolled agent, explains the role of a CPA versus an enrolled agent and how it relates to tax code expertise

03:31 Tax planning strategies for the affluent families

05:39 Tax deductions for high-income earners, including HSA benefits, Roth IRA contributions, and 529 plans

07:53 Managing IRMAA Medicare surcharges through strategic income planning and capital gains planning

13:26 Discussion of representing clients through the audit process, red flags to avoid, and the increase in fees charged by CPAs

22:00 Why tax extensions reduce audit risk and scheduling tips for tax preparation

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

HSA benefits provide the best tax deductions available—money goes in pre-tax, grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free for medical expenses, making it superior to both traditional IRA and Roth IRA accounts for triple tax advantages.

IRMAA Medicare surcharges are based on income from two years prior, so strategic Roth IRA conversions and capital gains management with your financial advisor can help high-income earners avoid significant premium increases in retirement.

Tax extensions don't increase IRS audit risk—they actually decrease it by allowing more time for accurate tax preparation, and enrolled agent representation covers all audit levels except criminal investigations.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Christine Nosbush is an Enrolled Agent and the founder of Nosbush Tax, a Kansas City–based tax firm serving individuals and small businesses since 2018, with clients across the United States. Known for her experience, clarity, and client-first approach, Christine helps clients navigate tax preparation and planning with confidence, earning a strong reputation for professionalism, responsiveness, and making complex tax topics easy to understand.

Nosbush Tax - Website

Retirement account consolidation is critical for protecting aging parents and simplifying their financial lives. In this episode of Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric discuss why consolidating multiple retirement accounts helps reduce the risk of missing required minimum distributions, which carry a 25% tax penalty. They explore how scattered accounts across multiple banks and advisors create unnecessary complexity, increase paperwork, and heighten vulnerability to financial elder abuse and scams. The hosts share real client case studies and provide actionable strategies for protecting aging parents from financial scams, streamlining beneficiary designations, and ensuring smooth asset distribution after death through proper estate planning and coordination with a single financial advisor.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

How retirement account consolidation prevents missed required minimum distributions and costly tax penalties of up to 25% on overlooked withdrawals.

Warning signs of financial elder abuse and common scams targeting seniors, including government impersonation, grandparent scams, and tech support fraud, plus protective strategies like trusted contact designations and power of attorney.

Why streamlining accounts with one financial advisor simplifies beneficiary designations, reduces paperwork, and ensures faster, cleaner inheritance processes for your family.

Practical communication strategies for families to protect aging parents, including establishing family code words, setting up account alerts, and having early conversations about estate planning while mental capacity is strong.

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 Protecting aging parents through account consolidation, understanding required minimum distributions, and avoiding 25% tax penalties

05:16 Real case study: Client with scattered accounts across multiple banks and advisors

10:02 Common scams targeting seniors: government, grandparent, and tech support scam prevention

14:03 Red flags of financial elder abuse: unexplained withdrawals and spending pattern changes, and protective measures to take

18:25 Post-death logistics: simplifying inheritance through retirement account consolidation

23:44 Four tips for aging parents or caretakers

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Retirement account consolidation with a single financial advisor dramatically reduces the risk of missing required minimum distributions, simplifies qualified charitable distributions, ensures accurate beneficiary designations across all accounts, and minimizes the 10-15+ tax forms scattered across multiple institutions that increase audit risk and filing errors.

Seniors face escalating vulnerability to scam prevention challenges, including government impersonation, AI-cloned voice grandparent scams, and fake tech support—families should implement protective measures like trusted contact status, power of attorney, transaction alerts, credit freezes, and simple stalling language scripts.

Proper estate planning through account consolidation enables faster inheritance settlement, prevents years-long probate delays, protects beneficiaries from missing market gains during estate limbo, and requires early family conversations about asset locations, plans, beneficiaries, and advisors. At the same time, cognitive decline hasn't yet impacted decision-making capacity.

DISCLAIMER:

This information is not...

Business succession planning is critical for every business owner, regardless of when they plan to exit. In this episode of Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric sit down with attorney Jeff Coppaken to discuss the mergers and acquisitions landscape and the essentials of exit strategy. Jeff reveals that the best time to start business succession planning is always now—whether you're planning to sell in six months or six years. He explains common pitfalls in selling a business, the importance of having clean financials, and when to start the business succession planning process. Learn about deal structures, seller financing, and why assembling the right team of advisors early can maximize your business value and minimize tax implications when it's time to exit.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

Discover why business succession planning should start immediately, whether you're exiting in six months or six years, and learn which key advisors—including your business attorney, wealth management team, and tax strategy experts—need to be part of your planning process from day one.

Understand the critical role of the due diligence process and clean financials in maximizing your purchase price, plus learn how business valuation works and why removing lifestyle expenses from your books is essential before bringing your company to market.

Explore various deal structures, including seller financing, seller notes, and SBA loans, and discover how internal succession plans can create win-win scenarios that protect both buyer and seller while ensuring business continuity.

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 When to start business succession planning, including business attorney, wealth management, and tax strategy advisors

06:51 Finding the right buyer through business brokers and ensuring culture fit in mergers and acquisitions

09:32 Pitfalls, including messy financials and owner benefits that negatively impact business valuation and purchase price

13:32 Deal structures explained: seller financing, SBA loans, seller notes, and why internal succession deals often include higher seller carryback percentages

18:30 Typical transaction timelines for selling a business range from six to nine months

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The best time to begin business succession planning is always now. Assemble your advisory team—tax strategy expert, wealth management advisor, and business attorney—to maximize value and minimize tax implications, whether you exit in 6 months or 6 years.

Clean financials are crucial for selling a business at top dollar. So, remove excessive owner benefits from your books. Don't compare a fixer-upper to a renovated property when setting business valuation expectations.

Internal succession deals often involve more seller financing due to established trust. Creative structures can include consulting arrangements and earn-outs, while proper collateral protects the seller's investment throughout the transaction.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Jeff Coppaken, the founder of the Coppaken Law Firm, is a lifelong resident of Kansas City. Before becoming an attorney, Jeff spent almost a decade in sales, marketing, and customer service, which helped him understand unique aspects of the business model. His customer base includes closely held businesses, family offices, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and developers, and is industry-agnostic. Jeff often...

The bull market officially hits its three-year milestone, marking a significant period of growth since October 2022. In this episode of Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric break down what bull markets and bear markets really mean for investors. They explore historical data showing that bull markets typically last 4.3 years with average gains of 150%, while bear markets last only 1.5 years. The team discusses investor psychology and common emotional pitfalls — such as fear, greed, and overconfidence — that threaten portfolio performance. Learn about average bull-market duration and returns, and discover why staying invested through market volatility is crucial to long-term investing success.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

The key differences between bull markets and bear markets, including how the S&P 500 moves through the cycle, with bull markets averaging 4.3 years and 150% gains versus bear markets lasting just 1.5 years with 35% declines.

Why investor psychology and emotions like fear, greed, and overconfidence pose a bigger threat to your portfolio performance than actual market volatility, and how to avoid common investment strategy mistakes.

How to leverage market corrections as opportunities rather than threats, and why working with a financial advisor helps you stay focused on long-term investing instead of attempting market timing.

The current bull market trajectory and potential headwinds, including tariffs, interest rates, and geopolitical concerns that could impact your wealth management and retirement planning goals.

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 Discussion of the three-year bull market anniversary and overview of bull markets versus bear markets

02:30 Defining bull markets and bear markets: Understanding the 20% threshold for the S&P 500, market corrections, and historical data

08:24 Current bull market analysis: Ethan discusses the 90% gain since October 2022, potential headwinds, and why long-term investing beats trying to time the market

11:45 Investor psychology and Emotional Threats: Eric covers fear, greed, overconfidence, regret, herd mentality, and impatience that damage portfolio performance more than market volatility

18:38 Patience and Strategy: The importance of working with a financial advisor, avoiding emotional decisions, and staying committed to your financial planning through market cycles

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Bull markets occur 75% of the time and last significantly longer than bear markets (4.3 years versus 1.5 years), making staying invested through market volatility the smarter investment strategy than attempting market timing.

The longest bull market in history ran from 1987 to 2000 with a 582% gain, while the shortest bear market (COVID) lasted only 1.1 months—proving that markets take the escalator up and the elevator down.

Emotional threats like fear, greed, overconfidence, and herd mentality pose greater risks to portfolio performance than actual market declines, which is why working with a financial advisor helps maintain discipline during turbulent periods.

The current bull market is only three years old with 90% gains since October 202. If history repeats itself, there could be another 12-24 months of growth, making patience and long-term investing essential for successful retirement planning.

ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Jeb Graham, the CEO...

Metcalf Partners Women's Financial Planning event takes center stage as Jeb, Ethan, and Eric welcome international keynote speaker, Tara Renze. Tara shares her journey from corporate sales leadership to becoming an emotional intelligence expert and author of "Be Who You Came to Be: 43 Secrets to Unlock the Most Powerful Version of You." The conversation explores how women investors can build financial confidence through personal development and authentic self-discovery. Tara discusses the Metcalf Partners upcoming women's event, where attendees will gain insights on building confidence in financial decisions while connecting with like-minded women in a supportive environment.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

How Personal Development and authentic self-discovery directly impact women's financial planning and decision-making confidence in wealth management

Why building financial independence requires working on yourself first, and how transformational "butterfly goals" can change your career transitions and financial decision-making

The importance of creating supportive environments where women entrepreneurs and investors can connect, learn from financial advisors, and take control of their retirement planning

How self-development and emotional intelligence empower women to overcome intimidation around managing investments and financial literacy

Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment 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 Tara Renze, emotional intelligence expert and author, discussing the women's financial planning event

03:16 Tara's grandmother's life advice: "Be who you came to be," and its impact on personal development and career transitions

06:30 Evolution from women entrepreneurs' message to women leadership development and discussion of Tara’s new book

13:25 Tara's journey from a corporate financial advisor, CareerBuilder, to a direct sales and self-development focus

17:00 Taking the first imperfect step in entrepreneurship and building financial confidence through action

19:59 Creating inclusive spaces for women investors to overcome intimidation in financial decision-making and retirement planning

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Women's financial planning becomes less intimidating when combined with personal development work—when you focus on improving yourself first, everything else, including financial decision making and relationships, naturally improves

"Butterfly goals" are transformational rather than transactional objectives that require figuring things out as you go, leading to greater financial independence and self-development for women entrepreneurs and professionals alike

Creating supportive environments where women investors can learn from financial advisors alongside friends helps overcome the intimidation many face when managing retirement planning, especially after life transitions like divorce

The message "be who you came to be" transcends cultural boundaries and industries, empowering women by encouraging authentic self-discovery rather than conforming to external expectations in career transitions and wealth management

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Tara Renze is an international keynote speaker, author, and emotional intelligence expert helping individuals and organizations “Be who they came...