A fiduciary assumes a role of utmost confidence and obligation to act in the best interests of those they serve. Though rooted in ancient ideals of trustworthiness, this principle has found renewed significance in investment advisory practice. At its core, the fiduciary duty encapsulates a profound commitment to act in the best interests of those who entrust their financial well-being to expert guidance.

In this episode, Brett talks with Don Trone, CEO and Co-founders of 3ethos. Also known as the Father of Fiduciary, Don talks about what fiduciary is and why it matters. He also speaks about how he integrated a fiduciary standard into an investment advisory practice. Don shares his insights on the difference between leadership, stewardship, and governance.

Don was the founding CEO of fi360, which he left in 2007. He was also the Founder and President of the Foundation for Fiduciary Studies and the first person to direct the Institute for Leadership at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In 2015, Don was named by Investment Advisor magazine as the "Father of Fiduciary" and one of the 35 most influential people in the financial services industry. In 2003, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor to represent the investment counseling industry on the ERISA Advisory Council. Don is the author or co-author of ten books on the subject of fiduciary responsibility, portfolio management, and leadership.

Enjoy!

In This Episode

03:35 - Backstory of Don Trone

13:01 - How the military attracts people to stay in their careers

14:21 - How Don started his civilian career

16:37 - What fiduciary means and why it matters

23:16 - How Don integrated a fiduciary standard into an investment advisory practice

28:46 - The challenges Don faced when establishing fi360

38:04 - The best place to study leadership and effective decision-making

43:58 - The difference between leadership, stewardship, and governance

Favorite Quotes

17:52 - "The conduct of fiduciaries has a direct impact on the fiscal health of our nation. If they don't know what they're doing and screw up their investment decisions, they can cause a lot of harm to society." - Don Trone

19:21 - "When you think about the importance of managing retirement assets and money in general, it is almost as important as saving a person's actual life." - Don Trone

34:13 - "The fiduciary was deteriorating. It was being overcome by politics, power, ego, and greed. Any worthwhile endeavor in society eventually will decay from politics, power, ego, and greed." - Don Trone

38:13 - "If you ever get a chance to go through a training program through Thayer Leadership, do so. It's an incredible experience. And if you're going to study leadership and effective decision-making, there is no better place on the planet than to do so at West Point." - Don Trone

41:03 - "The quality of your leadership and stewardship is going to have a direct impact on the quality of your decision-making outcomes." - Don Trone

41:32 - "The real key that will determine the quality of the investment advice is the leadership and stewardship behaviors of the advisor." - Don Trone

44:00 - "Leadership is your capacity to inspire and engage others. Stewardship is your passion and discipline to protect the long-term interests of others." - Don Trone

Engage with Don Trone

• LinkedIn
• 3ethos

Connect with Brett Henderson:

• 310-491-7975
• Swe90.com
• LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
• Strategic Wealth Endeavor

Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Google Podcast

In pursuing entrepreneurial ambitions, veterans, like many others, may fall into the trap of thinking that starting a business is a guaranteed path to financial prosperity. Yet, the cold reality paints a different picture. Surprisingly, a staggering 87% of new businesses never survive beyond their second year. How can veterans embark on a new journey - one that allows them to create a successful business and pursue their dreams beyond the battlefield?

In this episode, Brett talks with Joe Siecinski. Having coached over 1000 clients throughout the US, Joe talks about the challenges and rewards of starting and running a business. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision, mission, and purpose for your business and the need for strong time management skills. Joe also highlights the key areas entrepreneurs should focus on, including goal setting, time blocking, accountability, and business processes.

Joe Siecinski is the Owner and Co-Founder at brainSHARE Business Mentors. It is his passion to mentor CEOs and Executive Teams who want to be in control of the growth and expansion of their business. Joe brings clarity to how business owners and their executive teams lead and manage the organization. With his vast experience, proven systems, powerful tools, time-tested processes, and comprehensive resources, Joe guides his clients to a great business — one that is achieving optimal success, as defined by them.

In This Episode

00:53 - Backstory of Joe Siecinski

04:53 - How Joe serves his clients

09:07 - The importance of physical and mental well-being in running a business

13:38 - What money has to do with a business's mission and purpose

15:43 - The common issues and challenges faced by business owners

18:00 - The difference between customers and clients

24:47 - Why Joe implemented an online learning system

28:33 - Joe's time management formula

32:12 - The importance of being present with family and loved ones

38:02 - The amount of time Joe spends reviewing his marketing strategy

39:56 - The difference between marketing and sales

48:03 - The importance of having a process in business

52:33 - The tools Joe recommends for creating business SOPs

Favorite Quotes

05:00 - "So many people start their own businesses to make money, and they think it's easy. But 87% of businesses never make it past year two." - Joe Siecinski

22:53 - "Where you will be in five years depends on three things. The knowledge you gain, the people you associate with, and the actions you take." - Joe Siecinski

48:03 - "Everything that happens in the company is your responsibility. There are no people problems. There are only process problems." - Joe Siecinski

Engage with Joe Siecinski

• LinkedIn
• brainSHARE Online

Connect with Brett Henderson:

• 310-491-7975
• Swe90.com
• LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
• Strategic Wealth Endeavor

Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Google Podcast

For veterans and active-duty members, the transition to civilian life represents a pivotal moment where one world converges with another, and the uncharted territory of civilian society replaces the familiar rigors of military life. While this crossroads can be both exhilarating and challenging, how do service members embrace this newfound world and transform the challenges into opportunities for growth, success, and purpose?

In this episode, Brett is joined by Marc Rodriguez, Franchise Owner of Self Made Training Facility Dallas and CEO of Manifest Fitness Institute and Justrod Fitness Corporate Wellness Team. From institutional Marine gunnery to purpose-driven serial entrepreneur, Marc talks about how he overcame his victim mentality after leaving the military, why personal trainers are as important as first responders, and what advice he gives veterans and active-duty members when transitioning to civilian life.

Enjoy!

In This Episode

01:16 - Backstory of Marc Rodriguez

06:01 - How Marc transitioned into civilian life

10:15 - What Marc did to overcome his victim mentality

15:22 - How Marc got past the transitional phase

17:44 - Marc's advice to veterans and active-duty members

25:13 - The current business ventures of Marc

26:22 - How Marc addressed the lack of business education

30:59 - Why personal trainers are as important as first responders

35:37 - The most important transitional characteristics for service members

39:29 - A summary of Marc's entrepreneurial journey

Favorite Quotes

18:53 - "To any veteran or active-duty member, get your education because it means something on this side of the world. If you don't have a college degree, you're behind the power curve on this side of the world." - Marc Rodriguez

31:18 - "Personal trainers are just as important as first responders because they provide longevity and teach health practices. They're teaching you to be healthier and more fit so you can live longer." - Marc Rodriguez

38:22 - "I always wanted to give my Marines all the knowledge and experience I had so they could take my spot and become better." - Marc Rodriguez

41:03 - "Seek out the people that you want to emulate. Seek out those you want to be and those at a level you want to get to." - Marc Rodriguez

45:53 - "If you're having a hard time transitioning, it's understandable. Everybody goes through it. The difference between those that can transition into successful careers and those that don't is you only have that much time to whine, and then you need to come up with a solution." - Marc Rodriguez

Engage with Marc Rodriguez

• Email
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• SMTF Dallas

Connect with Brett Henderson:

• 310-491-7975
• Swe90.com
• LinkedIn: Brett Henderson
• Strategic Wealth Endeavor

Listen to The Veteran Entrepreneur Masterclass Podcast

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Google Podcast