Category: Finances
Growing Your Dental Practice: What They Don’t Teach You in School, With Dr. Jeff Brenner (Ep. 19)

Growing Your Dental Practice: What They Don’t Teach You in School, With Dr. Jeff Brenner (Ep. 19)

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The transition from working for a dental practice to owning your own practice is a complicated one. One day you’re solely focused on serving patients. Then the next, you have a growing team, cash flow, and fully-fledged business to manage—on top of your patient load. As host Jason puts it, “Business ownership is not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.”

In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason sits down with Dr. Jeff Brenner, the owner of a successful and growing dental practice, and a long-time Cook Wealth advising client. In this behind-the-scenes look at practice ownership, they discuss why many owners struggle with managing cash flow, the value of seeking professional advice, and what they don’t teach you about ownership in dental school. 

Listen now to learn:

  • How Dr. Brenner navigated his transition to ownership
  • Why your practice is only as strong as your team
  • How to effectively manage your revenue throughout changing business cycles
  • The role of professional guidance in decision-making and thriving through change
  • And more

Dr. Jeff Brenner is a current client of Cook Wealth and was not compensated for his participation.

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Giving Tuesday: Being Intentional With Our Time, Talents, and Treasures, With Jake Rudy (Ep. 18)

Giving Tuesday: Being Intentional With Our Time, Talents, and Treasures, With Jake Rudy (Ep. 18)

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Giving generously—on Giving Tuesday and all year long—is one of the best ways to expand your impact, support the causes you care about, and create a legacy that lasts. And it goes far beyond dollars and cents. 

In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason is joined by Cook Wealth Planner, Jake Rudy. In this intentional conversation, they talk about cultivating generosity early in life, even when you don’t have much to give, leveraging your time and talents, and exploring tax-advantaged giving tools. 

Listen now to learn:

  • How the three categories of giving work together to build a generous life
  • Why generosity is worth planning for
  • The role Donor-Advised Funds and Qualified Charitable Distributions play in tax-advantaged giving
  • How Jason and Jake have seen, firsthand, the impact charitable giving has on family, communities, and our corner of the world
  • And more

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Equity Compensation: How to Maximize Your Benefits and Optimize Your Taxes, with Mike Holloway, CFP® (Ep. 16)

Equity Compensation: How to Maximize Your Benefits and Optimize Your Taxes, with Mike Holloway, CFP® (Ep. 16)

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Equity compensation is becoming an increasingly popular way for employers to reward and retain their top talent. But as enticing as this benefit sounds, it’s one of the most complicated and misunderstood forms of compensation—often triggering a tax bill employees aren’t prepared to cover. 

In this episode, host Jason and special guest Mike Holloway, CFP® explain the differences between incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options, and the tax implications of each. Because only when you understand how to make the most of your equity compensation can you truly ‘Own Your Wealth.’ 

Listen now to learn:

  • How each equity compensation type differs
  • The tax implications of each form of equity compensation
  • Why an 83B election is often one of the best ways to enjoy significant future tax savings
  • When to meet with a financial advisor, so you have ample time to weigh your options
  • And more

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Why Your Last CPA Ghosted You — and Why Cook Wealth’s Won’t (Ep. 15)

Why Your Last CPA Ghosted You — and Why Cook Wealth’s Won’t (Ep. 15)

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If you’ve been ‘ghosted’ by your CPA, you’re not alone. The accounting industry is undergoing significant changes. Big tech is snapping up CPAs left and right, early retirement is becoming the new norm, and for the CPAs that are left, uninviting work environments and gruelling hours at traditional firms make it hard for these professionals to meet every client’s needs—or return your calls. 

In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason reveals the real reasons why a traditional CPA may not be your best choice for proactive, comprehensive tax planning support, especially if you have a high income or complex tax needs. 

Listen now to learn:

  • Why traditional CPAs prioritize compliance over careful planning
  • Practical advice for individuals and businesses looking for a new CPA
  • The best time of year to start your CPA search
  • How Cook Wealth’s CPAs approach tax planning and optimization
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Spending With Intentionality (Ep. 14)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Spending With Intentionality (Ep. 14)

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When it comes to managing your money, the smallest decisions can have the biggest impact on your long-term financial health. Small choices, like reaching for your debit card first, making a monthly spending plan, and defining exactly what ‘enough’ means to your family can add up to quite a bit of added savings—without significantly impacting your lifestyle. 

In the last episode of our 5-part Uses of Money series, Jason talks about the intentional spending choices each of us can make to enjoy what we have now while securing a comfortable future. From smart spending plans to using credit cards responsibly, Jason explains how the right plan and tools can help your family live life empowered. 

Listen now to learn: 

  • The power of micro-money choices
  • Why spending is one of your most crucial lifestyle tools
  • What ‘enough’ looks like as your income increases
  • How budget tracking apps can help your family use credit cards to your advantage
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Growing Your Wealth With a Tax-Smart Savings Plan (Ep. 13)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Growing Your Wealth With a Tax-Smart Savings Plan (Ep. 13)

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The first step towards growing your wealth is a fairly straightforward one: Establish an adequate emergency fund. But it’s the steps to follow that can make managing and increasing your wealth complicated. Intentionally building your wealth requires careful financial planning and smart tax strategies—skills that may not come naturally to everyday savers.  

From putting all your savings in one risky basket, to keeping too much cash on hand, in this episode, Jason reveals a few surprising truths about maximizing the growth potential in every dollar. 

Listen now to learn:

  • Why your emergency fund may not look like your neighbor’s
  • How excess cash can limit your wealth growth
  • 3 tax-smart options to build your savings
  • The role your financial advisor plays in optimizing your portfolio

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Leveraging Debt and Taxes to Your Best Benefit (Ep.12)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Leveraging Debt and Taxes to Your Best Benefit (Ep.12)

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At first glance, debt and taxes may seem like two of the least empowering uses of money. After all, both functions can get in the way of your financial plan, if you’re not careful. But what if our understanding of debt and taxes is built on a handful of misconceptions? 

In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason and special guest Zach Carver, CPA, CFP®, discuss the good, the bad, and the timely aspects of owing money. From timing your taxes to optimize your savings, to differentiating between good and bad debt, this conversation offers actionable insights worth considering today. 

Listen now for:

  • ‘Good debt’ vs. ‘bad debt’—and why good debt can sour
  • The advantages of minimizing your tax return
  • How timing your expenses can positively impact your taxes
  • When reducing your taxes can come back to bite you
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Generously Doing Good With What We Have (Ep. 11)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Generously Doing Good With What We Have (Ep. 11)

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Ever wondered how to make a real impact with your money? It’s not just about saving or spending but also about giving back to your community in a meaningful way.

When you hear the word “generosity,” what comes to mind? Most people equate generosity with financial giving. But in practice, the true essence of generosity goes far beyond money—encompassing your time, talent, and treasures. 

In this episode, host Jason and special guest Richard Newton, the Regional Director of the National Christian Foundation’s Carolinas office, take a closer look at what it means to “do good with what we have.” From simple first steps any new giver can take, to advanced strategies for generous business owners and high-income individuals, this conversation underscores the transformational power of generous living.

Listen now for:

  • Smart ways to systematize your giving with a donor-advised fund
  • How to increase the intentionality and impact of large gifts
  • Why non-cash assets can be just as valuable as cash donations
  • The tax advantages of strategic giving
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: To Give, Live, Grow, Owe, and Cover Taxes (Ep. 10)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: To Give, Live, Grow, Owe, and Cover Taxes (Ep. 10)

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Every person has the opportunity to put their wealth towards 5 key things: Living, growing, giving, owing, and taxes. You can think of these 5 uses as forming your own ‘money pie’—one you can slice any way you like, as you allocate more or less funds to each area.

The first step towards making your finances work for you is being intentional about how you slice the pie, and which financial habits you prioritize. Because how you spend your money, in many ways, is how you spend your life.

In this episode, Jason covers:

  • The role each money function plays in your financial plan
  • How to re-slice your ‘money pie’ 
  • The one slice many people struggle to control
  • Managing good, bad, and ‘okay’ debt
  • Why charitable giving is different from generosity
  • And more

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Cook Wealth Management Group, LLC is a registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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