Own Your Wealth

Are you going through a divorce? Do you know someone who is going through a divorce? There are a lot things to think about during a divorce and there are some big mistakes people can make if they act out of emotion. Hear what Elizabeth Stephenson and Jason Deshayes have to say about navigating finances during a divorce. In this episode, you’ll learn about: What does New Direction Family Law do? Ma...

Do you have aging parents and kids? This video is for you. It’s the third video from our Sandwich Money series, where Mike and Sophie discuss financial considerations for adults who have aging parents while also caring for their own children. At the end, Mike asks “Is it more impactful for them [beneficiaries] to get a big lump sum after they’ve already gotten through those hurdles on their own?”...

Are your kids starting new jobs? Graduating college soon? Getting promoted? Do they listen to you? Do you wish there was a mutual third party to help set them up for financial success? This video is part 2 of a 3 part series called “Sandwich Money”, where Sophie and Mike discuss financial advice for adults who are sandwiched between raising children and caring for aging parents. Part 1: Financial...

Parenting is hard! Mike eases the burden a bit with some tips about money for parents with children college age and younger. This video is part 1 of a 3-part series called “Sandwich Money”, where Sophie and Mike discuss financial advice for adults who are sandwiched between raising children and caring for aging parents. Part 1: Financial Advice for Young Parents Part 2: Financial Advice for Adults...

Why is talking about money with your family so taboo? How can we take some of the awkwardness out of talking about money? Is it important to discuss your estate plan with your children? How much money transparency is too much? Hear what Jason Deshayes, COO and Partner, and Sophie Howell, CXO, have to say about why talking about money can be so funny.   Listen now to learn: How do different generat...

What is the Cook Wealth Experience Team? What is a Chief Experience Officer? How do these things help us deliver the best client and employee experience possible? Learn how the idea of the Experience Team at Cook Wealth, LLC came to be. Jason Deshayes hosts Sophie Howell on the latest episode of the Own Your Wealth Podcast.   Listen now to learn: What does a Chief Experience Officer do? Who is on...

What is Cook Wealth doing to serve clients better? How are we making sure we can serve the needs of our clients AND making sure we keep top talent on our team as we grow? Historically, the wealth management model has centered around one advisor serving one client. What happens if the advisor leaves the company? What happens if the advisor goes on vacation? How do people get training to become weal...

We get it—the decision to change financial advisors or CPAs isn’t an easy one. But if you’re struggling to reach your advisor, don’t see eye-to-eye on risk or investment strategies, or are ready for a deeper level of support, this awkward conversation can be a necessary one.  In this episode, host Jason and special guest Dave McDougall, CFP® offer simple advice for smoothing out the transition pro...

No one wants to overpay on their taxes. But if you’re not reviewing the biggest annual tax changes with your CPA or tax advisor, and adjusting your savings, contributions, and spending accordingly, you may be leaving significant savings on the table.  In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason sits down with Zach Carver, CPA, CFP® to review the key tax code changes we’re watching in 2024. From...

Niching down—choosing a specialty and focusing your efforts around it—can help a business grow faster, develop better services, and provide greater value to the customers it serves. But for entrepreneurs, the decision to find your niche, and stay committed to it, isn’t always an easy one.  In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason Deshayes is joined by Chris Hervochon, CPA, CVA, and owner of...

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...

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...

The single biggest determinant of when you can retire comfortably isn’t stock prices, investment returns, or inflation. It’s your savings rate. A few small and simple adjustments to how much you save, where you save it, and your overall spending habits can have a significant impact on your retirement timeline.  In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason Deshayes and special guest Mike Holloway...

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 s...

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 thi...

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...

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 risk...

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 timel...

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 ep...

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 y...

“Rich, to me, is money. But wealth? That’s freedom and time.” – Marcey Rader, founder and president of RaderCo, business productivity consultants. In this episode, host Jason Deshayes and special guest Marcey Rader discuss how the key to mastering work-life balance isn’t taking more vacations or shifting to a 4-day work week. It’s learning how to limit the influence of technology that never stops...

Whether you’re starting, selling, or transitioning a dental practice, expert guidance can prove invaluable throughout every stage of the complex process. Because when you’re making a six-figure (or more!) decision, you can’t afford to solely rely on “gut instinct” and Google! In this candid conversation, Jason speaks with Robert, founder of Robert H. Montgomery, III, Esquire, P.C., a leading bouti...

Calling all small business owners! Don’t miss out on this episode that will equip you with the bookkeeping tools and knowledge to elevate your small business to new heights. In this episode, Jason speaks with Carleen Lamay, CEO of C2 Accounting and Business Support. Together they dive into strategies business owners can use as Carleen shares invaluable insights on the importance of scalability, co...

Switching career directions isn’t easy, especially when the transition requires a monumental leap of faith. A leap Elizabeth Hanes, a long-time Cook Wealth client, can speak to from personal experience.  In this can’t-miss episode, Elizabeth shares her refreshingly candid story of leaving her comfort career zone to follow the call of entrepreneurship. From successful nurse, to writer, to coach for...

You’re looking for an advisor – that perfect fit: someone who gets you and your communication style, someone who will carry out your wishes and meet your family’s needs after you pass, and someone who keeps an eye on your portfolio, so you feel comfortable and confident in your investment approach quarter to quarter. Now picture this advisor. Is it someone who takes the time to understand your fin...