FPO&G: Financial Planning for Oil & Gas Professionals

An eight-figure oil and gas exit creates more than a retirement question. It creates decisions around estate planning, insurance, taxes, lifestyle, investing, and how much complexity you actually want in your financial life. Justin Brownlee, CFP® and Jared Machen, CFP® close their oil and gas entrepreneurship case-study series with a 55-year-old receiving a major payout. They discuss what should h...

A $6 million liquidity event can create real freedom. But for an oil and gas entrepreneur in their 40s, it does not automatically mean retirement. Justin Brownlee, CFP® and Jared Machen, CFP® walk through the planning decisions that matter after a major exit: estate planning, insurance, housing, investment allocation, future work, and how much you can reasonably spend while keeping the plan sustai...

A liquidity event can create a lot of opportunity, especially for oil and gas professionals with equity in a privately held company. But a major payout also raises new questions. Can you retire? Should you buy the bigger house? How much should you keep invested? Do you still need life and disability insurance? What should your portfolio look like if your career already involves taking big swings?...

In this episode, Justin and Jared walk through a year-in-review of the markets, breaking down what the last 15 months can teach investors about uncertainty, volatility, and long-term strategy. They explore why having conviction in your investment approach matters—especially during periods of underperformance and market fear. Using real market data, they highlight how different asset classes perfor...

In this episode Justin and Jared discuss key investing themes through the lens of Berkshire Hathaway, SpaceX, and consumer behavior. They unpack what drives long-term success in investing and why even great strategies can underperform at times. They also examine the ripple effects of major wealth events like SpaceX and what they signal for the future. Finally, they analyze why many high-income ear...

In this episode, Jared visits with Phil McInnis, the chief investment strategist at the $100B+ asset manager Avantis Investors, to break down the science and art of building better investment portfolios. They explore the realities of passive vs. active investing, why fees and structure matter, and how to think about risk and uncertainty in today’s markets. Jared and Phil unpack what it even means...

In this episode, Justin Brownlee and guest J.B. Horton, Executive Vice President at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, explore the key drivers behind Texas’s remarkable economic growth and why the state continues to attract businesses, capital, and talent. They break down the policy framework that has fueled this expansion, including low taxes, limited regulation, and a pro-business environment....

In this episode Justin and Jared dive into a lightning round covering AI in wealth management, the growing appeal of “anti-tech” living, and how to think about gold in today’s market. They explore how AI is transforming the financial planning profession—enhancing efficiency while still requiring human judgment for deeper, more personalized decision-making. The conversation also highlights a cultur...

In this episode, Justin and Jared explore the renewed relevance of bonds following the historic challenges of 2022. They explain how rising interest rates reshaped the fixed income landscape and why bonds are now offering more compelling opportunities. The discussion also highlights key differences across bond types and common misconceptions investors have when evaluating them. Ultimately, they ou...

In this episode Justin and Nathan discuss the key benefits available to Shell employees and how they fit into a long-term financial strategy. They break down how the Shell Provident Fund works, explain the 80-Point Pension Plan, and highlight the unique features of Shell’s non-elective contributions. The conversation also explores what these benefits mean for oil and gas professionals considering...

In this episode, Justin and Jared discuss how to evaluate investment advisory fees by focusing on the value received rather than just the cost paid. They explain common misconceptions around investment expenses and why higher fees don’t always translate to better outcomes. The conversation provides practical tools to help oil and gas professionals assess whether their financial advice is truly ser...

In this episode Jared and Les Csorba discuss executive leadership and talent trends in the oil and gas industry, drawing on Les’s experience at Heidrick & Struggles. They examine current hiring challenges, shifts in executive management, and the skills leaders need to navigate ongoing industry change. The conversation also addresses the role of self-awareness in effective leadership and its im...

In this episode, Justin and Jared discuss the connection between home size and happiness, including why bigger homes don’t always lead to better life satisfaction. They also break down California’s proposed billionaire wealth tax and the potential ripple effects it could have on residents, businesses, and long-term state revenue. Plus, they review energy company performance in 2025 and highlight w...

In this episode Jared discusses elder care planning with Brian Levy, Chief Relationship Officer at Manchester Care Homes and Cambridge Caregivers. They break down the elder care continuum, from in-home private caregiving to assisted living and care homes, and explain how families should think about these decisions before a crisis occurs. Brian shares insights on the true cost of care, what long-te...

In this episode, Justin and Jared answer a listener's question from a 70½-year-old with over $5 million in IRAs who wants to manage their lifetime tax liability. They walk through the math of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and compare and contrast using Roth conversions, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), and donating appreciated stock. For more information and show notes visit:http...

In this episode, Jared and Justin sit down with Sean T. Dugan of Dugan Production Corporation to unpack the often messy world of estate planning. Sean shares what it’s been like stepping in as the third generation of a six decade family oil and gas business and the challenges that come with unclear communication and disorganized inherited assets. Together, we talk about how family dynamics, busine...

In this episode, Justin and Jared break down the latest JPMorgan Guide to Retirement, exploring what real spending looks like for retirees today. They highlight the study’s most surprising findings and compare them with spending patterns they see among Oil & Gas professionals. Drawing from their own client data, they share practical insights into how retirement spending actually evolves—and wh...

In this episode, Justin and Jared dive into several key topics shaping today’s financial landscape. They discuss Kyle Busch’s lawsuit against Pacific Life and what it says about life insurance, the growing trend of advisors moving away from broker-dealers, and the latest shifts in used car prices, housing, and interest rates. They conclude with a look at AI’s influence on the economy and what thes...

In this episode, we dive into the world of property and casualty insurance for high-net-worth families with Landon Davis from NFP. We examine the evolving risks and market shifts that make insuring valuable property particularly challenging. We also talk about Landon’s journey into the insurance field and how great brokers do more than manage policies—they become trusted advocates when challenges...

In this episode, we explore how the Ivy League endowment model can inform smarter investing for oil and gas professionals. We discuss how these massive funds balance long-term growth with liquidity and why even “permanent capital” requires flexibility. Listeners will see the blind spots of the largest pools of institutional capital and learn why no one invests to optimize for total return. For mor...

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Reagan Miller, the newest member of our Fort Worth team. She shares her journey into wealth management, how her background in admin and marketing supports her role, and her passion for organization, bookkeeping, and learning new skills. Reagan also talks about her excitement for being part of the Fort Worth community and contributing to our team’s mission...

In this episode, Justin and Jared explore real estate investing, the future of work trends, and how both are reshaping today’s markets. We dive into Galveston’s oversaturated Airbnb market, the return-to-office push, and what these shifts mean for hybrid work models and investors. Plus, we break down dividend strategies and the economic impact of ultra-luxury real estate projects like Ken Griffin’...

Justin and Jared break down the key insights from UBS’s Global Wealth Report. We look at how wealth is growing across different demographics, why median wealth in the U.S. is outpacing other countries, and what the rise in everyday millionaires really means. We also dig into unique factors driving this trend, including equity ownership and mineral rights, and what they mean for oil and gas profess...

In this episode, Justin and Jared break down the truths and myths about trusts. We discuss how trusts can help with estate planning by avoiding probate, protecting assets, and managing distributions if you become incapacitated. You’ll also hear how trusts compare to wills and where people often misunderstand their role in a financial plan. For more information and show notes visit:  https://w...

In this podcast, Jared and Nathan discuss the newest piece of tax legislation that was passed into law earlier this year - One Big Beautiful Bill Act. They highlight the pieces of the bill that are most pertinent to oil and gas professionals, they also discuss which pieces of the bill are the most overrated. For more information and show notes visit:  https://www.bwmplanning.com/post/109 Conn...