Life, Money, and Living Well

Ben Beshear recently sat down with former CIA officer David Bridges for one of the more fascinating conversations we've hosted yet. This wasn't just a conversation about intelligence… it was a conversation about leadership, decision-making, risk, and what makes America unique. Here's a glimpse of what you'll hear: 🇺🇸 Is being a CIA operative anything like the movies? 🌍 How has the geopolitical la...

What if the secret to spending less has nothing to do with budgeting? In this episode of Life, Money, and Living Well Reflections , we bring to life an article by Davie Cochran exploring an often-overlooked cause of lifestyle creep: too much unstructured time. Many professionals assume that financial success is simply a matter of earning more. Yet as income rises, spending often rises right alongs...

What if the most important thing a coach builds isn't a winning team, but better people? In this episode, Ben Beshear talks with Calvin Renfroe, Head Football Coach at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy and the National Christian School Athletic Association's National Coach of the Year. Known for building a culture rooted in faith, discipline, brotherhood, and joy, Calvin shares the leadership pri...

What if the most important money lessons your kids learn… don't come from you directly? In this Life, Money, and Living Well Reflections episode, we bring to life an article by John Brannon exploring a simple but often overlooked idea: sometimes the best way to teach your children about money is by borrowing better words. Talking about money can feel complicated, especially with kids. But it doesn...

If you've ever wondered how large institutions invest through uncertainty and still keep promises decades into the future, this conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look. Ben sits down with Jeb Bentley, Chief Investment Officer of Northwestern Mutual, who oversees more than $300 billion in assets. With experience spanning public markets, private investments, and wealth management, Jeb has...

What if the goals you're planning for today… aren't the ones that will actually matter most tomorrow? In this Life, Money, and Living Well Reflections episode, we bring to life an article by Brad Weeks exploring a simple but powerful idea: financial planning shouldn't be rigid, it should be flexible. Most financial plans are built around clearly defined goals. But in reality, goals evolve as life...

Not all CEOs are created equal. Some are visionaries, seeing possibilities that others don't. Some are autocratic, my-way-or-the-highway leaders. Some lead by delegating, while others micromanage. But the most effective leaders? They lead by example.   That's John Pepper. We could use the rest of the time reading off his accomplishments. John served as the CEO and then Chairman of the Board for Fort...

Market volatility has a way of shaking even the most disciplined investors. Elections, interest rates, geopolitical tension, inflation, tax changes. The headlines shift daily, and so does the anxiety. In this Life, Money, and Living Well Reflections episode, Ben begins with a simple but honest admission: no one knows what will happen next. But while we cannot predict markets, we can prepare for th...

Modern life is built around the individual: your goals, your schedule, your preferences. But for many families, the results have been painful: more loneliness, more stress, more disconnection. In this conversation, Ben sits down with Jeremy Pryor , founder of Family Teams , to explore a countercultural idea: what if we were designed to live on teams, and the ultimate team is your family? Jeremy sh...

Retirement is often treated as a finish line, but history, longevity, and real life suggest it may be time to rethink that assumption. In this audio article from LiveWell Capital, Ben Beshear explores a new way to think about retirement by walking through five common philosophies he sees among clients. From retiring early to working longer, taking mini-retirements, reframing work into a second act...

Everyone that knows Ben knows he is a huge Ted Lasso fan. And one line from season one sets the tone for this conversation: "Be curious, not judgmental." Ben is joined by Kim Botto, an advocate, trainer, author, and longtime champion for kids and teens whose voices are often minimized, especially those impacted by neurodivergence, disability, trauma, adoption, and foster care. Kim has spent decade...

Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they have the corner office, sit in a trusted seat on a board, or make decisions that influence thousands. But you'll also find incredibly effective leaders at home, in schools, and among friends. Leadership guru, John Maxwell, said that "Everyone is a leader, because everyone influences someone else." So whether you've got a nameplate on your desk,...

Ben and Dave look at the past year in podcast guests, television, life highs, and what to look foward to in the new year. After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life. Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes on...

If you could get a snapshot into your future, would that simplify your life now? To know if the decisions you are making will pan out; if the financial finish lines you are chasing will be met; if the health and fitness goals will be worth the time and effort. Time travel into the future has long been the realm of science-fiction… but professor Hal Hershfield thinks it also might be the key to maki...

Specializing in the intersection of health, longevity, and place, Ryan has reached tens of thousands of people through books, workshops, and online courses—and shared his insights everywhere from CBS News to Forbes. Ryan believes that where you live has an enormous influence on your quality of life and longevity. The right place elevates your well-being by helping promote purpose, facilitate relat...

The most important things in life—the topics we like to cover on this podcast—have one thing in common: they take time. A strong financial portfolio doesn't happen overnight. Relationships that thrive require daily investment. Success at work comes from years of effort. Physical health is built by hitting the gym day-after-day-after day. Overnight success doesn't exist. Tenacity is the key to buil...

For better or worse, so much of you are—and the person you become—is tied to your family of origin. Now, imagine if everything you knew about that family began to unravel overnight. That's exactly what happened to Steve Osborne. A successful tech entrepreneur, sales trainer, and commercial real estate investor, Steve's family roots and heritage seemed to not stray too far from his hometown of Cinc...

When it comes to living well, there's a major portion of the American population being left behind.   Compared to their peers, they're 3x more likely to overdose; 4x more likely to commit suicide; and 14x more likely to be incarcerated. They graduate college at ½ the rate of their peers; make up 98% of all mass shooters; and are in the midst of record levels of mental illness.   Who is it? Young m...

Attorney. Entrepreneur. Novelist. Just one of those titles is enough to keep most people busy. But Nathaniel Sizemore is doing all three… and more. A graduate of the Vanderbilt Law School, where he served as the associate editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review, Nathaniel moved to the Washington, D.C. metro area after graduation to serve at a prominent law firm. There's the attorney. From there, he mo...

Retirement is coming. Your plan, and your preparation, can be the difference between twilight years that are a pleasure… and those that are a pain. Consider this: the last 30 years has seen the first generation retiring primarily without a pension. As life expectancy increases, the need for retirement funds, and to use them wisely, has never been more important. To put it bluntly, retirement is a...

We dig into the podcast episode library to bring back one of the all time favorites. Ben digs into a great conversation with Bill Perkins to cover a lot of ground on a variety of topics that all relate to life, money, and living well. A can't miss episode!     Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes only. The ideas and opinions on this episode do not constitute...

What does it take to become a legend? Excellence? Drive? Work ethic? A little bit of luck? Now, imagine becoming a legend not only in one avenue of life... but two. That's what Stan Smith has done.     At the age of 16, a young Stan set some simple (if not audacious) tennis-related goals for himself: to make the US Davis Cup Team; to become the best player in the US, to win Wimbledon; and to becom...

The first Bengal inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Anthony Munoz is widely considered the greatest offensive linemen in the history of the NFL. In his 13 seasons with the team, Munoz was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl 11 times.   Although his on-field accomplishments are the stuff of legend, it's the life he's built after leaving the gridiron that has cemented him to many as the most-belo...

Steven Jarvis is "the most interesting CPA in the world!" Steven is a CPA and the founder of Retirement Tax Services, a tax firm that aims to bridge the gap between tax professionals, financial advisors, and their clients with one goal in mind—to reduce most people's largest expense in retirement: taxes! He's also the author of the book Don't Get Killed On Taxes — 20 of the Most Common Reasons You...

Ben and Dave look at the past year in podcast guests, television, life highs, and what to look foward to in the new year. After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life. Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purposes on...