Matt Smith

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money

Business EN ↓ 10 episodes

Sidebar with a CFP®” is your space for candid conversations about life inside BigLaw—the real stuff they don’t teach in law school or show in recruiter brochures. Hosted by Matt Smith, CFP® and founder of Concert Financial Planning, this show pulls back the curtain on what it actually feels like to climb the ranks, navigate transitions, and make big decisions in a high-stakes career. You’ll hear from Partners, Associates, and experts across law and finance—each sharing stories, surprises, and strategies for building a life (and career) that works for you.

Author

Matt Smith

Episodes

How ‘Futures’ Contracts Actually Work 06.07.2026 12:58

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 10 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks about what a futures contract is and how it works, tracing the tool back to its origins in agriculture and commodities to show how locking in a price ahead of time gives buyers and sellers...

Making Better Tax Decisions in Big Law with Demetrio Vargiu 04.06.2026 35:02

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 09 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks with Demetrio Vargiu, CPA and Founder of Vargiu Professional Services, an independent Houston-based accounting and advisory firm focused on tax planning, tax preparation, business consulti...

Shaping a Mediation & Arbitration Career with Elaine Block 07.05.2026 33:15

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 08 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks with Elaine Block, a Law Business Owner specialized in mediation and arbitration of civil lawsuits with 20 years of experience as a mediator and 32 years of experience as a lawyer. Elaine...

Tax Planning for Big Law Attorneys During Tax Season with Brian Leben 02.04.2026 42:20

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 7 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks with tax advisor Brian Leben, partner of Lulloff, Leben & Taylor, LLC, a tax advisory firm. Tune in to the episode to hear about: * Tax planning considerations for big law attorneys dur...

Building Wealth Through Real Estate Investment with Luke Sanders 05.03.2026 41:42

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 6 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith, speaks with Luke Sanders, owner of River City Screen Printing and Embroidery in San Marcos, Texas, which was founded by his parents in 1978 and grown to 85+ employees across multiple buildings. T...

The Financial Realities of Becoming an Equity Partner 11.02.2026 44:23

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 5 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks about the challenges and changes associated with transitioning from associate to equity partner with an aim to prepare attorneys for the financial realities that come with that career trans...

How To Avoid Probate Court with Amanda Pierson 07.01.2026 56:21

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 4 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks with Amanda Pierson, owner & attorney at Heights Law Group, a full service Estate Planning and Probate law firm. Tune in to the episode to hear about: * Common estate planning mistakes...

Avoid These Mistakes When Seeking a Better Position in Big Law with Alison Ketabchi 09.12.2025 42:10

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 3 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith, speaks with Alison Ketabchi, Director of Recruiting at Baker Botts, an international law firm, recognized as a leader in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Tune in to the episode t...

Avoid the Golden Handcuffs of Debt with LJ Jones 04.11.2025 33:33

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 2 In this episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks with fellow Texas Longhorn, LJ Jones. LJ, a CPA and a CFP, is principal and founder of Developing Financial LLC, where he services young lawyers, helping them make the right financial decis...

The Intersection of Law & Finance: Insights from Hadeel Abouhasira 29.09.2025 30:33

Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money with Matt Smith, Episode 1 In this inaugural episode of the Sidebar with a CFP®: Pierce the Veil on BigLaw Life, Career, and Money, Matt Smith speaks with Hadeel Abouhasira, an attorney at Holland & Knight. Hadeel specializes in U.S. business immigration law, guiding multinational corporations across industries like manufac...