The Cajun Counselor

The most important question a client asks is, “Can this person help me?” “I don’t care about being the smartest guy in the room. My goal is to be the best listener in the room.” “Don’t let the tax tail wag the rest of the dog.”   Episode summary | In this engaging interview, Paul Hood and John A. Warnick explore the human side of estate planning, emphasizing the importance of purposeful planning,...

“Culture eats structure for breakfast.” “The days that break you are the days that make you.”   Episode summary | In this episode of The Cajun Counselor, Paul Hood discusses various topics related to family businesses, estate planning, and philanthropy. He shares a humorous St. Patrick's Day bequest, introduces the concept of the Keeper-Sell meeting, emphasizes the importance of accountability and...

“I’m a firm believer in family by choice.” “What can we do to cultivate authentic trust in family systems?” “When we have an open heart, compassion, and empathy, there’s a way to genuinely meet that person there.”   Episode summary | In this engaging conversation, Paul Hood and Emily Bouchard delve into the complexities of blended families and the importance of estate planning. They share their jo...

“The client, and the client alone, has to be in charge of their own planning.”   “One of the beautiful things about stoicism is I constantly remind myself… A, that I'm mortal. B, that I'm not indispensable. C, that I have no control over anything outside of myself.”   “You need to know who you are to know where you’re going.”   Episode summary | In this episode of The Cajun Counselor, Paul Hood di...

“What goes through the client's mind? And the first question really says it all. Can this person help me or us?” “Generational trauma can impact family wealth dynamics.” “I loved meeting clients in their offices and homes far more than in my office. They're more comfortable there.”   Episode summary | In this episode, Paul Hood, The Cajun Counselor, explores the intersection of Cajun culture and e...

“When I was a little kid, my friends in the neighborhood, we would play trucks. When was the last time I played trucks? And did I know it was the last time?"   "Whole Person Professionalism - Fully cognizant that compliance with the codes of professional responsibility and professionalism does not require ethical or professional behavior in the classical sense."   "What's your WHY?"   Episode summ...

"The number one reason for divorce is differences in financial views and how you view and spend money." “A charitable lead annuity trust is a pretty simple thing. You put money in, and you can do it during lifetime or at death, and for a certain term of years, a charity gets a percentage.” “The Salvation Army in Alexandria on Beauregard Street was a safe haven for my poor dad in the 40s.”   Episod...

“One of the things that I found most profound to do in my life is to occasionally when I feel really down and put upon, betrodden, I make a gratitude list.”    “What a lot of those people are shown is a charitable remainder trust, which is, of course, the flip side of the lead. In a remainder trust, either the person who creates the trust or somebody else, or maybe one or two others, are the benef...

"How y'all are?"   Episode summary | In this pilot episode of The Cajun Counselor, Paul Hood introduces his podcast, focusing on the human side of estate planning, the importance of history in understanding tax law, and the ethical considerations in the profession. He emphasizes the need to address emotional and psychological issues in estate planning, particularly for families with less wealth. T...